Q. What can I give a 5lb Yorkiepoo that’s natural for gas?

ANSWER : A. For minor gas, adding in a small amount of a probiotic such as plain yogurt can help. About 1 tsp per meal is enough for a small breed dog. This can help provide good bacteria in the gut to better digest foods and decrease gas that is caused by bad bacteria in the stomach and intestines. If stools are also loose, a little pureed pumpkin (same amount as the yogurt) can also help by adding some natural fiber to the diet. However if the gas is bad, or causes distress in your dog, seeking a vet is best.

ANSWER : A. Gas can be caused by a number of things, however indigestion and food intolerance are usually at the top of the list. Gas can be caused by poor digestion in dogs, and when certain “bad” bacteria in the gut digest the food instead, leading to gas as a byproduct. Food intolerance can make digestion difficult as well, leading to fermentation and gas formation. Changing the diet if food intolerance is suspected to a diet free of common “problem” foods such as corn, wheat and soy may help as well as adding in some natural probiotics such as plain yogurt to the diet.

If the gas continues or worsens over time, or is causing major distress and bloating in your dog, it is best to contact your local veterinarian. Extreme gas can sometimes lead to bloat, a serious medical emergency.

ANSWER : A. The very first thing to do is to make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good, happy dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

Figure out what he gets out of barking and remove it. Don’t give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior.

Ignore your dog’s barking for as long as it takes him to stop. That means don’t give him attention at all while he’s barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don’t talk to, don’t touch, or even look at him. When he finally quiets, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat. To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking. Yelling at him is the equivalent of barking with him.

Get your dog accustomed to whatever causes him to bark. Start with whatever makes him bark at a distance. It must be far enough away that he doesn’t bark when he sees it. Feed him lots of good treats. Move the stimulus a little closer (perhaps as little as a few inches or a few feet to start) and feed treats. If the stimulus moves out of sight, stop giving your dog treats. You want your dog to learn that the appearance of the stimulus leads to good things.

Teach your dog the ‘quiet’ command. Oddly, the first step is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to “speak,” wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say “speak.” Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach him the “quiet” command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell him to “speak.” When he starts barking, say “quiet” and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat.

As in all training, always end training on a good note, even if it is just for obeying something very simple, like the ‘sit’ command. If you dog regresses in training, go back to the last thing he did successfully and reinforce that before moving on again. Keep sessions short, 15-20 minutes max, and do this several times a day.

ANSWER : A. Ice water and ice do not hurt a dog on their own.. however, when your dog is hot/overheating/panting heavily/obviously too warm, giving them ice or ice water constricts their blood vessels and can actually cause them to overheat. It’s very dangerous to give them ice water when they are suffering from heatstroke, or generally panting/hot. You should only give it to them when they’re not panting/relaxed on a warm/cool day. It’s okay to give it to them on a hot day, just be sure they are not too hot themselves before you give it to them.

ANSWER : A. I wouldn’t recommend giving a pork chop bone even if it is raw (never give any dog any type of cooked bone) as they are small and could cause problems if eaten. You can give chicken and rice if you like occasionally but it isn’t good on a regular basis as it doesn’t contain all the required nutrients.

ANSWER : A. Although many natural flea control products don’t have to go through EPA-mandated tests, because they aren’t classified as pesticides, this doesn’t mean they don’t work.

There are several natural flea control products that are safe for your home and your pets: repellants, sprays, squeeze-ons, shampoos, flea tags and powder. Also garlic and B-vitamins seem to make blood less attractive to fleas, so many guardians supplement with garlic and brewers yeast during flea season. However, sensitive animals can develop an allergy to brewer’s yeast, so I suggest you monitor your pet to guard against worsening itchiness.

Many people use the natural approach to flea control effectively and, although it is not always as easy as using chemicals, it’s generally safer for your pet and your family. Regarding chemicals, the US Environmental Protection Agency recently completed an in-depth investigation due to the hundreds of reports of illness and death in pets and serious adverse effects were reported for every product EPA assessed. EPA is in the process of increasing restrictions on their use. You can read more information about this report here: http://www2.epa.gov/pets/epa-evaluation-pet-spot-products-analysis-and-plans-reducing-harmful-effects

Besides, most chemicals, including bombs and sprays, kill only adult fleas or adults and larvae. That leaves thousands of tough little eggs and cocoons just waiting for the proper conditions, when they’ll renew their assault once more.

That said, you must keep in mind that a product labeled as “natural” or “organic” could still be not suitable, or even harmful, for your pet. Therefore, I recommend consulting with your veterinarian or trying to find a holistic veterinarian who can offer you guidance about natural flea control products.

ANSWER : A. If the medication you are currently giving your cat is the same as an over the counter medication, you may be able to ask your veterinarian for the correct dosage amount to give of the over the counter medication. Many vets will happily let you know if that can be done, especially if it makes things much easier cost-wise. You can also look on sites such as DrsFosterSmith and 1800PetMeds if a specific prescription is needed as they often carry medications for much cheaper than your vet does. It does require your vet to fax over the prescription, however. For natural remedies of acid reduction, adding in a beneficial probiotic such as plain yogurt to meals may help give the gut good bacteria and prevent acid reflux. Switching diets to one that has less allergenic ingredients (avoiding wheat, corn and soy products) may also help reduce symptoms without extra medication.

ANSWER : A. You can give meloxicam in dose 0,2 mg per kilo in the first day then 0,1 mg per kilo. Give the pill with or after the meal. You should give it in an emergency cases because it can give several side effects. I recommend you to see a vet to check and clean the wounds. maybe antibiotic or other meds are also necessary.