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Hey, Katie K-9!KatieK9@readthecitizen.comwww.KTK9.com 651-429-5433 |
Hey, Katie K-9!
Is there an easier way to give pills to your pets? I have been wrestling with my one cat, Rascal, every time I have to give him his pill.
All Scratched Up
Stacy
Hey, Stacy!
When we humans take a pill, we always swallow it and chase it down with water or something comparable. Any pill given to any animal should never be just jammed dry down the throat. The pill can get stuck in the throat and start dissolving which can burn their throat. (To learn more about this, go to www.meganthecatlady.com.)
Giving a cat a pill can become a real pill.the good news is they have what is called "Pill Pockets," and they work wonderfully! They are soft and cats love them! I find they work best for cats by crumbling the pill between two spoons and then dabbing up the crushed pill with the pocket; if needed, mix in another pill pocket. Then tear off smaller pieces and quickly give them to your cat. You can purchase Pill Pockets at Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlets (Forest Lake).
They have them for dogs also, although placing the pill in a small piece of cheese or cut-up hot dog works, too.
Just relax and keep the control.
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
We have a 1-1/2 year old Bichon who is generally very well-behaved when we eat. She does not bark or whine and just sits under the table. She does try to grab food off the table when we are not right there. When we have guests and are not at the table, she tries to grab food from people's plates. How do we get her not to steal from people's plates? Thanks!
Eric
Hey, Eric and Thief!
When you are getting dinner ready and when you are ready to eat, put the Thief in her kennel in another room, or teach her to do a down stay across the room on a rug when food is present. YOU are in charge; be a good leader and control the situation. If you want to give leftovers, only give them after you are finished eating and have cleaned up. Then put them in her bowl.
Here's to a reformed thief!
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
I have an 18-week-old male American Eskimo named Captain. He's got issues with biting and barking constantly. When we walk around the house he's jumping up and biting our pants or he's biting and trying to hump our legs. He barks for what seems to be no reason. When we pet him he'll sometimes bite and he bites HARD! We discipline him with a strong "No Bite!" and look him in the eyes while gently holding his mouth shut. His barking - I just don't know what to do about that.
HELP!
Wendy
Hey, Wendy!
First, never hold a dog's mouth shut or give a slap on the nose for barking or biting: it aggravates the situation even more! You are fighting fire with fire. This breed is very smart. You have to earn his respect by setting up rules, teaching obedience and manners and following through with them. You have to get him to look to you for direction. He is testing you to see what kind of a leader you are.
For the biting, carry a hair mister filled with water set on stream. As you are petting him, if he starts to bite, freeze your hand, give him a low slow deep growl: "AHHHH, AHHHH!" After three growls, if he does not back off, blast him in the face with the water and say "AHHHH, no bite!" When he backs off, calmly say "thank you," and move on. When he barks, you can do the same thing but say "AHHHH, quiet!" or AHHHH, enough!" When he stops barking, calmly say "thank you" again. When he goes for your pant leg, say, "AHHH, leave it." If he does not back off, blast him in the face with the water. If the water does not work, take a rinsed-out pop can, put five pennies in it, and tape the top shut with duct tape. Instead of blasting the water, shake the can.
I would strongly suggest an obedience class soon.
Take control!
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
I have a 9-month-old Lab mix, and he gets into everything! We have lots of chew toys and balls for him to play with but he goes after everything else that is not nailed down. How do I get him to leave our stuff alone?
Eating Everything But The Kitchen Sink
Mark
Hey, Mark!
In the house, pick up all the toys and chewies that are all over in your house and put them in a basket. Put the basket in the closet and only leave two toys out at a time. By letting him have his toys all over YOUR house, you are telling him the whole house is his. It is like the two-legged kid who has every toy known to man and says "I'm bored!" It is not how many toys you have but how you use them. You have to be in charge. You can rotate the toys and chewies as much as you want. Also, do not let him be in any room without you. Now, you know what he is up to. If you do not have time to watch him, put him outside or in his kennel. It sounds like he is a busy dog. Start using his brain! You will never tire him out physically. An obedience course would work well here.
Here's to keeping busy!
Katie K-9
Send in your dog questions to "Hey, Katie K-9!" by mailing them to The Citizen, P. O. Box 393, Hugo, MN 55038 or e-mailing them to Katie at ktk9@yourneighborhoodnews.net. Listen to Katie on her radio show every Saturday morning from 8-10 a.m. on FM107.1. Visit the KTK9 website at www.ktk9.com.