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!

Can You Breed a Big Dog with a Small Dog?

“Can you have a Belgian Shepherd with a Chihuahua?” – Riley

Hi Riley,

That is a very fair question. A Belgian Shepherd and a Chihuahua can absolutely live together, but it works best when everyone understands their differences, much like a bicycle sharing the road with a truck. They can go in the same direction and do just fine, as long as speed, space, and boundaries are respected. Calm introductions, supervision during play, and teaching the larger dog to move gently are essential because even friendly enthusiasm from a big body can overwhelm a tiny one. Think of it as teaching two dogs to speak the same language despite very different accents. Positive reinforcement, protected rest areas for the smaller dog, and controlled interactions help build trust and safety.

Breeding a Belgian Shepherd with a Chihuahua, however, raises serious welfare concerns and is not considered responsible or ethical. The extreme size difference creates significant risks for the female dog, particularly if the Chihuahua is the dam, as pregnancy and whelping could be life-threatening. Even if the larger dog is the dam, orthopedic, neurologic, and developmental issues can arise in offspring due to mismatched skeletal and growth patterns. Responsible breeding prioritizes health, predictability, and preservation of functional structure, not novelty. I hope this explains.

– Dr. Paola

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Help! My Dog Won’t Stp Whining!

“Dear Dr. Paola,

How do I get Minnie to stop whining? She mostly does it because she’s afraid of our ceiling fan and sometimes doesn’t want to enter the room when it’s on – but sometimes she does, so we just leave it on. But, if she’s in a mood where she doesn’t want to enter, she just stands at the door and whines, and could go on for hours, until we turn the fan off. It’s fun.” – Lyle

Hello Lyle.

Whining in this situation is best understood as Minnie communicating discomfort rather than being stubborn or dramatic. For some dogs, a ceiling fan can be unsettling because of the combination of movement, shadows, and low-level noise, similar to how a flickering light can be mildly annoying to one person and deeply distressing to another. When Minnie stands at the doorway and vocalizes, she is telling you that entering the room feels unsafe to her in that moment. Allowing her to whine for extended periods without addressing the underlying fear can unintentionally reinforce her anxiety, even if she sometimes tolerates the fan on other occasions.

The most effective and humane approach is gradual desensitization paired with positive reinforcement training. Instead of waiting for her to push through fear, start with the fan off and reward calm, voluntary entry into the room, then gradually introduce the fan at its lowest setting for very short periods while pairing it with something she finds highly rewarding. Over time, this teaches her nervous system that the fan predicts good things rather than threats. Forcing exposure by leaving the fan on until she gives up is similar to asking someone with a fear of elevators to stand outside one indefinitely; it does not build confidence, it builds stress.

If the fan is not essential, turning it off when she is clearly distressed is not giving in; it is responding appropriately to a fear-based behavior. As progress is made, her confidence should increase, and the whining should fade naturally. If the behavior persists or intensifies, please remember we are one click away to help guide a structured plan for you so that you can help Minnie feel safe while learning to cope more comfortably with her environment.

Best,

– Dr. Paola

Help! My Two Dog’s Have Completely Different Reactions to Food!

“Hey Dr. Paola,

We have two dogs – Tippy is a mutt, pardon the language, but a mix of all kinds, probably a lab, some sort of terrier, and maybe another couple in there, but so hard to tell. He has a stomach made of iron and eats things he shouldn’t all the time and never has so much as a stinky fart.

Everything works fine, and he’s happy (we obviously discourage this behavior, but it’s still wild to see). Then, Tino, a purebred Labrador, gets an upset tummy just by looking at something that’s not for him. I exaggerate – he has no allergies, but if he does happen to try to enjoy a dead rabbit on the farm like Tippy, he gets diarrhea. Wondering if there’s any correlation between mutts and purebreds when it comes to digestive issues. ”  – Isla

Hi Isla,

What you are observing with Tippy and Tino is something veterinarians hear often, and it has a solid biological explanation. Digestive tolerance is influenced by genetics, early diet, and the gut microbiome, which is the population of bacteria living in the intestines. Dogs with mixed ancestry often inherit a wider range of digestive traits, and this genetic diversity can sometimes translate into a more adaptable gastrointestinal system, much like a well-traveled stomach that has learned to handle different cuisines. That does not make them invincible, but it can make reactions less dramatic when dietary indiscretions occur.

Purebred dogs, including Labradors, are selectively bred for specific traits, and that process can unintentionally narrow genetic diversity in systems unrelated to appearance or temperament, including digestion. Labradors are well documented in veterinary literature as tending to dietary sensitivity and food-related gastrointestinal signs, even in the absence of true allergies or disease. This does not mean something is wrong with Tino; it simply reflects how his gut responds more predictably and less flexibly to sudden changes, spoiled material, or high-fat items like carrion.

The important takeaway is that neither dog should be allowed to test the limits of their digestive system, even if one appears to tolerate poor choices better than the other. A resilient gut today does not guarantee protection from pancreatitis, obstruction, or infection later on. Managing both dogs as if they have sensitive digestion is the safest long-term approach.

Regards,

– Dr. Paola