Ask Dr. Paola: Monday June 16, 2025

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we carry 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 diet suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that may maintain your furry pal completely satisfied and wholesome. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steering on a variety of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the absolute best care in your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Hasn’t Eaten for a Week!

“Pricey Dr. Paola,

My canine Missy hasn’t eaten in per week! I’ve tried all the pieces, together with canned meals and milk. Sadly, she appears very weak. What ought to I do? Do you make home calls? ”  – Cynthia

Pricey Cynthia,

I’m really sorry to listen to that Missy is feeling so unwell. If she hasn’t eaten for per week and is now very weak, it is a serious medical emergency. Canine can develop life-threatening problems, corresponding to hypoglycemia or liver points, once they go without food for a number of days, particularly in the event that they’re already small, senior, or have underlying well being situations. Her refusal to eat and rising weak spot recommend that her physique is struggling to maintain up, and she or he urgently wants hands-on veterinary care.

Whereas I don’t make home calls, I strongly suggest that you simply contact an area veterinary clinic or emergency vet hospital instantly. If transportation is a problem, many areas have cellular veterinarians or pet transport providers that may assist. Missy wants an examination, bloodwork, and sure supportive remedies corresponding to fluids and even assisted feeding. Time is of the essence on this state of affairs, and the earlier she receives care, the higher her likelihood of restoration.

Sincerely,

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Spleen Has Just lately Been Eliminated!

“Is Astragalus complement for my canine with a just lately eliminated spleen? I’m on the lookout for holistic choices to spice up the immune system that don’t impression blood clotting like black currant seed oil does. “ – Sadie

Pricey Sadie,

Thanks in your considerate query. It’s clear that you simply’re being very aware in supporting your canine’s restoration and long-term well being, particularly after one thing as important as a splenectomy. When the spleen is eliminated, the physique loses a part of its immune surveillance system, so bolstering immune perform gently and safely turns into an affordable purpose.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is an herb historically utilized in Chinese language medication to help immune perform. In holistic veterinary circles, it’s typically used to advertise vitality and enhance the immune response, particularly in persistent or immune-compromised states. Nevertheless, its use in canine is still considered complementary and never totally backed by large-scale medical trials. That stated, anecdotal experiences and smaller studies do recommend potential advantages, and it’s typically properly tolerated in wholesome canine when used appropriately. Importantly, astragalus will not be identified to intervene with blood clotting, making it a safer possibility in comparison with dietary supplements like black currant seed oil or fish oil in pets with clotting considerations.

Nonetheless, as a result of your canine’s situation is complicated and post-surgical, I’d suggest a seek the advice of with a holistic or integrative veterinarian who can tailor a plan primarily based on their full well being image.

Wishing your pup good well being, Dr. Paola

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Died After Vet Care!

“Pricey Dr. Paola,

My canine Archie died after I took him to the vet. He was coughing up phlegm from his lungs for 3 nights. The vet disagreed with me, stated he was vomiting, and handled him for that. My canine died per week later, after receiving many assessments, remedies, CT scans, X-rays, and even a digicam into his lungs and hospitalization. After taking him to a different vet, I realized that he had atypical pneumonia. I can’t assist however consider that had he been handled for the grievance I initially introduced him in for, he can be right here now. He was solely six years previous and in good well being. May you give me your opinion on this, please? I’ve movies exhibiting Archie coughing, actually not vomiting.” – Annette

Pricey Annette,

I’m really sorry in your loss. Shedding Archie in such a distressing and seemingly preventable approach is heartbreaking, and I can really feel the depth of your love and the burden of your ache by way of your phrases. Your grief is valid, and your questions deserve cautious, compassionate consideration.

From what you’ve shared, it sounds such as you had been very observant and proactive in taking Archie to the vet. Coughing, significantly with the manufacturing of phlegm from the lungs, factors towards a respiratory challenge fairly than a gastrointestinal one. Whereas coughing can typically be mistaken for retching or vomiting, movies are sometimes very helpful in clarifying these distinctions, particularly in brachycephalic breeds or when indicators are delicate. A misinterpretation at that early stage might, sadly, delay correct prognosis and therapy. Atypical pneumonia, which might progress shortly and be tough to detect in its early phases, requires well timed, focused remedy. If preliminary therapy was directed on the improper physique system, it’s potential that the window for profitable intervention was narrowed.

You probably did all the pieces a faithful pet mother or father might. You trusted your instincts, sought a second opinion, and pursued superior diagnostics. That speaks volumes about your love and dedication to Archie. Whereas we can not rewrite the previous, looking for solutions, even now, will be an vital a part of the therapeutic course of. That is tough throughout intense emotional moments, however it might assist to mirror on the truth that even essentially the most skilled and compassionate veterinarians can typically misread what they see, particularly if the indicators are offered in a approach that mimics gastrointestinal distress. Veterinary medication, like human medication, isn’t at all times clear-cut, and whereas that doesn’t ease your loss, it’s vital to know that errors in judgment are hardly ever on account of a scarcity of care, however fairly to the complexity of circumstances and the constraints of the knowledge out there on the time. In spite of everything, we vets are additionally simply people, attempting to do our greatest for the animals in our care.

When you really feel that your considerations had been dismissed or not totally explored when they need to have been, you might need to seek the advice of with one other veterinary skilled. They’ll overview the complete data and provide perception particular to Archie’s timeline. You may also take into account submitting the case for overview to a veterinary medical board, not out of blame, however in pursuit of transparency and studying. Archie mattered deeply, and your voice issues, too. I sincerely want you energy all through your grief and therapeutic. In case you haven’t learn it, my expensive colleague Dr. Karyn has written about her experience losing her elderly dog. Chances are you’ll discover her insights on the right way to acknowledge lacking Archie, dwell the method, and eventually handle to open your coronary heart once more useful.

Condolences, Dr. Paola

The submit Ask Dr. Paola: Monday June 16, 2025 by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Vet) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over total articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You will not be conscious of it, however all of those articles had been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they are not thought-about public area. Nevertheless, we recognize that you simply just like the article and would adore it when you 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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