Scoots bottom on floor

My 8 week old puppy scoots around on her bottom. She also tries to bite her bottom, but can't reach.

Is this something to be concerned about?



Hi
'Scooting' is usually caused by one of two things - worms or impacted anal glands.

In a puppy of 8 weeks, worms is the most likely cause.

Puppies are generally dewormed at least 3 times during the first couple of months, and it should be done routinely at the same time as she gets her vaccinations.

If she hasn't had any shots yet, it's time she got started. Make sure your vet deworms her at the same time. This should take care of the problem :o)

Best of luck with your little girl.

Does my Pomeranian have a health issue?

by Susan Ott
(Shippensburg, PA)

Sometimes my Pomeranian seems to have trouble breathing, or at least that is what we take it as.

She will make this snorting sort of sound and she lifts her head up in the air. Can you tell me what this may be or why it happens?

When she does it, it looks like it would be painful.




Hi Susan
I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and I can't say what is going on with your dog, but I can make a personal observation...

It sounds as though your dog may be 'reverse sneezing'. This is actually fairly common in some of the small/toy breeds. The exact symptoms of this can vary, but often sound like 'honking', snorting or wheezing.

It can be caused by a soft-palate problem, and although it sounds strange, and may be scary, it usually only lasts a few seconds (or up to a minute or two) and is harmless. Reverse sneezing often happens when a dog has been very active, or gets very excited. Sometimes if you gently rub your dogs' throat, or cover her nostrils for a few seconds, you can stop the sneezing fit.

Odd breathing sounds or 'honking' and so on, can also occur as a result of a collapsed trachea (windpipe) and is also often seen in very small/tiny breeds. Again, excitement can start an 'episode', or it can be triggered by a pull on the dogs' collar and so on.

These are just two possibilities, and there are others. However, only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis, and I would strongly recommend that you take your pup to the veterinarian for an examination.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, and once you know what is causing the problem you will feel less worried. Best of luck.

My black lab seems to not be breathing very well after running.

by angela
(galena, md, usa )

My black lab seems to not be breathing very well after running.

We brought him inside and put him in the ac but he is still breathing hard.

what can i do?



Hi Angela
Your dog could be overheated, over tired or stressed. All of these could result in heavy panting/breathing.

Keeping him cool and giving him water to drink should help in these cases. However, it's also possible that he could have a heart problem of some sort that is causing his symptoms.

Large and giant breed dogs can develop a condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy, which basically means that the heart muscle isn't contracting properly and the heart is under a lot of strain. Symptoms can be triggered by exercise or stress.

I would recommend that you have your dog examined by your vet and tell him about this issue. A chest X-ray, electrocardiogram or and EKG can diagnose the problem.

I don't want to frighten you and I'm not a vet so I'm not making any kind of professional diagnosis, but I think it's important to be aware of potential serious conditions like this. Hopefully the tests will rule this out in your dog, or your vet will find it is due to something entirely different. It's always better to be safe than sorry though.

Best of luck, hope your big guy is feeling better soon.

My Puppy has Diarrhea

by Sheila
(Minnnesota)

I took my dog to the vet yesterday . He got a rabies shot & the distemper/parv 2nd booster.He has Diarrhea. Its dark brown .I also gave him a heart worm, one i got through the vet . It was totally normal before i took him there . He is bouncing around and wants to play. He hates puppy chow food. He may take a few bites and that's it.

He's running all over the place , I have been trying out new soft foods he was eating it but didn't have diarrhea, trying to get him to be to eat something. He likes to like people food. He did seemed nervous and the vet he was shaking and stuff Its hard knowing if that was the problem . Thank you




Hi Sheila
I think the recent changes in his diet coupled with the stress of the vet visit and the shots/wormer are the most likely culprits in terms of causing your pups' diarrhea.

If he seems happy and healthy otherwise and is drinking normally, even if he's not eating a whole lot yet, I wouldn't worry too much.

Many puppies are 'picky eaters' and it's best not to pander to their whims. Just choose a premium dog food and offer it to him regularly, he will eat it when he gets hungry!

Diarrhea in puppies can be caused by a reaction to their puppy shots, puppy worms, stress, a change of diet and lots of other things. My Puppy Diarrhea page has lots of information and advice on this.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your little guy.

poorly 11 week old pup

by tanya darby
(sheffield)

My puppy has been sick for five hours now and has really dark watery poo, i changed her puppy food yesterday to butchers from chappie could that be what has made her ill ?

what can i do to help her ?



Hi Tanya
It's difficult to say on this one, as a sudden change in diet can definitely cause puppy diarrhea, but it rarely causes vomiting and shouldn't cause other signs or symptoms of illness.

If your puppy seems lethargic, is having repeated diarrhea (which is not showing any signs of improving or becoming more solid), is vomiting, has lost her appetite or seems to be feeling ill, she definitely needs to see a veterinarian. It could be that she's caught one of the common dog illnesses that puppies are susceptible to. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital in this case.

However, if she seems happy and healthy apart from the diarrhea, is eating and drinking normally (and keeping it down) you can probably afford to 'wait and see' for 24 hours. Do make sure that she's getting plenty of water though to make up for the fluid loss caused by her loose stools.

Hope this helps, the page links in the above answer will also give you more advice and information. If you are in doubt or worried though, please have your veterinarian examine your pup. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

my puppy is soooo sick pls help :(

by Kat
(CA)

My terrier has been suddenly losing his energy. He is usually very energetic and is always buzzing round the house. But now I can't even hardly see him around the house and he can't even stand.

A few days ago I saw him in the washroom, he was licking something with blood in it. Yucky I know. And after some time he vomited blood. This is when he started being listless. Some hours passed and he once again vomited, now it's something yellowish.

He hardly even eats nor drinks and he has gotten so thin. :( His bowels are rather viscous and with some blood.

Sadly though I really regret it, I can't bring him to the vet for some reasons. What should I do? Thanks!




Hi Kat
I'm so sorry that your dog is sick, but I'm afraid that there's nothing that I can do to help. From what you describe, this little guy is very sick and he needs urgent veterinary attention. He is at risk of dying without it.

If it's financial concerns that are keeping you from getting him the help he needs, I'd suggest calling some of your local veterinarians and explaining the situation to them. Sometimes they will work out a payment plan with you, so that your dog can get the help he needs.

Blood in his stools and vomit is serious, and if he's not eating/drinking, lethargic and losing weight he is very sick indeed. He's relying on you to take care of him, and I'd strongly suggest that you do everything you can to find a vet who will see him. I believe that's his only chance at recovery.

Also, bear in mind that many infections can be treated fairly simply with anti-biotics and so on. Obviously I don't know what is causing your dogs' symptoms, but the treatment isn't necessarily going to be horrendously expensive, but the longer he's sick the more treatment he's going to need. You need to move quickly.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that your dog gets the help he needs to make a full recovery.

Growth

by Maria Markou
(Corfu Greece)

Hi, my puppy is now 10 months old, can you tell me when he will stop growing.

Thanks Maria




Hi Maria
That depends on what breed of dog he is. Small and tiny breeds can be mature as early as 10 months old. Medium size dogs at around 12 - 14 months, and large/extra-large or giant breeds can take as long as 18 months to 2 years to reach their full height/weight.

If your pup is a mixed breed pup, then it can be a real guessing game, unless his parents are purebreds and you know how big they were!

To find out ways to estimate the adult size of your pup, check out my Puppy Weight Estimates and Puppy Weight Chart pages.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup.

baby chihuahuas

by rabia
(ca,valerio,)

when do you separate baby chihuahuas from their mom?




Hi Rabia
The momma dog naturally begins to wean her puppies when they're around 3 to 4 weeks old, but that doesn't mean that they are ready to leave her.

Puppies should never leave their momma until they're at least 8 weeks old. With tiny and toy breeds like Chihuahuas, often 10 to 12 weeks is better.

You can find out more about taking care of a litter of puppies on my New Born Puppies page. Also, check out my articles on Puppy Development and Chihuahua Puppy Care.

Best of luck with your puppies.

Does My Yorkiepoo need to be kenneled?

We have a six month old male yorkiepoo who is for the most part housebroken, we got him when he was 8 weeks old and the housebreaking has been fairly simply, but he (Pepper) absolutely won't stay in a kennel.

We have tried everything. I put him in the bathroom when I would go to work, but he has scratched the wood work real bad.

So we bought some gates and put him in the kitchen/dining room because he would have more freedom and it would be easy to clean if he had an accident. But every evening I would come home from work to find him at the front door waiting on me....

Is it too early just to let him have run of the house? He apparently won't stay in the kitchen and we haven't had any messes.... What do you think?



Hi
Most puppies don't like being left in their crates at first, and they will kick up a fuss and complain loud and long! However, it's necessary for them to learn that they need to stay in their crate, quietly, at certain times... and that you will always return and let them out.

After 6 months, I'm sure Pepper would whine, cry, bark, scratch and so on if crated... probably for quite some time. But, if you are consistent about it, he will learn to quieten down and accept his crate. It's a battle to see who has the strongest will and nerves really - one you really need to win. You can read more about crate training on my Crate Training page.

However, if he is house-trained to the point where he doesn't mess in the house when you are gone, or chew things up, (unusual at this age, but possible) then he could maybe be left un-crated. Of course, you would need to be absolutely sure that he couldn't hurt himself, or get into things he shouldn't. Also, if he does eliminate or destroy things, you will need to move onto crating.

Every puppy is an individual, and every family situation is different, so it is really a judgment call on your part here. If you think he is able to be reliable, and he will be safe, try giving him free rein in at least a couple of rooms (or one floor) and see how it goes.

Good luck with your little guy.

8 wk old mini schnauzer and playtime

by Irene
(California)

Hello,

I have an 8 week old miniature schnauzer. When I play with her she tends to become overly excited to a point where she will start growling and getting down on her front legs...however, her tail is wagging which I'm guessing is a good sign that she is in a good mood.

She also will run like crazy around the house and at times tend to look like she's having a spasm (she uncontrollably looks side to side for a few seconds as if something is behind her). I also try to confine her so she is not running around the whole house but she paws at the gate and becomes even more hyper by hopping around from side to side. Is this kind of behavior normal for an 8 week old puppy? She only has had her 1st set of shots so I am unable to take her out for more exercise. If this is not normal, then I would like to know asap since I wouldn't want her to have this kind of behavior in the long run.

Also, can you suggest any ideas in how to play with an 8 week old puppy indoors since I currently can't take her out for walks due to her lack of vaccinations? She has a lot of energy when she is awake. Any advice would be appreciated and most helpful for this new puppy owner.

Thank you!




Hi Irene
What you're describing sounds pretty normal for an energetic 8 week old pup. They can get very excited... and the growling and getting down on her front legs is often called 'play bowing'. In doggie language it means "come on, I want to play!".

Running around in circles is something called 'zooming' or I call it the 'puppy crazies'. It's more common in the evening and is a way that puppies burn off all that excess energy. It's not a problem unless she graduates to snapping at things or people as she zooms about. Then you have to correct her.

If you have a fenced yard, it's okay for her to go out there to play, as the risk of infection is very low.

Puppies do have tons of energy, but luckily it usually comes in short 'bursts', followed by a nap! Playing games such as 'fetch' can still be done indoors - just avoid the frisbee variety. You can also get a couple of empty soda bottles and use them to play 'soccer'. Most puppies love to chase these bottles as they're light, and make a fun noise.

Some very simple training sessions, such as learning to 'sit' are also a good way to calm her down, and the concentration she uses, helps to tire her out too. Make the session short though, puppies have very short attention spans. You can find out more about basic puppy training on my Puppy Training page.

If you have friends or relatives with healthy, vaccinated pups/dogs, it's okay to arrange 'play dates' with them. As long as your puppy isn't exposed to public areas where other unvaccinated, or sick, dogs may have been she will be fine.

Although she gets 'hyper' when you confine her (this is normal by the way), she needs to learn to spend time alone, otherwise she is at higher risk for developing what I call the 'velcro puppy' syndrome which can lead to separation anxiety later on.

Using a crate or confining her in a puppy proofed room (such as kitchen or laundry room), or a puppy play/exercise pen, for short periods is okay. Just ignore her if she cries and complains, she needs to learn to accept this. My Crate Training page can help you with this. Crates aren't just a wonderful housebreaking tool, they're important for keeping your puppy (and your belongings) safe when you're gone, and the best way for a puppy to travel in the car.

I hope this answers your questions and puts your mind at rest. Best of luck with your little girl!

Chihuahua accidentally hurt

by Alicia Lolo

My chihuahua jump down from my arms and hit her head on the floor she then did not move and blood was coming out from her ear and a huge bump was on her head.

Would she had live if I took her to the vet really fast?




Hi Alicia
I'm afraid this Q&A page isn't suitable for questions that are emergency health issues or anything similar. I simply can't respond quickly enough.

I truly hope that your puppy survived her fall and that you got her the attention that she needed quickly.

Tiny breeds like Chihuahuas are very easily hurt, and a simple accident can cause serious injury due to their tiny size.

In that sort of situation, the only thing to do is get your puppy to your vet or an emergency veterinary hospital right away.

Puppy afraid to leave home

My German Shepherd puppy is now 4 months old and when I try to take him on a walk he whimpers, jumps and nips at my legs and grabs the leash and tries to pull me home. He is ok in the car and loves going to doggie daycare, but starts this behavior if I try to take him on a walk away from car or house.

He is getting worse, even though I have pulled back and continue walking each time. When he sees other dogs, he used to follow. He doesn't do that any longer.

Appreciate any help I can get! Thanks!



Hi
What a beautiful pup you have there! It sounds as though he's a bit anxious about walking away from the environment that he's familiar with - and this isn't terribly unusual.

I'm wondering if he's okay on the leash in other situations, or if perhaps the leash itself is a source of anxiety for him. If you think this could be contributing to the problem, let him wear his leash indoors, dragging it around sometimes (while you supervise to prevent any accidents or injury), and other times with you just holding the leash and following him around. This helps to desensitize a puppy to feeling the weight and pressure of the leash and makes them more comfortable wearing it.

It's important not to give into his fears, but to continue to take him walking, encouraging him in a cheerful, upbeat way. Don't punish him, or 'baby' him, just be matter of fact about it and ignore his protests. Puppies like this who are anxious about new things, need plenty of socialization experiences and exposure to different people, places and things so that they gain confidence. Just take it slow and steady.

The fact that he loves the car, and enjoys doggie daycare is wonderful, it shows that he will learn to be comfortable in new situations and environments and that he's developing self-confidence. Well, done.

I'd also advise enrolling him in a Puppy or Beginners Class at a dog obedience school now. GSD's are very intelligent and willing to please, and I think he'll benefit greatly from that experience.

Best of luck with your beautiful pup.

my puppy doesnt want puppy replacement milk what should i do

by dayanna
(florida)

My 1 month puppy doesn't want 2 eat at all. i give him replacement milk for puppies but he doesn't want to eat. he also cries and looks depressed, what should i do?


Hi Dayanna
If your puppy isn't eating he's already in trouble. Such a young puppy will get dehydrated very quickly, that will make him weak and he'll be less inclined (or able) to eat... a vicious circle really.

My New Born Puppies page has lots of general information and advice on caring for tiny pups, but this one needs expert help now.

I strongly recommend that you take your puppy to a veterinarian right away. He could have an infection or some other issue that is making him feel ill, without eating/drinking he is at risk of dying quite quickly. Please get him to a vet asap.

I wish you the best of luck and hope this little guy is feeling much better soon.

Mug-z the jumping pup

Hello there" I have a question My puppy Mug-z is part deer part hound and very smart. He is around 7 months old. And when i say deer he can jump from the floor to the counter top with the greatest of ezzzzzz.

We have tried mouse traps he has learn to disable them, we have tried pepper and the likes, what am i doing wrong? My wife and i try to keep the counter clean but he is dead set it is a feeding station.

Please help if you can.

Thank you
Chaplain





Hi Chaplain
I can see how this would be a problem, especially as your pup seems super smart. It's really going to take some patience and persistence to cure Mug-z of this behavior, but it can be done.

I'd recommend setting up some 'training sessions' for him, to be done several times a day. You need to have him learn to associate this 'counter cruising' with negative consequences. He probably doesn't think making you verbally reprimand him or chase him down is much of a deterrent :o)

Get a long training leash (or even a piece of sturdy rope) and attach it to his collar. You need to hold the end lightly and let him 'do his thing'. When he goes to jump at the counter, give him a sharp tug on the leash and a stern verbal correction. Pulling the leash will unbalance him and he'll have to return all four feet to the ground. You will need to repeat this over and over again, every day, until he understands.

It sounds simple I know, but it's the consistency of the correction that will make the difference.

There is also such a thing as a 'no-jump' harness that you can buy at stores such as Petsmart. It's not something that Mug-z can wear all the time as it is restrictive and not meant for longtime wear, but it may help in the short-term. It prevents him from being able to move his legs into position to jump, and is meant as a training aid for dogs who jump up all the time. You may want to check it out.

Dogs are creatures of habit, and once they learn a habit it takes patience and consistency to help them un-learn it. Mug-z is smart, so I think you'll be successful if you really stick at it.

Best of luck!

Help!!

My little cockapoo Charly is three months old and she came to me from Tennessee when she was eight weeks. She has a very sweet personality but also a
rambunctious side at times.

One thing that we have noticed with her is that
when she gets extremely excited and/or super tired she gets aggressive, mouthy, and in fact will chomp down on my hand/arm if it is doing something she doesn't like, such as picking her up to take her inside or to put her in her crate, etc.

She is not vicious in any way, shape or form, but I'm worried that this behavior could escalate into something worse. My dad came to the house to see her and she got so excited that when he reached down to pet her she actually did bite
him and left quite a gash in his arm. I know that puppies mouth and bite but when she has these "hyper aggressive fits" it is more than just mouthing and I think could be dangerous later on.

The other question relates to other dogs/puppies. Charly has been staying fairly close to home the past month because she hasn't had all of her vaccines, but on Monday she started her puppy preschool class. When we walked in the door
a little Weimeraner puppy came over to her and the first thing she did was cower down low, whine and pee on the floor. She was scared of almost all of the other puppies and it wasn't until the end of class that she somewhat relaxed.

This morning I took her for a walk and we encountered a black lab who wouldn't hurt a
fly, so I thought I would let Charly meet him and see what happened. She was fine from a distance and when I was holding her letting him sniff her a little. However, when I put her down she cowered down again, shrieked in fear and peed right there in the street.

Is this normal puppy behavior? Do they grow out of it?

Any response would be appreciated and thanks in advance for reading this long
spiel ;)

Charly's mom.



Hi Charly's Mom
At 3 months old your pups' impulse control is still not very well formed, and if she has an anxious or excitable personality, too much stimulation can result in inappropriate behavior such as excessive nipping/biting.

This is most likely why she is very mouthy or nippy at times, it's probably not an aggression or dominance issue at this point. The fact that she gets fearful around other dogs, and urinates submissively also indicates an anxious under-tone to her behavior. It could be that she also nips when she's scared (eg. when your dad reached for her). This sort of behavior needs to be eliminated while she's young.

Make sure that you correct her firmly whenever she bites/nips by telling her "NO" and don't back off from whatever it is you are doing. She needs to know that nipping will not shape your behavior. You can find lots of tips and advice on dealing with a mouthy puppy on my Puppy Biting page.

The fearful and submissive behavior you notice in her when she's around other dogs, isn't very unusual either. That's why early (and continued) socialization is so important. Now that she's fully vaccinated, you're already on the right track by taking her to puppy classes, and the more new places, people and things that she comes into contact with, the easier it will get for her. As her self-confidence increases, she will be less likely to act so scared, or to urinate. It just takes time and patience.

You can find lots of advice on socialization on my Socialize Your Puppy

Raising a puppy really is like raising a child in a lot of ways, and you will find that she will go through 'phases' just the way a child would. It's important to set boundaries and to discipline and correct in a firm, but loving, way. Expose her to new situations gently and consistently, and you can help her grow up to be all that she can be.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with Charly.

Vaccines

by Maria
(rocheste Ny)

I recently bought a puppy on March 27th, according to the paper work he started his vaccines on March 10th which included distemper,Hepatitis, parvo,and parainfluenza. Since then I have taken him to the vet on two other occasions according to every thing I have read he only needs three parvo vaccines but I'm scheduled to take him in for one more parvo and his rabies.

He is a lhasa apso and is always home only goes into the yard for play and to relieve himself he can't go on car rides because he gets sick. So I don't believe he's at much risk he's never around other dogs. should I take him in for a parvo or should I just get the rabies vaccine. by the way he was born on january 5th it makes him only 5 months and a week.




Hi Maria
I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and I would always advise that you take your vets advice over mine when it comes down to health matters.

I'm not sure why your vet is recommending a 4th Parvo shot, unless the area you live in is experiencing many infections. However, most veterinarians have their own protocol when it comes to puppy vaccination and they can vary.

I have Rottweilers, and the fact that they're very susceptible to this disease means that we always do a 4th Parvo shot. As far as I know Lhasa Apsos don't have this issue.

Your little guy definitely needs his Rabies shot, but if I were in your position I would discuss the fourth Parvo shot with the vet and ask why he considers it necessary. The decision is then yours to make.

Canine Parvovirus is a horrible, vicious disease and very contagious. But given that your pup has minimal exposure to areas where unvaccinated dogs may have been, and that he's had 3 sets of the vaccine, I personally don't think that he is in danger. BUT again, that's purely a personal opinion, not a professional one.

Puppy Vaccinations

How long after the DHLPP vaccination is given can the Rabies vaccination be given?



Hi
Although in adult dogs, the booster shots for DHLPP and Rabies are usually given at the same time, in puppies it's best to separate them by at least a couple of weeks.

Puppies often experience mild reactions to their puppy shots, and the more vaccinations given at the same time, the more chance of reaction.

I'd strongly recommend that you discuss this with your veterinarian and follow his recommendations. I'm not a vet myself and any advice I give is purely a personal opinion, or gained from personal experience. With puppy health care it's always best to take your vets advice.

Best of luck with your pup.

de worm medicine for puppy

by Jac
(California)

Can a puppy take too much worm meds and what will it do?




Hi Jac
Well, yes if someone gives a puppy more than the recommended dose of deworming medications, then this could happen.

Unless you're familiar with raising puppies, it's best not to try to deworm puppies yourself, and don't use over the counter type medications. They are not very effective, and can have unwanted side effects. Plus you need to know exactly what kind of worms your puppy has in order to treat them properly.

The sort of results an overdose of dewormer may have, depends on what the active ingredient is, and what type of medication was used. These medicines can cause digestive upset or other side effects such as diarrhea or vomiting, even when given in the correct dosage.

If you have any concerns about your puppy, or whether or not he's been given too much dewormer, please talk to your veterinarian and ask his/her advice. If your pup seems sick in any way, you can call the Animal Poison Control Hotline (find this on my Dog Poisoning page) or a local 24 hour emergency pet hospital.

A young puppy can get sick, or even possibly die, if he's had too much dewormer, but it really depends on the size/age of the pup, what medication was used, and how much is 'too much'. Whenever in doubt, talk to a veterinarian.

Best of luck, hope your puppy does just fine.

Help

by Amber
(kingman airzona 86409)

Whats wrong with my puppy I can see its ribs



Hi Amber
I'm afraid it's not possible for me to tell you what's going on with your puppy in this situation, and I'm not a vet so can only give a personal opinion or suggestion.

However, a young puppy should not be thin, it should be well rounded (but not fat). Many puppies have intestinal worms of one kind or another, and these parasites can take all the nutrients from the puppy, leaving him hungry all the time, but not putting on weight. Other signs of a worm problem are a swollen belly, rough dry coat and a general feeling of not being well.

I'd strongly recommend that you have your pup examined by your veterinarian. If he has worms, your vet can give him an effective deworming medication that will get rid of them. You can learn more about worms on my Puppy Worms page.

If there is another problem causing him not to gain, or to lose, weight, your vet will be able to diagnose that also. Little puppies can get very sick, very fast, so it's always better to be safe than sorry and seek veterinary help if you are concerned.

Best of luck, hope your little guy is doing better soon.

10 week old jack cross chi

by joanne
(bristol,uk)

hi i have a 10 week old puppy. She is well in herself growing and very happy and energetic and playful.

I am feeding her on butchers puppy food, and she has really runny poos, occasionally she has a solid one but most of them are runny, and there seems to be white liquid in them. She has been thoroughly wormed and checked over by the vet ,can anyone help me and give me any advice?

I think it may be to do with the food, should i change it or stick with it or add dry food ,i'm not sure really what to do ?

thanks joanne





Hi Joanne
It sounds as though your puppy is having a digestive issue of some sort, but it's impossible for me to say for sure what is causing it I'm afraid.

During the first couple of weeks in their new home, a new puppy often experiences some tummy troubles. These are commonly a result of the stress and change in diet that goes along with their new circumstances. Deworming medications can also sometimes cause diarrhea or other symptoms.

I'm not familiar with the Butchers' brand, but did some research online to get an overview. I'm assuming that you're feeding the cans or pouches, and 'wet' food is definitely more likely to produce loose stools due to it's high water content and characteristics.

The white liquid you notice in your pups motions may well be mucus, which indicates that there is some degree of irritation in his intestines. It could be that he's sensitive to one, or more, of the ingredients in the food.

If this situation doesn't settle down within the next week, I would suggest that you try a dry food that's been specifically designed for small breed puppies with dog food allergies or sensitivities.

There are also some very good natural dietary supplements that you can give to your puppy on a regular basis to help maintain a healthy, well-balanced digestive process. You can find out more about these on my Natural Remedies for Dogs page.

I hope this helps somewhat, best of luck with your new pup.

labrador retriever shedding

by Yvonne
(Hope Mills, NC)

My 5 and 1/2 month old lab sheds constantly. Is this normal? He eats a good puppy chow mixed with a can of the same in adult canned food.




Hi Yvonne
Well, labradors are a breed know to be 'shedders'. However it shouldn't be extreme, except at the change of seasons or when losing his puppy coat - at those times a pup/dog will literally 'blow his coat' and that can make quite a mess!

Your puppy is 5 months old, and the weather is getting warmer, so it could be that the two situations have combined to cause him to lose a lot of hair. But, if your puppy is scratching a lot or has any skin irritation he may have somea href="http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/dog-allergies.html">dog allergies going on.

If you're feeding a premium puppy food (check out my 10 Best Dog Food Choices page for more info on this), he shouldn't need any additional supplements. Also, make sure you're not bathing him too much, which can cause overly dry skin and brittle hair.

If you notice any patches of thinning hair or hair loss, he could have a skin disease or a parasitic problem. Check out my Puppy Hair Loss and Mange in Dogs pages for more information and advice on this.

Grooming your puppy every day can really help to reduce the amount of hair he manages to distribute over your home, carpets, clothes etc. A great tool is the FURminator De-Shedding Tool. It works a lot better than your average brush or comb and removes the dead hair and loose undercoat that is to blame for a lot of the shedding. It's worth it's weight in gold!

If none of the above seem to apply, or you're concerned, I'd recommend talking to your veterinarian about this. He should be able to give you more advice, and if necessary examine your pup and suggest measures that will help. Best of luck!

Even though she is NOT alone

by LJ
(Lancaster South Carolina, USA)

This is our little "princess"!!

I have a Pom-chi puppy who is 8 weeks old. She is a sweet and lovable little girl and loves playing with and being with everyone! She is a "social butterfly" already! The problem is this: in the mornings,for the past 2 mornings, since my kids have gone back to school after spring break, when they leave, the puppy will whine non-stop for almost an hour.

I am a stay at home mom, and even though the children leave, I am still here, always in her sight, and still, she whines and whines and whimpers and whines. She will roam around the house or even sit right at my feet, sometimes on top of my feet and still she will whine and whine. (Did I mention she whines?)

I have tried to hold her and comfort her, and she still whines when I am holding her. I have tried wrapping her in her favorite blanket and holding her and she still whines. I have offered her her toys, food, water and even outside playtime adventures, and still she whines.

My girls left for school over an hour and a half ago, and she has finally decided to calm down and rest on my slippers, which incidentally, my feet are still in. She is being quiet now, but I cannot get up for fear I will disturb her and she will start the whining all over again. I have tried everything I can think of, and nothing is helping but for her to, somewhat like a baby, "whine" or "cry" herself to sleep. In this case on my feet!

Is this separation anxiety, or could there be something else? She is healthy, has had shots, wormed, etc,... Please help because I am not sure how to handle this situation! I have had dogs all of my life, inside and outside dogs, and this is the first time I have ever dealt with this type of behavior from a "furbaby" Even our Pitt, who we got when he was 4 1/2 weeks old, never showed this much emotion.

Thank you so much!!
LJ




Hi LJ
Your little girl is certainly giving you 'the works', but I doubt that there's anything really wrong with her.

As you know, all puppies are different (just like children), and no matter how many you might raise, you will always come across something that you haven't had to deal with before :o)

It sounds as though your little girl is very emotional and has bonded closely with your daughters, so it's natural that she will be upset when they leave. She's still just a tiny baby herself and is trying to figure out her place in everything. In my opinion this isn't true separation anxiety.

Although you're trying to comfort her, it doesn't seem to help, and to be honest I think the best thing to do is to just be as upbeat as possible and ignore the whining. I do know how difficult this is, and your nerves will probably be pretty jangled for a few days, but I'm pretty sure that if you can take this tack with her, she will overcome this habit given a little time.

If she whines and cries, just talk to her in a happy voice, it doesn't really matter what you say as she won't understand it anyway, it's more to convey confidence and show her that everything is okay. Then just go about your business as usual. If she follows you and wants to sit on your feet, that's okay, as long as it doesn't make life too difficult for you. If it does, gently distract her with her toys or whatever, and move on. She'll get the picture in time. I'd advise that you do stay within her sight though, or take her with you if you need to go far, that way she will feel reassured by your presence.

There's always an adjustment period with puppies, and no two will act the same way. Don't worry about this too much, as long as she seems healthy otherwise this is just something she will need to overcome by herself.

Puppies are creatures of habit and the feel more secure with a regular routine that they can anticipate. If possible, follow a predictable schedule as much as you can for at least an hour or so after your daughters head off to school. Your puppy will soon pick up on that and it will help her to feel less stressed out.

I wish you the best of luck with your little princess, she looks adorable! Enjoy her.

How can I clean the gook around my puppies eyes?

by Dianna DeCicco
(The Colony, TX USA)

I have a 9 week old Maltese puppy that has reddish/brown tear stains and some gook on the fur under her eyes.

I realize I probably won't be removing the stains but I do want to remove the gook rather than let it build up. I've used lukewarm water and a soft cloth but still no luck getting the sticky out. Is there anything safe to use?




Hi Dianna
Tear stains like this are very common in white dogs, and there are lots of things that can cause them. Drinking water that is unfiltered, red food dyes in dog food and treats and so on are common culprits.

If your pup has green discharge she could have a mild infection which is causing the tearing and staining. Your vet could diagnose this for you and antibiotics would treat it.

There are several food supplements that can help eliminate this red staining 'from the inside out'. AngelEyes is a very well known brand and you can find out more at AngelEyesOnline.com

In terms of actually wiping away the stains, warm water and a damp washcloth are really the best way to go. You can also try spreading a little Vaseline Jelly on the area and then wiping it off with a tissue, sometimes that helps to loosen the 'gunk'. I'd definitely check with your vet to rule out infection too though.

Best of luck with that adorable little girl.

Should we go to the vet?

by Ashley reeseblondie86@yahoo.com
(Ca)

Lou-Dog

Hi there,
this started on tuesday night, my 6 month old aussie/border collie puppy vomited a couple times (clear and frothy) and wouldn't eat or drink the rest of the night.

He usually wakes us up and is very entegetic but yesterday he didn't even get up and was sleeping most of the day. He ate one tiny scoop of food last night but that's it since tuesday, but we've made sure he's drinking a lot.

We are staying at my grandparents instead of our normal residence and there's a ton of different kinds of plants out here... Not sure if ate something.

Thank you for any advice i think it's awesome you reach out to help this way! Ashley





Hi Ashley
This sort of thing is always a bit of a difficult call, especially from a distance like this. It definitely sounds as though he's ingested something that didn't agree with him - and the way pups get into things, that's not unusual.

How serious or long-lasting the effects, really depends on what he ate. If he isn't still vomiting or having diarrhea and is able to keep food and water down, chances are that it's been a mild upset and he is going to get over this by himself. The fact that he's been drinking plenty and (from what I can gather) been keeping that down, is a good thing. Dehydration can be a real problem otherwise.

However, if by today he is still lethargic, not eating or vomiting or having diarrhea, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian to make sure there's no treatment needed.

I hope this helps a bit, and that he is back to normal soon. Best of luck with him!

how big will my puppy get?

by sheri beck
(west bend ,wis.usa)

how big will my boston terrier chihuahua mix get?



Hi Sheri
With a mixed breed pup it's very difficult to give an estimate of size, because it depends on whether the pup is going to be closer to the mom or dad.

You can be fairly confident that the puppy will fall somewhere between the parents in terms of size/weight (providing they are both purebred) - but even within a single litter there can be wide variations.

To find out how to 'guess-timate' the size/weight of your pup at maturity, check out my Puppy Weight Estimates and Puppy Weight Chart pages.

puppy worm/scooting question

My son's new puppy just had something hanging out of its anus-looked like a white string, specifically like dental tape type floss. Could this be a tape worm? Also, the puppy is "scooting" its bottom around on the sidewalk or ground when we take her outside to potty.

She was having firm, formed stools, but today had a "runny" bm all over the floor. It was after this mishap that we noticed the string thing hanging from her. Her eating habits have not changed and she appears to be a chubby little healthy puppy.

Should we take her to the vet? It did not look like a grain of rice as mentioned in the articles about puppy worms. This is our first puppy experience and are unsure.




Hi
It sounds to me as though your sons puppy has roundworms. They are the most common type of worms found in puppies. The scooting is a classic symptom of worms. It is possible for these worms to be transmitted to humans (most common in children as they tend to touch all sorts of things and then put their hands in their mouths!), so excellent personal hygiene is important.

As your puppy is happy and healthy, she likely only has a mild infestation, so there's no need to panic. However, treating this properly is important to prevent any future problems.

Definitely take your pup to your veterinarian and ask him/her to deworm your pup. There are worming medications that you can buy at petstores, but I strongly advise people not to use them. They are ineffective at best, and can cause unwanted side effects. The only safe and reliable way to deworm a pup is to have your vet take a stool sample, and then give/prescribe the correct medication.

Hope this puts your mind at rest. Best of luck with your puppy!

how old should puppies drink water?

i have a 4 week old chihuahua,and would like to know when may i give her water?



Hi
At 4 weeks old a puppy should still be with her momma, and she will most likely already be started on weaning.

She should be getting fed three to four times a day at this age, to supplement her mommas milk. You can give her water at the same times as you feed her if she is still nursing from her momma. If she isn't getting any milk from her mom, then make sure she has access to fresh water at all times.

Only use a shallow bowl and supervise her when she's drinking.

You might find this page helpful...Chihuahua Puppy Care. Best of luck with this puppy.

mysterious bumps

What do i do if my dog suddenly has a mysterious bump under her mouth?




Hi
It depends really on what kind of a bump. Is it large or small? Under the skin or on the skin? Red, painful or containing pus? Itchy?... and so on.

If your pup isn't on an effective flea and tick preventative it could possibly be an allergic reaction to flea saliva - but you would normally see more of these on the rest of her body in that case. Could it be a sting or bite from an insect?


Is there any hair loss or baldness around the bump? Some puppies develop hair loss that can be due to mange. This often shows up as small bumps or pimples on the muzzle and face, accompanied by some hair loss.

If the swelling is under the skin it could be an enlarged lymph node, which could indicate infection or juvenile cellulitis (puppy stangles) and auto-immune condition. If your pup recently had her puppy vaccinations and has any other areas of swelling on her face/head, it could be an allergic reaction.

All in all, there are so many possibilities that only your vet can make the correct diagnosis. I'd recommend that you take your puppy to your veterinarian and ask his/her opinion. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck.

How many times does my puppy need to get shots?

I got my puppy 5 in one booster shot and the bordetella shot. Does he need more shots.if so what kind does he need? How many more does he need in his first year?

I know he needs a Rabies shot,at 4 months,right?



Hi
Puppies need 3 sets of the combination vaccination, given at 3 week intervals. Then their Rabies shot at around 16 weeks or so.

You can find all the information you need about vaccinating your puppy on my Puppy Shots page.

Best of luck with your pup.

Hello

by Chantelle Wozny
(Nottinghamshire)

My Dog.

Hello We Have A 7 Month Old Border Collie, And He Is Always Chasing His Tail And Trying To Bite It And Because He Has Been Doing That His Tail Has Curled Round At The End....Is It Meant To Be Like That Or Has He Done Something To His Tail?....

Please Could You Help.

Thankyou. x




Hi Chantelle
Your pup is adorable - love those ears! If he is constantly chasing his tail and it's to the point where he's actually 'reshaping' it, this could be an obsessive compulsive behavior rather than just playing.

There are a few different OCD behaviors that are seen in dogs. Tail chasing is one of them, the others include obsessive licking and 'spinning', which is when the dogs just goes around and around in a circle (not necessarily chasing his tail though). Like OCD behaviors in people, these need to be controlled.

Some breeds need to be active and thrive when they have a 'job' to do. Border Collies are very intelligent and need to work, if they don't get enough exercise, or get bored, they can end up being destructive or engaging in this sort of behavior. If your pup isn't already getting at least 2 long walks (or other types of exercise) every day, and isn't enrolled in a dog obedience class, I would strongly recommend doing that.

Also, whenever you catch him chasing his tail, don't scold him or bring attention to it, instead just redirect his attention to a more acceptable activity such as a really tasty chew toy, or an obedience 'lesson' etc.

There are medications available to help treat OCD in dogs, and I would recommend that you talk to your vet about this problem. He may be able to help.

I hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

Pug Puppy

by carrie
(Canada)

Why is my 5 week old pug puppy not passing stool in 3 days?




Hi Carrie
Well, I can't say for sure, but it sounds as though he may be constipated. This isn't terribly unusual in small/toy breed pups.

There are certain things you can do to treat canine constipation, and to prevent it from recurring, and you can find all the tips and information you need on my A Constipated Puppy page.

If you have only just got your puppy, it could also be due to the stress and anxiety of the changes he's experiencing. Although stress and a change in diet can also cause diarrrhea, sometimes a puppy will 'hold it' when he needs to eliminate, when he's in a new and scary situation. This can also result in constipation if he does it for long.

As long as he seems happy and healthy otherwise, and is eating and drinking normally, isn't vomiting and doesn't appeared to be in pain or sick, I would suggest you try some of the tips in the page I mention above. However, if you are at all worried about him, or this doesn't resolve itself within another day or so, talk to your veterinarian about it.

Best of luck.

eating her own pooh

by julie
(sevenoaks kent)

Our puppy is 8 weeks and 2 days old and has just started eating her pooh straight after doing it.

Why, and how do i stop her?




Hi Julie
Although this seems a totally disgusting habit to us humans, to a puppy it's actually quite natural and not very unusual.

It's something they learn from their momma, and although the majority of puppies stop stop this early, or never make it a habit, others continue this behavior for longer.

However, it does carry some health risks, as well as being just 'yukky', so it's a habit you want to discourage.

Check out my Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? page for more information on this, and advice on how to break the habit.

Best of luck with your new puppy.

6 month old Aussie Shepard

by Laurie Dickey
(Grand Junction, CO)

Lady Penelope 6 months old.

My Aussie has been somewhat difficult to house break. Although we have made wonderful progress, she some times has an "accident". I have noticed that on occasion there is a "trail" of feces in the kitchen on the way out the door. It is healthy and so is she, I have noticed even outside she struggles a little with the 'poop position'.

I was wondering is it normal for dogs without tails to have this problem? Or maybe her hip muscles aren't quite developed? Or could it be a pre-displasya (sp)problem?
Thank You for your time, and advice.



Hi
Penelope is a beautiful girl, she looks as though she's very smart too!

I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian so I can't say whether or not she has a physical problem with her elimination but it is possible.

However, in my personal experience I've found that some dogs with no other health issues or hip problems, do tend to walk as they're pooping. I have a 10 year old Rottie girl who has done that her whole life. It's more of a nuisance than anything else and she's perfectly healthy otherwise.

Of course, if your girl has any hip/joint problems, it's possible that squatting is uncomfortable for her. Only your vet could really answer that as you would need her to be examined, and possibly X-rayed. If she doesn't seem to be in pain, and has no other mobility problems I think it's unlikely. But you'd definitely need your vet to make a diagnosis.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup.

biting puppy

by stephanie
(bakersfield,ca)

my black lab is irritating my five cats nipping at them and barking in their faces scaring them.

i don't want to hit him because that doesn't work, it only makes him madder.

what can i do to make them all get along if possible? thank you




Hi Stephanie
Yes, hitting a dog for any reason is definitely not the way to go. You can frighten, hurt and irritate and in many cases loud voices and physical corrections only escalate the situation (as you've found out). Physical punishment is never an option.

What your pup is doing is a perfectly natural behavior, and the best thing to do is just to correct him verbally - as in a firm "NO", and redirect his attention to one of his toys or another activity. If you do this consistently he will eventually understand.

Generally, cats are pretty adept at protecting themselves, and letting a dog know when it's stepped over the line. I have Rottweilers, and have owned a German Sheperd, Cane Corso and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. These are mostly large breeds, strong and confident dogs, but my cats have always managed to have the upper hand.

It's really mostly a case of letting the animals get to know each other and figure out how to get along in their own way. Obviously you need to make sure your cats (or the dog) don't get physically hurt, but other than that they will likely work it out on their own.

Best of luck.

Does the mother cut her own cord when giving birth to puppies?

by Rose
(Chicago, IL.,USA)

My American Cocker Spaniel will be giving birth any time now.

I wanna know if the mother will cut her own cord or does the owner have to do it?

And Do we move puppies away from mother?



Hi Rose
Most dogs manage whelping just fine, without any human intervention.

However it is good to know what to expect, and to be prepared. Some breeds (such as Bulldogs who have big heads and narrow hips, and tiny dogs such as Chihuahuas or Yorkies) need more help than others and may need C-sections.

A Cocker Spaniel should be able to deliver normally, but always make sure your vet is aware of the situation and keep his/her number on hand in case of emergency.

The momma will normally bite through the membranes encasing the puppy, and also the umbilical cord. She will lick the puppy to get it breathing and moving, then eat the membranes, and eventually the placenta. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

It's usually not necessary to remove the puppies as they're born, this can make the momma agitated and restless. But if she seems upset by them, is stepping on them or rolling on them etc., you can move them to a little box or something similar until she is done delivering. It's very important to keep these puppies warm though.

You can find lots of tips and advice about taking care of newborn puppies on my New Born Puppies page.

Best of luck!

going to have some puppies

My 10 month old pit bull is going to have her first litter, what do i need to know?




Hi
Your pup is young to be having a litter, and Pit bulls (depending on the bloodlines) can have heads that are large in proportion to the rest of their bodies, which can sometimes lead to difficulties giving birth.

As this is your dogs' first litter she will likely be nervous and anxious, and will need you close by to reassure her. I would strongly recommend letting your veterinarian know that she is expecting a litter (if he doesn't already know this), and keep his phone number and emergency contact info. by the phone so that you can get help quickly if necessary.

Dogs follow an instinctive pattern during whelping, and your dog will start to rip up bedding and try to make a 'nest' in the early stages of labor. She may vomit a little, and will be restless. Once proper contractions begin she will pant heavily and you'll see her abdomen contract and she will start pushing.

Puppies are born inside a membrane sac, and the fluid often comes out in a 'squirt' right before you see the pup appear. A puppy should be out within a couple of contractions, if your dog contracts several times and yet the pup isn't fully expelled from her body, or slips back inside between contractions, you need help. If a pup gets 'stuck' like this it is at high risk, and so is the mom. In that case, phone for help right away.

Generally there can be anywhere from 10 mins to 2 hours between each puppys' birth, but if your dog is contracting strongly for more than 2 hours but no puppy appears, call your vet. Again, she could be in trouble.

Once a pup is born, the momma will usually tear open the membranes, bite through the umbilical cord and start to lick the puppy to stimulate it to breath and eliminate. If she doesn't do this, you need to do it for her. Don't use sharp scissors to break the membranes though, do it by hand. Use sterilized scissors to cut the cord. Then rub the puppy with a warm towel.

Most dogs manage just fine, but if you are worried at any point, call your vet. It's always better to be safe than sorry in this sort of situation.

I'd recommend that you check out my New Born Puppies page for info on taking care of the newborns.

Moving pups away from mother

by Kyle Blackman
(Barbados)

My female dog had it's first set of pups and it squashed 3 of them, there are only two left, should i move the other two?



Hi Kyle
I'm sorry about what's happened to your pups, unfortunately this isn't terribly unusual - especially with large breeds, or first litters. The momma can seem totally unaware of her pups' distress.

This is why a properly constructed whelping box, with a 'pig-rail' (a wooden 'shelf' running all the way around to protect the pups) is recommended.

The best thing to do is just to supervise the momma very carefully, have her and her pups somewhere close to you so that YOU can hear if they are distressed. Check her very frequently to make sure everything is okay.

Removing the puppies is an option, but you would need to give them back to her almost hourly and allow them to nurse. They also need to be kept warm while they're not with her. It can cause the momma to get very upset and agitated, and if this happens it's best to keep the pups with her and watch her like a hawk.

After the first week or so, the pups are a bit stronger and the momma has adjusted to having them around her, so it gets easier.

This is a difficult situation, and I hope that you can find a way to make sure these little guys survive. There's more information and advice on taking care of newborn puppies on my New Born Puppies page.

Best of luck.

How big will my dog get?

by Joe
(Chicago)

I have a female 75% pitbull/25% german shepherd......any idea on what her finished size will be?

She weighs about 35lbs at 5 months old...she has longer hair like a shepherd but still has that pitbull strut and posture



Hi Joe
There's always a lot of guesswork involved in figuring out the final adult weight of a puppy, because individual pups (even of the same breed) can vary so much. With mixed breed dogs it's even more tricky!

GSD's and Pit Bulls are built very differently and there's a wide range of sizes that she could grow up to be, depending on which 'parts' of which breed she has inherited. GSD's take longer to mature than Pit Bulls too, so you may not be an adult until she's 18 months to 2 years old, or more.

Puppies gain their adult height quite a while before they get to their full adult weight, so it's likely she'll look a bit on the lean side and probably 'leggy' due to the GSD in her. The longer coat may disguise this somewhat.

There are many different ways of 'guess-timating' adult size, and they may give you a ball-park figure, but that's all. Often a pup of a medium to large breed reaches about 2/3 of it's adult weight by 6 months. For large to giant breed pups its' closer to 1/2 their adult weight. I'd say if your pup weighs 45lbs at 6 months she will likely be around 80lbs as an adult, but remember that is just an estimate!

Check out my Puppy Weight Estimates and Puppy Weight Chart pages for more information on this.

Hope this helps some, best of luck with your pup.

how often do new puppies poop

by a norburn
(menifee ca)

i have a five day old pup that doesn't seem to be pooping, we haven't seen any evidence on the blankets does the mom clean it up by eating it?

We have been told it does.




Hi
Yes, the momma normally stimulates the puppy to pee and poop by licking the genital area, she then 'cleans up' by eating what the pup eliminates.

This normally continues until the puppies are getting ready to be weaned.

As you have a new litter of pups, you may find my New Born Puppies page helpful.

Best of luck

Why is my puppy so wet all the time, refuses food, sweats, very weak, trys to vomit, sleeps ALL the time,?

by amy
(Lexington, Massachusetts, US)

Thank you so much for answering my previous ? of my puppy not eating and being very weak. I'm taking him to the vet around 4:00 today but right now he's so weak, he absolutely refuses food..He sleeps breaths heavily. Also he tries to choke or vomit but can't cause he doesn't eat ..he drinks water. but then is so weak just collapses onto the floor or anywhere he is. I don't want to hold him because I think his stomach would be more upset..Also, strangely when he collapsed onto the floor, and after a while I eventually picked him up and put him in his bed and the floor was moist and wet. I dont think he went to the bathroom but it seems like he sweats or something. I'm very worried..Its like he's dying. Its the third day and he's still very sick, skinny, hungry, wet, and almost vomits.

Im not sure if he has a fever but when I felt his stomach it seemed really hard..I'm not sure, but anyways he seems so hopeless, weak, and can't get up. He just lies down in his bed, sighs, and sleeps. And when I pet him he's all moist and wet like he's sweating. I'm very worried of taking him to the vet cause I don't think we can even hold him because he's so weak and sensitive. When we got him from the kennel they told us that he had a earlier weekly checkup and was healthy but even when we first held him, he was barely wagging his tail, so tired, and so weak. May be because when he was six weeks old he went on the airplane from Oklahoma to where i live now..

Thank you so much,
Amy





Hi Amy
I'm so sorry that your puppy is so sick, it is heartbreaking to see this I know. But you're doing the right thing for him, he definitely MUST see a veterinarian asap. Don't worry about moving him or holding him to get him to the vet - you just have to do it, say a little prayer and hope for the best.

It may be that your puppy is seriously dehydrated, and IV fluids should help with that. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose the problem, and hopefully he will be able to treat it successfully. From what you describe your puppy is a very sick little guy and he needs expert help now.

I'm really hoping that he can be treated and will recover from whatever it is that is causing him to be so sick. I'll say a prayer for you both.

bathing puppies

by JoAnn
(Tallahassee,Florida)

I have 3 pit-bull puppies,that are only 4 days old. They are infested with fleas pretty bad. Can I bathe them? If not what can I do?



Hi JoAnn
At 4 days old these puppies are really too young to be bathed as they can't regulate their body temperature and get chilled very easily. You couldn't use any sort of flea shampoo either.

The best way to deal with fleas in puppies, is to treat the momma with a good flea preventative. Check with your vet to see which one/s he would recommend for a nursing momma. Once you treat her, the fleas will jump back and forth between momma and nursing pups and will be killed. This is the safest thing to do.

If these pups are orphans or don't have their momma for whatever reason, check with your vet for advice. There aren't any products that I know of that are safe for such tiny babies, but your vet should be able to steer you in the right direction.

As you have a litter of newborns, you might find my New Born Puppies page interesting and useful.

Sorry, I can't be more help, but I'm sure your veterinarian can help you out. Best of luck with those babies.

My 6 month puppy???

by Melissa
(Los Angeles, CA)

I have a puppy my aunt gave me 2 months ago. I know he doesn't have all his shots. He's been twice to the vet.

All of a sudden 3 days ago. He was looking sick and wouldn't eat. His stomach makes sounds. And all he does is sleep.

Yesterday he was looking much better. He was eating and playing. But today he's sick again. Wont eat, stomach sounds, and sleeps all day.



Hi Melissa
If your puppy hasn't had all the recommended puppy shots he is vulnerable to many dog illnesses and diseases

From the symptoms you describe it's clear that he's not well, but only a veterinarian could make an accurate diagnosis and I strongly recommend that you take him to a vet as soon as possible. Young puppies can get very sick, very fast and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

If he isn't drinking enough, or has diarrhea or vomiting he could be dehydrated already, and this can be serious.

There are a number of different possibilities as to why he isn't feeling well, but you need to have your vet look at him to figure out what is going on. Best of luck, hope he's feeling much better soon.

7 month old lab pup thinning hair

by ken alba
(west haven, ct)

7 month old lab pup losing hair. no mites or mange..trying other food. driving us nuts as we are trying natural balance lamb and potato...2 days ago...when should it start to improve if it is the food and what else can it be?




Hi Ken
If this is caused by a dog food allergy, it could take several weeks before you notice an appreciable improvement.

I'm assuming you've had your vet do a skin scraping to determine that there are no mites. That is the only way to be sure, and sometimes it takes more than one skin scraping to get an accurate result. This is because the sample is so small, and if the infestation isn't severe it is possible to get a sample that is mite-free.

At this time of year all dogs shed heavily, it's called 'blowing coat' and is a seasonal shed. Puppies also tend to lose their puppy coat at around this age, and it could possibly be that these two things have caused your pups' coat to look very different. However, shedding shouldn't produce hairless or bald patches.

There are some health conditions that can cause thinning hair in dogs, these include thyroid or adrenal gland conditions. Some types of hair loss can be color specific or breed specific or hereditary.

However, if your pup is otherwise happy and healthy, chances are this is a simple cause such as a food sensitivity. If the change of diet doesn't seem to help, I would talk with your veterinarian as he should be able to suggest other possibilities and diagnosis or treatment if necessary.

I wish you the best of luck and hope this problem rights itself soon.

dewormed and deteriorating

My boxer had puppies 4 weeks ago and the vet told us to deworm them by 4 weeks of age. We have 3 puppies and we dewormed them yesterday.

The two females are doing fantastic but the male won't eat. All he wants to do is sleep and lie down and cry. We have started the puppies on wet dog food and the females love it but I still can't get the male to that or drink from his mother.

I am very concerned that he is going to die. I just don't know what is wrong with him. Please help.



Hi
Some puppies can have an adverse reaction to deworming, but generally it involves some sort of tummy upset such as diarrhea or a bit of lethargy. Your pups' reaction sounds more severe than this.

It's vital that he drinks. He can do without food for 24 hours or so, but he NEEDS to nurse from his mom, or lap puppy formula or water. If he is still refusing fluids and isn't improving I strongly recommend that you call your veterinarian for advice. Dehydration can be a serious concern in puppies, and he may need fluids to be given by IV while he gets over this reaction.

Young puppies are very vulnerable to so many things, and it's always better to be safe than sorry, so please get in touch with your vet and explain the situation so that you know how to move forward.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that this little guy is on the road to recovery soon.

Junior

by Terri
(Hillmond, SK, Can)

My good boy

Well, I just wanted to update you on Junior, he is doing great - not sick anymore, not really nervous anymore, good in the truck and overall a good boy.

As I have never owned a dog before, I was wondering if you have any tips on teaching him to sit and stay and not to jump on me. He is a Schnoodle so I realize he is very excitable so I want to work with his excitability but also want him to listen to me.

Do you have any suggestions. Your advice is always appreciated.



Hi Terri
I'm so glad to hear that Junior is doing much better, what a darling he is!

Yes, Schnoodles/Labradoodles and so on do tend to be excitable, but they're also very smart. All puppies have very short attention spans, and so any training you do should be in short 'bursts' and be very positive and fun for the puppy.

It's better to do 3 or 4 sessions a day, each lasting 2 or 3 minutes, than one longer 'lesson'. Little Junior will be very eager to please you, and giving him lots of (calm) praise and a tasty treat whenever he does something correctly will encourage this.

My Basic Puppy Training, How to Train A Puppy and Puppy Training Tips pages should all be helpful to you.

As for the jumping, make sure you correct him with a firm "NO JUMP" every time he jumps up at you, and make sure all four paws are on the ground (or you've asked him to 'sit') before you greet him/pet him and so on. Usually this is enough to convince a pup that it's better not to jump, but if he is particularly excitable it may need more.

If that's the case, you can enlist someone elses' help for this exercise....


Attach a long, light training leash (or even a piece of rope) to Juniors' collar and then either you or your 'helper' should lightly hold the end of it. The other person should do whatever it is that generally causes Junior to jump up - come into a room, say his name etc.

As soon as Junior jumps, the person holding the rope/leash gives it a sharp pull while the other person says "NO JUMP" This will unbalance him (which he won't like). Repeat this three or four times. The fact that he won't be sure what happened makes this very effective.

You can set this practice exercise up a couple of times a day until Junior starts to rein in his jumping behavior.

I'd also recommend that you get him enrolled in a Puppy Obedience class at a local dog obedience school just as soon as he's fully vaccinated. It will be a great socialization experience for him and will also help him use up some of that mental and physical energy.

Hope this helps, best of luck with that little guy!

worming my puppy

by Maria
(Greece)

I have never wormed my ten month old puppy, he does not seem to have worms, so does it matter that I have not given worming tablets?





Hi Maria
Just about all puppies have roundworms, and tapeworms are also very common. If your puppy is happy and healthy at 10 months of age and there are no signs that he has worms there are a couple of possibilities.

a) that he has a very few worms, not enough to cause any symptoms, or (rare) none at all or d) he was dewormed at least once (normally a breeder will begin deworming at around 3 - 5 weeks old) and this took care of the problem.

Generally the veterinarian deworms a puppy routinely when puppy shots are given, and if your pup is up to date on his shots then chances are he's been dewormed.

If you're certain that he's never been dewormed, I'd strongly suggest that you take him to your veterinarian and have a fecal exam done. That way you'll know for sure whether he needs to be treated. Don't be tempted to use over the counter worm medications, they are ineffective at best, and can cause unwanted side effects. Plus, you need to know exactly what type of worms you need to treat, and only your vet can determine that.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your puppy.

When is is safe for an 11-month-old puppy to go outside?

by Ashley M.
(Alice, Texas )

He's a lot bigger than this now!

I have an 11-month-old puppy lab mix who has had his 1st two sets of vaccines.

I also have 2 older dogs who are fully vaccinated and are in an enclosed backyard area.

When is it safe to invite my puppy outside to play with his pals?



Hi Ashley
I'd really recommend that you discuss this with your veterinarian.

I'm not sure whether he had his first two sets of puppy shots when he was much younger, or has just had them recently.

Puppies get their original vaccinations given in three sets, at three week intervals, to make sure that they receive them after their natural immunity has worn off, but before they have a chance to get sick. If your pup only had two sets of shots when he was between 8 and 12 weeks of age he may not be protected.

If he had them recently, chances are good that they were effective. He also needs his Rabies shot, that is required by law.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup, I bet he's a gorgeous adolescent by now.

i have a grumpy boy

by April
(rosenberg, tx. us)

i have a 8 week old boy chihuahua and sometimes when we pick him up he growls at us, does that mean he is getting frustrated by us?

and how do i tell if it's him play growling or serious growling?



Hi April
Puppies shouldn't growl at humans - period!

They don't generally 'play growl' when picked up, if he's growling he is probably trying to assert himself and shape your behavior... it needs to be the other way around.

First of all, I would check with your vet to make sure there's no physical reason that could be causing him to growl when you pick him up... such as an underlying health issue that is causing him pain or discomfort.

If you have only just got your puppy (which as he's so young I'm assuming you have), he may simply be scared or anxious, and growling is his way of showing that. Some pups have nervous or anxious temperaments, and you may need to be extra slow and gentle in your handling of him to begin with. These tiny dogs can also be hurt very easily, so hold him carefully and securely.

Chihuahuas are very tiny dogs, but they can have big personalities and be quite dominant. You may have a strong-willed pup who wants things done HIS way. But, growling is not acceptable and it is up to you to make this clear to him.

If he growls at you when you pick him up (or in any other situation), tell him "NO" quite firmly, and continue with whatever it was you were doing. DO NOT back off or change your intended behavior due to his protests. That would only reinforce his behavior.

He is still very young, and if you correct him consistently and make sure that he gets lots of love and attention, but also set rules and boundaries for his behavior, he should settle down.

As you're a new chihuahua puppy owner, you may find my Chihuahua Puppy Care page helpful.

Best of luck with your little guy.

help

by sarah
(CA)

I have a 9 week old boxer puppy..and this morning she fell off our bed on to the carpet..and was limping but not anymore...she hasn't really eaten today...and hasn't really played...

is she ok?




Hi Sarah
I'm afraid I can't say for sure what is going on with your puppy, only a veterinary exam could do that.

Boxers are medium to large size dogs, and aren't as prone to injury as the tiny/toy breeds. However, they can get hurt during falls or rough play, especially their joints/ligaments/bones.

If your pup is no longer limping, and there's no swelling or pain when you manipulate the joints in her leg, chances are she's not done any major damage there. However, it's always possible that she's hurt something inside, out of sight.

The loss of appetite and her quiet behavior could simply be due to her getting scared after her fall, plus the discomfort from her leg. If she's fine in the morning, I wouldn't worry. But if she still seems 'out of sorts', isn't eating or playing normally, or seems in any way to be still experiencing after-effects from her fall, take her to your veterinarian for a check up.

It's always better to be safe than sorry in these cases. Best of luck, hope she's feeling much better soon.

help, 11 pups have questions on feeding

by ginger
(gadsden tn)

i have 11 pups, mom is started to wean, how much food and how often do i feed them and any suggestions on feeding them together or what?

Also BBBIIIIGGGGG question, do i give them water? i have seen 2 diff answers??


HELP



Hi Ginger
It's best to start out by feeding your puppies 3 times a day, and it will be a sort of 'trial and error' process in terms of how much to give them.

Soak a good quality puppy chow in warm/hot water for at least 10 minutes before you give it to them (make absolutely sure it's cooled before you feed it though), this makes it easier for them to chew up and digest.

Depending on what size/breed your puppies are, you can probably make a fairly good guess at how much they might eat each. If you don't make up enough food you can always make up some more if they've gobbled it all down in 2 minutes flat.

However, watch them carefully at first because they can get very excited and greedy once they figure out that this is edible! You don't want them to choke/inhale their food or eat until they can barely move (sometimes you'll get a pup who is inclined to do that).

Use wide, flat dishes to feed them in and I would recommend separating them into groups and feeding each group separately. It will avoid total chaos. Expect them to be very MESSY at first, they'll probably walk in their food, get their faces covered in it and so on... that's normal. They'll get better with practice.

As for the water, if the momma is still nursing them reasonably well they will be getting some of their fluids from that, there's also water mixed in with their food. However, I would offer them water to lap, as they will need extra fluids once they're eating puppy food.

Again, they'll probably be clumsy and messy with this, and it make take a few tries before they learn to lap properly, but they'll figure it out. Just don't ever leave tiny puppies alone with water dishes, it doesn't take much water to drown.

Hope this helps, check out my New Born Puppies page for more tips and advice. Best of luck.

HOUSE BREAKING

MY PUPPY IS 14 WEEKS & HE HAS NOT HAD ALL HIS SHOTS YET, IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO TAKE HIM OUT IN THE FRONT YARD TO POTTY? HE HAS HAD ALL SHOTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LEPTOSPIROSIS, RABIES AND LYME DISEASE WHICH HE IS DUE TO HAVE AT 16 WEEKS.

MY CONCERN IS THAT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT SHOTS IF ANY THAT OTHER DOGS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE HAD. I'VE BEEN USING THE PUPPY TRAINING PADS SINCE HE WAS 9 WEEKS BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS WORKING BECAUSE HE IS STILL NOT TRAINED PROPERLY AND I WANT TO TAKE HIM OUTSIDE NOW BUT I'M SCARED.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?



Hi
What a cutie, sweet expression!

The lepto and lyme disease shots are usually considered to be 'optional' and it's up to the individual veterinarians/owners to decide whether or not to give them. If you live in an area where these diseases tend to occur, it's best to have them done. Rabies of course is required in the US by law.

However, these diseases are much less likely to be contracted by a puppy who is having normal exposure to streets, parks etc. Unless your pup is going to be spending time at the lake, or in forested or wooded areas, he should be fine.

The biggest concerns for pups in terms of contagious canine illnesses are diseases such as Canine Parvovirus, Distemper and so on. If your pup has had all 3 sets of combination puppy shots he should be adequately protected for city streets, parks etc.

For the housebreaking, I'd recommend getting a crate if you haven't already done so, and use that to train him. It's the fastest and simplest method. Pee-pee pads are pretty much always problematic, and using a crate combined with a designated 'potty spot' outside is best.

You can find lots of tips and advice on this on my Crate Training and Potty Training pages.

Best of luck with your cute little guy!

Do Morkie puppies shed?

We have an 11 week old Morkie and she's shedding a little.

Is this shedding just in the puppy stage--losing puppy fur?



Hi
Pretty much all dogs shed, it's just that some shed more than others!

Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese generally aren't heavy shedders, and are considered to be hypoallergenic dogs.

Puppies do tend to lose their puppy coats, as the color/texture changes, so this could be what is happening. Also, at the major change of seasons all dogs shed more.

Skin irritations or conditions, allergies and over-bathing can also cause hair loss.

If your puppy seems happy and healthy, and isn't actually 'going bald' or developing areas of very thin hair, I wouldn't worry about it too much right now. It will likely settle down.

However, if it is extreme, or you notice bald patches, or she's scratching a lot and seems uncomfortable, take her to your vet for an examination.

Best of luck, hope it all works out fine.

Can Great Danes swim

by Adrienne
(Costa Mesa, CA)

I have a pup and would like to know if great danes can swim



Hi Adrienne
Most dogs can swim, but some prefer not to of are afraid of the water.

Great Danes need to take it easy on exercise in the first year or so due to their rapid growth rate. However, a little bit of swimming is gentle and usually safe exercise for a growing pup.

Be very careful for the first few times though and be right next to your pup. Danes are heavy dogs (I'm sure you already know that :o) and if he gets in trouble he will need someone right beside him. Generally once they've paddled around a bit most dogs are quite adept at swimming. If he seems afraid of the water or a bit anxious, don't force him, just let him check it out in his own time.

If you take him on boat trips etc. where the water is deep, and there may be currents, make sure he wears a doggie life vest even if he knows how to swim and you think he's competent. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

You might find my Extra Large Breed Dogs and Interview with the Great Dane Lady interesting.

Best of luck with your pup.

puppy aggression??

by linda mcknight
(london, ontario, canada)

I'd like to first thank you for this most valuable website.

I have a 7 week old puppy I got a week ago. She is a cross between a German Pointer and an Airedale Terrier but looks like a black lab. Anyway, she is a good puppy but if I pick her up when she doesn't want to be picked up, as in to bring her in from outdoors, at the dog park, or to interrupt her chewing or doing something else she wants to do, she growls at me, and not playfully.

At no other time is she aggressive or does she growl. She plays with all other dogs very co-cooperatively and often submits to them, ie. rolls on her back for them. She does nip at their ears and fur though. I am afraid she is becoming the alpha female in the household and that she will think it's okay to be aggressive. I was told growling was a sign of aggression.

Today I went to put her on her side of the car when she was coming to mine and she snapped at me and bit me--not hard but not playfully either--perhaps because again I touched her underbelly or because I wasn't letting her do what she wanted. How do I break her of this growling habit?? I know she could be a good puppy and don't want her growling to ruin it.

She is housetraining well and everything. Also she does chase and nip at the cat which is another behaviour I need to curtail. Any advice would be ever so much appreciated. I love this website and thank you again so very much.



Hi Linda
I'm very happy that you enjoy my website, and that it's been helpful to you. That always makes my day :o)

From the behavior you describe, it sounds to me as though you have a puppy with a fairly dominant, 'alpha' personality. Airedale Terriers have strong guarding instincts, and a high prey drive (they were originally used to hunt both small and large game). German Pointers also have a high prey drive and can be a bit 'sharp', they tend to be a bit terrier-like in their attitudes. Given the combination of these two breeds, chasing the cat and being dominant or 'sharp' in her behavior isn't surprising.

However, no matter what breed characteristics a pup may carry, being aggressive (particularly towards people) is an absolute 'no-no', and it's something you will need to be very firm about correcting. Luckily, this puppy is still very young and intelligent, and she's doing well in all other areas, with patience and a firm but loving attitude you should be able to re-shape her behavior.

She obviously wants to get her own way, and is using her growling and snapping to 'convince' you to give in. It's vitally important that you don't! Never allow her to change your behavior with hers. I know small, sharp baby teeth can hurt - but it's nothing compared to what her big adult teeth can do. Correcting her now, while she's small and manageable is the only way to go. If she growls/snaps at you, tell her "NO BITE" very firmly (don't shout or physically correct her though) and then continue to do whatever it was you were doing in the first place. If she continues to bite you, you can gently wrap your hand around her muzzle and hold her mouth closed for a few seconds, while telling her "NO BITE". Repeat this until she understands.

Excessive nipping and biting can often be stopped by using a water spray bottle, or small breath mint sprays, and you can read more about this on my Puppy Biting page. Dogs with this sort of personality don't respond well to raised voices or harsh corrections, those things tend to escalate the situation and the dog 'comes back' (either by barking or snapping) at the person correcting them. A firm but loving attitude and a low, firm voice work best. Aim to project confidence and she will pick that up, and respond accordingly.

She's going to need early and consistent training and I'd recommend getting her enrolled in a dog obedience school as soon as she's fully vaccinated. Also, socialization is going to be very important, she needs to learn how to behave around other people, places and animals.

However, given her high prey drive, she may never be totally trustworthy around cats or other small animals. Sometimes being raised around a particular small dog, cat or other pet, will engender a familiarity that means the two can get along fairly well. But if a dog has a high prey drive, leaving the two of them alone unsupervised is unwise. It may also be that she will learn to tolerate your cat, but not a strange cat or animal. She will also need to be carefully socialized with small children, as dogs with a strong prey sometimes find it triggered by small, fast-moving children with high-pitched voices.

Making sure that she realizes that she's not 'in charge' of your household is going to be important. Teaching her basic manners and obedience commands, and making her 'earn' her food, treats, toys, games etc. by asking her to 'sit' before receiving them will help. Involve all family members (including young children) in this as it will help to reinforce the fact that they are 'superior' to her.

Overall she's probably a very smart little girl, who has an alpha personality. Once you have that under control she will most likely make a wonderful companion. Just make sure you get the upper hand early on - and keep it!

I hope this helps, and wish you the best of luck with her.

Crate Training to Pee Pads to Outdoors? What do I do?

by Pearl
(Texas)

I have a 12 week old mini schnauzer who i'm crate training. Since I work from 8-4, I come home during lunch daily to relieve him and things have been great. BUT, there will be 3 days when I won't have a lunch break coming up... Do I put him in a small area in the house with pee pads for those 3 days. Do I leave him outside in my large backyard from 8-4 to relieve outside?

Crate Training has been great and we've never used a pee pad so I don't want him to get used to peeing indoors, but at the same time, he's an indoor dog and i don't want him to have free roam outdoors.

What to do? (i don't have someone to come and relieve him for me so that is out of the question). Any suggestions? Thanks



Hi Pearl
This is tricky, and your concerns are valid. Whichever way you do this, it could impact his housebreaking which is going well so far.

Although you say there is no-one who could come to relieve him when you're not able to, is there not a petsitter in your area that you could use just for those 3 days? Obviously, you may live out in the countryside (I do, so I understand the problems), and not have anyone local to do this, but it's just a thought. Or is there any way you could take him to work in his crate. Obviously he couldn't be left in the car, but if there was a place you could safely leave his crate and access it to take him outside that might work.

Failing that, I personally think your best bet would be to leave him in his crate for the first day and see what happens. I'm assuming he'll be around 13 weeks or so by then, and as he's already accustomed to NOT eliminating in his crate he may well 'hold it' until you get home.

Obviously this isn't an ideal solution, but it is only for 3 days, and if he CAN manage it would be the least confusing option (for him). All pups are different, some could manage this without too much problem, others can't. It's a very individual thing.

If this doesn't work, or isn't an option, you really have to go one of the other two ways. Leaving him outside by himself is a bit risky, but it depends on your yard. If it's SECURELY fenced, and he can't get out and other dogs or other animals can't get in, and he has water, shade and shelter then it could> work just for these three days. Again, it's not an ideal situation and I'd never recommend leaving your pup outside alone for hours on end in normal circumstances, but in this case it may be an option.

Leaving him confined indoors with a litter box or pee-pee pads is the safest of the two options, but it could definitely impact your housebreaking routine. However, it's only 3 days, and regular and consistent training will win out over a few days irregularity.

In the end this is a personal decision that only you can make, and you know your puppy best. I wish you the best of luck with him, and hope you get this figured out.

my papillon has kennel cough

by karen
(singapore)

hi there
my 4 years old papillon has kennel cough, it didn't cough out any liquid or anything.

i heard from from friend that dogs can actually drink human cough syrup. is it true?



Hi Karen
I'm not a veterinarian so I can't give a professional opinion, and I've never given cough medicine to my dogs, but I believe that it is okay to do so.

However, it's very important that the medicine doesn't contain acetaminophen or aspirin.

Never give your pup any sort of medication (human or otherwise) without discussing it with your veterinarian first. You need to know what dosage to give, and which medicine to use. It's also important to make sure that you have a diagnosis from your vet of a particular condition, before trying any over the counter or human remedies. There are several possible reasons for a dog to cough, Kennel Cough is only one of them.

Kennel cough usually gets better without treatment, but secondary infections of the chest or respiratory system can occur and in that case you would probably need your vet to prescribe antibiotics for your pup.

Please talk with your vet before you give your pup any sort of medication. Best of luck!

13 week old puppy will not potty on walks or rarely outside

by Cindy
(Wilmington, DE)

I have been struggling with house training a rescue puppy that I have had for 2.5 weeks. The second day I got her she got bloody diarrhea and vomited. I took her to the vet and they gave me worming and antibiotic meds, which worked, I was home with her for 2.5 days before I went back to work.

Of course, the first day back she gets sick and messes in her crate, a lot! It has gotten to the point where she almost doesn't poop in the crate, except today. I come home for lunch everyday so she's not in the crate all day without going out. She still pees in the crate a lot!

I have tried mucho praise and treats when she goes outside but I can be out there for a half hour and nothing. One night, I was out with her from 9:00 pm until 1:00 am and she still didn't go. Today her, my other dog, who pees 97 times on a short walk, and myself walked for over an hour and she did not go. . . once! When we got back, she peed in the house almost as soon as we got inside.

I've done a fair amount of research and have tried just about everything; crate training, high praise, treats, verbal discipline. I'm at a complete loss!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will try just about anything at this point. Thanks.




Hi Cindy
This is definitely a challenging one! It sounds as though you've done everything right, and I'm pretty sure you've made sure the crate is small enough etc. etc.

It sounds as though this pup is very confused, and just doesn't understand the concept of eliminating outdoors. Often a pup learns to associate a particular place, word, surface etc. with elimination, and it works as a subconscious 'trigger'. That's how the habit is formed. Apparently your pups trigger is being indoors.

Somehow you need to break this old habit, by preventing her from being able to pee/poop indoors, and normally a crate would be the answer. However, she doesn't seem to have a problem with eliminating in her crate either. She may have been forced to do this, or left in her own mess when younger and that has de-sensitized her.

I'm not sure what size she is, but small/tiny breeds can often be a challenge to housebreak. She does seem to be able to 'hold it' though, as she can stay outside for hours and not go. I'd suggest making sure that she doesn't have any kind of health issue first - such as a UTI or kidney problem etc.

If she is given an A-OK on her health, the only thing I can think of at this point is to get her familiar with eliminating on grass, so that it will become her trigger. Normally I wouldn't advocate leaving a pup outdoors when you're at work, but this is an extreme case.

If you have a fenced yard, and could contain her in an exercise pen of some sort, with water and shelter/shade, leaving her outdoors while you're at work should be safe. Especially as you can come home to check on her at lunchtime. If you did this for a couple of weeks she would have to eliminate outdoors, and would become more familiar with that. You would need to supervise her very closely whenever she's inside though, and take her out more frequently than you think necessary.

Once she has begun to eliminate outdoors, taking her to that spot when you take her for a potty break should trigger her elimination response. Once you've crossed the hurdle of getting her to accept the outdoors as her potty area, the whole situation should improve. Also, as she matures her control and understanding will also improve.

If you don't feel comfortable with this, or you're not able to do it for any reason, the only other thing I can suggest is that you talk to your veterinarian and see if he can help, or give you the name of a dog behavioral specialist who could give you some help.

I'm sorry I couldn't help more, but I wish you the very best of luck and hope that you get this situation under control soon.

panting puppy

we have just got an eight week old female maltese x poodle. She was the runt of the litter so she is quite small. she is eating well, has a vet approved diet, has loads of energy, no problem with bowel movements or urine, however the last two nights she has had excessive panting whilst trying to sleep.

she is not overheated and is sleeping in our bedroom which is well ventilated and comfortable. she breaths normally for several breathes and then pants hard then breathes normally and this goes on for hours while she squirms around from one sleeping position to another. she also has very smelly wind!!



Hi
It sounds as though she's feeling stressed out at night, and that's why she's panting so much.

The stress could be due to an emotion such as anxiety, or it could have a physical cause. If she's experiencing bad gas it could be causing her discomfort/pain.

Even the best dog foods can 'disagree' with some dogs due to allergies or sensitivities. My Dog Food Allergies page has lots of info on this.

Of course, as you've only just got her, this could just be part of the normal adjustment period that most pup go through. They can lose their appetite, seem lethargic or anxious etc. My Bringing Home A New Puppy page fills you in on what to expect in those early days.

Overall, your pup seems happy and healthy, so I don't think is necessarily cause for too much concern right now. However, I'm not a veterinarian and it's always better to be safe than sorry. If your pup doesn't stop this behavior within the next couple of days, or shows any other signs of illness or distress, I'd strongly recommend that you take her to the veterinarian for a check up.

Best of luck. Hope she is settled down soon.

How to handle puppy w/my existing dog.

by Marianne
(San Jose CA)

Hi there,

I went to visit an adult doxie and am now considering adopting her 10 wk. old puppy instead b/c I fell deeply in love...surprise surprise! Puppy is much mellower and shy compared to her sibs.

I have an existing very mellow golden retriever who uses dog door. My reservation is that I do work and am gone 6 hours a day. I'm wondering when I could expect puppy to be SAFE (I know it will take training) to use dog door and be left with house to self? In the meantime, should I crate the doxie and have dogsitter come once a day to take her pee pee or should I pen the doxie and have puddle pads?

My retreiver has free range of the house (i.e. lounges on the couch all day) How will the doxie react to being penned/crated w/other dog unavailable to her and so free. Then again, the mom was adorable too and puppies don't stay AS cute forever. But she was sooooo cute and we've never had a puppy, only adult dog. Appreciate your feedback!




Hi Marianne
It will be quite some time before you can let your new pup have the 'run of the house' and use the doggie door. If a pup is consistently and correctly housetrained, it is usually fairly reliable by about 6 months of age, but every puppy is different.

I'd recommend a crate and petsitter rather than the pen and pee pee pads, as RE-training a puppy who has got used to pads to eliminate outdoors is time consuming and confusing to the pup. The puppy probably won't like being confined while the older dog is free, but it's the only safe option.

If your resident dog is a female, getting a male dog (whether puppy or adult) would be best. Having two dogs of the same sex can cause problems once the puppy grows up, or when introducing the two if they're both adult.

I'd recommend checking out my Introducing A New Puppy page for more tips and advice on this.

Whatever route you choose to go, I wish you the best of luck and hope it works out well.

Shy Aussie

by rachel

at the farm where she was born

Hi there!

I just brought home a brand new, 12-week old mini australian shepherd puppy (or North American Shepherd, for the breed purists :) Having done my research on the breed, I know that they can be a bit shy and reserved by nature. I've only have her five days and I know I can't expect her to be bouncing all over the place and loving everyone she meets just yet, but she seems awfully skittish, even at home.

She loves me and is very much a velcro pup already, wanting to lie next to me and follow me around, but around new people or in new situations she is shaky and timid. Sometimes she even shies away at home, and can't stand loud noises outside. She's still a baby and sleeping a lot, and when she plays she plays well -- just not for very long, and she often crawls into my lap if she gets startled by a ball bouncing too high or a toy crashing against the chair.

I guess my question is this -- as the weeks go by, will she naturally adjust and become more comfortable here? Should I continue to do what I've been doing by introducing her to new people and situations and playing and not rewarding her shy behavior? Of do you think this is a problem that will never fully go away?

Thanks for your time!!

Penny's Mom




Hi Rachel
Your Penny looks adorable, a very pretty little girl!

It seems that you have done your research and are very keen to do what is best for her - that's wonderful. Right now I personally don't think you've got too much to worry about as it's very early days.

After spending the first 3 months of her life in one place, with her canine family and people and surroundings she knew, it's a big change for her to come into a totally new environment. It's totally understandable for her to be a bit nervous and feel the need to seek out security - that's YOU!

I wouldn't rush her at this point, but don't coddle her either. Continue to socialize her in a happy, confident way and praise her when she is brave. It sounds to me as though you are already doing everything right.

Of course, just like people, puppies are all individuals and some are very bold and outgoing from day one, others more hesitant and shy. There's a whole range of 'normal' :o)

It may be that Penny is a bit on the shy side, and not the bravest or most outgoing puppy, but there's nothing wrong with that as long as she isn't aggressively fearful or suffering from extreme anxiety. Plenty of ongoing positive socialization will help her overcome this and learn self-confidence.

Aussies are very intelligent, and a good dog obedience class, and then maybe agility or something similar will also be very good for her.

For now, just give yourselves time to get to know each other and take it one step at a time. I think it's going to work out just fine. Best of luck with that little cutie.

Feeding Chihuahua Puppy???

How much and how often should a 4 week old chihuahua be feed that has lost it's mother? Thanks



Hi
Chihuahuas are tiny dogs and they can have difficulty regulating their blood sugar levels if they're not fed frequently.

At 4 weeks old your pup is probably only just beginning the weaning process. I would say feed her 4 times a day with a high quality dry puppy kibble soaked in warm water. Also get her to start lapping water from a shallow bowl. I'd supplement these feedings with some puppy formula morning and evening, if she's lapping well give it to her in a bowl. If she's still struggling a bit with that, let her have a bottle for another week or so. Some chihuahuas can be slow to develop initially.

For more information and advice on taking care of your little girl, check out my Chihuahua Puppy Care page.

Best of luck with your puppy.

female dog has a pink lump protruding from her vagina

female dog has a pink lump protruding from her vagina what could it be?



Hi
I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian, and it's impossible for me to tell what is going on with your dog in this situation.

There are two different types of cancer that can occur and cause a swelling or mass to appear on/in the vulva or vagina. One affects young dogs, the other one affects mature and older dogs.

Both need to be diagnosed by a veterinarian, so that treatment can be decided on.

However, that doesn't mean to say that this is what is happening with your dog. These cancers are not very common, and there could be other reasons for what you're seeing.

I'd strongly recommend that you take your dog to your veterinarian asap, so that he can examine her. I wish you the best of luck and hope your dog is doing better soon.

puppy throwing up and diarrhea

My six month old puppy who has been eating poop is throwing up what looks like poop and has pretty thick diarrhea.

This is sporadic and she is really not feeling well. What do I do?




Hi
Puppies who eat poop and then vomit, often bring it back up, and it's not pleasant!

However, usually this is a single episode, or maybe two, it's not a recurrent problem.

Poop eating (or coprophagia) isn't terribly unusual but it does need to be discouraged. In addition to just being 'yukky', there are distinct health problems that can occur if your pup eats the feces of another, sick, dog.

If your puppy is fully vaccinated, chances are he hasn't contracted anything deadly serious, but he could still have picked up a bacterial or viral infection or parasites. If he's not fully vaccinated he's at risk for many serious dog illnesses including Canine Parvovirus.

If he's vomiting and not feeling well I would strongly recommend that you have him examined by your veterinarian, so that you can figure out what is going on. The sooner he is diagnosed and treated the better.

You can also find information, tips and advice to help you stop your pup from carrying on with this habit on my Why Does My Dog Eat Poop page.

Best of luck, I hope your pup is feeling better soon.

weak hind legs?

by Sally
(Peekskill, NY)

Hello,

I recently visited a puppy place and came across a very adorable pitbull puppy 9 weeks old. I brought it into a little playroom and i noticed that when i touched its back area, its hind legs seemed a bit weak and he wasn't able to keep his back end up.

I didn't apply very much pressure and i'm a bit concerned. I'm considering buying this puppy if this is normal for a puppy his age. Also, the floor of the playroom was tile, so i'm wondering if it was maybe just the type of floor that he had trouble standing on but it didn't strike me as particularly slippery so i don't really know what to think.

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.




Hi Sally
It's really difficult to say if what you noticed is a symptom of a health issue, just a normal puppy reaction or the result of a slippery floor I'm afraid.

Sometimes a puppy will sit down if you stroke him the full length of his body, or on the lower part of his back. It doesn't necessarily mean there is a weakness.

Most puppies will slip and slide on a floor where there's no traction, even if it doesn't seem terribly slick to you. If his nails hadn't been cut short that would make it even more difficult for him to keep his balance.

I'm not sure what sort of a puppy place you visited. Was it a breeders home? A rescue center? A pet shop?

The best way to buy a puppy is from a reputable breeder, where you can also see the parents of the puppies and the way they're being raised. A health guarantee and appropriate health screening of the parents is advisable.

This puppy should have at least one set of vaccinations and deworming, plus a veterinary health check before you buy him. If there are any issues with his health they should show up then, and if you're still concerned you could talk to the veterinarian yourself.

If all of this isn't possible, at the very least spend some more time with this puppy and try to interact with him on a surface where he can get some traction - carpet, grass etc. You may get a better idea of how he moves around then. Perhaps you could also get an independent examination done by a vet yourself to put your mind at rest before you buy him. A reputable breeder or establishment is unlikely to take issue with that as it would be done at your expense.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, so don't rush into buying this pup until you're confident about it. You might be interested in my Worried about a sick puppy? page.

Best of luck, hope this works out for you.

german shepherd drooling

by sheila
(birmingham)

My 8 month german shepherd keeps drooling when he lies down to sleep.

His chest gets very wet, what do you think can be the cause? He is eating and drinking ok and is fine in his self.

I have looked in his mouth and can't see anything stuck in his teeth.



Hi Sheila
There are lots of possible reasons for excessive drooling in dogs. German Shepherds aren't generally 'droolers', so there is something odd going on here.

The fact that it only seems to happen when he's sleeping is odd, and I can't say I've come across that before.

Obviously you want to rule out the obvious possibilities first. You've already looked to see if there is anything stuck in his teeth, which would have been my first guess too. Of course, an injury or foreign object lodged between his teeth may not be easily seen. Other things such as a broken or infected tooth, gum disease or ulcers, tongue or throat problems and other similar conditions need to be considered. He's past the teething stage really, but it's possible that he has a tooth coming in that is giving him trouble.

Really your vet should look for these as he should have equipment that will help him see deep inside your dogs' mouth/throat more easily, and he should know exactly what he's looking for.

Other possibilities are that your pup is nauseous for some reason, is in pain (not necessarily related to his mouth), has ingested something toxic, or has liver or kidney problems. Seizures also can be preceded by excessive drooling.

Overall I would strongly recommend that you have your veterinarian give your pup a thorough examination and run some tests if necessary. It's important to get to the root of the problem, so that any treatment or procedures that are necessary can get underway.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope that your pup is over this problem soon.

puppy playtime

i have a 9 week old cocker spaniel pitbull mix( crazy i know) and a friend of mine just got a bulldog jack russel mix who is about 8 weeks old..my pup has had her first 2 sets of shots and been dewormed, my friend hasn't done any of this yet for her pup, would it be safe for the puppies to play together?

thanks.





Hi
There's no way to be absolutely certain about this, because there is an incubation period for all illnesses and during that time a puppy won't show any symptoms but still be contagious. So although both puppies appear healthy, there's no guarantees one of them isn't incubating something.

Two sets of puppy shots aren't enough to guarantee immunity either, especially in such a young puppy.

To be extra safe, I would recommend that you wait 2 - 3 weeks before letting them get together. By that time your puppy should have had her 3rd set of shots, and your friends' puppy should have had 2 sets. If during this 'waiting period' neither pup is allowed to come in contact with unvaccinated dogs, or areas where they may have been, you can be pretty sure that they are not carrying or incubating anything.

Of course, the chances are that letting them play together now, as long as you don't allow them around unvaccinated dogs or in public areas, would be fine, but there are no 'sure things' in this situation. It's a personal decision you have to make based on what you know about both puppies backgrounds and how well-protected you think they have been. But, in my opinion it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I wish you the best of luck with your new puppy, enjoy her!

strong urine

My 7 month old female Shitzhu has a very strong urine odor. It has been this way for about a week. i'm not sure if she is going in heat or a UT. How can I be sure?

The scent is hard to explain kinda of a citrus nasty smell.




Hi
The only way to tell what is going on here is to get your veterinarian to do a urine analysis.

In my personal experience, I've never noticed a distinctive change in the odor of a dogs urine when she goes into heat. I think it's more likely that your dog has a UTI, or perhaps is dehydrated. A dog with a urinary tract infection is likely to be urinating more frequently than normal, sometimes only passing a few drops. The urine could be darker in color than normal, or contain streaks/drops of blood.

Untreated UTI's can lead to kidney problems and more, so I'd strongly recommend that you take your pup to the vet asap.

Best of luck, hope you get this sorted out soon.

Very hungry puppy

by Y

I've been advised by the pet shop to feed my puppy twice a day. i.e., 0700 and 1900 hours. However, she wakes up twice in the middle of the night when everyone's sleeping and wouldn't stop barking/ crying until we give her food.

Initially i thought she might need to pee/ poop but the moment she's unleashed, she runs straight to the kitchen and looks to where her food's kept. She's currently 3 months going on 4. Is this normal?

She seems perpetually hungry. I've tried not feeding her at all (just last night actually) but she made so much noise that we had to relent (because of our neighbours). Is this normal? Should i get milk to subsidize the midnight hunger? Or what should i do. Please advise.




Hi Y
I'm not sure what breed your puppy is, and that could be a factor. Tiny and toy breed puppies have very tiny tummies, and fast metabolisms, so they 'use up' their food very quickly.

For these pups, it's best to feed them at least 3 times a day, sometimes four, until they're mature. At that point they can be fed twice a day. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be a problem for these tiny dogs, and feeding them more often helps to overcome this.

Make sure that you're using a premium quality puppy food, specifically designed for your dogs size/breed (see my 10 Best Dog Food Choices and Dog Food Ratings pages for more info on this). That way, you know your puppy is getting the maximum nutritional value from her food. Also, follow the guidelines for feeding amounts that are on the bag of food you choose (usually according to age/weight). But if your pup gobbles it all down in 30 seconds flat, you can give her more. Just don't let her eat until she looks as though she's going to explode!

However, there's also the possibility of worms, no matter what size/breed your pup is. Puppy worms are intestinal parasites that rob your pup of the nutrients she would normally get from her food. Because of that, a puppy with worms is incessantly hungry, but often remains thin (but a 'pot belly' is common). They're usually easily treated with the correct medication from your veterinarian.

I'd definitely recommend that you take your pup to see your vet as soon as possible. That way he can figure out whether it's worms or if there's another underlying health issue at work. If it turns out just to be that your pup is a 'chow hound' then at least you'll know and you can put your mind at rest.

Best of luck, hope your little girl settles down soon.

his throw-up smells and looks like his poop

by ac

my 5 month old maltipoo was sick last night throwing up and it smelled and looked like his poop.

I had him for 4 months now and he's really never throw-up like this. Could it be something he ate? He has been caught eating his poop. I thought that was over since it's been quite a while since I haven't seen him doing it again.

What Should I do?



Hi ac
There are two possibilities that spring to mind here, and are the most likely causes of vomit that smells like feces.

The first is that it contains feces! If he's eating his poop (which isn't a terribly unusual habit), and then vomits fairly soon afterwards, he is in fact vomiting up fecal matter.

Poop eating (called Coprophagia) is something that you need to discourage as much as possible. You can find tips and advice on this habit on my Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? page.

The other possibility is more serious, and that is an intestinal obstruction of some sort. Puppies tend to eat all sorts of things that they shouldn't, and although most times these 'foreign objects' pass right through them and out the other end without any trouble, sometimes they can get 'stuck'.

This sort of obstruction can have very serious health consequences, and if you notice any other signs of illness - such as repeated vomiting, straining to poop, excessive panting, pacing or whining, unusual lethargy or any signs of pain - I'd strongly advise you to take your little guy to the veterinarian asap.

I hope your pup is feeling much better soon. Best of luck!

brown spots

by stephanie
(bakersfield,ca)

my four month old black lab has brown splotches on his face and on the top of his head is scabby.

could he be allergic to something?




Hi Stephanie
It sounds as though these could be the result of an allergy or sensitivity, especially if they're itchy.

My first guess would be perhaps a flea allergy. Many dogs react to flea saliva by breaking out in red, itchy, sore lumps which tend to 'scab over'.

If you're not using an effective flea and tick preventative, this could be what is happening. With summer approaching I'd recommend that you get started on flea prevention soon. Check out my Fleas and Ticks page for more info. on this.

If you're already using an effective preventative, and you're positive your dog doesn't have fleas, then dog food allergies are another possibility.

Other skin conditions such as mange, can cause a rash, itching and so on, but you need your vet to make an accurate diagnosis. If neither of the first two suggestions seem to fit, take him to your vet for an examination.

Best of luck, hope this helps and your pup is doing better soon.

Bathing my pup???

by Terri
(Hillmond SK)

I have a 6 month old snoodle pup/ dog. I was wondering how often I can bathe him.

He seems to be quite comfortable in the water but it seems his skin is a bit flakey and I bought a conditioning product from the pet store to help prevent this drying of the skin but it still appears to be dry.

Can you help me.
Thanks
Terri




Hi Terri
Actually, bathing a puppy is more inclined to cause dry, irritated, flaky skin than NOT bathing him. To minimize this, always use a very gentle shampoo, oatmeal based shampoos are great.

Poodles are 'water dogs' and Poodle-hybrid breeds often love the water, so bathing him shouldn't be problematic, just keep it to a minimum.

The flaky skin could be due to dog food allergies or other dog allergies, these usually cause skin symptoms such as itching, irritation, hot spots and so on. Changing him over to a food specifically formulated for dogs with sensitivities and allergies may help.

Adding Omega 3 fatty acids to his diet (as a supplement) is an excellent way to improve the condition and health of his skin and coat. There are also natural products that are very gentle and soothing, and will make him feel better. Check out my Canine Skin Allergies to learn more about these.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppy.

new puppy hacking to the point of wheezing

My husband and I brought home a new puppy from a shelter. As soon as he got out of car on leash in yard, he started sneezing (sounded like) then sort of a hacking sound. At first it seemed he was very excited. This hacking has continued. When put down for night- it started to the point we were scared he was going to stop breathing.

Nothing comes up in the hacking. We did notice if we picked him up for a while- he calmed down, stopped hacking, breaths normal. Put down again, it starts again later. When we got up in morning- he was excited and started hacking again. he calmed down and it stopped. He got real playful and did it again for a time then stopped.

Is this a new environment type behavior and gets so excited he does this or should I be concerned with an illness. Nothing else seems to be wrong. He is being treated for mange-(inherited)




Hi
There are a couple of possibilities here I think.

One is that your puppy has Kennel Cough. Many pups and dogs who have spent time in facilities where there are many other dogs contract kennel cough if they haven't been vaccinated against it previously. Generally it's not too serious and is self-limiting, but secondary upper-respiratory infections can develop which may need antibiotic treatment.

The second one is that he's exhibiting 'reverse sneezing' which is a sort of bronchial spasm that some dogs experience. It's most commonly seen in very tiny/toy breeds and in dogs who have short muzzles such as Pugs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Boxers etc.

Reverse sneezing is usually triggered by excitement, exertion or stress and it sounds as though that's what is causing your pup to hack. Sometimes it can be stopped by gently stroking the dogs throat or putting two fingers over his nostrils.

I'd recommend that you have your vet give your dog a check up just to be sure that he's healthy, and to rule out any underlying health problems. You should also mention this hacking to him. However, as your dog seems very happy and healthy otherwise, I wouldn't expect any real problems.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your new dog.

puppy in the pool

by Angel
(Fl)

can my small 6 week old terrier mix go in the pool.
i live in florida so it gets very hot and were wondering if we can?




Hi Angel
Six weeks is pretty young, personally I'd wait until your puppy is at least 8 weeks old before letting him try swimming.

However, a lot depends on the puppy. If he seems keen to give it a try, let him. Just be sure to stay right beside him and NEVER let him in the pool unsupervised. You can buy special ramps for your pool that help a dog to climb out should they fall in accidentally. Many dogs drown because they can't get out and get too tired to keep swimming.

Make sure to dry the puppy well when he's done so that he doesn't get chilled and don't take him indoors into air-conditioned temperatures while wet. Puppies don't control their body temperatures very well when they're young.

Best of luck with your puppy.

Newborn rottweiler pups

I have a litter of pups and out of 6 left there is 1 that my wife told me he yelps loud and then stiffens up like he's dead and then he will start back moving a little and moving his tongue out and back a little.

He has done this 3-5 times today. What do I need to do?

Thanks


Hi
It definitely sounds as though this puppy has a problem of some sort, but I'm afraid it's impossible for me to tell exactly what is going on.

With very young puppies there is rarely anything much that can be done if they are sick or have congenital problems. I would strongly recommend taking this puppy to be examined by your veterinarian, so that if he has a problem that is treatable you can get a head start on it. At the very least you will be able to find out what is causing his behavior patterns.

If he's feeding well, and is gaining weight then he probably isn't in any immediate danger. But if he is not feeding properly, is very restless, and looks thinner than the other pups he needs extra help. Sometimes supplemental feedings with puppy formula can help, but it really depends on what health problems he has. If he has palate problems, or neurological ones, he may have equal difficulty in drinking from a bottle. Your vet needs to see him first.

My New Born Puppies page has lots of advice and information on taking care of newborn puppies, and it will hopefully be helpful for general issues.

I'm sorry that I can't help more, but I'm certain that your vet will be able to address your worries. I hope that this little puppy makes it through. Best of luck.

5 month old pup "picking" on 8 week old pup

by Sue
(Va)

I have a 5 month old pup(had him for 4 weeks) and a 8 week old (had her for 1 week). Ok.. every time they get together he gets to playing to rough, he gets excited, rolls her over and its like he gets mad, and starts to repeatedly nip her all over, hard, when she gets away and goes to her house he will try to pull her out by her legs, ears or tail, and then he starts all over again.

If any toys are out he will get them and "guard" them, and if she gets to close he will "attack" her. I intervene every time but he keeps doing this. I spend the same amount of time with him as I did before, and I praise him when he acts nice. I know pups play hard, but this seems to rough to me. How can I help them get along?

Oh.. and he doesn't act like this with our husky mix.




Hi Sue
It's normal for pups to play 'rough' to some degree, and older pups often do pick on the younger ones, but I agree with you that this seems extreme.

It sounds as though your 8 month old pup has a fairly dominant personality, and he may well be jealous of the younger one. He's trying to put her 'in her place', but is overreacting and could hurt her. He doesn't do this with the the husky mix because, for whatever reason, he doesn't feel superior to him/her.

You will definitely need to make sure that these two aren't left alone and supervise them whenever they are together. The younger puppy isn't big or strong enough to defend herself yet, and she may have a submissive personality (which the older dog recognizes and is exploiting). As she gets older and bigger she will be better able to stand up to him, even if he is always the dominant or 'alpha' dog in the relationship.

Correct him firmly when he gets too rough, and make sure there are plenty of toys to go around. Don't let him hoard them all. My Introducing A New Puppy page has more tips and advice on this.

This sort of behavior usually settles down within a few weeks, but if you don't see an improvement I would suggest talking to your veterinarian about the situation. He may be able to give some more advice or recommend a dog behaviorist who could help. If your older pup doesn't adjust to the new one and accept her within a reasonable amount of time you will need to consider whether or not the situation is fair to this younger puppy. However, chances are it will sort itself out naturally.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that peace and harmony exists in your home soon :o)

Best of

why is my female bullmastiff/great dane have greenish mucus comming out of her vagina

by kyle
(Trenton, Ontario, Canada )

why is my female bullmastiff/great dane have greenish mucus comming out of her vagina?



Hi Kyle
Well, she could possibly have a vaginal infection, or a UTI, they're not terribly uncommon. Your veterinarian would be able to make a diagnosis, she may need antibiotics to treat either infection.

Depending on how old your puppy is, it's possible that this discharge could be caused by the hormonal changes that precede a puppys first 'season' or heat cycle. However, this is normally clear or white/yellow. Green is more likely to indicate infection.

In older un-spayed female dogs, a heavy discharge may indicate cancer or other disease.

Either way, I would strongly recommend that you take her to your veterinarian for an examination.

Best of luck, hope she's doing better soon.

Nylabone

by Samm
(Maryland)

I gave my 5 month old Great Dane a Regular Edible Nylabone not realizing that they were for adult dogs only.

I know Great Danes tend to suffer from bloat and torsion which is why I chose the nylabone in place of rawhides. I'm concerned that the nylabone might hurt her stomach. Do I have anything to worry about?



Hi Samm
Great Danes do tend to be more susceptible to bloat, as are many other extra large/giant breeds.

However, I doubt that the Nylabone is of any great concern. The most common causes of bloat are eating too fast/too much or exercising too much right after eating. You can find out more about this at the above link to my article on extra large breeds.

Just keep an eye on her and watch for any signs of stress or discomfort, and check with your vet if you're at all concerned. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck with your pup.

crate training

by linda mcknight
(london, ontario, canada)

Hi, I would like to first thank you for your answers to puppy biting and growling and cat chasing. They helped me a lot. I have one last question that reading hasn't helped me figure out.

I have a crate for my 8 week old German Pointer/Airedale Terrier cross. She sleeps in it and gets up once in the night. Occasionally she sleeps 7 hours in it at night without going out. Now, during the day, if I take her out once an hour and ensure I take her out after naps and after play as well as an hour after eating, she makes no messes in the house.

I am wondering HOW and WHEN to expect her to go longer than once an hour without having to relieve herself?? Should I be crating her in the day to make her hold it longer or is she too young?? If she is too young, should I crate her for longer periods when she is older?? The thing is she knows to go outside and won't let me even bring her in until she is finished, but she is not quite sure yet that she is not to go inside. If I made her wait longer than every hour, she'd go inside.

I read their age in months plus 1 hour is how long they can hold it, meaning she should hold it 2 to 3 hours, but there is no way she would do that unless crated. I can't crate her too much in the day or she'd cry and not get enough exercise and play time. I just don't feel sure how to use the crate. I use it if I want to nap or do laundry or go out which isn't often. Otherwise, I just keep an eye on her.

I understand the basics of housebreaking but do not feel sure about crating her in the day. Any information you could give me would be ever so appreciated. I've never had a puppy and am feeling a little lost in some areas. It's a confidence booster if I feel I know what I am to do. Linda.




Hi Linda
I'm glad to hear how well your puppy is progressing. It sounds to me as though she (and you, as you're the one teaching her) are doing a wonderful job. To be so good at 'holding it' at night, and also not messing in the house between potty breaks is excellent.

The estimate of her age in months plus one is a bit high in my personal opinion (but I know lots of people use it). The schedule below is actually how long a pup should be crated at one time (except for night times), but it will work as a general guideline for potty training too......


9 - 10 weeks old - 30 mins

11 - 14 weeks old - 1 - 3 hours

15 - 18 weeks old - 3 - 4 hours

18 weeks plus - 4 - 6 hours


As your little girl is going an hour between potty breaks without issues, I would keep it right there for now. The last thing you want to do is to rush her and mess up the wonderful work you've done so far.

At about 11 - 12 weeks I would recommend starting to see if she can go an hour and a half between breaks. You may even want to work up to that, say adding an extra 10 mins at a time to begin with. Once she's fine with that, wait a couple of weeks and then increase the time again, slowly. If you find she's struggling, or you feel it's not working, go back to shorter intervals between breaks.

It's not a race, and all dogs are different. Even with consistent training, most pups aren't going to begin to be reliable about housebreaking until they're around 6 months old. You know your pup best, and so far you're both on track.

As far as keeping her in the crate for longer periods during the day, it's definitely a good idea to get her used to being crated whether you're there or not. But, as she can 'hold it' all night, I don't think she's got any issues with control.

I'd recommend just making it a regular part of her daily routine. For example, after she had breakfast, and some exercise and one-on-one time, crate her for an hour. You can do the same thing late afternoon/early evening before supper if you want to, and obviously if you're going out, or can't keep an eye on her for whatever reason.

Puppies are creatures of habit and thrive on routine, once they do something often enough it becomes second nature to them. If she gets used to being crated both regularly, and at other times when necessary, she'll come to accept that as part of her daily life. And that's exactly what you want!

I hope this answers your questions. Don't doubt yourself either, you're doing a great job so far and obviously love your puppy very much. She couldn't ask for more. Don't hesitate to let me know if you need any help/advice at any time.

Best of luck!

Puppy Drinking Too Much?

How come my puppy seems to always need water?



Hi
Puppies and dogs need a constantly available supply of fresh water, especially in hot weather. It's normal for a pup to want to drink quite a bit.

However, if your puppy seems obsessed by water and can never 'get enough of it' then he could have an underlying health issue. Some illnesses such as Diabetes, cause excessive thirst.

I'd recommend taking your puppy to your vet for an examination so that he can make sure that he is healthy. It's always better to be safe than sorry, and if there is a problem the earlier it's diagnosed and treated the better too.

Best of luck!

7 week old puppy, hind legs wobbly

by Jennifer
(Pittsfield, MA )

We just purchased a 7 week old puppy. We noticed after getting him home that his hind legs seem to be very loose, and wobbly.

From behind, when he walks it looks like his legs are not very steady, they just look, loose! Don't know if it is just normal, that he's just not steady yet, or if there is an underlying problem. Please let me know what you think.

If it helps, his mother is a shepherd, and they think the father is a hound, lab mix. But he really looks like a beagle.
Thanks
Jen




Hi Jen
It's really impossible to say whether or not your pup has a problem, especially as he's so young and I can't actually SEE him walking.

From what you describe, it sounds as though he could have a join/ligament problem, but then again 7 week old pups (especially the large breed pups) tend to be very clumsy, and may run 'funny' and so on.

I would strongly recommend that you have a veterinarian give your puppy a thorough examination, and tell him about the worry you have over his hind legs. Shepherds and other large breeds such as Rottweilers and Labs can have hip problems, and sometimes these are congenital (inherited). The ball and socket hip joint are malformed or shallow.


However, in a puppy so young it's very difficult to diagnose these issues unless there's a severe abnormality. I'd suggest that you have your vet look at him, so that if there is a problem you know what treatment (if any) will be needed, or to put your mind at rest.

I wish I could help more, but this needs to be done 'in person'. I wish you the best of luck with your new pup and hope he passes the exam with flying colors!

My female German shepherd is puking foam

by Terra
(Farrell, PA)

the long haired on is the female

I have a female german shepherd... I bought her and her brother about 3 months ago.. they are now 4 months as of Sunday.. and the female started puking white foam this morning... what does that mean?

Just to add they both have all their updated shots...




Hi Terra
If your puppies have all three sets of puppy shots then they should be protected from many of the most serious dog illnesses such as Parvo

The vomiting could have been caused by her eating something she shouldn't, or catching an intestinal infection, or parasitic illnesses such as Giardiosis or Coccidiosis. I'd recommend that you check out my Puppy Vomiting page and see if yhou can figure out what may have trigger this.

If she only vomits once or twice and is drinking normally (without vomiting it back up), you can probably wait 24 hours or so to see if she improves. If she gets worse, continues vomiting, or isn't any better within that time frame get her to a vet right away.

Puppies can get dehydrated very quickly, and if she vomits, has diarrhea and won't eat or drink normally she is at risk. It's always better to be safe than sorry with pups and I'd recommend talking to your vet about this problem.

Those look like beautiful puppies you have, I wish you the best of luck with them.

My 3 1/2 Mo old pup keeps snorting

by Bears Mom

My 3 1/2 month old Chow/Golden retreiver mix or so I was told when I got him free to a good home. I got all his shots and everything is fine.

Well he snorts a lot when he gets excited when we are playing with him or petting him in a playful way. I looked it up and all it says is that it could be reverse sneezing I don't think that would apply because he doesn't do it all the time.

We have associated it with the way a cat purrs when they show affection or happiness the only time he does it is at that time only at affection playfulness, excitfulnes (are those even words) well when all the excitement is over the snorting is over. any comments appreciated




Hi Bears' Mom
Although he doesn't do this 'snorting' all the time, it could still be reverse sneezing. Most pups only experience this when they're excited or exerting themselves (ie running around too much etc.). It's more common in small breeds though, and those will short muzzles such as Pugs, Staffys, Boxers and so on.

When you describe it as being similar in context to a cat purring, I'm wondering if it's something similar to the way my Rottweilers 'rumble' when they're happy or content. It's like they're talking to me. This is very common in Rotties, and for people who aren't familiar with them it can be worrying as they confuse it with growling - it's not, it's totally different. It's a way of showing their affection and contentment.

Perhaps this is what your pup is doing. I imagine that if Rottweilers do it, some other breeds do it too!

As your pup is happy and healthy it doesn't really matter whether this is reverse sneezing, 'rumbling' or just a quirk unique to your little guy. If it's not bothering him, it's just another thing that makes him lovable :o)

Best of luck with him.

New Puppy has not yet had a solid poop

by Tina
(Canada)

We have had our new puppy for two weeks and she has yet to have a solid poop. Was not able to get her food that she came with, so mixed what I had with a new brand.

Has been on this new brand for just over a week and she still has not had a solid poop. Wondering if I should try something else or be patient and give it some more time.

She is healthy and happy so not worried that she is sick. Just wondering if this is normal or should I be concerned.




Hi Tina
It can take a while for a puppy to fully adjust to a new diet, two changes within two weeks and the accompanying stress of moving to a new home etc., could account for the loose stools.

If she seems happy and healthy otherwise, I would say you can give her a little more time and see if it settles down.

If it doesn't, you may want to first try one of the natural supplements that help to regulate the digestive system. These can be very effective at strengthening her system and getting her digestive tract back into balance, that should take care of it. There's a good selection of natural supplements and remedies on my Natural Remedies for Dogs page.

You may want to have your veterinarian check her out meanwhile, just to make sure there's no infection going on. A simple stool sample would allow him to diagnose any problem.

If she is healthy, and the supplements don't totally fix the problem, it could be a sensitivity to an ingredient (or several) in her food. There are some great foods for dogs with sensitivities and allergies, you can find these (and learn about dog food allergies) on my Dog Food Allergies page.

Hope these suggestions help, best of luck with your puppy.

two female puppies together

by jim
(glendale arizona 85310)

Hi,
Can we raise two female puppies together? we are home most of the time. we know it is work. they will be small dogs.we will have separate crates.

thank you, jim

(your answer will decide for us whether to get two or not)


Hi Jim
Raising two puppies together is definitely a lot more work than raising one, and it's important that you spend lots of individual time with each puppy for at least the first 6 months to a year. That way they will bond closely with you, not just each other.

You can raise two pups together, but if you really want to do that I would personally recommend that you get a boy and a girl, rather than two girls.

There are no guarantees of course, either way, that the two of them will get along when mature. It depends largely on their individual temperaments and personalities. Adult females often tend to be more combative and 'alpha' than males and may 'butt heads'. But this happens with males too. Spaying them before their first heat cycle (or neutering before 6 months of age) will usually help to reduce some of this, but it won't necessarily eliminate it.

There are plenty of households where two female dogs (or two males) live harmoniously together, and there are also plenty where they don't. If you want to increase the odds of success, get one pup of each sex, but as I said, there are no guarantees.

As you're home a lot, and you're aware of the work involved, and are obviously taking the time to consider this move and what is the best course of action - you're already 'ahead of the game'. Being prepared and aware is more than half the battle!

If you do decide to go ahead and get two female pups, talk to whoever you are buying/adopting them from, and get their opinion as to which two would be a good 'fit'. Submissive, easy-going pups will get along better than bossy, anxious or dominant ones.

This is a decision that you guys have to make, not me (thank goodness :o), and if you weigh it all up, I think you will be able to decide what's best in your particular situation. It's really a very individual decision. I don't think either option is an automatic 'no-no', it's just a case of figuring out how to make it work for you.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope you are happy with your pup or puppies.

Unsure of what breed for my family

by Diane
(Greenwich, NY)

I'm having trouble trying to decide a breed that is best for my family of four. We have two children, both are six years old, but small for their ages.

I was leaning towards a Havanese. We have medium sized house with a very large fenced in backyard.

What do you think?



Hi Diane
The Havanese makes a really good family companion. Although it's classified as one of the toy breeds, and is a fairly small dog, it's sturdy and not as easily hurt as the very tiny breeds.

It's usually good natured, friendly, and very loving/loyal. It's a very intelligent breed, and needs plenty of exercise, and enjoys learning new things.

Unless you clip the coat short, it will need daily grooming to prevent tangles, matts and so on. On the other hand, a plus of this type of coat is that it doesn't really shed, making it a good breed for people with allergies.

If you're looking for a small, but energetic breed, that isn't too 'hyper' and is smart and affectionate, in my opinion the Havanese would be a good choice.

There are also many other breeds that make great family dogs, and it's a good idea to take plenty of time and weigh up all the options before making a decision. I'd recommend that you also take a look at my Best Dog Breeds for Children and Best Dog Breeds for Families pages for more info, tips and lists of other suitable breeds.

Best of luck with whatever puppy you choose.

urinating in 8 week old puppy?

by Dale
(Owen Sound, ON. Canada)

How often should an 8 week old puppy urinate? I can take my golden retriever puppy outside to urinate and she will go, quite often when I bring her back in she will urinate on to floor again within 10 minutes.

Could there be something wrong with her? Any advise would be very helpful.

Thanks
Dale:-)



Hi Dale
An 8 week old puppy normally needs a potty break every 30 minutes to an hour. They also often need to pee or poop more than once when they go out, especially in the morning, so make sure that you give her lots of time to 'finish up' and don't assume that because she's squatted she done!

Puppies can get urinary tract infections, particularly female puppies, and this can cause frequent urination, and a sudden intense urge to 'go'. Normally in this situation though, many of the pee's will be nothing more than a few drops. If you think this could be the problem, your vet can diagnose it for you and normally will prescribe antibiotics.

My Potty Train A Puppy page and Potty Training Your Puppy Schedule pages have lots of tips and advice to help you.

Also, I'd strongly recommend crate training as it's the simplest and quickest way to housebreak a puppy. It also helps a puppy to learn bladder/bowel control. Check out my Crate Training A Puppy page.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your puppy.

Worms

by SRAH
(KZOO)

Hi,
I got my puppy de wormed 2 weeks ago an its not until another week for her next shot, she pooped them all out her first 3 days and now it looks like they're back she's losing weight, or growing up?

But the worms are back and there was bloody jelly coming out in her poop and rolled up worms , she puked up worms today, she's not eating as much as she should I'm going to the vet but need answers now THANKS!!!!




Hi
It definitely sounds as though she still has worms, if she's vomiting up worms then she has a pretty severe infestation.

It's important that you get her to your veterinarian as soon as possible, so that she can be treated. She may be losing weight because the worms are filling up her tummy. Don't worry, your vet will get it taken care of for you.

Best of luck with her, hope she's doing much better soon.

poor brownie

by sandy
(san francisco)

My puppy is 5 months old and recently he hasn't been active. He's usually energetic and very playful. But now all he seems to do is slump around and sleep.

I haven't noticed anything wrong with dietary his poop is a hard consistently and no barfing of that sort. And on his left cheek he has a quarter size abrasion that is pink around the edges and has pus..Is this something that will pass or is there a medical cream that can be applied?

thank you



Hi Sandy
From the way your pup is behaving it definitely sounds as though he's not feeling well. Lethargy is a sign of illness, and he could be running a fever.

If the abrasion has pus, then it is most likely infected. This could make him quite sick. He needs to be seen by a veterinarian so that it can be treated properly.

Best of luck, hope he's feeling better soon.

male dogs and puppies

by Crystal Lonowski
(Oak Grove KY)

my female dog just gave birth to 4 puppies 2 weeks ago. we have been keeping them away from the male dog so that he does not try to kill them as some one had told us he would if he was around them.

how long do you have to keep the male dogs from the puppies? our male is a good dog and doesn't mind other dogs but was just wondering since they are puppies.

thank you




Hi Crystal
This really depends a lot on the male dog himself. I've never had a problem with one of my males being aggressive towards puppies (their own or anyone else's), but I know others who have.

It also depends on the momma dog. Some females are pretty laid-back moms and don't mind their pups being handled etc. Others can go into super-protective mode and get anxious or aggressive if other people/dogs are around their babies. If your female is also a fairly laid-back dog, you could try letting the male sniff the pups and be around them for short periods (maybe in the same room, or in the next room with just a baby-gate between them).

Don't leave them unsupervised though, not for a minute, and follow the cues of the adult dogs. If she gets upset, take him away. If he seems wary or aggressive in any way, remove him.

Once the puppies are a little older it may be easier, and you could wait until then without any issues. By the time they're 4 - 5 weeks old they are more robust, quite mobile and playful, and most dogs are gentle with puppies of that age and allow them 'liberties' that they wouldn't allow older dogs.

You know your dogs best, so use your instincts and play it by ear. I wouldn't advise leaving the pups alone with the male though, even when older. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck with your litter.

Two puppies at once?

by Sara-Jane
(North Reading, MA)

Mu sister is interested in getting two puppies. She just lost her 9-year old yellow lab and doesn't want to be left dogless again.

She will get another yellow lab and a welsh corgi. Should she get them at the same time? Are there pros and cons to having two puppies other than the amount of work it will be?

Thanks for your help. Sara-Jane



Hi Sara Jane
Getting two puppies at the same time is sort of like raising twins - twice the number of 'babies' and about four times the amount of work!

Puppies are very demanding... of your time, patience, finances, resources and so on. They also need a lot of one-on-one time with their 'human' so that they bond with that person as well as each other.

They can also 'play off' each other, and two rambunctious pups can cause way more havoc and destruction than one. When getting two puppies at the same time it's also best to get one of each sex, that way there is less likelihood of conflict later on (doesn't necessarily eliminate it, but it can help).

If your sister really wants to get two pups at the same time she needs to be totally aware of the extra time, expense and work it's going to be. Of course, there are 'plus-es' to getting two pups at once, the main one being that they will be playmates for each other.

Personally, I much prefer to raise one puppy at a time, because that way I get to spend lots of time with that individual pup, and we can 'bond' more closely. Plus, potty training one puppy at a time is quite enough for me!

However, it's really a very personal decision, and if your sister is certain that she has enough time, energy, money and patience to raise two puppies at the same time, then that may be right for her.

I'd recommend that she read my New Puppy Care page as a kind of 'refresher' since it's been a while since she had a puppy. That way she'll be prepared.

Best of luck!

Mini schnauzer growth

How much should my 16 week old puppy weigh?




HiIt's impossible to give any sort of definitive answer to this question as there can be a significant variation in size between puppies of the same breed, even within individual litters.

Miniature Schnauzers normally weigh somewhere between 14 and 18lbs when adult, but again, that is only a guideline. According to some methods of estimating a puppy's adult weight, at 4 months a pup may weigh around 1/3 of what he will when mature. Due to the huge variation in rate of growth between dogs of different breeds/sizes, it really is impossible to be specific though.

To find out more about 'guess-timating' your pups adult size, check out my Puppy Weight Estimates and Puppy Weight Chart pages.

Have fun!

Why does my puppy

by JAMES
(GEORGIA/USA)

Can you tell me WHY my puppy has taken to bringing in stools from my other dogs into the house from the backyard ?

She's about 12 weeks old and a Boxer Rottie mix.




Hi James
She's a very pretty girl, lovely coloring!

It's not unusual for puppies to play with, or eat, poop - theirs or other animals. It's a disgusting puppy habit though and can have health consequences if they find a sick dog's poop.

The best thing to do is to make sure all stools are picked up right away. There are also products that you can add to your dogs' food that should make the stools taste horrible/bitter to her.

Check out my Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? page for lots of tips and advice on dealing with this behavior.

9 week old American Pit Bull Terrier (male)

by Rick
(Maryland)

I brought the puppy home yesterday and of course i expected him to be a little down from leaving his mommy, but today i noticed he is tired all the time and his eyes are red.

i am a worry freak and im just wondering if this is a normal thing. Also he is a little chubby lol. The puppy has been de wormed and had his first 2 shots

please assist thank you

Rick




Hi Rick
It's not unusual for a puppy to be lethargic, lose his appetite, or seem 'sad' for a few days after coming into his new home.

My Bringing Home A New Puppy page has lots of information and advice on this.

However, the fact that his eyes are red could be a health issue, difficult to tell without seeing the puppy in person.

It's possible he has an allergy, or it could be an infection such as conjunctivitis, only your veterinarian can tell you for sure.

If he is eating and drinking normally, isn't vomiting or having diarrhea, has period of happy activity at certain times during the day, and there isn't any discharge or swelling around his eyes, chances are this isn't an emergency situation.

However, I would definitely recommend taking him to your veterinarian right away if he does show any of the symptoms above. If he doesn't, take him tomorrow for a check up. You don't want to panic, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Although he's had his first vaccinations he is still at risk for infection, and Pit Bulls are one of the breeds that is particularly susceptible to Parvo

In any situation it's always best to have a new puppy given a full examination by your own veterinarian within 24 - 48 hours of getting him.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope this little guy is healthy!

excessive panting and diarrhea

by Nancy
(Ontario, Canada)

Our 7 month old female goldendoodle spent much of yesterday panting (it was approaching 20 degrees Celcius). During the night, her panting was so pronounced neither she nor I could sleep. Thinking she was hot, I made sure there was a nice cross breeze in the house and had her sleep in a cool spot.

In the morning she started having diarrhea and continued with three other episodes during the day. I withheld her food (kibble) but continued to give her water. She is a little lower on energy level but I wouldn't call her lethargic. Breathing is normal now and her gums are moist.

What else do we watch for? Does she need to be seen by a vet? Thank you, Nancy





Hi Nancy
You've done a great job so far, and it sounds as though your pup isn't deteriorating, and is in fact improving. That's very good news. Keeping her hydrated is important, and is seems that you're managing to do that.

The panting was most likely as sign of stress rather than her being hot. She was likely feeling pretty unwell prior to the diarrhea, but couldn't tell you about it. Her anxiety showed in her panting.

It's possible that she ate something that she shouldn't have, or contracted a bacterial/viral infection of some sort. Withholding her food probably helped to give her digestive system time to move the problem 'out'



As long as the diarrhea has stopped, and she isn't vomiting, she is drinking enough, and doesn't seem overly lethargic, she is probably on the mend and I would imagine that she will be a lot better within another 24 hours. I'm not a vet and can't give a professional recommendation, but personally I think that you can afford to 'wait and see' if she seems to be improving slowly.

However, if the diarrhea returns, she starts vomiting or panting again, or seems to be relapsing at all (or not improving), I'd definitely recommend taking her to your veterinarian. Withholding food for 24 hours is okay, and you can just give her plain white boiled rice (with a little chicken broth added if you want) for the next couple of meals. This is bland and shouldn't upset her tummy. If she is doing well after that you can reintroduce her normal food.

It's always a bit of a tricky call in this sort of situation, and you know your pup best. Use your best judgment and instincts - if you are concerned, or feel that she just doesn't seem 'right' or isn't doing as well as you would like, see your vet. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

You might find these pages helpful...

Puppy Diarrhea

Puppy Vomiting

I wish you the best of luck and hope your pup is feeling much better soon.

POTTY TRAINING COCKER SPANIEL PUP

by CHANELLE
(AMERICA)

HI

I'VE GOT A 5 MONTH OLD COCKER SPANIEL THAT JUST WONT DO PIDDLES ON THE PUPPY TRAINIG PADS, HELP PLEASE WHAT DO I DO???

SHE DOES DO IT SOME TIMES LIKE DURING THE NIGHT AND AFTER I SHOW HER WHERE TO GO AFTER SHE'S DONE ONE ON THE FLOOR SO I REWARD HER, SHOULD I??? THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HOW DO I TRAIN HER? SHE ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TOUCH HER OR WHEN SHE GET EXCITED SHE WETS HERSELF PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO.





Hi Chanelle
I would strongly recommend that you go out and buy your puppy a crate and start crate training her right away. At 5 months old she should have good enough bladder/bowel control to be able to 'hold it' for several hours, and crate training is the best and simplest way to housebreak a puppy.

Pee-pee pads are not a good idea in my opinion, as they are at best confusing to a puppy and at worst pretty useless as some puppies see them as toys! A puppy who is encouraged to pee indoors on a pad, doesn't understand that it's only the pad that makes this okay - they simply think it's fine to pee in the house and are confused and upset if scolded for peeing in other parts of the house. It's important to only allow her to pee/poop outdoors, and definitely reward her for that.

Occasionally, teaching a pup to eliminate indoors is the only option (if someone lives in a high-rise apartment, is disabled and so on), but in that case I would suggest a doggie litter-box rather than the pads.

Check out my Crate Training page for lots of advice on how to crate train your puppy. Crate training works because it eliminates most of the opportunities for a puppy to pee/poop indoors, and your pup should learn quickly. My Potty Train A Puppy page also has lots of general advice on housebreaking a puppy.

The peeing when she's excited or scared and so on is probably submissive urination. It's an involuntary action that she has no control over, and isn't related to housebreaking at all. My Dog Submissive Urination page to learn all about this behavior. The best thing to do is to try to keep the excitement level around her low, and to ignore it if she 'has an accident'. Scolding her or drawing attention to what she's done will only make it worse. Most puppies do grow out of this in time.

I hope this has helped some, I wish you the very best of luck with your puppy.

Puppy Diarrhea

by Susab
(Phoenix)

Five days ago my puppy (a miniature Australian Shepherd) had extremely watery brown diarrhea and extremely bright red blood in his stool, a couple of times all he did was drip blood, and he constantly had to go to the bathroom, like every hour, for around 5 hours.

He just had his final set of shots 4 days before this happened, and I gave him his first dose of heartworm medication (Heartguard) 3 days before this happened.

I did take him to the vet immediately, the vet didn't think it was Parvo, but to play it safe, I still had a Parvo test done on him (it's negative) and the vet did a stool sample, no parasites.

Basically, the vet tells me sometimes dogs get diarrhea, and he doesn't know what may have caused this...the blood in his stool stopped after a day, but my puppy (he's 17 weeks now) still has diarrhea, but not every time, and it's not near as runny as it was, not it's like the 'pudding' that I've read on many websites.

Since this happened, at the recommendation of my vet, I've been giving my dog white rice, a little bit of cooked chicken, and kibble (lamb & rice variety for puppies)...I always make sure I give him fresh water (and I always have water available to him)...but I'm worried sick about the fact he still has diarrhea, and nobody can tell me why.

I do want to state though, my puppy's gums are the right color, he's hydrated, no signs of dehydration, and there has been no loss of energy with him, he's as energetic as ever...it's just the diarrhea..

I'm hoping somebody out there has had a similar situation...and might give me some ideas on what to do...




Hi Susab
I can totally understand why you are worried, it's been several days now and your puppy is still having diarrhea.

However, the good news is that he seems happy and healthy otherwise, and he doesn't have Parvo. That is very good!

It's possible that the vaccinations and the heartworm medication upset his tummy, and caused the original diarrhea and this irritation also resulted in the blood in his stools. The fact that the diarrhea is improving, even if only a little, is another good sign. I don't think you need to panic about this.

But, of course it's not normal for a puppy to have persistent diarrhea and it is something that needs to be figured out.

As your puppy seems fine in all other respects, I would suggest that the first thing you consider trying is to fast him for 24 hours - that is no food but allow him plenty of fresh water. This gives his digestive system a chance to 'relax' and work whatever is causing the problem out.

After the 24 hours, then give him plain boiled white rice, with a little chicken broth added, that's all. After 24 hours on that diet, you can slowly return to his normal food. Hopefully this will get his digestive system back on track.

If not, it could be that he is sensitive to an ingredient (or ingredients) in his current food. You could try a food that is specifically formulated for puppies with dog food allergies or sensitivities.

Another recommendation would be to start giving him one of the herbal supplements that helps to regulate digestive function and keep his system balanced. You can find out more about these on my Natural Remedies for Dogs page. They are gentle and effective.

I hope that these suggestions help you, and that your puppy's bowels soon return to normal. However, if they don't, and you are still concerned, don't be afraid to go back to your veterinarian and ask him for advice. A puppy shouldn't have to experience chronic diarrhea.

Sometimes the initial diarrhea itself can set up inflammation in the intestines or colon, and an anti-inflammatory may need to be prescribed by your vet to settle it down if other measures aren't successful.

Best of luck, hope your little guy is doing much better soon.

She attacks me

No matter what I do, the dog attacks me and bites me all the time.

She is 4 months old and I understand she is teething, but it is deliberate and seems crazy. She also will bark excessively at nothing.

I am beginning to think something is wrong and now I almost want to give her away because of the pain she inflicts on me.




Hi
I'm sorry to hear that you are having such problems with your puppy.

It sounds to me as though this pup is extremely anxious, and her behavior isn't 'normal'. She needs help and so do you.

I would recommend that you start by talking to your veterinarian and having your puppy examined. There could possibly be an underlying health issue that is causing her pain or stress, and is making her react this way.

Your vet may also be able to give you some advice or suggestions on how to control this behavior, or recommend a dog behavioral specialist who can work with you or give advice.

Some breeds are more active than others, and if they don't get enough exercise and stimulation they can act in the way you describe. Breeds like Border Collies, German Shepherds and other working breeds, would be among these. Daily walks and active play sessions, plus some basic obedience classes and training are vital to this sort of dogs' physical and mental well being.

Also, a pup who has been 'left to his own devices' and not been disciplined or trained in basic manners, can become very rambunctious and rebellious when he becomes an adolescent - which is about the age your pup is now.

Giving her away isn't the answer, although if she's physically hurting you I can definitely see why you feel desperate about it. This puppy depends on you for everything, and even if she seems 'wild' right now, she's still just a 'child' and doesn't know any better yet.

There are natural remedies/products that can be used to help calm overly anxious or stressed dogs. They are very gentle and don't have the after-effects that some sedative medications do. You can find out more about these on my Natural Health Products for Dogs and Natural Remedies for Dogs pages.

The only exception to this would be if someone experienced with the breed, and with raising pups/dogs, was to be her new owner and was fully aware of his present behavioral difficulties and willing and able to work to overcome them. Any other situation would simply make this pups' behavior worse (as she would have to add being scared/lonely and homesick to her general anxiety level) and if the new owner wasn't familiar with handling this sort of thing, it could be disastrous.

I suggest that you try the above tips and also read my Puppy Biting and Basic Puppy Training pages. Your veterinarian is an expert and he should be able to help you with this.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that you can work through this to a happy ending for both of you.

Sick puppy....

by Lanell
(Lapine, AL)

I am babysitting a pair of Chihuahua/dachshund puppies for a my ex-husband. Yesterday afternoon the one of the puppies played in and may have eaten some poison ivy. Then he got in an ant bed and may have been bitten by a couple of ants. Later, he was playing with the cat who seemed to be playing and the lightly bit him on the shoulder.

Right after the bite (no sign of any bite wound) which was about two hours after the poison ivy and ants, the puppy began throwing up and stopped playing. Both puppies played briefly in the poison ivy and both got ants on them, but only the one puppy is now sick. This morning he threw up again, mostly bile as he hasn't eat since the incidents and doesn't have an interest in playing. He is urinating, his nose is wet, his eyes are not dull, but he looks sad and wants only to lay on his bed.

I had to leave him to go to work today and have no access to the vet the ex-husband uses. Long story, but the ex-husband is going through yet another divorce and is not likely to be taking this puppy to the vet. I can't take off at present to take it either. I wondered if the poison ivy made him sick, or if he was traumatized be the whole series of events compounded by the fact that he is in a strange home.

He does know my two girls, but with the ex getting a divorce there was a lot of drama in that home the past few days. I get varied info from the internet. How long do I wait before I really get concerned, or what symptoms indicate a serious condition and warrant my taking off work to take him to the vet?

Any info you can give me would be very much appreciated. Can't help but already love the poor little darlings!




Hi Lanell
With so much going on in such a short space of time, it's very difficult to figure out what could be causing this little guy to have problems.

Puppies are like children and are affected by stress and the emotional environment around them, they also can be stressed by a change in diet, surroundings and so on. It seems that this little pup may have been overloaded with stressors and is suffering the consequences.

Of course it's possible that the Poison Ivy and ant bites could have caused a reaction, you'd likely see skin symptoms in this case though. If both pups had the same exposure though, and only one seems sick, it may not be the problem.

I'd be concerned if the puppies aren't fully vaccinated, as that leaves them very vulnerable to infections. Especially around new places or when in contact with other dogs. Lethargy and vomiting could be the symptoms of several dog illnesses, or it could possibly be stress related.

In tiny breeds like this it's very important to keep the fluid intake adequate, and encourage them to eat. You need to keep the blood sugar levels constant. If this pup is drinking well, is urinating, isn't suffering from repeated diarrhea and the vomiting has been limited to once or twice, chances are he's not seriously ill. If he will eat a little, and you can interest him in treats or a favorite toy those are good signs. In this situation you could probably wait 24 hours and see if he improves. If it's just that he's stressed, or reacting to the Ivy/ants etc. he should be feeling better within a day.

However, if he doesn't improve or gets worse during that time, take him to the vet immediately.

Also, if he's not drinking adequately, won't eat at all, the vomiting is repeated, he seems too exhausted to get up/play and so on, then he needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. These tiny breeds can be very delicate and get sick very quickly.

It's always better to be safe than sorry. I'm not a vet and can't give any sort of professional opinion, and my best advice would be to follow your instincts and err on the side of caution. If you have any doubts about this little guys health, have him examined by your vet.

Best of luck with these two. It sounds as though you have your hands full, and they are having a bit of a difficult time too. Hope everything works out well.

Puppies and vaccines

by Rae
(Henderson, NV)

I just got a 4 month old Chihuahua/Min Pin mix from a friend and she has had no vaccines at all.

Which ones does she need right now?



Hi Rae
She'll probably need three sets of the combination DHLPP plus Coronavirus, given at 3 week intervals.

If she's over 16 weeks old, she will also need her Rabies vaccination. You can find out more about vaccinations on my Puppy Shots page.

In your part of the country Lyme Disease is a risk factor, so you may want to talk to your veterinarian about whether or not she should be vaccinated against that. If she's going to spend much time outdoors, in grass or wooded areas it may be recommended.

If she's never been vaccinated, she may never have been wormed either. Your veterinarian can do this for you when she has her shots. Many puppies have worms, and it's best to have your pup tested for them and dewormed if necessary.

Best of luck with your new puppy.

Beagle shivering and lethargic

9 week old beagle shivering and sleeping more than usual today.

Could something be wrong?




Hi
It definitely sounds as though something's wrong, but what it is, and how serious it is I can't say I'm afraid.

Shivering is a sign of stress or shock. If you've only just got your puppy, he could just be scared and stressed and going through the normal adjustment/transition period. Read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

If he had his vaccinations just prior to you noticing this behavior, it could be a reaction to those. Many puppies have a mild reaction to their shots. You can find out more about this on my Puppy Shots page.

There are also all sorts of other possible causes for your pup to act this way, including illness or injury. I would definitely strongly recommend that you have him checked out by your veterinarian to find out what is going on. You really can't be too careful with young puppies.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope your little guy is doing much better soon.

biting puppy

by shawn
(vista)

my puppy snapped at my daughter and then attacked me how can i break him of this he is about 14 weeks old?




Hi Shawn
Biting, nipping, snapping and mouthing is perfectly normal puppy behavior and rarely indicates aggression (as in 'attack'). It's generally an attention-seeking behavior, sometimes a dominant one.

Puppies play together by biting and rough-housing, sometimes drawing blood on each other. It's a normal part of canine interaction and puppies often see children as littermates, that's why they tend to nip them so frequently. Although it is normal, obviously it needs to be discouraged early on so that it doesn't become a habit, or develop into a control issue.

Check out my Puppy Biting page for lots of tips and advice on dealing with this behavior. This very recent question from another visitor also has more tips that you may appreciate Puppy Snapping

Best of luck.

Boy will be boys? Adopting two puppies at once

1. I just adopted two male eight week old rottweiler puppies and was wondering if they should each have their own bowl for feeding or if this will make them territorial?

2. I've notice that their play can turn into fighting. Is this ok and if not how do I correct and instruct them?




Hi
Having two puppies of the same sex is definitely more likely to cause friction than one of each, but that will probably not show up until they reach adolescence. Having them both neutered will help to some degree.

From my personal experience, feeding them from different bowls is less likely to trigger guarding or food-based aggression as they won't feel the need to fight over it. Most fighting between dogs is over resources - food, treats, affection, females.......... if there is plenty to go around then there won't be so much conflict.

One pup will probably be more dominant than the other, and this will become obvious as you watch them play and interact with each other. When it becomes clear who this is, it will help to prevent problems if you also treat that pup as though he is in first place. Greet him and pet him first for example. Dogs understand this, and it may help to head off jealousy and jostling for position between the pups.

Be sure to spend plenty of one-on-one time with each pup separately (as well as together), you want them to bond with you rather than just with each other. Also, be sure to socialize your puppies well, and enroll them in a puppy obedience class as soon as they're fully vaccinated.

Raising two puppies is definitely much more time-consuming than raising one, but with lots of time, patience and love there's no reason why you can't raise two happy, healthy dogs. Best of luck.

Boxer Bald Spots

by Jeff Seeley
(Laramie, WY )

I have a female boxer puppy who is approximately 5 months old. She is a healthy thirty pounds with an Iams Smart Puppy diet, being fed half in the morning and half in the evening. She was a picky eater for a couple of months in the beginning, but now she pretty much gulps up her food faster than I can pour it into the bowl.

She recently developed a few patched on her back from her pelvis to her shoulders that are not completely devoid of hair, but are noticeable. I thought at first that it was the result of playing with a less socialized roughian. I controlled the interactions with the roughian more closely and the bald spots persisted and even increased.

I heard a rumor that it is the result of a vitamin C deficiency and also that she may not be getting enough sun. Are these two related; the main culprit(s)?

Concerned @ 7220



Hi Jeff
Although vitamin deficiencies may cause hair loss in dogs, it would have to be a pretty significant deficiency and from what you say I doubt that this is the case with your pup. As for sunlight, again, I doubt that's the reason.

I'm not a veterinarian so I can't give any sort of professional opinion, but from personal knowledge and experience I can tell you what are the most common reasons for hair loss.

If she's itching, licking herself or her skin is showing any sort of rash or reddened areas, it could be that she has an allergy. No matter what triggers an allergy (fleas, food, seasonal factors etc.) it normally results in skin problems. You can check out my Dog Allergies page for lots of info on canine allergies, that way you can determine whether you think it could be the reason behind her hair loss.

The other most common problem that produces thinning hair is mange. This is caused by tiny skin mites, and the area may or may not be itchy or reddened. My page on Puppy Hair Loss has more information on this. Your vet can diagnose mites by taking a tiny skin scraping and looking at it under a microscope, it is very treatable.

There are a whole host of other, less common, reasons for hair loss, but your vet would also need to examine your pup to diagnose them. I would recommend that you take her in to be looked at so that whatever is causing the problem can be diagnosed quickly. That way it will be easier to treat. Certain breeds can experience hairloss that is congenital in nature, these include Follicular dystrophy/dysplasia and Color dilution/mutant alopecia. Again your vet could diagnose.

If your pup has been spayed, there is also a condition known as 'Estrogen responsive dermatosis' - which basically means that the hair loss is due to a hormone imbalance. You may also notice a change in her hair color. It is more common in Boxers and Dachshunds than most other breeds. Hormone replacement therapy can help this.

If all of the above are ruled out by your vet, you may want to simply try to change her diet. Iams isn't a 'bad' food, but there are others that are better, and several that are specifically designed for dogs with sensitivities or allergies. Check out the 10 Best Dog Food Choices page. Also, there are natural food supplements and herbal products that you can use to help improve the condition of your pups skin/coat. You'll find more info on these on my Canine Skin Allergies page.

Best of luck, I hope this helps and that you get her hair growing back healthy again soon.

Timid and very NON Hyper 4 month old Australian Shepard

by Robin
(Oklahoma City)

I got a 3.5 month old Australian Shepard male puppy 4 days ago and he mostly just lays there, he does sometimes plays with my 4 year old granddaughter but he won't do anything. We even have to stick his food under his nose!

Is he still going through separation anxiety ?? He gets excited and wags his tail when one of us talks to him but he just lays around most of the time.

Is this normal?




Hi Robin
Yes, this is very normal behavior for a puppy who has gone through the upheaval of joining a new home, full of new people and experiences.

The older the puppy, the bigger the 'trauma' for him, and if he's also a naturally timid or anxious pup, that means this behavior will be more pronounced.

I think you'll find my Bringing Home A New Puppy page helpful and reassuring.

As long as he seems happy and healthy otherwise, no vomiting/diarrhea etc., and has periods of activity (it sounds as though this is the case) I doubt there's anything to worry about.

Give him some time and space to adjust to his new environment and soon his real personality will start to show through.

Best of luck with your little guy