Subscriber Archive
Question: Our longtime neighbor got a dog last year, but has not, it appears, had it trained to not bark when it goes out 4 to 6 am, and 11 pm, waking us up. We get along just fine, but the dog wakes us up DAILY from a deep sleep. Our bedroom is on the same side of the house (there is a fence) where her dog goes. What can we do without alienating our neighbor? Dr. Nichol: You sound cranky and you are not alone; barking is among the most common complaints to animal control departments. We all want it to stop. You could write to Dear Abby but she may not be aware that dogs are highly social creatures who communicate a lot. Those who bark excessively are doing it for a reason. This dog’s nightly verbal catharses might diminish with consistent punishment but his underlying motivation would…
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This fledgling hawk looks big enough to fly solo and catch rodents on the run but she’s still just a youngster. Mom was nearby, communicating freely. We think words of encouragement. We encountered this refreshing wildlife in Albuquerque’s Open Space. Nobody seemed concerned about Mick Nichol, the silly Border collie puppy.
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Give ‘em a Break & Keep them Safe Thanksgiving is great fun, isn’t it? Turkey, Tofurkey, pie, football, libations. Keep an eye on your pets. Barking or tense body postures around visitors, hiding, freezing with ears flattened, head low, tail tucked, and startling at noises are important clues. Some scared dogs lick their lips and yawn; cats might over-groom. Our pets need a refuge from the action. Hide boxes for kitties and out-of-the-way resting areas for dogs allow them to sit out the politics. Food toys loaded with canned or dry food will focus your pupster’s brain on natural scavenging while you party hearty in the other room. You can download music that promotes calming alpha brain waves, called Through a Dog’s Ear or Through a Cat’s Ear. Preempt the heebie jeebies by mixing Zylkene, a supplement that reduces mild-moderate anxiety, in your dog’s or cat’s food starting a couple…
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Out-of-control behavior in a dog of any age can drive you crazy. Reprimands and physical corrections teach nothing, except more intense agitation. Instead, you can “redirect” your kid to earn an immediate reinforcer (a click) and a food reward. She’d much work for you than annoy you anyway. Here is step 1 of target and clicker training.
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Question: We are heading to Puerto Vallarta for a two week vacation. We have a sweet 1 year old girl cat. She is extremely bonded with my wife and seems a little anxious when left alone. So far, she has only been left alone for a few hours at a time. We can’t decide if we should board her or have someone come into our home daily to feed her. My wife is anxious about leaving her. Please help us so we can feel our girl is well cared for and we can relax and enjoy our vacation! Dr. Nichol: You are kind to consider your cat’s wellbeing while you are away. She is strongly bonded to your wife but, like any cat, she may be even more attached to her territory (your home). Considering her issues with separation distress, even when her life is normal, she could get significantly…
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While hiking a jungle in Panama I stopped and watched quietly. Along came an agouti, a gentle rodent, who completely ignored me while foraging for nuts and fruit. Similar to capybara, the biggest rodents, agouti can get as chunky as 11#. I would estimate this one at about 8#. He did not regard me as a threat but if monkeys or crocodiles had been nearby, he might have been their lunch.
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Question: I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is nine. Recently over the last two weeks he developed an involuntary what I would call muscle spasm. I can see it in his upper body and through his back when he is sitting and when he is laying down. He doesn’t appear to be in distress. I am not sure what to do. Dr. Nichol: This is worrisome. There are several possible causes for neck and back pain in small dogs but your boy’s genetics may be an important clue. Nearly 100% of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have some degree of abnormal alignment of their skull and the vertebrae in their necks. Called Chiari-like malformation syndrome, this defect can result in fluid accumulation in the spinal cord near the base of the skull. When this complication, syringomyelia, occurs we see neck pain often with muscle spasms, an abnormal gait, and…
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Question: We have a fuzzy cat named Jimmy. He’s 12 years old and he started to hesitate before jumping onto the furniture. His veterinarian shot x-rays of his hips and showed us his arthritis. He got a new treatment called Solensia for his pain. Now, in the last few weeks, he’s had nasty, open, scabby areas on his neck and one on his face. Dr. Nichol: Cats are famous for skin problems but, hey, who isn’t? Those lesions on Jimmy’s head and neck are suspicious for eosinophilic granuloma complex, an itchy allergy symptom. They can also appear on the underside of a cat’s abdomen, their thighs, chin, lips, and even their foot pads. These kitties do a lot of scratching. They look rough and they’re not happy. Guesswork is not the path to health, especially with chronic conditions. Ask your veterinarian to examine a skin scraping under the microscope. Finding…
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There are so many things to see and sniff outside the home territory. It’s more than just natural for dogs to investigate everything; reading the bulletin boards and posting messages is essential to who they are. But for part of a leash walk they can work for us. They can earn reinforcers, like treats, just for doing the right thing – like watching their leader. Dogs should check with their leader for opportunities to earn resources like food. As Carolyn walks with Mick next to her, she hands him a tid bit every now and then because she sees him watching her. She tells him to “Watch” to get his attention, setting him up to succeed. As soon as he looks at her he gets the treat. (You don’t hear her voice because our footsteps were too noisy.) Notice that spring in Mick’s step? He’s having a good time. After…
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