Question:

My question is about Satchi, my Shiba Inu-husky mix, female, 8 years old.She persists in eating poop, no matter whether she has been fed recently or not. She eats her own, the poop of other dogs, etc. She seems obsessed with it, and she can''t stay away from it in the yard and on walks. She was abandoned as a puppy and found living on the street. I''ve always assumed she learned to eat poop to survive and therefore became conditioned to view it as food.I am a psychologist and have tried all I can think of to alter this behavior, obviously without success.You mentioned in a recent column something to the effect that this sort of behavior may actually be caused by a nutrient deficiency, and the more I think about it, the more it seems to fit with Satchi''s behavior. Can you refer me to anything you''ve written about this problem? Would using your canine nutritional supplement be the next step?Thank you for your time. I strongly support your bioethical approach, even though I''m sure you get flak for it. Keep up the

D.S., Minneapolis, MN Jul 30, 2006

Answer:

Try giving your dog plain yogurt (1/2 cup with live, nonpasteurized culture, every other day) and acidophilus pills according to the package''s directions for two weeks. Also give the dog Brewer''s yeast (1 teaspoon daily in her food), a digestive-enzyme pill containing papain, one human multivitamin/mineral capsule daily (it must contain zinc) and 1 teaspoon each of powdered kelp/seaweed and flaxseed oil for six to eight weeks. The homemade dog-food recipe on my Web site (www.doctormwfox.org) may also help.Muzzle the dog when outside to prevent coprophagia (feces eating), but be cautious in hot weather when the dog needs to pant. You can, after a few days, try aversive training by taking the muzzle off in the yard after you have covered some feces with hot chili pepper or jalapeno-pepper juice.Good luck. This is a common problem in dogs with psychological and physical problems. The supplement approach, gleaned from the positive results from other readers of my column, may help. It certainly will not cause any

Question:

My dog is a 4-year-old Westie/Bichon mix. She can go eight to 10 hours without urinating in our heated basement while I am away at my part-time job two days a week. My wife is handicapped and cannot take care of Misty, but she says the dog doesn''t make a peep while in the basement. However, at night she will start whining to go outside after five or six hours. I have her on a health-maintenance plan, so she gets all her shots and checkups with good reports.Any thoughts on what I can do? It would be nice to get eight hours of sleep again.

D.L.S., Minneapolis, MN Jul 30, 2006

Answer:

It would be ideal if you could get someone to come over and walk your dog and give her some exercise when you are away at work. She needs physical activity and social stimulation. The stress of holding her urine for up to 10 hours could have serious complications.I sympathize with your family situation and appreciate your concern for your little dog. Surely, your wife is not so handicapped that the dog can''t be with her and must rather be in the basement all day. Such empty days all alone may well make the dog restless at night, and seeing to her daily needs may give you all a better night''s sleep. Have you considered letting the dog sleep with you?

Question:

I am 12 years old and have an albino rat, about 1 year old. I have bought her an exercise ball and wheel, but, for some reason, she will not use them. My science teacher told me that she is too young, but I wish to know your hypothesis on this matter.

R.W., Minneapolis, MN Apr 02, 2006

Answer:

Unlike hamsters and mice, rats don''t like to whiz around on plastic balls, in wheels or on treadmills. But they do love to explore, so make your rat''s playroom safe and free of escape holes and electrical cords.Consider getting another young rat of the same sex (or a neutered male) for company. They will be happy together, and you''ll have great fun observing how they play, groom each other and socialize.As you are no doubt discovering, rats are intelligent, affectionate creatures. They emit a high-pitched sound that we can''t hear when they are playing with each other or being tickled by a human they trust. Behavioral scientists believe this sound is the equivalent of human laughter.Keeping highly social animals like mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and parakeets for their entire lives with no contact with their own species is an overlooked form of animal cruelty through social deprivation. Animals kept in compatible pairs and groups, with appropriate steps taken to prevent breeding, can mean happier and heal

Question:

I would appreciate your guidance on what to feed my two cats (ages 1 and 4), which have no health issues on a daily basis. Two vets have told me to feed them only the same dry food, day after day (no variation needed) and to avoid wet (canned) food.Can you suggest a good dry food brand? Do you agree that cats have no need or interest in variety, especially in dry food? I am worried, not only about depriving them of variety (which humans certainly thrive on), but also of forcing my cats to eat food that might be too high in fat or salt or have other nutritional imbalances. Also, my cats greatly enjoy moist food. I give the two of them one can (5-1/2 ounces) a day to share, besides the dry food. Can you suggest some good brands of moist food and/or provide some recipes (beyond the recipe on your Web site) for daily feeding of healthy cats?I''ve been troubled by these feeding issues for a long time, and I hope to see your answer in the newspaper. Thank you.

M.D., Minneapolis, MN Dec 25, 2005

Answer:

Any veterinarian who insists that cats should be fed only dry food and never moist (canned) should either go back to school or find another job. Dry cat foods can be extremely addictive to cats, who then refuse to eat canned/moist foods. Then they may not get enough water in their systems, because cats do not have a good thirst mechanism that makes them drink when they are in poor fluid balance. This may lead to urinary tract health problems, from cystitis to urinary calculi (stones, "sand" and mucous plugs), which result in urinary blockages and painful, potentially fatal urine retention. Diabetes mellitus and obesity may also develop on a dry-food diet that is high in starch/carbohydrates. These are common health problems in cats and are best prevented by not allowing cats to eat dry food only.There are many good-quality commercial cat foods on the market, dry and canned. Check out your local health store and buy those cat foods with ingredients that are certified organic.A good book on home-prepared diets

Question:

When I was growing up, a friend''s mother had this axiom: "After laughing comes crying." She was right -- about her family, at least, because every attempt at horseplay ended with someone bruised or crying.My cats'' version of this seems to be: "After licking comes biting." They''ve lived together for over seven years, and every licking love-fest ends with one biting the other. I''ve talked to friends who have multiple cats and they''ve noticed the same phenomenon. What gives? Why can''t one cat just get up and walk away?.

D.P., Minneapolis, MN Oct 09, 2005

Answer:

Cats often groom each other before and also after play-fighting. Reciprocal grooming/licking reinforces the kinship bond. Once the bond is affirmed, rather like one dog soliciting play by bowing in front of another dog, a sudden attack is understood as not serious and as an invitation to play-fight. Those who don''t "make up" until later may still be working out unresolved dominance issues, or enjoy some physical contact and, when it becomes too intense, they scuffle and avoid each other for a while before making-up again.This fickle nature of felines is mirrored in how people sometimes relate to each other. But many people don''t behave in this manner, nor do most cats -- just certain individual personalities who mesh more amicably with some. This is especially the case with cats (and people) who have similar temperaments.

Question:

What is your opinion about animal circuses? Some say it''s better for them than in a zoo because they get out a lot and kind of have work to do.

C.S., Minneapolis, MN Aug 28, 2005

Answer:

Wild animals do not belong in circuses, where they suffer extreme forms of physical and psychological deprivation, stress and distress, and, on many occasions, cruel mistreatment. They are of no educational value to children attending circus events and, indeed, as performing animals under human domination and control, the wrong message and values are conveyed to the public.Where is the respect for wildlife, the concern for endangered species and the promotion of the rights of all wild creatures to live in freedom in their natural habitats? Certainly not in circuses, which are an ancient, barbaric form of human entertainment from the Dark Ages -- a perverted form of animal exploitation that''s close to pornography (forcing animals to perform unnatural acts in public) and that has no place in any civilized society. This fact is recognized in many European countries, where wild animals in circuses are now banned. A similar ban should be in place in every city and state across the United States, for the good of t

Question:

We finally, and reluctantly, came to the realization that our beautiful, female longhaired Chihuahua is brain-damaged -- there is a good deal wrong with her.She is totally mute. She does not play, kiss or show curiosity. When she is in her kennel she just stands around. She sleeps almost nonstop. An exam at the University of Minnesota Veterinary School showed no problem with her vocal cords.My husband (an internist) and I (a university psychologist) would be much more accepting of this problem if we were working with a human being. However, we are obviously ill-informed about mental incapacity in animals. Our dog has shown no signs of being hurt. She is, literally, a "vegetable."What should we do? We are active people and want the normal activities of a pet. We are sad and regretful that our conclusion has come to us too late. Perhaps our hopes outwitted our judgment.

L.A., Minneapolis, MN Aug 28, 2005

Answer:

Surely they did more than simply check your little dog''s vocal cords at the veterinary college. Wasn''t she given a full neurological examination, including at least an X-ray of her skull to rule out the most likely cause of her malaise -- hydrocephalus, or water on the brain?This is not uncommon in Chihuahuas and other toy and miniature breeds. In relatively mild, non-lethal forms of this congenital disease (where there is no soft spot on top of the dog''s skull), the dog may get along fairly well but seems dull, both mentally and physically -- just like your expensive, helpless little "vegetable" dog, who is more like a rag doll than a feisty Chihuahua. The best that I can advise is for you to accept that you have a mentally challenged animal who may not be able show affection or experience either significant pleasure or pain, but may still enjoy some quality of life. A full neurological examination, including a CAT scan, may help you decide what is best for this poor dog.

Question:

The city where I live has an ordinance that prohibits anyone from keeping any animal "wild by nature," like ferrets and wolf hybrids. My brother keeps ferrets, and it''s OK since he lives in another state. He wants to give me one. He says they''re not wild. What''s your take on this?.

V.L., Minneapolis, MN May 01, 2005

Answer:

First of all, I am totally opposed to the breeding and owning of wolf-dog hybrids, because many suffer from extreme timidity and temperamental instability.I am also opposed to people keeping any wild species as a "pet." Wild animals belong in the wild. The importation of exotic wild species for the pet trade should be prohibited by the federal government for public health, humane and environmental reasons. There has been a resurgence in the sales of baby turtles, even after this was made illegal in 1970 after thousands of children developed salmonella infections from these animals.Now that an approved rabies vaccination is available for ferrets there is no reason why municipalities should prohibit their ownership, so it is now OK for you to keep a ferret in your state. They are a domesticated species, after all. Be aware, however, that the rabies vaccination has some risks for ferrets, who should be carefully monitored after vaccination.

Question:

This past Veterans Day I visited my dad, a World War II veteran who''s now in a nursing home. We got to talking about our family dogs, Meg and Molly, both now long gone, and the dogs used in wartime to detect mines, help protect troops from snipers and boost morale.Just when he said we should have a special Memorial Day for animals, a woman came into the lounge with a therapy dog to cheer up the residents. The dog greeted everyone in the room and got people talking and laughing. Don''t you think it would be a great idea to have a national day for animals out of gratitude for all that they do for us?.

D.L.S., Minneapolis, MN Mar 13, 2005

Answer:

I think this is a great idea. Such a commemorative day is long overdue, especially considering the countless ways animals benefit people and the planet, and that they have been doing so since time immemorial.Christians around the world celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi with a blessing of the animals. But we need something more ecumenical and interdenominational (if not secular) for a day of gratitude toward all creatures around the world. I would choose the summer solstice (June 21 or 22) for Animal Appreciation Day -- the first day of summer, in recognition of how they brighten our lives. People could send cards to their friends'' companion animals and have fund-raisers for local animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers, while schools could guide students in projects that show appreciation for animals and respect for all life.I''d love to hear the thoughts of other readers on this subject, and find out what other special day of the year you think might be appropriate for Animal Appre

Question:

Please settle this argument I''m having with my brother. He says I only need to feed my cat Tiffany once a day (or twice at most) the way he does with our dog, who gets one big meal when we get home from school at around 4 p.m.Tiffany always seems like she''s hungry. Some people put dry cat food out all the time so their cats can eat whenever they like. But I don''t want her to get fat or have the kind of health problems you say an all-dry diet can bring on. Please advise what''s best for my Tiffany.

M.S., Minneapolis, MN Feb 13, 2005

Answer:

Dogs are scavengers by nature, which means that one big meal a day is not ideal. Two smaller meals and three or four small, dry dog cookies as snacks is a better regimen, provided the dog''s weight is carefully monitored and plenty of physical activity is provided.Cats in the wild, which are more carnivorous, consume all manner of small prey -- the equivalent of 15 to 20 small snacks a day. So, ideally, in-home cats should not be given two or three meals a day, but rather a dozen or more small scoops (1 teaspoon each) of moist food spread out from early morning to late evening. A compromise for cats left alone all day is to put out a little dry food during the day and feed them moist food before you go to school and as soon as you get home, then a small serving after dinner and one just before you go to bed. This adds up to four small, 1-tablespoon meals daily. Cats'' dietary needs differ, so always regulate how much you feed Tiffany in order to make sure she doesn''t become overweight.