Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their dog’s health and well-being.

Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned dog lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola is ready to offer insights that will keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Stay tuned for expert guidance on a range of topics that matter most to you and your dog, so you can make informed decisions and provide the best possible care for your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Help! I Want to Change My Puppy’s Dog Food!

“Cher is a 9-month-old female Shih Tzu puppy. She is presently eating Royal Canin puppy food wet and dry. I am considering transitioning her to Diamond Natural small-breed adult dry food. My thought is that the Diamond Natural brand is less expensive and seems to have similar ingredients. I am asking for your advice on this Diamond Naturals brand vs Royal Canin. Thank you in advance for your advice.“  – Alan

Hi Alan.

That is an important and very fair question, because many pet parents wonder whether the difference between brands reflects science or simply marketing power. Larger companies like Royal Canin invest in feeding trials, employ veterinary nutrition professionals, and evaluate how dogs perform on their diets over time rather than relying only on calculated nutrient profiles. That level of testing and quality control requires significant financial resources, which is why it is more common among large manufacturers. At the same time, it is important to recognize that much of the research in the pet food industry is company-funded, so while it provides useful information about safety, digestibility, and performance, it is not the same as independent clinical research.

Smaller or mid-size brands, including Diamond Naturals, typically formulate diets to meet established nutrient standards using laboratory analysis and formulation software. This approach is acceptable and meets regulatory requirements, and many dogs maintain good health on these foods. A helpful way to explain this to pet parents is to think of two medications that meet safety standards. One has more internal testing behind it, while the other is developed to meet the required specifications with less in-house clinical evaluation. Both can work, and neither approach automatically guarantees superior long-term health outcomes for every dog.

From a broader nutritional perspective, it is also helpful to step back and see the bigger picture. Both Royal Canin and Diamond Naturals are extruded kibble, or canned wet food, meaning they are highly processed and rely on synthetic nutrients to replace what is lost during manufacturing. If the goal is to move beyond comparing brands within the same processing category, a meaningful improvement in nutritional quality comes from reducing processing altogether. Complete and balanced, gently cooked, fresh diets provide nutrients in a more natural and bioavailable form, more like whole meals than packaged cereal, and commercially prepared options make this approach practical while avoiding the nutritional imbalances that often occur with home-cooked recipes. Ultimately, the most important measure of any diet is the dog’s overall health, body condition, digestion, and long-term well-being.

Regards,

Dr. Paola

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Help! Can Food Affect Behavior?

“Can dog foods affect a dog’s hormones? I have an 8-year-old lab mix who has become more testy, and his penis will elongate, and he wants to hump objects. Chief has been neutered for over 7 years. The only change to his diet is that I have started adding some wet dog food to his diet for variety. Could that be influencing his behavior? He is one of 3 dogs who have all been around for 6 years. His behavior is creating a tense environment for all.“ – Sophia

Dear ​​Sophia,

I understand how stressful this change can feel in a previously stable household. In most cases, commercial dog foods, including wet foods, do not contain hormones and are not known to influence reproductive hormone levels or trigger sexual behavior. The bulbus glandis, the normal swelling at the base of the penis, can enlarge with arousal, excitement, anxiety, or even social tension, and this can happen in neutered males because the behavior is not driven solely by testosterone. Mounting in neutered dogs is often a communication behavior rather than a sexual one, much like a person pacing or fidgeting when emotionally overstimulated.

When a neutered adult suddenly becomes more testy or begins mounting, the most common causes are increased stress, changes in social dynamics, pain, medical discomfort, cognitive aging, or increased arousal levels, rather than diet. Even small environmental shifts, subtle tension between dogs, changes in routine, or underlying medical issues such as urinary discomfort, skin irritation, or endocrine disease like hypothyroidism can lower a dog’s emotional threshold. At eight years old, it is also wise to consider a medical evaluation, since behavior changes in mature dogs often have a physical component. The new wet food is unlikely to affect hormones, but if the addition increases calorie intake or palatability, it could contribute to higher energy or arousal in some individuals.

Because the behavior is creating tension in the group, early intervention is important. Managing arousal through increased mental enrichment, structured exercise, and calmly interrupting mounting before escalation can help, but a veterinary exam should be the first step to rule out medical causes. Think of this situation less as a hormonal surge and more as your dog’s emotional pressure valve opening, and the goal is to identify what is increasing that internal pressure so the household can return to a calm, balanced state. Good luck!

Dr. Paola

Help! My Dogs Won’t Stop Barking!

“I have 2 Hanesse. Benthic and Shelby. We just moved into an apartment, and both dogs are barking all the time. What barking device would work for both dogs? They are 9 years old.“ – Susan

Hi Susan,

When barking increases after a move, the behavior is usually driven by stress and uncertainty rather than disobedience. Your dogs are adjusting to a new environment filled with unfamiliar sounds, neighbors, and changes in routine, so they are reacting like sensitive alarm systems that have not yet learned what is normal. At nine years old, major changes can feel especially overwhelming, so the most effective approach is to help them feel secure and lower their overall stress level, rather than focusing only on stopping the noise.

A very helpful foundation in this situation is a calming pheromone diffuser, such as Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser. These release a synthetic version of the natural calming pheromone produced by mother dogs and can reduce stress-related behaviors, including excessive barking. Think of it as turning down the volume on their emotional alarm system so everyday apartment sounds feel less threatening. Most homes notice improvement within one to two weeks. This works best alongside predictable routines, daily exercise, enrichment, and background noise like a fan or white noise to soften hallway or neighbor sounds.

Before choosing a barking device, it is important to know that many tools, especially shock or harsh automatic ultrasonic systems, can increase anxiety and make barking worse over time, particularly in sensitive or older dogs. If you want a device, the safest options are humane handheld or collar-based ultrasonic or vibration trainers that interrupt the barking without pain. These work best when the barking is triggered by specific events rather than constant anxiety. Timing is essential. The interrupter should be used right as the barking begins, and the moment your dogs pause, calmly reward the quiet so they learn that calm behavior is what earns attention. Automatic room devices are often unreliable in apartments because walls, echoes, and multiple dogs can trigger them unpredictably. It helps to think of these tools as a brief pause button, not a solution, while the real progress comes from reducing triggers, building enrichment, and teaching that quiet brings good things. I hope this helps.

Dr. Paola