Welcome to the “Ask Dr. Paola” series. Here we bring you expert advice directly from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) every Monday, ensuring that readers get a better understanding of your dog’s health and well-being.
Whether you’re a new pet parent or a veteran lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutritional tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola is ready to provide insights that will keep your furry friends happy and healthy. Stay tuned for expert guidance on the various topics that are most important to you and your dog. This allows you to make informed decisions and provide the best possible care to your dog peers. Do you have a question? Send it here! 
Help! My dog bites everything!
“Dear Dr. Paola,
My puppy Zoe is a Sheese Tsi Bichon mix. She’s chewing things, and I don’t know
What’s going on with her? I’m worried about her.
” – Trevor
Hey Trevor,
Zoe sounds like he’s going through an annoyed stage, but he understands why you’re worried. Biting can be a normal dog behaviour, but when it becomes excessive or destructive it often shows a fundamental need. It could be teething, boredom, anxiety, or even lack of proper outlets for her natural instincts. She is a mix of Shees Tubbicheon so she may have a combination of traits from both varieties, including a strong playfulness that can make her actions a little more challenging.
First, consider her age. If she is still a puppy, the teething discomfort can drive her to chew on anything she can find. If she is older, she may be experiencing boredom or stress. Provides the right chew toys, puzzle feeders and regular exercise to help you redirect your energy positively. If she is left alone for a long time, she may be chewing as a way to deal with her anxiety. In that case, even interactive toys and scent games can keep her engaged. If her biting appears to be obsessive or involves other concerns about her behavior, a veterinary check may be required to rule out underlying medical issues. Let her explore the world in a structured way through training, spiritual richness and play. These tools and methods help satisfy her instincts and reduce destructive habits. If you want more customized advice with any of our vets, you can always Make a call on Pangovet,One of our experienced vets can help you with more detail.
I wish you good luck,
Dr. Paola
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Help! My Bloodhound is recurring ear infections!
“Hello Dr. Paola,
Beretta is a bloodhound who has a repeated ear infection when we take her to the vet. It’s usually yeast, but no matter what we do, it’s just coming back, and it’s infected. Do you have any suggestions? thank you. “ – Lacy
Hello Lacy,
Especially in breeds like Bloodhound, we fully understand how frustrating a chronic ear infection can be and how chronic ear infections are possible. Their long floppy ears create a warm, damp environment where yeast and bacteria thrive, making them naturally prone to these repeated problems. As Beretta continues to experience these infections despite treatment, it is important to look at the larger picture and make sure it includes both the underlying causes and long-term management strategies.
Recurrent ear infections are often associated with allergies, such as environmental (such as pollen or mites) or food-related. If you haven’t done it yet, you may want to explore a hypoallergenic diet trial to see if dietary sensitivity contributes to the problem. Regular ear cleaning is also important, but it is important to use a veterinarian-recommended drying solution rather than over-cleaning, which can disrupt the natural balance of the ear canal. Yeast thrives in moist conditions, so thoroughly drying your ears after bathing, swimming, or humid weather makes a huge difference. If infection continues despite these measurements, deeper diagnostic approaches, including otocytology, culture, or allergy testing, may help identify underlying problems requiring more targeted treatment. Given how long these infections last, it is also worth discussing long-term management options with your veterinarian, such as immunotherapy for allergies and specific maintenance plans to prevent flare-up.
I wish you good luck,
Dr. Paola
Help! My dog vomits every time we eat!
“Hello, Dr. Paola,
My dog Cody is a mix of King Charles Cavalier and Maltese. I was eating him with Purina food as he was a puppy and started with Purina One Smart Blend. I recently bought a real instinct dog food from Purina with real turkey and venison and gave him a variety of preferences, which makes him vomit every time he eats it. Why does that happen? He will turn 3 in May. Explain why one equation worked. This is not the case. thank you! “ – Donna
Hello Donna, it sounds like Codie has sensitivity or intolerance to one of the ingredients in the new food. Purina’s one Smartblend and true instinct products are both from the same brand, but their formulations vary in protein sources, fat content, additives and digestibility. Dogs can, like humans, tolerate some foods well, while others cover their stomachs. Codie vomits every time he eats a new blend, so something in the formulation suggests he doesn’t agree with him.
There are several reasons for this reaction. One is that he can have intolerance towards venison. He may have not been exposed to before, or he may have a high fat content that is too rich for his digestive system. Another possibility is peas, lentils, or specific preservative-like ingredients that are different from those his system is used to processing. A sudden dietary change can also cause gastrointestinal upsets, but he responds with every time he eats it, so it’s more likely to become a problem with the food itself, not just a transition.
To keep Codie comfortable, I recommend stopping this food immediately and going back to what he had previously eaten. If you still want to provide diversity, gradually introduce new proteins one at a time to see how he tolerate them. If vomiting continues even after switching backs, it is best to have your veterinarian check with your veterinarian to rule out the underlying conditions. Tracking which proteins or ingredients cause problems will help guide you towards the best diet for him.
all the best,
Dr. Paola
This article is part of the weekly question Dr. Paola series
