Is your pet bored?

This month, we tackle the idea or problem of pet boredom.

It’s a tricky question because pets, by definition, usually tend to help their humans fill their disposable time, not the other way around. I am guilty of this mindset. I have one cat in my house, one lonely cat. When I am in the mood to lie around and one of my girls isn’t around to cuddle with, then I welcome my Softball like a warm, summer breeze. Most of the time, though, I am preoccupied and have no interest in my cat keeping me warm. Most of the time, I do have my wife or one of my two daughters (or both!!!) around to lean on my shoulder and, in those times, I have no interest in my cat.

When I had my dog, I fell prey to similar routines and bad habits. She was mainly an outdoor dog, so she served my needs when I was looking for some exercise or companionship. Shamefully, more times than not, her needs weren’t forefront in my mind.

In turn, it’s good to maintain that perspective when identifying ways to keep our pets stimulated when we aren’t looking for them to stimulate us.
A couple months ago, I purchased a laser toy from my store that I will drive my cat crazy with while I am lounging around on the couch. It takes little to no attention away from my college football game, and it wears him out for hours.

With dogs, boredom can be a tougher equation to solve. Would it be as cute if they were following a laser around the living room? Totally, but only until the bigger dog starts destroying the furniture and knocking over lamps.

If we aren’t in the mood to exercise with our dogs, one might try putting a treat in a Kong toy and watching the dog wrestle with it for an hour or so.

Obviously, the only cure for long hours in a crate or a dog spending most of its days outside in the yard is some good TLC coming from her owner. Sometimes, disposable time is harder to find than disposable income. And if you have some money to spend, we have plenty of tricks and treats to help your pet find their way through a boring day at home.

Kevin O.
CPNA

Pet's Got Talent

It's football season, a time a year that many of us love. This includes myself and my dog Mazie. While Mazie can tend to be rather lazy most of the time, she is very talented when it comes to playing football. I'm not trying to say that she could be on the Alabama football team or anything, but she knows the basics! You can get in the hike position with a football, and she knows to get exactly behind you and to be ready to catch the ball. It's amusing how excited she gets when she sees someone in the snap position and hears them say, "down, set, hike". She then will bring the ball back and want you to do it again. Of course she has instances where she will want you to chase her around and try and tackle her in order to get the ball back, but that's just her being the big puppy that she is! So, as football season continues on, Mazie and I will continue to watch and play!

Bethany, CPNA

Tricky Dog!

When my dog Abby was still with us, she was very smart, loving and talented. I would have to say that one of the greatest talents that she had was her ability to take food off of the kitchen table without leaving a trace of evidence. Although this is not a “trick” that we wanted her to know, we usually found it pretty amusing. She could get on the table and eat a whole plate of food without leaving any kind of sign that she was the one that had done it. It was somewhat like she knew what she was doing was wrong, so she had to be very careful and sneaky. She made sure that she didn’t break anything in the process of retrieving her “treat”. There were never crumbs on the floor or on the table. Despite it being a trick that a lot of times got her in trouble, it is something that we will always remember her by-- as well as something that I don’t think a lot of other dogs could pull off.

Tony, CPNA

Feline Acne

Just like their keepers, some cats may be prone to acne. Feline acne can range from a very mild and easily treatable condition to a more serious problem requiring a lot of attention. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms so you can keep your kitty as healthy as possible.

The first signs of feline acne are usually follicular casts (black flecks) and comedones (blackheads), which appear on the cat’s chin—sometimes these are mistaken for flea droppings, but those usually show up on kitty’s belly or near the base of the tail. If left untreated, these lesions can develop into pustules (pimples), which can then become infected if the cat scratches them with his back claws. The most severe cases of feline acne can result in a condition known as folliculitis, in which the hair follicles in the skin become infected. Folliculitis can cause pus-filled lumps on the chin, which may bleed, and can make the lymph nodes swollen and sore.

If you notice any signs of feline acne, your cat needs to be examined by a veterinarian to rule out underlying skin conditions, says Dr. Amanda Perkins of The Cat Hospital of Metairie, Louisiana (http://www.catsarespecial.com). She recommends cat owners switch from plastic food and water dishes to dishes made of steel, glass or ceramic—or that they use disposable dishes. The dishes also need to be cleaned frequently to cut down on bacteria. “Bowls containing canned food should be changed or cleaned at least twice daily, and those containing dry food should be emptied and changed once daily… water bowls should be cleaned at least a few times a week,” says Dr. Perkins, a recent graduate of Cornell University’s Vet School.

While sanitation is the first step in treating feline acne, additional steps may need to be taken. Some cats may need to have their chins shaved, to help decrease bacterial contamination of the skin. They may also need to have their chins cleaned, gently, with an antiseptic solution. Topical antimicrobial ointments or sprays (such as clorhexidine) may be prescribed by your veterinarian, as may antibiotics for severe cases.

(PSP carries a wide selection of bowls and dishes made of various materials, as well as Sentry’s anti-bacterial spray for dogs and cats, with clorhexidine.)

Kristin B, CPNA