April 2021 - AskVet

Can Dogs Get Cavities?

Dog sitting on the grass smiling up to the camera

When it comes to dogs and cavities, there is good news and not-so-good news; the good news is, dogs do not get cavities in their teeth nearly as often as people do! The not-so-good news is that dogs DO get gingivitis and dental disease very commonly!

Anyone who has spent time around dogs is probably familiar with a little “doggy breath,” or maybe even had the displeasure of sensing some gag-inducing “trench mouth.” Dogs are such food-motivated creatures that, while we may wonder “why does my dog’s breath smell so bad?” we often don’t stop to think about what is going on inside of their mouths to make the myriad of bad breath odors. Especially, when they seem to be eating happily and acting like their normal carefree selves!

Veterinarians are very familiar with what might be lurking in your dog’s mouth and every vet appointment includes an oral exam and dental evaluation. Starting at 1-2 years of age, you can already start to see evidence of early gingivitis, plaque, and tartar buildup! Knowing what to expect and being prepared to maintain your dog’s oral health will preserve their pearly whites and spare them the pain of dental disease in dogs.

Tooth Decay and Cavities are Rare in Dogs

While it is possible for dogs to have cavities, it is not a common problem. Taking a glance at the shape and position of a dog’s teeth gives you a bit of a hint as to why: their teeth are tall and pointy, not flat for grinding like human molars are. Due to this tooth architecture, there is less of a chance for bacteria to settle in crevices and start to erode the flat surface of the tooth, as it does in human teeth. Also, dietary differences between humans and dogs have a great effect on the type of tooth problems that result. Humans eat sugars that, when combined with oral bacteria, will form an acid that eats a hole in the enamel of the tooth leading to a cavity. Dogs luckily do not consume many carbs or sugary foods, so this process does not happen as often as it does in people. Some dogs are genetically more predisposed to developing cavities, but other problems with the teeth and gums are far more common in dogs.

Gum Disease and Fractured Teeth

Just because dogs are less prone to getting a dental cavity as compared to humans, this does not mean that daily oral upkeep and annual dental cleanings are not vital to their long-term health! It is estimated that 2/3 of dogs over the age of 3 years have some degree of periodontal disease (disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth).

In a dog’s mouth saliva, bacteria, and food particles mix to form a biofilm called plaque which settles in the many nooks and crannies. Plaque clings to the tooth surfaces and in the small spaces below the gumline where it begins to wage war on the healthy tooth structures. While plaque is basically invisible, it will eventually thicken and mineralize into tartar (also called calculus) which is the yellowish covering that you can actually see on the surface of the teeth. Over time, the presence of plaque and harmful bacteria will cause inflammation in the gingiva (gums) which then spreads down to the tooth socket and eats away at the bone that holds the teeth in place. Since this all occurs under the gumline, it is very hard to see, and happens without us even knowing! Sometimes all that a pet parent might notice is some stinky breath and a loose tooth and by then severe and irreversible damage has been done. Oral issues can become so severe that bacteria and infections in the mouth can spread through the bloodstream to internal organs as well, like the heart, kidneys, and liver.

Tooth fractures are also extremely common in dogs. Chewing on kennels and fences, and gnawing on hard items like Nylabones, antlers, hooves, ice cubes, bones, and other non-bendy chews and toys can break teeth and are not recommended. A general rule of thumb is that if a toy is too hard to flex with your hands, it is hard enough to break your dog’s tooth. All tooth fractures should be evaluated by your family veterinarian, as they can pose tooth pain for your pup and potential infection.

Tooth root and bone infections can occur in broken teeth because the center of each tooth has a canal that contains the blood supply and nerve, also known as the “pulp”. If the tooth is broken in a way that exposes this canal, there is now a highway for the bacteria in the mouth to travel down deep into the tooth root and bone and start an infection. Broken teeth and tooth root infections are very common and need to be resolved either with a tooth extraction or a root canal in order to salvage the health of the bone, as well as treat the pain that the dog is feeling. He may still be eating and feeling fine outwardly since his instincts tell him to do so, but research has proven that dogs do indeed feel the pain of a tooth root abscess just like humans do. To avoid infection, bone loss, tooth loss, and pain, prompt and appropriate treatment is vital.

Identifying and Addressing Teeth Problems in Dogs

Dogs are very good at hiding any oral and dental issues … instinctually they are programmed to just keep eating. Their lips and hair around their mouths also often obscure anything that we might be able to visually identify as abnormal, and their teeth extend deep into their mouths. When a veterinarian performs an oral exam during an appointment for an awake dog, even they are limited as to what can be seen! Some dogs stand very quietly and allow their lips to be lifted and mouths to be opened widely, others do not like it at all and clamp down, open quickly for a split-second look, or do not like us to go near their mouths at all! This is why it is necessary to perform a dental cleaning and anesthetize dogs for a full dental examination; complete with x-rays, gingival probing, scaling, and polishing!

Removing plaque and tartar, identifying any problems that are beyond repair or in need of further treatment are important procedures that need to be performed every year. Annual dental cleanings plus learning how to clean your dog’s teeth at home are the most effective ways to ensure that your dog’s oral health is preserved for the length of his life and to prevent any unnecessary pain or health issues.

What about “anesthesia-free” dental care cleanings offered at groomers and pet stores? As you now know after reading about some of the complicated problems that occur inside of a dog’s mouth, it is clear that the best way to fully evaluate the issues that exist is to have a nice relaxed anesthetized dog so they are not stressed and struggling. Only then can the full mouth and all sides of the teeth truly be examined, all issues with the disease-causing plaque above and below the gumline addressed, and infections detected and treated appropriately. Anything less, and you are just removing some of the superficial yellow stuff but leaving behind the issues that will continue to wreak havoc on those sensitive tooth structures. In fact, non-anesthetic dentistry for pets has been outlawed in Canada as a deceptive business practice–since it is considered a cosmetic procedure only and does not do anything to help the dog’s overall health.

Keep Up the Daily Home Routine and Annual Dental Examinations

And to end with some good news – your dog does not have to be condemned to a life of suffering the consequences of plaque and gum disease! With a daily oral home care routine (tooth brushing and water additives), serving up approved and recommended dental chews to help massage those teeth and gums, and keeping up with annual exams and dental cleanings with your veterinarian, gum disease can be minimized and your dog has a better chance of keeping all of his teeth free from pain! A little upkeep goes a long way!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

The Most Common Causes of Bad Breath In Dogs

Funny woman moving her had away from her dog with bad breath

Doggy breath can range from the endearing smell of “puppy breath,” to the gag-inducing odor of “trench mouth.” There are many causes of halitosis (bad breath) in dogs, and although the most common cause is usually gingivitis and dental disease, there are also a few other important ones to be aware of too. Your veterinarian is the best source to identify the origin of your dog’s bad breath, and the culprit can usually be identified after a physical exam and some blood and urine testing. Some of the causes of your pet’s stinky breath might be surprising, but all can be serious and your veterinarian can further advise on how to proceed.

The Most Common Causes of Bad Breath In Dogs

The first step in addressing your dog’s stinky breath is identifying the root cause. The following health conditions are some of the most common culprits behind bad breath in dogs.

Periodontal Disease

By far, the most common cause of stinky breath in dogs is periodontal disease or disease of the dog’s gums and tissues surrounding the teeth. Can dogs get cavities? Actually, it is rare that dogs develop cavities, but it is very common for them to develop gingivitis. In a dog’s mouth saliva, food particles, and bacteria form a biofilm called plaque that adheres to the teeth above and below the gum line causing inflammation of the tissues. Over time, the inflammation and infection cause damage and destroys the healthy gingiva, bone, and structures keeping your dog’s teeth in place. The infection spreads, bone dissolves, and the teeth will loosen and fall out. This is basically a scientific way to say that the mouth slowly rots away, yielding the foul odor that pet parents can be so familiar with. Not only is this a smelly process, but dental disease in dogs is very painful and can cause damage to other organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver.

Oral or Nasal Tumors or Infections

Less common than periodontal disease but still near the top of the list of causes of halitosis is some type of localized infection, tumor, or mass in the dog’s mouth or nasal cavity. When a veterinarian looks inside an animal’s mouth, they are not only looking at the condition of the teeth and gums, but they are also looking and feeling for any lumps, bumps, bleeding, ulcerations, or abnormal sores.

Dogs can develop a variety of tumors in their mouths; like melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma. When these tumors grow, the unhealthy and abnormal tissue sometimes dies and they often can become infected with bacteria, causing a foul odor.

Sometimes trauma from non-food items stuck in the roof of the mouth (like small pieces of stick!), or from chewing and biting their lips and tongue can result in an oral infection. If your dog has a skin infection involving the lips, or has a “beard” of long hair that is constantly wet or entangled with food particles, a foul odor can result as well!

Eating Something Smelly

As some of us know from firsthand experience, dogs can be quite gross sometimes. Dogs are scavengers with highly sensitive noses, programmed very differently than the human nose to seek out what we might consider unpleasant smells. They love to find random things to eat – outside, in the bushes, in the diaper bin, and in the garbage. Things that dogs put into their mouths include and are not limited to the excrement of their own production and/or other animals, and even the carcasses of dead animals.

If your dog engages in this type of consumption, this can cause (usually a more temporary) halitosis in the period of time following the incident. While eating things that we humans consider unpleasant can be commonplace for dogs, we do discourage it especially since the consumption of some of these items can result in bacterial and parasitic infections, upset stomachs, and even sometimes cause a dangerous intestinal blockage. Consult your family veterinarian for issues with coprophagia (poop eating), or if your dog is eating things routinely that are considered inappropriate (dirt, plants, etc) as this can be an indicator of diet, vitamin, and mineral imbalances.

Health Conditions

Typically, in order for health conditions and internal organ failures to cause changes in the breath smell, they are typically fairly advanced by that time and have already been diagnosed due to other symptoms. Some pet parents report being able to sense a sweet odor from their pet with uncontrolled diabetes due to the excess ketones and glucose in the bloodstream. Advanced kidney failure can be accompanied by an oral odor that resembles urine or the smell of nitrogen, and can be accompanied by ulcers in the mouth, weakness, urination issues, and vomiting. Stomach issues and diet are rarely a cause of bad breath unless persistent vomiting has caused some erosion or ulcers in the esophagus or stomach. Usually, other symptoms of these problems are noted by pet parents before the “bad breath” develops.

Consult Your Family Veterinarian

While doggie breath does not necessarily smell like roses all the time, if you are detecting an abnormal odor emanating from your dog’s oral cavity, this may be a sign of a significant medical problem. As always, it is recommended to learn how to clean your dog’s teeth at home to keep tabs on how that mouth is looking, and help prevent stinky breath from gum disease. If you notice abnormalities while brushing, or bad breath along with changes in your pup’s eating habits, blood in his water bowl or dripping from his mouth, or suspect they are losing weight – it is best that he be evaluated by your family veterinarian. A physical exam is the first step to evaluate your precious pooch for the underlying cause of these changes. Since all of the causes of bad breath benefit from early detection and intervention by your veterinarian, make sure to keep a close eye and nose on your pup!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Dental Disease in Dogs: A Complete Guide

Jack Russel on a meadow, blurry background

A little “doggy breath” can be expected; After all, they eat just about anything off the ground and lick questionable things, too! One of the most common questions of pet parents for veterinarians is “why does my dog’s breath smell so bad?” An estimated 2/3 of dogs over the age of 3 years old have some degree of periodontal disease (disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth). How do you know when bad breath has progressed to a more serious problem, like dental disease? How are teeth and gum problems treated in dogs? And most importantly, can dental problems be prevented?

Advancements in the treatment and prevention of dog dental disease has enabled pet parents and veterinarians to work together to preserve their dog’s chompers for years to come! Understanding how and why gum disease and dental disease happens, and incorporating preventative measures into your dog’s daily routine can help stave off dental disease from causing serious problems in your dog’s mouth.

What Causes Dental Disease in Dogs?

Can dogs get cavities? Unlike humans, it is actually rare for dogs to develop cavities. However, they often develop severe gingivitis and periodontal disease. How does this happen in the first place? Let’s go back to the beginning!

Every day in your dog’s mouth, a combination of saliva, bacteria, and food particles will mix to create an invisible biofilm called plaque that settles on tooth surfaces and below the gumline. Over time, plaque will mineralize into tartar (also called dental calculus) which is the yellowish, hard material that you can actually see as it builds up on your pup’s teeth.

The presence of harmful bacteria inside the plaque and calculus will cause inflammation in the gingiva (gums), which then spreads to the tooth structures. Eventually, if this “bacterial cement” is not regularly removed with dental cleanings, it can even eat away at the jawbone holding the teeth in place. Since this all occurs under the gumline, it is very hard or even impossible to see, and happens without us even knowing! Sometimes all that a pet parent might notice is some stinky breath and a loose tooth; By then, severe and irreversible damage to your dog’s dental health has been done. Just to make matters worse, bacterial infections in the mouth can become so severe that they can impact other internal organs as well, like the heart, kidneys, and liver.

Broken Teeth

Tooth fractures, or broken teeth, are another extremely common cause of oral pain and tooth root abscesses (pockets of infection in the root of the tooth) in dogs. When dogs chew on the bars of their kennel (whether due to boredom or more severe anxiety) or gnaw on hard items like Nylabones, antlers, hooves, ice cubes, and bones, broken teeth can be the result. For these reasons, veterinarians do not recommend offering your dog any of these hard items to chew on.

All tooth fractures should be evaluated by your family veterinarian, as the broken tooth may have exposed the blood vessel and nerve supply to the tooth (called “pulp”). As you can imagine, if a nerve is exposed, your dog will experience quite a bit of pain––-and an exposed blood vessel is like a highway for bacteria to access your dog’s jawbone! Although your dog may still be eating and “feeling fine” outwardly with a broken tooth, keep in mind that his instincts tell him to eat and to hide his pain. Research has proven that dogs do indeed feel the pain of broken teeth and tooth root abscesses just like humans do, and prompt appropriate treatment is vital.

Why Dogs are Predisposed to Developing Dental Disease

Contrary to popular belief, occasionally gnawing on chew toys and feeding hard kibbles to dogs are not quite enough of a defense to impede the buildup of harmful bacteria and plaque that contribute to gingivitis and dental disease. In some ways, dog mouths actually set the stage for gingivitis and disease due to a number of characteristics.

Overcrowding of Teeth

Dogs with smaller mouths often experience overcrowding of teeth. Especially true in small purebred dogs (the toy breeds: Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, toy Poodles, and mini Dachshunds–just to name a few), there are many large teeth in that small mouth!

Retained Baby Teeth

At the age of 4-6 months, dogs will typically lose all of their baby teeth and grow a full set of adult teeth. This is similar to the process that occurs as human children grow up! Occasionally, your dog’s baby teeth decide to just move over a bit instead of falling out. This allows the corresponding adult tooth to erupt and grow in right next to it while the baby tooth is still there. In an already crowded mouth, this creates even more of an issue requiring attention.

Short Tooth Roots and Tiny Bones

Again, small breed dogs are most severely affected by dental disease because they have disproportionately large teeth with short roots in comparison to larger breed dogs. They also have tiny jawbones to begin with!

Malocclusion

Through selective breeding over the years, humans have created cute and unusual-looking features in some dog breeds that we have come to love and recognize. Who doesn’t love the short snout of a Pug, or the underbite of a Bulldog? While these features create the breed appearance we seek, things like the chewing surface of the teeth are altered away from what nature intended. Underbites can result in the teeth hitting each other, or the roof of the mouth, at awkward and damaging locations. Since the same number of teeth are crammed into such a short snout, this also creates a situation where teeth are too close together (allowing food material to become more easily trapped between the teeth), and sometimes even rotated in order to accommodate them all. Needless to say, when teeth are rotated and not in an orderly line, a dog’s natural chewing motion is affected.

Signs Your Dog Has Dental Disease

At home, pet parents can also detect some changes that could indicate the presence of dental disease and any of these observations should prompt a vet visit for further investigation.

Outward physical or behavioral signs:

– Bad breath

– Dropping food out of the mouth

– Bloody or pink-tinged saliva, increased salivation

– Slower eating, or chewing gingerly

– Eating on one side of the mouth

– Hesitation to chew toys or carry objects in the mouth

– Protective of the face or mouth

– Grouchy attitude or change in demeanor

– Weight loss

Visible oral signs:

– Inflamed and red gums (gingivitis), gum bleeding

– Receding gum line and exposure of tooth roots (teeth look “longer”)

– Tartar buildup/Calculus buildup

– Loose or missing teeth

– Nasal discharge, sneezing, or a draining wound/swelling below the eye area

How Can Your Veterinarian Help Your Dog’s Dental Disease?

At every veterinary visit, your vet will look inside your dog’s mouth for signs of dental problems. Why? Every canine mouth has the potential to pose a surprise to your veterinarian. Even though your dog may look perfectly normal on the outside, a quick peek inside of their mouth may reveal a spectrum of issues ranging from mild gingivitis to severe periodontal disease (complete with loose or missing teeth).

Not all pups love us looking inside their mouths, and there are also often issues lurking below the gum line that we cannot see with our naked eyes! These factors make dog dental disease very difficult to assess thoroughly with just a physical exam, and why your veterinarian will recommend a thorough dental cleaning and evaluation under anesthesia when the time is right for your dog. While vets can sometimes visually identify hints of the issues that are brewing in your dog’s mouth, dental x-rays and probing the gingiva around all surfaces of your dog’s teeth are necessary to reveal the full picture of your dog’s dental health, including aspects that can’t be seen by human eyes! These procedures are performed under anesthesia to maximize both your pup’s safety and the quality of dental care provided. Keep reading for more about what happens during a full dental cleaning.

The Veterinary Dental Cleaning Procedure

Once your vet has identified gingivitis, tartar, a potentially diseased or fractured tooth, they will schedule your dog for a dental appointment. Of course, your veterinarian wants to make sure that your dog is as healthy as possible for anesthesia and to choose anesthetic medications that are the safest possible for your dog. For this reason, bloodwork is typically performed to evaluate your dog’s internal organ function and ensure the anesthesia is safe for them. This bloodwork may be done prior to the procedure, or on the same day as the dental cleaning. Some dogs that have concurrent health issues may benefit from additional testing beforehand like an echocardiogram, chest X-rays, or ultrasound to confirm that the dog is stable and that anesthesia will be as safe as possible.

Sedation medications are administered to help your pup feel relaxed, and an intravenous (IV) catheter is placed and used to deliver anesthetic medications and fluids. Once the anesthetic medications are delivered, a breathing tube is placed, which will provide your dog both oxygen and a gas anesthetic throughout his procedure. This tube also protects your dog’s windpipe from any water or bacteria from being breathed into the lungs–so it actually makes the procedure safer for your pup!

Your dog is also connected to equipment that monitors their oxygen levels, heart tracing (ECG), respiration, blood pressure, and temperature– just like in a human hospital! Your dog’s vital signs are closely monitored and recorded throughout the procedure.

Once the dog is under anesthesia, the veterinarian can get to work! All of the surfaces in your dog’s mouth are examined, including the tongue, soft and hard palate, lips, and tissues around the mouth. Dental x-rays are used to evaluate the condition of the tooth roots and jawbones since abscesses and fractures can only be visualized in this manner.

Just like at the human dentist, the teeth are then cleaned using an ultrasonic scaler and polisher. The harmful tartar and plaque lurking deep under the gumline are removed using the scaler, and the polisher is then used to make the surface of your dog’s teeth smooth and shiny.

If dental x-rays have revealed a tooth root abscess, loose teeth from bone loss, or a tooth fracture, your veterinarian may recommend extracting the tooth (or having your dog evaluated for a root canal or more advanced procedure with a dental specialist at a later date). If an extraction is performed, numbing anesthetic is usually injected into the gums prior to starting the procedure. The extraction of teeth often requires an incision into the gums and removal of some of the bone covering the tooth root so that the entire tooth structure can be removed. The gum tissue is usually sutured closed with dissolvable stitches.

Once your dog’s dental evaluation, cleaning, and any oral surgery procedure that your pup needs are complete, they will spend the afternoon recovering on a soft bed in a quiet area monitored by the veterinary staff. Even when your dog is ready to return home and released to you for pick-up, he will likely be a bit groggy and tired through the evening. Your dog may feel a bit queasy from the anesthetic and may only want a little bit of dinner–however, he should be eating well the following day. If extractions were performed, soft food (canned or softened kibbles with water) is usually recommended for several days, as well as preventing your dog from chewing or playing with toys for at least a week until the mouth has healed.

Some veterinarians like to recheck the mouth after a week or two of healing has taken place, just to be sure your dog is recovering normally. Your vet will encourage you to continue with home care upkeep and at the next physical and dental exam, everything will be evaluated all over again!

Dental cleanings are recommended depending on your dog’s needs, which may be as frequent as every 6-12 months to keep everything in good shape.

How To Prevent Dental Disease

As a dog owner, it is recommended to learn how to clean your dog’s teeth at home. Plus, there are several tenets of home doggie dental care and maintenance that pet parents can incorporate into their daily routine that will complement dental cleanings and promote a healthy mouth. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has created a list of products recommended to achieve positive long-term effects and keep your buddy comfortable.

As you can see, home care can do wonders to keep your dog’s mouth healthy, but unfortunately, it is not quite enough to keep the dentist away completely. We recommend annual veterinary wellness visits that include an oral assessment and recommendations for scheduling a dental cleaning under anesthesia to thoroughly examine all aspects of the mouth. The greatest benefit of your home care efforts is achieved after all of the diseased teeth are treated appropriately and a full mouth cleaning restores the surfaces of the teeth and gums for you to maintain.

What about “anesthesia-free” dental cleanings offered at groomers and pet stores? As you now know after reading about some of the complicated problems that occur inside of a dog’s mouth, it is clear that the best way to fully evaluate the issues that exist is to have a nice relaxed anesthetized dog so they are not stressed and struggling. Only then can the full mouth and all sides of the teeth truly be examined, all issues with the disease-causing plaque above and below the gumline addressed, and infections detected and treated appropriately. Anything less, and you are just removing some of the superficial yellow stuff but leaving behind the issues that will continue to wreak havoc on those sensitive tooth structures. In fact, non-anesthetic dentistry for pets has been outlawed in Canada as a deceptive business practice, since it is considered a cosmetic procedure only and does not do anything to help the dog’s overall health.

Promoting Dental Health Through Home and Veterinary Care

Dogs, especially small breeds, are living longer than ever and we have more tools at our fingertips to be sure that their lives are healthy and comfortable. Pet parents and veterinarians working together to promote healthy teeth and gums will ensure that dental issues are not a pain in the mouth for your dog!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign in to your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

How To Clean Your Dog’s Teeth

Cute, white fluffy dog with a toothbrush in the mouth

Why does my dog’s breath smell so bad? Dogs need their teeth brushed? Yes, indeed! Veterinarians recommend brushing a dog’s teeth every day in order to prevent the most common disease diagnosed amongst dogs in the United States: dental disease. Within the past 20 years, awareness of and advancements in dental treatment for animals have brought the importance of dental care and canine oral hygiene to the forefront of long-term health maintenance. In fact, teamwork between pet parents and veterinarians to preserve dental health and prevent dental disease in dogs is a large reason why our pet dogs are living longer than they were just twenty years ago!

Since animals will instinctually find a way to keep themselves fed, and are also programmed to hide their pain, it can be easy to overlook what problems might be brewing inside of their mouths. Luckily, with you providing home dental care for your precious pup, and your veterinarian performing annual exams and dental cleanings, dental disease and gum disease no longer get a free pass to cause havoc on your dog’s health.

Why Do Dogs Need Their Teeth Brushed?

Contrary to popular belief, occasionally gnawing on chew toys and feeding hard kibbles to dogs are not quite enough of a defense to impede the buildup of harmful bacteria and plaque that contributes to gingivitis and dental disease. If you’re curious if dogs get cavities, the answer is, not commonly. But, dog mouths can set the stage for gingivitis and disease due to these characteristics:

– Overcrowding of large teeth in a small mouth – Especially in small dogs (like these toy breeds: Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, toy Poodles, and mini Dachshunds–just to name a few!), there are many large teeth in that small mouth! Some teeth are cramped and rotated, and spacing between the teeth is decreased, making it a hospitable place for the plaque biofilm to nestle onto the tooth surface and below the gumline and set up inflammation.

– Retained baby teeth – At the age of 4-6 months, dogs will typically lose all of their baby teeth and grow a full set of adult teeth. This is similar to the process that occurs as human children grow up! Occasionally, your dog’s baby teeth decide to just move over a bit instead of falling out. This allows the corresponding adult tooth to erupt and grow in right next to it while the baby tooth is still there. In an already crowded mouth, this creates even more of an issue requiring attention.

– Short tooth roots and tiny bones – Again, small breed dogs are most severely affected by dental disease because they have disproportionately large teeth with short roots in comparison to larger breed dogs. They also have tiny jawbones to begin with!

Advanced periodontal disease can overcome and eat away the tooth structures causing teeth to loosen or even fall out! It is also common for the disease to weaken the jaw and predispose these little guys to jaw fractures during dental procedures, and even during everyday activities like eating and play.

– Malocclusion – Through selective breeding over the years, humans have created cute and unusual-looking features in some dog breeds that we have come to love and recognize. Who doesn’t love the short snout of a Pug, or the underbite of a Bulldog? While these features create the breed appearance we seek, things like the chewing surface of the teeth are altered away from what nature intended. Underbites can result in the teeth hitting each other, or the roof of the mouth, at awkward and damaging locations. Since the same number of teeth are crammed into such a short snout, this also creates a situation where teeth are too close together (allowing food material to become more easily trapped between the teeth), and sometimes even rotated in order to accommodate them all. Needless to say, when teeth are rotated and not in an orderly line, a dog’s natural chewing motion is affected.

Knowing that dogs are predisposed to having oral issues, preventive care is key! Our veterinarians recommend a combination of daily home care, annual veterinary examinations, and dental cleanings while under anesthesia to preserve the health of your dog’s mouth for years to come.

Dental Care at Home

There are several tenets of home doggie dental care and maintenance that pet parents can incorporate into their daily routine that will prolong the health of the teeth and gums. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has created a list of products recommended to achieve positive long-term effects and keep your buddy comfortable.

Dental Diets

Where over-the-counter hard kibbles have minimal effect on the breakdown of tartar from chewing, some prescription dental diets (like Hill’s T/D, and Purina Pro Plan DH) have been scientifically proven to help scrub the tooth surface and gumline through chewing action, inhibiting plaque and tartar from building as quickly.

Dental Chews, Gels, and Water Additives

Not all dental chew items are created equal! Veterinarians often see broken teeth from chewing antlers, hooves, bones, and some toys that are too hard for a dog’s teeth. Veterinarians advise not to give your dog anything to chew that is so hard that it cannot be indented with your fingernail or hurts your knee if you knock on it. Finding an appropriate product (refer to the VOHC list for dogs) that your dog likes to chew daily will help manually remove plaque and tartar through chewing action while giving your pup a fun activity and treat. The VOHC list also includes water additives and dental gel products that also will work to prevent plaque buildup.

AskVet Tip: Be sure to observe your dog with any new chew treats to ensure that they do not swallow them whole! That defeats the purpose and can also cause dangerous intestinal blockages.

Daily Tooth Brushing

It is easiest for pup and parent to train dogs to love having their teeth brushed when they are young puppies. However, if you have an older pup, don’t fret–it will just take a little more time and patience! Creating a normal routine including lots of treats and praise can make tooth brushing an easy and effective way to practice dental health at home:

Select a pet toothbrush or finger brush to start out and see what you both find to be more comfortable. Next, choose a good quality pet enzymatic toothpaste that is flavored by something your dog finds delicious, like chicken, beef, or peanut butter. Although chicken-flavored dog toothpaste might sound strange, pet toothpaste is designed to break down plaque and is safe when it is swallowed. It is important to not use human toothpaste on pets, as they can cause stomach upset.
Find a nice comfortable place where your dog is either lying down, sitting, or in your lap; nice and relaxed is key! Go very slowly when just starting out, and initially just start to pet with your hand around your dog’s mouth to get them used to your fingers moving their lips. If your dog demonstrates any aggression, do not continue and consult your vet for further guidance. If your dog is a bit confused or acts suspicious, showering your pup with treats to create a positive experience can quickly dispel any discomfort. Once your dog accepts your hands near their lips and mouth, you can start to introduce the toothpaste and brush tool. To start, letting them lick some toothpaste off the bush is also a great way to get them to associate these items as positive things.

AskVet Tip: If your dog does not like the feel of the brushing tools in their mouth, a chicken broth-soaked finger or a broth-soaked-gauze-wrapped finger is a good way to start too! Once they are more accepting of the feel, try the finger brush again, or just stick with gauze!

Once you are both ready and comfortable, begin to lift the lips and massage the toothpaste with the brush tool onto the outsides of the teeth in a circular or back and forth motion. Only the outsides of the teeth need to be brushed but do be sure to go far back into the mouth to get those large molars where much of the plaque will be lurking. When just starting out, brushing sessions will likely be short, but over time can lengthen as the dog becomes accustomed to the feel. Spending a few minutes massaging all outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth will do wonders to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.

AskVet Tip: Be sure that toothbrushing is a positive experience full of praise and treats! The more you practice with your pet at home, the more comfortable they will also be for oral exams by the veterinarian too!

Annual Veterinary Exams and Dental Cleaning

Home care can do wonders to keep your dog’s mouth healthy, but unfortunately, it is not quite enough to keep the dentist away completely. We recommend annual veterinary wellness visits that include an oral assessment and recommendations for scheduling a dog teeth cleaning under anesthesia when your veterinarian advises you it is necessary for your pup. The greatest benefit of your home care efforts is achieved after all of the diseased teeth are treated appropriately and a full professional cleaning restores the surfaces of the teeth and gums for you to maintain.

What about “anesthesia-free” dental cleanings offered at groomers and pet stores? As you now know after reading about some of the complicated problems that occur inside of a dog’s mouth, it is clear that the best way to clean a dog’s teeth is to have a nice relaxed anesthetized dog so they are not stressed and struggling. Only then can the full mouth and all sides of the pet’s teeth truly be examined, all issues with the disease-causing plaque above and below the gumline be addressed, and infections detected and treated appropriately. Anything less, and you are just removing some of the superficial yellow stuff but leaving behind the issues that will continue to wreak havoc on those sensitive tooth structures. In fact, non-anesthetic dentistry for pets has been outlawed in Canada as a deceptive business practice–since it is considered a cosmetic procedure only and does not do anything to help the dog’s overall health.

Promoting Dental Health Through Home and Veterinary Care

Dogs, especially small breeds, are living longer than ever and we have more tools at our fingertips to be sure that their lives are healthy and comfortable. Pet parents and veterinarians working together to promote healthy teeth and gums will ensure that dental issues are not a pain in the mouth for your dog!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

Signs of Stress in Cats

cute ginger kitten peeking out of a wicker pod

We all want our kitties to live their best life! Even though we try our best to provide them with everything they need to be happy, secure, healthy, and safe, sometimes our cats can still be stressed. But the question still remains: how can you tell if your kitty is experiencing stress or cat anxiety symptoms?

Stress and Behavior Changes

Since our cats can’t actually talk to us (or to each other!), they express their mental state through their behavior. You probably know that a cat with his ears flattened and pupils dilated is stressed or scared—but what are some more subtle changes we may see?

The first rule is: know your cat! Some cats have clown-type personalities and love getting into everything or spying on you from all around the house. Some cats are shy by nature, and prefer to slink around the house stealthily or to be curled up at the other end of the couch instead of on your lap. Finally, some cats are true cuddle-bugs who always manage to snuggle up next to or on top of you, no matter where you are or what you are doing at the time!

Hiding and Antisocial Behavior

Any time your feline friend seems to have a dramatic change from one personality type to another, it is possible that feline stress is the cause—especially if the change lasts longer than one or two days. If your cat always wants to be the center of attention, and instead is hiding in the closet all day and refuses to come out—then he is likely stressed, scared, or physically ill. It’s worth a call to your veterinarian to determine which is more likely, based on what else is happening around the house.

Displacement Behavior

Stressed-out cats who have little control over their environment will often show us “displacement behaviors.” Kitties who engage in displacement behaviors are taking out their frustration in a physical way—just like some humans do! Unfortunately, these behaviors are often destructive to household items, human or animal housemates, or to kitty’s own physical health.

Examples of displacement behavior as a stress response can include chewing or scratching furniture and clothes, excessive vocalization and “crying,” and even obsessive licking/grooming behavior. It should be noted that for kitties licking themselves bald/excessive grooming is most often a sign of an itchy skin problem—not an anxiety issue—so, as a cat owner, please check with your veterinarian if this is the only symptom of chronic stress that you are seeing. They may also start chasing or attacking other animals in the household. Understanding how to calm down a cat with this type of behavior will likely involve pinpointing their source of stress.

Going Potty Outside the Litter Box

Wondering, “Why is my cat pooping outside of the litter box?” One of the most common signs of cat stress is a change in their bathroom habits. If your cat is marking their territory by urinating around the house or on the walls instead of their litter tray, then it may be due to stress and feeling insecure. Similarly, anxious cats will often defecate (poop) outside of their litter box as well—and may even experience diarrhea!

Make Sure Your Kitty Is Healthy and Happy

If you’ve noticed your cat exhibiting any of these symptoms, chatting with one of our AskVet veterinarians can help to determine if a mental health issue is to blame, or if a physical exam and lab testing for physical ailments might be needed.

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need, want to ask why does my cat randomly bite me, or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside The Litter Box?

Blue cat litter box with scoop on wooden floor

If your favorite feline seems to be abandoning his litterbox in favor of greener pastures (or the living room rug!), it’s important to realize that there is almost always a reason why your cat is pooping outside the litter box.

Veterinarians know that some medical issues can cause kitties to poop outside of their litter box, but that cat behavior and hygiene issues are far more common. If your cat is losing weight, vomiting, having diarrhea, or straining to pass a bowel movement, it’s best to start with a vet visit to look for any medical issues that may be altering your cat’s habits.

If your cat isn’t showing any of these symptoms, there’s good news: as a cat owner, you can do a lot of troubleshooting at home to determine if your cat just needs a bathroom makeover!

Keep reading to find out what you can do at home to keep your cat from thinking outside of the box.

Litter Box Hygiene

Would you rather use the bathroom in a five-star hotel, or use a Port-a-Potty? That may be the type of choice you are offering your beloved kitty—at least in his eyes!

Cats are VERY particular about cleanliness, as you know. They spend hours a day grooming themselves to keep their bodies clean, and expect the same standards in their bathroom facilities. Walking into a litter box with urine clumps and excrement can be very off-putting to your kitty. If this happens, it’s no wonder that they may choose to relieve themselves under more “pristine” conditions—even if that is next to the box, or in your living room.

Keep in mind that litter box fresheners and scented litter may be offensive smells to your cat, so it’s best to implement odor control outside of the box and use unscented litter in it. What smells good to human noses from a distance can be “ewww”inducing to cats when they are up close and personal with the scent, and can actually serve to deter them from stepping foot inside!

Just like with people, proper hygiene in the bathroom area is essential. Veterinarians hear from cat owners who scoop the litter boxes twice a week—or even less frequently! The buildup of odor, urine, and feces is a HUGE deterrent to most cats when it comes to using their dedicated bathroom. In fact, it’s ideal to scoop the cat poop from the litter tray twice a day, and make sure that your kitties always have access to a clean box by having one more litterbox than there are cats in the household. Yes, for a two-kitty family, that means THREE litter boxes!

If these logistics are a struggle for your multiple cats and/or home situation, consider investing in an automatic self-cleaning litter box for your furry friend so that they always have a clean option with fresh litter available.

Location, Location, Location!

Is your dining room right next to your toilet? No? Well, your cat wouldn’t be cool with that, either! Just like us, cats like to eat in a different area than they use the bathroom. Make sure that your cat’s litter boxes are in locations far away from their food and water bowls to encourage regular use. Sometimes this simple adjustment is all that’s needed to keep your kitty in the box!

Cats also like peace and quiet during their private time in the bathroom, so be sure to place your litter boxes in areas away from noisy home appliances. While the laundry room might seem like the most convenient place for your cats to do their business, noisy rattling washing machines and dryers might make them too agitated to use the box as they should. Peace, quiet, and privacy are the guidelines for the perfect litter box location.

Shape and Size

If your cat is house soiling, it may be because they don’t have enough room in the box to properly position themselves and to bury their waste. Natural feline instincts dictate an average of twenty seconds of scooping litter over their urine or feces to hide their scent. If the box is too small, they can’t fulfill this natural part of the elimination process. Any time your cat’s natural instincts are thwarted, it is a recipe for stress—and for looking at other places to do their business.

As a general rule of thumb, a litter box’s length should be 1.5x the length of the cat’s body (not including their tail). Take your eagle eye to your cat’s box and see if it seems large enough for your kitty. It can be difficult to find a large enough litter box, especially for larger cats, so feel free to repurpose a plastic storage bin into a spacious kitty bathroom.

Some cats prefer to have covered litter boxes, but most cats prefer a more “open air” design. If your current boxes are covered, an easy solution might be to simply remove the cover from the boxes and see if your cat is using them more regularly.

If you have a senior cat and the sides of your litter boxes are high, your kitty may be experiencing some difficulty getting in and out of the box to do their business. Arthritis is underdiagnosed in cats and is exceedingly common in older cats. If your cat seems to prefer more shallow-entry boxes, make sure to take him to your veterinarian to see if he needs some help with arthritis pain.

The Cafeteria Approach to Cat Litter…and Beyond!

Finally, some cats just don’t like the texture of certain types of cat litter. In general, cats like finer, granulated materials beneath their cute little paws while they posture to poop and pee. Some cat litter particles are sharp and uncomfortable on those delicate paw pads.

What’s a loving cat parent to do? The “cafeteria approach” can help you select your cat’s favorite litter! Set up a row of three (or more) temporary litter boxes with different litter next to each other in an ideal location. Use a different texture of litter for each box—examples include clumping litter, pine pellets, crystal litter, and waxy pellets. Next, see which box proves to be the most popular place for your kitty to use the bathroom. You might be surprised that your cat’s preference is different from what you have been using!

You can also use the “cafeteria approach” to test out covered versus uncovered litter boxes, or different shapes/sizes and shallow-entry boxes.

The Bottom Line

If your cat has started pooping outside of the box, it’s time to re-evaluate their bathroom environment and potential litter box problem. If your cat is losing weight, vomiting, has a change in their appetite, is having diarrhea, or straining to pass bowel movements, then a vet visit should be your first stop! If your kitty is otherwise acting like his normal self and his poops are normal in size and texture, use the tips above to see if you can break the habit of “thinking outside the box.” If your kitty is demonstrating other behavioral issues, we can also help answer questions about how to calm down a cat, signs of stress in cats, as well as “why does my cat randomly bite me.”

As always, our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing – our Certified Pet Lifestyle Experts can create a custom plan, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts or CPLE will attend to your needs, no appointment required! Sign up today!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

How To Calm Down A Cat 101: A Cat Owner’s Guide

Man in pink shirt photographed from the back while grey cat is huging him around the neck like a child would

If you are concerned that your favorite feline is experiencing stress or anxiety, what should you do? We are here to help! As we’ve discussed, kitty stress can lead to medical problems, as well as unwanted behavior that is destructive to your home and to your relationship. If your cat is exhibiting strange behavior, or you’re asking why does my cat randomly bite me, then keep reading! We’ll discuss how to pinpoint signs of stress in cats and how to soothe your feline friend to help them live their best life!

One of the most common causes of stress for kitties is boredom – just like we humans experience. It’s also important to understand that when a cat’s natural instincts are not able to be exercised, they can become anxious, stressed, and develop health problems. Natural cat instincts include scratching, hunting, sleeping, and litter box habits. Here’s a big secret: You may be able to resolve all of your cat’s stress just by providing some simple resources to help turn your home into a kitty paradise! These strategies encourage mentally stimulating activities which help with boredom and also allow your cat to express their natural urges in a healthy, fulfilling way.

Scratching Instincts

Most of us know the horror of walking in to find a favorite household item or piece of furniture partially shredded by our favorite feline. Why do they do this?! You probably know that cats scratch objects in order to leave their scent behind. Tiny scent glands in their paws are activated by scratching, and so when your “house panther” scratches an object, they are marking it as belonging to them and as part of their territory. Also, cat nails require regular scratching in order to shed the outer layers —similar to an onion–in order to keep them healthy. This means it’s essential for cats to have proper scratching areas, both for both their mental and physical health.

Some cats like to scratch on horizontal surfaces and some like vertical surfaces. You can purchase inexpensive versions of each type of scratcher and see which your cat utilizes more often—then invest in a longer-lasting version. (We like scratchers made out of sisal material, since it is effective, attractive to your cat, and lasts a long time!)

Place the new scratcher near your kitty’s favorite scratching spot, sprinkle it with catnip to make it attractive, and gradually move it away from the “unwanted” scratching object as your cat uses the scratcher, until the new scratcher is in its desired location. Depending on the size of your living space, you may want to incorporate multiple scratchers in your household. Fortunately, there are many attractive options on the market that can blend in with your home décor, or become a funny conversation piece!

Hunting

It’s hard to believe, but your cuddly kitty is actually a powerhouse predator inside. Her brain drives her to stalk, pounce, and catch her food prior to eating—and then sleep it off.

Cats who aren’t able to fulfill this sequence of events may become irritable or even aggressive towards humans and other animals in the house. To help your kitty express her true self, make sure to incorporate lots of playtime into her routine—and even around mealtime! Take advantage of some of the “feline foraging” toys that cats have to interact with in order to obtain their food, or one of the many food puzzles to choose from. Incorporating playtime before mealtime can also help satisfy your cat’s predatory urges.

Even if you can’t coordinate play sessions with mealtime, it’s important to carve out even just fifteen minutes a day to have a good-quality play session with your cat. Not only will it improve your bond, but it will help get those happy kitty endorphins flowing! Offer your cat multiple different types of cat toys and see which ones they like best. For some cats, this may mean toys that involve chasing (or even fetching). Other cats prefer “kickers,” or toys that they interact with while laying on their back and grabbing with their front paws while kicking with their back paws. (This adorable cat behavior is actually how cats “in the wild” kill some of their prey–but you can feel free to ignore that fact!) Still, other cats prefer toys they can play with in a solitary spot—like a ball that rolls around inside of a container. Find your cat’s preference and enjoy exploring different options together!

Sleeping

We all know how important a good night’s sleep is for our own mental health—and the same is true for our cats. Did you know that a healthy cat can sleep up to twenty hours a day? (And we are all jealous!)

It’s important for your kitty to have secure and safe spots in your home for napping. For some cats, this means perches up high (so they can survey their territory), and for others, this means a cozy “cat cave” in a quiet area of the house. Make sure to provide your cat with options for them to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy household to get some much-needed rest.

Investing in a cat tree with platforms and cubbies, and strategically placing it near a window for some much-needed outside entertainment, can go a long way towards having a well-rested and content feline companion. These pieces of cat furniture also serve as an escape route for your cat, in case they are overwhelmed by something scary—like a vacuum cleaner, or a rambunctious child.

Litter Box Habits

You probably know that cats tend to be pretty picky about their bathrooms. Cats can become stressed if their litter box conditions are less than ideal. Make sure to have an appropriate number of boxes in your household—the number of litter boxes should be one more than the number of cats using them. Also, make sure the boxes are large enough to allow your cat to bury their scent, contain your cat’s preferred litter material, and are placed in locations far away from their food and water bowls. Since cats prefer to use the bathroom in a clean place, make sure to scoop your boxes twice a day.

Pheromones and Supplements

Although we try our best to provide our cats with feline paradise, sometimes they need a little extra help to find their mental happy place. Cats are creatures of habit, and when their routine is disrupted by changes that are normal to us humans—such as having overnight guests, renovating your home, adding a new pet to the household, getting ready for a move, or even rearranging the furniture—we can help minimize their anxiety.

Ask your veterinarian about certain calming supplements for cats, and whether they might be right for your kitty. While there are many over-the-counter chews and supplements for cats, the ones stocked by your veterinarian are proven to be the safest and most effective in promoting feel-good brain chemicals and relaxation. There is even a prescription food available that contains these soothing natural calming agents—and for some cats, this is a great solution to promote a calming effect and kitty bliss! By choosing scientifically studied nutraceuticals through your veterinarian, there is a higher likelihood of success in calming your cat.

When using supplements, keep in mind that it usually takes about four to six weeks of daily use, before your cat’s stress will be lowered and they will be overall happier and more calm. If you are planning on any major changes to your household (like those described above), it helps to start these supplements in advance, so by the time the stressful situation is happening, your kitty is already feeling happy and content.

A product called Feliway is available over-the-counter and can also be effective at making your cat’s stress disappear. Feliway is a cat pheromone, or scent used in communication, that imparts a message to your cats that “happy cats have been here, and everything is safe and wonderful!” Feliway is available in sprays that you can use in certain areas of your home, as wipes that can be used to instill loving messages inside of a cat carrier (or even your hands, if you’re dealing with a skittish cat), and as plug-in diffusers. People can’t smell Feliway, and we can see calming effects begin within minutes or even hours. It is safe, and can be used in combination with all of the other strategies we’ve discussed!

In some cases, cats have true mental health problems and are stressed because they are physiologically deficient in certain feel-good brain chemicals. In these cases, your veterinarian can help with behavior modification by prescribing antidepressant medications to your cat.

What to Do in the Moment?

If you’re faced with a cat who is suddenly visibly stressed and anxious, you may see their tail puff out like a hairbrush, flattened ears, dilated pupils, hissing, and swatting behavior. If this happens, being calm around your anxious cat is the key! Although it seems to be against our own natural instincts, try your best not to raise your voice, yell, or scream. A low-pitched voice and calm, slow speaking can go a long way towards settling down your cat.

Defuse the situation like a pro cat owner by walking slowly and calmly out of the room. If you have a cat toy nearby, slowly pick it up and try to distract the aggressive cat by playing with it, or by tossing a toy away from you so that you can safely leave the room. After your cat has calmed down, take a deep breath, and then try to figure out what may have caused your cat to suddenly become so upset.

The Bottom Line

The most common causes of feline stress and anxiety are elements within their own environment. Most commonly, cat anxiety is due to being unable to fulfill their natural kitty instincts, boredom, or because changes are occurring within the household. The good news is that most of this is within your control!

By using the tools we’ve outlined, you have the power to maximize your kitty’s full potential for a healthy and stress-free cat life with you.

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s learning why your kitty might be biting you, or understanding why a cat is pooping outside the litter box, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

How Much Should I Feed My Dog

For most dogs, food is life…and some may even believe that life is food! Food is a wonderful path straight to your dog’s heart. Perhaps more importantly though, nutrition has long been established to be the cornerstone of health and longevity for dogs, starting from birth. The nutrients that dogs consume daily have a profound effect on their growth, internal body functions, weight, mobility, skin, and coat. Through proper diet and exercise, keeping your dog in the ideal body condition can help afford them the long, comfortable and healthy life that they deserve. Veterinarians commonly field the question “How much should I feed my dog?” Continue reading to discover tips on keeping your adult dog healthy and happy through their diet.

Selecting Food For Your Dog

Before diving into how much to feed a dog, let’s first talk about how to choose the best food for your pup. Walking down the pet food store aisles can be overwhelming, as shelves are stacked with brightly colored bags and delicious-sounding descriptions. What brand of dog food is best for your dog? What does it all mean? With so many options, how do you choose?

Since pet food labels can be difficult to read and decipher as a pet parent, the best way to certify that the diet you are considering for your dog has been proven as nutritious is to identify the AAFCO statement on the bag. These statements will indicate that the diet is formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient feeding guidelines for dogs, OR that feeding trials performed following AAFCO guidelines have proven (even better!) that the diet provides good nutrition. Also, many brands of dog food will use words like “organic”, “natural” and “non-GMO” and these are largely a marketing appeal to pet owners and do not have any proven benefits. Human diet trends tend to spill into the animal food realm too, so some buzzwords like “grain-free” and “high protein” might grab your attention but can have little, or even detrimental, effects. Check for that AAFCO statement and your AskVet veterinarians are always ready to assist with selecting a high-quality diet based on your pet’s needs too.

What are AAFCO Nutrient Profiles?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) implements regulations and standardizes the recommended nutrient profiles for dog and cat foods. The National Research Council of the US National Academy of Sciences is the leading provider of nutrient recommendations for dogs and cats, and their publications formulate these AAFCO nutrient profiles. Board-certified Veterinary nutritionists are also constantly studying the effect of diets on animal health. Lots of smart people have studied this for decades and animals are now living longer than ever! Innovations in diet and feeding are, in large part, to thank for that!

An Important Note About “Grain-Free” Diets

One diet type that veterinarians are cautioning against at this time is “grain-free.” Unfortunately, some grain-free diets have been associated with a heart condition called Diet-Related Dilated Cardiomyopathy. While we don’t know how this type of heart disease happens, we do know that health problems related to feeding grains to our dogs are extremely rare. Until further research is completed, veterinarians generally don’t believe the possible rare health benefit of feeding a grain-free diet is worth the risk of a deadly heart disease. A balanced diet that includes grains is healthy and appropriate–without the risk of diet-associated heart disease.

Diets for Senior Dogs (ages 7+)

Just like puppies need special nutrients for growth, as dogs advance through their years, dietary and metabolic needs change and their bodies start to show the effects of aging. Although always a youngster in your eyes, your large breed dog will be considered a senior at the age of 7 years old, and small breed dogs can be considered seniors around the age of 8-10 years old! At this time in their lives, your dog’s metabolism changes and they may start developing health conditions that require different dietary needs. Decreased caloric content, additional omega-3 fatty acids as well as joint-friendly glucosamine and chondroitin are all beneficial changes found in many foods formulated for senior dogs. If your pup is approaching a birthday, ask your veterinarian if they recommend making the transition to a food labeled for older dogs.

Home Cooked Diets

Some pet parents are enthusiastic cooks and desire to prepare their dog’s meals at home instead of buying commercially available products in the store. While the devotion to their dog is very admirable, making homemade dog food for a pet daily is actually more difficult than imagined! As we mentioned previously, decades of research on animal health have led us to the nutrient profiles that commercial companies use today. Re-creating these into practical meals at home requires a variety of meats, vegetables, carbohydrate sources, vitamins, and additives, which can be quite expensive and time-consuming. Unfortunately, leaving out key nutrients (or overdosing on some of them) can result in serious illness to your dog. Our veterinarians can discuss your plans and might recommend consulting a veterinary nutritionist certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutritionists to formulate a diet appropriate and complete for your dog if you are considering this option.

Raw Diets

In general, veterinarians do not recommend feeding a raw diet to dogs due to the public health risks to humans and animals commonly associated with the handling and consumption of raw meat. Under few circumstances are raw dog food diets recommended or do they show benefits. Raw diets should only be used at the direction of a veterinarian to address a specific medical issue and also strict precautions during preparation and clean-up should be maintained.

Figuring Out How Much To Feed

Just like the foods we eat, dog foods all have a different calorie count per cup of food. This means that there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for the number of cups (or cans) of food your dog needs per day. So, how do you know how much to feed daily?

When selecting a dog food type and portion size it is important to know the answer to this question: is my dog overweight? Fortunately, veterinarians are well prepared to help you assess this, as obesity is quite common in dogs. We have a very fancy formula for computing the Daily Energy Requirements of each animal based on their body weight, age, breed, and current body condition … and often we will put that formula to use when we come across a dog that needs a bit of a weight adjustment and weight loss program crafted. If you find yourself in need of recommendations for a diet for dogs that are overweight, your veterinarian is the best resource to guide you through the weight-loss process.

Thankfully pet parents with healthy dogs do not need to get that detailed with calculations and counting calories if their dog is maintaining an ideal weight already. Simply using the food package as a guideline is actually a great start! Each package of food should have a chart on the back (or online) listing how much to feed your dog based on their current weight. Start out by using a measuring cup and filling it to the recommended volume of food, and then serving it up! From there, make adjustments based on volume eaten (is food left in the bowl after every meal?) and satiety level (is your dog suddenly begging for food ALL the time?). Of course, if there are any changes to your pup’s energy level, stool consistency, or any weight gain or loss over time, a different diet may be more ideal. If things don’t seem to be quite right, reach out to one of our veterinarians for advice. Once you find a diet and volume that works for your dog, stay there! Dogs do best with a constant and unchanging diet…the more variety, the increased possibility of some uncomfortable and undesirable digestive issues arising!

*ANY time you change food brands or flavors, make sure to transition dogs slowly to their new food. See below for how to safely accomplish this transition.*

When evaluating portion size, it is also important to monitor any extra food your dog receives in the form of treats or table scraps as it can all add up to extra calories, and pounds too! Any weight gain over time usually calls for an adjustment of caloric intake, or perhaps an increase in activity and exercise. Sometimes weight gain in dogs, or weight loss too, can indicate health problems, like diabetes, thyroid disease, or Cushing’s disease, so it is important to have any unintentional weight gain or loss evaluated by your family veterinarian.

To make sure your dog is maintaining a healthy weight and not becoming too thin or too chubby, you can evaluate their Body Condition Score at home.

Transitioning From One Diet To Another

Changing from puppy to adult food, adult to senior food, beef recipe to salmon, swapping Science Diet for Royal Canin…there are times when pet parents will be switching their dog from one food to another. A word of caution when a change is on the horizon though––any time a diet is switched from one brand to the next, a slow transition over a minimum of 1-2 weeks is recommended, to avoid stomach and intestinal upset due to new foods. Although some dogs seem to be “garbage disposals,” most dogs will experience some degree of vomiting or diarrhea if their diet changes too quickly. They are just not adapted to varying diets like humans are; once you find a high-quality food they love, stick with it!

How Often to Feed Your Dog

And as far as the frequency of meals? There are several factors! Do you have a large herd of dogs competing for food? Is your dog “food motivated”? Do you have just one dog who eats just enough to keep himself functioning?

Twice daily feeding is ideal for most dogs, although some dogs prefer to take their meals once a day. Dogs that have pressure and competition from other dogs around them do tend to eat all of their food promptly when given. Some eat TOO quickly and will benefit from slow feeders and food puzzles to prevent them from inhaling their food (and promptly vomiting). If you have multiple dogs who are on different diets, be sure to monitor that everyone eats their designated food … sometimes they will make trade between themselves and swap out for their neighbor’s bowl instead!

Occasionally, healthy adult dogs will only prefer once-a-day feeding, or even skip a meal! As long as they are energetic, acting normally, drinking water, with normal potty habits, missing a meal is ok! Missing multiple meals, or seeing signs like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or decreased energy, can mean something is wrong, and that would be a good time to check with your veterinarian to see what the problem might be and if follow up care is needed.

Some singleton dogs that are not “food motivated” might want to free-feed through the day. Leaving a measured bowl of kibbles out for them to browse at their leisure is a fine alternative if it works for your family. Just be sure that you do accurately measure dog food portions daily, as free-feeding and a bottomless bowl can lead to obesity due to the constant availability of food.

Are Treats OK?

As we all know, dogs love treats–and we love treating them! How do you know what treats are healthy? It’s best to stick with products that are made in the USA, as there are more quality-control standards involved in the manufacturing process. Try to keep your pup’s treats to 10% or less of their daily calorie intake, or they might start to decline their regular dog food due to a tummy already full of treats. Too many treats can also cause obesity and associated health issues.

Expert Tip: breaking treats up into tiny pieces makes them last longer, seem like they are getting more, and all the while actually adding up to fewer calories!

Another thing dogs love? Chewing! Board-certified veterinary doggie dentists have created a list of recommended dental chew treats that combine your dog’s love of chewing with an easy way to maintain healthy teeth and gums at home. Any time you offer your dog a new chew treat be sure to monitor that they are indeed chewing it and not swallowing it whole (potentially causing an intestinal obstruction), especially that first time! Once you find chew treats that work for your dog, keep a stash handy for rewards and distractions.

Whenever you introduce a new treat, along with making sure they do not gulp it down in one piece, also watch for any signs of an upset stomach in case the treat doesn’t agree with them. If they have any diarrhea, vomiting, or seem uninterested in their food in the following days, it may be that the new treat is too rich for them. Reach out to AskVet or your family veterinarian for advice and guidance.

Nutritional Success!

Next time you and your dog take a field trip to the pet store to replenish the food and snack bins, hopefully you’ll stride a bit more confidently down the food aisles armed with some new tips for deciphering a healthy and complete diet for your dog and how to feed it! AskVet and your family veterinarian are always wonderful resources for extra advice on the needs of your dog too. Happy feeding!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign in to your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

How Often Should You Feed a Cat?

Tabby cat sitting in front of an empty food dish and looking up to the camera

If you’re like most cat owners, you either fill your cat’s bowl when it’s empty and let your kitty munch all day, or fill it up twice a day. Easy, right? What could be so hard about feeding a cat?!

Although some cats do fine and maintain their health pretty well with these feeding practices, as veterinarians we know that there is a better way to feed your cat! Based on your cat’s natural instincts and their biology, feeding small amounts throughout the day (and even nighttime) can help your cat be happier and healthier in mind and body. In fact, with some common kitty health problems, all we need to do is change how you feed your cat and your feeding frequency.

Natural Kitty Hunting Instincts

First, let’s talk about your cat’s natural instincts in this feeding guide—specifically, their drive to hunt, catch, kill and eat their prey. It’s sometimes hard to see our fluffy, cute, head-butting house cats as the hunters they are. However, cats evolved to be highly efficient predators —just like their “big cat” relatives. You can see these instincts in your beloved kitty every time you play with them and watch them stalk, pounce, roll, kick, and bite their favorite toys.

If your cat didn’t have you to provide them with their nutrition needs, they would consume a dozen (or more!) small pieces of prey per day. A cat’s stomach only holds a small amount of food at a time (roughly the size of a golf ball!), so their digestion is also designed to process small meals quite frequently.

As a cat owner, you can start to see how offering large amounts of food at 12-hour intervals is actually a highly unnatural feeding schedule for cats. Some cats will gorge themselves on food, and then vomit immediately afterward—the dreaded “scarf and barf” that comes from their stomach feeling way too full, way too fast.

When the food bowl is full all day and kitties are allowed to browse at their leisure, some cats will eat way more calories than they are burning—after all, they aren’t expending energy hunting for their food—and become an overweight cat.

Still, other cats will experience boredom and stress from not having their sharp minds stimulated by frequent hunts throughout the day. Yes, it is true: not being as active as nature intended causes a kitty stress! Stress can contribute to many health problems in cats, from urinating outside of the litterbox, to destructive behaviors around the home.

Feeding At Home As Nature Intended

How, then, should we feed our cats? By mimicking their natural way of eating as closely as possible! Since cats play with their prey before making it a meal, make sure to incorporate lots of play into your cat’s schedule around feeding times. This could mean scheduling multiple play sessions throughout the day for your cat, and then feeding a pre-measured small amount of food.

Not many pet owners have time to schedule a dozen play sessions a day with their cat (although we all wish we could!). Fortunately, there are now many varieties of food-dispensing toys on the market for your kitten, adult cat, or older cat.

Some of these food puzzles require your cat to solve a problem—like pulling out pieces of kibble one at a time from a skinny plastic tube, or nibbling pieces of kibble or smeared canned food from a mat with little dividers built-in. Many others try to simulate a hunt as closely as possible, and these are called “feline foraging” toys—the cat has to play with the toy in order to dispense small amounts of food at a time. Some toys are even shaped like small mice and your kitty has to “hunt” for their meal around the house! Take a look online for the many options available, and read reviews posted by fellow kitty lovers to decide which choices might align best with your cat’s favorite playstyle!

No matter what feeding routine you choose, make sure to always take into account your cat’s daily calorie needs. If you’re not sure how to get a cat to lose weight, your first focus should be to measure their portions to control their cat food intake. Measure the total amount of food you are feeding daily, and divide their calories into multiple small meals throughout the day to keep your cat’s diet healthy and promote a healthy weight.

Feeding for a Healthy and Happy Future

So, how often do you feed your cat, and should you make a change in their diet? By using your cat’s primal instincts, you can provide high-quality nutrition in a way that prevents many health problems—and make all of your cat’s nine lives as fulfilling as possible! If you’re looking for more information on topics like toxic food for cats, wet vs. dry cat food or want to learn more on how to support your pet’s nutrition, our vets are here to help.

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

Wet vs. Dry Food for Cats

For the average cat parent, “should I feed canned or dry cat food?” is a question that provokes anxiety and indecision. Which one is better for your cat’s health? While there are some clear benefits to feeding certain types of diets, veterinarians can help dispel some common myths about whether wet vs. dry cat food is best to incorporate into your cat’s diet.

Myth 1: Dry food improves your cat’s dental health

Some kitty owners think they are doing the best for their cat’s dental health by feeding them dry cat food. “I know Fluffy has great dental health because I feed her only dry food!” is a common sentiment expressed daily at veterinary hospitals around the country.

In fact, there are only a few foods on the market that are proven in independent laboratory studies to reduce the amount of plaque and tartar on your cat’s teeth. What’s the secret? Kibble that retains most of its shape even when the sharp teeth of your favorite feline bite off a piece. While they chew, the larger remaining pieces of kibble act as a kind of toothbrush, rubbing against the surfaces of your cat’s teeth.

These dental diets are not sold over-the-counter and are only available with a veterinarian’s prescription. If you are not feeding your cat one of these special kibbles, then rest assured there is no dental benefit to feeding dry food—the kibble disintegrates into pieces too tiny to have that toothbrush effect once your kitty takes a nibble.

Myth 2: Canned food causes cats to become overweight

Many cat owners believe that canned cat food, also called wet food, is more “rich” in calories and can make their kitty too chubby. Although many cats go crazy for canned food, canned food actually has LESS calories per cup when compared to dry food!

How can this possibly be true? Well, canned cat food consists of up to 80% water —and all of that extra water is both filling AND low in calories. Feeding wet cat food is similar to drinking a glass or two of water with your favorite meal—you’ll end up eating less and consuming fewer calories.

Myth 3: All cats love canned OR dry food

Some cat lovers swear by canned food, saying that all cats prefer it—and some cat lovers say the same about dry food! Which group is right?? The correct answer is: BOTH!

Cats tend to have preferences for the texture of their food—from specific types of canned food (pate, shredded bits in gravy, morsels in gravy) to shapes of dry kibble (round, triangular, square). In some cats, “feel good” hormones are released from the brain’s reward center when they crunch on dry kibble—making it even harder to transition a dry food eater to a wet food eater. These kitties are truly addicted to dry food—and it can be hard to make the switch. For this reason, it’s best to introduce kittens to multiple dry and wet canned food textures so that they don’t develop an aversion to a medically-indicated diet later in life, if needed.

Myth 4: It doesn’t matter what I feed my cat

If it’s difficult to transition a cat from dry food to wet canned food, then why should you consider changing that habit? Does it really matter?

The answer to this particular question is that YES, it definitely matters—to your cat! When we think about how cats evolved to eat, they are normally supposed to hunt, catch, kill and eat small animals for food. Cats are obligate carnivores—their bodies are designed to run on the ultimate high-protein, low-carb diet: birds, mice, lizards, and other small animals. They need essential amino acids that are ONLY found in animal protein in order to survive. (This is why cats cannot survive on a “vegan” diet.)

How does this relate to the canned vs. dry food debate? Well, when we consider their protein and carbohydrate needs, the health of your cat is optimal when fed a high-protein diet—ideally, about 50-60% protein. Carbohydrates are NOT valuable fuel for your cat, and carbohydrate levels lower than 10% are ideal to prevent medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes. When cat food is manufactured into kibble, this process involves dehydrating the ingredients and binding them together to make them keep their form as small pieces—and the ingredients that create these magic shapes are…you guessed it…carbohydrates. Therefore, dry food always has higher than optimal carbohydrate content for our domestic cats.

Another key element that is lacking in dry food for our cats is WATER. You may have noticed that your cat doesn’t drink much water—and there’s a reason for that! Cats evolved in desert conditions, which means that their bodies are very efficient at utilizing water. So efficient, in fact, that their thirst drives are lower than many mammals, and their kidneys (organs that filter waste into the urine) are some of the most sophisticated water-conserving organs of any animal on earth! Unfortunately, kidney disease in older cats is one of the most common chronic medical conditions we see as veterinarians—and it can be truly devastating.

Since cat kidneys are excellent filters, we can help them do their job by promoting more water intake. Increased water creates less work for kitty kidneys, and can help maintain a healthy bladder. Canned food is an excellent way to provide this for your favorite feline. If your cat is addicted to dry food, you can add a teaspoon of water to their kibble at first, and then after a week or two, add two teaspoons of water…and on and on. Eventually, your cat (and their kidneys!) will be happy with canned food—but be patient, as sometimes this cumbersome process can take several weeks up to a few months.

Some cat food puzzle toys will only accommodate dry kibble. Don’t fret—you can feed your kitty a fraction of their daily calories using these hunting toys, and give them the rest with high-quality canned food. You can make up for some of the lost water consumption opportunities by incorporating a cat water fountain into your home. Cats are naturally attracted to running water (as evidenced by any kitty who loves to lap water from a dripping sink, or lick water from the bottom of a freshly-used shower!). You can encourage your cat to drink more just by having one of these bubbly fountains on offer.

As always, no matter what type of food you choose, portion control is essential to maintaining your kitty’s physique and preventing other health problems later in life.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are clear health benefits to feeding your cat canned food instead of dry food. However, if you want to incorporate dry food into your kitty’s feeding routine, you can still provide health benefits to your beloved cat by adding some water to their kibble at each meal and incorporating a water fountain into your home!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s learning how often you should feed a cat, understanding the different toxic foods for cats, or how to get a cat to lose weight, just sign into your account, and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

How To Get A Cat To Lose Weight: 6 Helpful Tips

Funny fat cat with his paw up, lying on the sofa with the remote control from the TV

Your favorite feline has a round silhouette and can be accurately described as “chonky.” So cute, right?! While your kitty may look totally adorable, and seem happy, an overweight cat is at higher risk for diabetes, arthritis, and other health problems. As veterinarians, we know how much you love your cat—after all, we do, too! If you’re not sure how to get a cat to lose weight, we can help you ensure that your favorite “chonk” lives a longer, happier life by putting them on a diet.

Guidance from Your Veterinarian

First, it’s important to discuss your cat’s ideal body weight with your family veterinarian before deciding how to put a cat on a diet. They can help devise a personalized weight loss plan for your cat—which may include an over-the-counter or prescription calorie-restricted cat food, daily calorie goals, and realistic weight loss goals. Your veterinarian can also screen your kitty for medical problems that may make it difficult to lose weight by performing blood and urine tests. If your kitty is experiencing any arthritis pain or mobility issues that may impact their ability to burn calories through exercise, your veterinarian can help with that, too! Most importantly, your vet can develop a nutrition plan that pinpoints exactly how many calories per day your cat’s diet should contain to achieve weight loss.

Expectations Around the Household

After you’ve received the “all clear” from your veterinarian to implement a weight loss program for your obese or overweight cat, it’s important for everyone in the household to be on board with kitty’s goals. On average, a ten-pound neutered or spayed cat only needs to eat about 200 calories per day—so that extra piece of pizza crust or small slice of cheese can have a BIG effect on your cat’s weight!

Remember to feed your cat for their goal weight, and not for their current weight. Make sure the humans in the household are aware of your kitty’s daily calorie goals, and if they must give cat treats, they are in pre-measured amounts of a suitable type. Some of our favorites are the high-protein dehydrated chicken or salmon treats, or dental treats.

Daily Food and Treat Rationing

Now that you have instructions from your veterinarian about how many calories per day should be included in your cat’s diet, check out the packaging on your cat’s food—prescribed or otherwise—to determine what volume of cat food they need per day to meet their goal. Then, divide this amount into several smaller meals.

Try to create a goal of your kitty doing something active prior to receiving each portion of food throughout the day. This helps them burn more calories through exercise AND it satisfies their natural instincts of chasing/hunting activity prior to receiving a meal. It’s a win/win for their physical and mental health!

Daily Physical Activity and Exercise

For physical activity, you can choose to have a play session prior to feeding or utilize one of the many feline foraging/food puzzle toys on the market today. If you are incorporating a play session, keep in mind that your overweight cat probably has to build up some stamina—and they may only be able to play for five minutes or so before needing a break. As they lose weight and build muscle, though, you should be able to increase the length of their playtime by about five minutes every week or so.

Make sure to choose toys that your cat is the most interested in playing with––for some cats, this could be a feather-on-a-stick toy, while for others, it might be a ball rolling around inside a toy. If you are using a laser pointer-type toy, make sure to let the cat “catch” the laser when you’re done with the play session—don’t leave them hanging!—before you feed them.

Regular Weigh-Ins

Finally, the most important part: how do you know when you are succeeding at helping your cat lose weight? The same way humans know if we’ve lost weight! At the beginning of your cat’s weight loss journey, weigh them on your bathroom scale to get a starting point— your cat’s weight on your scale at home may be slightly different than at the vet’s office, and that’s okay! (Hint: Sometimes it’s easier to weigh yourself holding your kitty, then weigh yourself to subtract and obtain kitty’s true weight.)

Weighing your cat at home allows you to compare your cat’s weight on the same scale over time without having to take them into the veterinary office. Keep your cat’s weight diary on your refrigerator, or in the “Notes” section of your phone, so that you have a record of their progress. Re-weigh your cat every one to two weeks to ensure you are making progress—and remember, even a quarter of a pound (0.25lb) is significant weight loss for your favorite feline! Make sure to ask your veterinarian when they would like to recheck kitty in the clinic to evaluate their weight-loss goals, too.

Tips & Tricks for Successful Weight Loss

If your cat appears hungry all the time because they are eating fewer calories, make sure to distract them with plenty of love, toys, and cat furniture to make the rest of their kitty life as happy as possible. You can also add water to their canned or dry cat food to make them feel more full and satisfied at each meal. This tactic also reduces stress and improves the health of their kidneys and bladder, decreasing the likelihood of kidney disease. If you feel like your cat’s quality of life on the diet is still suffering, see your veterinarian about changing foods to one that may be higher in fiber and more satiating to your kitty.

Maintaining an ideal body weight for your cat keeps them active and healthy for many years to come. By controlling your kitty’s calories, you are truly helping them live their best life!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s special needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s learning how often should you feed a cat, the various toxic foods for cats, or understanding the difference between wet vs. dry cat food, just sign into your account, and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

Toxic Foods for Cats

Little grey cute cat sits on a branch of blue grapes

Most of us cat lovers know what it’s like to have our curious kitty try to take a nibble on whatever we are currently eating! Unfortunately, some of their beloved human foods are poisonous to cats and should NEVER be fed to them. If your cat swallows one of these dangerous foods, make sure to reach out to a veterinarian immediately for advice to prevent illness.

The Most Toxic Foods for Cats

Chocolate/Caffeine

While dogs are the more famous species for having problems with chocolate, cats can experience serious side effects from this toxic food, too. Since cats do not have taste buds for “sweet” tastes, we see this problem less often in our feline friends. Unfortunately, though, cats are just as sensitive to the poisonous compounds in chocolate as dogs are. The toxic effects are from a chemical called theobromine as well as from caffeine—which means that anything caffeinated can also be dangerous to your kitty. Symptoms include hyperactivity, elevated heart rate, muscle tremors, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, seizures, and even death.

Grapes & Raisins

Grapes and raisins are one of the most dangerous foods that can lead to potential poisoning of cats as well as dogs. This toxicity is described as “idiosyncratic,” which means that some pets are able to safely ingest grapes/raisins, and for some, these foods are deadly. The problem is that we never know which individuals are vulnerable—so it’s best that your kitty be seen ASAP if they eat grapes or raisins. Symptoms of grape/raisin toxicity can include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, kidney failure, and death.

Onions/Garlic/Chives

If your cat loves to inspect the kitchen while you’re cooking, they may be at risk of swallowing some of these common “bulb” ingredients. Onions, garlic, chives, and related plants can be toxic if eaten in large enough amounts. It takes several days for noticeable symptoms to develop. Anemia (low red blood cells) is the most worrisome toxic effect, and it can be life-threatening. If you think your cat has consumed anything with garlic or onion (including powdered spices!), then contact a veterinarian right away.

Raw Foods

We all know that human food from the grocery store should be cooked to an appropriate temperature before serving it to our guests—and this is true for our cats as well! Raw meat, eggs, poultry, and bones are sources of bacteria that can cause a severely upset stomach, and even life-threatening infections and death. Examples of harmful bacteria found in raw food products include E. coli and Salmonella.

In addition, these bacteria survive on your cat’s food bowls—even through cycles in the dishwasher!—exposing members of your household to foodborne illness. For these reasons, we do not ever recommend incorporating raw egg, bone, or protein into your cat’s diet.

Dangerous Foods for Cats

The foods below are not poisonous to cats, but they can cause dehydration through vomiting, diarrhea, and an upset stomach—and sometimes require hospitalization to help them through their illness. It’s a good idea to keep your kitty away from them!

Fatty Foods

Cats tend to be lean, mean, hunting machines…and their bodies evolved to consume high protein/low carbohydrate/low-fat diets. For this reason, if a cat enjoys a meal that is fattier and/or heavier in carbohydrates than he’s used to eating, he may develop vomiting, diarrhea, or have a decreased appetite for a few days.

Dog Food

If your cat likes to sneak a few pieces of kibble from your doggo’s bowl now and then, there’s no need to worry—but cats should NEVER be fed dog food as their primary source of calories. Dog food is lacking in certain nutrients for cats that, if they become deficient, can lead to life-threatening heart problems, as well as other issues.

Milk

While kittens nurse from their mother and ingest milk for the first few weeks of life, adult cats do not have the enzymes needed to break down lactose (a sugar found in dairy products). Since they cannot digest it properly, milk often causes diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration in adult cats—so skip the saucer and give them some dehydrated chicken as a treat instead!

Talk to a Trusted Vet

Now that you know what foods you need to avoid feeding your favorite feline, you know how to protect them from these common kitchen hazards. Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s learning how often should you feed a cat, understanding the difference between wet vs dry cat food, or how to get a cat to lose weight, just sign into your account, and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Allison Ward, DVM
Dr. Allison Ward grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and started working in veterinary hospitals when she was 14 years old. After graduating from veterinary school in 2011, she completed a small animal rotating internship in New Jersey, followed by a neurology/neurosurgery internship in Miami. After completing this advanced training, Dr. Ward then moved on to general small animal practice. Dr. Ward’s professional interests include feline medicine, neurology, and pain management. Her passion for educating pet owners carries over into her work with AskVet, and she loves being able to help pets and their parents at all times of the day (and night!). She currently resides in sunny south Florida with her two cats, Larry and George.

Weight Gain For Dogs: A Complete Guide

A fat Beagle dog sits on the floor and waits for food

Advertisements online and on TV usually display dog food bowls brimming with kibble and round-bodied dogs chowing down happily. We’ve grown accustomed to these images as normal representations of canine happiness and health, and dog owners are more likely to think that an overweight dog is, in fact, a healthy dog. However, weigh-ins at annual veterinary wellness appointments tell a bit of the reality we see as veterinarians: weight gain is common, and dogs being classified as obese occurs more frequently than we would like to see! In fact, in North America about 25% of adult dogs are obese, and 50% of dogs are considered overweight!

Carrying extra pounds may be considered endearing and adorable, however, when we discuss the serious impacts that long term weight gain and obesity can have on the health of our pets, it becomes clear that a fit and trim dog is best positioned for a long and healthy life.

How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Overweight?

Just like in our own human bodies, canine weight gain and changes in body mass over time can be hard to detect! Humans do have some daily indicators, though … tighter jeans and struggles to get that belt buckle hooked might hint at some extra padding. Since dogs don’t wear clothes, how do we really tell if they are overweight?

Veterinarians take into account breed standards and also use a handy Body Condition Score (BCS) Chart to assess key points around a dog’s body looking for the presence of extra fat deposits. At your dog’s next vet appointment, watch carefully as the vet is talking to you. It may look like they are petting and massaging your dog, but they are probably actually assessing their body condition and feeling around with their fingers for abnormalities… and taking notes!

Indicators of a Dog’s Body Condition:

Ribs – Ideally, the ridges of the ribs should be felt easily by running hands down each side of the dog’s chest. If ribs are not present with a light touch, and fingers need to poke in a bit in order to find them (fluffy hair aside), this means that excess layers of fat exist.
Waist – Dogs can have an hourglass appearance too! Looking down at their back from above, a nice indentation around the dog’s natural waist is ideal. If you are just seeing a rectangle from above, this can mean that there are extra fat deposits filling in space around the muscles.
Abdominal Tuck/Distention – Take a look at your dog from across the room. They should still exhibit that hourglass appearance– from the side view, pay attention to the hips and abdomen. A nice tuck up just before the legs should be appreciated. A potbelly or rectangular appearance of the body can indicate abdominal enlargement and extra fat storage.
Fat Pads – Extremely overweight dogs will have extra fat deposits over the base of the tail, along the lower back, and even around the neck, shoulders, and legs. All body contours will be obscured, and the dog will take on a round shape. They will often exhibit an altered gait and difficulty moving, too.

Health Problems That Arise From Weight Gain in Dogs

Dogs LOVE food and are so cute and happy when they are fat — why is it so important to keep them in an ideal healthy body condition? Research in dogs has proven that a healthy body condition maintained over time will lead to a longer and more comfortable life, with a decreased risk of health issues associated with being overweight or obese. Keeping a dog at the ideal body condition score of a 4 or 5 (on a scale of 1-9) based on the BCS chart, will improve their longevity by 1-2 years and maintain their overall happiness and comfort level, especially during those senior years. Aside from the changes that arise from long-term stress on the joints and bones due to carrying around extra weight, fat is known to be biologically active as well, secreting inflammatory hormones that can actually contribute to and cause diseases. The following are some diseases and health conditions that have been associated with obesity:

– Skin Problems

– Arthritis, back injuries, and mobility issues

– Diabetes

– Kidney and liver disease

– Hypertension and Heart Disease

– Breathing problems

– Some types of cancer

– Complications with anesthesia

Health Conditions That Can Cause Weight Gain and Changes in Body Condition

To complicate things a bit, sometimes a dog’s weight gain is not simply due to eating too many treats or lack of exercise. Sometimes it is actually an indicator of a disease! Dogs will retain fluid and fat due to certain disease processes, the most common being Cushing’s Disease (overactive adrenal glands) and Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). If your family veterinarian has noticed that your dog’s weight gain correlates with some classic changes in the skin and coat, abdominal appearance (“potbelly”), energy level, water consumption, or urination habits, the recommendation may be made to run some further blood and urine testing in order to rule out a metabolic cause of the weight gain. It is very important to identify any health conditions as a cause of dog weight gain before immediately jumping to lifestyle changes so that appropriate medical treatment is initiated if needed.

How to Keep Your Dog at a Constant and Healthy Weight

Of course, the easiest way to ensure that your dog does not suffer from the complications of long-term obesity is for pet parents to keep their dog’s diet, exercise, and weight constant and regulated. Dogs thrive with a predictable schedule. Once they reach adulthood, maintaining a steady diet, walking or playing outdoors 2-3 times per day (1-2 hours ideally!), and monitoring their treat intake will help keep them at a steady body weight.

Your veterinarian can assist with estimating a healthy ideal weight range for your adult dog to help track any fluctuations and keep trends in check. Home weigh-ins are useful too! If your dog is small enough to pick up, you can use a scale at home; just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself carrying your pup, and subtract!

Visits with your veterinarian every 6 months to 1 year are important for tracking weight changes and gauging if tweaks in your dog’s feeding and exercise schedule are needed. For example, as lifestyles shift and dogs advance in age, there may be some necessary changes in caloric intake or exercise that are recommended by your family veterinarian to maintain your dog’s health. For assistance with dietary changes and needs as dogs enter their senior years (7+ years old), or if you are curious about how much to feed a dog daily, your veterinarian is also a great resource for diet planning and advice.

What to Do If Your Dog is Overweight or Obese

If it has been determined that your dog is surpassing their ideal weight and lifestyle habits are likely the culprit, what to do now? Weight loss in dogs can be a challenge for both dog and pet parent, but it is entirely achievable with determination and consistency! Are you asking yourself: Is my dog overweight? If you have a hunch that your dog might be overweight and would like guidance on how to address weight gain in dogs, your family veterinarian will gladly devise a diet plan to help you both through the process.

Your veterinarian will start out by estimating the ideal weight goal and calculate the caloric requirement for a healthy rate of weight loss. Success can come with shifting to a lower calorie/higher fiber diet for dogs or even a reduced-calorie prescription diet, along with accurately measuring volumes of food at each meal, and maintaining a regular dog exercise plan at least twice daily for 20 minutes at a time. Restricting treats to an acceptable predetermined amount, and monthly weigh-ins at home or with your vet are also important. A healthy approach to exercise, feeding, and weight loss will help establish better long-term management and a happier dog and pet parent!

Keeping It All Balanced

Dogs tend to have an intense love for food, and their instinctual drive to always be looking for snacks makes it very easy to overfeed and treat them at their request. Learning the happy balance for feeding, exercise, and treat-ing, paired with veterinary checkups and body condition assessments will ensure that your dog is maintaining their healthiest weight over its lifetime– resulting in longevity and happiness for your beloved buddy!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

What to Do if Your Dog is Overweight

Cute overweight pug on floor with weight scale at home

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, have different jobs and lifestyles, and after years of selective breeding, some of their features could not BE more different (a dachshund, a pug, and a greyhound?)! But what is one major characteristic that dogs have in common? Their love of food, of course! Occasionally, there is a pup who seems to eat just enough to survive, but the norm for dogs and their relationship with food is that they love it, never have enough of it, and if the opportunity arises, will sometimes eat enough to make themselves sick!

As pet parents, it is our responsibility as their rationally-thinking caretakers to ensure that the dog food they are receiving is nutritious, well balanced for their stage in life, contains adequate calories to match their metabolism and exercise level, and is rationed appropriately. The same goes for treats and “extras” that they are given throughout the day. Since weight gain in dogs can have negative effects, maintaining your dog’s physique and body condition is important and will have long-term benefits in comfort and health. So, if you’re wondering is my dog overweight and how can I address it, we’re here to help!

Addressing the Overweight Dog

Acknowledging the Problem

The first step, and sometimes the hardest, is acknowledging that your dog is overweight and realizing that you, as the pet parent, are the one who can change things and help them shed those pounds! Just like weight loss in humans, it takes time, dedication, and consistency. Your veterinarian is your partner on this journey as well and following their advice is key to dog weight loss success.

The Veterinary Exam

Typically, a dog’s weight loss journey will begin in the veterinary clinic exam room. Using the standard Body Condition Scoring (BCS) Chart, the veterinarian determines that a dog rates somewhere above the ideal body condition score of 5 out of a scale from 1-9 (9 being grossly obese). Along with the BCS, your veterinarian will take into account your dog’s breed and typical adult size to estimate an Ideal Weight Range that might be a healthy goal for your dog. Before any diet programs are discussed, your veterinarian will likely rule out any metabolic causes of disease and weight gain by performing blood and urine testing. These tests will look at the overall function of the internal organs. Specialized tests related to metabolism may be recommended to assess the activity of the thyroid and adrenal glands. Any health conditions should be addressed and managed, and sometimes this alone will result in the eventual return of a healthy body condition, so it is very important to rule these out first!

Daily Energy Requirements

Once your vet has determined that the weight gain is not linked to a health condition, let the real work begin! The vet will plug some numbers into a formula that calculates the daily energy requirement based on your dog’s weight, and then will make some additional calculations to determine the appropriate restriction of calories that will safely move that scale in a downward direction!

Rapid weight loss through hunger and deprivation does not a happy dog make, and is not safe for your pup. The rate of weight loss depends on your dog’s size, health condition, and concurrent health issues. For smaller dogs, a goal of just 1/2 lb per month might be a good place to start! Larger dogs can probably shoot for 2-3lbs per month, but again, safe rates of weight loss can be determined by your family veterinarian.

What About Diet food?

No, there really isn’t a Weight Watchers for dogs… yet, at least! We do have a variety of over-the-counter commercial diets that have a higher fiber/lower calorie content that can keep dogs satisfied while reducing calories at the same time. These dog diets, like Royal Canin Weight Care, and Science Diet Perfect Weight, are usually the first line of defense for overweight dogs and are especially useful if only a few pounds need to be shed. They are also designed to be maintenance diets too, meaning they are balanced and nutritious for adult dogs, and it is safe to administer them daily over long periods of time, or indefinitely if needed!

And If Diet Food Doesn’t Work?

Occasionally there are some dogs that need next-level weight management… either they are considered clinically obese, or their first diet plan did not result in weight loss (or possibly, resulted in weight gain… ahh!). The veterinarian will start out the same way, with blood and urine testing to rule out disease-causing conditions, and calculations for daily caloric intake, allowing for weight loss. Then, they are more likely to reach for the “bigger guns”– the prescription reduced-calorie diets like Royal Canin Weight Control, Purina Pro Plan Overweight Management, and Hill’s R/D or Metabolic.

So if you’re wondering, how much should I feed my dog if she’s overweight, consult your veterinarian before trying out a diet. Diets for dogs are designed to be used as a therapeutic “treatment” to get obesity under control. They are commonly used for a period of months, and once weight loss goals are reached, changing to a maintenance light/low-calorie diet for dogs might be attempted for the long term. Reaching the goal is often not the hardest part of the weight loss adventure though. It takes continued work, exercise, and regular weigh-ins to keep the pounds off too! Monitor their daily treat intake too, and try some healthy treats for dogs on diets!

Don’t Forget The Exercise!

So far, the focus has been mostly on the food aspect of obesity, but we cannot overlook the importance of getting that body moving! Staying active and burning those calories is good for the heart and mind of humans and canines alike! Your dog’s fitness level at the time they are determined to have a weight problem will define what kind of exercise routine they can handle alongside their dietary alterations. Dogs with a decent level of fitness can add 15-30 minutes to their daily routine right away, and even increase the duration or speed every couple of weeks.

Dogs that have been sedentary or have mobility issues need to be a bit more conservative and practical with their exercise regimen so as to not injure themselves. Pet parents also may not enjoy this time with their pup if they find their partner is reluctant to engage in the workouts, so it is important to design a practical workout plan that works for everyone. Starting off just sauntering down to the end of the block and back, with the intention of increasing by 5 minutes every couple of weeks is very reasonable for most dogs! Underwater treadmills found at rehab facilities or swimming can also be great alternatives for dogs that need some exercise adaptations. It is generally recommended that dogs receive 30 minutes to 2 hours of activity and exercise per day (sometimes more depending on the dog breed!). Keeping up an active lifestyle and experiencing the outdoors together is one of the best ways to bond with your dog, while also working the muscles, and burning some energy.

Weight Loss Success!

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight for a dog is one of the best things that can be done at home for their health, happiness, and comfort. Dogs tend to instinctually have an intense love for food, so it is very easy to overfeed and treat them at their request. When an appropriate diet, portion control for meals and treats, an adequate and sustainable dog exercise plan that works for the family is determined, pet parents have an excellent chance of keeping their canine buddy in the best physical condition resulting in a longer and happier life together!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need, such as questions about your pet’s weight, or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign in to your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

Healthy Treats for Dogs on a Diet

jack russell dog lying on a pile of cookie bone treats

You’re at your dog’s annual wellness appointment when your veterinarian breaks the news: your sweet, food-and-treat-worshipping pup is tipping the scales a by few too many pounds! You leave the veterinary clinic with a bag of reduced-calorie food in hand, specific instructions on how much to feed your dog, a daily dog exercise plan, and some appointment dates down the road for weigh-ins to track weight loss progress. No doubt that calorie restriction extends into the “treat zone” too – but how do you explain to your buddy that the treats he has grown accustomed to receiving daily might have to be trimmed from his diet? Can dogs on diets still have treats?

Understanding caloric intake and canine metabolism ultimately dictate the rate at which a dog will, or will not, lose weight. Putting your dog on a diet should be guided by your veterinarian for the healthiest approach and most sustainable outcome possible. Dogs are often overfed for both regular meals and treats, and on average, 50% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese! As a pet parent, you are not alone in helping your dog fight the battle of the bulge.

Caloric Intake

Weight gain in dogs is a serious and very common problem and can be avoided with balancing the proper caloric intake with output. The average 15 lb pet dog only needs about 415 calories per day, and a 60 lb pet dog about 1170 calories per day. This includes treats! Treats should make up less than 10% of your dog’s diet, meaning that a 15 lb dog only needs 415 total calories per day: 40 calories max from treats and 375 calories should be from a well-balanced commercial dog food. Spoiler alert: that is not very much! Especially when you take into account the average caloric content in some common treats that we like to give our pups:

– Greenies Original, Regular Size Dental Dog Treat – 90 calories

– Original Milk Bone, 1 Medium Size Bone – 40 calories

– Beggin Strips Originals, Per Piece – 36 calories

– Pup-Peroni Original Beef Flavor, Per Stick – 28 calories

– 1 oz of cheddar cheese – 114 calories

So, if your pup is plump around the midsection, is he banned from treats forever? Luckily, the answer is no! Does he need an overhaul of his treat repertoire? Probably, yes.

Treating Your Pup

Luckily, many dogs are not selective when it comes to receiving treats! Sometimes it is as easy as breaking a treat into many small pieces and delivering those pieces throughout the day. For a dog, it is not the size of the treat that matters… just the fact that they are getting positive attention from you and a tasty morsel for their tummy! Some dogs are easy too; if they love their kibbles like treats, section out a small portion of their daily measured kibbles into a designated “treat baggie” to distribute those to them throughout the day. This alone can satisfy the treat habit of many dogs (as well as the temptation to serve treats by their loving humans!). This method also makes it easy to track your dog’s daily calorie intake! Some of the prescription food brands also manufacture low-calorie treats and your vet can recommend those if they fit into your dog’s diet plan.

Most dogs do appreciate a small variety in their treats though, so here is a selection of healthy fruits, veggies, and snacks that you can try on your pup and see how they respond to these human foods. Always remember, especially if your dog has food allergies, a sensitive stomach, or is on a strict diet for other medical reasons, to consult your vet prior to trying any human foods or new treats.

Here is a list of healthy treats to give dogs that each measure at about 5-10 calories per piece, depending on how they are served:

Apple chunks or thinly sliced pieces (no seeds, stem, or core)
Green beans (fresh or frozen–many dogs love the “crunch” of frozen green beans straight from the freezer)
Baby carrots, carrot sticks, cooked carrots (no butter or seasoning)
Cucumber slices
Squash (no rind or seeds, serve raw or cooked) – butternut, yellow squash, pumpkin, zucchini
Green peas (fresh or frozen)
Small pieces of baked sweet potato
Banana slices (peeled, room temperature or frozen)
Blueberries
Cranberries
Cantaloupe (no rind)
Watermelon (no rind)
Raspberries
Popcorn (no salt or butter)
Low salt pretzel sticks, or tiny twists
Rice cakes (broken into small pieces)

AskVet Tip: monitor your dog closely for a few days as you start to offer new food items. For instance, choking on small pieces can happen if you toss your pup certain types of treats (carrot chunks, peas, etc), and vomiting or diarrhea is always a concern in the days following the consumption of new foods. Start slow and once they seem to be tolerating the new treats well, just rotate between a select few types to keep things stable.

As always, stay away from toxic foods that can make your dog sick, like garlic, onions, raisins, grapes, chocolate, yeast dough, sugar-free candies and foods (due to the possibility of being sweetened with xylitol, an artificial sweetener ingredient) and other toxic foods. When in doubt, check with your vet before feeding anything new to be sure they are a good choice for your dog.

What if My Dog is on a Special Diet?

What to do with those pups who are on strict prescription diets for other medical conditions? If you search the Hill’s, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin Prescription Diet websites, there are some tips on how to turn slices of the canned food into treats and blend up pieces of the kibble to be formed and baked into cookies. Just by varying the texture, you can make their normal food a bit more fun and exciting!

Food Alternatives

Our dogs tend to love food so much that it can be easy to forget that food isn’t everything! There are some very satisfying healthy alternatives to treats. Some dogs are equally gratified when they are being brushed, offered a nice play session, are taken on a relaxing walk outdoors, or just given extra attention at home. These activities can be a great way to bond with and reward your dog too, with no calories added! Food puzzles and food games for dogs found online are also great ways for our pups to earn their healthy snack, burn some calories, and get their brains working too.

Stick to The Program for Weight Loss Success

Hopefully, your pup will adapt to these lower-calorie healthy treat alternatives without too much fuss! Keeping track of how much they are consuming daily, and deliberately sticking to a set diet over time is the hardest part – or maybe it’s resisting those big hungry puppy dog eyes? Always keep in mind that your dog will live a longer and more comfortable life if he is maintained at a healthy weight and it is worth keeping their food intake in check using some of these tips!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

What Foods are Toxic and Harmful for Dogs?

Unfortunately, dogs do not have much discretion when it comes to putting things in their mouths! While some items in our kitchen and cabinets are safe for animals, there are many foods that can be harmful for dogs. If you are concerned your dog ate something potentially harmful or toxic, it is important to note the type of food, the time it was ingested (even if you have to estimate!), and the quantity eaten before reaching out to your veterinarian or the AskVet Care Squad.

With any potential toxin ingestion, there are two types of action your veterinarian can take. If the harmful food was ingested recently–usually within the first 30mins to few hours–your pet is still in the Decontamination Phase. This phase is the attempt to prevent any adverse symptoms or illness before they start. If a harmful food is ingested, it should be reported as soon as possible to allow preventative steps to be taken. The second phase is Treatment. This phase occurs after the toxic substances have been absorbed by your pet and they are showing signs of illness. Check out the list below for some of the more common concerns.

Common Harmful Foods for Dogs:

Chocolate/Coffee/Caffeine

Chocolate is probably the most well-known toxin for dogs. The potential for toxicity is based on the amount ingested, the type of chocolate, and weight of a pet. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, tremoring, irregular heartbeat, and even seizures or death. Keep your dog away from caffeinated beverages as they can also cause the same reaction as chocolate.

Grapes/Raisins

Grapes and raisins are harmful for dogs by causing an unknown reaction (idiosyncratic) within the body resulting in kidney failure. Symptoms can start within 12 hours and include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Because the toxic reaction is not specific, there is no known toxic amount. Any ingestion can cause a big issue for some dogs!

Onions/Garlic/Chives

This type of toxicity can take several days to develop and leads to symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to the red blood cells. Garlic is more potent than onions, but any seasonings with these items should never be used on foods intended for dogs.

Sugar-free candy or gum containing Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in some sugarless gums, candies, toothpaste, or vitamins. If ingested, dogs can experience an uncontrolled drop in blood sugar and liver damage. Symptoms include lethargy, loss of coordination, and seizures. Note that some brands of peanut butter have started including xylitol, so be sure to check the label before offering your dog a yummy treat!

Yeast Dough and Alcohol

Ethanol can be found in both products, resulting in symptoms similar to intoxication. These include restlessness, vomiting, disorientation, and tremors or seizures. Raw bread dough can also expand in the stomach causing damage to the lining of the stomach and difficulty breathing.

Some harmful foods for dogs that are not toxic, but still may require veterinary attention include bones, cinnamon, foods high in fat like bacon, or pits from fruit such as peaches or avocado.

Accidents can always happen. Your AskVet Care Squad is always here to help with your concerns and direct you to a licensed veterinarian if needed!