Question:
"Hi, I have a boxer and I want to buy him a bigger bed, the one I like is filled with Cedar. Is this safe if he destroys his bed , which he has done in the past. I am afraid if he digests some of the cedar. Thank you."

Answer:
Cedar makes a good bedding and insect repellent. I would have no reservations about buying a cedar bed. Chances are that your dog will not eat any of the chips if he destroys his bed, but you WILL have a large mess to clean up. Good luck!

Question:
"Hi, My 6 year old lab Abby has a really dirty ear.  I have been using cotton swabs and cleaning out a lot of mud from her ears but I can't reach all of it and I don't want to hurt her. I have seen a lot of products in the stores but I was hoping you could recommend something economical, safe and effective. She also has a large fatty tumor on her side.  I noticed it last year and the vets did a biopsy on her.  They said it's just a fatty tumor and that she is fine.  But over the year, the tumor has grown to the size of a tennis ball.  It can't be comfortable for her. Do you recommend removing it (is it better just to leave it alone) and how much would something like that cost? Thanks for all your help!" ~ Questions for My Dear Abby

Answer:
I would recommend a cleaner with chlorihexaderm as the active ingredient. This is a good disinfectant. Also, fatty tumors are just that..."Fat", but if it is located in an uncomfortable area, then by all means have it removed. Good luck.

Question:
"My husband and I a year and a half ago purchased a one year old and two year old female Keeshonds. The one year old is playful and happy like a puppy should be but the two year old is very timid and spooks very easily. We have loved them both the same, fed them well and given them allot of attention. What is strange is when we're hang out in our kitchen preparing meals, our younger dog will come in and join us but our older dog won't. She'll sit in our living room and stare at the wall. We try to coax her in to the kitchen to be with us but she just won't come, instead she'll run to the other end of the house to hide. We don't know what to do. We've tried treats and even carried her in with us but the minute her feet hit the floor she'll run for the back of the house. She's been a social dog but only at times. Do you think she could have been abused? The woman we purchased her from just said she was special and needed a lots of love. Like I have said we play with her, feed her well and give her lots of attention so we do not understand why she won't come join us kitchen. We love her so much and want to have her join us as a part of the family. Do you have any suggestions to why she might be doing this?" -Vicki Ferguson

Answer:
Since dogs are pack animals, they have a pecking order. It appears that your dog feels inferior and feels that she is "low dog on the totem pole". When dogs were undomesticated, the pack leaders ate first and then the dogs lower in the pecking order ate last. Your dog's instinct is to not join you for meals because she does not feel worthy. I would contact a behaviorist or do research on the internet for different things you can do to build up her self-esteem and let her move up the pack. Good luck.

Question:
"What do you do when your dog is never asking for food when the dogs done and has used the restroom? Loliz Perez"

Answer:
I assume you mean that your dog is not asking for a treat as a reward for the good behavior of using the restroom properly (if not please reply back). In this case the best reward is nice cheerful words and a good belly rub as a reward. Good luck!

Question:
"I just wanted to say thanks for the advice you gave me it helped and now he is good to go.Well there is another problem and I am kinda of concerned. Well my dog now is pretty happy. When he gets hungry he sits in his bed and stares at the food why is that? He won't go and eat it. Whenever I get up he follows me to the food and wants me to feed him or when I see him hungry I will get up and move the food to his bed. Why is that? And sometimes he acts like he is scared to go eat and when he does do it on his own he gets a mouth full and runs to his bed and eats it there. Why he will go back and fourth to eat until he is full. We can't make any sudden moves or stare at him because he will stop eating Why? I am getting frustrated and why cant he eat like a normal dog where the food and water is at? Simon, Plano,Tx."

Answer:
This is not an uncommon behavior for dogs. Please understand that dog are pack animals and your his leader. The lead dog is the one that disperses the food the lower dogs within the pack (him). He is waiting for you to feed him because he feels submissive to you. He goes off to be alone to eat to make sure you are not taking the food away from him (an it's nice a comfy on the bed). You will need to take steps and possibly training to get him to feel less inferior; AND, time and trust will always help. Good luck

Question:
"I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD BULLDOG. EVER SINCE A PUP SHE WOULD HAVE, I'M GOING TO SAY"SEIZURES". WHEN SHE WAS VERY LITTLE, THEY WOULD MAKE HER STUMBLE & FALL DOWN. BY THE TIME SHE WAS 2 yrs. SHE FIGURED OUT THAT IF SHE JUST SAT DOWN UNTIL IT WAS OVER IT WAS EASIER. BUT FOR THE LAST 2 months SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING 5-10 OF THESE A DAY.I CALL THEM SEIZURES, BUT I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA. BEFORE, WHEN IT HAPPENED IT WAS MAYBE ONCE A MONTH.SHE WOULD SIT AS STILL AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE TOP HALF OF HER HEAD FROM UPPER JAW BONE ALL THE WAY AROUND HER SKULL WOULD BOBBLE FOR A CONSTANT 3-5 MINUTES, THEN BE GONE. NOW IT KNOCKS HER TO THE FLOOR INSTANTLY,HER EYES ROLL BACK IN HER HEAD, AND SHE URINATES. ALL LASTING ABOUT 5 min.THEN SHE'S FINE FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO. ANY IDEAS WHAT THIS COULD BE???
HEART SICK & CONCERNED,LOUISE"

Answer:
Have you taken her to the vet? If not, it's time to go. Seizure activity is common in dogs, but it's time to take action if they are happening that frequently. Your veterinarian will probably run some blood tests to make sure there are no underlying problems and then start on an anti-seizure medication called phenobarbitol. Once she is regulated,the seizures should be a thing of the past. Good luck!

Question:
"We have a 7 month old Boston Terrier, we just got him three weeks ago. We have some stairs you have to take before entering our front door. When we first got him, he would go up and down without any problem when taking him outside to go to the bathroom. Suddenly, about 4 days ago, he will not climb up the stairs anymore when bringing him back inside, he just sits down and won't move....until we pick him up and carry him up. He still goes down the stairs with no problem. Any suggestions?"

Answer:
It sounds like a kid that don't want to leave the party! If your dog doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort (ie: limping, etc), then it's most likely because he wants to stay outside since it's more fun there. Obviously, if he is showing pain or discomfort, I would recommend a checkup by your local veterinarian. If that's not the case, then make sure you have plenty of snacks to entice him to follow you up the stairs and then spend several minutes playing with him after he does...and don't leave out the praise! This shows him that it is just as fun and interesting inside the house as outside and the snacks are used as a positive reinforcement. Good luck!

Question:
"I have a yorkie weighing about 5 pounds. He is very loveing, and iv'e had him for 1 month we adopted hm. My queston is why is he so scared all the time and why does he shake? Also when we call him over to us he walks on his back legs like he is crawling because he is scared and to top that off he gets so nerves and scared he poops and pee's on the floor! I take him out and he wont use the bathroom when I take him out and when I bring him in he pees on the floor. This never happens with my roomate the dog goes outside. Likes him better than me. Why is that? My other yorkie goes outside with me and no problem. Is something wrong with my dog was he abused or does he just not like me? PLEASE HELP ME!!! Simon from Plano, tx"

Answer:
This is just a case of being submissive. Dogs are pack animals and he obviously gets the sense that you're the pack leader. When approaching your dog, do it from the side and do not make direct eye contact with him. Also, do not talk to the dog while in a submissive state as this will make the condition worse. Once approached with your side toward him, scratch and pet him gently. Eventually talk to him while scratching him. Do this several times per day until improvement is noticed. Above all else, BE PATIENT AND CONSISTENT. Good luck!

Question:
"I have a 8 month old Short Hair Pointer and we are trying to kennel train him.. Our neighbors keep complaining that when we leave the house all he does is bark. He has already broke one kennel and we have tried a bark collar, but when the collar shocks him it just makes him bark more. I felt horrible about using a bark collar but what else can I do about his barking. Leaving him out is not an option cause he chews anything and everything up. Any sugestions?"

Answer:
Your dog apparently has separation anxiety issues. Here are some tips that may help!
1. Try making your arrivals and departure very boring and low-key
2. Try to desensitize your dog to clues that you are about to leave (key rattling, etc). Repeat these actions over and over without leaving.
3. Crating your dog is good but you may need an all metal crate to prevent him from breaking out.
4. You may also want to try a doggie daycare. These are springing up all over the metroplex, so finding one shouldn't be a problem. And Finally...
5. Give your dog LOTS of exercise. The more tired your dog is the better!
Good luck!

Question:
"I HAVE A BABY SHARPEI AND SHE MAKES THIS WEIRD NOISE LIKE SHES CHOKING WHAT CAN I DO FOR HER AND HER BARK SOUNDS VERY RASPY FOR A PUPPY WHAT DO YOU THINK IS WRONG WITH HER?"

Answer:
At her age it could be a couple of different things. First and foremost, it could be a cold or some type of bronchitis and she is trying to cough up phlegm from her throat. She could also have an elongated soft palate (which is the soft part on the roof of your mouth), in which case it may be something that you and her deal with the rest of her life. I would definitely have her checked out by a veterinarian in either case. Good Luck!

Question:
"I have a 22 month old neutered male standard poodle, that weighs a bit over 50 lbs. He has a deformed tail that is bent sideways and lays against to his butt. Today, I noticed that his tail was swollen, felt hot to the touch and he cries when you touch it. I gave him a 50 mg Rimadyl for the inflammation. Is there bone or cartlidge in the tail? What more can I do for him?"

Answer:
There is both cartilage and bone in the tail. A swelling that is hot is generally an indication of some type of infection. I would definitely seek an examination from your veterinarian as rimadyl will probably not help this condition much. Good luck!

Question:
"I just recently got a dog from a friend of mine who cant take care of him any more...he is half boxer and half pitt bull...he's very sweet and loving and i have no problem with his temper...he is almost 1yr old and I'm starting to get really worried...I've had him for about 11/2 months and he hasn't gained any weight at all...he should at least be 40 lbs by now and he only weighs like maybe 25....i can clearly see his ribs backbone and pelvic bone.....i feed him every day once in the morning and once at night...but lately i have been so scared i just leave food out constantly for him.....he also has started "pooping" a mucus looking substance that sometimes looks a little bloody.....do you think that he may have a sickness...i asked the person i got him from if he ever had his shots and they said only his first set...I'm waiting until i get some extra money to take him to the vet, but right now i am behind on bills...do you think he has heart worms or something, or worse? Concerned Owner, Jocelyn."

Answer:
There are a number of things it could be, but de-worming him would be a good place to start. Look for a product that has pyrantel poamate in it. This is a broad spectrum dewormer. Give it now and repeat again in 3 weeks. As soon as possible try to get him into your veterinarian to have him examined and checked for heartworms. Good luck!

Question:
"I have a almost 4 yrs old mutt. He likes my family just fine but does not like anyone else. Even family he has only seen a couple of times a year. Why? We can't take him any where. People can't come over. He does not bite people but will bark and act like he will bite. He has a bad bark and growl. We just got a new puppy and wish the puppy will not pick up this bad behavior.
What should we do? BoBo in Roanoke."

Answer:
I'm sorry but it sounds like he is controlling your life instead of you controlling his. First I would start out fitting him with a "gentle lead" collar and leash. This allows you to gain control over him without hurting him. Next take him for walks around the neighborhood or anywhere else that there may be contact with other people and/or pets. Walk him with authority and DO NOT let him to control the situation. When passing someone and he starts to act up, continuing walking while basically ignoring the distraction. Do this over and over until he is desensitized to others. If you haven't, you must teach him to sit. Then when the door bell rings or someone knocks on your door. Make him sit "away" from the door while you greet the newcomer. Eventually, you will have control of the situation and your little "mutt". Good luck

Question:
"My dog never wants to play fetch and/or catch with me. I just assumed that my dog hated it and gave up. Sometimes at the dog park I'll try it from time to time but she won't take the bait. My sister came over the other day and out of nowhere my dog played an intensive catch/fetch session with her lasting over 30 minutes. However, when I try to play with her she just stares at the ball/Frisbee/object. I don't understand why my dog plays with other people, but refuses to play with me. Does my dog hate me?"

Answer:
This is a tough one. I would start out playing tug of war and letting her win the first few times. Then you should take the item away from her and make her want it badly. Then throw it and allow her to go get it to start tug of war over again. Do it over and over until she is playing pitch and catch with you. Good luck.

Question:
"My dog doesn't like baths but recently she has been climbing into the bathtub when no one is looking. Why does she do that?"

Answer:
It could be several different things. It may be the coolness of the tub feels good to her or she may like the feeling of the texture. Thanks for your question!

Question:
"Please have you any idea why my staff goes along the floor in the weirdest position to scratch his backside?? he's been wormed and the vet say's his glands are not blocked ..and believe you me...my butch didn't like the way she found out....yuk.. i would be grateful if you could help me..Maureen from liverpool."

Answer:
When they scoot their bottom, it's generally tapeworms (which may not show up on a worm check), allergies, or full anal glands. Even though your baby has been dewormed, there are only a few medications which completely remove tapeworms AND even though your vet checked her glands and they were empty, she may have expressed them on her own. Good luck.

Question:
"I've had my carpet cleaned twice and each time it happens the foul fragrance of dog urine seeps from this one section of the hall. I've blocked it off, so I know my dog isn't repeatedly peeing there. but is there any hope that the odor will dissipate on its own? I'm renting so I can't rip up the carpet and start anew...although I would like to.

Answer:
There is no hope that the odor will dissipate on its own. If you are renting I would try an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle. It is sold at many pet stores. Good luck!

Question:
"I think my dog is fat. actually, I know my dog is fat, how can I make her healthy. she is old and refuses to move...even to pee. I'd like my dog to have a hot body for the summer and to be able to walk across my apartment complex without passing out." -- sugar in the suburbs

Answer:
If she is old, she may have some arthritis making her reluctant to get up. If this is the case, I would recommend a glucosamine supplementation, like synovi G3's sold at many pet stores. As far as the weight condition, exercise and a fat restrictive diet are probably all that is needed, but being older, you may want to have her thyroid levels checked. Thanks for your question!

Question:
"My dog is constantly scratching and itching. I have checked her, sprayed her with flea spray, bathed her with oatmeal, bombed my house and yard and I can't find a single flea. I'm scared because now she has started eating off the hair around her nipples and paws after scratching them. Now her skin is red. I really can't afford a vet visit, but I am concerned. Is my dog going to die?." -- Itchy in Irving

Answer:
This time of year, it is most likely allergies. It would be best to have her examined, but if you can't afford it, you may want to try benedryl at 1mg per pound of body weight. This means that a 25lb dog would receive one human 25mg capsule twice daily. Thanks "Itchy in Irving".

Question:
"My dog loves to jump up on people whenever she meets them. She gets uber-excited. What can I do aside from yelling at her to make her calm down? Should I mention that she's steroidal and she injured someone's testicles in one of her fits of excitement." Desperate in Dallas

Answer:
OUCH!! Here's some advice:
For many dogs, jumping up on people is part of their greeting routine. Often, owners have tried to discourage this behavior using methods such as squeezing the front feet, stepping on the dog's toes, or kneeing the dog in the chest. Yet the behavior continues. For some dogs these techniques provide an uncomfortable but acceptable form of attention.

For others, the technique leads to increasing anxiety as people arrive at the door, and conflict behaviors such as circling or urine leaking can develop since the pet is motivated to greet as well as avoid.

Therefore in both cases the problem is gradually being further aggravated. If that is the case with your dog, then it is important to think about what might be motivating the dog to jump up and what is the reinforcement for the behavior continuing, and to avoid exposure until you can gain sufficient control with verbal commands, head halter training or both.

Usually the motivation for the jumping up behavior is to greet people.
Many dogs like to greet "face to face", like they do with their canine counterparts. Some people, however, find this objectionable. Dogs that jump up can also cause injury or scare the visitor. The visitor's reaction to the dog (whether it be fear or retaliation) would then serve to make the dog anxious about further visitors coming to the home. In addition, strong punitive responses when people enter the home can create anxiety and could make the dog aggressive as he anticipates that people entering the home create an aversive situation for him.

Correction therefore must not be directed at punishing the problem, but rather at finding a means of teaching the dog an appropriate greeting behavior. This usually is a sit/stay, which can then be rewarded with food and attention. Once the dog has perfected this at the doorway, when there are no people coming or going, its time to begin practicing with family members, before progressing to familiar visitors and then to greeting new people arriving at the home. Make the dog sit and stay when people arrive and give the dog the special training treat. If the dog gets up, then put him back in the sit and try again until the dog remains sitting through the arrival. Often placing a "treat jar" by the front door with a bell on it will help. Once the dog associates the bell on the jar with a treat, and a treat with a sit/stay, the dog will be more likely to perform the task.

Another way to train this behavior, if you feel that you have sufficient control, is to set up visitors to come to your home. You will likely have the best control of your dog if you use a head collar and a leash for this exercise. Have the first person come to the door. Instruct your dog to 'sit' and 'stay'. Then, let the visitor in. Hopefully, with some effort, you will get your dog to continue to sit. Have the person enter, give a treat and sit down. After five minutes, have them leave by the back door, come to the front and enter again. This second entry should go easier as your dog will have just seen the person. If you can repeat this 4-6 times for each visitor, the dog will have plenty of opportunity to learn the new task.

Once you understand the motivation, and have trained a new task, you need to be sure you have identified all the reinforcement for the behavior. If the dog succeeds in getting any attention for the jumping behavior, then the dog will continue to jump. Attention includes petting, pushing away, (which resembles play behavior), and even mild reprimands, all of which can be reinforcing for a dog that really wants attention. To change this behavior you need to remove ALL reinforcement.

This may mean that you do not look, speak, touch or interact with the dog IN ANY WAY when it jumps on you. Walk by the dog, give a command such as 'sit', but do not interact with the dog. Alternately, you could try a disruptive stimulus to see if you can disrupt the behavior just as it begins.

To use disruption for jumping up, you need to be able to QUICKLY AND HUMANELY interrupt the behavior. This is often best done with some type of device that makes a loud noise. Shaker cans, ultrasonic trainers, rape alarms, and air horns, all make loud noises that will often startle the dog. As soon as the dog hesitates, you need to give the dog an alternative command so that the dog can do the proper thing, and then reward the dog with praise. So, as you administer the noise, you say "SIT" and when the dog sits you reward it with praise and food treats if available. Many dogs soon learn that, to avoid the noise, they need to sit and will do so to greet you. Then have the person leave, and re-enter the home. Use the device and command if the dog does not immediately sit, and a "good sit" and reward as soon as the dog does sit. Continue to have the person leave and re-enter until the dog sits for its reward without hesitating. Another efficient but costly means of immediate interruption is to use a citronella spray collar. Bark activated collars are useful if the dog also barks as people arrive at the door. Alternately a remote collar can be used to interrupt the jumping and reinforce the desirable response (e.g. sitting).

Another method that is consistently successful at deterring and preventing the jumping up is to leave a leash and head halter on the dog during greeting. All it takes is stepping on the leash or a quick sharp pull to prevent or disrupt the jumping up. Again, be certain to reward non-jumping behavior.

Some people like to allow the dog to jump up on them at certain times.You must never allow the dog to choose the time or the dog will continue to do this behavior whenever it is in the mood, and could learn to greet all people in the same uncontrolled manner. Therefore, if you enjoy this type of greeting first teach your dog to settle and relax for greetings and then teach your dog a command "give me a hug" or "come up here".

This way, you have the behavior under verbal control and you decide when the dog will be allowed to jump up.

Question:
"Why do dogs have better eyesight and smell then other pets and people?"

Answer:
Dogs don't see the same way humans do. Dogs have a wider field of view and a better ability to detect motion at the horizon. A dog can recognize moving objects nearly half a mile (1 km) away. But if those objects remain still, the dog may not notice them. This is very helpful in hunting fast moving prey. Dogs don't see color very well. The ability to see color depends on the number and type of color-sensitive cells -- called cones -- in the eye. The human eye has more cones, and more kinds of cones, than a dog's eye does. So we can perceive more colors than a dog can. But dogs' eyes outdo ours when it comes to rods. Rods are cells that help dogs (and us) see in dim light. Dogs may not see color very well, but they can see in the dark much better than we can. Dogs can smell up to 10,000 times better than humans. A dog's nose works the same way, but its 200 million or so scent receptors make it much more sensitive than the human nose. The longer the dog's nose, the more scent receptors it has and the better it can smell. Dogs with the best sense of smell, such as beagles and bloodhounds, sometimes called "scenthounds," have long snouts that house a complicated network of tissues, mucus, and scent receptors that enable a dog to recognize its favorite smells.

Question:
"I have a schnauzer who lives inside but spends time out in the backyard via the doggie door. I noticed recently that he was crunching on something outside, when I went to look it was dried up feces!!!!!! yuck!!!! why do dogs do that???, I've tried to scoop the backyard more often to discourage him from doing it. Could there be something wrong with him????..................Susan from Cedar Hill"

Answer:
Eating feces, called coprophagy, is fairly common in dogs and puppies. There are a number of reasons dogs do this, from cleaning up after themselves to boredom. Very seldom, but possible is a nutritional deficiency. Ir your dog is not nutritionally deficient by having them on a good quality food or taking vitamins supplements, there is a supplemental powder that you can add to your pets food to make the feces very bitter tasting and hopefully break your dog's distasteful habit. This powder is called "Forbid".

Question:
"I have a 13 year old dog, he has lost some teeth and has bad breath, i have tried everything, tell me what to do, and he also seems like he may have arthritis, the other day he acted like he was shaking. help in plano, tx."

Answer:
Well, first of all, it sounds like your dog has periodontal disease. Bacteria within the plaque on your dog's teeth will cause bad breath, swollen gums, and eventually tooth loss. I would have your veterinarian check your pet's mouth and gums for infections. They will probably recommend a teeth cleaning followed by dental hygiene products. While you're there have them check your pet for arthritis. There are several good arthritis products available now that do a wonderful job controlling the pain and discomfort. If you want to start your dog on something at home, I would recommend a good glucosamine/chondrotin supplement available at most pet stores. Thanks, and good luck!