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1. My cat won't use the litter box because he/she is rebellious and wants to make me mad.
A. True
B. False

2. My cat scratches the furniture to:
A. Mark territory
B. All of these
C. Stretch muscles
D. Shed nail sheaths

3. What's the purpose in why my cat "kneads"?
A. A sign of being hungry
B. A sign of aggressiveness
C. A sign of affection
D. A sign of being unhappy

4. My cat leaves objects such as his/her toys in his/her food or water bowls just to drive me crazy.
A. True
B. False

5.Why does my cat suddenly bite me in an aggressive manner when I'm petting him/her?
A. My cat is mean
B. None of these
C. My cat doesn't like affection
D. My cat doesn't want to be petted anymore

6. My cat purrs only when he/she is happy and relaxed.
A. True
B. False

7. Is it normal for my cat to exhibit body movements during sleep?
A. Yes
B. No

8.Why does my cat insist on playing and ransacking the house after I have gone to bed?
A. My cat wants me to get up
B. My cat is a nocturnal creature
C. My cat likes to annoy me
D. None of these

9. Why does my cat scratch the floor around his/her food and water bowls after eating as if to cover it up?
A. To hide it
B. Doesn't like its location
C. It smells bad
D. None of these

10. Why does my indoor cat attack me or my other indoor cat(s) when he/she sees an unknown cat outdoors?
A. My cat is most likely showing he/she is in control
B. My cat is most likely showing displaced fear
C. My cat thinks of me or my other cat(s) as prey
D. My cat is most likely showing displaced aggression

Answers

1. B 2. B 3. C 4. B 5. D
6. B 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. D

With warmer weather approaching, plenty of pet owners are thinking of getting into shape before hitting the beach. But what about pets? Obesity is a growing problem among both cats and dogs. And much like humans, too many extra pounds can have far-reaching consequences for our animal companions. In this report from the Veterinary News Network, Dr. Jim Humphries discusses the health problems that can occur if your pet is overweight and shares tips on how you can get your pet's weight under control.

Mammary tumors are among the most common tumors in the cat. The average age of diagnosis is 10-12 years though it can be seen in cats of any age. Most affected cats are intact females, however, the disease is occasionally seen in spayed females and, rarely, in male cats. Almost 90 percent of feline mammary tumors are malignant, meaning they have the potential to spread to other portions of the body. Since malignant tumors tend to metastasize rapidly, containing the spread can be difficult and requires immediate attention.

To date, surgical excision at the earliest possible opportunity is the most effective therapy for any mammary tumor. If the tumor is benign, complete surgical excision is curative. If the tumor is malignant, post-surgical treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy may be warranted. With conservative surgery, more than half of the cats have a recurrence at the surgical site. The most significant predictive factors affecting recurrence and survival times for cats with malignant mammary tumors are tumor size, extent of surgery, and the grade of the tumor.

Tumor size is the single most important factor. Cats with tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter have an average survival time of four to six months, whereas cats with tumors 2-3 cm in diameter have an average survival time of about two years. Cats with tumors less than 2 cm in diameter have an average survival time of over three years. Thus, since the size of the tumor clearly affects the survival time of the cat, early diagnosis and treatment is vital in cats with mammary tumors.

There are various treatment options for a cat diagnosed with a malignant mammary tumor. However, since size and grade of mammary tumors vary, some treatments may not be an option. Consult your veterinarian to find the best treatment for your cat.

An exercise partner makes hitting the gym and staying active fun, and a new study by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine found that your dog may be the best exercise partner of all!

The study found that people who walk dogs exercise more consistently and show more improvement than people who walk with a human exercise partner. The study, conducted by the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, focused on 54 older adults at an assisted living home. Of the participants, 35 were asked to walk five days a week for 12 weeks (the remaining 19 functioned as a control group). Among the walkers, 23 elected to walk with a friend or spouse; the other 12 partnered with a dog from a local animal shelter for the daily walks.

According to the researchers, those walking with dogs exercised more consistently than walkers with human partners. Rebecca A. Johnson, the director of the research institute, said that human partners often discouraged each other from exercise. However, the prospect of walking with a dog encouraged the other participants in the study to walk each day, she said.

Dog walkers also showed improvement in their physical mobility: the study found that walking speed among dog walkers increased by 28 percent, while walking speed among human walkers increased only by 4 percent. According to Johnson, by the end of the study, dog-walkers also were able to rely less on canes and walkers to help them get around.

A previous study conducted by ReCHAI found that when people are responsible for walking a dog, they exercise more and lose more weight - one ReCHAI study group lost an average of 14 pounds in one year, according to Johnson.

With obesity rates on the rise for both people and pets, regular exercise benefits both you and your canine companion. If you need to shed a few extra pounds, or simply need a nudge to get outside and be active, look to your dog for help. After all, he or she will never say no to a walk!

Owners who want to better understand their canine companions must recognize that dogs see the world from a different visual perspective. The differences begin with the structure of the eye. We have a good idea what dogs see because we know the make-up of the retina of a dog’s eye.

The retina is the light sensitive portion of the eye. This structure is located in the back of the inside of the eyeball. The retina contains two types of light sensitive cells: rods and cones. Cones provide color perception and detailed sight, while rods detect motion and vision in dim light. Dogs have rod-dominated retinas that allow them to see well in the dark. Along with superior night vision, dogs have better motion visibility than humans have. However, because their retinas’ contain only about one-tenth the concentration of cones that humans have, dogs do not see colors as humans do.

Dogs see like a color-blind human. Many people think that a person who is red/green color blind cannot see any color, but there are variations of color blindness. Most people have vision that is trichromatic (three-color variations). People who are red/green color blind are dichromatic (two color variations). Dogs’ retinas can distinguish two colors. These colors are blue-violet and yellow. Dogs can also differentiate between shades of gray. Dogs are unable to recognize green, yellow, orange, and red.

Colors That Humans See

Colors That Dogs See

Dogs use other cues such as smell, texture, brightness, and position rather than relying solely on color. Seeing-eye dogs, for example, may not distinguish between a green or red stoplight; they look at the brightness and position of the light. This, along with the flow and noise of traffic, tell the dog that it is the right time to cross the street.

How a dog’s eyes are set determines the field of view as well as depth perception. Prey species tend to have eyes located on the sides of their head. This gives the animals an increased field of view and allows them to see approaching predators. Predator species, like humans and dogs, have eyes set close together. Human eyes are set straight forward while dog eyes, depending on the breed, are usually set at a 20 degree angle. This angle increases the field of view and therefore increases the peripheral vision of the dog.

Increased peripheral vision compromises the amount of binocular vision. Binocular vision occurs where the field of view of each eye overlaps. Binocular vision is necessary for depth perception. The wider-set eyes of dogs have less overlap and less binocular vision, thus, less depth perception). Dogs’ depth perception is best when they look straight ahead. This is not an ideal situation, as their nose often interferes. Predators need binocular vision as a survival tool. Binocular vision aids in jumping, leaping, catching, and many other activities fundamental to predators.

In addition to having less binocular vision than humans have, dogs also have less visual acuity. Humans with perfect eyesight are said to have 20/20 vision. This means that we can distinguish letters or objects at a distance of 20 feet. Dogs typically have 20/75 vision. What this means is that they must be 20 feet from an object to see it as well as a human standing 75 feet away. Certain breeds have better visual acuity. Labradors, commonly used as seeing-eye dogs, are bred for better eyesight and may have vision that is closer to 20/20.

If you’re silently standing across the field from your dog, don’t expect him or her to recognize you. He’ll recognize you when you do some sort of motion particular to yourself. He may also recognize your presence by his outstanding sense of smell and/or hearing. Because of the large number of rods in the retina, dogs see moving objects much better than they see stationary objects. Motion sensitivity has been noted as the critical aspect of canine vision. Much of dog behavior deals with posture and appropriateness. Small changes in your body posture mean a lot to your dog. Dog owners need to modify training based on this fact. If you want your dog to perform an action based on a silent cue, we suggest using a wide sweeping hand and arm motion in order to cue your dog.

When dogs go blind, owners often wonder if the dogs’ quality of life has diminished to the point where they are no longer happy. Humans deal well with being blind, and humans are much more dependent on their eyes than are dogs. Blind dogs lead happy lives as long as they are comfortable. The owner may need to make some adjustments in the pet’s environment. Some of these adjustments include fencing the yard, taking leashed walks, and not leaving unusual objects in the dog’s normal pathways. Obviously, most blind dogs cannot navigate stairs very well. When blind dogs are in their normal environment, most people don’t know they are blind.

There are many ideas proposed for how to choose the right dog. Some include that a large dog is not suitable for an apartment, elderly owners, or for mild-mannered women. However, some large, agile dogs adapt well to apartment or condo living as long as they get a daily walk, and some are gentle enough that anyone with a firm voice and manner can easily handle them. Many suggest that small dogs may be unsuitable for families with active children or elderly or infirm relatives who could trip over a small, bouncy critter but there are many examples that prove counter to this argument. There are better ways to try to choose your right dog. Consider the following and what best fits your personality and life style.

Temperament

There are particular breed temperaments; however, there definitely is latitude for individuality. Thus Akitas are declared to be tough animals, loyal, aloof, dominant, aggressive to other animals, and often challenging. However, many Akitas are sweet and cuddly, love small critters, will climb in laps if allowed, and are anything but aloof and dominant.

Terriers are scrappy, yippy, tough, and independent, but Airedale Terriers bond very closely to their humans and are somewhat protective. Hounds follow their eyes or noses and are often oblivious to human presence, but Dachshunds bond closely with their families and Greyhounds and Whippets are sweet, gentle pets.

Wire-haired Fox Terrier

Coat (Fur)

Long-coated and double-coated dogs shed, shed, and shed some more, leaving tufts of hair to float about the house and land everywhere. Meticulous housekeepers and folks with little or no time for grooming will be happier with dogs that don't accessorize the living room with dog hair dust bunnies a couple of times a year. Brushing is needed to remove the dead hair from wire-coated terriers and poodles, and professional grooming is necessary to maintain texture and color in wirehaired terriers. These breeds are generally better than heavily shedding breeds for owners with allergies. Dogs with oily outer coats can develop a doggy odor that can be unpleasant, and dogs with short coats may not do well in northern climates.

Need for exercise

Some dogs are calm and others are very energetic. Active families would be happier with a pet that can jog, hike, and play ball. More sedate folks would most likely prefer a quieter animal. Cute as they are, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Corgis are not jogging companions. Airedales, German Shepherds, and Border Collies are not typical couch potatoes.

Collie

Potential health problems

Large and medium breeds are subject to several joint problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia. Many breeds have eye problems, skin diseases, and inherent health problems (such as breathing problems in pugs, bulldogs, and boxers). Dalmatians are susceptible to bladder stones, several breeds carry a bleeding disorder, and Newfoundlands are vulnerable to certain heart defects. Giant breeds tend to have a shorter life span than medium or small-size breeds.

Ease of training

Some breeds are fairly easy to train, and some are quite difficult. The breeds that were designed to work independently of man require more persistence and firmness in training, while those that work closely with their owners are easier to teach. If you lack time and patience to deal with a dog that is difficult to train, then an older dog from a rescue service may fit your bill as well as a pup of a breed that is traditionally easier to train. Intelligence is not necessarily an indicator of trainability; smart dogs often have their own agenda and require firmness on the part of their owners. As a rule, terriers, hounds, and northern dogs are tough to train because of their intelligence and independent natures. Sporting and herding dogs are easier to train. The sharpest-working obedience breeds are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Shetland Sheepdogs. These dogs traditionally work well with humans.

Labrador Retriever

Deciding on a breed of dog is important. A dog is a family member for a dozen or more years; the commitment to feed, shelter, and nurture a member of the family for that amount of time should be based on rigorous analysis of an appropriate breed for the family circumstances.