Vet’s Views
Dr Kaushlendra Kumar
The doctor has been practising in Lucknow for the past 20 years in canine and other pet animal medicine and surgery
Q: My 2-year-old Beagle has started passing very foul-smelling gas, and his belly also gurgles. I have not changed his food, which is rice and chicken with leafy vegetables in the morning and kibbles at night. What must be done?-Shipra Jain
Beagles are one of the breeds that have shown a lot of allergies to the environment, food or habitat. What suits a Beagle is always a question. This farting is another symptom of gastrointestinal allergy to food. These days, hypoallergenic foods are available in the market. This may help your pet with proper digestion. I will also advise adding prebiotic and postbiotic supplements to the diet. This will take care of good intestinal microflora, thus helping in proper digestion. Add a very small amount of pink salt to the diet. Salt benefits from proper digestion and improves thirst. More and more water helps release body toxins, and fewer of these problems are encountered.
Q: My Labrador has had a very runny nose for the past few days, though he is not coughing or showing symptoms of a cold or fever. What should I do to help him? -Pradeep Saxena
A runny nose is a primary symptom of a cold or winter allergy. Winter is healthy for animals if they are well cared for, but it becomes a major problem if proper care is not provided. Giving calcium and protein-rich diets in winter helps maintain proper body temperature. Using winter clothes in doubles may also prevent this problem.
Q: My Pug is just seven years old, but showing symptoms of joint pain. I had heard that only large breeds got arthritis. Do I need to get him treated? -Niti Singh
Arthritis is a lifestyle disease. It depends on how well you have taken care of the dog, managing a balanced diet, body weight and exercises. These help give a healthy lifestyle to your pets. If proper care is not taken, the weight of the dog starts increasing, leading to heart problems, obesity and skin issues. Provide balanced feed, moderate exercise and an optimum amount of water. Joint medicines, which are supplements only, can be added to the diet. They also take care of arthritis at an early age. In genetically predisposed breeds, breeding should be avoided, particularly if the parents had the same history. In a very advanced stage of arthritis, advanced joint surgeries may also be considered after proper consultation with your veterinary surgeon.
Q: My GSD is getting constipated regularly and passing stool that is hard and dry. It also has difficulty defecating. Please advise.-Sanjay Kumar
GSDs having constipation is a big problem with recurring incidence seen in older dogs. If it is a male, the problem is bigger because of prostatic affections and non-clearance of anal glands. What to do is a big challenge. First of all, see that regular and proper deworming is done. The use of lots of fibre in the diet is very important to make the diet bulky. For veg diets, use lots of boiled seasonal vegetables except potatoes. Add salt to it to increase the thirst, along with pre- and post-biotics. A balanced feed will help with proper digestion. To make the intestinal lining smooth, add a minimum amount of vegetable oil to the same diet. This works as a laxative too. Diet is the main thing you need to focus on. Moderate exercise, clean water and regular grooming will together help relieve the constipation.
Q: I have a very old Indie dog (14 years). How should I take care of her? -Mani Chauhan
A 14-year-old female Indie dog is taken care of through a fibre-rich diet, regular deworming, vaccination and very mild exercise. For deworming, consult your vet for a change of salts, as by this age, many deworming drugs are resistant. A new class of deworming drugs with a safe margin index are indicated. In older pets, cardiac and lung issues are more prevalent. A diet rich in multivitamins is advised to maintain a regular rhythm of the body. A fibre-rich diet is generally preferred because of the slow BMR and slow metabolism, which takes care of diabetes and gastric issues. Feeding soft diets rich in carbohydrates will invite obesity and a cascade of reactions in the body. Anti-inflammatory diets are given to combat diseases like cancers and tumours, and one such element is curcumin/ desi haldi. Very light or brisk walking is allowed, taking care of the outside temperature. As the immunity of the pet diminishes by this age, many such healthy habits help them live longer.
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