Q. Will spaying or neutering change my dog?

A. Yes, but mostly for the better! Dogs that are spayed or neutered won't contribute to the pet overpopulation problem. The risks of mammary cancer are greatly reduced, and your dog will be free from uterine or testicular cancers. Dogs that are spayed or neutered are more likely to be happy staying at home, less likely to fight, and less likely to mark with their urine.

Q. Why is preventive care stressed?

A. Preventive care is important for many reasons. Your dog will be healthier if you prevent problems such as parasites and infectious diseases. Your checkbook will be healthier as some problems will be totally prevented and any others will be caught early on when treatments tend to be more successful and less expensive.

Q. What concerns should I have before breeding my female dog?

A. Only dogs that are top notch, healthy, good examples of their breed should be bred. Your dog should have passed all health screenings for her breed, have been evaluated by knowledgeable judges or breeders, and have a sound temperament. Be prepared to spend a great deal of time and money producing a litter, and realize your dog will be at risk for surgery (C-section) or even death. Have good homes screened and ready ahead of time and be prepared to take any puppies back — even ten years from now!

Q. How often will my dog come into heat?

A. There is a wide range of normal heat cycles in dogs. Some breeds only cycle once yearly while others cycle every four months. Check with your breeder for the cycle history of your dog's dam. Many dogs follow their mother's schedule.

Q. I want the biggest, rowdiest puppy. Why is that not a good idea?

A. While the biggest puppy may grow up just fine, often the big puppies are at higher risk for orthopedic problems. The rowdiest puppy may end up being more dog temperament-wise than the average family wants to deal with. Look for the middle-of-the-road pup as a good family pet.

Q. What should I feed my puppy and how much?

A. Initially, your puppy should get whatever food the breeder was using. You may want to change over to a different food that you and your veterinarian feel would also be appropriate, but do so gradually. The amounts listed on dog food packaging are just guidelines — you need to adjust the amount to your specific pup and her lifestyle and activity level.

Q. Our family has health insurance. Why can't I get health insurance for my puppy?

A. Actually, health insurance is available for pets. As with your own insurance, you need to look carefully at the different companies and decide what plan makes sense for you. Some plans cover routine care as well as emergencies, while others are just for serious emergencies and medical illnesses. See Appendix A for resources.

Q. How often do I need to bathe my dog?

A. The number of baths your dog needs varies greatly with his coat type and length and his favorite activities. Shorthaired dogs may need baths to wash off mud and dirt. Longhaired dogs may need baths to help remove dirt and clean the hair. If your dog is groomed on a regular basis, he will need fewer baths. Some dogs with skin problems need frequent baths to keep their skin healthy. Check with your breeder, veterinarian, and groomer about suitable shampoos for your dog.

Q. Why does my dog need to go to the veterinarian every year even if she doesn't need any vaccines?

A. Just like us, it is important for your dog to have an annual physical (more often for older dogs or dogs with chronic health problems.) At this exam, your veterinarian will check for parasites, discuss your dog's diet and weight with you, and look for any early signs of health problems. Catching problems early means faster and often less expensive treatment.

Q. Which bones in my dog's leg are the same as my wrist? And my ankle?

A. Your dog's front legs are just like our arms. Our forearm comes down from the elbow and the next “bendable” area is the carpus, or wrist. Your dog's hind leg is similar to our legs. His hock, or tarsus (the joint that projects backward above the foot), is the same as your ankle.

Q. What is the difference between a tendon and a ligament?

A. Ligaments hold bones to bones, while tendons attach muscles to bones. Both are tough, fibrous connective tissues.

Q. Why does my dog cough if she has a heart problem, not a lung problem?

A. The heart and lungs work very closely together. If your dog has a heart problem that allows fluid to back up in the lungs, she will cough. That cough will not respond to cough medicines but is controlled by diuretics and heart medications.

Q. My dog's urine looks red in the snow. Should I be concerned?

A. Yes! Normal urine should show up yellow on snow. Red urine is a sign of blood or other pigmented substances like myoglobin (a muscle pigment). Neither of these is normal in urine.

Q. I have a busy work schedule, so I just leave a big bowl of food down all the time for my dog. Is that okay?

A. Leaving a bowl of food down all the time is not the best way to feed your dog. Food can spoil. Also, your dog may overeat, and you won't be able to tell how much he does eat every day. You could miss signs of illness such as a decreased appetite. It is more difficult to housebreak a puppy when fed like this as well.

Q. My dog loves to beg snacks from me. Can she have extra treats?

A. Many of our snacks are not the healthiest of foods. Giving your dog salty fatty or very sugary treats is not in her best interests. It would be better to keep a small bowl of her treats or food available to give her snacks if you want.

Q. Even though my dog has a strong immune system, my veterinarian says my dog has an immune problem. Why is this?

A. Unfortunately sometimes the immune system gets overstimulated or focused on the wrong tissues — the normal ones instead of outside invaders. When this happens, your dog shows signs of illness from the immune system attacking her own cells.

Q. I thought my dog just had a fatty tumor, but my new veterinarian says it is cancer!

A. Tumor simply means swelling — it could be a cancer, an abscess, or another kind of swollen tissue. A fatty tumor is a cancer, but luckily, a benign one!

Q. What is a core vaccine and why does my dog need any?

A. Core vaccines are vaccines that every dog should have. They cover the diseases that are very serious (even life threatening) and that most dogs will get exposed to. These include rabies, distemper, and parvo.

Q. My dog is drinking a lot of water. Is he diabetic?

A. Certainly diabetes is one disease your veterinarian will test for. Liver and kidney diseases may also make your dog drink more, as well as uterine infections, certain medications, and some endocrine problems.

Q. My dog has a squinted eye. Do I need to worry?

A. Eye problems can go from minor to serious very quickly. If you can't go to the veterinarian right away, at least flush his eye with some artificial tears.

Q. My dog has a genetic problem that is recessive. Would she pass it on to her puppies?

A. If your dog has a recessive problem, she must have two copies of the defective gene. This means she will pass a defective gene on to all of her pups. Depending on the genetic makeup of her mate, all her pups could show the defect. Or they might appear normal, but all of them will at least carry the defect.

Q. We found fleas on our dog. If we get rid of the dog, will the fleas all leave too?

A. Getting rid of your dog would be a drastic solution, and it doesn't work. There are flea eggs and larvae in your house now. Unless you treat the environment, soon you will have flea bites, too. Why not just treat your dog and your house and then start on one of the excellent new flea preventives?

Q. My dog just had abdominal surgery. Can I give her an aspirin for pain?

A. You need to discuss this with your veterinarian. While aspirin can be excellent for pain, it might increase your dog's chances of oozing around her incision. Your veterinarian can prescribe the safest and most effective pain medications.

Q. My veterinarian has suggested acupuncture for my dog's pain. Don't those needles hurt?

A. While some dogs do flinch at first from the acupuncture needles, the needles are very small and sharp. Most dogs quickly learn that they feel better from their acupuncture treatments and ignore the needle pricks.

Q. My dog just got hit by a car! What do I do?

A. First, stay calm. Call your veterinarian's office and tell them you will be on your way. Check quickly for any broken bones that need to be stabilized, any bleeding areas where pressure needs to be applied, and that your dog is breathing. Feel for a pulse or heartbeat, and do CPR if needed. Transport your dog carefully and safely, using a muzzle if needed.

Q. My dog obviously just loves chocolate as she always begs for some of mine. Why shouldn't she have any?

A. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs — especially dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Carob is a safe alternative she can enjoy.

Q. My dog is very old and seems to be in pain. What do I do now?

A. This is a good time to talk to your veterinarian about hospice care and eventually euthanasia. Discuss ways to make your dog as comfortable as possible, giving him good quality of life for the time he has left.

Q. My dog hates getting her daily medications. Help!

A. Check with your veterinarian to see if her pills can be hidden in treats. Then give one or two normal treats, the doctored treat and another normal one. If that doesn't work, look into getting her long-term medications compounded. There are companies that make medications into treats or even gel to put in her ear.

Q. My male dog is aggressive with other dogs. Would breeding him help?

A. Absolutely not! Your male dog may become more aggressive after being used for breeding, and no matter what, you don't want to pass that aggressive temperament on.

Q. I work eight hours a day plus have commuting time. Can my four-month-old puppy be left that long?

A. No, most pups that age can only hold their urine for about four or five hours. Also, that is a long time for a baby to be left with no company. Arrange for a friend, neighbor, or pet sitter to let him out about noon.

Q. My dog has really bad breath. Can I use my mouthwash for her?

A. Human mouthwash is not good for dogs. They tend to swallow, not gargle, swish, or spit. You need to do some detective work to find out why your dog has bad breath and treat the cause. He may need a dental cleaning or could have a health problem.

Q. My dog sheds all year round. I thought dogs only shed in the spring and fall.

A. It is true that on a natural schedule, dogs would shed primarily in the spring and fall. But companion dogs live inside and don't get all the natural stimulus for shedding, as they are in a controlled climate. So many of them will shed some hair all year round, with slightly bigger shedding amounts with seasonal light changes.

Q. My dog has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. How serious is this?

A. Hypothyroidism means not enough thyroid hormone is being produced. If this condition was left untreated, it could cause problems for your dog. Luckily, most dogs respond very well to inexpensive thyroid replacement medications.

Q. My dog picks berries off our bushes. Is this okay?

A. Many dogs seem to love strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. As long as your dog isn't picking any toxic berries, this is fine. And how clever she is to pick her own!

Q. My dog has bluish purple areas on the pink skin of her belly. Should I worry?

A. Yes! These areas could easily be hemorrhages under the skin. You should head right to your veterinarian to have her checked for autoimmune problems or bleeding disorders.

Q. My dog has cancer. Can she be treated?

A. Treatment will depend on the exact type of cancer, but most dogs can handle cancer therapy quite well. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the most common treatments, alone or in combination.

Q. My puppy just vomited up a long white worm. Do I panic now?

A. Panic is never a good solution. Save the worm (carefully in a plastic Baggie) and take it with a recent stool sample and your pup to the veterinarian. He probably has roundworms and will need a dewormer.

Q. My dog is holding his one ear tipped over. It seems sore, too.

A. There is a good chance your dog has a hematoma — a blood-filled swelling of his ear. This happens when dogs scratch or shake their ears and break blood vessels. Your dog will need surgery to drain the blood and keep his ear in a normal shape. Your veterinarian will also look for the underlying cause of the shaking or scratching.

Q. A neighborhood dog may have bred my bitch, in addition to the purebred stud I paid for. How do we tell if the pups are purebred?

A. You can do a DNA profile of the possible sires, dam, and puppy. Comparing profiles will show which puppies had which sire.

Q. My dog got a bee sting and her muzzle is swollen!

A. First, make sure your dog is breathing normally. Breathing may be a little faster than normal due to excitement, but normal otherwise. If she is breathing faster, apply a cold compress to her sore muzzle. You may also want to contact your veterinarian about an antihistamine or steroid to reduce the inflammation. If her breathing is labored, hustle to your veterinarian, as she may be having a reaction.

Q. My dog is stiff in the morning. Is this just old age?

A. Certainly stiffness when getting up can be a symptom of aging. You should have your dog checked for arthritis and look into medications to make him more comfortable.

Q. Why is hydrotherapy good for dogs recovering from lameness?

A. Hydrotherapy (using a pool or pond) helps keep your dog's muscles fit while keeping weight off the joints.