My Pet World: Give your dog something else to do besides bark at cyclists
Q: My 4-year-old Australian Shepherd now barks at people on bicycles as they go by the house. She never did this before. What's going on? -- C.J., San Diego, CA
A: Certified dog behavior consultant and longtime Australian Shepherd owner Liz Palika says, "That's about the age this urge to chase kicks. Set up a training session with someone you know riding a bike, first at a distance that's just at the point where your dog might react. Redirect your pet and offer her treats. If the dog is paying attention to you and not the bike, ask the cyclist to ride slightly closer, then closer still as you have more success over several training sessions."
Palika, of Oceanside, CA, author of the "IDIOTS Guide to Dog Training" (Penguin Group/ALPHA Books, New York, NY, 2014; $19.95), notes that you might need help from a certified dog behavior consultant or dog trainer to get the timing just right.
"Also, realistically, you might always need to be prepared with treats to distract your dog (from cyclists). That herding instinct is very, very strong," she says.
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Q: My cats are 15- and 13-years-old, and both are being treated with hyperthyroid medicine. The older cat goes downstairs and wails and howls. Why does he make these goofy noises? -- D.S., Menasha, WI
A: "Many cats with hyperthyroid disease vocalize, often in the middle of the night, but not necessarily," says Atlanta, GA-based feline veterinarian Dr. Drew Weigner. "I know your cats are being treated, but sometimes the medication (dosage) needs to be adjusted over time."
Weigner adds that interestingly, hyperthyroid disease may mask high blood pressure or kidney disease, but once hyperthyroid is treated, the symptoms for one (or both) of these other conditions may occur, such as the vocalization you describe.
Weigner, a board member for Winn Feline Foundation (a non-profit that raises money for cat health studies), says it's also possible your cat is complaining because something hurts; the problem might be anything from arthritis to gastrointestinal or dental issues. Clearly, a visit to your veterinarian might reveal why your cat is making "goofy noises," Weigner says.
Another explanation or contributing factor for the vocalization may be feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (a sort of kitty Alzheimer's). Typically, there's at least one other sign occurring simultaneously with FCDS, which could be general confusion (like the cat forgetting what room he's in), accidents outside the litter box, changes in sleep/wake cycle (sleeping more during the day, or getting up overnight), and/or changes in interactions with others in the household (people and/or pets).
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