PET TALES
Newsletter from Countryside Veterinary Service
January 2007
Behavioral Issues:
As we all make resolutions for the New Year, I thought this would be a good time to talk about some of the top behavioral issues in dogs and cats. Please remember this is general information and specific information can only be given after a detailed history and examination. Some behavioral issues have an underlying medical condition that need to be treated. Please call for an appointment if you have any concerns about behavioral issues in your pet.
Howling Hounds:
One complaint heard often at a vet clinic is how loud a dog can be. This is a normal instinct in dogs; it is a way of communication in saying hello or protecting territory. It is also a trait some trainers actually upgrade in the case of dogs used to locate bombs or drugs. Too much barking can be a sign of over stimulation, fear, anxiety, or even medical reason such as obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, or senior senile changes. Once medical reasons have been ruled out there are several correction techniques that can be tried.
Try to remove the stimulus that is causing your dog to bark. This is not possible in all circumstances but sometimes it is as simple as putting down the blinds so your dog doesn’t notice as many people walking by.
Do not give into the barking- often times if a dog is barking, the owner starts to yell or talk to the dog. This is called positive reinforcement. The best thing to do is ignore or put the dog into another room until he/she quiets down. Shaking an old pop can with some pennies in it can also help. Once the dog is quick, then praise and talk to him/her to reinforce the quiet.
Socializing with other people and animals will help your dog to be less afraid. This often helps to limit barking at new people or dogs.
There are also several products on the market including shock collars or spray collars that are activated by the owner or by the dog barking. These should be used as a last resort as they can sometimes make the barking worse.
To declaw or not declaw-That is the question:
In the last several years, the ethics of declawing has come up several times. It was even outlawed in a small portion of California for a short time before the law was overturned. There have always been good arguments on both sides of the debate but like most large debates there are several ways of looking at it. Please remember that scratching a normal and healthy activity for a cat. Scratching is used to mark territory and for the health of the nail. Cat nails grow in layers so the scratching helps remove dead and cracked layers. Before you decide on surgery here is a list of helpful hints to help correct unwanted scratching before surgery is your only choice.
Make sure scratching posts are available- scratching posts coming in a variety of sizes and shapes. Often times applying a little catnip helps to remind you cat this is a good place to scratch. You should praise or give treats to your cat anytime you see him/her at the post to reinforce that this is good.
Learn how to trim you cat’s claws. Most cats will allow this simple procedure especially if it is followed by a treat. A vet, vet tech, or groomer can show you how to best trim your cat’s claws
Soft Paws- this is a plastic covering that can be glued onto a trimmed claw to further stop any scratching. This product can be found in a variety of colors and sizes at most pet supply stores.
Make things you don’t want your cat to scratch unattractive. This can be done by booby traps, spraying them with water when you see them scratching, or yelling then ignoring the cat for a set period of time. Booby traps seem to work the best as many cats scratch at night. This can be accomplished by placing pennies or some metal into an old pop can and putting a string through the tab. Then place the other end of the string near where you cat normal scratches. The cat will then pull the noisy can down to the floor and be scared away from the area. Any of these punishments MUST be done at the time of scratching or the cat will not understand.
If these tips do not help, please ask the vet to discuss the surgery with you. The procedure is routine and there are a lot of pain management options for your cat post surgery.
Microchips:
There were several cases of lost and found pets during December. Although name tags and rabies tags are usually helpful, collars can be lost when pets escape. Microchips, placed under the skin between the shoulder blades, are embedded with a specific number for your pet. You can then send in paperwork to add your pet to the national database. When a pet is lost they can be scanned to reunite a pet with the owner. Please call us to set up an appointment to get a microchip for your pet.