Subscriber Archive
Research on cats and dogs in households with confirmed human infections found that a minority of pets got infected. Will they be OK? How about the rest of the family?
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A Fecal Exam may Reveal the Cause Question: My 5 month old adopted kitten is Pimienta “Pimi” and she is such a good girl. I waited for a kitten that chose me and it is the best thing I have done because she is so cute and she sees me as her mummy (I think). At the beginning Pimienta drunk water from the bowl but now she just wants to drink from the tap. I’m worried she won’t drink enough. The other problem is that she farts. This is obviously very disgusting. Her veterinarian suggested a diet change. Dr. Nichol: Pimi sounds like a sweet kitty with an odiferous social handicap. Flatulence (farting) is normal in moderation. Breaking wind “to beat the band” is an unhealthy symptom. While Pimi’s diet may be at fault I am more suspicious of a parasite or an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. I suggest submitting…
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Dogs who are happy to follow instructions are a pleasure to have as your best friend. But a lot of them just don’t seem clear on the concept. Spare the frustration.
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Simplify the Politics Question: We adopted a jenny to be a buddy for our elderly horse. At first she was happy to share food, but with time and confidence she has become rather bossy. I have to lock her out of the shelter at feeding time or she would aggressively devour the horse’s food. When he is done she can go in, but will state her displeasure by peeing the place up. Dr. Nichol: Horses and their ilk (including donkeys) are social creatures who generally do best in groups. But confinement to a pen or even a generous-sized pasture, in some cases, can set the stage for bad behavior. Lower ranking animals have no escape. Whether we’re talking dogs, cats, equines, or humans, crowding and close confinement are crazy-making. Your elderly gentleman needs a break from his pesky little companion. There is more than boredom to blame for this young…
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Some puppies are quick learners; others struggle to get clear on the concept. Don’t let frustration damage you and your canine youngster.
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Improvising Indoor Cat Question: My grandmother and I got my cat Remus in September. In the last few months he has been causing major problems by tearing up our toilet paper. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can break him of this bad habit? Dr. Nichol: Toilet paper???!!! Remus is a naughty cat. Have you tried scolding or spanking? I hope not. Punishment would damage your friendship with him and it wouldn’t change his behavior anyway. Remus is a normal cat (I was joking about him being naughty) whose claws must be maintained and put to use. Kitties make excellent companions but they have behavioral requirements beyond snuggling and batting catnip toys around the house. Beneath Remus’s fuzzy exterior beats the heart of a ruthless predator. He has adapted to life with humans but he is still a wild animal with an essential need to stalk, hunt,…
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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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House Rules & Freedom to Move Question: I just brought home an 8 week old puppy and want to ensure the best possible crate training. It’s been 4 days, however he is still having accidents. I believe the crate may be too big. How do you recommend starting a new puppy out when they need to have their space and for potty training? Dr. Nichol: Teaching a shiny new puppy how to find the bathroom can be challenging. Momma cleans up after her infants but as the kids mature their genetic programming motivates them not to soil their living area. This isn’t easy for everybody. A recent study confirmed that small breed dogs can be a lot harder, if not impossible, to fully housetrain. If you’re a Chihuahua person you already know this, not that I’m pointing fingers. Free-living dogs face hardships but they have canine-specific choices. Like having their…
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Puppies can be out-of-control on leash walks. Some are panicked. Forget corrections and jerks.
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