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My Pet World: Training and TLC can help mute dog's noise sensitivity

By Steve Dale, Tribune Content Agency on

DENVER, CO. -- Veterinarians and veterinary technicians met at the annual Animal Behavior Symposium on July 25 to share research. The event is sponsored by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Expert attendees answered several of your pet behavior questions this week.

Q: Last week, our smoke alarm chirped because the battery was low. The sound promoted our West Highland terrier to run out the doggy door, bark and begin to whine and cry. He often reacts to thunder and to violence on TV, but he usually calms down sooner than he did from the fire alarm sound. Of course, we have other household items than make noise, but they don't bother him. Any advice? -- K.B.B., Leesburg, FL

A: "It's likely your dog has a noise sensitivity to some things and not others," says Dr. Amy Pike, of St. Louis, MO.

Sometimes simple answers are best, so regarding the chirping battery, be proactive and change the fire alarm battery; the U.S. Fire Administration suggests that for safety's sake fire alarm batteries should be changed at least twice a year.

Regarding violent TV shows, you could restrict all your viewing to "Sesame Street." As an alternative, when you think a show might upset your dog, relocate him to another room, turn calming music on and offer him a chewy.

Thunderstorm anxiety is a topic Pike knows well; she recently completed a study which demonstrated that Anxitane (a chewable anti-anxiety supplement of L-theanine, a green tea extract) helps many dogs. Other products may also ease dogs' nerves during storms, including the Thundershirt (a vest that fits snuggly around the pet) and Adaptil (a copy of a calming pheromone).

 

If possible, before a storm approaches -- and before your dog becomes anxious -- take your Westie to the basement or a room where you can close the door and shut the windows. Or encourage your dog to ride out the storm in a "safe spot" like the corner of a closet, under a bed, or even in a bathtub.

If you seen improvement, great. Otherwise, Pike encourages you to seek help from your veterinarian with a special interest in behavior (www.avsabonline.org), or a veterinary behaviorist (www.dacvb.org). Otherwise, the anxiety will likely worsen over time.

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Q: I took in a loving stray Maine Coon cat a few years back. Everything was fine until recently. Now he's leaving liquid feces on the floor and peeing on the carpets. I put him on a medicine to treat a urinary tract infection and a special diet, but neither helped. He even eliminates right in front of us. Could he also have diverticulitis? What should I do? -- Y.D., via cyberspace

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