Chronic ear infections in dogs are very common and can be caused by an underlying allergy (food allergy or environmental allergy), seborrhea (a disorder which causes excess production of ear wax), foreign material in the ear canals, autoimmune diseases, ear polyps or growths, hormonal diseases (such as low thyroid levels), or middle ear infections. In addition, there are some predisposing factors that make some dogs ears more likely to develop chronic ear problems such as pendulous ears, narrowed ear canals, excessive moisture or humidity, and trauma to the ear canal. The first step in managing ear problems is an examination deep into the ear canals, sometimes this needs to be performed under sedation or anesthesia because the dog is so painful. Samples can be taken for cytology to determine what kind of microbes are present, culture to determine which bacteria and if it is sensitive to the antibiotics being given, and examination of the ear canals for foreign bodies and abnormal growths and the ear drums, which are sometimes ruptured because of the chronic infection. Once the type of infection has been determined and the underlying causes have been ruled out with deep examination and testing, treatment with long term oral antibiotics, oral anti-fungal medications (if a yeast infection is present), and topical ear medications can be started. Flushing the ear canal with a medicated ear wash at home is often recommended periodically to remove the discharge from the ear as well as a topical ointment administered once or twice a day. If the ear drum has ruptured, most topical ear mediations cannot be used until it grows back (which can take several weeks). If the infection has entered the middle ear, that is sometimes a source of chronic or recurrent infection and long-term oral antibiotics are needed to clear the deep infection. Cortisone injections can help reduce the redness, swelling and inflammation in the ear canals as well as help minimize the effects of allergies, but have some side effects if given on a chronic basis. Other allergy medications such as antihistamines or cyclosporine (Atopica) are preferable for long term allergy control. Sometimes, in severe chronic cases, the only solution that works is surgery. There are a few different kinds of surgery that can be performed. Dogs have very long curved ear canals, which is one reason why they are difficult to clean and treat. The less invasive surgery involves removing the upper part of the ear canal leaving only a short horizontal ear canal heading to the eardrum. This allows more airflow to the inside of the ear canal and makes it easier to treat because the canal is shorter and more accessible. The more invasive surgery, usually reserved for end-stage mineralized and painful ear canals, involves removing the entire ear canal and cleaning out the middle ear cavity.  [less]

Potty training is stressful for most people, and small dogs seem to have a more difficult time of it, but rest assured it can be done! First, make sure to never leave the dog unattended in the house. In fact, you may want to put a leash on him and attach it to your waist so that wherever you go, he goes in the house as well. Take him outside every few hours in the area you want him to go potty and stand there with him on leash and wait. Be sure to not talk to him or interact with him in any way. He will eventually urinate or defecate, and when he does, give him lots of love and affection and a yummy treat. Then you can walk back into the house together or release him off the leash to play outside. If you repeat this process, eventually you will not have to tether him to your side anymore in the house because the positive reinforcement he receives for going outside will solidify his training. If he does have an accident in the house, don’t say anything or punish him, which could just cause him to fear or resent you, just go back to putting him on the leash and praise the positive. It is absolutely ok to have an outdoor only dog because the weather here is so nice. In Southern California, fleas are a part of our lives every year, all year long. There are less of them in the winter months but they do live through the winter because it stays warm all through the winter. And it is always easier to prevent a flea infestation with the topical monthly flea medications than to treat a big flea problem. Even though you don’t see fleas on the other dog, rest assured, they are there. It may be easier to see them on this dog because Yorkies do not have a dense undercoat. It is important to treat all the dogs in the environment to get the best flea control. You can also spray the yard and the house as well because only 1% of the fleas live on the dog (the adults), all of the other stages (egg, larvae, cocoon) live in the environment and are not affected by the flea control on the dog. In other words, all those fleas would have to hatch from their eggs, grow up to be adults, jump on the dogs, get the medication and die. This process could take several months if it is the only way you are treating the infestation. You can also call a company to come treat your yard and house which may help speed up the process.  [less]

What you describe does sound typical of Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. This is a condition which is a series of behaviors in which the cats fur on its back will roll it may vocalize and self mutilate biting the back end pulling the fur out and lick excessively The cat may also urinate or defecate or even have a seizure in severe cases. The cause for this can be a variety of different things including an allergy to flea bites, muscle pain spinal pain seizures or a behavioral condition. The first step is always to attempt to identify the underlying cause if possible. If there is a flea allergy even 1 or 2 flea bites can cause symptoms. If a flea allergy or other skin allergy is identified it can be managed or treated with medication and the hyperesthesia symptoms should stop. If the syndrome is being caused by muscle or spinal pain pain relievers may be necessary to help her improve. Sometimes anti-epileptic drugs are effective if this is caused by a neurological or seizure disorder. Finally if no underlying cause is identified and it is determined to be a behavioral disorder% there are some calming behavioral medications to which some cats will respond. You can also work with the cat to desensitize her to human contact if she does have a behavioral issue. This may also be necessary for successful treatment if an underlying cause is not identified. You can do this by pairing very minimal contact with positive reinforcement. For example find a cat treat that she really loves feed her the treat while you gently touch her for just one second. Try to touch her in a place that is not as sensitive avoid the back or the spine Gradually work up to more and more contact as she becomes more comfortable at each step. You may find that she eventually will tolerate human contact much more readily even if she never becomes a snuggler  [less]

This could be a couple of different things. The first is a reverse sneeze. This is a snorting, choking sound that literally looks like the dog cannot breathe and is choking on something. However, it is about as significant as a forward sneeze and can be caused by a tickle in the back of the throat. It is very common in small dogs and is not a cause for concern at all unless it is happening with increasing frequency which could mean something is irritating or stuck in the back of the nasal passages. If you pat the dog on the sides of the chest when this is happening, often you can get it to stop. The next possibility is collapsing trachea. This is also a common condition in small dogs and is caused by weak cartilage rings in the trachea or main airway. When the dog gets excited or has any pressure around the neck, the trachea collapses in on itself and this causes a honking/choking cough. Some dogs have a minor condition which can be managed with avoiding pressure on the airways by walking with a harness rather than a collar and avoiding airway irritants such as smoke, perfumes and powders. The third possibility is a heart problem. Heart failure is very common in older dogs and the first symptom that owners see is often a cough. Heart failure can be managed and controlled with medications for most dogs, but left untreated can be devastating. A physical exam and x-rays of the chest with your family veterinarian can help to distinguish these different possibilities.  [less]

A bacterial or fungal nail infection can cause this as can ringworm of the nail-bed. If it is all the nails on all of the paws, it may be an immune-mediated disease called lupoid onychodystrophy where the immune system is attacking itself. If it is only a few nails localized on one paw, cancer of the foot is also possible, although he is a young dog which makes this less likely. You need to take him to the veterinarian for an examination to determine the cause. A skin cytology, fungal culture, an x-ray of the affected toes and a surgical biopsy may be needed to find out the diagnosis.  [less]

Dogs have been bred for years for a variety of things such as herding livestock, a hunting companion, guarding the home and a family companion, they were never meant to be left in the backyard and ignored. Huskies are a breed that has been developed to have a high level of energy and intelligence. If left with no job to perform, the dog doesn’t know what to do with himself and starts to think of things to do to occupy his mind – which is usually to the detriment of the house or yard. In addition, if his destruction is due to the fact that he is stressed or anxious from separation anxiety, it may be even more complicated. More dogs are given up and euthanized at animal shelters every year due to behavioral issues than for any other reason. This issue is solvable, provided that someone is willing to put the time and effort into helping this young, active dog learn to become a well behaved member of the family. Exercise is a very important part of every dogs’ health. This will help provide an outlet for all of his energy so he is not using all his energy on being destructive. At least 60 minutes of heart-pumping activity per day is recommended for a large, young dog such as this. In addition, positive-reinforcement based training that engages his mind and encourages him to think should also help immensely. This could be obedience classes, agility training, cart pulling, Frisbee, or flyball. Finally, if he has to stay home alone in the yard for long periods of time, try to make sure he has something interesting and engaging to do – such as hiding treats in a toy that he has to play with and roll around to get the reward, or smearing something yummy onto his appropriate chewing toys so he will focus on them rather than on the house and patio.  [less]

I am so glad that you asked this question because obesity is by far the most common medical problem in dogs. It is also the most commonly ignored medical problem, often because people think that their dogs are cute when they are a little on the heavy side. Many people don’t realize their dogs should have a waist – a significant narrowing just behind the ribcage. It should also be easy to feel their ribs under a very thin layer of fat. If you cannot feel the ribs at all, there is too much fat there. The extra fat that the dogs carry is also hormonally active, secreting all kinds of inflammatory mediators, which lead to a whole host of other chronic illnesses. These can include heart disease, diabetes, liver problems, kidney problems, arthritis and intervertebral disk disease. In addition, it makes the dogs less active, lethargic and less interactive with the family and significantly shortens their lifespan. In essence, we are literally killing our dogs with kindness! The problems that you are going through are very common for many dog owners who recognize there is a problem and are trying to do something about it. The dogs are used to eating a certain amount of food, when that amount is cut back, they start to get demanding or destructive. Feeding a diet or weight control food can help because the food is lower in calories than the maintenance diets, however, if they eat enough of the diet food, they can maintain or even gain weight on that food as well. Some people don’t want to change the food their dog is eating, either because they really like a certain dog food or because their dog has certain special dietary needs (such as a food allergy). This can make the problem even more complicated. But, there is hope! Do not give up. Realize that by helping your dogs reach a healthy weight, you are helping extend not only their quantity of life but also their quality of life. Start by making all changes VERY SLOWLY. This way the dogs do not get destructive to your poor kitchen chairs. Have your veterinarian calculate how many calories per day each dog needs to reach his or her ideal weight. Start with the amount of food they are currently eating and gradually reduce over a 2 to 4 week period. Remember, these are lifestyle changes so immediate progress is not what we are aiming for. We want these guys to lose the weight and keep it off successfully. If you have to restrict the diet too much on the foods you are currently feeding, consider changing to one of the extremely low calorie prescription diets, which will allow the dogs to eat the largest volume of food, thus helping them to feel fuller. In addition, give them something to do or chew on while you are not home so they do not become destructive. Sometimes just rubbing a small amount of canned dog food or other meat onto a favorite chew toy will encourage the dog to chew on that rather than your kitchen chairs. Exercise is another vital component of weight loss, just as it is in people. 30 to 60 minutes of heart pumping exercise 5 – 7 times per week is best to help the dogs burn extra calories (in other words a light stroll through the park where they sniff and pee on every tree does not count). Remember, the more calories they burn with exercise, the more food you can feed them which will help stave off hunger. Also remember to increase their activity slowly, especially if they are extremely obese or if you’ve got serious couch potatoes. The increased activity will also help make them too tired to be so destructive at home and will keep their minds off of the smaller portions in their food bowls. If you have tried all of these things and are still are at the end of your rope, there is one other option – Slentrol. This is a new medication, which helps reduce the dogs’ appetite so they only eat the amount of food they need to get to their normal, healthy weight. This is not meant to be a life-long drug, but is merely meant to be a weight loss aid. After the weight has been lost (which can take up to 12 months or more), the drug is weaned off and the dog is maintained on their proper quantity of dog food. Once the drug is stopped, however, the appetite does return and they will gain all the weight back if changes are not instituted at home.  [less]

A lot of the behaviors you are describing could be due to boredom (excessive licking, chewing up the comforter, etc). Jack Russell Terriers are well known to be very active dogs, so lengthy confinement in a crate is bound to cause some destructive behaviors and may lead to separation anxiety. These dogs have been bred to be very outgoing, active dogs with a strong prey drive to help catch small rodents. When placed in an environment of long term confinement, they do not know what to do with all of their boundless energy and they start to think of things to do which can be destructive (either to themselves or the household). Urine marking behavior is common in intact males, so if he has not been neutered, that is definitely the first step. In addition, all of the spots where he has marked or urinated in the past must be meticulously cleaned with an enzymatic pet cleaner to remove the odor. Keep the confinement periods to a minimum as much as possible and make sure that you provide him with some constructive activity to do in his crate while you are away, such as a chew toy stuffed with treats. There are some toys that you can fill with treats that will deliver the treats only when the toy is rolled around, and then only intermittently delivers the treats (such as a Buster Cube). This will encourage the dog to roll around the toy and think about the treats rather than excessively licking himself. When you are home with him, give him lots of exercise – at least 60 minutes of moderate activity every day. You may also want to consider other activities that encourage him to use his mind as well as his energy such as flyball, agility or obedience. There are many different kennel clubs and training classes in the area you can get involved in which will help ease his boredom and provide a healthy, constructive outlet for his energy.  [less]

I would wonder whether the heart condition is the cause of the loss of appetite or if it is something else. There are many different causes for heart murmurs in puppies. They can range from very serious, life threatening conditions to those with minimal concerns. A heart murmur is an abnormal sound when listening to the heart. Normally when the doctor listens with the stethoscope, he or she will hear the lub- dub sound. A heart murmur is a whooshing sound that happens between the heart beats (lub-whoosh-dub). An ultrasound of the heart and/or x-rays of the chest can help diagnose the type and severity of the heart condition. If the heart condition is severe and is causing the loss of appetite because the heart is not functioning well, then medications specific for the heart (or possibly even heart surgery) are needed to help the puppy feel better. If the puppy is not feeling good for another reason, such as an upset tummy, you can try to offer her a buffet of different foods (both dry and canned dog foods) as well as some human foods (lean meats such as turkey, chicken, ground beef, etc) to entice her to eat. There are also some newer prescription appetite stimulants that you may be able to get from your veterinarian, however, finding and treating the underlying cause of her unwillingness to eat is the key to getting her on the road to recovery.  [less]

Swelling in the pinna (or ear flap) is usually due to a hematoma, which is a collection of blood between the layers of ear cartilage. These can be caused by excessive trauma to the ears when the dog is shaking its head due to an ear infection. The constant flapping of the ears against the head is thought to break small blood vessels within the ear resulting the hemorrhage into the ear flap. Sometimes, we see dogs with hematomas that have no ear infection and have had no history of shaking their heads. In these cases, the hematoma may have developed because of an inflammatory disease such as skin allergies. The treatment for hematomas in the ear is usually surgical repair. This can be done using a variety of different techniques, but most commonly, an incision is made into the ear flap to allow the blood to be drained, then the ear cartilage is stitched together similar to a baseball mitt. Following surgery, the dog usually has a bandage over the head that must be changed and the sutures stay in place for about 3 weeks. As an alternative to surgery, the blood can be drained from the ear with a small needle to relieve the pressure, however this technique is usually only temporarily successful because often the ear will fill up with blood again in a very short time. Leaving the ear untreated is not only very uncomfortable but will also result in scarring of the ear flap which can be disfiguring and can result in narrowing the opening to the ear canal, which can produce even more ear problems.  [less]