Summer is nearly over. School is back in session and roads are
busy with morning school traffic. Students are back to school and
if both parents work, the family pet is left behind in a very quiet
house.
Summer is nearly over. School is back in session and roads are busy with morning school traffic. Students are back to school and if both parents work, the family pet is left behind in a very quiet house.
Home alone, some dogs can develop destructive behavior, all part of a syndrome called Separation Anxiety. These dogs just don’t like being left alone. These are Velcro dogs” … they literally stick to their owner’s side, believing that their very existence depends on their master’s presence. They don’t think they can be happy by themselves.
Separation anxiety has many symptoms. Some dogs bark incessantly and scratch at the door. Others might urinate or otherwise soil the home, creating a messy nightmare. Dogs with extreme cases develop destructive behavior, chewing on carpets, furniture or walls.
If any of this reminds you of your dog, you have a serious, but probably treatable problem. This is a behavioral problem, much the same as an obsessive-compulsive disorder (and yes, some dogs suffer from this problem, too). Here is how separation anxiety is usually treated.
First, your pet’s veterinarian will do a thorough physical examination to rule out any possible physical problems. Diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease … all can potentially cause personality changes in a dog. Because of this, a physical exam and comprehensive blood panel is done before any behavioral problem is addressed.
Treatment for separation anxiety is called behavioral modification, and it is relatively simple. The pet owner changes the way he or she interacts with his or her dog, especially when leaving and returning home. For example, any signal, such as getting out car keys before going out the door, is eliminated. The idea is to avoid warning the dog of a departure or separation. Your veterinarian can clarify this better and describe the very simple approach to treatment.
Frustrated pet owners often ask if there is medication, a simple pill that can treat this condition. Unfortunately, medication alone is not effective. And surprisingly, many patients often don’t need it anyway. A little behavioral training goes a long way. And it really is easy and effective for many patients. Talk to your dog’s vet if you think separation anxiety may be a problem in your home.
West NileVirus Update: The virus has finally found its way to California. An infected mosquito was identified in Southern California two weeks ago. As of last week, only one person in this state had been infected … a woman that had probably contracted the disease during a visit to Colorado. Colorado has reported more than 600 persons infected this year.
Officials don’t really know why West Nile cases seem to cluster in certain areas, as they have this year in Colorado. But according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska and Texas have the largest percentage of the 1,440 cases reported across the country so far this year. The CDC reports that 21 people have died from West Nile infection this year.
West Nile Virus is a killer, affecting mainly horses, birds and humans. If you have horses, get them vaccinated now. If you see any dead birds anywhere, call local or State health officials. And protect yourself against mosquitoes. Eliminate standing water on your property, and use proper protection to avoid any bites.
And finally, those interesting pet names. Some of you have come through with some pretty unique and clever names for pets. While we wait for more of you to send in yours, here are several to tease your funny-bone. The other day I was introduced to a classical cat named Yo-Yo Meow (close to Yo-Yo Ma, the virtuoso cellist). Over the years, I have met several other famous animal celebrities. Jack Bunny lived in San Martin, as did Henny Youngman, a handsome Bantam rooster.
But one of my favorites lived right here on our small ranch. We adopted a wild burro in 1982 from the high desert of Nevada. As luck would have it, she arrived pregnant. A few months later, “Mamma B” gave birth to a little jack that I easily tamed. Every day, I spent a little time with him and he and I became buddies for life.
From that first day, he was a comedian. His characteristic bray made everyone laugh every time we heard it. So what do you name a baby burro with a sense of humor? Why, Milton, of course. Milton Burro.
Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital and co-hosts Petpourri, a weekly show about pet health on KTEH in San Jose and a bi-weekly column for The Times.
