Ask Lucy

First of all, don’t panic. Chances are it’s a lipoma. Lipoma is a benign fatty tumor. Most likely this lump is not serious and can be removed if it gets too big or if your dog needs to be put out for teeth cleaning or some such thing.

It is best to see your vet to get it checked out. Then you will know for sure and can rest easy.

Unfortunately I’m headed to the vet tomorrow morning because my daddy found a lump where I was spayed. It developed gradually over the past month or so and is about an inch in diameter. I’m not too worried because I’m only 15 months old and in good health. I’ll let you all know how my ordeal at the vet works out. (I do hate going there).

For more information on Lipoma check out Veterinary Q & A: Lipomas (Fatty Tumors) or see what DogChannel.com has this to say about Lipoma in a young dog.

Lucy and the Cat

I'm playing hard to get.

Chihuahuas and cats may get along. I for one find them interesting. I’m not sure I would ever want to live with one, though. We both like to groom ourselves, lie in laps to sleep, sun ourselves and get attention.

Chihuahuas are often smaller than most cats. That could prove dangerous if the cat decides to pounce on the Chi from above. And they have claws that scratch. I have personally found that cats like to swipe at little dogs. Luckily I was out of reach.

I often encounter several cats on my daily walks. They come up to me and stare. I stare back. This could be a sign that I’m ready to attack. Probably not a good idea for me to do. I’d probably lose.

I was visiting some relatives recently and they have a cat. This is not the first cat I have been with in an enclosed space. Luckily nothing happened. I growled a bit and he tried to eat my food. But all in all we got along fine. Don’t I look relaxed in the photo? We do not play together, yet, but maybe in the future. As long as I’m in a good mood.

It’s best not to leave your cat and/or Chi alone together until you are absolutely sure they are okay with each other. Try not to stare at them or show anxiety because that might rub off on your Chi. Be calm and maybe all will go splendidly.

For more information check out this article from PetChiDog.

That depends on who you ask. I personally enjoy eating vegetables. I even like lettuce. In fact, I pretty much like anything that falls to the floor, including scraps of paper and stuff in the street.

Be that as it may, according Kristie Leong MD in an article in therealowner.com, the following vegetables are good for dogs: “…green beans, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, squash, and most other green, leafy vegetables. Not only do these vegetables add healthy antioxidants to your dog’s diet, they also are a significant source of soluble fiber and roughage which can promote intestinal health in your dog.”

As in everything you feed your dogs, don’t overdo it. It’s always best to feed a quality dog food. And of course lots of treats, in my opinion.

Here’s a list of food harmful to dogs, from peteducation.com

From my personal experience I’d have to say NO. Chihuahuas and other small dogs with short hair especially, do not like rain, cold, snow, cold, wind and cold. We love to be warm so if you must walk your Chi in inclement weather buy them a warm sweater or coat. We may balk at first, but it’s best to be warm than cold. I have a cute little pink parka that is fastened with velcro. It’s easy on and easy off. (No Affiliation.)

For all your pet shopping needs why not try PetSmart. It’s where I first went when I was adopted by my daddies. It’s also where I went to school and graduated with honors.

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Here I am on graduation day at PetSmart.

Here I am on graduation day at PetSmart.

Whenever I drink water, it seems I sort of choke. It upsets my daddy a bit, but he’s used to a Chihuahua making that scary choking noise. He last little Chi girl had a similar affliction. It doesn’t ever last long, thought. Gently rubbing my throat seems to help it go away.

So I spent a little time tapping away on my computer keyboard and discovered that this occasional honking-like noise is not unusual for Chihuahuas. An “elongated soft palate” is thought to become “temporarily misaligned”. Sometimes referred to as “reverse sneezing”, this event can be caused by your Chi getting too excited, pulling hard on a leash (it’s always best to use a comfy harness) or drinking too fast. “Reverse sneezing” should not be confused with a condition called “collapsed trachea“.

It’s always best to consult your friendly neighborhood vet if your Chi has choking issues. Better safe than choking.

I certainly hope not, seeing as how I just ate one yesterday. My daddy was quite upset, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

A quick search online shows no definite answers. Some say it’s bad. Some say not so much. Some say the flower is okay but not the plant. To be safe, keep your dog away from the hibiscus plant. Of course I find the flower quite tasty.

To keep your dog away from these delicious plants, try adding a few drops of peppermint oil, not extract, to a spray bottle and spray around and on the plant. It doesn’t hurt the plant, but dogs seem to hate it. It keeps ants away too.

Not likely. I have one left and it’s a sharp fang right in front. And it’s right next to my adult “fang”. My vet says it probably won’t fall out. My daddy tried giving me rawhide to chew on. Tastes good but no luck getting rid of the tooth.

So it looks like surgery is the only answer to getting rid of that tooth. I say forget about it. But that’s just my non-medical opinion. The vet says the tooth is not crowding my mouth so we can let it be. Another vet says if I ever need surgery or have to get my teeth cleaned it should be pulled out then. It could have been pulled when I was spayed but no body thought about it then.

Don’t forget to brush your Chi’s teeth regularly. This prevents plaque and other gruesome diseases. I personally chew on my toothbrush while my daddy moves it about. My daddy uses the Petrodex Dental Care Kit. I love the flavor of the toothpaste. I also enjoy chewing the toothbrush. That’s my personal recommendation. Just saying.

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I suffer from this problem too. I find myself constantly licking and chewing on my tiny little Chihuahua feet. I can’t help myself. They itch. And now they are pink and missing hair. What’s a little girl to do? It makes it embarrasssing to be seen in public. Perhaps a few pair of nice shoes should help.

Did you know that most dogs who lick and bit their feet have an allergy. Yes, dogs get allergies too. This can be caused by pollen, grass, weeds, dust mites, dander, prescription drugs, cleaning products, certain food ingredients, even flea remedies.

I know my foot biting drives my daddies crazy. After seeing two vets the conclusion is that I may have an allergy to wheat gluten. My diet was changed but I still itch. The next step was a prescription of “Dermacool”. It helps relieve the itching temporarily.

Unfortunately to find out root cause of the itchiness would mean a full blood work and skin tests. That may help find the dratted substance. Then allergy shots or medication may be beneficial. No thanks, I say.

For now, we will stick to the Dermacool and hope for the best. I don’t want any shots or medicine. Please.

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That’s a great question. “Experts” say on average a dog sleeps 14 hours a day. There’s an article at Petplace.com that explains all this in detail so I don’t have to.

I sleep about 8 hours at night in my own cozy little bed, which is in an enclosed octagon “bedroom”, located next to the floor heater. I have several warm, cozy blankets to snuggle under. My bedroom is “locked up” at night so I’ll feel safe. Sometimes I think my daddies should let me sleep with them in their bed, but they might crush me.

I’m a working girl. One of my daddies has a graphic arts business in the house so I have to supervise him and make sure he works hard. But I manage to catch a few naps during the day too. When my other daddy comes home at 6 ish it’s time for a walk, dinner and play in front of the TV. Then naptime around 9 to prepare for bedtime.

Last Sunday I went to dinner with my daddies at a friend’s house. All seemed to be going fine. I didn’t get to eat any of the good food at the table. Just my usual dog food. But I did get to meet lots of new people and it was fun.

Until daddy Charlie got suddenly ill. He struggled to reach the bathroom and somehow collapsed in the hallway. Turns out he caught a bad case of the stomach flu. At least that was his diagnosis. It could have been bad food but no one else got sick.

So the important question is, can a dog catch the flu from his human friends and family. A little online research shows that no, dogs can’t catch the human influenza virus. This is specifically adapted to attack human bodies with no known cases of it being passed to a dog.

But beware. There is a relatively new strain of the influenza virus that infects dogs. This canine influenza is thought to be a mutation of the human virus. It is airborne, so watch out for those dog parks. Dog flu symptoms are similar to Bordetella or Kennel Cough. Look for coughing, fever and nasal discharge. I’d see your vet if your dog catches this. Better safe than sorry, even though I really hate visiting the vet.

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