Question:

Regarding your column and the question about the cat that stood erect while urinating due to bone problems: this is exactly what my 13-year-old cat started to do. I found that her hips had such bad arthritis that they were almost frozen.I solved the problem by using a large, hooded litter box, which prevented her urine from shooting all over. Additionally, I started treating her with glucosamine, but that didn''t seem to help.What seems to have helped most of all is acupuncture. She''s had four such visits so far and can now squat to about 50 percent of the way.

E.L., Mantoloking, NJ Oct 31, 2004

Answer:

Thanks for your important advice on helping old, arthritic cats not mess outside of their litter boxes -- and enjoy some quality of life.I have received many letters from readers who have discovered the benefits of acupuncture for their cats and dogs suffering from arthritic pain. Acupuncture works, and it''s 100 percent safer than giving steroids.

Question:

I have a Persian cat who is nearly 7 years old. He eats Purina Cat Chow and likes a bit of peanut butter and yogurt from time to time. My vet says he should be eating wet (canned) cat food, too. I have bought small cans of every brand, but he won''t try any of it. My vet says he won''t remain healthy in old age if he eats only dry food.He is a housecat. How do I get him to eat food he doesn''t want?.

C.W., Bryan, TX Oct 31, 2004

Answer:

I am glad to hear that your cat''s veterinarian is concerned about the health risks of a diet of only dry commercial cat food. Many cats become addicted to dry foods, and health problems can arise when they do not take in sufficient fluids. Cats do not have an adequate thirst mechanism like most other animals (including humans and dogs), so they don''t drink more water when they need to.So give your cat water seasoned with salt-free meat or chicken bullion or juice from mashed tuna or other fish. Also offer her yogurt or cottage cheese mixed with a little water. Use spring water, since cats drink little water and giving them chlorinated and fluorinated tap water (which can contain various chemical pollutants) is potentially harmful.

Question:

We have a 1-year-old German shepherd who is truly afraid of me. He likes everyone but me.Our neighbor across the alley got him as a puppy. They kept him in an 8-foot cage his entire first year. They didn''t even give him a name. I never saw them mistreat him, however. My wife took an immediate liking to him and asked if he could come over to our yard and play sometimes. They said OK because we have a larger yard and he needed the exercise.Every time I would approach him he would run over to my wife and start barking at me. He would play with my grandson and his friends just fine.About 10 weeks ago I was talking with our neighbor. He said they were moving and couldn''t take the dog. I offered to solve his problem and I brought him over to our yard and told my wife, "He''s our dog now." I took him to the vet and got him all his shots and had to have him neutered.We''ve had him for 10 weeks now and the situation is not improving. When I leave for work in the morning and he is outside, he growls at me then wags his

B.B., Detroit, MI Oct 31, 2004

Answer:

It is possible that the man next door either abused your dog or did not socialize with him, so the dog bonded with the other family members.If he is trained on a leash, put a no-slip collar and a long leash on him and let him go around the yard with you holding the leash. Let him lead you, with your wife and children present to help reassure him. After 7 to 10 days, be outside with just your wife, who can take turns with you holding the leash. Then, after a few days, let her take the dog around the block for a walk on a shorter leash with you at her side.Once your dog gets used to this, take turns holding the leash and also take turns giving him a treat -- depriving him of food for a day first so the reward will be more appreciated. Don''t try to force him to be close to you. When he becomes used to these walks, have your wife leash him, give you the leash and take the dog for a walk with your wife walking ahead. Then return home with your wife following behind. This way your dog will learn that you are in co

Question:

Would you be so kind as to tell me what makes my cat bite me so much? I''d play with her all the time but she wants to bite me. I can''t play with her because of the biting.

G.M. (10 years old), Tinton Falls, NJ Oct 31, 2004

Answer:

I wish more people who have young and playful cats would understand that it is natural for them to use their claws and teeth when they engage in roughhouse play. Avoid getting scratched and bitten either by wearing a thick glove and long-sleeved jacket, or keeping your distance and letting your cat catch, claw and bite a small stuffed toy or sock that you animate by pulling on a string.Alternatively, adopt another young cat so yours has a playmate. Two cats living together are generally healthier and happier than those who never have the companionship of their own kind.Above all, don''t let anyone persuade you to have your cat de-clawed, and be sure that she has a scratching post, which most cats enjoy.

Question:

I have been reading in my newspaper about genetically engineered crops and how they are spreading these genes and getting them mixed up with conventionally grown soy, corn and other foods. So I wonder about how safe our food really is, and all that goes into the pet food I give my three dogs and two cats.

B.K.L., Norfolk, Va Oct 24, 2004

Answer:

In my book "Beyond Evolution" (Lyon''s Press, 1999), I spell out the catastrophic possibilities of genetically engineered (g-e) crops, foods, beverages and nutritional supplements. There is no scientific evidence that such foods are entirely safe. The soon-to-be-published updated edition of this book is thus aptly re-titled "Killer Foods."Consumers (and their companion animals) are guinea pigs in a huge, uncontrolled experiment that other governments and various environmental and public health organizations have tried in vain to contain, if not stop. That organic crops are at risk deeply concerns me, but they still are the wise choice for consumers who share my concerns over g-e crops.The big question of the possibility of abnormal gene combinations in food finishing up in our (and animals'') bodies has been partially answered by Norwegian scientist Dr. Terje Traavik. He found that the cauliflower mosaic virus (which is attached to foreign genes in nearly all g-e foods) was found in the lymph nodes, liver, spl

Question:

Our domestic shorthaired 13-year-old male cat, Baxter, has been diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. He is now being treated with long-term steroid shots, starting 30 days apart, after a few short-term shots lasting a few days. He was a big cat, but he is now gradually losing weight. He has an unusual and perplexing habit of licking concrete. If he is not taken outdoors, he will lick the bricks on the fireplace hearth. Yes, he had one bout of toxic illness.Baxter has been a patient of the best allergy and dermatology clinic for animals in the area, ever since we got him at birth. His veterinarian cannot explain this behavior and neither can I. He runs to the door when he observes me leaving, and dashes outside to lick the concrete. I have never seen another cat do this.I was raised on a farm and remember the salt licks in the pasture for the outdoor farm animals. I put a dish of salt on the floor beside his food for a few days, but he did not partake of it. His veterinarian told us that salt would not hurt him, but

C.W., Livonia, MI Oct 24, 2004

Answer:

Animals who are experiencing chronic pain, discomfort or irritation, as from cancer (like your cat) or tonsillitis, gingivitis or intestinal inflammation, will engage in what is called pica. They obsessively lick solid surfaces like wood or concrete floors, brick walls and iron pipes, and sometimes chew and swallow all kinds of materials from soil and leaves to pieces of carpet and upholstery. They will also do this to their own bodies when extremely disturbed.Pica caused by a nutritional deficiency in calcium, phosphorus and other dietary essentials is rare. But to be on the safe side, have your veterinarian prescribe a multi-mineral and multivitamin tablet or liquid drops for your cat.Pica caused by boredom, anxiety and frustration is seen in dogs who are left home alone all day, in factory-farmed sows in narrow stalls, and in many caged wild animals in zoos, circuses and laboratories all over the world. Pica indicates that the animal is suffering (and your cat clearly is), and the steroids may be contribu

Question:

I adopted my 4-year-old Labrador retriever when he was two years old. He is a gentle, loving, mild-mannered dog who loves people.The problem is that he doesn''t like other dogs. Is there any type of training that can be done to change my dog''s aggressive behavior toward other dogs? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

B.G., Longmeadow, MA Oct 24, 2004

Answer:

Some dogs become aggressive toward other dogs because they want to assert themselves and be dominant. Others aggress out of fear, often because they were attacked at an earlier time. Such fear-aggression may be specifically directed at a particular breed, one member of which attacked the dog earlier and caused an enduring breed-phobia. Dog victims of dog attacks often show signs of post-traumatic stress, becoming more anxious, "un-housebroken," and fearful of going outdoors and seeing other dogs.So take your dog on a leash to anyplace he can see dogs playing together, so that he can become gradually desensitized. Reward him with treats and verbal praise for remaining in the sit position and staying calm. Also take him to obedience school, where classes are given for dogs like yours so that you and your dog -- under the guidance of a behavioral counselor -- can get him to enjoy the company of other dogs and not be aggressive or afraid. Puppy playgroups are the best preventive for such later-in-life behavioral

Question:

Recently, I had to put my 17-year-old cat to sleep. He had gotten thin and lost his muscle mass. It took the doctor three times to get a needle in the vein. Finally, he put the needle in the back leg. My cat felt pain. My other two cats, when their time came, never felt pain.I don''t understand why this cat felt pain. Is there a better way to have animals put to sleep without pain?.

C.H., Hesperia, CA Oct 24, 2004

Answer:

When an animal like yours is in such poor condition that finding a vein in which to inject the euthanasia solution is likely to be difficult and cause the animal pain and distress, an intramuscular injection should be given first to heavily sedate the animal. There are several drugs that veterinarians use for this purpose prior to injecting the euthanasia drug into a vein, and it should be part of the humane protocol that all animal doctors follow. I''m sorry that yours didn''t.

Question:

I have a male miniature pinscher who is approximately two years old. His name is Sampson. I have put him through obedience training, which proved to bring out his intelligence, and I am very pleased that he has been able to learn many tricks and that his behavior is excellent. Well, excellent except for one thing: He now ignores me when I try to show him affection. He continues to be obedient when I command him to do his tricks (which are always followed by a treat), but when the time comes for simply relaxing and putting him in my lap to pet him, he refuses to sit with me, jumps off of my lap and goes to my husband for the affection. When Sampson was a puppy he always favored me, followed me around and showed total attention to me. Now he noticeably ignores me, and it''s beginning to hurt my feelings. He will actually sit away from me and stare at me as if he wants to be sure I know that he will not sit with me.

B.R., Houston, TX Oct 24, 2004

Answer:

It''s partly a "guy thing," like male bonding. Sampson seeks allegiance with your husband, whom he sees as the household''s "top dog," or leader of the pack. So let go of your hurt feelings and have a good laugh. And back off from forcing your attention on Sampson and making him perform tricks on command. This is boring and too controlling for most dogs.Engage your dog in some fun games with interesting toys to chase and retrieve, participate in tugs-of-war with a sock or towel, and play hide the bone and hide and seek. He will bond with you through play, as good buddy dogs do with each other.

Question:

We have a 3-year-old, loving, affectionate, purebred Shetland sheepdog. Several weeks ago he was violently attacked by a much larger, bad-tempered dog in our neighborhood and, although he was not physically injured, he has had an increasing number of behavioral problems since.He has been excellently housetrained since he was a puppy, but about a week after the attack he urinated in the house at least four times in one day. We crated him for the rest of the day and overnight and, luckily, it has not happened again. He's also always been an infrequent barker, but now he barks at everything and sometimes even at nothing. He never bit before, but now he snaps at us when we touch him in the wrong way or accidentally step on him.I don't think he wants to hurt us -- I think he's just scared. He's constantly underfoot and always wants to be near us, sitting on our feet or in our laps. He's always been nervous around strangers, but now is downright fearful. He'll let people approach him and pet him, but as soon as th

M.S., Annapolis, Md Oct 17, 2004

Answer:

Your letter describes in dramatic detail how a dog can become psychologically derailed after a traumatic experience. Your dog is suffering from classic post-traumatic shock/stress disorder. Consult with your veterinarian and get an anxiety-relieving psychotropic drug like Valium or Xanax prescribed, or even Prozac. Then, after your dog has been on the medication for two to three weeks, start taking him out and about on the leash so he becomes desensitized and loses his fear around other dogs and unfamiliar people. Praise him verbally and offer him treats for remaining calm and in the "sit" position, so that he learns self-control and recognizes that you are in control as "top dog."