Q: Why does my dog yawn so much? I think it’s a way of talking
to me. But my friends say I’m crazy and that this is just a nervous
habit. Does this happen a lot in other dogs?
Q: Why does my dog yawn so much? I think it’s a way of talking to me. But my friends say I’m crazy and that this is just a nervous habit. Does this happen a lot in other dogs?
A: Sure does. And you can tell your friends that you’re not crazy at all. Yawning is one of those unanswered mysteries. We really don’t completely know why it happens either in people or in animals.
We know that some folks yawn when they’re tired. And I believe some dogs do the same. But there’s more to a good yawn than just fatigue.
Lottie the Bulldog yawns repeatedly (every 20 to 30 seconds) when she’s nervous or worried that I might leave home without her. And her yawn is a huge production … she even shakes her head as she finishes. I think she’s telling me her feelings. Yawning is a way for her to communicate, and she really tries to get my attention doing this. And we all think it’s really humorous to see her repeatedly open wide so much.
But here’s a question for our readers. Do you think yawning is contagious? If you see your dog or cat yawn, do you feel the same urge?
Q: Why do some dogs have dewclaws while others don’t? My dog has a dewclaw on both of his front feet but not on his back feet. Is this normal? My friend’s dog doesn’t have any at all.
A: Dewclaws are the first digit on the inside of the foot. For dogs, they’re the equivalent of the thumb on the front foot and the large toe on the rear. All dogs are born with dewclaws on their front feet, but some pups have no rear dewclaws (so they only have four toes on their back feet).
Rear dewclaws dangle loosely from the skin of the foot and can easily be injured by getting caught in carpet fibers or vegetation. Because of this, they are usually removed surgically. This procedure is most often done when the pups are just a few days old, and it only takes a few minutes.
Many breeders choose to have the front dewclaws removed as well. In many breeds, this is a standard procedure. If you look closely at a pup without front dewclaws, you may be able to see a small scar where this procedure was performed.
Front dewclaw removal is a more elective procedure since these toes are not usually a hazard or problem. Many breeders choose to leave them on their pups.
Q: We went to the groomer’s yesterday and while we were checking in, another person came in with her cat for a bath (I didn’t know that cats were ever given a bath!). It really bothered me the way this woman came into the store. She was just carrying this poor cat under her arms. It was noisy inside the store, and this shop is on a busy street. No one said anything to her, but I wanted to ask her whether or not she worried about her cat getting loose and running away. I saw that her arms had a few scratches on them, so maybe he already had tried to get away. How foolish is this?
A: I agree completely with your comments. This woman was taking a lot of chances. It never ceases to amaze veterinarians how many people take their kitty-cats somewhere without proper restraint. It’s just too easy for a cat to startle and jump out of his owner’s arms.
Over the years, I’ve seen several cats get away from their owner and run away. In a few instances, we were lucky and able to retrieve the frightened feline. But on at least several occasions, the pet was lost forever, last seen running down the street or across a field. And this tragedy can be so easily avoided if owners use a cat carrier or a shoulder harness and leash.
Cat carriers are inexpensive, as are shoulder harnesses. And few people realize how well cats adapt to a leash and shoulder harness. Most cats can be walked just the same as a dog, and most love to spend time with their owner this way.
For many years, my parents traveled by car on vacations, taking Duffy-the-Cat with them. He was trained to walk on a shoulder harness and really enjoyed getting out of the car at roadside rest stops to stretch his legs.
Cats need some form of restraint for their own protection. Without this protection, they are at extreme risk for injury if they get away and run off.
One time, an unlucky fellow lost his grip on his fiancee’s cat in our hospital waiting room just as the door opened for someone else coming in. This kitty ran out the door and into the street. As this man and several others tried to catch her, she was struck and killed by a car.
There were so many victims that day, including the cat owner, those that tried to help catch that kitty, and the poor driver of that car. She was a friend of mine and told me a year later that she still had occasional nightmares about that day.
The bottom line is this: Always, always transport your small animal (cat or small dog) securely. Either use a shoulder harness or some type of secure carrying-kennel. Lightweight plastic carriers or thick cardboard carriers are both adequate, and they are absolutely necessary to prevent a simple trip away from home from turning into a disaster.
