Subscriber Archive
First in a series Lots of the pets I’ve treated have lived with horses, cattle, chickens, and goats. And flies. So many flies that fly paper, fly traps, and fly poison are freely deployed in a war of epic proportions. These pests are damaging to creatures great and small. I had just finished examining and vaccinating a cocker spaniel puppy named “Joe” when I attempted friendly conversation with his person, a hirsute young man, of about 25. I asked how he’d chosen his puppy’s name. He hesitated, peering at me from under his bushy mop as though I was dense. Finally he muttered, “Joe Cocker, man.” Oh. I hadn’t made the connection. Martha, the rock of our client service desk, was always at the top of her game. As I emerged from the exam room, feeling not so bright, she took charge. Greg Trujillo had just called about his Newfoundland.…
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We love our pets like little people in furry suits – that’s the way I feel about mine. But if we’re going to get the calm behavior we want we need to speak their language. That includes predictability. If your dog has an anxiety problem – like so many people, that pupster needs a reliable structure. I know you can do this. Believe it or not, we’re actually smarter than our dogs.
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Question: My 7 year old Australian Shepherd is difficult to take out in public. If someone walks too close, she will jump up at them with mouth open and has scratched people. On the other hand, if a dog comes at her in a threatening manner, she stands still seeming to expect me to protect her. Dr. Nichol: Open mouth, jumping-up, without a growl or snap, sounds like an exuberant, life-of-the-party animal. Missing any sense of personal boundaries, your Aussie tries to get all over her new friends like a cheap suit. That leash in your hand is part of the problem. Our dogs certainly need safe management but getting pulled and jerked by the neck or chest doesn’t fit their genetic programming. Some adapt anyway; others get agitated and may bite. Rather than trying to power through these embarrassing tests of wills you can set your pupster up for…
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Do you have a talkative kitty? One who has more to say than ever before? There may be good reason for all that yakking/complaining/crying.
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Question: We recently adopted a cat, Lulu. Our two older dogs are OK with her however, our young dog, Sparky, wants to chase her. He is just too eager and excited about Lulu. Is it possible to change his behavior or are we fighting doggie instincts here? Dr. Nichol: We love our dogs and cats like family but they are not little people in furry suits. They are members of different species who come genetically programmed as, well, dogs and cats. They are predators who may or may not engage their inner savages. Sparky is high-status and confident. He can’t ignore Lulu. He may be dangerous for her. Sparky’s hostility would appear hard-wired, considering his predatory reactions toward your good kitty. But his brain is more than just a collection of DNA. Had he snuggled with friendly felines as a canine infant and toddler his current attitude would be to accept…
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Cats can be cranky, pesky, and a bit snarky with other pets. Scolding and water spraying doesn’t teach them better behavior. Instead of reacting badly, kitties can have fun with their people by working for clicks and food.
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Question: What is your view of “cat grass?” Dr. Nichol: I’ve never used cat grass. I don’t eat it, grow it, mow it, or smoke it. On the other hand, the Nichol family cat, Gaston, is rather fiendish about it, almost like catnip. But he’s an adult, so I mind my own business. From a scientific perspective, there isn’t much known about cat grass. Ingested plant material tends to alkalinize the body but veterinary internists and nutritionists don’t believe most cats would eat enough to predispose them to urinary disorders like bladder crystals and stones. Consuming cat grass is most likely a harmless feline oddity. The more interesting question is why an obligate predator would consume a vegetarian side dish in the first place. Through my many years in veterinary practice I have known a whole lot of cats who’ve experienced stomach and intestinal upset. They don’t all vomit but…
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Horses and dogs communicate with us – even if we don’t notice. They can love what we do and repay us with joy or they can react badly. Smart dogs and angry horses have lessons for us.
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Question: I hope you can help me and my cat “Lucky,” who I adopted 8 months ago. He is 5 years old and weighs 16#. He hides under the furniture and attacks my feet and tries to bite my ankles as I walk by. If I ignore his screams for food he’ll sit on the back of the sofa and hit my head with his paws. If I ignore that he will bite my head. He never cuddles or sits in my lap. I have thought of declawing and maybe having his teeth filed down. If I get another cat I’m afraid he’ll be mean to it. I am 75 years old and have multiple orthopedic replacement parts. Dr. Nichol: I agree that Lucky may treat another cat shabbily, much like his predatory behavior toward you. You could escape his crosshairs by importing a mischief of mice. Does serving up…
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