Pets

Recommendations for exercises I can do with my dog indoors during the hot summer months? She hates the water unfortunately.

Beat the Heat: Fun Indoor Exercises for Dogs!

Recommendations for exercises I can do with my dog indoors during the hot summer months. She hates water, unfortunately. So there's a lot of things you can do inside with your pets. Mostly what we're talking about inside are kind of like brain challenges rather than physical exhaustion challenges. And so using things like puzzles, so there are yes, puzzles made for dogs, play mats. You can also take like toys or treats and freeze them in a big block of ice. So dogs have to then lick that ice, they're getting hydration and they're also getting a treat at the end and it's time consuming. So those are probably some of the more common ones. You can still take your dog out during the summer months. You just really need to make sure you're taking them out during the cooler times of day. So early in the morning or late at night and watching for signs that they might be overheated like panting, exhaustion or wanting to go home.

Some activities you can do with your dog indoors during the summer months include puzzles, play mats, and freezing treats or toys in a block of ice. These challenges give mental stimulation instead of physical exhaustion. When taking your dog outside, make sure it is during cooler times of the day such as early morning or late night, and watch for signs that they may be overheated.

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For exercising your dog indoors during the hot summer months, especially if she dislikes water, there are several options. Indoor exercises mainly focus on mental stimulation rather than physical exhaustion. You can try using puzzles or play mats designed for dogs. Another idea is to freeze toys or treats in a large block of ice, which will provide hydration and a rewarding challenge for your dog. These are some common indoor activities you can explore. However, you can still take your dog outside during the summer, as long as you do it during cooler times of the day, such as early morning or late evening. Be sure to watch for signs of overheating, such as excessive panting, exhaustion, or a desire to go home.

Why do some smaller puppies need more frequent meals than larger puppies?

Key takeaway: Smaller puppies require more frequent meals due to their liver size.

Why do smaller puppies need more frequent meals than larger puppies? So the answer to this question is basically just a function of their size. Smaller dogs like teacups or toy breeds have much smaller livers and the liver is really important for storing glucose as glycogen. And so when these patients are really young, their livers are not fully developed and they don't store as much of the glycogen to be able to be broken down into glucose. And because of this, if they're not fed frequently enough, they can become hypoglycemic or have low blood sugar. And this is usually something that these toy or small breed dogs do grow out of as they mature. But there is a condition called toy breed hypoglycemia, which is really common in these really small dogs when they're puppies that we have to avoid.

Smaller puppies need more frequent meals than larger puppies because they have smaller livers which makes it harder for them to store glucose as glycogen, resulting in a greater risk of hypoglycemia.

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Smaller puppies require more frequent meals than larger puppies due to their size. Teacup or toy breeds have smaller livers, which play a crucial role in storing glucose as glycogen. Since their livers are not fully developed at a young age, they do not store as much glycogen to be broken down into glucose. As a result, if they are not fed frequently enough, they can experience hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. While most toy or small breed dogs grow out of this as they mature, it's important to be aware of a condition called toy breed hypoglycemia that is common in these small puppies and needs to be prevented.

No Definitive Answer: The Best Dog Bed

I don't know that there's actually an answer to this question, what is the best dog bed to buy? I mean, I think it really depends on your pet, whether they like to feel kind of enclosed, then in that case, I would try and buy one of those that's more like a, you know, something they can crawl into, or whether they like like a really big bed. I have several around the house and, you know, I've kind of gotten to learn what my dogs like. I've got those really fluffy donut beds that they can sink into, but realistically, my dog beds often are where I am. So the couch tends to be their favorite dog bed.

The best dog bed to buy depends on the preferences of your pet, but some popular options include enclosed beds and fluffy donut beds. Ultimately, wherever the pet is most comfortable is likely the best bed for them.

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Determining the best dog bed to buy is subjective and dependent on your pet's preferences. Some dogs may prefer a bed that provides a sense of enclosure, like a cozy cave bed. Others may enjoy spacious options like a large, fluffy bed. Personally, I have different types of beds in my house and have learned what my dogs prefer over time. They enjoy sinking into fluffy donut beds. However, I've noticed that their favorite dog beds tend to be the couches where I am. Ultimately, it's important to consider your dog's comfort and habits when selecting a dog bed.

My cat only poops every two days. Is that normal? 

Is it normal for my cat to poop every two days?

My cat only poops every two days. Is that normal? So I guess the question is, first of all, is this something they've always done? Have they always only pooped every two days? Or is this something new? Has the frequency of their defecating decreased? Because that would be a different situation. The other thing to ask is, what does the poop look like when it comes out? Is the poop normal? Is it soft? There are fecal scoring charts you can look at online. I like to use the Purina fecal scoring chart. And you can see that most patients should be kind of in that three to five range. If they're coming out really hard and firm, that's not good. If the cat is showing signs of discomfort, like crying out in the litter box, that's also not good. So it really depends on, you know, is this a change for the pet? And what does the feces look like? If the feces looks normal, the bowel movement is soft, they're not having any issues with it. It's not affecting them that it may just be normal for them, especially if they've always done it. If this is something new, if the character of the feces is changed, if it looks drier, firmer, if there's any pain, then it could be that they're constipated, in which case you do want to take them in to discuss further diagnostics and or treatment options to look at causes for constipation in cats, which are many.

It depends on if this is something that the cat has always done or if it is a change in behavior. If it is a change, then it could be constipation and you should take them to the vet for further diagnostics and treatment options.

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My cat only poops every two days. Is that normal? To determine if this is normal or not, there are a few things to consider. First, has your cat always had this poop frequency, or is it a recent change? If it's a new development and their poop frequency has decreased, that could indicate a different issue. Additionally, it's important to assess the appearance of the poop when it does come out. Using a fecal scoring chart, like the Purina fecal scoring chart, can help determine if the consistency is within a healthy range (typically three to five). If the poop is extremely hard and firm or if your cat shows signs of discomfort, such as crying out in the litter box, that's not good. However, if the feces look normal, have a soft consistency, and your cat doesn't seem bothered by it, then it may just be their normal pattern. Especially if this has been their regular routine all along. On the other hand, if this is a new change in frequency or if the character of the feces has changed (e.g., drier or firmer), there could be constipation present. In such cases, it would be advisable to consult with a veterinarian for further diagnostics and potential treatment options to address possible causes of constipation in cats.

Discover the Power of Hydrolyzed Diets for Pets

What is a hydrolyzed diet? A hydrolyzed diet is one of two major categories of hypoallergenic diets. The first being more of what we call a novel protein diet, meaning that the protein is something that your pet may not have seen before. And the reason why we focus on the protein here is because we know that for dermatologic and for GI allergies, it's usually, usually but not always, the protein that is the main allergen for our pets. Despite what you might read or watch on TV, it is generally the protein source. And so we can either feed them a novel protein that they may not have been fed before or seen before, like kangaroo or crocodile or rabbit or something like that. Or we feed them a hydrolyzed protein diet where the diet basically with the hydrolyzed process, the protein's been broken down into smaller bits like the amino acid building blocks of the proteins, such that the body shouldn't really recognize it as a full protein that it can mount an immune response to, but it still provides the nutritional aspects of what proteins need to do. So these can be used a lot in gastrointestinal disease, which is where I mostly see them, and a lot in dermatologic disease as well. So that's what a hydrolyzed protein diet is. These are always going to be prescription diets. So not diets that you can buy over the counter and not home cooked diets.

A hydrolyzed diet is a prescription diet that is used for pets with allergies, usually related to the protein source. The diet consists of proteins that have been broken down into smaller bits, such as amino acids, so that the body does not recognize them as full proteins and therefore cannot mount an immune response.

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A hydrolyzed diet is a type of hypoallergenic diet, specifically focused on addressing allergies in pets. It falls under the category of novel protein diets, where the protein source is something new to the pet's diet. Proteins are often the primary allergens for dermatologic and gastrointestinal allergies in pets. Alternatively, a hydrolyzed protein diet can be used, where the proteins are broken down into smaller components, such as amino acids. This process helps prevent the body from recognizing it as a full protein that could trigger an immune response while still providing necessary nutritional benefits. Hydrolyzed diets are commonly used for gastrointestinal and dermatologic diseases in pets. It's important to note that these diets are prescription-based and not available over the counter or as homemade options.

Are there any illnesses my dog can give me?

Your Dog Can Pass Illnesses to You: What to Know

Are there any illnesses that my dog can give me? So the answer to this question is yes. So these are what we call zoonotic or zoonotic diseases, diseases that can be passed from animal to human. There are also some that go the other way. You can give your dog certain diseases and there's a whole slew of these. You know, every category really has some. Skin issues, things like ringworm can be passed, certain infections. We can talk about gastrointestinal illness. So there are certain bacteria or viruses that your dog can get that can cause vomiting and diarrhea that can then be transferred to you through fecal-oral contamination. There are also certain tick-borne diseases or infectious diseases like leptospirosis, which can be transferred from dog to human. And so a lot of these diseases would be diagnosed by your veterinarian and they would tell you, likely, that these are zoonotic. The other thing to keep in mind is that some people who are more immunocompromised, like the elderly or the pregnant, may be more susceptible to infections from pets compared to the general public. And so it's important to make sure that you let your veterinarian know if you fall into an immunosuppressed category so that they can alert you of precautions to take.

Yes, there are certain illnesses that dogs can give to humans, such as ringworm, gastrointestinal illness, tick-borne diseases, and leptospirosis. These are known as zoonotic diseases and those who are immunosuppressed may be more vulnerable to these diseases.

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Yes, there are illnesses that can be transmitted from dogs to humans, known as zoonotic diseases. This means that certain diseases can pass from animals to humans and vice versa. Dogs can transmit various illnesses in different categories. For example, skin issues like ringworm can be passed on. Gastrointestinal illnesses caused by bacteria or viruses can be transferred through fecal-oral contamination, leading to vomiting and diarrhea in humans. Tick-borne diseases and infections such as leptospirosis can also be transmitted from dogs to humans. Your veterinarian would likely diagnose these zoonotic diseases and provide information about them. It's important to note that individuals who are immunocompromised, such as the elderly or pregnant women, may be more susceptible to infections from pets compared to the general public. If you fall into an immunosuppressed category, it's crucial to inform your veterinarian so they can advise you on necessary precautions to take.

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Dr. Lauren Adelman earned her veterinary degree from the University of Calgary in 2012 where she was part of the inaugural class. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital followed by a one-year specialty internship in emergency and critical care at North Carolina State University. Dr. Adelman then moved to Knoxville where she completed a three-year small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Tennessee. She achieved diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2017. Dr. Adelman is currently practicing at Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver, BC., where her particular areas of interest include gastroenterology, nephrology and urology, and infectious disease. She is trained to perform a variety of state-of-the-art minimally-invasive procedures.

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