Why should I have a pet, anyway?

People own pets for different reasons.  Some people have working pets. Dogs, which help herd livestock, aid in apprehending criminals or detecting drugs. Still others keep pets for recreational purposes, such as pointing and retrieving game. But for most of us, pets are simply family members. Having pets is like having children; they never clean up after themselves, they are hard on the furniture and they never get good jobs and send money back home! And, just like children, they are completely dependent on us for the food they eat. Why then, do so many people insist on buying the cheapest pet foods for their pets? There are so many people- you know who you are- who plan balanced and nutritious meals for their families, and turn around and feed their pet a food which is only slightly more nourishing than the sack it comes in. Here are a few things to keep in mind when buying pet foods. First, you get what you pay for. If fifty pounds of Dog Food X costs only one-fourth as much as fifty pounds of Dog Food A, it’s not because Company X is run by a dog-loving philanthropist. It’s because that company uses lower-quality ingredients in its food. The second thing to keep in mind is that if the label states “20% Protein,” it does not mean that that protein is digestible and usable to the pet! Horsehair is high in protein, but I would not feed it to my cat. Likewise, straw is a carbohydrate, but unless you are a cow, there is little point in eating it.

     Good nutrition is critical to good health. This is true for people and for pets alike. A little extra money spent on food for your pet will pay off in fewer visits to the vet for health problems. And besides, don’t your four-legged kids deserve it?      

Ask Dr. Connie

Dr. Connie: Our 8-month-old Labrador Retriever is driving us crazy! He is destroying our yard and home. He has chewed up trees, dug holes all over our yard, and is eating our furniture. How can I teach him  that this is wrong?

First, let me emphasize that your dog is not doing anything wrong. He is doing things that are perfectly normal for a dog! Like most dogs, your puppy probably spends a great deal of time alone. While you have your work, school or other activities outside the home to keep you busy, your puppy must find ways to keep himself occupied. He can only sleep for so long, you know! He can’t read those books on your shelf, but he can have a lot of fun chewing on them.

     Your puppy must have alternatives to destroying your property, and it is up to you to provide them for him. There are a number of things that you can do to help alleviate his boredom. The most important is to be sure that he is getting plenty of exercise. So many problem behaviors in dogs can be prevented by the proper amount of exercise! By this, I don’t mean tossing a ball for him for a few minutes every day. He needs sustained sessions of running and playing each day. If you don’t jog, you and your dog will both benefit from this activity. You can teach him to play Frisbee, or some other rigorous activity.

     You must also provide your puppy toys that will keep his attention, or he will end up playing with your new shoes. There are plenty of good toys for dogs. Toys that you can hide food in will keep your dog entertained for quite awhile. Your vet can probably recommend some of the best toys.

     I also recommend taking your dog to a good obedience class. This will not only give your dog some basic manners, but it will give him and you a great opportunity to work together. A good trainer will be able to guide you in the specifics of changing undesirable behaviors in your pet. Training is a great way to spend quality time with your puppy. You’ll both benefit from it, I promise!

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