My Pet World: Medication can, indeed, help fearful dogs much as it helps fearful people. You could look it up!
I enjoy hearing your views -- and you're certainly not hesitant about expressing them! Here are some recent reader emails:
COMMENT: Please, medicating a dog to deal with fears, really? Dogs are not people! -- A.P., Cyberspace
STEVE DALE: Of course dogs are not people. Strangely enough, though, some people just don't want to believe what scientists have shown to be true -- that the neurochemistry in dogs' brains is nearly identical to ours. Therefore, it makes sense that psychopharmaceuticals work similarly in dogs to the way they do in people.
Of course, drugs shouldn't be the first "go to" alternative for a fearful pooch. However, dogs -- or people, for that matter -- who are absolutely terrified can't learn. Also, there's no way to explain to a dog with severe separation anxiety why there's no reason to fear that you won't return home, or to make a dog with thunderstorm anxiety understand rationally that there's no reason to be scared.
COMMENT: Thanks for encouraging people to adopt FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) infected cats. I always enjoy your columns and especially appreciate that you advocate for cats since they're so often overlooked. FIV cats can have normal lives and deserve the chance to live. Thank you for helping them. -- L.C.S., Cyberspace
S.D.: Although this is a broad generalization, I argue FIV infected cats are particularly affectionate, based on my own experiences. Cats with FIV do require regular preventive care exams and proactive veterinary care to catch illness early. Because many cats (unfortunately) don't receive this degree of care, it can be argued that FIV cats may enjoy better health than many uninfected cats.
FIV is transmitted primarily via bites, and only to other cats. So obviously, an FIV positive cat should easily be adopted into a home without other cats. However, it's been shown that with appropriate introductions to other cats, cat fights are unlikely. Maybe these big guys with FIV think, "Been there, done that."
I agree 500 percent with your comments, and am thrilled that increasingly, animal shelters are adopting FIV cats. Still, many shelters summarily euthanize FIV cats, and that's a tragedy.
COMMENT: I have a better way to stop cats from clawing furniture; take catnip seeds or catnip grass and boil it in a pan of water for a few minutes. Then "paint" that water onto a scratching post. Cats love the smell and will scratch to their hearts' content. This technique worked for my cat. -- E.R, Cyberspace
S.D.: Your idea is brilliant! Certainly, rubbing catnip on scratching posts entices many cats, like a sign saying, "scratch here." So, coating the post with catnip makes total sense!
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