Ask Safari Stan: Common Pet Questions

• What is a good age to spay or neuter your pet?
• I am expecting a new baby soon. How do you prepare your pets for this exciting new addition?
• How do you shop for a responsible kennel when vacationing without your pets?
• My puppy jumps on everyone. How to I get him to stop?
• My dog gets very anxious when I leave her alone. She'll bark and sometimes chew and destroy my things. When I'm around her, she is good. What can I do?
• How can you help your pet get over allergies?
• What can you do when a skunk sprays your pet?
• With winter coming soon, I will have to bring some of my plants indoors. How do I know if they are poisonous and harmful to my pets?

Answers

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• It used to be that waiting to have a pet spayed or neutered at 6 months was an accepted practice. Today, early spaying and neutering -- the surgical sterilization of companion pets between 8 and 16 weeks -- is encouraged and endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association as an effective way to stop pet overpopulation. Petland agrees.

  No significant surgical risks or health differences have been reported between puppies and kittens spayed or neutered at the early age (8 -16 weeks) and those spayed or neutered at the conventional age (6 months). Also, younger pets have shown shorter surgical recovery periods.

  Over time, studies have shown that spaying and neutering a pet can lengthen its life, decrease some health risks like mammary tumors, prostrate enlargements and uterine infections, and make your pet a better family member by eliminating territorial marking and seasonal heats that cause pets to roam. Ultimately, this safe veterinary procedure prevents unwanted litters of puppies and kittens; therefore reducing the number of homeless pets euthanized each year.

• A newborn needs a proper introduction especially in families where a dog, a four-legged baby, has been the glimmer in everyone's eye for a couple of years. Petland recommends the introduction process begin way before the newborn arrives.

  Obedience training given to your dog several months in advance can help a great deal. If your dog understands basic commands for sit, stay, come, and heel, then you can give some positive instructions to your pet when the baby also occupies the home.

  A dog, living with little or no exposure to children, will need to be integrated. You can start the process by asking the children of friends and neighbors over to your home to play with Peppy. This way the dog will learn what kinds of noises and actions to expect from children.

  Just before the baby arrives home, it is recommended that some of the infant's clothes, blankets, and toys be brought home from the hospital for a sniff preview. This will familiarize your pet with the baby.

  The first introduction between dog and baby should be guarded. Any growls or signs of dislike from the dog towards the baby should end the session, and a professional dog trainer in your area should be called for help. If the dog is just excited about the meeting, then work on calming him and try again later.

  Although your dog may seem to love your newborn as much as you do, Peppy cannot be fully trusted. Never leave our dog and baby alone together even for a few seconds.

• You should shop early and have a checklist.

  The process should begin months ahead of your vacation. Responsible pet owners seek a clean and tidy kennel as well as one that is a good fit between their pet and the kennel operators.

  The following checklist should guide you in making the right selection of a boarding facility for your pet:

  • Is the facility licensed or zoned as required by your state's legislation? (Some states may not have such requirements)
  • Is the facility clean and odor free?
  • What is the daily maintenance routine?
  • Is the facility temperature-controlled -- air conditioning and heating -- to meet seasonal changes?
  • Does the facility require all pets to be current on vaccinations?
  • Does the facility require all pets to be free of external or internal parasites?
  • Does the facility have an on-call, licensed veterinarian should medical care be needed?
  • Does the facility have an active pet groomer?
  • Will the facility accommodate your pet's individual dietary needs? (Keeping your pet on its daily food will reduce stomach upset and diarrhea)
  • Will the facility accommodate your pet's individual medical needs?
  • Within reason, does the facility allow sterilize-able toys or other "home away from home" comforts for your pet?
  • Does the facility have "safe" and "escape-tight" exercise areas for your pet? How often are the pets walked?
  • Do the attendants at the boarding facility socialize the pets?
  • Do the attendants at the boarding facility show sincere love and affection for the pets they watch over?
  • Do those using the boarding service have good things to say about the facility? (Get 3 recommendations)

• It is completely natural for your dog to jump up, bark, or even mouth your pant leg until he gets what he wants. Your dog desperately wants your attention. Your dog knows that the best way to get your attention is to let you know he's there. Typically you, the dog owner, will respond by yelling at your pet or perhaps pushing him away. Rarely, however, do dog owners take the time to show the dog a "proper" behavior to get the attention he so desperately wants.

  Here's the secret. Petland says all you have to do is follow this 3-step procedure exactly as outlined here:

  1. Teach your dog an acceptable behavior such as responding to the "sit" command.

  2. Heap loads of attention on your dog every time he sits.

  3. Never, ever, give your dog any attention when he jumps up. This means -- don't correct him, don't push him away, and don't even look at him.

  If you practice this 3-step training procedure for 10 minutes each day for two consecutive weeks, then you can expect the desired results.

• Generally, dogs are really good at stress management. Barking, chewing, and destructive behaviors are all excellent ways of dissipating excess energy brought on by stress. If you can decrease your dog's stress, then you will eliminate these types of behaviors. So let Petland answer the two questions you're asking right now. Why is my dog stressed? And how do I decrease it?

  First, understand that dogs are creatures of habit. They thrive on routine, consistency, and predictable patterns. When routines and behavior patterns are interrupted or worse, non-existent, your dog will begin exhibiting signs of stress. Actually, this is an interesting survival mechanism many animals, including us two-legged ones, have to ensure that we will try new behaviors when faced with changing conditions. In other words, it's the behavioral component of adaptation. Therefore, the key is to do everything, every day exactly the same way without variation or interruption. What's that? Your life doesn't work that way? Then you should try these tips from Petland:

  1. Try to put a precise schedule to everything you do with your dog on a daily basis. Feeding, walking, potty breaks and play sessions should be as consistent as possible.

  2. Try to leave your dog alone at the same approximate times each day. On weekends, you should try to keep up your dog's weekday schedule.

  3. Invest in a quality pet crate or kennel unit to be used whenever you leave your dog alone. A dog's crate should never be used for punishment! Dogs learn to love their crates if they are introduced to them properly and early in life. The crate or "den" becomes a safe haven for your pet. Denning or curling up in a small, safe place is a natural canine instinct.

  4. Make several select toys available to your dog only when he's left alone. Pet product manufacturers are always coming out with new pet toys designed to keep your pet occupied and entertained.

  5. You should never correct or punish your dog for behaviors done in your absence. Dogs learn through immediate association and delayed punishment will only increase stress.

• Allergies in pets, just like in humans, cannot be "cured," according to the veterinarians at Petland. Allergies require treatment as needed for a pet's entire life. In pets, allergies generally fall into three major categories -- flea allergy, inhalant allergy or food allergy -- and combinations thereof.

  Flea allergies are the most common and cause about 75 to 80 percent of the itching, skin irritation and hair loss in dogs and cats. Flea allergic animals should be protected by long acting adult flea control products such as Frontline for the entire flea season, basically spring to fall. Occasionally, pets may require antihistamines, cortisone injections or pills distributed by a licensed veterinarian to help relieve skin irritation.

  Inhalant allergies account for about 15 to 20 percent of the allergies in pets. This category includes allergies to airborne sources such as ragweed, grasses, pollens, molds and dust. Pets with this type of allergy typically lick their feet, rub their faces and get rashes on their bellies. They also may get ear infections. Symptoms are usually seasonal. Again, antihistamines, cortisone and antibiotics, issued by a veterinarian, can be helpful in treating seasonal outbreaks. Non-stop, year-round allergies in this category may require shots for desensitization and a long-term solution.

  Food allergies affect about 10 percent of pets. Symptoms often include ear infections, red skin and itching. The only way to find out if the pet is allergic to a food is to conduct a feeding trial with a hypoallergenic diet. Long-term management means feeding foods that don't cause the allergic symptoms.

  With a proper veterinary diagnosis and proper care, Petland says a pet can live a normal life even with allergies.

• Unfortunately, there is no miracle cream or lotion that will remove the odor of a skunk. There are many products available that may help some. Home remedies are common as well. The oldest of these is to try to wash the pet in tomato juice to neutralize the odor. However, veterinarians at Petland have found the tomato juice remedy unsuccessful -- even turning the fur of white pets to pink.

  Petland's veterinarians do have one helpful solution. They recommend mixing:

  • 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of a mild liquid soap
  • Then bathe your pet using the solution. Be mindful to not get the solution in your pet's eyes. After a few minutes, rinse your pet's coat with tap water, repeatedly.

  This solution does help reduce the skunk odor. However, if your pet's coat gets wet -- even weeks or months later, then you may still notice a slight skunk smell.

• With winter coming soon, I will have to bring some of my plants indoors. How do I know if they are poisonous and harmful to my pets?

  A number of houseplants, including Mistletoe so prominent at holiday time, can be troublesome to pets. As general rule, Petland veterinarians say cats and dogs should not be allowed to come in contact with holiday mistletoe or holly. The verdict is still out on the effects of a pet's exposure to the beloved Poinsettia.

  Some pets are more sensitive to plants than others. Ingestion of some houseplants can result in a pet's death. Other plants have been known to cause an irritating rash when in brought in contact with the mouth or skin of a pet. Other symptoms from ingestion of or exposure to certain houseplants include cardiac failure, depression, diarrhea, nausea, respiratory distress and vomiting.

  For a more complete listing of houseplants known to be toxic to pets, visit the Animal Poison Control Center's list of toxic plants at www.aspca.org.