The Norman Transcript

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Discussion

November 27, 2008

Excessive vaccinations unnecessary for old dogs

Dear Dr. Fox: I have a question concerning our dear 15-year-old dog. She has always had her distemper/hepatitis/parvo five-way and heartworm tests and pills every year. Is it necessary to continue these shots? -- T.E., Apple Valley, Minn.

Dear T.E.: Your veterinarian needs to either retire or go back to school. No dog as old as yours needs such a vaccine cocktail. It's a waste of money and an unwarranted health risk bordering on malpractice.

Heartworm preventive pills are called for after a blood test has been done to be sure your dog is not infested.

Dear Dr. Fox: Reading about the shepherd mix that chewed on everything reminded me of our first dog that had the same problem. I bought one of your books. In it, you mentioned a problem with a dog that killed chickens. You suggested attaching the damaged goods to the dog's collar to make the point that the chewing is offensive.

Our dog had damaged a third shoe, and we attached it to her collar while we were home and made her carry it around for a few days. Every time we thought of it, we pointed out the chewed part and how it offended us. She never chewed on anything again.

I have also used a cowbell on her collar to discourage her from digging. She hated the noise it made when she dug so she stopped digging.

My friends and I also like your idea of "shake cans" -- cans with coins inside. The dogs hate the noise of the can and generally stop the offending deed. -- T.G., Naples, Fla.

Dear T.G.: That old-school method of conditioning a dog not to kill barnyard chickens by tying a chicken the dog had killed around the dog's neck is indeed a tried-and-true remedy.

Some dog owners and trainers may find your training methods inhumane. But a little discomfort can go a long way and be justified when applied consistently. The dog's behavior can be quickly modified. This is far better than yelling and hitting -- common human reactions to undesirable canine behavior. These serve only to confuse and frighten the dog and can lead to more behavioral problems.

A thinker's cat book

People who enjoy deep reading rather than the fluffy and feel-good books about cats -- scores of which I receive to mention in my column -- will appreciate the essays by several philosophers in a new book, "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Cat" (Open Court, 2008).

Edited by Steven D. Hales, it sells for $14.95, with 288 interesting pages. You will get insights into how cats influence the ways philosophers think, and how well we are evolving intellectually and empathetically, thanks to them!

To order Dr. Michael W. Fox's newsletter, Animal Doctor, on providing the best care for your animal companion, send a check or money order for $2 and a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Send your questions to Dr. Fox in care of this newspaper. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

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