July, 2024 - Barky.com.au

July 31, 2024

My Dog Ate Lavender Plant! What Should I Do? (Vet Answer)

The post My Dog Ate Lavender Plant! What Should I Do? (Vet Answer) by Dr. Karyn Kanowski, BVSc MRCVS (Vet) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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Are Lavender Plants Safe for Dogs?
What About Lavender Oil?
Safe Plants for Dogs
Toxic Plants
What About Essential Oils?

Why is it that some dogs just cannot resist the urge to eat things they shouldn’t? A lot of the time, you don’t even realize that certain things could be considered appealing or edible by your naughty canine until they’re hanging out of your dog’s mouth! And by the time that happens, you find yourself frantically searching for answers about what household ingredients, items, and plants are toxic to dogs, which is likely why you’re here.

Has your dog eaten a lavender plant? Here’s some good news for you: Lavender plants are not toxic to dogs

However, if you are worried that your dog has eaten too much lavender, or if they have any health conditions, it is best to contact your vet and seek advice that is specific to your situation.

Are Lavender Plants Safe for Dogs?

Lavender is one of the few aromatic herbs that is considered safe to have around dogs, but that doesn’t mean they should be eating it. Lavender contains two chemicals that are toxic to dogs—linalool and linalyl acetate—which is why you will sometimes find it categorized as a toxic plant.¹ However, the levels of these substances in the lavender plant are quite low, and a dog would need to consume so much of the plant for any toxic effects to occur that they would likely have lavender exploding from both ends!

This doesn’t mean that you should encourage your dog to graze on your lavender plants, but you don’t need to panic if they do have the occasional munch.

What About Lavender Oil?

Extreme care should always be taken with essential oils around pets for three important reasons.

They are a highly concentrated form of the ingredient.
There are no regulatory bodies that monitor or safeguard the production of essential oils.
All essential oils in their undiluted form can be harmful, dangerous, or deadly to your pets.

Lavender is a relatively safe essential oil to use around dogs, but only in diluted form, and never given orally.

If your dog ingests lavender oil, contact your vet or poison hotline, or speak to a vet online for further advice. Do not attempt to make your dog vomit.

What Other Plants Are Safe for Dogs?

There are far too many plants in the world to be able to make a comprehensive list of all that are safe or dangerous. As a general rule, assume a plant could be toxic until proven otherwise. Even those that aren’t strictly poisonous can cause gastrointestinal upset. Even some plants that are grown for human consumption can be toxic to dogs, such as onion, garlic, and parts of the tomato plant, so don’t assume that if it’s safe for us, it’s safe for them.

Below is a list of some common garden plants that are known to be safe for dogs, provided they are consumed in moderation.

Safe plants for dogs:

Pansies
Rosemary
Thyme
Basil
Sunflowers
Fuchsias
Nasturtiums
Spider Plant

spider plant — Image Credit: t50, Shutterstock

Which Plants Are Toxic to Dogs?

Many plants can cause irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal distress if eaten in large amounts, so make sure you keep an eye on your dog when they are out and about in the garden. However, there are some that are more dangerous than others, including:

Toxic plants for dogs:

Most bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths)
Onions, chives, and leeks
Garlic
Lilies
Milkweed
Aloe vera
Cycad (sago palm)
Oleander

What About Essential Oils?

As we mentioned earlier, extreme care must be taken when using essential oils around our dogs, and even more so if we have cats. Cats lack specific enzymes needed to metabolize certain compounds, making them more sensitive to some toxins, so be sure to do some extra research if you plan to use essential oils in a feline-friendly home.

Some oils can cause skin irritation, respiratory inflammation, liver and kidney damage, and severe gastrointestinal reactions, so take care when selecting and using them.

Below are some oils that are relatively safe for dogs, as well as those that are highly dangerous.

Essential Oils Safe* for Dogs

Essential Oils Dangerous for Dogs

Lavender

Fennel

Cardamom

Frankincense

Chamomile

Rosemary

Sweet Basil

Valerian

Clary Sage

Bergamot

Cedarwood

Cinnamon

Citrus

Pennyroyal

Peppermint

Pine

Sweet birch

Tea tree (melaleuca)

Wintergreen

Ylang ylang

*Relatively safe when used carefully and in moderation. Essential oils should be diluted before use and not ingested. Always check with a vet before using anything new on your pet.

a bottle of essential oil with fresh lavender — Image Credit: Madeleine Steinbach, Shutterstock

Final Thoughts

If your dog has decided to sample your lavender plant, don’t panic. While we don’t exactly want to encourage this behavior, lavender doesn’t pose much of a risk to your pet. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to letting your dog munch their way through your garden, and even more importantly, take great care when using essential oils.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Anna Darahan, Shutterstock

July 31, 2024

Why Is My Dog’s Vagina Swollen? 5 Vet Explained Reasons & When to Worry

The post Why Is My Dog’s Vagina Swollen? 5 Vet Explained Reasons & When to Worry by Dr. Samantha Devine DVM (Veterinarian) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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Possible Reasons Your Dog’s Vagina Is Swollen
What to Do
FAQ

Your dog’s genital area seems bigger than it normally is, so you naturally wonder if it’s time to call the vet or if it’s something normal that will pass on its own. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your dog’s vulva might become swollen.

The 5 Possible Reasons Your Dog’s Vagina Is Swollen

1. Estrus or the Heat Cycle

If you notice that your dog’s vulva is swollen, the first thing to consider is: is she in heat? If your dog is not spayed, they’ll usually have a heat cycle roughly every six months, starting between six and eight months of age. As your dog enters estrus, hormonal changes lead to the vulva becoming enlarged. Your veterinarian may be able to determine the stage of your dog’s estrus cycle by performing vaginal cytology.

Dog Heat Cycle — You are free to use this image but we do require you to link back to Dogster.com for credit

2. Infections and Inflammation

Unfortunately, infections and inflammatory responses are possible within the urinary and genital tracts, which can lead to vulvar swelling.

Urinary Tract Infections

A UTI can be uncomfortable for your dog and increase the likelihood of their vulva swelling. These Infections are more common in females than males because the urethra is shorter and wider in females, making it easier for bacteria to ascend into the bladder.

Vaginitis

Dogs can also develop vaginitis or inflammation of the vagina. Bacteria or fungi like yeast could cause this infection. Some dogs develop vulva enlargement, while others have vaginal discharge.

Juvenile Vaginitis

Puppy vaginitis or juvenile vaginitis commonly affects female puppies. This inflammation generally occurs when puppies are between 6 weeks and eight months old. Puppies commonly have yellow or white discharge, the vulva can swell, and the puppy might lick the area a lot.

3. Trauma

Dogs can develop traumatic injuries anywhere, including the vulva. They can be bitten or scratched when roughhousing with another pet. Sticks or even blades of grass can traumatize the area. These injuries can cause mild swelling due to tissue trauma or even lead to cellulitis infections.

top view of french bulldog's butt side lying on bed — Image Credit: eva_blanco, Shutterstock

4. Tumors

Tumors in the vaginal vestibule are uncommon but can happen. These tumors can get large and cause external swelling, or they might prolapse out of the vulva. In dogs, the most common types of vaginal tumors are leiomyoma and lipoma. These tumors are generally benign.

5. Vaginal Prolapse

Vaginal prolapse can occur in unspayed female dogs, where hormonal changes cause the vaginal tissue to swell. It can swell so significantly that it protrudes out of the vulva. It is usually donut-shaped and may be accompanied by discharge. Vaginal prolapses generally need to be surgically repaired. Your veterinarian may suggest spaying your dog at the same time to reduce the risk of recurrence.

vet examines a dog's suture after healing belly scar on dog stomach after surgery — Image Credit: Yavdat, Shutterstock

What to Do if Your Dog’s Vulva Is Swollen

If your dog’s vulva is swollen, you should have your dog seen by a veterinarian unless it is associated with their heat cycle. Your veterinarian will examine your pup and may suggest vaginal cytology to see what stage of the estrus cycle your dog is in and look for evidence of infection if vaginitis is suspected.

Depending on the diagnosis, your veterinarian might suggest one of a few options:

Monitoring your dog for changes
Additional testing, such as fine needle aspirate of a suspected vaginal tumor
Antibiotics if a bacterial infection is suspected
Surgery if indicated

boston terrier dog at vet clinic with owner — Image Credit: Ground Picture, Shutterstock

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the vulva and the vagina?

The external portion that you see if looking at your dog’s genital region is the vulva rather than the vagina. The vagina is located internally and leads to the cervix and then the uterus. The vulva is an external vestibule that leads to the vagina and the urethra.

Why is my dog licking her private area?

Your dog might lick her genital region if she’s uncomfortable, such as with a urinary tract infection. She could also be cleaning the area if she is having vaginal discharge.

Dog licking itself — Image Credit: unjiko, Shutterstock

Can you treat vulvar infections at home?

You should take your dog to the vet if you’re worried about a vulvar or vaginal infection, as these often need antibiotics to treat. You can try gently wiping around your dog’s genital area with a clean, damp cloth, but you should wipe gently and still consider a veterinary appointment.

Conclusion

If you notice that your dog’s vulva is swollen, you should have it examined by a veterinarian. It may just be a sign of their heat cycle, but it could also indicate another issue, such as an infection or mass.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Sigma_S, Shutterstock

July 31, 2024

Why Does My Dog Stare at the Wall? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons Explained

The post Why Does My Dog Stare at the Wall? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons Explained by Ashley Bates appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Our dogs do all sorts of things that make us go, “Hmm.” If your dog seems to be staring at the wall, you might wonder why. But the real answer to why is that it honestly depends. Have you paid attention to body language? Does the dog seem excited, lethargic, rambunctious?

The overall vibe can tell you a lot about the underlying reason. Here are five reasons that might be why your dog is staring at walls—but only you can tell for sure!

The 5 Reasons Why Dogs Might Stare at the Wall

1. Undetectable Noises

If your dog is staring at the wall, and they seem pretty agitated about what’s going on, they very well might be hearing noises. Is there a mouse scratching around in the wall? Do they hear some commotion going on from the other room across the way?

Regardless of what it is, it might be captivating to them, enough to grab their attention. For example, let’s say you have a child’s room on the other side of that wall. The dog’s hearing is so much more exceptional than ours, they might be able to hear them playing, laughing, or even listening to a show or playing a video game.

Because they can hear it, even when you might not be able to, it might make them wonder where the child is and why they can’t see them. Interestingly, even something like termites can cause odd sounds in walls, which can get your dog’s attention.

2. Unusual Smells

Your dog might be smelling something inside of the wall. In addition to hearing little mice scrambling around inside of the wall, they might smell them too. Our pets can smell all sorts of things that would be hard for us to detect.

So, if your pet seems to be staring at the wall, and then sniffing around the area, it might be because they can just sense something that you can’t. Not only is a dog’s sense of hearing superior to ours, but their sense of smell far surpasses that of humans.

It doesn’t even necessarily have to be a creature inside the wall, but just something that gets their attention.

3. Anxiety

Your dog might be in a state of stones because of anxiety. Sometimes, if you’re really riddled with anxiety on the inside, it can cause you to almost go comatose on the outside, including just staring at things such as the wall. You’ve probably heard of fight or flight, but freeze is another response to stress in animals. Then again, it could be more of a compulsive behavior that has developed over time. Although it’s not common, it isn’t unheard of to think that when a dog experiences anxiety, they might go into a state of dissociation, to some degree.

4. Age

If your dog is just getting older, old age can decline their cognitive ability. This loss of cognitive ability can manifest itself in strange ways. Your dog might seem unusually confused, stare at nothing, or even start other concerning behaviors.

So if your dog has really never stared at the wall before, but seems to be doing it semi-frequently now, it could just be a sense of disorientation. There’s really no rhyme or reason to it, your dog just isn’t as clear-minded as they once were, causing what appears to be odd behaviors.

5. Brain Disease

Like old age, disorders of the brain can lead to confusion and unusual behaviors in dogs. Veterinarians call the behavior of staring at nothing “stargazing”. If the staring behavior happens often you should be alert to other signs of neurological problems like seizures, behavioral changes, and circling.

Although uncommon, stargazing can be a sign of problems in the esophagus or stomach. So if your dog is regurgitating, vomiting, or drooling, it can be worth investigating a gastrointestinal problem.

What Is Head-Pressing?

If your dog is simply staring at the wall, it’s usually not a cause for concern if that’s all they’re doing and it stops after a few minutes. But if the behavior is ongoing or they’re pressing their head against the wall, this is a concern. If you notice your dog pressing their head up against the wall, it is imperative that you get them to the vet as soon as possible. This is a sign of a very time-sensitive issue.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there is only one reason for head pressing. Here, we’re going to go over a few different causes of this behavior so you know the severity of the situation.

Neurological Conditions: Certain neurological conditions can cause head-pressing, like canine cognitive dysfunction.
Toxicity: If certain toxins get into the system, it can impact the dog’s brain—causing head pressing. This is especially common with heavy metal exposure, such as lead or mercury.
Tumors: Tumors in or near the brain can cause neurological symptoms like head pressing.
Head Trauma: If your dog has experienced any accidents or blows to the head, it can cause inflammation in the skull—leading to head-pressing.

Conclusion

If you think your dog has an underlying health condition related to staring at the wall, we highly recommend getting them to the vet. They can do a quick check to see if there are any obvious signs of trouble and perform other testing as needed.

However, if your dog seems excited or curious about the wall, there could be small noises or smells happening you can’t even detect. If you observe the behavior long enough, you should be able to decode the mystery!

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Gladskikh Tatiana, Shutterstock