Seamus is a red/wheaten Norwich Terrier, ten years old. He was lying on the floor beside my bed. It was time for bed
and sometimes Seamus snores and wakes us, so my
husband went to pick Seamus up to put him in
another room for the night and he snarled and bit
my husband’s hand. This is the first time
anything like has happened.
Is it true that a dog will repeat this behaviour
once he has bitten, or how would you suggest we
deal with it?

Audrey

Dog and cat bites are serious business. They can lead to serious infections, and in the United States often lead to major lawsuits. So, although I have said it before, let me reiterate that the advice in this column should never be substituted for face-to-face consultation with a veterinarian.

I suspect that Seamus has not suddenly developed problems with aggression. And after a dog bites a person for the first time, he is unlikely develop a taste for human flesh or become a chronic biter.

However, unless you take preventive measures, the scenario you have described is likely to repeat itself. This is because I suspect your husband surprised Seamus, causing him to bite out of fear.

Young dogs and cats, like young people, tend to have excellent hearing and vision. Pets can tell that someone is at the door before the doorbell rings. Pets usually are aware of guests or intruders long before human occupants of the house suspect anything.

As well, most younger pets are relatively light sleepers. It is very hard to sneak up on a sleeping dog when he is young–his instinct is to be aware of his surroundings, even when he is asleep.

However pets, like people, change as they grow older. Their vision and hearing grow weaker. They sleep more heavily.

I think that Seamus was asleep when your husband picked him up. Seamus awoke, realized that he was in someone’s grasp, became scared, and bit your husband out of fear.

The way to prevent this in the future is to ensure that Seamus is fully awake before you pick him up. Nudge him with your foot or make enough noise to rouse him before you handle him.

Be aware that certain medical conditions can cause increased aggression in older dogs. Although I doubt that any such condition is contributing to Seamus’ issue, you should see a veterinarian if the problem persists or if you are worried that someone might be injured.

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Hi Dr Barchas,

I want to know the best
way to neuter my new puppy. I heard
a radio show that recommended that
three types of pain control be used (anti-inflamatory med, opioids and lidocaine) besides anesthesia. What is your opinion?

Gayle

Thank you for a good question. Pain control is a very important aspect of surgery, and it is one that is sometimes overlooked in veterinary medicine.

In the past, animal pain was systematically under treated or ignored, because pets can’t tell people that they are in pain. Incredibly, some vets even argued that post-operative pain was good for animals! Their reasoning (faulty reasoning, in my mind) was that pain caused pets to lie still and not lick or damage surgical sites.

Fortunately, that type of thinking is almost non-existent now. Pain is bad, no matter how you look at it. Aggressively addressing post-operative pain leads to a much more pleasant experience for pets and owners. It also leads to faster surgical recoveries, decreased post-operative complications, and a speedier resumption of normal activities.

As you suggest, a combination of multiple pain medicines leads to the best pain control. The medicines chosen depend on the intensity of pain that is expected following surgery, as well as the animal’s age, breed, and health status.

All of the painkillers that you listed are used commonly. Opiods are medicines related to morphine. Usually they are administered by injection just prior to surgery. As well, they may be prescribed for use at home during recovery.

Anti-inflammatory medications are related to aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil). These usually are administered both in the hospital and at home after surgery.

Lidocaine and related medications numb the surgical area. These types of medicines are very useful for certain types of procedures, but are not often used for neuters.

Remember that you should never administer any medications, especially those intended for humans, to your pet without first discussing the matter with your vet.

Any time your pet undergoes surgery, dental work, or any procedure that may be painful, be sure to discuss pain control with your vet. Good vets care a lot about pain, and they will be happy to work with you to ensure that your pet has the best possible experience.

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I have a Lhasa Apso who absolutely hates her nails
to be cut. I don’t dare take her to a groomer
because she is so bad. I tried a muzzle, but she
gets so stressed out that she starts to cough. Her
tongue starts turning blue. Do you have any
suggestions?

Kellie
Marco Island, FL

First, know that you are not alone. I have many patients who are content to be poked, prodded, played with, tugged, or tickled anywhere but their feet. But when anyone tries to touch their paws, or especially trim their nails, they can’t stand it. I suspect they have ticklish feet. Or perhaps they view their feet as their personal space. Whatever the reason, they will not tolerate having their nails trimmed.

Most dogs and cats need nail trims periodically. Untrimmed nails are more likely to get injured and to cause injury. Severely overgrown nails may get snagged and damaged during play. Very long nails can grow into the pads on the feet, causing infection and pain.

My most important advice goes to people with puppies and kittens. I recommend that you spend time each day playing with your pet’s feet. Start trimming the nails at an early age. Young animals are very pliable, and pets that grow up accustomed to nail trims usually don’t resent them as adults.

For mature pets, there are several tactics that can be employed to facilitate nail trimming. At least two people should be present for nail trims. One person holds the pet while the other trims the nails. The holder should be someone who is confident and someone whom the pet respects. Pets are less likely to struggle if they respect the person holding them. I do not recommend using heavy restraint. It causes stress for all involved, and it can cause injury to pets.

Some pets can be distracted with food, toys, or gentle taps on the head while their nails are trimmed. As well, you can try trimming just a few nails each day for several days.

Expriment with different positions during nail trims. Some animals respond best to lying on their side. Others do better if they are held in the air vertically with their feet facing the person with the nail trimmers. A small number will struggle less if they are standing on the ground.

Some pets may respond to habituation. Spend time each day touching and massaging the feet. Over time, you may be able to work up to trimming the nails.

Unfortunately, there are some pets for whom none of these tricks work. I know, because they come to my office for their nail trims. Veterinarians are the nail trimmers of last resort, and some pets’ nails can’t be trimmed anywhere else. In the most severe cases, I have had to tranquilize or even anesthetize animals to trim their nails. Obviously, this is not Plan A. But for some dogs and cats there is no other choice.

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My dog scratches his under body all the time even
though he is clean and is bathed one time every two weeks.
What’s happening?

VR
Jakarta, Indonesia

Several things could be going on here. Allergic reactions are a leading cause of itching in pets. Your pet could be reacting to fleas (the all-time number one cause of skin problems in warm climates), his shampoo, or his bedding. As well, food or pollen allergies could be playing a role.

However, there is another problem that is common in Indonesia and other tropical countries and it could be causing your dog’s symptoms. It is called scabies.

Scabies is caused by a type of parasite that infests the skin. This leads to severe itching, especially on the abdomen and lower portion of the body. Based on your description of your dog’s problems, I am worried that your dog may have scabies.

Scabies can spread to people. I recommend that you have the matter checked out for your dog’s sake as well as your own.

Fortunately, scabies is treatable, either with special dips (shampoos) or with medications. So are most of the other syndromes that might be causing your dog’s problems.

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