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Dangerous to Each Other & People Question: My 2 dogs have been together for 2.5 years. The female has always be passive before the male, however in the last month she has become extremely aggressive, taking his food, even growling when he attempts to get close to us. The male is now showing up with cuts from fights that are happening when we are gone. Dr. Nichol: Aggression between family dogs is common and potentially disastrous. The intensity of this type of hostility can advance fast, making early management essential. There are no simple solutions. Many cantankerous canine housemates compete…
Beware of Sugar Substitutes in Prepared Foods Did you know that dogs and cats are not little people in furry suits? They’re like us in a lot of ways. They snuggle, play, and talk to us, sometimes more than other people. Maybe that’s why we keep them as pets rather than, say, cockroaches or earthworms. Don’t assume too much. There are species differences that can lead to trouble. People food – especially the processed kind – can blindside you and your dog. A sugar substitute called xylitol is rapidly growing in popularity. It can show up in the most unexpected…
Kitties often Speak Non-Verbally Question: Having watched your Facebook Live on cats who fight, I wonder about how do two cats living in a house communicate with each other? Dr. Nichol: Cohabitating cats communicate almost continually. Sometimes referred to as socially asocial many could as easily survive alone as live in a feline colony. Genetically programmed for solitary hunting, our kitties are largely wild animals we keep as pets. Despite their rugged individualism, cats living in groups swap lots of information. They use body postures as signals in most cases. But if they’re pushed by the stresses of indoor confinement…
Be Wary: Serious Trouble may Lurk Question: What is your view of “cat grass?” Dr. Nichol: I have never used cat grass. I don’t eat it, smoke it, grow it or mow it. On the other hand, the two Nichol family cats, Tony and Gaston, are rather fiendish about it, almost like catnip. But they’re adults 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 that most cats would eat enough to predispose them to urinary disorders…
To Help: Find Out Why Question: About 6 months ago, our 15 year old Shih Tzu developed a new fear. We think he may have sun downer syndrome. Late afternoon he starts stretching his head way out and sniffing the air like crazy. Shortly after the sniffing starts, he begins to tremble violently. This usually goes on for an hour, sniffing and shaking. He always was afraid of thunder and gunshots/fireworks, but now he is deaf. We find no specific item that triggers this fear. Dr. Nichol: I’m sorry to learn of your Shih Tzu’s struggles. Older dogs, like elderly…
Fussy or Sick? Question: We have a dog that we have difficulty feeding. He is a very finicky eater. Most of the time he’ll eat frankfurters but nothing else. We began giving him those because we were afraid he would get sick not eating. What should we do to help him? Dr. Nichol: You may be the caretaker of a healthy dog who has conned you with common canine chicanery. By accepting only frankfurters he has reinforced your behavior. Turning up his nose when you have shown the temerity to offer him dog food has amounted to a punishment for…
Adopt Kittens in Pairs Question: I have always had a cat throughout my 60 years. Several months ago we lost our last cat and we were broken hearted. I would like to find two cats/kittens from the same litter. Would it be a problem finding two different kittens that would live together? We want a cat that would be inside only and who loves to be in our lap. Is that something that you train a cat to do (lap-sit)? Dr. Nichol: We all want pets who personify peace and tolerance, holding paws, singing kumbaya, and behaving more like pacifists…
Not a Road Map to Feline Health Tony is a 12 year old kitty who started fussing for food frequently. But when his family was petting him they realized that he wasn’t just being pesky. Despite packing away the groceries this feline senior was losing weight. On physical exam Tony’s heart rate was faster than normal. Palpation of his internal organs, including his thyroid glands, revealed nothing unusual. So I submitted a comprehensive blood profile. Cats with an AARP card (over age 10) should have an annual exam and lab profile including a thyroid screen. Last year Tony’s thyroid test,…
PTSD is Treatable Question: We have a golden retriever that was given to us when he was 1 1/2 years old. In his previous life, he was taken to two different classes where he was subjected to fear and pain through a shock collar. Ever since we have had him (15 months), he has terrible nightmares where he screams at the top of his lungs in fear. They occur 3-8 times a month. Otherwise he is a great dog and very happy during his waking hours. Is there anything we can do to eliminate “the night demons” from giving him…
Neutering is Best Question: Recently a neighbor got a dog from a shelter and “Rowdy” was a what ‘appeared’ to be an intact male. But the new owner said that was how males can be neutered now, just ‘clipped’ but not the testicles removed. I thought the idea of neutering was to not only prevent breeding but also to reduce prostate cancer? Is this the new neutering procedure for male dogs and how now can one tell if a male dog has been neutered? Dr. Nichol: Your neighbor may be confusing surgical removal of the testicles with a vasectomy or…