Dog Care Topics | Dog Diet | Dog Care FAQ

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		I am the proud owner of two eight-week-old westies. I am concerned because one of the puppies' personalities has changed. Last week Max seemed to be the alpha dog. Now he cries most of the night and is not as playful. (We keep both puppies in the same crate.) Lately Max is almost vicious toward Noodle. I have heard that having two puppies can be bad as there will always be competition for top dog. What can we do? I don't want Max to become a mean dog.
		I have a Chihuahua named Peanuts, who has been diagnosed with cataracts. I have taken him to two different vets and both vets told me there was nothing I could do. They said the laser procedure is very expensive and that Peanuts would adapt to his blindness. Peanuts is only seven years old and I feel very frightened for him, as he has already lost his sight in one eye. Can you give me some advice?
		I have a dog that is deaf in one ear and is partially deaf in the other. She had an infection in the deaf ear when she was young, and it was not treated in time. The previous owners took her to a vet, and the vet gave her some eardrops. We just took her to the vet, and she was diagnosed with the same problem as before. Can you tell me her prognosis for understanding human commands?
		I have a one-year-old dachschund who is seemingly healthy and happy in every way. My local vet has warned me that most disc problems in dachschunds are caused by overweight and inactivity. Therefore I should watch his weight and allow him to climb and descend stairs, jump on low furniture if he can, and so on, so that he develops muscle and agility. Other dachschund owners seem shocked by this advice, telling me the exact opposite. What's the real story?
		I have an 8-year-old male beagle who has not been neutered. For the past four months he has been spotting blood from his penis. He has no fever and his eating, playing and bowel habits have not changed. My vet has given him urine acidifiers which seem to help only as long as he is on the pills. When the dosage runs out, he starts bleeding again within days. The vet has taken x-rays and can't find anything wrong. Any suggestions?
		I just got back from my veterinarian. I have been telling them about my dog not breathing well but they have all said it is just the collapsing trachea common to Pomeranians. Today they took an x-ray and found that the trachea seems fine down to the chest area. Then it seems to disappear for about two inches before you can see it again. Is surgery the only answer or are there other possible treatments?
		I was wondering, what is a good schedule for a puppy to get his shots, boosters, checkups etc.?
		My chocolate brown lab was found recently to have epilepsy. What is the life expectancy of a dog with this condition? He is only about three years old.
		My dog is a 42 lb. beagle who swallowed an entire handkerchief one week ago. He continues to eat, play, drink, urinate and move his bowels normally. In fact, he is showing no signs of distress at all! What should we do?
		My dog is almost two years old. Is he too old to be neutered? Does he need to have any vaccinations prior to surgery? If so, please specify which vaccinations are needed.
		We have a seven and a half month old lab, and currently use the prescription Chlorhexiderm ear flush to keep his ears clean. He has had a troublesome left ear for the last few months, and his ear problem has just cleared up. He swims in the ocean about two or three times a week, so we keep a close check on his ears for any signs of potential problems. Now that his ear infection is gone, should we continue to flush his ears on a regular basis to keep them dry and clean? What is your recommendation for an ear flush we can buy?