"I have a 4-year-old Maltese who consistently experiences issues with her anal glands. Despite feeding her recommended perianal kibble, I frequently need to take her to the vet for softening and emptying. Unfortunately, I haven't observed any noticeable benefits from the current approach. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions?"

Answer from Nuša Poklukar, dr. vet. med.

Dogs fed a low-fiber diet may encounter difficulties in adequately emptying their anal glands, potentially leading to blockages. This issue is commonly observed in smaller dog breeds.

You've made a wise choice by opting for kibble specifically formulated to address anal gland issues in your dog.

For every dog experiencing this problem, I recommend a diet with increased fiber content. Elevated fiber levels result in larger fecal volume, aiding in the thorough emptying of the glands during defecation. You can supplement your dog's diet with various vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, celery, broccoli, and spinach to boost fiber intake.

Apart from incorporating a high-fiber diet, we highly recommend our Belly Champ nutritional supplement. One of its main ingredients is sweet potato, a natural source of dietary fiber. Packed with postbiotics and other clinically proven active ingredients, it's tailored to enhance stool quality and address digestive issues like gas, bloating, loose stools, or irregular digestion. Many pet owners have reported visible improvements within just seven days of usage. However, for chronic concerns like your dog's, we suggest regular monthly usage for optimal results.

"I have 2 yorkies. The male is born on June 9th and the female is 8th in early November 2023. The female especially develops pustules under...the right front armpit. After changing her diet and antibiotic treatment she is now better, but not completely. Now they eat FARMINA HYPOALLERGENIC white fish. I will be happy for any advice."

Answer by Nuša Poklukar, dr. vet. med

I agree with transitioning to a hypoallergenic diet as the initial step in identifying allergies. Based on my experience, Farmina is a great choice. Its primary ingredients, white fish and potatoes, are known to rarely trigger allergic reactions in dogs.

When implementing a hypoallergenic diet, we can expect improvement after at least six weeks of consistent use. During this period, it's essential to avoid offering any other treats or human food to your dog. While managing two dogs may pose challenges in strictly segregating their diets, doing so is paramount to confirming any potential allergies.

Considering your dog's current diet's relatively low protein content (15.5%), I recommend that you later explore a monoprotein diet with higher crude protein levels. Additionally, for your puppy, opting for kibble specifically formulated for puppies would be advantageous. Farmina offers excellent options, such as N&D Ocean Cod, Pumpkin, and Cantaloupe Melon Puppy Mini, boasting a crude protein content of 35%.

If you decide to transition to a new food later on, it's crucial to do so gradually, ideally over a week, to prevent any potential digestive issues.

In conjunction with the hypoallergenic diet, you may incorporate our products,Wunder Dog or Belly Champ. These formulations adhere to hypoallergenic principles, with salmon and sweet potatoes as their primary ingredients. They are specifically designed to promote a healthy intestinal microflora and enhance the immune system, providing holistic support for your pet's overall well-being.

"My dog, found on the street, becomes agitated after her meals she starts biting and licking her vulva for 5 minutes. It is like a crisis, with nervousness and agitation.  

We've done all the tests, blood, urine, vaginal swab, abdominal ultrasound, dermatological examination, everything is OK, they’ve found nothing .... Before this crisis arose she was licking her vulva at all times everywhere. 

I want to try your products out, if you can recommend which one."

Answer by Nuša Poklukar, dr. vet. med

It seems to me like your dog might be dealing with some form of anxiety disorder. It's reassuring that the vet's tests came back clear, ruling out more serious illnesses. Since the episodes only occur for about 5 minutes after feeding, they're unlikely to be directly related to the food type but rather have a psychological basis. Your vet might suggest medication to help calm your dog during these episodes.

Regarding nutritional supplements, I don't anticipate them resolving your dog's issue directly. However, I still recommend our product,Wunder Dog, for itsoverall benefits to canine health. It containspostbioticsthat aid in supporting intestinal microflora, therebyenhancing the immune system. Additionally, it includes clinically proven ingredients that promote skin and coat health, reducing scratching and licking.

"I've started giving my dog, who will eat anything and everything all day long, Prolife Sterilised Sensitive Dry—100g a day and 70g of Virtus Pork or 50g of Stew. I am trying to divide it into three meals because she is always hungry. During the day, she loves buffalo sticks or ears to play with and chew on. She walks for half an hour a day but doesn't like to be outside much. She is very anxious. However, we do supplement with Pawital postbiotic and a joint product because I noticed a sort of crunch in her left hind leg—around the hip area, not the knee. Now everything is fine. Can you suggest some snacks that will fill her tummy but have fewer calories and satisfy her?"

Answer by Nuša Poklukar, dr. vet. med.

We're thrilled to learn that your dog is experiencing positive effects from our nutritional supplements.

I fully support your decision to opt for Prolife Sterilised, specially formulated for sterilized dogs, with its naturally lower energy content. Dividing the portions into three meals could help sustain a sense of fullness throughout the day.

Considering your dog's weight, I've calculated a daily energy requirement of 630 kcal/day. With 100 g of Prolife Sterilised, your dog receives 360 kcal, and with 70 g of Prolife Pork wet food, he obtains 70 kcal. This amounts to a total of approximately 430 kcal. You can incorporate treats to provide an additional 200 kcal, ensuring you stay within the daily energy limit.

In terms of low-calorie snacks, I suggest incorporating vegetables and fruits into your dog's diet. Not only do they provide dietary fiber for satiety, but they also deliver essential vitamins and minerals vital for your dog's overall well-being.

I've included a list below detailing examples of fruits and vegetables along with their respective energy values, which you can confidently offer to your dog.

 HEALTHY DOG TREAT OPTIONS:

Apple Raw, sliced, without seeds - 52 kcal

Beans (green), Raw or cooked - 31 kcal

Blueberries, Fresh or frozen - 57 kcal

Carrots, Raw, sliced - 41 kcal

Celery, Raw - 16 kcal

Peas, Fresh or frozen - 42 kcal

Pumpkin, Cooked and cubed - 45 kcal

Squash, Cooked - 16 kcal

Strawberries, Fresh or frozen - 32 kcal

Watermelon, Fresh, without seeds - 30 kcal

Zucchini, Raw or cooked, sliced - 17 kcal

 

“I have in 44 kg large breed mestizo (mom maremmano and dad German shepherd) who will be 4 years old in September. In the first year and a half of his life he has had 3 surgeries for prosthetic hip grafts due to very severe dysplasia. He has often had problems with soft stools, a few diarrheal episodes (especially at the change of seasons or temperatures) treated with probiotics, and an ear infection due to malassezia. We have resolved almost completely with Pawital Belly champ which he has been taking consistently for 3 months now, but I would like to understand what would be a suitable diet for him? He currently eats kibble, rice and boiled meat.”

Answered by Nuša Poklukar, dr. vet. Med.

We are delighted to hear that our nutritional supplement has made a positive difference for your dog.

Considering the joint issues you’ve described, I recommend exploring kibble from any line of veterinary diets specially designed to support joint health for your pet. One example is Farmina Vet Life Joint, formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, known to promote cartilage tissue regeneration. It also contains EPA and DHA (Omega-3 fatty acids), powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients, along with antioxidants to alleviate joint discomfort.

If you opt to switch your dog’s food, make sure to do so gradually, preferably over the course of one week, to prevent potential digestive issues. Gradually transitioning the food allows the digestive microorganisms to adjust to the new diet.

Since you’ve observed benefits from adding Belly Champ to manage your dog’s digestive concerns, I suggest continuing with it. Its postbiotics help to maintain a healthy gut microbiota, thus bolstering the immune system and potentially reducing the risk of ear infections.