My dog's back leg jerks and twitches. Is this anything serious?
Thanks for asking me to answer this. I'm going to start by saying that I am not a vet, so am answering as someone who loves dogs and knows a lot about them, but is not formally trained in canine health.Others have mentioned involuntary twitching while sleeping (perhaps dreaming), which was my first thought, too. However, if it's severe, while he's awake, and seems truly involuntary, there's probably more than just a sleepy twitch going on.The biggest concern for me would be that involuntary muscle twitching can be a sign of distemper, which is very serious. (For info on distemper, see this article: HOW TO Keep Your Dog Safe from Distemper - Find A Vet)If there's even a slight chance this could be your dog's issue, you need to keep him quarantined from other dogs and get him to a vet ASAP. It's a condition that can be difficult to diagnose, so in addition to the X-rays your vet has already recommended, I would suggest bringing up the possibility of distemper and asking your vet to rule it out. Good luck!
Why do people put old pets like dogs, cats and horses to sleep rather than allowing them to die naturally?
The short answer would be “compassion”.A slightly longer one would be: “Because we want to provide some dignity and end to their suffering.”I’ve owned all three (dog, cats, horse) and have been in this position quite a number times. Way too many times.The concept of “dying naturally” is a lot uglier and more painful than most would want to admit. If you’ve ever seen a dog, horse or cat in a near death state, it’s rarely the poetic scene we would wish.I’ve witnessed my horse suffer an intestinal blockage with accompanying heart failure, a dog experience unexplained multi-organ failure and several cats suffer from diabetic keto-acidosis, lymphoma and kidney failure.All were horrible to experience. And things would only get worse and worse, more and more painful, until the end. Only one ever just “drifted off” as we would hope.In their natural/wild state,ancestors of these species would generally would fall due to other predators, injury or both. Even today with other species, dying from starvation is usually the least violent end encountered in a wild setting. And even that’s a matter of prolonged suffering and gradual shutdown.Domesticated animals generally have a strong drive to please their owners. Yes, even cats. On a couple of occasions, we ‘ve taken that last futile trip home from the vet, received warning that the end would be coming soon and we might want to make arrangements accordingly and that “based on medical condition, the only thing keeping your (animal) alive is that he/she doesn’t want to leave you.”I’ll be honest — it’s HORRIBLE to be in this position. You wonder whether or not there is some stone yet unturned, some magic answer you hadn’t thought of, that might save things.But there almost never is. And then the situation gets more and more awful, with more and more suffering. The decision to end that suffering never gets much easier, but it does get to be more obvious.You tell yourself you will never put yourself in this position again. That it’s just too painful.But you DO.Jon LeeOwner/Operator RamblingRex.com
My pregnant dogs temperature has been 98 all day, when will she begin whelping?
My dog was bred from the dates of September 18th to October 9th. She is huge at this point and as previously stated her temp has remained right around 98 all day today. What should I expect next and how soon should the pups arrive?
My dog accidentally ate a chocolate cookie, but it was a little less than half. What might happen and what should I do?
Probably nothing, but you should still keep an eye on your dog and call your vet if the dog seems ill. That’s always best. Canine tolerance to chocolate can really vary.Now, let me tell you a tale of a dog named Freebie, AKA You Rat Bastard, You Just Ate Half a Bag of Butterfingers. I inherited Freebie from my dad, who loved dogs, but was mighty careless about their health. The two notable incidents I recall from my dad’s half-amused/half-annoyed recollections were the time Freebie ate an entire chocolate cake and the time he ate an enormous order of General Tso’s Chicken. Reportedly, he felt pretty bleah afterward, but he survived.He’s now 11 and has he learned his lesson? Hell, no. The Butterfinger incident was this winter. Outcome? No effect whatsoever. I have to put any chocolate I have into the cupboard because if I, say, put something out for lunch the next day, the cats will knock it off the counter and that damned dog will eat it all. He’s really good at finding stuff I didn’t even know I had in my book bag.Look at this guy. Just look at him. You’d never know he was a hardened chocolate thief.
Dogs (pets): What are reasons your dog would hyperventilate?
Whenever a dog begins to hyperventilate, there are specific signs that occur. The most common symptoms in dogs mirror the same symptoms of hyperventilation in humans. You will notice that your dog may find it extremely difficult to get enough air into his or her body. He or she may begin to breathe much more rapidly as a result. You will also probably notice that your dog attempts to take deeper breaths but is unable to succeed in getting enough oxygen into the lungs.Your dog may be hyperventilating for a number of reasons. While the reason for the hyperventilation may be as simple as your dog getting far too excited over visitors at your house, there could also be medical reasons for the condition. This is why it is so important to have your dog examined by a trusted veterinarian if you notice that he or she hyperventilates more than once. Your vet will examine the heart and lungs, as well as perform a thorough examination of the entire body in order to determine if there is a medical cause. It could be caused by metabolic acidosis, for example, which is a condition characterized by a blood pH that is too low. Serious conditions need to be treated with the help of your vet.If your dog's hyperventilation is caused by benign factors, such as over-exercising or excitement, you can take steps to reduce the level of stress your pet endures during these situations. For example, do not push him or her to exercise for longer than he or she can handle, and perhaps use natural herbs to calm him or her if he or she gets nervous around visitors. Unless the dog's hyperventilation is caused by an underlying medical condition, no treatment is necessary. However, if hyperventilation episodes are very long or happen too often, definitely have your dog checked by a veterinarian.
What does it mean if a dog is panting and shaking? How do you care for it?
If a dog is panting and trembling, it means that they're anxious and/or terrified. You should back off, remove the source of stress, and help doggie feel better.Stress Signs in DogsSigns of AnxietyWhen anxiety strikes your poochSigns of Stress ChecklistThere could also be a medical reason, if you have reason to presume that doggie is not very stressed emotionally: Dog Shivering or Trembling: Causes and Treatments
Why is my dog drooling and shaking?
If your dog is drooling and shaking you need to call your vet now. If he is exhibiting signs of a seizure wait for it to pass and get him to the emergency vet as fast as possible.Do not try to approach or touch a seizing dog. Ever. Wait for it to pass and then get help. In the meantime prepare for what you will do once you can lift him or move him.When my dog had her first seizure my dad didn't know what was going on. He reached to her to comfort her, and in her confusion as she was coming out of it she bit straight through his hand. She did not recognize him and so she defended herself. She left holes between the bones of his hand. I repeat, do not approach the dog yet.Shaking on its own is a bad thing. Drooling or foaming is a bad thing. Combined they are a very bad thing. Your dog almost definitely needs medical attention so get him to an animal hospital once the symptoms subside.
Why does my dog lick my bed?
Licking is usually appeasement behavior, kind of like grovelling, or worship.Puppies do it to adults. Underlings do it to the authoritative dogs.If your dog has been told not to lick YOU, he or she may lick the air or other objects.HOWEVER, sometimes dogs lick things that have minerals, or a smell they really like. You don’t give much detail about what part of the bed. How often sheets are changed etc. Could be salt from your sweat.Dogs who lick random objects are often found to have a gastrointestinal disorder of some kind. One study of 19 dogs showed that 74% who were randomly licking objects excessively had one of these conditions:Eosinophilic and/or lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the GI tractDelayed gastric emptyingIrritable bowel syndromeChronic pancreatitisGastric foreign bodyGiardiasis