My Pet World: What to do when your dog eats dog poop

By Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Jun 28, 2017

Hopefully, these strategies will keep you dry and warm in bad weather.

Dear Cathy,

I have a 14-year-old Min Pin (Miniature Pinscher) who has diabetes and is blind. She has started going in circles to the left, sometimes very rapidly. Do you have any idea what might be causing this? -- Rande Repke, Naperville, IL

Dear Rande,

While circling could just be a new behavior, your girl's age and compromised health also may mean the behavior is related to an underlying health problem, like an ear infection, vestibular (balance) problem, diabetes, or even neurological issues. I would have her checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any new health issues.

SOME 4TH OF JULY TIPS

If you have a noise-phobic dog -- a dog scared of thunder, fireworks and other loud sounds, then I know how you will be spending the 4th of July weekend. As soon as the first firework pops off, you will be trying to calm your trembling, panting, pacing and generally freaked out dog who will be hiding under the bed or climbing the walls, depending on how he or she handles their anxiety.

While some noise-phobic dogs calm down in an Anxiety Wrap or ThunderShirt, most noise-phobic dogs are so panic stricken, they also need medication. With two noise-phobic dogs in the family, we have to combine wraps, medication and an action movie turned up loud to drown out the sound of the fireworks outside. It's my family's 4th of July tradition.

Keep in mind, animal shelters receive many lost dogs and cats the day after the 4th of July. Some dogs and cats may bolt out an open door, and some dogs have been known to crash through windows to escape the sound of fireworks. Keep your pet's ID tag and microchip current to ensure he or she can be returned to you.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)