Dr. Paola’s Pet Health Tips: Drooling, Diet, and Nail Care

Dr. Paola Cuevas provides expert advice on common dog health concerns, addressing puppy drooling, sensitive stomachs, and nail care. For puppies like 5-month-old Labrador Gillie, mild drooling is often normal, particularly during teething, chewing, or excitement. However, owners should be concerned if drooling is excessive, continuous, or accompanied by symptoms like pawing at the mouth, reluctance to eat, difficulty swallowing, bad breath, or visible oral irritation. These signs could indicate oral discomfort, a foreign object, or even gastrointestinal/neurological issues, necessitating a veterinary visit. Owners can gently check their puppy's mouth for swelling or redness at home, but should seek professional help if the puppy resists.

Regarding sensitive stomachs, Dr. Paola clarifies that breeds like Goldendoodles (e.g., Cooper) are not inherently more prone. Instead, digestive issues often stem from a disrupted gut microbiome, frequently caused by feeding the same highly processed food daily, which limits microbial diversity. Dogs, as facultative carnivores, thrive on diverse diets. The ideal diet consists of high-quality animal proteins and beneficial slow-digesting carbohydrates like whole grains, legumes, or vegetables. True grain intolerances are rare. Rotating complete, balanced recipes enriches the microbiome, strengthens immunity, prevents pickiness, and maintains a robust digestive system.

Finally, Dr. Paola emphasizes the importance of regular nail care for dogs like Izzy, a Border Collie-mix. Nails should not touch the ground when the dog is standing. Overly long nails can alter paw landing, strain joints, and cause discomfort. They also cause the “quick” (the blood supply within the nail) to extend, making future trims more challenging and painful. Checking nails every couple of weeks is recommended, and signs like clicking on floors, curving nails, or long dewclaws indicate a need for trimming. Regular trims keep the quick short, ensuring the process remains easy, pain-free, and supports long-term posture and joint health.

(Source: https://www.dogster.com/ask-dr-paola/october-6-2025)