Dear Dr. Barchas,

When is the right time to bathe a pup? Mine’s a two-month, two-week-old
Lhasa Apso, and I’ve bathed her about twice already. She seems to like it,
only she starts shaking after every bath, even if I cover her with a
thick towel. I decided not to bathe her until she reaches four months. But
without washing, her hair mats and develops a certain stink. What should I
do?

Mediatrix
Philippines

The short answer to your question is that dogs (and cats, for that matter) should be bathed when they need it. If your pet’s odor is too strong for your taste, then by all means give her a bath. There is no minimum or maximum age for bathing pets once they are weaned. There also is no set frequency to which you must adhere. However, I recommend that you follow some ground rules.

First, make sure that your pet stays warm as she is drying off. Even though you live in a tropical country, if your dog is trembling after her bath, she may be cold. Towel dry her as well as possible, and make sure she is in a warm (but not hot) room as she dries.

Many human shampoos can cause dry skin in dogs and cats, especially if they are used frequently. In general, I recommend using only pet shampoos. However, because of potential adverse reactions, I advise against powerful flea or parasite control shampoos unless they have been specifically recommended by your vet.

Finally, remember to keep shampoo and water out of your pet’s eyes and ears. Shampoo can irritate her eyes, and water in her ears can predispose her to ear infections.

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Hi Dr. Barchas,

I like to go hiking with my dog Simba, and sometimes I find ticks embedded in him after hikes. There are deer in the area where I hike, but Simba has had the vaccine for Lyme disease. Do I need to worry about the ticks?

Martin
Traverse City, MI

Yes. Ticks are bad for Simba.

Lyme disease is spread by ticks, and it receives a great deal of media attention. Although the ticks that carry Lyme disease are called deer ticks, the presence of deer has little to do with the prevalence of the disease. In fact, it is a type of mouse that spreads the disease. Lyme disease causes vague symptoms in dogs. These include limping, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and lethargy. It is most common in the northeastern United States, but also exists in the upper Midwest (including Michigan) and in the west.

A vaccine for Lyme disease is available for dogs. However, even if a dog has been vaccinated, tick infestation may adversely affect his health. For one thing, no vaccine is perfect. For another, ticks carry a large number of diseases besides Lyme. These include such frightening syndromes as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Cytauxzoonosis, Hepatozoonosis, and tick paralysis. Ticks are veritable hotbeds of disease. Only fleas and mosquitoes outrank them on the list of vile bloodsucking parasites that deserve no mercy.

The best way to protect Simba from these diseases is to prevent tick infestation. Keeping him out of areas that harbor ticks will help, but if you like to hike with your dog you will need to apply a product that prevents tick infestation. There are several products that can be used, including Frontline, K9 Advantix, and the Preventic collar. Of these, I prefer Frontline, because it is safe and effective and will not harm cats. K9 Advantix and the Preventic collar must not be used on cats, and in my opinion they are less elegant products.

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Hi there! Layla is my kitty. She enjoys an occasional urination
outside of her box. She has been tested for a urinary tract infection and
treated. Is this something that is more common for certain breeds than
others? She has three boxes to choose from. Do you have any other
suggestions?

Nicole
Royal Oak, MI

Urinating inappropriately is certainly one of the most frustrating problems that anyone with a cat or a dog can face. Housesoiling has two basic causes: medical problems and behavioral problems.

Urinary tract infections and inflammation (irritation) of the bladder are the most common medical causes of housesoiling. Pets feel pain and burning, which may cause them to urinate in strange places. If Layla has been treated for a urinary tract (aka bladder) infection, and re-tested to ensure that no infection remains, then this probably is not contributing to the problem at this time.

However, there are a number of other medical conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease, which may lead to urination outside of the box. I noticed while looking at Layla’s profile that she is eight. Cats over seven years of age are more susceptible to these types of problems, so if she has not undergone blood and urine testing recently, I would recommend it.

Behavioral housesoiling can be difficult to address. Stress and anxiety are the most frequent culprits. Some cats will urinate outside of the box to mark their territory if a new cat is brought into the house, or if they even see a new cat in the yard through a window. Tactics to avoid behavioral housesoiling include adding litter boxes (which you already have done), using enzymatic cleaners to remove the urine odor from soiled areas, and reducing stress (which often means giving each cat in the house her own area to serve as a home territory).

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We have a Poodle/Chihuahua mix, spayed female. We are wondering if a canine companion would be a good thing for her, or would she rather be an “only child ” ? We’ve been debating the issue for six to eight months now. We figure that if we are to get another dog, we should do it now while she is still young enough to accept it. In general, are dogs happier if they have
another canine companion? If so, would a male be a better choice than
having two females ?

Thanks for your advice!

Bethany
Oakville, ON, Canada

Yours is a frequently asked question in my practice among both dog and cat owners. Some people have one pet, and they wonder if she gets bored while they are at work. Others have recently lost a pet, and are worried that their remaining cat or dog is lonely or misses her friend.

While there is no doubt that both cats and dogs form relationships with other pets in the house, I do not recommend getting another animal to keep your pet company. Pets are your responsibility, and more than anything, they give love to you. The only valid reason to get another pet is because you want one, not because you think your pet wants one.

Pets are perfectly capable of being happy as “only children.” However, most dogs will accept another dog in the house readily and happily. Cats generally are more solitary, and adding a second cat to your home can be stressful for all involved. That said, most cats ultimately develop positive, sibling-like relationships with their “brother” or “sister.” Additionally, many of my clients have a dog and a cat who are firm and fast friends.

If you want to get another dog, then by all means do so. I am confident that your current dog will welcome him or her (the new dog’s gender does not matter much) into the house gladly. However, the pet should be for you, not for your dog.

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