Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING OUR PETS AROUND AT FAMILY REUNIONS OR SUMMER COOKOUTS?

Some concerns would be pets ingesting human food that could be toxic such as grapes, onions, apple seeds or fatty foods that can lead to G.I. disorders such as pancreatitis.

IS IT STILL ACCEPTABLE TO RIDE WITH OUR PETS IN THE FRONT SEAT?

I would suggest that people check with the state and city regarding the laws as it relates to this and when in doubt a seat harnesses should always be used for your pet.

IS IT EVER OK TO LEAVE OUR 4-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE CAR? AND WHAT DO WE DO IF WE SEE AN ANIMAL LOCKED IN A CAR?

It is definitely not ideal to leave a pet in a car during the summer months when it is hot outside.  If an animal was locked in a hot car, I would call the police or tow company to have them to pop the lock and then try to find the owner as soon as possible.

HOW HOT IS TOO HOT FOR OUR PETS TO BE OUTSIDE EVEN FOR A WALK?

When it’s in the upper 90’s, I tend to become more cautious about walking dogs due to heat exhaustion. When the ground is hot, it can burn their paw pads and certain species of dogs can have difficulty breathing.

ARE THERE ANY PET-SAFE FROZEN FOODS THAT WE CAN GIVE OUR PETS TO KEEP THEM COOL?

You can always give ice. Dogs like frozen green beans, or you can make frozen treats like peanut butter ice sickles or freeze canned dog food.

WHAT’S A GOOD GUIDE FOR HOW MUCH WATER OUR PETS NEED?

Dogs should drink approximately 50 ML of water per KG of body weight.  For example, 1 liter per 40 lbs.

IS THERE SUNSCREEN FOR PETS?

Yes, there is. It can be purchased online, at pet boutiques or some pet stores carry it.

Dr. Blue answers your “Text Tom” pet questions below:

After getting a dog neutered, are they still supposed to be able to get horny?

Male dogs can still display sexual behavior after being neutered. Depending on what age they were neutered, the sexual behavior may be learned, in addition testosterone can take up to 2 months to dissipate out of the blood stream.
I have a toy Yorkie. My dad feeds him a Vienna sausage sometimes. Will that hurt him?
It’s not ideal to feed them sausages or canned meat as they can sometimes have too much salt which can lead to G.I. upset. I recommend a good dog food.
My cat is always scratching at her ear. She has been checked for fleas, ticks, and fungus and it’s all negative. Any idea what it could be?
 
It could be an inner ear infection, therefore an ear cytology is recommended first. In addition, environmental or food allergies can tend to be a cause of dogs scratching. I would recommend talking to your veterinarian.
I started a bad habit w/letting my Yorkie puppy sleep w/me. How do I break it??? 
You should retrain her and work through her separation anxiety by placing her in a kennel or in her own bed so that she can associate it with her own sleeping time. You may have to deal with her vocalization for some time, (similar to a human child) but it is necessary to help break the habit.
My friend self-diagnosed her dog as bipolar. Excuse for him turning on you and then coming up to you like nothing ever happened. Animals get cancer and can be depressed. Can they be bipolar?
It is very difficult to diagnose mental illness in animals because they don’t talk, but there are clearly behavioral issues here. I recommend working with a trainer to help remedy the problems.
What can I do for my fourteen-year-old Jack Russell Terrier with arthritis. Is it okay to give him Advil and his food. He’s moving kind of slow lately doctor said he has arthritis.
No, it is not okay to use Advil as it can cause severe problems. I recommend that you contact your veterinarian for proper anti-inflammatory medications in addition to a dog food that contains joint supplements.
 My cat seems to be breathing differently and lays around more. Is this normal?
No, it is not normal. Whenever an animal changes its behavior, it can indicate that something may be wrong. Visit your veterinarian to see if there are changes in the chest cavity and to have x-rays performed.
Why do dogs eat grass and then thrown up? My dog does this.
Dogs are omnivores, meaning they eat meat and vegetation. It is natural for dogs to consume grass at times, in addition to when they need to vomit.
I have a 12-year-old lab-chow mix. She scratches all the time and is losing her hair. What should I do?
The best thing to do is to visit your veterinarian and have blood work done to check for any disease process in addition to checking for fleas and allergies.
My dog has been having bloody stools. What is wrong with him?
The dog could have several G.I. disorders ranging from intestinal parasites to a life-threatening condition called HGE. I highly recommend you visit a veterinarian and to have fecal exam performed.
What are good Pet Insurance companies?
There are several companies that offer insurance. I recommend researching to see what fits your needs best. Trupanion and Nationwide Pet insurance are 2 of the top recommendations.
I have an American bulldog that is an outside dog. Flies are eating him up. What can I do? I spray him with a mixture of lavender and tea tree oil.
There is a product that can be purchased at your veterinarian called Vectra 3D that helps to repel flies and there are also certain sprays available. Maintaining the yard to be free from feces and trash can help reduce the fly population as well.

I have a tan and blue Pomeranian and he has black patchy spots on his back and stomach. My vet initially treated him for ringworms and now they say he has allergies. The medication has not been working what can I do to get rid of the patchy spots and provide comfort for my dog.

Determining the actual cause will be very important to proper treatment, however I would investigate a form of alopecia as the cause due to the abnormal color of the dog.
Can dogs be autistic?
This has not been documented to my knowledge as a form of disease. However, dogs can have brain trauma or damage that leads to altered mental behavior.
I have a 9-year-old Chihuahua who has developed a cough. It happens any time but more so when she’s overly excited. I spoke to our vet about it. I even allowed them to check her blood count (CBC). It was fine. The cough persists… now about 2 yrs.
On her last physical, our vet said small dogs can have an issue with their trachea narrowing or closing; and that a stent can be placed to prevent closure. What’s your opinion? My dog does not have any other health problems. She can stand to lose 1 lb. Thank you!
The disease process that your veterinarian was describing is called collapsing trachea which is a common disease we see in older overweight small breed dogs and tends to act in the way you have described.  I highly recommend chest x-rays especially during a coughing bout in order to diagnoses this condition.  Surgery is an option once diagnosed, however depending on the severity, sometimes medications can help improve or decrease symptoms.
My dog have a lot of ear infections. What can I do?
Firstly, have an ear cytology to properly diagnose whether its bacteria, yeast, or both. Secondly, treat it completely until it is gone while simultaneously treating the cause of ear infections whether it be an improperly untreated ear infection, allergies, or foreign material in the ear.​

Dr. Blue is one of three founding members of the Animalscopic veterinarian group. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Blue gained a passion for animals during his early adolescence by becoming the neighborhood veterinarian for household pets. He later attended Tuskegee University where he received a Bachelor of Animal Science and a Doctor of Veterinary medicine.

Before receiving his DVM, Dr. Blue’s professional experience includes Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Tuskegee University Comparative Animal Medicine Laboratory, E.V. Smith Dairy Farm and student representative for Fort Dodge Animal Health. As a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Blue began working in Las Vegas, Nevada for two leading veterinarian hospitals, Ann Road and Grand Montecito Animal Hospital.

Dr. Blue has also worked as a veterinarian for the Lied Animal Shelter of Las Vegas. Now Practicing in the greater Houston, Texas area, Dr. Blue also manages the Conroe Animal Adoption Center when he is not practicing at Cy-Fair Animal Hospital.

Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!