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Ask the Vet!
Lauren Mascola is the veterinarian at Petcare Veterinary Services in West Hartford. She studied at UConn for undergraduate and Tufts for Veterinary Medicine. She has over 10 years experience and 2 dogs and 3 cats of her own. She is excited to answer your questions!
Q: Dear Dr. Mascola,
I have a 15-year-old poodle. He is still full of energy but wets whenever he wakes. I take him out whenever I catch it, but he doesn't seem to have the feelings anymore. He can go outside and come in and go again. Anything I can do for him or me?
Kristine
A: Dear Kristine,
There are a few rule outs that come to mind when a senior dog, which was previously well house-trained, starts to have urinary accidents. Sometimes just aging can cause loss of feeling and incontinence. Another possible cause of incontinence would be a urinary tract infection. Diabetes Mellitus and Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Disease) are two endocrine diseases which may cause a dog to drink more water than usual and secondarily cause urinary accidents. Finally, a syndrome in dogs called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, which is similar to human Alzheimer's Disease, can literally make a senior dog forget where it is appropriate to urinate. A trip to your veterinarian for a physical exam and some senior lab work can help differentiate the cause so appropriate treatment may be instituted. Good luck!
Dr. Mascola
Ask Peter, "The Fish Doctor!"
Peter Oddo has been keeping and breeding tropical fish for over 6 years. He has raised more than 500 baby fish and maintains a saltwater reef tank and 7 other aquariums in his home. He installs aquariums in homes and offices for a living. Direct all your fishy questions to "The Fish Doctor."
Q: Dear Fish Doctor,
Hi, I have a male beta and want to breed it. I am afraid that the female might kill it or he will kill the female. I have heard that betas don't get along with any fish, especially their own kind, is that true?
Thank you, Rhonda
A: Hi Rhonda,
It is true that 2 male betas will kill each other, however, keeping a male and a female together shouldn’t be a problem. Betas are bubble nest breeders; look for tiny bubbles at the top of your aquarium.
Peter
Ask The Cat Lady!
Sally Bahner has spent the last 10 years specializing in writing on cat-related issues, specifically nutrition, holistic care and multiple cat behavior. She was editor-in-chief of "The Whole Cat Journal" and has contributed to "Catnip", "Catwatch" and the new "Whole Cat Journal". Send your cat questions to Sally!
Q: Dear Sally,
I found my now 16-month-old cat, Jessie-Jane, when she was abandoned in an alley at age 3 weeks. Since her first day home, she is obsessed with sucking on two particular fuzzy blankets. She will do it for half hour at a time, 10-15 times daily or as often as I pet her (each and every time I pet her) while she is lying on the blanket. If you look closely, only one thread of yarn at a time is in her mouth. If one of her blankets is not on the bed and I start petting her, she will look around for it to lie upon. Is this because she was taken away from her mother too early? My girlfriend has a 9-year-old cat that has also done this all her life.
Janis
A: Dear Janis,
This is relatively common behavior in cats that can manifest itself in various ways – eating or sucking on wool, nursing on another kitty or their own paw, sucking the hair of their caregiver or kneading soft items.
My cat, Coco, who is 12, loves my husband’s bathrobe and certain sweaters of mine. She will mount them, grab a corner of the fabric in her mouth, then twist and knead them, getting an almost glazed look in her eyes. Tekla, another one of my cats, has eaten fringe off a small Aubusson rug and some throws. A couple of my other cats will knead my chest when I pick them up to cuddle them.
I ran across a rather amusing term for this behavior – smurgling. Yes, it is often thought the behavior results from early weaning and that may be the case with your kitty since you found her at just 3 weeks. Oriental-type breeds are likely to engage in wool sucking and chewing, something that can really raise havoc with your collection of cashmere sweaters!
Some veterinarians recommend feeding high fiber foods (uncooked, unsweetened pumpkin or a little grated carrot) – that may or may not work. Toys can be used for redirection if the caregiver feels the behavior is a problem or excessive. If the behavior results from anxiety, flower essences can be used.
However, I see it as a "feel good" thing that provides comfort to the kitty. Jessie-Jane seems to associate both your petting and her blankets as objects of comfort. She feels secure in your presence (and her blanky’s!) Cats do have a lot of amusing and quirky behaviors. If you feel Jessie-Jane’s sucking is excessive, you might want to alternate petting with play sessions (tossing a ball or using a fishing-pole toy) or giving her a little treat.
Sally
Ask the Lazi Birds!
Steve and Diane Lazicki have been rescuing and working with birds for over 8 years, as well as raising them as pets since childhood. They live with over 150 birds in their "bird house," so they have a wealth of bird expertise. Direct your bird related questions to the Lazi Birds.
Q: Dear Diane and Steve,
During the recent quaker parrot capture and killing the United Illuminating utility company claimed that the quakers, or monks as they are sometime called, are responsible for as many as 8 to 12 power outages a month and that the birds are an invasive species. Are these birds as dangerous as these claims make them out to be or is there some way to live peaceably with these wonderful creatures?
An animal lover
A: Dear Animal Lover,
There are efforts being made as I write, headed by a dear friend of ours, Marc Johnson. This sad situation has gone national. As far as the power outages, we've yet to see any documentation. I contacted Marc as he has been making trips every few days, to CT in an effort to rally help in saving "OUR" Quakers. Here is his answer.
Quaker or "monk" parakeets come from the cool mountain climates of northern Argentina and southern Brazil and along with this ability to endure colder temperatures they are also the only parrot that builds an external (as opposed to a cavity nest in the trunks of trees) nest made of twigs. They spend days constructing their intricate homes that shield them from the cold nighttime temperatures and thus are able to survive, albeit barely, our extreme winters here in New England. They have been part of our ecosystem for some thirty years now and the evidence shows that far from being an invasive species, they barely manage to hold on to their population numbers over the course of each year. These parrots pose no threats to any native species (there is evidence that some native species might even benefit from the shelter provided by the nest complexes) nor do they pose any threat to agriculture or native flora. It would seem that rather than face a regular maintenance program on the power poles where the quakers build their nests, it is far easier to attempt an eradication every 8 years or so. Concerned citizens are now mounting an effort to "privatize" the quaker population by offering alternative nesting poles that will offer homes to any birds displaced by the nest tear downs now going on in CT. If you would like to help in this effort you can contact Marc Johnson of Foster Parrots (Massachusetts) at 781 878-3733 or by email at marc@fosterparrots.com.
Grammie & Pa
Dog Training?
Donna Bennett, dog trainer from D-Tails Pet Service can answer your questions on dog training. She has been training dogs for nine years in obedience and agility, her specialty being difficult dogs. She is a member of the Pet Dog Trainers Association and an expert trainer! Please direct your dog training questions to Donna!
Q: Dear Donna
How can we introduce our 5-year-old dog to the new baby and still make the dog feel comfortable and loved? He has been the baby for so long and we don't want him to feel threatened in any way.
Thank you, Susan
A: Hi Susan!
Congrats on your soon to be new arrival.
With relatively little effort your dog will not feel displaced from the baby position but rather he will find that he has a new job as nursemaid. You can begin introducing a new arrival with a doll added to your household before the baby arrives. The doll should be held and carried and placed as a baby would. Let your dog sniff the baby doll and share your attention with the dog and the doll while watching TV and relaxing. Dogs should never be left alone with a baby but you can watch the reaction of your dog with these activities.
There is also a very good book on the market that can help everyone through the transition. The title of the book is Your Dog and Your Baby a Practical Guide. It is written by Silvia Hartmann-Kent. If you are unable to locate it in a bookstore it can be ordered at www.dogwise.com.
Donna Bennett
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