Have a question about your pet? Ask it here... (Please call 202-363-7300 if this is an emergency) http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/list.php?2 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:08:20 -0500 Phorum 5.2.10 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,96,96#msg-96 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,96,96#msg-96
How odd is my cat?!?

I need some feedback that is more inventive if at all possible. We are a family of 3 cats and 2 humans. The older "boys" are DSHs and do not have litter box issues and I thought would be better trainers for our 11 mo. old rescue kitten. We have a litterbox/potty area that is enclosed in a unused closet with 3 CleverCat boxes (top entry). I've tried new litters, but we will be sticking with clay litter.

I have read in the blogs that I've previously searched, that I should shave a "potty patch" on Trekkie, but that isn't the problem area (as far as I see). I did decide to do a version of a potty patch around his bum, and have kept that up for about a month now. The problem persists. It happens at LEAST once a week. It's now happened twice in one week, and I've decided I need to post to see what anyone has to say.

This morning I decided to clip his ENTIRE tail. So the potty patch was extended to further down on his haunches, and I trimmed his tail all the way, base to tip. He's terrible about the procedure. It's absolute torture for him, on the scale with baths...maybe WORSE. :(

I need a solution that is a little more long term. But I have to tell you, we're never getting a long-haired animal again. :/]]> notathsu Ask us about dog and cat health... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:59:20 -0600 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,49,49#msg-49 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,49,49#msg-49 Frestile Ask us about dog and cat health... Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:53:13 -0500 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,47,47#msg-47 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,47,47#msg-47
Do you have any advise for us? Many thanks!]]> mdddc Ask us about dog and cat health... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:17:52 -0500 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,45,45#msg-45 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,45,45#msg-45 I noticed that before he has an accident he starts meowing and sniffing around so I have started taking him to his box when he does this and he will poop in his box. The problem is if I am not home he will have an accident. Do you have any advice for my situation?]]> scoobyboots Ask us about dog and cat health... Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:53:21 -0500 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,8,8#msg-8 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,8,8#msg-8
6 months ago I adopted a beautiful kitten at WARL. She was 4 months old at the time and had been at a high kill rate shelter in MD before WARL - that's all they knew.

She's naturally rambunctious and very high energy, but has become more and more aggressive and hyper about food. I thought maybe she'd calmed down by now. I feed her dry food in the a.m. and wet at night and have been measuring her portions from day one, but no matter how much I feed her she wants more. She eats all that she's given very quickly. Between meals she tries to get into the cabinet where the food is stored. I had to hide it because she was eating through the bags of food while I was at work. She also tries everything to get people food: knocking over the kitchen trash can, climbing into the kitchen sink and licking dirty dishes, jumping on the counter if you put a hot dish there to cool (yesterday she jumped into a pan of brownies), every time I open the refrigerator she jumps in, and she'll try to eat food right off my plate or grab it out of my hand. Her appetite isn't limited to the kinds of food one would expect, such as chicken or fish. She's eaten salads, an entire mango, bagels, a bag of flaked coconut... in addition to meat and dairy. Needless to say she's getting chubby.

In terms of discipline I've scolded her by yelling no and then ignoring her, I have water spray bottles on the kitchen table and have to spray her numerous times during every meal, I've tried distracting her with toys. Those tactics stop her for that moment and then she comes back a couple minutes later and the cycle begins again.

This cat also bites a lot, around food and otherwise, and likes to knock things off of surfaces. For example I can't leave a glass on the table so I've started using water bottles with lids for everything, I can't leave my watch on my dresser or she kicks it off during the night, and I've had to put all my toiletries away between uses because she knocks them off the sink or shelf into the trash can. She used to limit this to waking hours, but lately has been waking me up - I think she's trying to get my attention so I'll feed her.

I try to play with her when I can, but do work long hours and I can't get another cat friend for her because my building has a one cat pet policy.

Help!]]> abminer Ask us about dog and cat health... Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:06:00 -0500 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,6,6#msg-6 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,6,6#msg-6
I've done some research on the Internet and have discovered that there are alarming stories out there about commercial dog foods. Some authors claim that most commercial dog food is not only deleterious to pet health but can actually increase early mortality. I also observe that if the dog is eating the same food day in and day out over a number of years and does die young, let's say from deterioration owing to these foods, who ever takes the blame? Some of these stories claim that cats and dogs could live far longer than suggested by mortality rates; a dog, for instance, expected these days to live only fifteen years maximum (and they say this is because of commercial dog food) would live to be five or seven years older if fed properly handled and proportioned human food, that is, natural FRESH food--not processed, not filled and not full of by products. Why not then feed the dog ground meat without hormones or steroids that is lean, high grade and cooked, vegetables such as carrots or peas and rice? I was seriously alarmed by what I read and noted that I had a dog Nana who ate what was touted to be great nutritional value dog food who had a host of health problems and died I think young at age 15. I think this needs further study. What do you say?

In faith.
Westwind]]> Westwind Ask us about dog and cat health... Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:05:07 -0500 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,4,4#msg-4 http://friendshiphospital.com/forums/read.php?2,4,4#msg-4
Recent television programs have also indicated that the disease can be a serious threat to not only humans but to pets.

My question: Does the lyme disease vaccination help to prevent lyme disease? Is it used in conjunction with Frontline or other similar products or instead of it? What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting a lyme disease vaccination for our pets.

I must admit that I am not keen on using the Frontline because it seems so caustic to my dog's system, but do it because I have had to remove ticks from her in the past. Does Frontline have long term effects on my dog's system?

I would like to post your response on several dog group sites, so others can become informed. I will also share this site address for others to utilize.

Thank you for providing this site as an opportunity to ask questions.

Kathy Silva]]> kathysilva Ask us about dog and cat health... Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:27:08 -0500