Subscriber Archive
Do you have a 4-legged pooper scooper? Get the lowdown on why some dogs eat stool and what you can do about this most odious habit.
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Shouldn’t a cat, who’s livin’ the feline dream at your house, crave the answer to this age-old question? They do, sort of. It matters what the person wants but it’s about the cat’s needs too.
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Question: We were heartbroken when Oliver, our black Lab, passed after developing bone cancer. Even our 10 year old kitty Oriole got along with him. We adopted a chocolate Lab female puppy “Tootsie” who is frisky as all get-out. Life would be so peaceful if Oriole accepted her! But no! He brutalizes her, scares the h— out of her. The puppy stays safely in a cage at night but it is a constant vigil to ensure Oriole doesn’t maul Miss T. Our hope is that once Tootsie gets larger than kitty, she will stand up to him. Dr. Nichol: My condolences over your loss of good Oliver. He sounds like a gentleman. Now Oriole brutalizes Tootsie, scaring the “heck” out of her? Such salty language. You could have said the “dickens.” You are right to be concerned. The developing neural circuitry in Tootsie’s immature brain can be permanently altered by…
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Question: My cat is 17 months old. He is a neutered male named Woody. He is a very nice kitty but not a cuddler. He is obsessed with chewing fabric, especially cotton fabric. We have tried to keep cloth away from him. Our veterinarian has started a fluoxetine trial. What will be the endpoint? Do we try to reintroduce a piece of fabric and see what he does? We already have holes in our clothes. Dr Nichol: You are being socially responsible in getting Woody’s problem under control. Trying to explain to an arresting officer that your cat ate your clothes just won’t fly; they’ve seen and heard it all. Often called wool sucking, chewing any fabric is a true compulsive disorder of cats. It’s hereditary in “oriental” breeds like Siamese, Himalayans, and Burmese but not all of them do it. Others, including mixed bred kitties like yours, can be…
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Mouthing? Teething? Playful nipping? Or is that youngster snarling and lunging? Get control now – without punishment or fear.
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Question: My 1 1/2 year old yellow Lab poops and pees in the house, sometimes after being taken outside multiple times and doing nothing out there. She knows she’s not supposed to potty inside; I can always tell by her “guilt” walk. I’ve never hit her, of course, but she is scolded and clearly knows she’s in trouble. Dr. Nichol: It’s a vicious cycle: crime, punishment, guilt, repeat. Your dog wants to do the right thing but she just isn’t clear on the concept. Many pet parents believe that the guilty look is proof of their dog’s stubbornness. We know from behavioral research that it’s actually the person’s angry body signaling that triggers the “perp walk.” Your Lab is stressed because she sees no escape. At bedtime give this big girl a loaded food toy in a small room, like a bathroom. First thing the next morning lead her on-leash…
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Threats and innuendo between family dogs can quickly cross the line. Fighting over who gets more attention worsens with equal treatment.
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Question:
I have a 3 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He has been getting aggressive towards my other two dogs about his food.
Yowling, urinating, maybe even some in-the-crate defecating: Are we having fun yet? The anxiety and misery our traveling cats feel, often on the way to the veterinary clinic, needs to lighten-up. But opting-out of medical care shortens lives.
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