Our pets love to move, it seems, though sometimes not in ways we would expect. When our pets are much more active than we expect, we sometimes refer to them as being hyperactive. On the other hand, when pets shy away from situations or events, we often deduce that they are afraid of what’s coming. What can you do as a pet parent if your fur-baby is either a hyper pup or a fraidy cat?

True hyperactivity in canines is relatively rare. Many times, pets are chosen because they are cute – without much thought given to the actual characteristics of the breed. While some breeds are mildly active, other breeds of dogs need a great deal of exercise. Before deeming your pup as hyperactive, research the breed and see if the behavior is typical. Also, take note of your pup’s age. Dogs who are three years old and younger still have boundless energy, while dogs over this age tend to become a bit more mellow.

Also, take into consideration your pup’s diet and any habits that have developed. Food sensitivity can cause hyperactive behaviors in some dogs. If you have previously been very “hands-on” or developed a routine of playing with your pup and then suddenly stop engaging him, this could also attribute to your dog’s seemingly hyperactive behavior.

“Fraidy cats” often appear to be fearful in response to real or seemingly real stimuli. All from the smallest kitten to the largest dog can be deemed fraidy cats during a loud thunderstorm. In this respect, our four-legged friends are not so different from humans, as many of us are also afraid during thunderstorms!

For our purposes today, though, we’ll focus on actual cats and kittens who are afraid of veterinarian visits. Statistically speaking, there are more felines as pets than canines, yet veterinarians often see more dogs than cats. This isn’t because dog lovers are more concerned about their pet, but more cats are actually afraid of the vet and pet owners are more hesitant to schedule the visits.

If your cat is afraid of the veterinarian, consider using Bach’s Pet Rescue Remedy. This herbal remedy is safe for dogs, cats, and even humans and can be used to relieve stress. Also, make a few test runs to the veterinarians office so that the cat can become more accustomed to the surroundings and will feel less afraid.

Whether you have a fraidy cat or a very active pooch, keep in mind that just like humans, all pets are unique. No two will act exactly the same. If you have questions or concerns about your pets’ behavior, a discussion with your veterinarian should ease your mind.

Holistic veterinarian and pet health researcher,  Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., is available for pet health questions and pet health consultations for dogs and/ or cats.
Contact Dr. Carol’s veterinary office toll free at 1-866-372-2765 to make an appointment for your dog and/or cat today.

Feline Litter Box Problems are one of the toughest problem Cat Owner’s Face!

Preventing cat behavioral mistakes before they become bad habits is ideal.   Here are my top 10 tips to help cat owners keep their cats using the litter box and avoid feline litter box problems

First buy a cat litter box that fits your feline’s size and shape.  Place your cats litter box in a semi private area accessible to you and your cat and keep it clean.

The texture of cat litter is important. Most cats like the new fine granular clumping, soft unscented varieties of litter.

A cat litter depth of ½ to ¾ inches is best.  A lot of cats won’t use kitty litter that’s too deep.

Cat arthritis is a common cause of cats not using their litter box and this is quite common in older cats. Older arthritic cats have trouble climbing up into their litter box especially if the sides of the litter box are too high or if cats have to go up and down stairs to get to their litter box.

Many cats, especially shy felines, prefer privacy but don’t like to feel “trapped”.  Some cats like covers, others may object to the darkness.

Your cat’s litter box should be placed in a somewhat private area easily accessible to you and your cat.  Avoid cold, dark drafty basements.

Use one cat litter box per feline per floor of your home.

Keep your cat’s litter box clean. Your cats litter box should not smell. New automatic cat litter boxes clean litter 10 minutes after each use.

Cat Litter Box Liners are available and help with cleanliness.  Cats may or may not tolerate litter box liners.

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Hormones naturally decline as people age… but what about hormones in our pets? In general, and as televised by Oprah herself, hormones are needed by the body and brain to grow, sustain life and function normally. Specifically, the female hormones of importance are estrogen and progesterone and in males testosterone dominates.

Have you ever wondered why so many pets are dying of cancer, suffering from obesity related issues, including arthritis and/or diagnosed with diabetes?

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Hi Dr. Carol,

Our 15 year old cat seems to be acting more and more like he did when he was younger. His muscle strength has improved tremendously, for example, he is able to jump onto high stools with no problem. Before, we started him on the paaws vitamins he had to make many attempts before he was successful. I think his joints must be feeling better too. So far, he hasn’t had any more accidents outside the litter box, which is a really a blessing. As for the taste, he seems to really enjoy the paaws.

We are also giving the paaws pills to our other cat who is only 1 1/2 years old. He thinks he has wings or something, now he jumps from cabinet to cabinet, and they over 10 feet high and 6 feet apart.

The one thing he has never done before and is currently doing is that he jumps from the top of the cabinets to the ground. In the past when he was on top of the cabinets, he would jump to the counter top and then the ground (2 step process).

We are definitely seeing progress in energy, strength and hair coats in all 3 cats. I told my husband the more consistent he is on giving the cats their vitamins, the more progress and improvement he should see.

I will continue to keep you posted.

Thank you so much!
Margaret S.
Denver, Colorado

HI DR CAROL,

I RECEIVED MY PAAWS CAT VITAMIN SHIPMENT, AND AM ABSOLUTELY AMAZED BY THE RESULTS SO FAR!

MY CATS DIARRHEA HAS SUBSIDED, AND HE IS SO MUCH BRIGHTER.

HE ALSO HAS A SISTER, CHLOE. CHLOE IS ALSO 12 YEARS OLD SO I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THE 1 YEAR SUPPLY OF YOUR CAT VITAMINS WITH 6 MONTHS FREE.

CAN YOU ADVISE AS WHEN I HAVE TRIED TO ORDER IT STATES 1 YEAR AND 50% OFF.

THANK YOU,
SANDRA R.
SOUTH WALES, UNITED KINGDOM

Need a date, trying to meet new singles, or just lonely and looking for some companionship? Well, why not rent-a pet?

Now-days you can rent almost anything and today even pets have been added to the list. Renting pets for profit is actually a new concept welcomed by those too busy to commit to full time pet ownership, or need a quick pet to attract attention.

Some say this represents the disposability of pets in our culture, and to counter the trend, some cities including Massachusetts and Boston recently banned pet rental services; San Francisco is considering a similar ban.

Others enjoy the opportunity to enjoy a pet for a day. For example an animal shelter in Colorado allows residents and tourists take out dogs, free of charge, for a day around town. The Ritz-Carlton in Beaver Creek, Colo., for the last several years had an “in house” dog that greets guests in the lobby and occasionally accompanies them on hikes or stays in their rooms.
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Behavioral issues are not only the leading cause of of pets being relinquished to local shelters, but also the number one reason for euthanasia of pets in the United States. Many pets lose their lives because of myths like the following:

1) I can’t take my puppy to puppy classes until he’s had all of his vaccines. The fact is that dogs are more likely to be euthanized due to a behavior problem than to die from contracting parvovirus or distemper at a training class.

a. Puppies properly socialized between 8 and 14 weeks of age are more tolerant of new stimuli and people and are less likely to grow into nervous, fearful dogs.
b. Find a class that is held in an indoor (and easy to clean) facility that requires the puppies be vaccinated and groups them by age.

2) My dog was abused as a puppy. By focusing on this unlikely scenario, pet owners and veterinarians often miss opportunities to address more common causes of behavior problems.

a. Problems associated with fear and/or anxiety will only worsen with time if ignored.
b. Fearful and shy behaviors are highly heritable traits, but the expression of these behaviors is a complex interaction between the genes and the pet’s environment.

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