Most dogs develop type 1 diabetes which the body fails to make enough insulin to serve it needs. This means Insulin treatment is required for your pet. The goal of treating a diabetic animal is to minimise blood glucose fluctuations, eliminate the symptoms associated with high blood glucose levels (excessive drinking, urination, and appetite), and improve the quality of the pet’s life. As in…

Some helpful tips to reduce these problems are exercising your dog before the guests arrive – more relaxed or ready to take a nap. Avoid excited greetings when you come home and try to come in quietly. If the arrival of guests makes your dog excitable, give him a break in his crate/kennel or in a quiet room with a familiar doggie bed or blanket. Allow your pooch to join the guests after the…

I may need further information to arrive at a specific diagnosis. However, considering his age, weight loss and no or less urine production could be a sign of kidney failure. Your pet may not pass urine if there is any obstruction in urinary tract (stones, growth, etc). Get him examined ASAP with blood work to find the underlying cause. Question by - Abhishek Sharma, New Delhi

You don’t mention whether you have done obedience training or your pet well socialised to be a good, well-controlled companion. First you may start with a suitable collar, harness, or head halter to use with the leash on your dog or you may try a Gentle Leader or Halti head collar on your dog. This may help the dog experience in walking under control around other dogs or people. Once you develop…

Any type of wound, smelly or wet, may become the perfect spot for flies to lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, maggots will begin to feast on any dead or dying tissue. Therefore, it is important to keep the wound clean and the underlying problem is treated. Your vet may remove maggots and use topical medicines on wound to kill any maggots infested. He may also advise creams or spray that may help…

Weakness or limping in hind legs in large breed puppies like yours develops from variety of skeletal problems including hip dysplasia. Limping can also be the result of infection or trauma, metabolic, neuromuscular or degenerative diseases. The causes of hip dysplasia are complex and involve heredity and environmental factors, such as overeating and rapid weight gain. Most often, overweight due to…

The cause of perianal fistulas remains unclear, but it is believed to be immune mediated or related to reaction from some food allergens. Some believe that it is related to a form of colitis. Therefore, it is advisable to find underlying cause. If there are no causes determined, the medical management using immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine or prednisone found to be encouraging.…

Osteoarthritis (OA) can be a progressive problem in which pain and disuse lead to further deterioration of joint movement and function. Therapeutic exercise and physical modalities (cryotherapy, thermotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation) may be indicated to enhance motion or reduce pain, allowing improved function. Massage may be beneficial in reducing muscle spasms. Lifestyle…

The two most common manifestations of aggressive behaviour (in growing puppy) towards humans are fear biting and dominance-related aggression. Fear biting is most commonly seen in a dog raised without appropriate human contact during the socialisation period of growth (6 to 12 weeks of age). When a dog shows aggression toward members of the pet parent’s family rather than strangers, the animal is…

Inflammation in ear canal may occur as a simple reaction due to parasites, overgrowth of microbes or growths. It may also arise from allergic disease like atopy or endocrine or ear canal anatomical problems. Failure to address the underlying cause in a pet with ear problem dooms one to treatment failure. Your vet may advise series of tests including cytology to find out the underlying cause. Your…