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My Pet World: Howling dog is probably NOT seeing ghosts

By Steve Dale, Tribune Content Agency on

After 20 years of writing this column and answering, on average, four reader questions weekly, that's 4,160 answers! My fingers should be 'dog-tired,' but instead I'm invigorated because each month (sometimes each week) I receive letters and emails saying my answers motivated someone a visit to a veterinarian, or even saved a pet's life.

By far, the questions I've received most often over the years have been about "creative cats" who think outside their litter boxes.

As a certified animal behavior consultant, I am qualified to answer many pet behavior questions. Still, I often seek input from colleagues and veterinary behaviorists for additional perspective. Regarding medical questions, I always seek out veterinary expertise, and many of the most renowned veterinary specialists have commented here.

For most of this column's history, Dr. Sheldon Rubin read all my answers to insure accuracy. Now, Dr. Natalie Marks does the same, all for the benefit of pet owners. And for all 20 years, I've worked with the same editor from Tribune Content Agency, Stacy Deibler.

Although I've received a wide range of unusual queries, I never could have predicted these questions:

Q: My dog is seeing ghosts. I'm sure of it. At about 3 a.m., usually once a week, she stares at a wall -- where the ghost must reveal itself -- and emits a low deep growl and barks. What should I do? -- B.D., San Diego, CA

 

A: Who you gonna call? Apparently me! I suggest that your dog is not seeing ghosts, or anything else. Instead, she's hearing something outside or even in your walls. Could you have termites instead of ghosts? Could your dog be waking up from bad dreams? Also, you didn't mention your dog's age, but what you describe could be symptomatic of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (canine Alzheimer's). See your veterinarian.

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Q: Whenever certain people are on TV, our cat, Lilly, runs to the screen and begins to scratch. This always happens when she hears Justin Bieber. She goes crazy! Lilly's claws have long been removed, so there's no damage to the TV. Why does she respond this way? -- S.U., Pasadena, CA

A: Cats often express their excitement with a good scratch. Even cats without claws will go through some scratching motions. I can tell you that much. I can't explain why your cat has 'Bieber fever. Apparently, Lilly is a fan.

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