Q: My dog, Tina, has been well house trained in the past, but recently she has begun eliminating in the house. I am concerned that she is mad at me for being out of town alot lately. How do we fix this problem? A: Inappropriate elimination can be behavioral or medically based. Plan to discuss the details of your dog's problem with her veterinarian. If medical causes are ruled out, "retraining" can be instituted. The key to getting most dogs back on track is not allowing unsupervised time in the house. Crate training or confinement in a small room may be used when you are unable to directly observe your dogs behavior. Dogs usually learn quickly that they do not like to soil the area where they rest.

Q: Recently my cat woke up from a nap and started acting like she was chewing gum, and then she got very vicious toward me. She seems normal now, but I am wondering what can be done to stop this behavior in the future. A: While the episode you describe may be related to a behavior issue, it is very possible that the problem may relate to a seizure disorder. Consult with your veterinarian and consider testing to help determine whether or not a medical cause exists.

Q: Now that temperatures are cool, I am wondering when I can stop my dog and cat's heart worm and flea prevention for the winter. A: Heart worm preventive medications are recommended year-round in Texas, compared to other climates where winters are more severe, killing out heart worm carrying mosquitoes. Flea control is also often needed throughout the winter months. Some experts say that a week of freezing temperatures are needed to sufficiently kill fleas in the environment

"Ask Dr. Fling" Archives