Ask the Veterinarian!

[AdmiralAdamaismyanti-drug]

Thanks, I'm already crying everytime I pet her.

[Xana44]

AdmiralAdamaismyanti-drug

Thanks, I'm already crying everytime I pet her.

Hold in there strong. You are doing the best thing for your family. And I have to assume if your kitty is attacking things, she is spending a lot of time in fear, and that is not fair for her to have to live that way. I have been in your shoes and I know how hard it is. Thinking of you.

[Sweetpea The Tigress]

Xana44

I got to do one of my least favorite surgeries today. An enucleation. Basically removing an eye.

This poor kitty had had a severe eye infection that had caused a large corneal ulcer. We had cured the infection and the ulcer had healed, but it caused a weak spot in the eye. Unfortunately, the weak spot in the eye ruptured after an accident.

So the eye had to be removed. And eye stuff grosses me out. And the surgery is difficult. And some really gross stuff happened during the surgery which I will not mention here.

Ah, the joys of being a vet.

Ewww! That's so... You know, I didn't know vets got grossed out too. poor Xana...

[Sweetpea The Tigress]

Xana44

I have had a death in the family and may have another coming up (if anyone is reading this, please pray or whatever for my cousin, Craig). So my presence on the internet may be spotty for the next week or so, I will try to check this thread as often as I can.

I'm sorry... My condolences.

[AdmiralAdamaismyanti-drug]

Thank you Xana, and I hope your cousin is doing good. All in all, I feel you and I are going through similar things right now, no matter what anyone says, my cat is family. She's just not human.

[Seaine]

Update on Bob, the dog with the pesky eye discharge/redness.

He happened to get a hot spot on his back, so I took him to the vet for it. I mentioned his eye problem while I was there - they were still red and had discharge, although it's been clear lately instead of green. She wanted to give him the SAME eye ointment that he got last time. I said no since it would obviously be a waste of my money because it didn't make him better the first time. The morning after the vet visit, he starts coughing. He coughs every single morning, and sneezes/coughs some more periodically throughout the day. The other dogs start coughing and sneezing as well. I took them all to the vet today and got an oral antibiotic. Finally no more eye ointments that don't work. gonk

[AdmiralAdamaismyanti-drug]

It's time.

[AstroFemme]

Xana44

Hi! My name is Xana and I am a small animal (pet) veterinarian who putters around on Gaia.

I have been answering questions on the Ask the Vet Tech thread and in the Furry Critters Guild.

But I thought I would start my own thread and see how it goes.

Unfortunately, since I cannot see or touch your pet, I cannot make a diagnosis or prescribe medications. But often there are things that can be done at home to help your pet. And I can advise you on what to ask your local vet about. I can also advise you if it is a problem that needs to see a vet.

PLEASE DON'T BE SILLY! IF YOUR PET IS INJURED OR ILL, SEE YOUR LOCAL VET NOW!

I will be checking this thread daily for any new posts or questions.

Ok, ever since I adopted my cat Nanako, she has resorted to peeing on things. My bed, my couch, ferret cloth toys. Her litter is cleaned once a day, and the litter in the pan is not even two weeks old. I know she does not have a urinary tract infection, that was the first think we had looked at when she started peeing on stuff. My husband and I are very affectionate to her, and she gets a lot of loving every day, so it is not like she is neglected.

I do not get her. She is a sweet cat, very loving, but she pees where she is not supposed to. I am getting to my wits end here. I have never give up on an animal I have adopted back to the shelter, but nana just pees where she is not supposed to. I mean, she would not be very adoptable if she is always peeing on stuff and getting sent back to the shelter.

How do I correct this behavior?

[Xana44]

AstroFemme

Ok, ever since I adopted my cat Nanako, she has resorted to peeing on things. My bed, my couch, ferret cloth toys. Her litter is cleaned once a day, and the litter in the pan is not even two weeks old. I know she does not have a urinary tract infection, that was the first think we had looked at when she started peeing on stuff. My husband and I are very affectionate to her, and she gets a lot of loving every day, so it is not like she is neglected.

I do not get her. She is a sweet cat, very loving, but she pees where she is not supposed to. I am getting to my wits end here. I have never give up on an animal I have adopted back to the shelter, but nana just pees where she is not supposed to. I mean, she would not be very adoptable if she is always peeing on stuff and getting sent back to the shelter.

How do I correct this behavior?

Inappropriate urination is a common and difficult problem to deal with. You did the best first thing by taking her to a vet to check for a UTI. A few Questions first:

How many litter boxes does she have?
Many cats like to have separate litter boxes for urination and defecation. A rule of thumb is # of cats + 1 = # of litter boxes. Also if you can, have to boxes in different locations, but if that is not possible, the same location is ok if you have only one cat.

Where is the litter box located?
Remember if you would not want to pee there, your cat does not either. So make sure the area is quiet, well lit, and is away from things that can make unexpected noises or puffs of air, like phones, furnaces, etc. The dankest corner of the basement is not good. Is the litter box on the same level as she spends most of her time?

Does she use the litter box for defecation?
If she is not using the box for anything, there are a different spectrum of diseases we would need to consider.

How old is your kitty and how long has this been going on?

Can you isolate your kitty in a small room with her litter box and food/water when you are not around?
Sometimes it helps to keep the cat in a small quiet room with her litter box while you are not there to supervise her. This can be a reminder to her to use the box. Once she is using it regularly, she can try being out.

Is there a window or door near where she is urinating?

Things to do:
1. Make the litter box very appealing. Try "Cat Attract" litter. Try a different kind of litter (but always continue to offer her previous kind as well. Place the litter box in the area(s) she has been urinating.

2. Make the areas she has been using less appealing. Place Saran Wrap or similar over the areas she has soiled. Clean with a good product for cat urine (I like "UrineOff." wink Try using a product like "Comfort Zone" or "Feliway" where she has been going. This is a pheremone product that relaxes cats. It can be used near the box as well. Place a food or water bowl where she has been going.

3. Make the areas she has been using unavailable if possible. (I guess this goes with previous)

I can make more recommendations once I have answers to the earlier questions. Good luck!

Check out the Indoor Cat Initiative website through Ohio State University for some other great tips.

[Xana44]

AdmiralAdamaismyanti-drug

It's time.

I am so very sorry. I wish I had words of comfort for you. But only time can heal wounds like this. It will get better. crying

Thank you for caring about Craig. heart He is doing better and has been moved out of ICU. It will be a long recovery, but it does indeed look like he will recover, which is a blessing.

[Xana44]

Sweetpea The Tigress

Xana44

I have had a death in the family and may have another coming up (if anyone is reading this, please pray or whatever for my cousin, Craig). So my presence on the internet may be spotty for the next week or so, I will try to check this thread as often as I can.

I'm sorry... My condolences.

Thank you.

[Xana44]

Seaine

Update on Bob, the dog with the pesky eye discharge/redness.

He happened to get a hot spot on his back, so I took him to the vet for it. I mentioned his eye problem while I was there - they were still red and had discharge, although it's been clear lately instead of green. She wanted to give him the SAME eye ointment that he got last time. I said no since it would obviously be a waste of my money because it didn't make him better the first time. The morning after the vet visit, he starts coughing. He coughs every single morning, and sneezes/coughs some more periodically throughout the day. The other dogs start coughing and sneezing as well. I took them all to the vet today and got an oral antibiotic. Finally no more eye ointments that don't work. gonk

Sounds like the dogs got Kennel Cough. Lucky you! I am really sorry that that happened, but hopefully the oral meds will take care of all the illnesses. I will keep my fingers crossed.

[stormylane]

Oh bless your heart.... thank you thank you!! I so needed some pet advice!!!
I'm praying you can help!!

I have a shi-tzu... very loving dog.
BUT she has 2 problems that are driving me nuts.
First one is constant barking.
She bark out the window at birds... anyone walking down the street.... she'll bark at the blooming wind!
I so badly would like to stop that behavior of hers. But I'm at a loss as to how to do that.
Any advice?

My next question is really important.
She will bite small kids. Toddlers... to about 4 or 5. This concerns me. I have a new grand baby who is starting to crawl & I don't want her to get bit.
History of the dog.
She was a rescue & full grown when I got her.
It wasn't long before we realized that if anyone gave me a kiss (even my kids) she bolt across the room, jump over furniture to get to them & sit between me & them growing.
If anyone tickled me... she'd try to bite them. Always placing herself between me & them.... growling.
I was horsing around with my son one day... (i was washing dishes & he was poking me, tickling me & I was spraying water at him) My little dog attacked him. She bit his leg & tried to bite his foot but he was wearing his work boots. She planted her teeth in his boot so hard she actually lost 2 teeth in the rubber of his boot. Needless to say horseplay is not tolerated by her. But neither are kisses. If my hubby gives me a kiss... BAM... she dashes after him & growls fiercely.

She did bite my little niece. I was helping my little niece to walk (she was just a toddler) but my shi-tzu saw me walking her & as fast as lightening, nipped her face. It happened so fast I didn't even see the connect. (and I was walking her.. you know, standing behind her while holding both of her hands & helping her walk)

I don't want my grandbaby to get bit, but I can't figure out how to train my little dog not to bite. I don't know why she is doing it.
She doesn't seem to like anyone showing me affection or playing with me.

Many many years ago I had a different shi-tzu & she too would n** at small children if they tried to pet her. (but I raised her from a pup & there was NEVER any abuse) But I do know my current dog was mistreated. Her former owner would "tease her" with pellet guns & fire crackers..... he thought it funny to be freaking her out.
But with my other shi-tzu there was never ever any such treatment.

Please ... if you can help me I'm all ears.
I can't give away my dog... I just can't. She's my best friend.

[Xana44]

@StormyLane

The barking can be controlled in two ways. I often recommend citronella anti-bark collars. This will stop the barking by spraying your dog in the face with citronella. This is harmless. It distracts the dog and is an immediate negative response. This works well even when you are not around. The other thing you need to do is train her when to be quiet. When she is barking, tell her "NO" strongly. Then give her an alternate command. I usually recommend something like "quiet", or "hush." When she becomes quiet, then give her a reward. The reward can be praise or a treat, or alternate between the two.

The biting is a tougher issue to deal with. Unfortunately, I think your dog views you as a possession. She views anyone giving you attention as a threat to her "ownership" of you. You need to reassert yourself as the leader of the pack and not property of the dog. Once you become the leader, she cannot view you as property and others will be less of a threat.

You do not have to do anything drastic like an alpha-roll over. Start with feeding time. She does not get to demand food from you. She cannot bang her food bowl around or bark or anything. If she does, make her sit down or perform a trick before feeding her. Make her sit before she gets any attention. Make her sit before you let her outdoors. Make sure you go out any doors before her. Once she is comfortable with these behaviors, start working on counter-conditioning her to people hugging you. Have her on a leash with a training collar on. Have your husband approach you and give you affection. If the dog starts to growl, give her a strong correction. If she is calm, reward her with praise. Often it helps to have something like a "friend" command. Give the command after the correction and praise her when she calms down.

Children are often the target for dogs because to the dog, their voices are too high and they move erratically. Until you have her behaviors under control, I would recommend isolating the dog while children are around. Be sure to talk to the kids about using calm voices and moving slowly around the dog.

I hope this helps you. Consistency and leadership are important when trying to retrain a dog.

Good luck. I hope things work out with you and your beloved dog.

[AdmiralAdamaismyanti-drug]

We talked to the vet, and we made sure to mention that we had a tom get into the house, and we haven't seen him since. And I noticed her eyes were constantly dialating, so the vet said she might have had rabies, and they had had a cat about two months earlier who was in the same sitution; the behaviors even though she was raise by hand from so young; that ended up testing positive. So we are waiting on results from the test. She said it would take about a week.