Weekly article archive
The following questions and answers have appeared in my weekly column in the Albuquerque Journal since July, 1996. Each week a new one is added. You'll find information on the physical and behavioral maladies of dogs and cats and a few other species too. I invite you to use the search feature to find the specific answer that you and your pet need.
The anxiety and blood pressure spikes of white coat syndrome aren’t fun for us. Most pets have the same problem.
You drag yourself through the door, after a long day, and in your face is the wreckage inflicted by your desperate and repentant dog. How do you feel? Angry, sad, guilty? Why is this happening? Where did you go wrong?
If you think your dog has separation anxiety you need to know if that’s what’s really happening or only a guess.
First in a series
Question:
I am trapped in my own home because of my Shih Tzu. He is a wonderful dog, but he goes bonkers when I leave. I have him caged because of his destructive behavior. Now he is sopping wet when I come home, panting his head off, his cage is all wet and his feet are a mess. Please help me, I love him.
Helping dogs who freak-out when home alone is complicated. Improvement requires lots of changes but do you have to completely ignore as you leave and return?
Question:
My daughter is an avid gardener. Local cats are attracted to her vegetable garden and use it as their litter box. I am concerned about her contracting toxoplasmosis. She wears gloves.
Startled by earsplitting blasts, many otherwise stable pets will endure almost continual panic this weekend. A freaked-out dog or cat needs serious relief from fear. I’ll make it easy for…
Question:
We have a neutered German shepherd/husky who is 2 years old. He never behaves aggressively with people outside our home but he will sometimes unpredictably nip people in our home without warning.
A dog who obeys fast and reliably can overcome the urge to lunge and bark and lose its mind on leash walks.