Ask The Vet Radio Pet Ownership Tips

As a professional Veterinarian, Dr. Dewhirst is always getting feedback from clients and listeners regarding their tips and tricks to happy pet ownership.

 

• “If your pet is overweight, give them fresh vegetables and spoonfuls of yogurt for a treat, instead of traditional store-bought treats which are usually high in calories."-Dr. Tracy Dewhirst, DVM, Knoxville, TN

• "When we brought our new puppy home, we were having trouble getting him to recognize his name when we called. To try and solve it, we always kept him on a leash for awhile, even in the yard, and when we called him, we gave a slight tug on the leash to stop him, while saying his name and within a few days, he responded on and off the leash."-Chris Martin, Orlando, FL

• "My dog is an excessive nighttime barker - all the time! I'd heard about a new remedy and decided to give it a try. Apparently, when dogs bark at night, they're trying to tell you something, or warn you of an animal or movement in the yard - they're protecting you. So, instead of opening the door and yelling at Hank, I leaned out and thanked him for being such a good watch-dog. He instantly stopped barking and went back to sleep. So, my pet tip would be to recognize that they're trying to tell you something and reward them versus scold them."-Cathy Baldino, Baltimore, MD

• “When we got Gabby she was a small puppy, but now even though she is a full-grown Doberman, she still insists on acting like a puppy! It’s impossible to keep her under control when we have guests! For everyone who may be adopting a new puppy, teach them to behave when they are little because once they are full-grown these habits are impossible to break!" –Tammie Grubb, Knoxville, TN

• “Do not leave your dog in the car unattended on hot days. Even with the windows open, temperatures in cars WILL reach deadly levels. It only takes 5 minutes!!” – Celia King, Jefferson City, TN

• “My miniature Chihuahua Miri always has a problem with his skin drying out. To counteract this problem, stir a teaspoon of olive oil into your dog/cat’s food daily. This also helps reduce shedding!” -April Stacey, Garden City, SC

• “Pet life jackets are a good idea when taking your dog out to the lake with you. Last weekend, our new puppy jumped out of the boat and we were glad he had a jacket on! –Gail Barber, Powell, TN

• “Every time we would take our two miniature schnauzers for a drive, Brandy would always get motion sickness. We started giving her treats containing ginger to help her enjoy car rides again!” –Thelma Grubb, Oak Ridge, TN

• “Our Maltese Jasmine would not take her medication. An easy trick is to insert the pill into a dog treat; they’ll never know!” – Christy Franco, Oak Ridge, TN

• “Be cautious when using metal food and water dishes outdoors. The metal can get very hot in the summer and burn your dog’s mouth!" –Tom Jenkins, Atlanta, GA

• “Our Boxer Pepper use to always knock over his water bowl when we left for work. To prevent this, I got my husband to dig a hole in the yard to place the dish in. This way Pepper can’t knock over the bowl and the water stays cold longer!” –Isabelle Holland, Knoxville, TN

• “Never let dogs and cats drink from the toilet. Even though they love it, toilets accumulate bacteria that can make them very sick. Also, toilet cleaner and the residue it leaves behind is very toxic to pets!” -Kirsten Waters, Maryville, TN

• “Be sure to brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week with an enzyme toothpaste and toothbrush made specifically for dogs. If your dog gets fussy, try specially treated cleaning pads that can be wiped over the surface of the dog’s teeth." -Lisa Hartnet, Nashville, TN

• “My husband and I have to board our Pomeranian Snowball quite often due to work trips. To keep your pet happy while you are away, be sure to pack their favorite dog blanket or a t-shirt you have worn recently to give them some comfort from home." -Jay Stevens, Knoxville, TN

• “When trimming your pet’s nails, always make sure the blade is sharp. Dull blades require force that can be every painful and cause nails to bleed and split.” Nick Derrick, Farragut, TN

• “In order to teach your dog that his bathroom is outside, clean inside messes with paper towels and then take the paper towels outside to an appropriate elimination area. Take your dog to this spot on each bathroom break, and he will begin to associate this spot with elimination. Then, clean the inside accident area with a vinegar and water solution to neutralize the smell.” –Carmen Trammell, Knoxville, TN

• “Never leave pets outside during cold temperatures unless they have insulated housing and warm bedding. Heat bulbs and fans can be used in doghouses but only under extreme caution. A fire can start if your pet chews on the wires or if the fans/bulbs touch the bedding or wood.” –Gene Hudson, Knoxville, TN

• “My golden retriever Maggie suffered inner ear damage and a lung infection as a result of riding with her head out of the car window. Be sure to keep your dog from hanging out of the vehicle at all times.” -Sara Ford, Knoxville, TN

• “When we had to put my overweight poodle Pearly on a diet, we could not get her to stop begging for scraps. The best tip is to never start feeding dogs table scraps because it’s a hard habit to break! Try putting your pet in another room/crate while you are eating or only feeding them during human meal times to break them from excessive begging.” Casey Hatmaker, Knoxville, TN

• “During the Holidays to keep your pets entertained, fill a sterile hollow bone with all natural peanut butter for your dogs. Your pet will keep busy for hours!” –Samantha Radcliffe, Knoxville, TN

• "I had a problem with one of my cats always going to the bathroom just outside the litter box. A friend told me that cat's don't like to share boxes and can be dominant and territorial about them. So, my tip is to have the same # of litter boxes as you do cat's and one more somewhere else nearby, like in the garage - that way there's no competition and they'll stay cleaner and less full longer."-Amy Smith, Nashville, TN

• “I used to use a regular pet brush on my cat in the Spring, when she sheds a lot. It worked okay, but I found that using a fine-toothed human comb really helps remove the thick undercoat. Now she sheds a lot less and I don’t have to comb her as often.” – Nanci Solomon, Knoxville, TN

• “To give a fussy cat a bath, put an old window screen in the tub. Midnight gets so excited with the new clawing toy that he stays for the entire bath.” -Brian Reppert, Lexington, KY

• “Our new cat used to always wake us up at night by attacking our feet! To get her out of the habit, we pointed a fan directly at our feet when we slept. She hated the cold air blowing on her face and subsequently found other “toys” to entertain her at night instead! –Jerrod and Chrissy Morgan, Knoxville, TN

• “Our cat had been getting into our potted plants for years until I got a tip from a friend at work. Try buying small landscaping rocks (quarter size) and spread them out evenly on top of the soil of the potted plants. Our cat hated digging around them!” –Brett and Becky Hamilton, Knoxville, TN

• “Our cat Fresco used to tear up the house while we were away. Lately, we have made a point to play with him (and his toys) when we get home from work, and it seems to have lessened his destructive behavior during the day.” –Tristan and Lauren Orwick, Knoxville, TN

• “To keep cats off of furniture, try placing heavy-duty aluminum foil on the tops of the tables and the counters. My cat Indiana seemed to hate the way it sounded and felt when he walked on it.” -Josh McKay, Maryville, TN

• "I have never had a cat that liked conventional scratching posts. The most workable solution I have found is to spray a citrus-scented spray on a towel and drape it over the furniture. Provide wide scratch boxes with catnip inside in a couple of places in the house. After a few days, the towels can be removed.” -Lynnda Tenpenny, Knoxville, TN

• “Emmy, our 1 year old cat, allows people to pet her for only a few minutes and then bites them. To prevent this, keep petting sessions short and learn to recognize signs that your cat may have had enough petting. Signs can include a twitching tail, tensed up body, or a turn or flicker of their ears.” Annabelle Turner, Knoxville, TN

• “To get my cat Gypsy to take to her scratching post, I placed it in a spot where she frequently used to scratch and sprinkle it a couple of times a month with catnip to keep her interested. Be sure that the post is sturdy and at least 3 feet in height.” Lisa Guglielmo, Knoxville, TN

• “To keep your cat from hunting and killing wildlife, purchase a cat “cow bell” to be worn around it’s collar. The bell is loud enough that most rodents and birds are able to run away. This also helps prevent the cat from acquiring bacteria and parasites from the kill.” - Rodney Smith, Knoxville, TN

• “Outdoor cats often seek shelter in cold weather by crawling into vehicle engines and under hoods. Bang loudly on the car hood and honk before starting the engine to give them a chance to escape!” Chris Dempsey, Powell, TN

• “A reptiles metabolism is 1/10 that of a mammal. Because of this, problems may take months or years to surface, so you cannot always assume your pet is healthy. I try to do all my research on the proper diet before I buy a new snake.” -Ward Houston, Knoxville, TN

• “My husband and I nailed a few old horse brushes (with bristles) to the side of the stall so our horse Otis could rub up against them while we were out.” –Dawn Stratford, Knoxville, TN

• “If you ever notice your pet bird’s eyes seem swollen, be sure to see a veterinarian immediately. Our bird Mimic had developed a sinus infection and was prescribed antibiotics to get her healthy again.” Jason Walsh, Farragut, TN

• “To attract birds to your bird feeder, try tying bright colored ribbons to the sides of it. It really works!” –Laura Sheppard, Knoxville, TN