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Question: I inherited my mom’s cat, a Main Coon, after she passed away. He was a kitten then, and has lived with me for 15 years. A year ago, he developed a “swelling” on his cheek. It subsided in one week, but since then he has refused to use his litter box. Otherwise, he is amazingly healthy considering his advanced age. I’m pretty sure that he’s no longer “trainable” regarding his litter box, but I still respect his right to live and don’t believe in euthanizing him until the time comes just because he’s old. Dr. Nichol: Your kindness for this senior citizen is a gift for both of you. His house soiling is not a training issue but rather an important symptom. Painful arthritic joints could be making it hard for him to struggle into his litter pan. It’s also possible that his tired old kidneys are producing so…
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Here is Mick, the Nichol family’s long-awaited new puppy, having a wonderful time with his first vegetable-based chip. At 8 weeks old he isn’t crazy about his new collar and leash but one must adapt. We call him Mick because he rocks! We are already in love with the little rascal.
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Question: This cat found us. She is part of the Community Cat program here in El Paso. She is not feral; she is a stray and very social with humans. She’s around 5 according to our veterinarian. We are trying to acclimate her to an indoor environment. We also have an older cat who is 13 years old. She is being territorial, growling, hissing, and chasing the new cat, “Baby.” For correcting we’ve been using the water bottle and training calming collar with treats. Should we buy a cat tree house? Dr. Nichol: You are right that your resident cat is being territorial. She is also being scared. Kitties who’ve been the only cats in their homes, into their golden years, don’t generally welcome newcomers with open arms. Your geezer wants the new kid on the next stage outa town. According to the El Paso Animal Services website, “Community Cats…
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Some dogs hate to be groomed. But a hungry dog can earn tasty treats while lying still for gentle brushing. Sitting on the floor, rather than leaning over, will help reduce nervousness. Start out slow, keep sessions short, and maintain the food flow. With young Mick we wait until he’s sleepy. If he gets antsy the dog biscuits stop and the brush gets stowed. There’s no point in struggling.
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Last in a series
Brains are certainly interesting. Parts of their anatomy, and the chemicals that conduct their complex work, can change during life. Practice makes perfect because repetition through the neural circuits upstairs makes them stronger. Neuroplasticity is the name for these gradual modifications that can transform behaviors and physical functions.
Our dogs should always come when called, whether they’re sitting and looking at us or when they’re heading off in another direction. Don’t get frustrated when ignored; train in baby steps that your pupster can understand. Mick has gotten pretty good at the recall command – when he’s already paying attention. But when he’s away from home, well, other priorities can get in the way. That isn’t OK but let’s not lose our patience. While allowing him to forge ahead on-leash he knows he can sniff and investigate at his leisure. But when I say, “Mick, Come!” I can enforce the command without having set my dog up for a mistake. Just after I give the command, I back up as I pull the leash. That’s Mick’s reminder that, “Oh yea, I can get a treat and a hug and a kiss just by turning around and happily returning to…
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Third in a series Compulsive disorders are a harsh reality for anybody who is saddled by a literally uncontrollable requirement to engage in repetitive, (stereotypic) behaviors. Most are related to somewhat normal activities, but they’re exaggerated, serving no useful purpose. They’re regarded as ritualistic because the sequences appear the same each time. And they may continue for a long time, and are usually difficult or impossible to interrupt. Well-intentioned people have tried all manner of corrections, along with attempts to redirect the mental focus of these sad pets. They are wasting everybody’s time and energy while repetition strengthens the responsible neural pathways in the brain. Until dogs like Milo are treated appropriately, they get worse. The underlying problem in this poor little guy’ noggin needed the best modern medicine had to offer. Milo’s compulsive attention to his rear end is rooted in his brain’s anatomy. He has a dysfunction called…
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Mick is only a kid. He’s not ready to be trusted to behave if we leave him loose in the house at night. A dog is a denning creature but a puppy needs to go there when his folks tell him to. So that he isn’t forced (he’d quickly learn to hate it) he gets to choose. I made it easy for Mick by rewarding each baby step with a tiny treat. As he walked into the crate I “captured” the behavior by saying, “Mick, Crate!” You’ll see later how he follows the command without argument.
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Second in a series Quiz: Why did Milo chase and bite his tail? a) He was bored b) Attention-seeking c) He was compulsive d) He needed a different home Milo’s repeated biting of his tail had resulted in a rapidly advancing wound. When I first met this sweet little guy it was immediately clear that his two previous surgeries, while well-intentioned attempts to the eliminate infected tissue, accomplished nothing. His agitation, spinning, growling, and biting at the more recent amputation site only triggered another raging infection. Repetitive behaviors and self-mutilation are not newly recognized in dogs but recent research has brought the cause to light, allowing us to get our arms around most of these cases. Milo’s attention to his tail didn’t start with the swelling, infection, and self-inflicted injury; it began in his brain. Tackling the underlying cause for his overwhelming need to twist and snap would take months.…
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