In the grand scheme of things, it therefore only seems fitting that this would be an appropriate time to bring my blogging career to an end. Yes, that's what the letters, EOB, stand for that you've been seeing at the beginning of the last ten issues...End Of Blog.
Just to satisfy your curiosity, the top ten countries represented in the demographic list of readers are: USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, Israel, India, Russia, France, and the Philippines. Our most popular issue was "visited" 11,800 times.
I've met you right here on these pages every week for the last five years, bringing you 261 issues of Questions On Dogs and Cats. Every Monday morning, when you picked up your first cup of coffee, we've shared a lot of thoughts about dogs and cats and had fun doing it. So, next Monday morning, think of Helpful Buckeye and the wonderful five years we had together. Thanks for being there....
Many of you will remember that I ran this cartoon about looking for "blogging" shoes right after our initial issue. I really had no idea how long this would go on or how involved I would become in the pet affairs of so many people. It has been truly gratifying to think of all the pet owners I've had contact with. I believe I've worn out 5 pairs of blogging shoes and am putting this issue together wearing an old pair of Jimmy Buffett "Margaritaville" sandals...somewhere, there's a palm tree and chaise lounge with my name on it.
I've titled this issue The Final Potpourri for a reason. Whether you prefer the words hodgepodge, mishmash, melange, salmagundi, or potpourri, this blog has been just that for our duration. I believed that I would be of most help to pet owners by covering as many pet topics as possible. And, judging from your e-mails, most of you have been very comfortable with that. Among the most rewarding e-mail messages I received were those in which someone said they would have liked to visit me when I was still practicing or that they would have liked to spend a day with me at my veterinary hospital. Thank you for all of your e-mails and comments...they have been much appreciated!
In the words of Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor: “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
And now, for one last swing through the wonderful world of dogs and cats, let's look at some interesting stuff:
Finding Truth on the Web
Dr. Joanne Intile
The Internet can be a dangerous place for owners of
pets with cancer. The sheer amount of virtual information available immediately
at one’s fingertips is astonishing; bordering on overwhelming.
As an example, a quick search of the phrase “canine
cancer” in a popular search engine returns over 3,240,000 hits. "Canine
lymphoma" yields over 1,050,000 hits, while "feline lymphoma"
reveals a mere 565,000 hits. How can an owner sift through all those pages and
discern the "good from the bad" when it comes to learning more about
their pet’s diagnosis?
When a diagnosis of cancer is made, owners are often
placed in the difficult position of having to make decisions regarding
diagnostic tests and treatments for their pet, frequently with limited
information. This can lead to a feeling of helplessness and depression, or even
defensiveness at times. I think it’s natural to turn to the Internet as a
source of information, self-comfort, and self-education.
What I’m not so sure of is when exactly did entering
phrases or words into a search engine begin qualifying as "research?"
Having endured many years of rigorous academic training, when I think of
actively researching a topic, it conjures up images of pouring over textbooks
and critically reviewing clinical studies. To me, it means learning objective
facts and studying information for accuracy of content, not clicking on random
websites and reading unsubstantiated opinions backed typically by emotion
rather than truth.
It is not unusual for owners to come to their first
appointment armed with notes, printouts, suggestions, and/or questions they
have garnered from searching their pets’ diagnoses on the Internet. My visceral
reaction is typically one of tempered insult. I’m the one who endured many
years of education and training and have several years of experience working as
a clinical medical oncologist, yet I often joke in some cases that the
(in)famous "Dr. Google," who never went to vet school, once again has
managed to usurp my recommendations. It’s challenging for me to remember that
the intentions behind my clients’ questions or suggestions are typically pure.
Owners simply lack the medical knowledge to review the Internet information
accurately, but they really only want the best care and best treatment options
for their pets.
I’ve discussed before how I understand that a
diagnosis of cancer can be emotionally provoking for owners, and a common
frustration many will express is their complete lack of control over the
situation. Owners cannot alter progression of the disease once it occurs, they
are simply told, "Here are the facts and here are the
recommendations."
An example would be an owner focusing on nutrition
and diet after a diagnosis is obtained. What food their pet ingests is one of
the few things pet owners can control in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.
It is also one of the most Internet-searched topics owners will discuss with me
during an appointment. Unfortunately, the lack of evidence-based information
supporting nutrition as playing a role in the outcome for animals with cancer
makes it difficult to make solid recommendations.
This isn’t to say I can't relate to the need to try
to learn as much as possible about a diagnosis, and I’m aware of how daunting
terminology related to science and health and medicine can be for individuals
not trained specifically within those subjects. The vocabulary is unfamiliar,
anxiety provoking, and even uncomfortable for some. Equally as challenging on my
end is determining how to present complicated diagnoses and treatment options
in terms the average non-medically inclined individual can understand. Despite
my best efforts, even with the most medically educated clientele, I know the
emotional aspects surrounding a diagnosis can create barriers to truly
understanding the technicalities.
Following initial consults, I provide owners with an
in-depth written summary of all the points discussed during the appointment. I
believe this is something unique to the veterinary profession. Think about the
last time your human MD counterpart provided you with a written summary of any
aspect of your visit. Even with the information literally in hand, it’s not
uncommon for owners to specifically ask for websites they could use to better
understand all the topics I’ve discussed. I’m not sure I will ever understand
the need to turn to non-validated sources of information when it comes to
learning about health and disease, but I do understand my obligation to being
able to point people in the right direction.
Therefore, I generally recommend websites directly
affiliated with veterinary schools, professional veterinary organizations, and
websites run by respected and prominent veterinarians and advocate such pages
as resources for owners seeking additional information. I also have no problem
discussing the pros of seeing another medical oncologist for a second opinion
when appropriate.
I think one of the main reasons I enjoy being able
to write weekly articles for petMD is because I feel it is my small way of
contributing factual information about veterinary oncology on the Internet.
Though I’m still frequently challenged by owners about something they read on a
website or through an online forum, I try to maintain patience when these
topics come up.
I take comfort in knowing there are good resources
for pet owners, and that I play an active role in keeping truthful information
available to a large-scale audience, one week at a time.
Adapted from: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/jintile/2013/feb/finding-information-on-cancer-onlineThere is no doubt that the Internet has provided a lot of good and interesting information for those seeking it. But, going beyond that, we've all been told that you can't believe everything you read online...and for good reason. Anybody can post whatever they wish online...it is the reader's duty to sift out what is good from what isn't.
The Science of Dogs, A Helpful Chart
If you've ever wondered what's going on inside a
dog's head, look no further than this chart that helps explain what dogs fear,
what they understand and why they have to smell absolutely everything that ever
existed.
If you memorize these charts, you'll go a long way toward
understanding some of your dog's actions!!!
Scientists prove you really can tell what your dog
is
feeling by looking at its face
Any dog owner will claim they can tell exactly what
their pet is thinking just by looking at it. Now scientists have discovered
that they may well be right. A study has shown that people are able to precisely
identify a range of emotions in dogs from changes in their facial expressions.
The research showed that volunteers could correctly
spot when a dog was happy, sad, angry, surprised or scared, when shown only a
picture of the animal’s face, suggesting that humans are naturally attuned to
detecting how animals are feeling.
Dr Tina Bloom, a psychologist who led the research,
said: “There is no doubt that humans have the ability to recognise emotional
states in other humans and accurately read other humans’ facial expressions. We
have shown that humans are also able to accurately – if not perfectly –
identify at least one dog’s facial expressions.
“Although humans often think of themselves as
disconnected or even isolated from nature, our study suggests that there are
patterns that connect, and one of these is in the form of emotional
communication.”
The study, published in the journal Behavioural
Processes, used photographs of a police dog named Mal, a five-year-old Belgian
shepherd dog, as it experienced different emotions. To trigger a happy
reaction, researchers praised Mal. The result was the dog looking straight at
the camera with ears up and tongue out.
They then reprimanded the dog to produce a “sad”
reaction, causing the animal to pull a mournful expression with eyes cast down.
Surprise, generated using a jack-in-the box, caused
the dog to wrinkle the top of its head into something akin to a frown. Medicine
that Mal did not like was produced to stimulate disgust – flattened ears – and
nail trimmers, which Mal also disliked, were brandished to create fear, causing
the ears to prick up and the whites of the eyes to show.
For anger, a researcher pretended to be a criminal.
Mal’s teeth were bared in the beginnings of a snarl.
The resulting photographs were shown to 50
volunteers, who were split into two groups according to their experience of
dogs.
By far the easiest emotion they recognised was
happiness, with 88 per cent of the volunteers correctly identifying it. Anger
was identified by 70 per cent of participants.
About 45 per cent of volunteers spotted when Mal was
frightened, while 37 per cent could identify the relatively subtle emotion of
sadness.
The canine expressions that were hardest for humans
to identify were surprise and disgust, with only 20 per cent of the volunteers
recognising surprise and just 13 per cent recognising disgust.
The study by Dr Bloom and Prof Harris Friedman, both
from Walden University, in Minneapolis, found that people with minimal
experience of dogs were better at identifying canine disgust and anger, perhaps
because dog owners convinced themselves that their dog was not aggressive and
so the associated facial expression was just playing.
The researchers believe the ability of inexperienced
volunteers to sometimes be better judges of emotions may be because reading
dogs’ faces comes naturally, rather than being a learned skill.
Dr Bloom said she hoped further research might
determine whether this apparent natural empathy with canines was something we
shared with all mammals, or could be explained by humans and dogs evolving
side-by-side for the past 100,000 years.
As a dog lover — who was “very confident” in her
ability to read the faces of her two Dobermans and two Rhodesian ridgebacks —
she admitted such unproven theories were emotionally appealing.
She added: “If I adopted a cat, or a snake or a
turtle, I don’t think it would be as emotionally attached to me and watching my
face as much as a dog would. There is something different and special about a
dog — I’m not sure what it is, but it’s there.”
Beverley Cuddy, the editor of Dogs Today, said dog
lovers would feel vindicated by the research. “I am not at all surprised that
science has finally accepted what we knew all along — dog and owner communicate
perfectly well without words.”
Adapted from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/9934977/Scientists-prove-you-really-can-tell-what-your-dog-is-feeling-by-looking-at-its-face.html
Is Your Cat a Lion at Heart?
Have you ever wondered why your pet cat rubs up
against your legs, kneads your thighs with its forepaws or sleeps on top of a
wardrobe? These, and many other behaviours, can be attributed to the tiger
lurking within your pet tigger.
A recent report conducted by feline experts Whiskas
has established close links between domestic cat behaviour and behaviours
exhibited by their wild big cat cousins.
The report also revealed some startling statistics
about the way cat owners relate to their pets.
Over a thousand owners were involved in a survey
that investigated regularly observed behaviours around the home and garden and
also asked how owners responded to their pets. Some of the results were
startling! Over 95% of cat owners considered their pet as part of the family.
And a surprising one in 10 admitted to preferring having a cuddle with their
cat than with their partner!
Many cat owners maintain that stroking their pet
reduces feelings of stress and this has been born out by empirical study that
correlates a reduction in blood pressure among people who regularly look after
and show affection to their pets.
One of the most tangible illustrations of owners
recognising the similarities between domestic cats and their wild counterparts
is when it comes to naming them, with Tigger and Tiger being among the
favourites!
As someone who has spent a great deal of the past 30
years watching and filming the big cats of the world, chiefly in Kenya and
India, I was asked to analyze some of the most regularly witnessed domestic cat
behaviour to see if there were indeed any patterns which echoed that of their
big cat cousins.
A common observation was that of cats rubbing
against their owners' legs with their temples, cheeks and flanks, especially as
meals were being prepared. The cat is in fact scent marking, using special
glands in their face and sides, and in so doing they are reinforcing a 'family'
scent. Very similar behaviour can be seen in lions, particularly when
subordinate females or youngsters greet more dominant animals in the pride. As
the subordinate lion approaches it lowers its head slightly, often raises its
tail and then pushes its head into and along that of the more dominant
colleague. The importance of establishing a clan or family scent for these
sociable cats is key to the avoidance and diffusion of aggression. And woe betide
any intruder that does not bear the familiar smell! When your domestic cat
scent marks you it is showing its confidence and comfort in being close to you
and at the same time recognising your dominance in the relationship. In short,
it's a cat compliment.
Many owners observed their pet cat choosing to rest
on a high point like the top of a cupboard, and some said that their cat
preferred to eat from a bowl that was raised above ground level. This again is
echoed by one of their big cat cousins, the African leopard, which in parts of
its range regularly climbs trees to rest and may haul meals up into the
branches too. This is a defence strategy, avoiding contact and conflict with
other predators, especially hyenas and lions. When your pet cat seeks a high point
it is responding to an ancestral urge to get out of the way of trouble that may
lurk on the ground.
Padding, or kneading with the forepaws is another
behaviour often witnessed in pet cats, especially when they are lying
comfortably on their owners' laps. This action stems from infantile behaviour,
when nursing kittens rhythmically knead their mothers' mammary glands to
stimulate milk flow. Over thousands of years of domestication we have
encouraged cats to maintain much of their kitten-like relationship, with
ourselves playing the role of surrogate parents, and it is this that leads to
the perpetuation of this paddingbehaviour. The same can be said of play
behaviour, with many pet cats remaining very playful with their owners well
into adulthood, a pattern of behaviour that generally wanes soon after
adolescence in wild cat populations.
So much of the charm of living with a cat can be
attributed to the close connection many have with the wild side of their
character, whilst continuing to surprise and amuse us with their sense of fun,
trust and independent character.
Adapted from: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/simon-king/cats-lions-at-heart_b_2883439.html
Designer Mix Breeds: Most Common Breed
Mixes
Breed mixes are becoming more and more popular and
even getting designer names such as "Blends" as opposed to
"Mixed Breeds". Most of the blends are smaller breed dogs and most
are mixed with a poodle. Most of these are relatively low shedding pets and may
be good choices for families with allergies. But which ones are the most
popular? It is very difficult to find the numbers since they are not all part
of a national registry but here is our list of the most common ones...
Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mix). The cockapoo
originated in the United States in the 1960's. The Cockapoo is a cross between
an American Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. Cockapoos are active, can be good
watchdogs and good with kids. Depending on the parents, the features and size
can resemble each aspects of each breed. Their size can vary with the mix but
generally range from 6 to 20 pounds and their life expectancy is 13 to 15
years. For more information, visit www.cockapoos.com for the Cockapoo Club of
America.
Schnoodle (Schnauzer-Poodle mix). Schnoodles are
mixes between a Schnauzer and a Poodle. They are generally intelligent dogs,
active, playful and get on well with children. They are relatively low
shedders. There are three sizes of poodle (toy, miniature and standard) and
three sizes of schnauzer (miniature, standard and giant) and their traits are
directly reflected by the combination that is bred. Their size can vary from 6
pounds and up and their life expectancy is 13 to 15 years.
Yorkipoos (Yorkshire terrier-Poodle mix). Yorkipoos
are a cross between Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles. They are generally
affectionate, loyal and active little dogs. Yorkipoos are relatively low
shedders. Depending on the parents, their weight can vary from 4.5 to 16 pounds
and their life expectancy is 13 to 16 years.
Pomapoo (Pomeranian-Poodle mix). Pom-a-poos are a
mix between a Pomeranian and a Poodle. They are generally intelligent dogs get
on well with children. They are relatively low shedders. There size varies with
the size of the parents but can vary from 4 to 15 pounds and their life
expectancy is 13 to 16 years.
Labradoodle (Labrador retriever-Standard poodle
mix). Labradoodles are a cross between a Labrador retriever and a standard
poodle mix. They are generally sociable, intelligent and readily trainable. The
hair coats can be either fleece-like or curly and comes in a variety of colors
including: Black, Silver, Cream, Apricot Cream, Chalk, Gold, Red, Apricot,
Chocolate, and Café. Labradoodles weight will vary from 40 to 80 pounds and
their life expectancy is about 11 to 13 years.
Peekapoos (Pekinese-Poodle mix). Peek-a-poos (also
referred to as Peke-a-poos, Peekapoos, and Pekepoos) are crosses between a
Pekingese and a Poodle. Peekapoos are generally friendly dogs that are playful
and can be good with children. This cross generally weighs between 8 to 16
pounds, depending on the size of the parents. Their life expectancy is approximately
13 to 15 years.
Maltapoo (Maltese-Poodle mix). Malt-a-poo, also
known as the Malti-poo, is a cross between a Maltese and a poodle. They are
generally sociable and intelligent. They are relatively low shedders.
Malt-a-poos will weigh between 4 and 15 pounds and their life expectancy is
about 13 to 15 years.
Chipoo (Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix). A Chi-poo is a
mix between a Chihuahua and a Pomeranian. Their hair coat can be straight or
wavy. They are relatively low shedders. Chi-poos are generally smart,
personable and can be good with kids. Their weight will vary from 2 to 15
pounds and their life expectancy is about 13 to 17 years.
Shihpoo (Shih-Tzu-Poodle). A Shih-poo is a cross
between a Shih-tzu and a poodle. They are generally gentle, affectionate and
loyal. Their hair coats can be curly or straight and they are relatively low
shedders. They generally weigh between 6 to 19 pounds and their life expectancy
is about 13 to 17 years.
Goldendoodles (Golden retriever-Poodle mix).
Goldendoodles are a cross between a Golden Retrievers and a Standard Poodle.
Their weight will range from 45 to 80 pounds. They are generally low shedding
pets. They are generally active, intelligent, highly trainable, loyal and good
with kids. Their life expectancy is about 11 to 13 years.
For those of you who might soon be getting a new puppy...and those who might often wonder why their dog doesn't answer when they call its name, here is some great advice!
You Named Me Brutus? Really?
What’s in a (Dog) Name?: Alexandra Horowitz, a dog
cognition expert, interviews dog owners about the names of their pets.
By JAN HOFFMAN
For our family, choosing a name was neither simple
nor swift. After all, it had taken my daughters a decade of whining and
deliberating over breeds that wouldn’t aggravate the allergy-stricken (me),
just to get to the point of agreeing to get a Havanese.
And because I am the family research queen, I found
a way to make the process even more complicated. A little research elicited a
lot of information.
I found lists of the most common dog names. A Web
site with thousands of names, sorted into categories like “cool,” “cute” and
“unusual.” And countless dos and don’ts from self-anointed dog-naming experts.
It was an art. A science. Serendipity. Intuition.
There were phonetics rules. And rules that ignored
phonetics, instead placing a premium on achieving family harmony. And, of
course, there was a simmering debate: Whose needs should the name serve, yours
or the dog’s?
One of the most consistent pieces of advice I found
was to stick to names of one or two syllables, which quickly catch a puppy’s
attention.
People seem to drift in that direction anyway. At a
recent puppy training class, I met Gracie, Nigel, Sasha and a schnauzer mix
whose name was the perfect marriage of 21st-century preoccupations and
ür-dogginess: Browser.
JoAnn Vela, the owner of Canine Cuties Dog Grooming,
in Chicago Ridge, Ill., has four dogs: Moose, Bleu, Tyson and Coach. Moose, she
explained, because their English mastiff was such a galumphing klutz. Bleu,
because her daughter thought the dog looked so sad. Tyson, because her husband wanted
the German shepherd to have a tough name. And Coach, because when her daughter
gazed longingly at the Shetland sheepdog in a pet shop window, the dog gazed
back longingly at her Coach purse.
The four-syllable Gentleman Jack, of Cedar Grove,
N.J., defies this rule. When Lauren Meyer, a stay-at-home mother who owns a
Labradoodle, first saw a picture of him, she wanted to call him Jack, because
she thought he looked like a frisky rogue. But her son insisted on a name with
a little more class. At the time, he was a student at the University of
Virginia, whose guiding spirit is the gentleman-scholar Thomas Jefferson. Also,
the dog is whiskey-colored, and Gentleman Jack, it should be noted, is a brand
of Jack Daniel’s whiskey.
On occasion, the name expands to six syllables.
“When he’s bad,” Mrs. Meyer said, “we call him Gentleman Jack Meyer.”
Another piece of advice: To help the puppy
distinguish its name from ambient noise, choose something with a sibilant
consonant or blend (an “s,” “sh” or “zh”) or, better still, a crisp, commanding
consonant (a “k” or hard “c”).
Laura Waddell, a dog trainer and animal behaviorist
in New Jersey, works with a bred-in-captivity wolf named Tacoma, and she named
her own golden retriever-spitz mix Loki. “They can distinguish frequency ranges
that we cannot, particularly dogs with pricked ears, which work almost like
parabolic microphones,” she said. “The hard consonant is a relatively sharp
sound that the dog can respond to quickly. I think sibilant sounds are more
muddled for them.”
Mrs. Vela recalled grooming a beagle named Tank.
Some customers apparently don’t look under the hood, so to speak. After the
session, she informed the dog’s owners that Tank was a Tinker (as in
Tinkerbelle). Acceptance was hard.
“The husband and wife still each call the dog by a
different name,” Mrs. Vela said.
But at least they abide by the rule.
SOME EXPERTS ALSO ADVISE picking a name that ends in
a long vowel or a short “a.”
“Simba?” I asked my daughters. “Lobo? I know, let’s
call the puppy Orca!”
“Jovi,” they snickered, after Jon Bon.
Martin Deeley, a Florida trainer and executive
director of the International Association of Canine Professionals, said he
prefers names that end in a long “e,” like Benny or Dolly. “I think it gives a nickname
a loving touch,” he said. “Sweet becomes Sweetie.”
He also recommended making sure the name could not
be confused with a command. That eliminated names like Kit, which sounds too
much like “sit,” and Beau, which sounds like “no” (the Obamas obviously ignored
this rule in naming their dog Bo).
Another caution: Try to avoid the most popular
names. Consider the canine traffic jam that could ensue at the dog park when a
pack of owners starts calling their Maxes and Busters.
But don’t go in for anything trendy or overly witty.
Pick something enduring, that you and the dog can live with, one hopes, for a
decade or more. Mr. Deeley, who has been working with dogs and their owners for
nearly 40 years, laments the fact that this generation of parents tends to
allow the children to name the dog. Thus the perpetuation of names inspired by
Saturday-morning cartoon characters. Or a certain yellow Labrador of his
acquaintance, whose family allowed their 6-year-old to saddle with the moniker
Freckles.
As Alexandra Horowitz, who teaches animal behavior
and psychology at Barnard College, said: “There’s a dog in my neighborhood
named Harbinger. It’s clever, but they weren’t planning practically.”
Still, Dr. Horowitz, who wrote “On Looking: Eleven
Walks with Expert Eyes,” a new book that examines city streets from the
perspective of both dog and human, is a rule-breaker herself.
“I like names that I’m willing to say repeatedly,”
she said, “because you find yourself often conversing with your dog.” Her dogs
have had names like Pumpernickel, Finnegan and Upton.
AND FINALLY, the admonition that will set off the
most howls: Avoid human names.
The Monks of New Skete, a monastic community in
upstate New York, breed German shepherds and are renowned for their dog
training books. In a 2012 newsletter, Brother Christopher Savage explained
their objection to human names. “Sometimes, without realizing it, owners who
give their dogs human names are more likely to fall into the trap of
anthropomorphizing their pets,” he wrote. “In our experience, that is a formula
that invites big problems.”
“What about Sheldon?” asked my 14-year-old, ignoring
the monks’ advice. “He’s my favorite character on ‘The Big Bang Theory.’ ”
“No!” my husband and I barked.
This may be the most difficult rule to follow. As
Mrs. Vela said: “Especially older people and people without kids. They are
upfront: ‘These are my children.’ I groom a lot of Bobbies, Stellas and Joeys.”
Dr. Horowitz takes issue with the monks’ rule as
well. “Human names are fine,” she said. “I don’t think a dog cares if it’s
named for us. It’s more that we’re finding a way to give the dog an identity,
to draw a place for it in our lives.”
Mr. Deeley agreed: “I think the name is overplayed
in training. I want dogs to concentrate on the command instead.”
“What does a name mean to a dog?” he continued. “
‘Hey, look at me?’ ‘Follow me?’ ‘I love you?’ ‘You’re in trouble?’ Or ‘I’m
lonely and I missed you?’ Dogs read body language and how you smell to them.
It’s about your voice and your energy, not whatever you call him. You can make
contact with a deaf animal.”
Mary Cody can attest to that. Ms. Cody, the founder
of Aunt Mary’s Doghouse, a volunteer rescue and adoption program in Hope, N.J.,
named her deaf Australian shepherd Dumia, the Hebrew word for silent, and the
dog follows her everywhere.
She has named hundreds of dogs, and said she tries
to make sure each name speaks to the particular dog. “I’ll try a name and
sometimes it’s a dud,” Ms. Cody said. “When I call ‘Nick!’ he’s like, ‘Yeah,
what?’ ” she said, referring to an Akita mix. “But when I call him Louie the
Lip, he comes running.”
BY NOW we were armed with almost too much
information. So we decided to focus on the puppy himself.
The Havanese originally flourished in Havana, and it
is often described as a big dog in the body of a little one. When we finally
met ours, he was not quite four pounds, but friendly, playful, curious,
indefatigable. He had a comically endearing personality.
Such a funny little guy, we thought. And that’s how
his name came to us. O.K., so it’s a human name — that of a comedian, a Marx
brother.
It’s also a Spanish word that, used affectionately,
can mean “little guy.” It satisfied my compulsive research requirements, with a
hard, crisp sound and a final long vowel.
And when we call him — “Chico!” — he cocks his head
quizzically and then races over. Sometimes we don’t even have to use his name.
Adapted from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/garden/the-art-of-naming-a-dog.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0
Modern, Four-Story Home For Cats
We love when designers get to thinking about how to
create hip accommodations for kitties. In the past, we’ve featured covered
litter boxes inspired by mid-century modernism and feral cat shelters inspired
by Frank Lloyd Wright (yes, seriously). Today, we bring you Catissa, a wooden,
four-story house meant to be affixed to a wall. Conceived by Mojorno, a Russian
design studio, Catissa gives cats a bird’s eye view of the house while also
providing “a safe place” for them to take a nap. “Dogs and children can’t get
them,” the designer says. Plus, the smooth surface makes for easy cleaning.
Pretty snazzy, huh?
On a more serious note, this final topic is something you should consider as you strive for taking better care of your dogs and cats.
On a more serious note, this final topic is something you should consider as you strive for taking better care of your dogs and cats.
Do You Trust Your Vet?
The Irreverent Vet Speaks Out
What should you do if you don't trust your vet or
feel you are being taken advantage of?
It's a fair question. I was talking to my friends at
PetPlace about this, and they asked me to write an article on the subject.
First, let me introduce myself for those of you that
don't know me. I'm the Irreverent Veterinarian. I speak my mind and give you my
honest opinion. I won't sweet-talk you or sugarcoat the truth. I tell it like
it is – to you, the drug companies, the pet product manufacturers, professional
breeders and pet owners. Some might say that I'm truthful to a fault. Some of
the pet owners and breeders who read my columns get really angry. It is hard
hearing the truth.
So, this is what happened. Recently, my friend told
me this story about his car:
The other day I took my car to the shop for an oil
change. I like cars but I don't know enough about them to do my own repairs and
oil changes. Anyway, the mechanic told me that I needed a fuel additive – that
is an additional $12.95. They said my air filter should be changed – that cost
$29.99. They wanted to upgrade my oil from the regular to the synthetic (an
additional $49.99). And they said it would be a good idea to change the
transmission fluid. So a simple $29.99 oil change was now going to cost me
nearly $200!
Since my friend didn't know enough about cars to
know whether or not he REALLY needed these things, how does he know if they
were really telling him the truth (or if they were just trying to get more
money out of him)? The reason I'm telling you this story is because it made my
friend feel vulnerable. I've been in similar situations, so I understand how he
felt. He didn't know whether he needed these things or not so the situation
made him uneasy. If they were simply taking advantage of him, how would he
know?
My friend's wife said that she feels the say way
when she takes her dog to the vet. She said, "I want to do the right
thing, but I don't know if my dog really needs all these things or not ... and
it could cost hundreds of dollars."
Wow – that is something I had not really thought
much about. But she makes a good point.
I always try to do the best for my patients and
recommend what is truly needed. I try to treat every dog as if it were my own –
and recommend what I would do for my own pet.
In addition, I generally give my clients options.
Not everyone can afford the best or ideal treatment plan. I generally give
options for the ideal diagnostic and therapeutic approach and another option
that is not quite ideal but reasonable (and less expensive).
What if you feel you cannot trust your vet to do the
right thing?
My advice is that you ultimately you do need to
trust your veterinarian. Consider why you are feeling uneasy. Is it because
your veterinarian is telling you something that is difficult to hear (something
they recommend but you can not afford)? Or, is it because your vet does not
listen to you?
My Final Thoughts on Trusting Your Veterinarian
It is hard to compare a veterinary service to an oil
change but you need to trust your mechanic. If you don't trust him – you need
to get a different mechanic.
You also need to trust your veterinarian. I think
the best thing you can do is to keep an open dialogue of communication. If you
have a question – ask. If you don't get an answer you are comfortable with –
consider getting a different veterinarian.
You should be able to have open communication with your vet – that is part of the trust. If you don't feel you have that, find a different vet that you can personally connect with – someone who makes you fee comfortable.
Wow, I really can't believe that this brings me to the end of the 261st issue of Questions On Dogs and Cats! Where has the time gone?
Remember that, even though the blog is ending, you will still be able to access this web site and look for pet information in the "Labels" list on the left side of the page. Also, I'll still periodically check my gmail account in case you'd like to send an e-mail comment or ask any pet-related questions...feel free to do so. Send them to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com .
None of these 261 issues would have been as enjoyable and easy to read if Desperado hadn't contributed her many talents. As usual, she has vastly improved a situation simply by being a part of it. There are so many things I couldn't have done without her over the last 44 years and I am especially very thankful for her contributions to this blog.
I'd like to give my heartfelt thanks to all of you who have been with me on this ride...and especially those who have been with me from the beginning--it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun without you!
As our favorite cowboy singer, Michael Martin Murphey, says at the end of each concert, "...and so, another day in the American West has come to an end,"...as does this blog. Desperado and Helpful Buckeye thank you all for your participation and we wish you well as we watch the western sun settle toward the horizon....
With the help of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, we offer this final farewell to all of you...Happy Trails To You...go ahead and sing along (we do so quite frequently)...listen here:
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