ALICE  ANSWERS

Below are the answers to some of the questions that people commonly ask Alice.  If you would like more information, or if you have a question of your own, please contact our office or email us by visiting the Ask Alice page of our website. 

Also, if I provide an outdoor shelter for her, would that technically make her my cat?

By the way, how can I train my dog to stop barking and to stop "freaking out" when the cat is around?  Thanks! (01/07)

A:  First, I want to caution you that because of the disease potential NEVER touch or allow your pets to come into direct contact with a stray animal (even if it appears healthy and friendly). There is no easy way to tell if a stray has an owner. Some towns have helpful animal control officers that can catch the animal, advise you, scan the animal for a microchip, and check for a tattoo. I cannot advise you about the laws. You should again contact animal control. If your local ACO will not get involved, there are also a few organizations that will safely trap (using a Have-a-Heart trap), have the cat spayed or neutered and vaccinated and then relocated or placed. Pleae call humane organizations to research this.

The next thing to do is to start asking your neighbors. You can even try to take a photo of the cat to post in the neighborhood. Remember a feline can view its territory to be quite large and it may be a few miles from home.

About your dog `freaking out' as you say, the trick is to make sure you are outside with your dog. You have to catch the dog before he alerts to the cat (or anything else) and redirect his attention to something more inviting. A very high value reward is important. I highly recommend the book Click to Calm by Emma Parsons. While this book is meant for the aggressive dog, the author describes in detail excellent techniques for the `emergency recall', as well as other methods to redirect your dog.

Best of luck to you, and thank you for writing.

Alice

Q: My Tibetan Terrier is losing his eyesight. It is almost completely gone but he still barks for no real reason. Is it something that he thinks he sees? I NEED a solution!

Thank you. (01/07)

A:  More than likely, the barking is a symptom of anxiety. You have not stated how old your dog is or if the loss of vision is sudden or gradual. I am assuming that you are already working with your veterinarian regarding your dog's health issues. If your dog is older, we sometimes see random barking associated with dementia in dogs. If not, most dogs do quite well without their eyesight once they adapt. If the change is a sudden one, it is not surprising that there would be some confusion for him, therefore creating anxiety. It is also possible that if he is seeing things as shadows, they look very intimidating. The best thing you can do for your dog is to find many things to keep him busy (for example, a Kong stuffed with his favorite things and frozen so it will last longer). I also recommend you find a T-touch practitioner (Tellington touch) who can teach you massage techniques to help decrease the anxiety. You can also try an anxiety wrap as part of the T-touch work. I have seen many, many animals with severe behavior issues benefit from this work.

Involve your veterinarian. He/she may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for short-term use, or you may also explore some of the holistic anxiety approaches with the help of your pet's doctor.

Remember to reward all quiet behavior.

Wishing you luck,

Alice

Q: My dog is 3 years old and he wont stop messing in his crate. He wont mess in the house. He's a rescue from a bad situation, and I think that this behavior is from the puppyhood experiences he had. Is there a way to break him of this messy habit? (12/06)

A: I certainly can understand your frustration, and sadly many pet owners give up animals that are difficult to train. The good news is that with some work and understanding of the specific situation, you should be able to get your dog to stay clean. First, involve your veterinarian. Before any behavior problem can be addressed, the pet must have a complete physical to rule out all underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to the problem. The next step would be to schedule an appointment to work with a behavior consultant or trainer. You will probably be asked to keep a diary of your pet's behavior, and a complete behavioral history will be needed. At your meeting, a behavior modification plan will be discussed and if necessary, we will work with your pet's veterinarian when medical intervention is needed.

There are many things that can cause elimination behavior problems in pets. These range from anxieties to poor training and early learning. You stated that your dog does not have accidents in the house. Is that also true when you are not home? If so, the solution might be as simple as removing the crate and giving the dog an alternative space. Some dogs are crate phobic, especially if they have had traumatic experiences. I don't have much information to go on, but you said your dog is a rescue from a bad situation. Was the dog left in a crate or cage for long periods of time? If so, it is possible that it has learned that this is where he is supposed to eliminate. Retraining these dogs takes a very long time, but it is possible.

I strongly encourage you to make an appointment for your dog with both your veterinarian, and a behaviorist or trainer. In the meantime, here are some things to try:

 - Keep your dog on a strict schedule. Dogs thrive on monotony. Feed, walk, play and train as close to the same times every day as you can. If your dog can anticipate the next "potty break", it will be more likely to hold it.

 - Make sure the crate you are using is appropriately sized for your dog. The dog should be able to stand and lie down comfortably in his crate.

 - Do not make a production out of leaving, or putting the dog in the crate. No goodbyes. This can start a cycle of anxiety or panic.

 - If the crate is dirty when you arrive home, don't make a big deal out of it. This will cause the dog panic the next time it is crated. Just remove the dog, and clean the crate.

 - If your dog is not a chewer, try using old towels that can easily be washed to make the crate more comfortable.

 - Give the dog a Kong toy stuffed with his/her favorite filling, and other toys to chew. Also, leave a radio on a quiet classical music station.

Remember, patience and consistency will pay off. Good Luck.

Q: My dog periodically eats the poop of my other two dogs. She used to only do this in the winter when found frozen. She now will eat fresh poop, which is disgusting. I have tried the powders recommended by my veterinarian and that seems to work for a short time, and then the cycle begins again. What causes this, and can you suggest a remedy? (12/06)

A: This behavior is far more common that people realize. It is one of those disgusting dog habits that many owners deal with. I get asked questions similar to yours on a regular basis. Coprophagia (stool eating) is usually just a behavioral problem. Again, as I have said before, you must make sure your dog is healthy by getting your veterinarian involved. In rare cases, there can be an underlying medical factor. You may have heard or read that dogs do this because they are missing something in their diet. This is only true if the dog is sick and has a decrease in his/her ability to absorb nutrients from food.

To answer what causes this, there are a few theories. It is very common in puppies, and females that are submissive. Some believe it is a behavior that is learned by mimicking in early stages of puppyhood by observing the way mom cleans the puppies. The most common reason for this behavior to continue is to get attention. Dogs don't always care if attention is good or bad, and sometimes our reactions reinforce bad behaciors. If at any time you tried to discourage your dog from doing this, she may have learned that this was a behavior that got attention.

The most effective way to solve a coprophagia problem is to prevent it. This means going out with the dogs individually and picking up the stool immediately. By never allowing the behavior to occur, over a period of time it will become extinct. Meaning, it will no longer be an attention rewarding behavior. Alternatively, you can try giving the dogs different elimination areas (not allowing the coprophagic dog access to the other dog's areas). Or you can continue to use deterrent products on a regular basis, following your veterinarian's guidelines.

Q: I was thinking about getting my child a pet for Christmas this year. Do you have any suggestions?  (10/06)

A: Yes. For an introduction to the concept of pet ownership, I think the invention of cyber pets for children is a wonderful idea. It is a way for your child to learn about the responsibility of having a pet without much work on your part. Another possibility is a small goldfish aquarium for the family to enjoy. To expand on this subject, if you do decide to go ahead with the idea of adding a pet to your family, you must be prepared to assume all of the responsibilities for the care of that animal. Children can assist in care, but ultimately, it is you that must teach your child how to feed, clean, play, and interact with the animal. You will also have to assume the expense of food, toys, grooming and health care.

As far as a choice for a first time pet goes, it is best to think in terms of how much time you plan on putting into pet care. I believe a pet should be considered part of the family, so the whole family should be involved in this decision. Many things should be considered, like the age and abilities of the child or children, potential allergies, time for the pet, expense, and if all the family members are comfortable with having an animal in the home. Once you have carefully thought through all these factors, spend some time reading and learning about your pet choice prior to adopting your new family member.

*We offer pet selection consultations at Bolton Veterinary Hospital.