Ask Dr. Paola- Mange, Respiratory Health & Enrichment (July 21, 2025)

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we deliver knowledgeable recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.

Whether or not you’re a brand new pet mother or father or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can hold your furry buddy pleased and wholesome. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steerage on a spread of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the absolute best care to your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Has Mange!

“Pricey Dr. Paola,

I’ve spent $600 on medicines and shampoos to deal with my giant canine’s mange. Why are none of them working? Her title is Abby. ”  – Ashley

Pricey Ashley,

I’m actually sorry to listen to that Abby remains to be fighting mange regardless of all of your efforts. When therapies aren’t working, particularly after investing closely in medicines and shampoos, it often means there’s both a misdiagnosis, an underlying situation interfering with therapeutic, or the therapy protocol isn’t being utilized constantly or completely sufficient.

First, it’s necessary to substantiate the precise kind of mange Abby has. Demodectic mange, brought on by Demodex mites, is commonly linked to a weakened immune system and may be significantly cussed in grownup canine. Then again, sarcoptic mange, brought on by Sarcoptes scabiei, is extremely itchy and extremely contagious. Each require completely different therapy approaches, and a pores and skin scraping examined below a microscope is crucial to establish the mite kind and assess the effectiveness of remedy. If this hasn’t been accomplished just lately, or if Abby’s situation has modified, it might be time to repeat it.

Secondly, therapy failure may outcome from incomplete mite eradication, re-infestation from untreated environments or animals, or secondary infections that haven’t been addressed. Some medicated shampoos and topical therapies can soothe the pores and skin however do little to remove mites. Systemic therapies like isoxazolines (e.g., fluralaner and afoxolaner) have been proven to work properly on each sorts of mange in peer-reviewed research, however they should be given in a full, uninterrupted schedule.
Since these medicines require a prescription, you’ll must seek the advice of your veterinarian, who can assess Abby’s total well being, verify the mite analysis, and decide if these or different therapies are proper for her. It’s important to make use of these below veterinary steerage, particularly given Abby’s ongoing challenges. If Abby isn’t responding regardless of utilizing such merchandise, an in depth re-evaluation is warranted. In some instances, resistant mites or concurrent well being points like hypothyroidism or allergy symptoms can intervene with restoration. A full diagnostic workup, ideally guided by a veterinary dermatologist, can reveal what could be lacking.

Good luck!

Dr. Paola

Assist! I Would Like Methods to Assist Respiratory Well being!

“I run an internet site devoted to the well being and care of senior canine. I want to study the perfect methods to help respiratory well being in older canine, particularly these experiencing heavy respiratory or loud night breathing throughout sleep.

What medical recommendation and preventive measures can canine house owners take to enhance the respiratory consolation of their senior pets? Are there particular meals or dietary supplements you advocate to assist improve their respiratory system? Thanks very a lot to your precious steerage!“ – Yassin

Whats up Yassin,

Thanks to your questions and for the necessary work you’re doing to help senior canine. As canine age, their respiratory operate can naturally decline resulting from adjustments in muscle tone, airway elasticity, and, in some instances, underlying situations resembling laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea, and even persistent bronchitis. Heavy respiratory and loud night breathing throughout sleep might point out higher airway obstruction or lowered airflow, significantly in brachycephalic breeds, overweight canine, or these with unrecognized respiratory illness. It’s vital that any canine displaying elevated respiratory effort at relaxation be completely evaluated to rule out severe causes resembling cardiac disease or pulmonary compromise. Thoracic imaging and, in some instances, laryngoscopy could also be wanted to information therapy.

From a preventive and supportive standpoint, sustaining a lean physique situation is likely one of the best methods to help respiratory operate. Extra weight will increase the workload on each the lungs and the guts, and even gentle weight problems can contribute to airway narrowing and irritation. Each day exercise suited to the canine’s bodily skill, mixed with a balanced eating regimen, helps wholesome oxygen alternate and helps scale back irritation. Whereas there’s no particular meals that straight “improves” lung operate, diets wealthy in Omega-3 fatty acids, resembling these present in fish oil, might assist scale back airway irritation in persistent respiratory situations. Nonetheless, supplementation needs to be tailor-made to the person canine, considering interactions with any present medicines and total well being standing.

In some instances, antioxidants resembling vitamin E and compounds like N-acetylcysteine, which assist skinny mucus and help mobile well being within the lungs, could also be helpful. Nonetheless, these shouldn’t be launched with out veterinary oversight, particularly in senior dogs who might have concurrent situations. A humidified atmosphere can ease respiratory, particularly in dry climates, and utilizing raised beds or neck help might assist canine relaxation extra comfortably. If heavy respiratory or loud night breathing progresses or is accompanied by adjustments in gum shade, fatigue, or coughing, a veterinarian ought to consider the canine promptly.

I hope this helps!

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine is Mopey!

“Pricey Dr. Paola,

I really feel like my canine Luca is all the time mopey, until we’re out on a stroll or enjoying outdoors, however I clearly can’t stroll him 200 occasions a day. We spend about 1-1.5 hours outdoors collectively each day, and I all the time really feel like it’s by no means sufficient. What ought to I do? “– Mike

Hello Mike,

When a canine appears disengaged or low-energy indoors however lights up outdoor, it’s usually an indication that their psychological stimulation wants aren’t being totally met in the home environment. Walks and playtime are important, after all, however many canine, significantly these from working or sporting breeds, additionally crave a way of goal and psychological problem.

Enriching Luca’s indoor time with actions that mimic the complexity of the surface world may help. Puzzle feeders, scent video games, quick coaching periods, and educating him new cues or tips can have interaction his mind and increase his emotional well-being. Any such stimulation faucets into his pure problem-solving instincts and may be simply as fulfilling as bodily train. In the event you’re already offering stable bodily exercise, then growing psychological work is commonly the lacking piece.

Until there’s a sudden change in habits, there’s no indication that Luca wants a medical workup, but when his demeanor shifts considerably otherwise you discover any regarding bodily indicators, a session together with your veterinarian could be necessary. In steady instances like this, our online telewellness service may help information you thru behavioral enrichment tailor-made to Luca’s particular breed and temperament.

We await you!

Dr.Paola

The submit Ask Dr. Paola- Mange, Respiratory Health & Enrichment (July 21, 2025) by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Vet) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over total articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You is probably not conscious of it, however all of those articles have been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they don’t seem to be thought of public area. Nonetheless, we admire that you just just like the article and would adore it for those who continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Dogster.com.

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