My Pet World: There are many ways to dial down a cat's anxiety during flights
Equipment matters, too. Hodgson suggests a PetSafe Easy Walk Harness or Gentle Leader (a brand of head halter). Not only is this equipment humane, but it's also effective.
Hodgson, author of "Puppies for Dummies" (Wiley Publishing Inc., New York, NY, 2006; $19.99), suggests a game: Take an empty plastic jug and stuff peanut butter and dog kibble inside. As you walk Sophie, drag the jug, which she will now follow.
"Instead of using force, you're creating a new game," Hodgson says.
If these solutions don't help, you may need to consult a dog trainer or certified dog behavior consultant.
----
Q: We adopted Caleb, our 10-year-old Maine Coon cat, when he was 4. He'd previously lived in four other homes. Recently, we took him to the veterinarian for a minor surgical procedure. Typically, Caleb allows people to pick him up, but when I went back to get him after surgery, he started hissing and hasn't stopped since! What's going on?
The vet suggested that Caleb wants to be "alpha" over me. She wasn't sure what to do about his behavior. We do wonder if the death of 18-year-old Siamese cat last winter is still affecting Caleb. I think he misses the Siamese as much as we do. -- J.W., via cyberspace
A: Based on your description, Caleb's change in demeanor occurred after the veterinary visit. You don't say what this "minor surgical procedure" involved. Feline veterinarian Dr. Vicki Thayer, of Lebanon, OR, wonders if Caleb may be in pain, either from the surgery or something else that occurred at the clinic. The change might also be explained by the anesthesia, the emotional trauma of visiting the veterinarian, or both.
"It's not usual for stress to cause cats who'd normally never lash out at people or other cats to do so," says Thayer, executive of the Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit funder of cat health studies. "Usually, this reaction goes away on its own, but you can lower stress by using Feliway (an analog of a naturally-occurring calming pheromone)." Interactive play is also a great stress-buster, and a way to re-establish your relationship with Caleb.
========
(c) 2015 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
