Is it Trick or Treat when it's time to eat?

05.29.2005

I know it is not good for either dog or cat to eat others food but I have heard it is NOT good for Dogs to eat cat food, but it won't hurt a cat if she eats dog food. My friend says it is the oppisite, bad for cats to eat dog food and okay if dog eats dog food......I have a small kitten keeps eating the dry dog food..........Aslo my dogs try to eat the cat food (though put up high, they sometimes get it) My friend though says her dog loves cat food and lets her have it sometimes. So could you please settle this argument for us. Though we both know dogs should have there food cause it is made for them and there digestive system same with cats thankyou -- Diane Dear Diane: Well it sounds like a regular food bonanza at your house with the kitten in the dog's food, and the dogs on the counters. Next time you're out, tell them to invite me in! Now about the food, and what's good for whom. Both cats and dogs are carnivores, and in the wild would be eating small animals, most often herbivores, that would provide mostly protein (the meat), some fiber (fur, feathers, sinew), and possibly a bit of grain (from the mouse's stomach, for example). Now there's a raging debate about what's best for us animals, with a lot of different camps. Well, here's what Sally (that's me!) has to say about that! Cat food is much higher in fat and that is why dogs love it as well as cat poop. (yum, or is that yuk?) Dog food is higher in carbohydrates, which will cause Miss Kitty to lose her girlish figure (oh no!) Both species seem to enjoy eating each others' food. Now, what else. Did you know that your kitty needs to eat 7 or 8 times a day, and that she's a natural born hunter? So either eliminate the dog food from her reach if you're concerned, and/or provide kitten food for her to free feed throughout the day, and see what happens. Her ravenous appetite will taper off as she reaches adulthood, and by the time she's a year old, feeding her one time a day should be fine. Try feeding your dogs in another room if you can, or put a fence up around kitty's food that she can slip under or through, but the dogs can't. You can also consider providing some small amounts of high quality, fresh fresh FRESH raw meat that everyone can enjoy. Check with your vet as well, and depending upon the breed, age, and relative size of your guys, there may be complications from their feeding habits that I can't determine from the vantage point of my web site. Best to you and your brood! -- Sally

Leader of the Pack

05.29.2005

My dog snips at other dogs. I want to start socializing her more, but it's difficult when she is not friendly towards other dogs. Any advice? -- TLL Sigh. We doggies can be a handful, but if you see it from our point of view, it usually makes sense. Did you know that we dogs are pack animals, and nipping and biting and barking and growling are some of the ways that we communicate with each other? And more importantly, it's how we establish our standing in the pack. The "pack" is usually a litter of puppies and its mother, but since we are so often separated from our mothers so soon (sniff!) we consider our adopted humans our fellow pack members, and sometimes our behavior is a sign of just where we think we are in that line-up, and who's the boss. When we exhibit aggression or aggressive behavior-and this can include a warning growl or stiffening of the body and a showing of the teeth, and in worse cases, a ferocious snarling and biting-may show up when we're defending our territory or possessions from animals or humans. I say, aggression should not be ignored or excused! Besides, it's no fun for us to behave this way! When we're socialized, we learn how to get along with all sorts of other dogs and humans, and obedience training is probably the quickest way to socialize us. A dog that learns to obey commands begins to understand that she cannot bully people or other dogs, and I say, when she understand this, a good romp at the doggie park when she can hang with her pals will be a pleasure for both of you. Consult a trainer, and good luck with her schooling! Send me graduation photos! -- Sally

The Poodle that Piddles

05.29.2005

My 2 yr. old female poodle has starting urinating on my bed. I have always let both my poodles out of their crate in the morning onto my bed for affection time. She either urinates then when I don't notice (because she is laying down) or she does this during the day when I am in another room. She no longer is allowed in my bedroom. I am now afraid to let her in any room where there is a bed or a couch. I can't trust her. This is hard because my other dog is much more social and I see no reason to limit him quite to the extent I limit her. A friend suggested I keep her on a leash and take her everywhere I go. Another suggested I keep her always only on the kitchen area and then for affection time, I sit on the floor with her a few times a day. Our dogs have always been part of the family and although they are either crated during the 5 hours that I work or stay outside in our fenced in patio area and they are always crated at night, they spend a lot of time with us on the couch. I normally let them out to make on the patio and/or they run down to the yard. My friend also suggested I start taking them out on a leash, that this would make "making" time more definitively delineated. Please advise. Thank you. We have recently had home improvements and I'm wondering if she is reacting to this. Is she mad at me? Please help. -- Dog urinating on bed Dear "Dog Urinating on Bed": First things first. I say, ALWAYS take your beloved one to the vet when there is a change in elimination behavior in case it's a health problem. When a physical cause has been eliminated, then turn to other probable causes, and try to think like a dog! We doggies are very sensitive to change, and you are right to consider your recent renovations. While disruptive humans, home repairs may make us doggies feel very threatened and insecure. We don't know if a power saw will always be screeching through wood in our kitchen! So yes, Little Miss Poodle may be upset about these changes, and expressing it in a way that you find much too wet. Do you take her outside to relieve herself BEFORE she comes onto your bed for affection time? If not, please do, and be consistent so it becomes a routine, predictable, and reassuring part of her morning. Have you tried limiting her to the kitchen in the mornings, with paper on the floor, so you can observe her over a period of time to determine when, how often, and where she has these accidents? How the house settled back to normal after the renovation? Give her some time to break her bad habit and re-establish healthy ones. Whatever you do, never yell at her, punish her, or push her nose in it! Instead, rearrange the circumstances to help her achieve success, reward good behavior, and reinforce it with affection and love -- Sally

Puppies Under Construction

05.29.2005

Can I give my pregnant dog worm medication? -- tnestor@drewshoe.com Congratulations on being a grandpapa, or should I say grandpuppy? (tee hee) But Nestor -I think it's best you consult with your vet, since you don't say what breed, size, or age she is, or whether your dog is experiencing problems, or if this is a routine treatment. I say, I'm sure one phone call to your regular vet will clarify all whereas I would need a crystal ball. So call the vet, and send me baby pictures when the new little ones make their appearance in the world! New life is always a happy occasion! -- Sally

Out of the Outhouse

05.29.2005

Hi Sally, I have a cat, Fluffy, and she was 2 years old in March. Recently, she has been leaving little reminders that she is here all over the house, just one little nugget, like she is trying to tell me something. One of the times, she even left one right in front of her litterbox. I have never had a cat before, is this normal? Or is this something that I should bring her to the vet about? Please let me know. Thanks! -- Erica Dear Erica. Since this is your first cat, I gotta say, every cat is unique, and you may have to analyze and problem-solve the situation to find out just what it is that's going on with Fluffy. It' always a good idea to check in with your vet, but read on and see if any of my sage advice rings a bell as well. But in general, those cats want what humans want when it's time to go-they want it clean, quiet, and private. Is this true for the condition and location of her box? I'll sling a few thoughts your way about what I know about boxes (dogs are above this, of course! Hmph!), and maybe some will apply to you. In the wild, a cat looks for a soft substrate, like soil or sand, in which they can easily dig to cover the scent and sight of their "evidence". It's a safety precaution as much as anything else, so no predator can track them. The litter box should mimic these conditions-a soft unscented (they HATE perfume!) substance that's easy to dig, in a clean box that's in a quiet, safe place. No cat wants to be caught with their, ahem, "pants" down, so make sure there's always an escape route for Fluffy, should calamity strike when nature calls. One cat who recently "lost" her litter box training - well, it turned out that a calendar fell off the wall behind her precisely as she was eliminating, and that was quite the alarm. When it comes to boxes, there should always been one for each cat PLUS one. So one cat means TWO litter boxes. Then you can try 2 locations as well, and see Fluffy picks one over the other. Cats often prefer to pee in one box, and poop in the other. And keep those boxes clean, and I mean clean, clean, CLEAN! Would you want to go on a toilet that got flushed once a week? I say, no way! Scoop litter boxes daily, and change the litter completely every few days. Use a mild soap and water to rinse them at least once a week, and never use bleach or citrus-scented soaps, since cats hate those smells. You'll want about 3" of litter, just enough that her feet don't get wet (yuck!) when stepping in and out, but not so deep that it feels like quick sand. A few other thoughts. Does this seem intentional, accidental, or neither? Is you cat a long-haired cat? If so, some lumps may cling to her coat then drop off later. Or have you moved the box or changed the type of litter lately? Could she be disapproving of the smell or cleanliness of the box? Is there some other change in her household, or source of stress that could have initiated this behavior? Is there any chance that someone spooked her or yelled at her when she was in the box, and so she associates fear or punishment with being in the box? And lastly, don't use litter box liners - awful for digging, and avoid the hooded boxes that trap smells for kitty. Remember, HER sense of smell is hundreds of times more sensitive than ours, so that's the last place she would want to go. And are you spending enough time with her? Make sure there's 15 minutes of play time each and every day so she gets the love and attention she deserves! -- Sally

Time's a Wastin'!

05.29.2005

my cat has blood in his pee and is throwing up.what could be wrong -- e. martin E. Martin - A lot! I say, please call your vet immediately, or better yet, take your cat there right away or to an emergency cat clinic if there is one where you live. At this moment, you are the most important part of the health care of your pet. Your cat cannot speak for itself and is dependent on you to make sure that she is well cared for, and that the vet knows the symptoms and history of an illness. Make sure you tell your vet if you believe that your pet is in pain. While many cats vomit on a regular basis and show no signs of sickness, pain, or disease, the most common reasons for vomiting can be inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diseases, or mechanical obstructions including hair balls, but could also mean cancer, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or even heartworm. The BLOOD in the pee is a whole 'nother matter and one which deserves your serious and immediate attention. These are serious signs of problems that can encompass quite a few possibilities-a bladder infection or a kidney stone or an obstruction. If your "he" was a "she" I'd say she could be pregnant or about to deliver. But since this is a "he", please act now. And let me know when kitty is doing OK and how it all worked out. I'm sending healing energy your way. -- Sally