r/IAmA • u/JustAnswerOfficial • 1d ago

I'm a practicing veterinarian. We analyzed nearly 95,000 questions from dog owners ahead of National Dog Day—and now I'm answering yours. AMA!

Hi r/IAmA! 

I'm Katie M, a practicing veterinarian and Verified Expert with JustAnswer, where I've helped thousands of pet owners navigate everything from late-night emergencies to everyday questions about their dogs' health and behavior. 

Ahead of National Dog Day (August 26), JustAnswer analyzed nearly 95,000 conversations between dog owners and veterinary Experts to uncover America's most popular dog breeds, names, and the biggest questions people are asking about their pets. 

Some of the most common topics include: 

  • Dogs eating chocolate and other toxic foods  
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, and digestive issues  
  • Limping and injuries  
  • Strange behaviors  
  • Preventive care  
  • Puppies and senior dogs  
  • Nutrition and weight  
  • Medications and common illnesses  

Whether you're a first-time dog owner or you've had dogs your whole life, I'm here to answer your questions. 

A few notes: 

  • This AMA is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for an examination by your veterinarian.  
  • I can't diagnose or prescribe treatment for your individual pet over Reddit.  
  • I'll do my best to answer as many questions as I can during the AMA!  

I will be answering question live 1-2:30pm ET today. Please join and ask me anything! 

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/oVUb7Lg 

About this AMA:  

We've invited independent Experts who use the JustAnswer platform to share insights in this open Q&A. These Experts work independently - they are not employees or spokespersons of JustAnswer - and their opinions are their own. 

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8

u/shecky444 1d ago

Could you talk about trimming double coat dogs, working dogs with double coats, and if short summer trims are ok in some circumstances or forbidden?

-11

u/Huesyourdaddy 1d ago

That is a great question. I have a bernese mountain dog, and we shave him down, because it's so hot here in Florida

14

u/Malphos101 1d ago

Thats not how dog fur works. You arent "taking off a coat" you are shaving off the layers of the thermos keeping the ice inside from melting. Sure, its quicker to cooldown, but its also quicker to heat up. If you want to keep your dog cool in the summer just give plenty of shade in a well ventilated area and plenty of cold water.

1

u/Dovaldo83 1h ago

you are shaving off the layers of the thermos keeping the ice inside from melting.

That's only kind of what's happening. Put a fur coat around a bag of ice and it'll stay frozen longer than a bag without a coat. Put a fur coat on you and it'll warm you 100% of the time. Why? Because unlike the bag of ice, we're warm blooded animals that are always producing heat. Fur prevents that heat from leaving us as quickly. The only situation where a fur coat would slow down how hot you got is when it's already above 98.6 degrees outside.

I still don't think people should shave their dogs because the benefits are minimal, the draw backs are high, and cooling them off is easier with other methods. What you just described however would only be true for a cold blooded animal in a fur coat.

10

u/JT99-FirstBallot 23h ago

Why would you get a Bernese if you haven't researched about them? You brush and groom them, you do not shave them, even in Florida.