People-food Goodies Do Not An In-shape Dog Make

June 09, 1985|By Dr. Ann L. Huntington.

QOur dog, Betsy, an 8-year-old spayed Cockerpoo, is too fat. She weighs 32 pounds and should weigh 12 to 15, according to our vet. We`ve been feeding her various packaged dog food, but she doesn`t like these and tries to get us to feed her table scraps instead. (That`s what my grandmother does.) What can I do?

AIf you want to change your Betsy from an inflated hotdog back into a cool, slim Cockerpoo, there`s only one thing you can do: BE FIRM! That applies to keeping her on her diet and it also applies to your grandmother`s caloric handouts.

Sad to relate, the majority of house pets are overweight, as are too many people. The diet regime you`ve tried to put Betsy on will undoubtedly work, especially since she doesn`t like it initially. That`s good, because she won`t eat as much. Don`t worry that she`s going to starve herself to death; she`ll eventually eat the dog food, if you remain firm--that is, keep her on her strict, no-table-scraps routine.

To further reassure you that Betsy won`t die of starvation while she gets used to her diet, there is a popular method for weight reduction of pets practiced in Europe. The animal is placed in a kennel and, under vet supervision, is fed nothing but vitamins once a day. This can last for up to several months. The dog emerges alive and thin.

Unlike a human, a dog doesn`t react adversely to such a starvation diet. But one fact applies to both dogs and humans: obesity can reduce the lifespan most significantly.

QI have two Siamese cats of the same litter; they are 7 years old. Both of them have had constipation problems for over a year and have been to the veterinarian twice for this. I`ve tried various name brands of cat food, but the problem persists. I also give them laxatives regularly, since they never have a normal movement unless I do. Can you tell me what causes this?

AConstipation in cats can be most frustrating to cope with. Its causes can be bewilderingly numerous, and consequently there are a number of approaches that might possibly help the condition.

First, make certain that your cats get lots of exercise. The sedentary life is constipation`s best ally. If you have to, throw a Ping-Pong ball to get them to move around and play.

Next, make absolutely certain that their litter box is practically hospital clean. Fastidious cats won`t use a somewhat messy litter box, and the longer they withhold their stool, the more difficult it becomes for them to have a normal movement.

There are some cats that, despite everything you may try, require their daily laxative ``fix.`` I suggest 1/4 teaspoon of Metamusil. Also, there are effective feline laxatives on the market, packaged in toothpaste-type tubes, and they can be bought at pet shops or from veterinarians.

On a somewhat discouraging note: If the problem is so severe that the cats require enemas, the constipation might well have been an inherited colon defect. In such cases, there`s really nothing you can do.

QEvery year my two cats bring home fleas, usually in August and September, despite the fact that they wear flea collars. But the real problem is that the fleas bite my wife badly. What can be done? My wife`s expecting a baby in early September. Would it help if she wore a flea collar around each ankle?

ABefore I comment on cats, fleas and the advent of warm weather, please heed this warning: Don`t have your wife put flea collars around her ankles! If you read the words of caution on flea and tick collar packages, you will banish that thought. (Actually, I hope you were spoofing me to start with.)

On a more helpful note: Trying to deflea your cats is only a small part of the solution. The fleas are obviously in your house and you have to get rid of them there. You can use foggers or get an exterminator. I urge you to get rid of those fleas in your house before the baby comes.

QOur 5-month-old German Shepherd pup has started the filthy habit of eating her own feces. She is on free-choice feeding with Science Diet Canine Growth, and water is also available at all times. Why, with all that good food available, would a dog do that?

AThe eating of excrement--called coprophagy or coprophagia--is normal among many insects, birds and other animals. Among dogs, it probably stems from the canine`s wild state when it wanted to hide its tracks. Also, a mother with young pups eats their waste matter to keep the litter clean.

This doesn`t imply that you have to accept your dog`s coprophagia, or that it`s good for the animal. Just the opposite: it`s apt to cause him to be plagued with internal parasites.

There are several different ways that can be tried to stop this behavior. Scolding is the obvious one, but may not suffice. Generously sprinkling some Tabasco sauce on the stool is another. Or, add some Adolph`s Meat Tenderizer to the dog`s food to give the stool a bad odor. There is also a product on the market just for this purpose, called For-Bid.

Let me repeat: Merely because it is normal behavior does not mean it should be allowed.