Why does my dog eat dirt?

Question

My Scottish terrier recently started eating dirt. He eats one cup of dry food every day, as well as fruits and vegetables that I give him for treats. I believe that he is lacking some element in his diet, any suggestions?

Answer

If you are feeding your dog a high-quality dog food, he is probably not lacking any key elements in his diet. Most cases of dogs eating dirt or grass are behavioral problems. It is usually nothing to be worried about, but if you are concerned that he might have an illness that is causing him to eat dirt, then it would be a good idea to take him to your veterinarian for a physical exam and some blood work to make sure he is healthy.

Why doesn't my dog eat much?

Question
My one-year-old dog doesn’t seem to eat much. Should I consult my veterinarian or is there something I can do, such as switching his dog food?

Answer
It can often be very concerning when our pets do not seem to have a great appetite. However, in some dogs this is very normal. If your dog eats enough to maintain his needs, he may not tend to overeat. There are several things that you might want to consider:

Exactly how much is he eating?
You should measure exactly how much food your dog is eating in a 24-hour period. This will help you determine if he is getting enough.

Remember that what is written on the dog food package is an average.
Many dogs eat much less than what is suggested and are still healthy. Do not panic if your dog only eats 60-70 percent of what is recommended on the package. This is typical for many dogs.

Your dog’s activity level may adjust his appetite.
If your dog is not overly active, he will eat much less than dogs that are jogging every day.

Is your pet skinny?
If your dog is not skinny, then he is getting enough calories. Regardless of what the dog food package says or your friend's dog eats, the real question is if your dog is skinny. If you can easily see his ribs through his coat, you should consult your veterinarian.

Most of the time switching foods is not the best answer.
It may lead to dogs that become picky and are difficult to feed. If your dog is on a good quality dog food and he is not skinny, I do not recommend switching his food.

However, if your dog is skinny, listless, has a poor hair coat, vomits or otherwise seems to have medical issues, you should definitely consult your veterinarian. He or she will be able to check your dog for any underlying health conditions that would affect appetite, such as dental problems or kidney issues.

Can I have my dog spayed while she's in heat?

Answer It's possible to spay a dog during estrus, or heat, but it's not the best time. Most veterinarians prefer not to spay a dog in estrus because the uterine tissue can be swollen, fragile, and more prone to damage. Dogs also have a tendency to bleed more when they're in heat. Because of this, estrus makes surgery more risky for dogs, as well as for cats.

Most veterinarians prefer to delay spaying a dog until she has been out of estrus for a month or so. And, since a recently spayed dog may still be attractive to males, performing the surgery during heat won't do anything to keep the neighbors' dogs out of your yard. The best thing for your dog's health is to keep her safe inside for now and to have your veterinarian perform surgery in a month or so.

Is ovary removal necessary?

Question Please explain why ovary removal is necessary. I want my pet's personality to stay the same after sterilization. Won't her personality change?

Answer

Removal of both ovaries is done for several reasons in dogs and cats. Most owners want cessation of heat periods that attract male dogs and cats, which does not happen if ovaries are left in.

The other major benefit is that if a dog or cat has removal of both ovaries and uterus before the first heat cycle, then we can reduce the incidence of mammary cancer to close to zero. The additional benefit is that we almost never see ovarian cancer with the exception of rare cases in dogs kept for breeding purposes.

Can my dog be neutered without actually being castrated?

Answer

Well, if your one and only purpose in having your dog neutered is preventing him from fathering puppies, you could choose a vasectomy. Some veterinarians will perform this procedure, which will sterilize a dog but leave the genitals intact. It's a more difficult and time-consuming procedure than castration, and also more expensive.

A vasectomy doesn't provide all of the benefits of a full castration, however, which is why some veterinarians won't perform it. It doesn't protect against testicular tumors, which are common in older, intact males. It also doesn't protect against testosterone-influenced diseases, such as perianal hernia and perianal adenomas.

Also, because testosterone is still present in a dog's system after a vasectomy, your dog would still exhibit the behavior of a dog that hasn't been neutered. He would still try to go through the motions of mating with female dogs, for example. He would probably fight with other dogs to defend his territory and breeding rights, and he would mark his territory (inside and outside) with urine. He would also have the urge to roam to find mating partners.

If your main concern is having your dog look intact after surgery, you can have him castrated and have testicle implants placed in his scrotum. These are surgically placed inside your dog's tissue, much like breast implants. With these implants, your dog can be castrated without changing in appearance.