DON'T EXPECT PREDATORS AND PREY TO ACT LIKE FAMILY
Last month, after years of dreaming about it, I moved onto a small property that allowed me to have my horses live in my backyard instead of at a boarding barn. There is also room for my pet chickens and ducks, and of course, my dogs and my cat.
All the animals get along, not only the "farm" animals, but also the more traditional household pets. This happens not because we're all one happy family, but because I know enough about animals to realize that we are not family at all.
In more than 30 years of writing about pets and a lifetime of living with them, I have shared my life with everything from hermit crabs to parrots to bunnies to snakes to horses and a lot in between, along with the more common pets of dogs and cats. For the most part, the interactions have been safe ones because I take care to keep them that way. Here's how:
Don't anthropomorphize, but do generalize ... a little. You love all your pets, so it's natural to expect that your pets not only love you, but also feel at least warm toward each other. Let me put it this way: Even though you loved your siblings growing up, I bet there were times when you punched them, right? And you're the same species.
Don't expect pets to get along because you think they're "family." There's never a bird born who can truly see a cat as a brother, and never a dog who isn't fighting instinct to look at Brother Rabbit as an appetizer.
And be aware that, in general, some breeds of dogs are highly unlikely to be safe around smaller pets. Even if you had a Jack Russell who ignored your daughter's pet mouse, don't expect most Jack Russells to do so. Learn not only about the species of your pets and what's generally normal behavior in a pet household, but learn in particular about dog breeds and what they were bred for. A sight hound such as a greyhound may be very placid when everyone's relaxed, but if your cat dashes across the yard, your hound may give chase.
Respect the nature of things. Big dogs are born predators, even those who'd seemingly never act on their genetic coding. Small dogs and cats are both predators and prey (although small dogs often don't seem to know it). Almost everything else we keep as a pet is viewed by some other animal as lunch. That's especially true for rabbits and pet rodents, and true as well for parrots and backyard birds such as chickens and ducks. It's even true of many reptilian pets.
When you mix predators and prey, you take chances. And you must never forget that. If you want a houseful of different species, look for those more likely to get along, or be determined to keep them forever apart. And even then, never take chances: Always oversee the interactions of your pets. The lion may lay down with the lamb from time to time, but that's not how the smart money bets on the interaction. Don't let predator and prey species such as cats and birds "play" together.
Divide to prevent conquering. Good fencing may make good neighbors, but secure barriers have kept many a small pet alive. When you are not actively engaged in overseeing your pets, keep small ones such as rabbits and birds in their enclosures, and use baby gates to add a layer of protection by keeping dogs out of a room where small animals such as hamsters are in cages that can be easily broken into.
In my case, I have my chickens and ducks in a spacious yard with good, standard fencing supplemented by electric fencing, not only to deter any wild predators, but also dogs -- my neighbors' and even my own.
I love living with many kinds of animals -- I'm adding a pair of pet goats after I'm well settled in -- but I'm always aware that my pets would not choose to live with one another if I didn't make them do so. That means I'm always careful to keep everyone safe, because ... we're family, even if they don't think so!
Q&A
Potential infection
needs diagnosis
Q: My older shepherd mix is showing signs of another urinary tract infection. Last time I took her to the veterinarian, he prescribed antibiotics for the UTI, saying that her urine leaking was due to her being on steroids. I don't want her on antibiotics again. Is there a natural alternative? -- via email
A: I'd love to tell you of a non-antibiotic remedy, but there isn't one. UTIs are the result of bacteria getting into the bladder, where they aren't supposed to be -- the urine bladder is normally a sterile environment. My suspicion is that your dog doesn't have a UTI at all, although she might. My thought is that she's leaking from the steroids (it is indeed a common side effect), or from spay incontinence, which is very common in spayed females.
Since the treatment for urinary leaking and the treatment for a UTI are completely different, you need to get an accurate diagnosis. This is easy, fortunately. Get a urine culture done, and know that this is not the same as a routine urinalysis.
If the culture doesn't grow any bacteria, she does not have an infection, and you'll need to pursue treatment for urinary incontinence with your veterinarian. If the culture does grow bacteria, then the lab will do a further test, known as a "sensitivity test," to determine what antibiotic the bacteria are susceptible to, so you don't waste time and money treating an infection with the wrong drug.
Bladder infections are very painful, so please don't spend more time looking for a home remedy "cure" that doesn't involve your dog's doctor. This is a serious quality of life issue that needs to be correctly diagnosed and treated. -- Dr. Marty Becker with Christie Keith
Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.
THE BUZZ
Reports of sick dogs,
people from pet food
-- The VIN news service (news.vin.com) reports that six animals have been reported dead and more than 50 claimed to have been made ill by salmonella contamination in commercial pet foods made under various brand names by the Diamond company. The information was obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration via a Freedom of Information Act request. Many of the foods have been recalled by the brands and the manufacturer. Meanwhile, DVM36.com reports the filing of a lawsuit against Diamond and retailer Costco charging that the contaminated pet food made a New Jersey infant severely ill.
-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to update its oversight of commercial pet breeders, including those substandard ones widely referred to as "puppy mills." Current regulations developed before the widespread use of the Internet exempt pet stores from the Animal Welfare Act. Many commercial breeding operations now skip retail outlets to sell and ship animals directly to consumers, taking advantage of the loophole to avoid regulations intended to ensure humane treatment of breeding animals and the sale of healthy young ones. The requirements would affect operations with four or more breeding animals, a number intended to allow reputable hobby breeders to continue raising animals in their homes, among other exemptions. Comments are currently being accepted on the proposed changes at www.aphis.usda.gov.
-- Celebrity dog trainer Cesar Millan is ending his phenomenally successful -- and equally controversial -- show when the current set of episodes has finished production. The "Dog Whisperer" has been successful both for Millan and for the Nat Geo WILD cable network, but the trainer's use of physical correction for poorly mannered dogs has attracted widespread criticism from veterinary behaviorists and some training organizations. Concurrent with announcing the end of the "Dog Whisperer," Millan revealed plans for a new series, "Leader of the Pack." -- Gina Spadafori
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.