Dog with liver disease

I have taken my pet dachshund (11yo female neutered) to the vet and she said that the bloodwork showed liver disease.  The only symptoms that she has shown, however, is excessive water drinking.  The vet said that after taking some pills for a few weeks, and switching over to a specialty dog food, things should get better.  I would just like to know what another vet's opinion is.  For example, with symptoms this mild, what is the average number of dogs that you see fully recover?  How likely is a full recovery?  Can this shorten the lifespan of the dog, even if treatment is working?  How do dogs get it? Since my sister has a female dashound as well (both dogs live in the same house and drink from the same dishes/interact), can liver disease be passed between them?  For example, if her dog had it first, is it possible that my dog was infected with it from her (ie is liver disease contagious)?  Is it contagious to humans?  If my dog is treated but comes my sister's dog have liver disease (assume) will my dog stay sick (ie keeps catching it from the other dog)?

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Dog with suspected urinary tract infection

Puppies usually have to go to the toilet every 3-4 hours (sometimes this works out to be every 1-2 hours when they are little) and especially after a meal, play or drink.  And it is common for puppies to just urinate a little sometimes and other times it's a big gush.

If it is UTI, unless it's a situation where she's got a blocked urethra (the outlet from the bladder), it's not something that is a life or death type scenario.  The rule of thumb is that if she starts to go downhill and by this I mean losing interest in food, play, mopes around or starts vomiting, then it's time to rush her into your emergency vet.

Crate training is okay but I need to ask you how often you leave her there on her own?  How do you respond to her when she is whining?  For most of us, we would respond to whining by telling them to keep quiet or if they whine long enough, would think, 'O maybe she needs to go out to the toilet' and therefore let her out.  What you are inadvertently doing is reinforcing the behavior ie if I whine long enough, daddy/mummy will let me out.  Rather what you are trying to do is to let her out after she's been 'good' ie not whining.  It's tricky I know and inevitably you will end up with the situation that you have had where she's whined and you've ignored her only to find that she's pooped in the cage and you get overwhelmed with guilt and think, 'O maybe she was trying to tell us she needed to go and we ignored her.'  These thoughts are non- productive so I think it's best not to resort to them and just start over.  Gradually with time, she will learn that if she is quiet, she will get let out and whining is not the way to get around things.  Just ensure that she does get lots of cuddles when she is outside, after all, they are a pack animal and they do by nature live in a pack and are not used to being put in isolation like that for long periods.

As for the UTI, you can try to take her temperature but if she is running a temperature, she will usually act a bit off color and will not be engaging in rambunctious play.  I would say watch her for another 24 hours to see if she is getting any worse - by this I mean her general demeanour (see above signs I've mentioned), if she is, then I would take her into the emergency vet.  If you notice any change in the color of the urine eg blood stained, cloudy and strong smelling, then it would be wise to take her in too.  Otherwise, it may just be that she's just a puppy and can't really control her sphincter yet.  If you are still concerned, then by all means take her in on Monday just to put your mind at ease.

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Dog with difficulty getting up

We've noticed in the last 2 months that Allie(our 8yo Shepherd cross) is getting up slower, especially her hind legs. She also had real trouble last night getting up from a lying position. It took two attempts - first time this has occurred. Her walk seems normal and her only health issues are pancreatic insufficiency. She recently had her annual with the specialist - no issues. There is a three-month baby in the house (she follows the baby) and my wife works from home, so she is getting much less regular sleep. I apply pressure on her hind legs & hips and she displays no pain. Is this just age, she's only 8? Arthritis (don't see any of the other symptoms)? Thank you

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Dog afraid of thunder

Our 8yo English Setter (female neutered) in the past 2 years has developed a fear of thunder. She will try to dig the carpet, trembles violently and will jump on our laps to be comforted. Our male Setter doesn't mind the thunder a bit. I don't like the idea of using sedatives for her. Do you have any solutions?

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Puppy born with eyes open

My female had to have a c-section and one puppy came out with her eyes already open? what can I do to help the puppies eyes can they be glued shut to save them? other then that the puppy is very healthy and seems normal.

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Dog hair color changes

Is it possible for shampoo that may not have been rinsed off completely to cause permanent markings?  My daughter gave my 2yo female neutered Boxer a bath a few months ago and shortly after I noticed different colored markings near her tail.  I took her to be groomed thinking it would come off and it didn't.  They were not sure what it was either.

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