Ask Dr. Paola – Tooth Removal, Allergies & Ear Issues (October 20, 2025)

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we convey 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 mother or father or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer 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 can maintain your furry good friend joyful 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 selections and supply the very best care to your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Wants Enamel Eliminated!

“The place can I get assist to have all of my little canine Rambo’s enamel eliminated? He’s already an grownup, 12 years previous, and he’s a Poodle. They need to cost me $1,050.00.“– Migdalia

Hello Migdalia,

I perceive how regarding it may well really feel to listen to that Rambo might have full dental extractions, particularly at his age. At 12 years previous, anesthesia requires special care, however with fashionable protocols, pre-anesthetic testing, and shut monitoring, it’s typically protected when carried out by an skilled veterinarian. Generally it’s best to take away all diseased enamel in a single session to keep away from placing a senior canine under anesthesia twice, however in different instances the place there are coronary heart, kidney, or liver considerations, splitting the extractions into two shorter procedures could be safer. The choice depends upon Rambo’s total well being and ought to be guided by bloodwork and an entire anesthetic threat evaluation.

If the estimate you acquired feels troublesome to handle, you would possibly discover different clinics, universities with veterinary instructing hospitals, or native practices that work with cell dental providers, as these can typically provide decrease prices. You may also try these steps. Earlier than continuing, ask for an intensive oral examination beneath anesthesia with dental X-rays, since this helps determine precisely which enamel require removing. From there, you and your veterinarian can determine on the most secure and most affordable therapy plan, conserving Rambo’s consolation and high quality of life on the heart of each choice. I hope this helps.

Greatest,

– Dr. Paola

Assist! I Suppose My Canine Has Allergy symptoms!

“Expensive Dr. Paola,

CiCi is a five-year-old Goldendoodle who weighs roughly 70 kilos. Initially, she was on Royal Canin for a few years, however when that turned too costly, I began exploring different choices. Lately, I attempted Nutra freeze-dried beef meals, and I’ve seen an enchancment in her breath and enamel inside only one week. Sadly, that meals can also be fairly dear.
Whereas she scratches lower than earlier than, she nonetheless has scabs the place she bites or scratches herself. I’m starting to marvel if she has allergy symptoms to hen or beef, though I’m not sure. I beforehand tried allergy photographs, however they upset her abdomen and didn’t appear to assist her situation.

Ought to I think about feeding her solely salmon and white fish, together with candy potatoes and rice? I’d recognize any steerage on assist her. She is price each penny to me, and I simply must discover a answer to assist her keep wholesome, and one that’s inexpensive.“ – Ruby

Hello Ruby,

I can hear how deeply you take care of CiCi, and it’s great that you’re paying such shut consideration to each her consolation and her weight loss plan. The enhancements you seen with the freeze-dried meals are in line with what we frequently see when canine transition to much less processed diets, notably in oral well being and total vitality. Nonetheless, the persistent pores and skin irritation and scabs do elevate the opportunity of an underlying allergy, and in canine, that is typically associated not simply to meals, but additionally to environmental triggers resembling pollens, mud mites, and even flea saliva. It is very important needless to say meals allergy symptoms account for a comparatively small proportion of pores and skin illness in canine, usually lower than 10 p.c, in keeping with scientific dermatology texts.

In case you are contemplating a meals trial, it must be performed very systematically. A balanced veterinary therapeutic weight loss plan designed for elimination trials is greatest, as a result of home-prepared variations utilizing salmon, white fish, candy potato, and rice could not present all important vitamins. Even when utilizing restricted substances, the danger of dietary imbalance over time is actual, particularly for a large-breed canine like CiCi. If food allergy is suspected, a strict weight loss plan trial for no less than 8 to 12 weeks with a novel protein or hydrolyzed protein weight loss plan is the gold customary for prognosis. This implies feeding solely that meals, with no treats or flavored medicines in the course of the trial, after which monitoring for decision of the pores and skin indicators.

Since CiCi has already tried allergy injections with out success, it could be helpful to seek the advice of with a veterinary dermatologist if one is offered to you. They can assist decide whether or not her situation is primarily food-related, environmental, or a mix.Within the meantime, you possibly can focus on along with your veterinarian extra inexpensive veterinary diets for elimination trials or balanced home-prepared recipes developed with the steerage of a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist. This method offers you each a clearer diagnostic path and ensures her dietary wants are met whilst you seek for one of the best long-term answer.

Greatest,

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Has Crimson Inside His Ears!

“Hello Dr. Paola,

Dorval scratches his ears, and he has redness inside. Does this should be handled by a vet or might he use an over-the-counter med?”  – Syma

Hello Syma,

Ear scratching accompanied by redness contained in the ear is normally an indication of discomfort and irritation, and it shouldn’t be managed with over-the-counter merchandise with out first figuring out the trigger. Canine generally develop ear issues as a consequence of ear infections, allergy symptoms, or ear mites. Every requires a unique method, and treating with out realizing the underlying purpose could make issues worse. For instance, making use of sure medicines with out first checking the eardrum’s integrity could result in everlasting injury if the eardrum is ruptured.

The most secure step is to have Dorval examined by a veterinarian. A correct ear examination and cytology, which seems on the materials within the ear beneath a microscope, will determine whether or not the irritation is because of yeast, micro organism, mites, or one other trigger. This ensures the right therapy is prescribed and prevents extended discomfort or issues. Within the meantime, keep away from cleansing the ears with home remedies or making use of human ear drops, as these can irritate the ear canal additional. Since this can be a scenario the place a direct hands-on examination is crucial, arranging a veterinary go to is strongly really useful.

Don’t wait,

– Dr. Paola

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