Caring for your pet's health and well-being is an important responsibility, and seeking expert advice can help ensure your furry friend stays happy and healthy.
Welcome to today's live Q&A session with Dr. Suter! Dr. Suter is a highly experienced veterinarian here to answer your questions about caring for your pets. Whether you have concerns about your dog or cat's health, are looking for advice on supporting your pet's dental health, or want to learn more about natural remedies for common pet health issues, Dr. Suter is here to help. Please feel free to ask any questions, and Dr. Suter will do her best to provide helpful and accurate information. Thank you for joining us today!
Overview
- Chattering teeth in dogs may be a sign of illness or discomfort, and a veterinarian should be consulted to determine the cause and the best course of treatment.
- Dental problems can cause discomfort or pain in dogs, which may cause them to alter their behavior, including chattering of the teeth.
- Graying of the muzzle in a spayed female dog may be a sign of stress and may be helped by supplementing the adrenal glands and relieving stress.
- To naturally support your cat's dental health, you can brush their teeth, provide a species-appropriate diet, offer to chew toys or treats, and use products like dental floss or a tooth-cleaning powder.
- If your pet cannot go under anesthesia, you may need to consider a home dental regimen or anesthesia-free dentistry. However, anesthesia-free dentistry is not recommended for pets who can go under anesthesia.
- After a dog has had a mammary tumor removed, it's important to consider whether it is benign or malignant and consult a veterinarian for specific care recommendations.
- To care for a dog that vomits bile in the morning, you might try feeding a small meal late at night before bed or changing the feeding schedule. If these interventions do not help, a veterinarian should be consulted to identify the underlying cause of the vomiting.
- To care for a dog with a sensitive stomach, you should consider feeding them a hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient diet, avoiding sudden diet changes, and providing frequent small meals. If the dog's condition does not improve, a veterinarian should be consulted.
- To help a dog with anxiety, you might try using behavior modification techniques, providing a comfortable and safe environment, and using natural remedies such as pheromones, music therapy, or herbal supplements. Consult with a veterinarian for specific recommendations.
- To care for a dog with allergies, try identifying and avoiding allergens, using hypoallergenic products, and using natural remedies such as omega-3 fatty acids, quercetin, and herbal supplements. Consult with a veterinarian for specific recommendations.
Questions Asked:
My 13-year-old lab chatters her teeth occasionally at night. Could it be a symptom of illness?
Chattering of the teeth in dogs may be a sign of illness or discomfort, and a veterinarian must examine your dog to determine the cause and the best course of treatment. Possible causes of chattering teeth in dogs include cognitive dysfunction, muscle or nerve issues, mineral imbalances, and even seizures or brain tumors. To help identify potential health issues, it's a good idea to provide your dog with a comfortable and stress-free environment, ensure they receive proper nutrition and care and keep track of any changes in their habits.
Could bad dental, such as severe gum disease, tooth decay, or tooth loss, be correlated?
Dental problems can cause discomfort or pain in dogs, which may cause them to alter their behavior, including chattering of the teeth. If your dog is experiencing dental problems, it's important to have them treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible to address the issue and prevent further complications. Maintaining your dog's oral hygiene is also important by regularly brushing their teeth and providing them with appropriate dental care products. If you have any concerns about your dog's dental health, it's a good idea to consult a veterinarian.
My five-year-old spayed female is getting gray hair in her muzzle. Could this be due to stress?
Graying of the muzzle in a spayed female dog may be a sign of stress and may be helped by supplementing the adrenal glands and relieving stress. It's important to take care of your stress levels and engage in activities that help reduce stress in your dog. Consult a veterinarian if you have concerns about your dog's health or stress levels.
How can I support my cat's dental health, naturally?
To naturally support your cat's dental health, you can brush their teeth, provide a species-appropriate diet, offer to chew toys or treats, and use products like dental floss or a tooth-cleaning powder. It's important to avoid a diet high in carbohydrates and to transition your cat to a new diet gradually, if necessary. Regular dental care can help to prevent pain and discomfort in your cat. If you have concerns about your cat's dental health, consult a veterinarian.
What if your pet can't go under anesthesia for dental work? What would you recommend?
If your pet cannot go under anesthesia, you may need to consider a home dental regimen or anesthesia-free dentistry. However, anesthesia-free dentistry is not recommended for pets who can go under anesthesia. If your pet has a condition that makes it unsafe for them to go under anesthesia, consult a veterinarian for recommendations on maintaining their dental health.
What are the best ways to care for a dog after a mammary tumor excision surgery, particularly in terms of diet, supplements, and other interventions?
After a dog has had a mammary tumor removed, it's important to consider whether it was benign or malignant. If it is malignant, it's important to focus on reducing inflammation in the body through diet, supplements, and other interventions like CBD oil and bodywork. Supporting the liver and hormone metabolism is also helpful. In addition, it can be beneficial to use a combination of mushroom supplements and mental and emotional clearing to address any shock or fear caused by the diagnosis. If the tumor was benign, it might be sufficient to keep track of the area and ensure it does not recur. It's important to consult with a veterinarian for specific recommendations for your dog's care after mammary tumor excision.
What can I do for a dog that vomits bile first thing in the morning?
To care for a dog that vomits bile in the morning, you might try feeding a small meal late at night before bed or changing the feeding schedule so that the body is not expecting food at a specific time in the morning. Doing so can help prevent the production of stomach acid from irritating the stomach. However, if these interventions do not help, it's important to consult with a veterinarian to identify the underlying cause of the vomiting and determine the appropriate treatment.
What can be causing a cat to constantly chew its paws and scratch its body, despite changes in food and living in Ontario, Canada, year-round?
Skin issues in cats that occur year-round may be related to gut health and food sensitivities and may have a hormonal component. You can test for food sensitivities and the microbiome to address these issues, check for fleas and mites, maintain a healthy weight, and consider detoxing. In some cases, hormone imbalances, such as Buckner's syndrome or nerve syndrome, may be contributing factors, and further investigation may be necessary.
Is it necessary for a 4 to a 6-year-old dog to take flea, tick, heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm medication or prevention measures to address these issues?
It may only sometimes be necessary to give a dog flea, tick, heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm prevention measures, especially if the dog has not been exposed to these pests. Instead of using commercial products, waiting for a problem to occur may be more effective than treating it as needed. When it comes to ticks, send them to a lab for evaluation to determine if any tick-borne diseases are present. The need for heartworm prevention may depend on the location and prevalence of mosquitoes in the area.
Would you suggest a no-carb diet to help an overweight dog lose weight, considering the dog is currently being fed?
To summarize, to help an overweight dog lose weight, it is helpful to determine how much the dog should weigh based on age and size and then reduce the amount of food accordingly. The dog should aim to lose a few pounds per month, and progress should be monitored by weighing the dog regularly. If the dog is not losing weight, it may be helpful to increase exercise slowly and consider hormone levels as a potential contributing factor. Swimming can be a good low-impact form of exercise for overweight dogs.
What are some alternatives to fish oil that contain omega-3s that can be used instead, such as camelina oil?
Carnivores may benefit more from animal-based oils, such as fish oil, as they contain enzymes that can convert these oils into a more beneficial form in the body. Plant-based oils, such as flax oil, may not be as effective and may contain higher omega-6 fatty acids, which can be pro-inflammatory. It is still being determined whether camelina oil would be a good alternative to fish oil for omega-3s.
Conclusion
Thank you for participating in today's live Q&A session with Dr. Suter. We hope you found the information and advice provided to help care for your pets. If you have any additional questions or concerns about your pet's health or well-being, please don't hesitate to contact Poli Pet Customer Support. Our team of knowledgeable and compassionate professionals is here to help you ensure that your furry friend stays happy and healthy. Thank you again for joining us today, and we look forward to answering your questions in the future.
