My Pet World: Pug's piddling indoors could be spiked by separation anxiety, poor housetraining or a medical issue
As frustrating as this problem is, please don't give up your dog. Sent back to a shelter -- even if adopted out again -- this pup's chances might not be good.
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Q: Our 2-year-old Morkie (Maltese/Yorkshire Terrier-mix) attacks people and other dogs whenever they come to our door, and when we take walks. He scratches (people), growls at everyone and has bitten people. Any advice? -- S.R., via cyberspace
A: "It's important to discontinue giving your dog any possible opportunity to do anyone harm, which may ultimately save his life," says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall. Meanwhile, keep your dog behind a closed door when people enter your home (preferably several rooms away), and when outdoors, your Morkie should be muzzled.
Overall, of Philadelphia, author of the "Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats" (Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2013; $72.75), points out that the more your pet practices this behavior, the better he'll become at it and his aggression could intensify, boosting the odds of someone getting hurt.
"Don't give this dog another opportunity to bite again. Get qualified help as soon as you can," she advises.
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Q: My 13-year-old Miniature Schnauzer recently became a recluse, spending most of the day under the couch. Sometimes she comes out on her own, but sometimes she stays there all day. Our veterinarian is baffled, and prescribed valium, which doesn't help. The dog's appetite isn't the same as it was, and until we began to cook chicken for her, she'd go days without eating. It's sad; it's like we don't have a dog in the house. What are we missing? -- B.B., via cyberspace
A: Dr. Gary Landsberg, of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, an author of "Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat-Third Edition" with Dr. Wayne Hunthausen and Dr. Lowell Ackerman (Saunders/Elsevier, New York, NY, 2013; $94.99), says, "Anytime there's a sudden change in behavior, first rule out a possible medical explanation. A thorough exam (should) look particularly at pain (from osteoarthritis to dental issues)."
In "Decoding Your Dog," Landsberg wrote the chapter on canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS)," the canine version of Alzheimer's disease. Look for these signs:
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