Ask Dr. Paola: Monday June 2, 2025

The publish Ask Dr. Paola: Monday June 2, 2025 by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Vet) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over complete 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 of public area. Nevertheless, we respect that you just just like the article and would adore it in case you continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Dogster.com.

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we carry professional 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 mum or dad or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can maintain your furry pal completely satisfied and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care to your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Eats Grass Day by day!

“Hello Dr. Paola,

Rex eats grass day by day. Each time he goes exterior, he eats grass. I’ve been instructed that canine solely do that when they’re feeling sick, however he has zero different signs. He’s a 4-year-old Lab combine and has been doing this since he was a pet. Ought to I fear? ”

– Gayle

Hello Gayle,

Grass-eating pups typically concern pet dad and mom, and I’m glad you’re paying shut consideration to Rex’s habits. The concept canine solely eat grass after they’re feeling unwell is a widespread delusion, however it’s not fully correct. Whereas some canine might sometimes eat grass after which vomit, most canine that graze don’t present every other indicators of sickness, and it doesn’t essentially point out that one thing is flawed.

In Rex’s case, since he has been persistently eating grass since puppyhood, exhibits no indicators of sickness, and seems in any other case wholesome and lively, this habits is probably going a standard a part of his routine. Canines might eat grass for varied causes, reminiscent of boredom, curiosity, or just because they benefit from the texture or style. Some behaviorists additionally imagine it might be an instinctive behavior inherited from wild ancestors who consumed plant matter discovered of their prey’s digestive tracts. It is usually attainable they wish to add some fiber to their diets. Some vets counsel they could be searching for particular enzymes, though there aren’t any research about this. So long as Rex is on an entire, balanced food plan, has common veterinary check-ups, and isn’t ingesting chemically handled grass or poisonous crops, this behavior is often innocent. Consider it a bit like a human nibbling on parsley or chewing gum out of behavior.

When you ever discover a sudden improve within the depth or frequency of the habits, or if it’s accompanied by different regarding indicators like decreased urge for food, adjustments in stool, or lethargy, it might be sensible to seek the advice of along with your veterinarian. However primarily based on what you’ve shared, there isn’t a purpose to fret at the moment. Simply be proactive and permit him to chew on chemical-free grass. I hope this provides you some peace of thoughts!

– Dr. Paola

Ideas on Anti-Ageing Tablets for Canines?

“Hey Dr. Paola,

What do you consider the brand new anti-aging tablet for canine?“ – Su

Hey Su!

I discover it tremendous attention-grabbing and thrilling! The concept we might quickly have secure, efficient instruments to increase our canine’ well being and lifespan is actually groundbreaking. Advances like LOY-002 and LOY-003, each underneath development by Loyal, mirror how far veterinary science has are available understanding and addressing the growing old course of. LOY-002 is a day by day, beef-flavored tablet designed for senior canine over ten years of age and at the very least 14 kilos. It acts as a caloric restriction mimetic, which implies it goals to ship the advantages of a reduced-calorie food plan, reminiscent of improved metabolic well being and delayed onset of age-related illnesses, with out really decreasing the canine’s meals consumption or inflicting undesirable weight reduction. LOY-003, in the meantime, targets large-breed canine earlier in life, aiming to decelerate the extra speedy growing old these breeds usually face. Each medicines are nonetheless present process scientific trials, however LOY-002 has already earned a “cheap expectation of effectiveness” designation from the FDA, signaling progress towards conditional approval.

Equally compelling is the analysis being carried out by the Dog Aging Project on using rapamycin, a drug initially used as an immunosuppressant. Rapamycin is being studied for its potential to enhance cardiac and cognitive perform, with the hope that it might lengthen the canine lifespan by 15%. This method builds on findings from different species the place the drug has proven potential to reinforce longevity. Whereas rapamycin isn’t presently authorised for anti-aging use in canine exterior of managed research, its exploration marks a big second in our understanding of the biology of growing old.

Whereas these improvements are extremely promising, they need to complement, not exchange, the necessities of lifelong well being. An entire and balanced food plan that’s fresh, nutrient-dense, and minimally processed, with naturally occurring antioxidants, performs a significant function in supporting your canine’s immune perform and mobile well being. When mixed with common veterinary care, mental enrichment, bodily exercise, and plenty of love, these foundational practices stay essentially the most highly effective instruments we now have to assist our canine age with power, dignity, and pleasure. Thanks for bringing this up in our weekly area, Su. I’m assured many pet dad and mom will probably be excited to find out about these promising advances in veterinary science!

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Has Heartworm!

“Pricey Dr. Paola,

I rescued Benji one month in the past from the Humane Society in Palm Metropolis, and he was a stray canine. I’m very involved as a result of he has heartworm and so they gave us an antibiotic that we should always give him for a month and so they instructed us that after that we now have to depart Benji there for two days, as a result of they’ve to present him 2 painful injections of arsenic and that i can’t see him for two days as a result of it will likely be robust on Benji. We analysis and discover out that the protocol is totally different.

We took Benji to the Vet, and she or he instructed us that after the antibiotics we now have to present him one tablet of NexGard and wait one month and after that we take him there for the injection and the identical day we will choose him up and in case he doesn’t reply properly we now have to discover a clinic and go away him there. This needs to be repeated 2 extra occasions as a result of the injections are 3 and never 2 on the identical time, just like the Humane Society instructed us.
My coronary heart is sinking as a result of I don’t need him to have ache, nervousness, and really feel that we abandon him within the second that he wants essentially the most. I’d respect it in case you may information me on this tough scenario, as a result of I don’t know a lot about it and I don’t need to lose Benji.

He has some good days, however he additionally has dangerous days when he doesn’t need to eat something or drink water, and he’s torpid, which makes me actually nervous.
Benji is a mix of Maltese, Westie, and Terrier, and since he was a stray canine, they suppose that he’s 5 or six years previous based on his tooth. I respect your assist.
Sincerely,” – Ines

Pricey Ines,

Thanks for rescuing Benji and for giving him a second likelihood at a secure, loving life. What you’re going by way of is extremely laborious, and your concern for his consolation and emotional well-being exhibits simply how deeply you care. Heartworm therapy generally is a difficult and emotionally draining course of, however you’re completely doing the best factor by staying knowledgeable and searching for readability.

Heartworm disease is severe, and therapy have to be rigorously timed and structured to cut back the danger of issues, particularly from the dying of grownup worms, which may trigger harmful irritation and blockages within the lungs. The usual protocol really useful by the American Heartworm Society entails a multi-step course of: first, a 30-day course of doxycycline, an antibiotic used to focus on a bacterium that lives throughout the heartworms known as Wolbachia. This preliminary antibiotic therapy weakens the heartworms and reduces the danger of a extreme inflammatory response. Then, after about 30 days, a heartworm preventive like NexGard or a macrocyclic lactone is given to kill immature larvae. One month later, the adulticide therapy begins with a deep intramuscular injection of melarsomine (an arsenic-based drug), adopted by two extra injections 24 hours aside, a few month later. This multi-step method is designed to kill the worms regularly, reducing the danger of life-threatening clots and reactions.

It’s true that the injections may be painful, and Benji might want to keep calm and rested. Activity restriction during the treatments is important to keep away from stressing his coronary heart and lungs. Particularly after the injections, as a result of because the worms die, they will break up and trigger blockages within the lungs if the canine exerts himself an excessive amount of. The choice to hospitalize a canine or not throughout these injections depends upon their general well being and the way they deal with the treatment. Some clinics favor to maintain canine in a single day for remark, particularly after the ultimate two injections. Others might permit discharge on the identical day with strict dwelling care directions. Each approaches may be legitimate when they’re tailor-made to the canine’s particular situation. Since Benji has already proven indicators of lethargy and lack of urge for food, it’s essential to report these to your veterinarian. These might or will not be associated to the heartworm an infection, however they do advantage consideration earlier than transferring ahead.

Benji is fortunate to have you ever as his guardian. With endurance, shut monitoring, and a considerate therapy plan, many canine recover fully and go on to reside lengthy, completely satisfied lives. Please bear in mind, you’re not alone on this. You’re navigating one thing difficult, however there are protocols and coverings accessible, and your love and care are essentially the most highly effective instruments in serving to Benji heal. Thanks once more to your kindness in adopting Benji. I love you.
Sincerely,

– Dr. Paola

The publish Ask Dr. Paola: Monday June 2, 2025 by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Vet) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over complete 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 of public area. Nevertheless, we respect that you just just like the article and would adore it in case 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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