Question:

I have three cats. The youngest two have never been outside and have never sprayed in my house. The oldest cat (12 years) used to be an outdoor cat. For many good reasons, when she was around 7, I decided I needed to convert her into an indoor-only cat. She reacted very badly to not being able to go outside, became extremely agitated, nervous and desperate to go out. She sprayed everywhere (curtains, heating vents, beds, rugs, walls, furniture, stove, refrigerator). I tried all sorts of cleaning products and deterrents, but to no avail. After several years of this, my vet put her on Valium. She stopped spraying all right, but was so drugged-out she could not move (literally) and gained a ton of weight. That was obviously not a solution.As a last resort, I tried Feliway and it worked right away! I could not believe how effective it was. Once a week (more often in the beginning) I spritzed it on all the places she was spraying. It wasn''t long before my cat totally stopped spraying and I no longer needed to use

C.M., Kensington, Md Sep 11, 2005

Answer:

Thanks for your confirmation of the effectiveness of this new pheromone product that I encourage more veterinarians and people with various cat behavior problems to use. I have no financial interest in this product, by the way, but I do advocate greater use of products that are safe, have no harmful side effects or adverse environmental consequences -- problems associated with many pharmaceutical products today.

Question:

I adopted a sweet and lovable female dog last October. She is about 2 years old and weighs 22 pounds. She is a great companion and loves her walks. She is a Jack Russell terrier/beagle mix.However, when we take her out for a ride in the car, she gets sick. Our vet told us to give her half of a Dramamine pill before we start out, but it doesn''t help. When we took her to my son''s this week, about 40 miles from us, she threw up three times going and twice coming home. We didn''t give her anything to eat -- all she had was some water.Is there something else we can do for her? I hate to see her feeling so miserable. We were hoping to take her on trips with us this summer but, as things are, we will be unable to do so. I hate leaving her alone at home. I am very disappointed about this, so any advice you can give will be appreciated.

C.S., Stratford, CT Sep 11, 2005

Answer:

Dramamine is the only medication, to my knowledge, that helps with motion sickness. I would combine it next time with Xanax or Valium (which your veterinarian can prescribe), to be given about 40 minutes before going on a very short ride. Homeopathic treatments that may help include petroleum, tabacum, borax, aconitum and cocculus. One herbal treatment is to give ginger tea a half-hour before the ride, steeping two or three slices of ginger root in two tablespoonfuls of boiling water. (Alternatively, try this with peppermint herbal tea.) Give via a dropper or syringe when cool. Giving one vitamin B complex pill may also help reduce nausea.Desensitizing behavior modification entails putting the dog in the car with no meds and turning the radio on. Offer the dog treats to make being in the car a pleasant experience. Repeat this four or five times, then all over again with the engine running, with each "session" lasting about 10 minutes. Next, go for a slow, daily 10-minute ride for four or five days and see ho

Question:

You asked if anyone had an experience with their pet like the lady who wrote and told how her dog helped her through her illness. Well, this is mine.I have two cats, Albert (4 years old) and Angel (3 years old). I have irritable bowel syndrome and, every once in a while, I get very intense cramps associated with it. They were so bad this one night that, while sitting on the couch with the cats next to me, I was holding my stomach and moaning. Angel looked up at my face with a puzzled expression and, after a minute or so, crawled up onto my chest and looked right to my face, then proceeded to lick my face very affectionately. She has never done that before. I was so moved that I stopped my moaning -- she must have relaxed me because the cramps became less intense. When I stopped, she crawled back down to her place on the couch.I really believe pets serve us in the most wonderful way and don''t ask for much in return.

V.R., Westland, MI Sep 11, 2005

Answer:

Thank you for your account of how your cat was able to help you relax and relieve your physical pain. Animals can connect with us emotionally and, at times, really do help us heal in body, mind and spirit. Your Angel is true to her name. Letters from other readers sharing similar experiences are welcome.

Question:

About four years ago, my husband and I adopted a then-2-1/2-year-old Jack Russell terrier/whippet mix dog, Zero, from the Humane Society. He apparently had been abused and, initially, was extremely fearful of my husband.By now, he is quite obedient (he comes when called, obeys "sit" and "down") in the house, but if he gets away from the leash outside he gets very aggressive, tries to protect us and, in the process, has bitten several people. Outside, he is also not approachable and runs away when we try to catch him. It seems his entire personality changes when he is off the leash. He also gets aggressive when someone comes to the door of our house. If I expect visitors, I try to meet them outside so we can enter the house together. Then he is fine.Needless to say, his behavior has caused us a lot of trouble so far. I have tried training him with a trainer who specializes in behavior problems in dogs, but it really didn''t help much at all. He is very good with our old cat and also loves to have our grandchil

L.N., Bethesda, Md Sep 11, 2005

Answer:

Since your dog has had a history of prior abuse, he is most likely expressing defensive, fear-based aggression toward strangers. Since one behavior therapist/trainer was not able to modify your dog''s conduct, I suggest you try another animal behavior expert that your veterinarian or local animal shelter might recommend. If that fails, then have your veterinarian put your dog on a trial prescription of one of several psychotropic medications that help reduce fear and anxiety or elevate the dog''s mood, such as Valium, Xanax or Prozac. If this approach fails or is not acceptable to you, your dog should wear a muzzle at all times when outdoors, except in hot weather when he is very active.

Question:

My 13-year-old collie/shepherd mix was put on Deramaxx (50 milligrams per day) by her veterinarian for arthritis. I gave her one dose after food and it caused Becky considerable discomfort. Her symptoms included heavy panting, decreased heart rate, extreme restlessness all night, anxiety, nervousness and pacing. I feared a heart attack was imminent. The entire night was spent keeping her calm.So I now have her on chondroitin, glucosamine and MSM. Sometimes she has difficulty getting up. Should I give her aspirin?.

K.H., North Miami, FL Sep 11, 2005

Answer:

I trust you reported the serious adverse drug reaction to the veterinarian who prescribed the new medicine. I would like to hear from other readers with similar experiences.Buffered aspirin can be given to dogs twice daily with food at a dose of 100 milligrams per 10 pounds of body weight, for three to four days at a time, provided the dog is otherwise healthy. This may help. However, long-term use of aspirin, ibuprofen and other similar drugs can actually worsen cartilage degeneration in arthritic joints. Massage therapy, acupuncture, a soft bed and therapeutic magnets taped over afflicted areas will also help.

Question:

I would appreciate it very much if you could let me know the following:1) Based on your expertise, is it wise to domesticate a wolf puppy and trust it as a companion on long walks in the countryside?2) What kind of medical treatment do I need to provide?3) What kind of sleeping arrangement is required during winter and summer?4) What kind of food would be appropriate to feed a wolf?Thank you very much for your advice.

E.D., Hyattsville, Md Sep 04, 2005

Answer:

I strongly advise against keeping and breeding wolf-dog hybrids for several reasons.First, you never know which of them in a litter will have a stable temperament. Many are unstable, fearful and difficult to handle. Some are terrified of strangers, unreliable around children, aggressive toward dogs and destructive in the home. A higher percentage of dog in the hybrid means fewer problems. So why not get a stable, wolf-looking dog like a malamute or husky?Having bred and studied wolf-dog and coyote-dog hybrids as a behavioral scientist many years ago, for me this is an ethical, humane issue. Why cross a wild species with a domesticated one when you know some of the offspring are likely to suffer because they do not adapt well to our lifestyles and environment, and may be euthanized or abandoned?

Question:

I recently married a great guy and moved into his house. He has two male dachshunds who are 6 years old, and they''re horrible.They consistently go to the bathroom either in the garage or in the house. Occasionally they go outdoors, but they pee indoors every day. When you walk in the house all you smell is urine. One of the dogs eats his poop in the garage.I am totally disgusted, and it''s destroying out marriage. My new husband just shrugs it off. I cannot go on with these dogs -- I even hate to look at them. Please advise.

D.S., Holly, MI Sep 04, 2005

Answer:

You need to call in a reputable dog trainer or animal-behavior consultant to save your marriage!Dachshunds are notorious for being house-soilers. They may be urinating more in the house now to mark their territory because they see you as an intruder.Both you and your husband need to set up a regular routine of taking the dogs out on leashes to walk and evacuate, and also to play in the backyard or other safe area.Before your marriage falls apart completely and your husband chooses his dogs over you -- or, worse, gets rid of them for your sake then hates you from then on -- be open with him about this issue. Work with him and the dogs to get them housetrained and stop the poop eating.

Question:

I know you have written several times about the use of pesticides on pets to control fleas and ticks. I have cut out these columns and saved them. As you can see by my address, I live in what is considered "ground zero" for Lyme-disease carrying (deer) ticks. Last year, I attempted to go completely natural with flea and tick control, but it didn't appear to do the job. I have an American bulldog who is now three years old. Most of this time, his flea and tick control has been with Frontline, with the exception of one attempt at natural control. Recently, my dog became ill and his veterinarian determined that he has both Lyme disease and Erlichosis, both of which are tick-borne diseases. This was even though he had been on Frontline. The veterinarian recommended that we change to Advantix, as the ticks in our area have become resistant to Frontline. I applied the Advantix to him several days ago and, within a few hours, he was having a bad reaction to it. He cried all night, paced and seemed disoriented.

L.B., Stonington, CT Sep 04, 2005

Answer:

Tick-borne disease is a serious problem and, as you have discovered along with many other pet owners, the new anti-flea-and-tick drugs on the market do not guarantee protection from tick-transmitted diseases and can have harmful, even fatal, side effects. I have put up a holistic approach to flea-and-tick control on my web site that you may find of use. The ultimate solution may well be to keep your dog out of the woods during tick season.

Question:

I found your column printed in today''s paper very offensive.I have two Siamese cats. Not only would I never think of de-clawing them, I also let them go outside. To call owners such as myself "irresponsible cat owners" is ridiculous. Yes, my cats catch mice, birds, etc., but that is what cats do. It is nature. I was surprised to read your negative comments about people like me who just let cats be cats.

J.P., Red Bank, NJ Sep 04, 2005

Answer:

I regret that you took personal offense at my castigating people with cats who allow them to roam outdoors and kill wildlife. The real offense, however, is against wildlife, who suffer enough from human encroachment, habitat destruction and pollution.Domestic cats, a species that originally came from the Libyan desert, do not belong in the wilds here. Many go feral, breed indiscriminately, and cause much carnage to small birds, mammals and other creatures. Housecats get fed by their human caregivers and do not need to kill to survive. Free-roaming cats also spread disease to wildlife (notably feline distemper to the endangered Florida panther), and can pick up diseases that can harm humans as well.For further discussion of such complex issues with multiple consequences and considerations, please see my book "Bringing Life to Ethics" (State University of New York Press, 2001) and check my Web site at www.doctormwfox.org. As you may learn from my writings, I am not anti-cat, nor am I a Bambi-loving "tree hugge

Question:

On the advice of our veterinarian, we have routinely gotten a battery of annual vaccinations for our generally healthy 13-year-old indoor/outdoor cat. We pay $175 for this service.In a recent column, you advised against unnecessary and potentially harmful booster vaccinations for cats. Can you please elaborate further on what vaccinations are warranted and when they should be administered?.

M.R., Chevy Chase, Md Sep 04, 2005

Answer:

If local laws dictate your cat must be given an anti-rabies vaccination, don''t dodge the bullet. Have the veterinarian give the canarypox virus-vectored type, since feline veterinarian experts find this to be preferable to other types of rabies vaccination.If your cat were an indoor-only animal, no other vaccinations would be needed since he''s had so many vaccinations already. But, being an indoor/outdoor feline, he is at risk from exposure to other cats who may be sick.So, you have two choices: Run the risk of adverse reactions (including possibly fatal cancer) from booster shots (which should NOT be injected in the cat''s back or between the shoulder blades, but low down on the limbs). Or, have a blood-titer test done, which may well show that your cat has good immunity and needs no more vaccinations.