Q:
My dog has been eating grass. Lately, he's eating less, but he still
does it and often gets sick afterwards. Is he eating grass because
his diet is missing nutrients, or is he wanting to vomit for some
reason?.
A: There are many theories why dogs eat
grass. Some say it is because of a vitamin deficiency or because the
dog "wants to vomit." It's more likely that dogs just enjoy the taste
of tender new shoots of grass. Dogs fed well-balanced premium pet
foods are unlikely to be vitamin deficient and it is unlikely that
a dog would ever intentionally "want to vomit."
Q:
My
dog Abigail REALLY smells. I've bathed and bathed her, but she still
stinks. I've finally decided that the stench is coming from her ears.
What can I do to wash her ears better?
A:
If the odor from your dog's ears is strong, it is likely that the
problem relates to an infection. The best solution would be to see
if Abigail's doctor can determine a specific cause and treatment for
her condition. Just washing her ears may actually increase the moisture
in her ear canals and promote the growth of yeast organisms, a common
cause of ear infections in dogs.
Q:
My
dog gets eye infections repeatedly. She is a Lhasa who is healthy
otherwise, but about every 2-3 weeks her eyes get a heavy film that
is sometimes yellow or green. What causes this?
A:
Many
problems can cause reoccurant eye infections in dogs, The symptoms
you describe are consistent with a condition called "dry eye" where
not enough tears are produced to keep the eyes well-lubricated. When
impurities like dust or dirt are not adequately washed away with normal
tears, the result is a heavy film over the eyes and infection. See
your dog's vet as soon as possible for an eye exam, tear production
test and treatment. Highly effective medications are available to
help stimulate tear production and alleviate infections.
