Hi, I'm Dr. Fiona Caldwell and I'm at home today answering some questions from our Facebook page.
The first question is, "I think my dog got a flu or a cold bug. His poop isn't solid and he needs to go out every half-hour and he's miserable. Is there something I can give him? I've been watching him to make sure that he's drinking fluids and eating his dry food, but I'm not sure if it's upsetting his tummy."
This is a great question. Dogs can catch a flu or cold bugs just like people can, and sometimes it can manifest as an upset tummy. There are some things you can do at home to try to correct the situation before you need to call your veterinarian.
If they're continuing to eat and drink, you could try switching to a bland diet, something like boiled chicken or rice. You might reduce the amount or even skip a meal altogether to see if that helps to make the stools a little bit more solid. If your pet is vomiting or isn't eating, that's the time to call your veterinarian, as well as if the stool doesn't become more firm within about 24 hours after the onset of signs. If you've got questions or concerns, call your veterinarian about that one.
The next question is, "Do spayed females still give off hormones or a scent when they would have otherwise come into heat that other dogs can pick up? My male dog goes crazy around my spayed female for about two weeks a couple of times a year."
The answer to this question is probably not. If a female dog is spayed correctly, both ovaries are completely removed, and the ovaries are the organs that produce hormones. It would be really unlikely that your female dog was able to produce these hormones or even have a regular heat cycle. If you're concerned about something like this, contact your veterinarian.
www.petsbest.com