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Every fearful pet is different. Genetics is often the big culprit but life’s traumas can be another major factor. Dogs who’ve been abused, predictably avoid or react badly to their perpetrator but not toward others of that sex. It turned out that before meeting Richard, Evie had only lived with women. From day one in her new home, this dog was a nervous wreck, especially when the big guy lumbered around, rattling the windows with his normal booming voice. Getting in touch with his feminine side was one solution but poor Evie was on-edge, ready to lose her mind, most of the time anyway. The diagnosis was generalized anxiety disorder. Rehearsing a behavior strengthens the supporting neural circuits in the brain. That’s why practice makes perfect. The upshot for Evie was that she could only improve if she stopped reacting to Richard’s movements, not to mention the myriad of everyday…
These splendid birds arrive every fall in our beautiful state. Many folks drive to Bosque del Apache to get a glimpse but we can enjoy these almost prehistoric creatures up close at the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque’s North valley. If you listen carefully you will hear my family chatting on our Thanksgiving hike. Sorry about that. Crane-speak is more interesting.
Second in a series Despite her struggles, Evie was a fun dog, throwing her toys around and then treating them like puppies. Vicky and Richard were strongly bonded to her. They were willing to do whatever was necessary to help her feel better. Pet parents manage with whatever information they can find. Evie’s folks worried about her damaging their house when they were away so they confined her to a crate. After I advised them to set up a surveillance camera they realized that their dog was not as sanguine as they had thought. Videos showed her barking frantically as she lurched around her wire cage. Returning home they found her shrieking with wild abandon. Sometimes the crate wasn’t where it started. The peanut butter-stuffed Kong, intended as a distraction, sat undisturbed. Evie’s overwhelming joy when bolting for freedom took 15 minutes to subside. Richard and Vicky were saddened by…
Mick is learning to earn the privilege of a walk. He wants to wear his new Gentle Leader head halter because he knows he’ll have a good time. He’s not quite ready to walk long distances with it. He’s still getting used to the feel of it on his face but he doesn’t have to think about it much because he’s busy working to earn reinforcers. We want him to forget it’s there. One step at a time.
First in a series Evie was a 5 year old cattle dog when we met. Now she’s 7 but she’s still a cattle dog. Vicky and Richard adopted her from a foster home when she was 2. Now they needed help. Evie was barking, chasing, and sometimes snapping at Richard when he moved. He’s a good guy. He deserved better. There was more unhappy history. Vicky worked from home and reported Evie being relatively calm – until 3 PM. Like clockwork this dog sat near the door, anxiously anticipating Richard’s arrival. The intense barking and jumping that greeted him daily had been rehearsed many hundreds of times. After about 15 minutes the histrionics subsided. Evie then ran to her bed in Vicky’s home office. Richard could finally approach and safely pet this somewhat less wigged-out dog. Even when the big guy was away, Evie wasn’t truly normal, moving about the…
Most of us are nervous at the doctor’s office and so are our pets. Some get fearful and defensive. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Question: One of our higher-density foster homes has a cat who had a UTI, which has now cleared up after medication. She is now on gabapentin, but is still not always using the litter box. They are using Feliway and isolating her from the other cats, but things are slow to improve. Dr. Nichol- There is a flip side to the kindness invested in fostering homeless pets. Cats living with strangers, in a crowded environment, are prone to severe stress. Subtle bullying and intimidation often lead to fighting, house soiling, and physical symptoms like sneezing, eye discharge, and the frequent passing of small urine volumes anywhere. Over 64% of cats with urinary symptoms, including soiling, have feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) – a chronic inflammatory bladder disease caused by stress. The near continual release of adrenalin from their brains damages the integrity of their bladder walls. Symptoms usually last for 3-7 days…
Mick is our family dog, an active Border collie. Like others of his ilk his brain is genetically programmed to herd (normally sheep) by stalking them. This innate behavior is rooted in predation but these dogs don’t bite or kill. This squirrel didn’t know any of this but it was clear that no silly Border collie was going to drive him into a pen. Not even the squirrel’s feelings were hurt in the making of this video.
Your dog wants nothing to do with fleas because they’d make her itch. What she’s unaware of is that these narrow-bodied little broad jumpers can carry tapeworms and plague. She doesn’t want ticks either. Those nasty blood suckers are vectors for Lyme disease and several blood parasites. All of this can be avoided with effective prevention but there may be a downside. What if you could made this simpler with a once yearly injection? Get an email reminder and bring your pupster to her doctor. Bravecto Quantum is new and it works. The active ingredient, fluralaner, has a proven record of efficacy but, in a small number of cases, neurological side effects like seizures, muscle tremors, and staggering have occurred. You may already be giving this insecticide, found in the shorter-acting (12 week duration) Bravecto chewable tablets and Bravecto topical (spot-on). Merck Animal Health has conducted multiple studies on Bravecto Quantum,…