Question:

I read your article in a recent column regarding a Pekingese dog that was having seizures. I have a Pekingese that I rescued from the streets of a Detroit suburb. She was in bad shape, but has progressed quite well and has become a very faithful companion.My Pekingese also developed seizures. She started after I had changed food for both of my dogs (I also have a shih tzu). I took her to the vet as soon as she started the seizures. Blood tests were done along with a very extensive review of her activities before the seizures. The vet was not sure, but thought she had "shudder syndrome." He was reluctant to give medication until he could be sure about the diagnosis. I had changed the food and the feeding schedule with both dogs because both experienced bloated stomachs with the dry food I was giving them.I noticed that, over time, the seizures were getting longer in duration and more severe. The vet prescribed a medication (I forget the name) that sometimes stopped the seizures or at least shortened the durat

C.D.W., Houghton Lake, MI Mar 27, 2005

Answer:

I take my hat off to you for your excellent deductive approach to resolving the diet-related seizures in your dog.Several years ago, Swedish veterinary researchers pinpointed wheat gluten as one dietary ingredient associated with epileptiform seizures in dogs.Sudden or recurrent seizures can also have a hereditary basis, or be associated with hyperexcitability/hysteria, low blood sugar or calcium, and other problems such as brain tumor, head trauma and hydrocephalus, to mention just a few triggers.Your personal discovery should be considered by all veterinarians and caregivers in treating dogs for seizures.

Question:

I have a 6-month-old border collie/rat terrier mix puppy. I adopted her when she was three months old. She is very smart and a good dog. She is housebroken and loves to play with her toys. The thing that bothers me is her very ravenous eating habits. She acts like she's starving every time she eats. I'm giving her the recommended amount of food as stated on the dog food bag. She eats so fast and barely chews her food. Her vet recommended that I change her food to a brand that she doesn't like as well, but I don't want to change brands because the food that I'm giving her now seems to agree with her well. Do you have any suggestions on how to slow down her eating, or do you think she might outgrow this behavior?.

S.J., Roseville, MN Mar 27, 2005

Answer:

Since your young dog enjoys her food and it agrees with her, I find it absurd for anyone to suggest that you feed her "a brand that she doesn't like as well." The basic question is does the food have all the right ingredients to meet her growth and activity needs? Some dogs are ravenous because there are certain nutrients lacking in their diet. Many dogs "inhale" their meals, which sometimes causes gastric upset. In large breeds, fast eating may contribute to bloat, an often fatal condition. If your dog isn't getting overweight she may need more food, especially since she is a young, active and still-growing animal. She may do better on four small meals a day. I presume you are feeding her twice a day -- once is not enough. The veterinarian should have checked her out for worms and other intestinal parasites that can rob animals of essential nutrients and cause constant hunger. This should be done at no charge if it has not yet been done, especially after the attending veterinarian gave such stupid advice.

Question:

I have been taking care of a feral mother cat and her five kittens. I am trying to get them accustomed to humans so they will be adoptable at some point in the future, and I am slowly making progress.I feed them 1 pound of moist and 2 pounds of dry cat food every day. Am I feeding them enough? I am unable to determine their weight because they won''t let me pick them up or touch them.

M.G., Shelton, CT Mar 27, 2005

Answer:

It seems you are feeding this family of cats plenty of food, but since the kittens won''t let you touch them, you have a problem. They will get more wild and unapproachable the older they become, turning into feral cats. If their mother is skittish, they are even more likely to "revert" to wild behavior. So it is imperative that you capture them and get them used to human contact as soon as possible, otherwise they will never be adaptable.The socialization process entails preventing skittish cats from running away and hiding so that they become habituated to the presence of a human caretaker, and learn to trust and respond to food reward and grooming and petting. Having a healthy, vaccinated and easygoing adult cat to serve as a bridge between them and you (or whomever is rehabilitating the unsocialized kittens for adoption after they are neutered) is worth a try. Because the stress of surgery challenges the immune system, vaccinate the kittens at least two weeks prior to having them neutered rather than havi

Question:

I''ve read some articles and books by animal communicators or psychics, some of whom quote your work. Some of this stuff seems like hocus pocus to me. I have a science background and find it hard to believe that animals really talk to people and can even communicate with their human companions after they are dead.

R.C.E., Bethesda, Md Mar 27, 2005

Answer:

I have a healthy, open-minded scientific skepticism toward much of this New Age "stuff," as you call it. Communicating with animals does not call for psychic powers or the acumen of a rocket scientist. It calls for empathy and openness, which is the natural state of sentient and sapient beings.The main obstacles to animal communication and understanding are such erroneous beliefs as their lack of human-like feelings, social cognition and emotional intelligence. Once these barriers are overcome (as every good veterinary student and animal caregiver realizes), we can enjoy a deeper communion with other beings. But only when we do not project our own needs, expectations, thoughts and feelings upon them and, in the process, delude ourselves into believing that what we think and feel is what they are thinking and feeling (as every good marriage counselor advises).As for communicating with the dead, dogs have been considered especially adept at this since ancient times. For me, though, better communication with th

Question:

I love feeding and building houses for the wonderful birds that surround my home. Over the years, we have attracted many species, which is why my two beautiful Siamese cats are never allowed outside. Unfortunately, other cats from the neighborhood are also attracted. When I find where one of these cats lives, I gently confront the owners. Sometimes this works, but allowing one''s cat to wander is not illegal.Do you have any suggestions for helping my yard to become a place that stray cats will view as highly unfriendly and uninviting? I will send your response to those whose cats wander and need to be educated.

C.B.S., Salisbury, Md Mar 20, 2005

Answer:

One remedy is to adopt a puppy or an adult dog who is comfortable around cats so your Siamese cats won''t be intimidated. Adult cats adjust surprisingly well to having a dog share their home, and they often develop wonderful relationships with other pets. Letting the dog out at random intervals into your backyard will be a major deterrent to feline intruders.Alternatively, if your cat-owning neighbors refuse to stop their cats from roaming on to your property, you can put up a "cat fence" around your yard that has the top angling outward so that cats can''t climb over. A strip of fine-gauge chicken wire about two feet wide attached to the top of a regular fence and angled outward at 45 degrees from the vertical, with a thick strand of wire to keep the outer edge taut, should suffice.You may also want to advise your irresponsible cat-keeping neighbors that free-roaming cats not only kill birds and other wildlife, but can bring home many diseases like rabies, toxoplasmosis, ringworm and Lyme disease, and can die

Question:

I have enjoyed ferrets for years and have had six or seven over the years. One of the two girls I have now has a strange habit none of the others ever had.She likes to jump. She''ll jump from chair to chair, about 3-1/2 to 4 feet apart. She''ll jump up onto the sofa and chairs, too -- jump, not crawl. No one seems to be able to explain it -- not my vet or anyone else I''ve spoken to about this. Any ideas?.

R.R., Pocomoke City, Md Mar 20, 2005

Answer:

Ferrets have different temperaments, some being more extraverted and active than others. Some love to climb, others enjoy insinuating themselves into narrow places. I''ve met some who do a lot of jumping when they play with each other. This gives you an idea of what excellent hunters they can be in the wild, leaping onto and chasing after their prey.Some ferrets are surprisingly agile, like your little jumper who isn''t content to spend most of her time on the floor. So you need to take precautions and remove any objects on surfaces she could reach that she might break or that could injure her.Ferrets were domesticated in Roman times and have no relationship to the endangered American black-footed ferret. I would like to hear more from readers who have ferrets -- their animals'' idiosyncrasies and ways of communicating -- so we can all benefit from shared observations and insights. They are escape artists, and require much attention and understanding in order to enjoy a healthy life; unfortunately, such attenti

Question:

We have a beautiful 1-year-old West Highland white terrier. Two months ago, our vet discovered that she had the mange due to a "hot spot" on her inner thigh -- it caused mucous in her eyes and loss of hair, and she constantly rubbed her eyes. With medication, injections and baths she is doing so much better (the vet gave her a 50-50 chance).What is the probability of this condition returning, and will she need medication for life?.

J.D., Flushing, NY Mar 20, 2005

Answer:

Mange is a nasty disease; the condition of some of the street dogs I treat in India would make you weep. The disease is caused most often by sarcoptes or demodex mites. These mites burrow into the skin and breed, causing terrible, constant itching that makes affected dogs constantly paw, rub, scratch and chew their flesh. The mites then spread, which results in reddening and often thickening of the skin as well as a loss of hair. Secondary bacterial and fungal infections are common.Poor sanitation and nutritional deficiencies make dogs and pups more susceptible. Demodectic mange is more difficult to treat than sarcoptic mange. Various pesticidal or tar and sulfur dips, treatment with ivermectin, and nutrient supplements generally prove effective, and the disease rarely returns if all the mites are killed and all bedding material is destroyed.Skin scrapings are often needed to diagnose early cases, and the mites don''t always show up. Some dogs with pollen allergies can be misdiagnosed as having mange, and vic

Question:

I''m writing in regards to my two spayed, female Boston terriers. One is 8 and the other is 7 years old. They are no relation to each other.They eat Purina Dog Chow and 1/2 can apiece of Pedigree canned food, daily. And, once in awhile, they''ll get table scraps.My problem is that, for the past two years, they shed all winter and have very bad dandruff. I have used special shampoos and creme rinse, but nothing seems to help. I never see them itching and they are checked for worms each spring. They get heartworm pills six to seven months out of the year. I bathe them every eight to 10 weeks, even though they don''t go anyplace where they get very dirty.I am a widow on Social Security and these guys eat and snack better than I do. They also get plenty of water to drink. They share our home with a spayed cat who''s doing just fine. If you have any ideas that I''ve not tried, I''d appreciate your response.

B.E., Fort Myers, FL Mar 20, 2005

Answer:

More and more readers have been writing to me about their dogs having dry coats and bad dandruff, often combined with excessive shedding of fur.Such skin problems can signal various nutritional deficiencies and other disorders such as hypothyroidism or Cushing''s disease. The most common problem is a deficiency in essential fatty acids in the dog''s diet that many pet food manufacturers are now correcting.I advise giving a teaspoon each of flaxseed oil or safflower oil and of nutritional yeast every day in the dogs'' food (double the dose for a large dog and halve it for a small dog). Give a few drops, initially, since too much too soon may cause loose stools. For small dogs, give a child''s daily multivitamin and multi-mineral capsule for good measure. Medium-sized dogs can have half an adult capsule and large dogs a whole one.You won''t see improvement for eight to 12 weeks. If there''s no evident improvement in your dogs'' skin condition, further tests are in order.

Question:

I don''t understand how monkeys learn to interact with people so quickly. How do they learn to do this so fast? I see them on television and I''d like to understand how they learn to interact with people.

S.R., Bellpage, NY Mar 20, 2005

Answer:

I spend time in India working at my wife Deanna''s wonderful Animal Refuge, where injured and orphaned infant monkeys are sometimes brought in for proper care. Older resident monkeys will hold sick and injured newcomers while we treat them! Monkeys are very intelligent, observant animals and quickly learn to trust people if they are not fully mature adults. Adult monkeys who have not had human contact as infants can be quite dangerous because they are afraid.The monkeys and apes that you see on television have all had lots of human contact since infancy, and were probably born in captivity. That does not mean that they make great pets. They will destroy your home and may be aggressive toward unfamiliar people. Captive apes and monkeys need expert handling and understanding.I would like to see all of them free and in the wild and not be reduced to wearing human clothes and doing cute tricks in circuses and on television. This is demeaning exploitation. But in order for them to remain in the wild, their forest

Question:

Recently, we purchased two Siamese kittens. They are 4 months old, healthy, lively and loving in every way. However, the little girl "squints" continuously. Our veterinarian checked her thoroughly, and found no infection or cause for this condition.Do you have a diagnosis or suggestions to end this condition? She seems to see just fine and gets around quite well.

S.J.G., Grand Blanc, MI Mar 13, 2005

Answer:

The condition that you describe is common in Siamese cats. It is a congenital disease and nothing can be done. Cats in the wild with this disorder would not survive long, since their hunting ability would be impaired. This genetic defect would thus be eliminated because afflicted cats would not live long enough to breed and raise offspring. But in the protected domestic environment where cats don''t have to hunt in order to survive, this and other potentially lethal traits become part of the genetic makeup of these poor cats.So contact the breeder and don''t accept an excuse like "it goes with the breed." Such defective cats should not be bred. Ask for your money back -- but keep the cat!