Ask an expert: A choking Chihuahua and a Pomeranian with a delicate stomach
We found some of the best pet experts in metro Atlanta. Look for your answers every Monday. Today’s advice comes from Will Draper of the Village Veterinary Centers. Meet the AJCpets experts. And feel free to submit questions in the form of a comment today. Q: I have a 15 yr old chihuahua who is in good health. However, he is starting to gag as though there is something in his throat. He coughs whatever it is up, then swallows. The gagging sounds awful and I am afraid it will choke him. Do you know of any medication I can give to him to stop this? He sleeps with me and does it all night long. It’s awful and scarey! A: Chihuahuas and other small breed (or toy breed) dogs can have a condition known as a “collapsing trachea”. Affected dogs’ tracheas will collapse (think of squeezing a toilet paper roll until it is flat), and they have a difficult time with inspiration or expiration of air. It sometimes makes a “honking” sound. Generally, once they calm down, the trachea goes back to its normal, tubular appearance and the dog appears fine. There is really no treatment for this, other than surgical correction- and it usually sounds a lot worse than it is. Being that your baby is 15 years old, however, I would make sure your veterinarian does a complete physical- including blood work and x-rays. Heart disease, which can also cause coughing and gagging, is more prevalent in geriatric dogs- and can generally be controlled if caught early. Q: I have a 6 year old Pomeranian who throws up about once per day. It’s always hair and just a clear/yellow-ish liquid. Any way I can help prevent this? A: This type of nausea, in the absence of other signs of gastrointestinal distress (i.e. diarrhea, lack of appetite) is usually due to something as simple as a pet eating too much too quickly. There is a valve between the esophagus and the stomach that will only allow a certain amount of food in before it “shuts off”. Once this happens, and a pet continues to eat, the food stays in the esophagus…and eventually they regurgitate it (which is different than vomiting). It is usually undigested food. Feeding smaller amounts more frequently can help this issue.There is also other things to consider, such as a food allergy or some mechanical issue. To rule these out, a visit to your veterinarian is the best advice.
We have a Dachshund that was 11 months old when we got a new dachshund puppy. Since the day we got the new puppy she refuses to play. We have a house full of toys, and she won’t even look at most of them. When the puppy starts to play with them she dominates her and won’t let her play either. Is there a way to change this behavior? We’ve tried getting identicle toys, and presenting them at the same time, but that does nothing.
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Our pomerainian is hacking we think it is the tracea closing. What medicine is recommended?
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My mom and I have a Golden Border Collie who we’ve had since he was 18 months old (approximately). He was the sweetest dog for the first 2 years and then he started acting psychotic; he bites me, my mom, and anyone else who tries to make him stop doing something. He’s attacked some neighbors as well as my dog, a 3-year old basenji-chow who is NOT dominant at all.
We’ve tried several different trainers and behavioral experts, as well as “doggie downers” and other medication. Nothing seems to work - he keeps attacking and since we won’t give him up he has to walk with a muzzle and 2 leashes at all times when outdoors. Thankfully we have a backyard where he can run around, but I don’t want to have to muzzle him for the rest of his life when he goes to the groomers or the vets!
Is this a genetic thing with all Golden Border Collies or is there something we can do to “fix” his behavioral issue? *Notes: he’s the “dominant male” of the house, he’s been fixed, and he should have been past his fighting phase years ago*
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naked cheerleaders
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We have a year old female toy chihuahua that went into heat for the first time and now seems to have some sort of stomach problem. There is no chance she chould be pregnant but she seems to be having some sort of swelling in the soft tissue of her stomach. Her stomach now hangs down nearly to the ground as if she had been obese and lost the weight. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain but something definitely is not right. Thoughts?
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