In our last column, we talked about Harmony, a hyperactive
golden retriever who was digging everywhere and destroying
furniture in the house.
In our last column, we talked about Harmony, a hyperactive golden retriever who was digging everywhere and destroying furniture in the house.
One reader, Joan, thought this dog should be walked regularly and given her own “digging sandbox.” She noted that regular daily walks help burn off some of the high-level energy that dogs like Harmony possess.
And many dogs can be trained to dig in their own special area like a sandbox. All it takes is tasty treats rewarding positive behavior.
Joan’s points are well-taken. Most dogs respond quickly to this type of behavioral training. But Harmony was an exceptional dog. Her owner told me she had tried these techniques (as well as others) on the suggestion of a professional trainer.
She hadn’t had any success and was ready to throw in the towel. This failure with Harmony was the reason I suggested that Harmony be seen by the behaviorists at the UC Davis veterinary school. There’s no doubt that most “hyperactive” dogs respond positively to daily exercise. But a few like Harmony need special, more intensive behavioral modification.
Finally, I wanted to emphasize that prospective puppy buyers should always consider where they get a dog. Puppies (like Harmony) from a pet store or Internet are far more likely to have problems, both physical and behavioral. Almost any vet you talk to will recommend that prospective owners stay away from pet store and Internet pups and kitties.
We also received several comments about the recommendation I gave the owner of the kitty infected with FIV, also known as feline AIDS. Several readers felt that euthanasia should never be considered. One reader said that building a secure outdoor enclosure would be a better solution than indoor confinement or euthanasia. But what if a cat escaped its enclosure? I’ve seen several people put up very nice screened enclosures. With one, the cat found a way to escape several times. In another case, the cat was so stressed to be captive that he developed other health issues. It seemed that being caught up, whether indoor or outdoor, was not to this cat’s liking.
Another reader questioned whether feral (wild) cats might be a large source of infections diseases like feline AIDS. She asked how I felt about the so-called “catch/neuter/release” program where feral cats are captured and spayed or neutered without testing for infectious disease like feline leukemia, peritonitis or AIDS. She questioned whether this program was more harmful than good, stating that ferals spread infection to other cats like hers. This is a legitimate query, and there is no easy answer. But here are some facts to consider.
Without catch/neuter/release, the feral cat population would blossom into a worse problem than it is already. There’s no doubt that some ferals carry infectious disease. That’s why captured cats that are obviously ill are not put through surgery and then released. Visibly ill feral cats are examined and if they’re impossible to handle, they are euthanized. Those that are manageable get tested and are given appropriate medications, often donated by veterinarians or others. Problem is some infected cats show no clinical signs. These are healthy carriers of disease that can go out and infect other felines after they’re released.
In the best-of-all-worlds, feral cats would be tested at least for these 3 diseases. But this isn’t financially feasible and the only other solution would be to capture these cats and euthanize them all. For many, this is a very unpopular solution.
It’s a difficult situation to say the least. And it seems that the capture/neuter/release is the best answer we have at this time. So those of us that allow our own cats to go outside have to realize that there are potential dangers out there, including exposure to infectious diseases.
Q:
What’s the best way to take care of matted fur on our cat, Manfred? He has the worst case this year. We used to just comb out these mats. But this year, the mats are horrible and he cries every time we try to brush him.
A:
I don’t why, but this year I’ve heard more cat owners talk about their matted kitties. Rumpy-the-Cat has some huge fur mats this year. But he’s getting older and doesn’t groom as much as in years past. Inadequate self-grooming is a leading cause of matted fur.
Most mats can be combed or brushed out, but if the clumps of fur just won’t come off, or if your cat just won’t allow a brush to touch his skin, then a trip to the groom shop might be your best alternative.
Whatever you do, don’t try to cut those mats off with scissors! It’s much too easy to cut the skin because these mats usually lie so close to the body wall. Even the most careful person often ends up at the vet’s office because of a skin laceration resulting from scissors.
But you have electric hair clippers, you can safely try to remove the mats on Manfred. Just hold them up and gently bump the base with the clippers. It’ll take many little “bumps” with the clippers to free each of those mats away from his skin. Be patient and give it a try. But if all fails, call a groomer to get rid of those mats. Manfred may look a little funny with his new short fur look, but he’ll be very glad you did.
