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Hey, Katie K-9!KatieK9@readthecitizen.comwww.KTK9.com 651-429-5433 |
Hey, Katie K-9!
We have a seven-year-old Miniature Schnauzer named Harley and he has really bad breath. We have tried so many different things, but nothing seems like it is working. We have given him Greenies and ice cubes. And sometimes we give him a mint. But we actually do brush his teeth and it still doesn't work. Can you give us a way to help his breath get better, please? And we also have given him plenty of water and lots of dog toys.
Thanks!
Faith (12 yrs old)
Hey, Faith and Harley!
Bad breath can be caused by problems with dog's teeth or gums, by the food you are feeding, by chewies you are giving or by digestive disorders. My suggestion to you is to stop giving any eatable chewies, possibly change his food to a higher grade of dog food, and give him one tablespoon of plain yogurt once a day. Yogurt has natural enzymes that help a dog's digestive system be more efficient.
Here's to good breath and more kisses!
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
My mother has a 12-year-old three-pound long hair Chihuahua named Gizmo. Gizmo has recently been acting very strange when he eats. They feed him in stainless steel bowls in a little feeder and have not changed that in years. He now approaches his food or water and whines or cries and backs up then tries again and backs up. It seems as though he can't see his food. They haven't changed his food or time of eating or anything. He will eat if handfed and drink if ladled out, but they are stumped as to what could be going on. Any suggestions?
Roxann
Hey, Roxann and Gizmo!
As a dog ages, his hearing can change with certain sounds. Sounds can become irritating to a dog. To me it "sounds" like the noises the stainless steel bowls make now frighten Gizmo. Some dogs do not like the echo these bowls make; often, people think it is the dog food they do not like. I would advise you to try a different sort of bowl and see if that makes the difference. Another possibility is that something scared him while he was drinking or eating at his station. Try moving his feeding place and see if that makes a difference.
Take care.
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
Our dog Lou nipped at our 8-month-old daughter so we need to find a home for him.
She had her hands up on him and was kind of crawling on him. He growled twice, got up, turned and then laid down in the same spot. She crawled up on him again and he growled twice and then gave her a warning nip. He scared me to death! He didn't touch her but this act of aggression toward her is obviously unacceptable. I don't believe he's a danger but shouldn't be around kids.
Tina
Hey, Tina!
First of all, NO child should ever be allowed to crawl over ANY dog, no matter how nice the dog is. They all have a breaking point. YOU need to be the guardian of Lou. Your daughter does not know that a growl means "back away." Lou gave your daughter many warnings. If Lou really wanted to hurt your daughter, he would have. He was being very polite, considering he gave the warnings and no one came to HIS rescue.
As far as keeping him from other children, I do not feel that is the problem. The problem is developing an understanding of the dog world and teaching your child NOT to crawl over the dog and to respect his space. Dogs were not made to take a licking and keep on ticking. That is not fair to them. Even humans have a breaking point. Kids under the age of five years old are VERY hard on any pet. Parents have to teach them how to respect all living things.
The key is to learn to work with animals, not condemn them. Take the time to teach your daughter, and then Lou and your daughter can live happily ever after.
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
I don't have a question about my dog, but I want to become a better owner. I listen to your radio show every Saturday morning and LOVE IT!! You are always talking about thinking "outside the box," doing healthier things for our pets, and about whether our pets need yearly shots. Can you recommend some books so I can make better decisions to get out of "the box" and be able to discuss them with my vet.
Thank You,
Melissa
Hey, Melissa!
No, thank YOU for listening to my show and asking how you can educate yourself so you can have a healthier pet!
More and more pet owners are starting to question what is really in the food we are feeding our pets - whether they are cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, or goats - and how over-immunization of them can create so many major health problems. The very shots that are supposed to help our pets are actually doing them more harm in the long run. There are finally more studies underway to help educate the everyday pet owner to make better decisions.
Change is always hard, and many questions arise. You need to ask questions and stick with it until you are satisfied that you can weigh all the information and start "thinking outside the box."
To learn about annual shots: "Natural Immunities" by Pat McKay, "Shock to the System" by Catherine O'Driscoll Natural ways to deal with health problems or prevent them: "Pet Allergies - Remedies for an Epidemic" by Plechner & Zucker, "Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats" by Messonnier, "Hound Health Handbook" by Brevitz, "The Complete Holistic Dog Book" by Allegretti & Sommers D.V.M.
If your pets are on any form of medication, this is a MUST: "The Pill Book Guide to Medication for your Dog & Cat" by Roby & Southam D.V.M. To learn about what is in your dog's food: "Foods Pets Die For" by Martin, "Pets at Risk" by Plechner & Zucker These will get you started thinking and asking many, many questions. I ordered these books from www.amazon.com.
Thank you for asking! Now start reading and "thinking outside the box!"
Katie K-9
See you on the radio every Saturday morning from 8 to 10 a.m., FM 107!