Q. I'm planning to adopt a dog, but it turns out it got kennel cough. It's only four months old, so how long until the dog would be better if treated? I don't want to bring home a still slightly sick dog because I have an old dog and I don't want her to get sick.
A. First get your other dog treated using the nasal dose (it works better). The cough can last several weeks and is highly contagious. It's not life threatening but can cause complications in an already sick dog. You don't want to expose your other dog to it until you have it cleared up. You will need to keep it in quarantine until it is past the contageous stages.
How do you get rid of the smell and stain of dog urine on a wool area rug?
Q. We had an old sick dog who urinated on the rug several times; we had the rug cleaned but the smell is worse than ever.
A. Have you tried fabreeze? That works for me. I have 5 small markers. It really helps.
what should I look for when I go see this rescue dog? I Do not want to bring home a sick dog?
Q. I am going to go look at a new dog for our family, what warning signs should I be aware of? How do I tell if he is sick or diseased? Do I just spend enough time around him to see if he is coughing and check him for fleas? I Do not want a sick dog
A. Ask the shelter to see vet records and proof that the dog has been tested for worms - our dogs are tested as soon as they come in and if they ever show signs of illness (blood in stool, vomiting, etc.)
Make sure the dog is up to date (UTD) on vaccinations. Beyond that, they can't really assure that the dog will not be "sick" - colds and general illnesses can be common in shelters.
Check that the dg is bright and alert. Clear eyes, no nasal discharge, no coughing or sneezing. The dog should also be interested in it's environment as well as you. Should not really be cowering in a corner or laying down too much, either.
I would also observe the dog's behavior - is the dog jumpy, easy to scare, is the dog gravitating towards you or away from you, does the dog nip or grab at clothing, how does the dog react to passers by (people and other dogs). Ask shelter workers if they ever notice anything "off" about the dog - such as food bowl aggression, how it reacts to the other dogs, etc.
It would be a plus if the shelter does behavioral exams but not all do. Do you know what you want in a dog? I wouldn't go into a shelter unless you know what you're looking for - you need to choose a dog that will MATCH you perfectly or you may end up returning the dog.
Think about size, energy level, exercise needs, grooming needs, etc - if you don't want high energy then stay away from collie or herding dog mixes, if you want easy to train stay away from hounds. Stuff like that.
JRome - No. Sorry, but "many rescue dogs" do not have Wobbler Syndrome. I work in a shelter - we see 25+ new pups/adults every two weeks and have our "usual" dogs - which means there is usually 40+ dogs in our shelter at one time - and i have NEVER seen a dog with Wobbler Syndrome. No diagnosis of it either. Where'd you hear that, television?
Make sure the dog is up to date (UTD) on vaccinations. Beyond that, they can't really assure that the dog will not be "sick" - colds and general illnesses can be common in shelters.
Check that the dg is bright and alert. Clear eyes, no nasal discharge, no coughing or sneezing. The dog should also be interested in it's environment as well as you. Should not really be cowering in a corner or laying down too much, either.
I would also observe the dog's behavior - is the dog jumpy, easy to scare, is the dog gravitating towards you or away from you, does the dog nip or grab at clothing, how does the dog react to passers by (people and other dogs). Ask shelter workers if they ever notice anything "off" about the dog - such as food bowl aggression, how it reacts to the other dogs, etc.
It would be a plus if the shelter does behavioral exams but not all do. Do you know what you want in a dog? I wouldn't go into a shelter unless you know what you're looking for - you need to choose a dog that will MATCH you perfectly or you may end up returning the dog.
Think about size, energy level, exercise needs, grooming needs, etc - if you don't want high energy then stay away from collie or herding dog mixes, if you want easy to train stay away from hounds. Stuff like that.
JRome - No. Sorry, but "many rescue dogs" do not have Wobbler Syndrome. I work in a shelter - we see 25+ new pups/adults every two weeks and have our "usual" dogs - which means there is usually 40+ dogs in our shelter at one time - and i have NEVER seen a dog with Wobbler Syndrome. No diagnosis of it either. Where'd you hear that, television?
Is it possible for a dog to be misdiagnosed with kidney failure?
Q. My 11-1/2 yo lab was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. The vets were amazed at her numbers as she is still so happy and active and does not act at all like a sick dog. The vet put her on special diet with supplements and the excessive thirst and urination stopped almost immediately and she seems even perkier than before. Is it possible that the test could be in error? Could it be the result of her "getting into something" that was passing through her system?
A. Every dog is different with kidney failure and you treat the dog and not the numbers which are a guide to getting worse or improving. If it is Acute kidney failure then maybe the tests will change, if Chronic (kindeys damaged but managing, just, long term) then the tests are usually right.
Go to the kidney disease section at
http://www.dogaware.com
Consider joining this excellent group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS/
Go to the kidney disease section at
http://www.dogaware.com
Consider joining this excellent group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS/
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment