AboutJana Connell RVT, CVT Expertise I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I cannot diagnose diseases nor will I try to. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I DO NOT do birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I also do not know much about reptiles, so post those to the reptile experts also. Thanks!
Experience I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a nutritional consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina.
Organizations Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Education/Credentials Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT.
Certified Veterinary Dental Technician
Question We have an 11 week old mini, we have taken her to the vet once for an issue with what seemed to be worms but later turned out to be stress - from the vet. She changed Star's food from Kibble to Purina One, that was when she was 9 wks. Since then we have noticed her whiskers have disappeared not all just a few and she is itching and losing hair in a few places. We have a 3 yr old daughter however I have asked repeatedly and answer has always been no and I really don't think that she could pull out her body hair. My biggest concern is the hair loss, we have a leather recliner and she was sitting in it with our daughter today and about 20 minutes later the chair was covered. Is she stressed?? Wrong food?? We are completely lost and trying to get in to see the vet but he is on vacation and we don't really care for the other one - the one that changed her food.
Well living with a three year old is stressful for any of us that have had one knows!!
But really, some Dashunds are not cut out to be kids dogs. They are hounds, and hounds are not the family type dog, by nature they are hunters.
Having said that, most families nowadays raise doxies and kids all at the same time with no problems.
For your information, 3 yr olds not only pull out a dogs hair, but usually pull all their whiskers too. For a dog to put up with that is amazing and shows what a great temperament she has.
Now the real culprit here is probably the food. The vet that changed her food is sorely mislead if she thinks that any Purina food is good enough for your dog.
I don't know what brand Kibble is, but the only food we feed and recommend here is Science Diet. It has a 50 yr track record of being created by, sold, and fed by more veterinarians than any food on the market. No other pet food has that claim. It is the most complete, balanced and digestible food there is. Purina and Iams are not fixed formula foods. What that means is that they buy whatever is cheaper on the docks that morning to make the next batch of food with. This is consistently one of the reasons owners complain about their dogs getting diarrhea suddenly on a food that they have eaten for a while.
Science Diet is strictly a fixed formula food that has feeding trials to back it up. This way you know that what you buy today will be the same thing you buy in two months.
I recommend you get her a bag of the Puupy Growth Small Bites and give her a month on it. It takes three weeks for the food to work it's way through the system and to start to show you a difference.
All the doxies I know on Science Diet are shiny, and have beautiful, full coats of hair with barely a shedding problem.
The food is 100 % guaranteed too, so if after a bag or two you don't think it is working, then take back your empty bag for a refund.
from the Hills site:
Key Benefits
Science Diet® Puppy pet food gives your puppy the right balance of essential nutrients to start your puppy off right. An ideal combination of tasty ingredients helps a puppy's body grow strong and healthy. It is enhanced with natural DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid vital in the development of the brain and nervous system in puppies. Science Diet Puppy gives your dog the foundation for a lifetime of good health. Also great for pregnant and nursing dogs.
* Science Diet® Puppy
* foods are available in two kibble sizes (Original and Small Bites) and three formulas to suit individual tastes.
* • 100% Guarantee – pets will love the taste or consumers can return the unused portion for a full refund or replacement. There is also a Natures Best formula- one of the only foods on the market that is completely natural and pesticide free.
To switch her food slowly, follow the directions on the bag. Here is a schedule of how to do it:
How do I switch foods?
Ideally, a pet should gradually transition from his current food to the new food. To begin the transition, mix your pet’s current food with the new food. Gradually decrease the amount of the current food while increasing the amount of new food. Continue to do this over a 7-day period. To help you with the transition, refer to the 7-Day Transition Schedule.
I've attached the image since I can't paste it in here.
If you have any more questions Shelby, please feel free to e-mail me here or send me another question. I would love to know how she is doing in three weeks.
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