You know just about everything about your precious pet. You know their favorite treats, their most beloved toy, and that special spot that always gets their tail wagging. But sometimes when it comes to your pet’s health, you have questions that only an expert can answer. That’s where Dr. Alice comes in.
Dr. Alice Weiss is a licensed veterinarian that has worked with animals for over 30 years both in treating them and writing about them. Besides working in a small animal practice and in public health, Dr. Alice has written for national publications and runs the entertaining Instagram account @dogsenjoylife. So if you’ve got a question about your best furry friend, Ask Alice.
Email your questions to AskAlice@PetInsider.com.
Dr. Alice,
We have the most wonderful puppy in the world. she is a lot of work but we love her. anyway, I heard that the dog’s mother was up for adoption and I feel that we need to get her. The mother went through so much to have our new puppy and she would be so happy with her daughter. So I really want to adopt her but my boyfriend says that its too much stress to have two dogs when we are just getting used to the puppy. What do you think? Don’t we owe the mother?
Dear Soft Heart.
You have a huge heart. But you gotta weigh your heart output and your capacity for stress carefully. And if you have one tiny iota of worry about the possible adoption of a dog AND you have another people household member that is not 100% on board, then take a breath and don’t do it. Maybe you can look around for someone else who wants a dog. When you are ready, there will always be another dog to adopt. True, it would be kind of cool to have mother and daughter together…for you, but not for the puppy or not for the mother. When you are ready, your puppy will love any other dog eventually.
Puppies are a lot of work and just when you think you have everything under control, another phase starts like chewing or pooping or barking. So wait until the puppy is two years old, and then you can reassess and see if ALL of your household, can handle a new dog.
Dr. Alice,
My cat has a scratch under it’s right eye. It looks red and inflamed. Can I put some of my eye antibiotic on the scratch? It has erythromycin in it.
Thanks, W. J.
Dear W.J.
No. No. No. Don’t ever use our people medications on animals without checking with your veterinarian. Yes, the drugs often are the same in that erythromycin is erythromycin in any species but adverse events can happen in different species and dosages vary. Big mistakes can happen. So check in with your vet on this one.
If you have a question, issue, or even a funny story you want to share, send it over! Dr. Alice wants to hear it all.
Become an Insider
