Is it dangerous to let a dog stick his head out of the car window? See what Dr. Caroline Gilje has to say as she joins host Victoria Babu. Notes: -Be careful when playing sports around pets, particularly baseball. -One strategy is to take the dog's crate to the game and let him watch from inside. -Also, dogs sometimes jump out of car windows. Be careful not to roll windows down too far. -When your dog is in the car, never hold onto his leash or tie it to anything. -A caller's sick cat isn't cleaning himself, and now the cat's hair is matted. Should the caller bathe and condition the cat's fur or just shave it off instead? -A ten-month old puppy only wants to eat adult dog food. Is that okay? -When you go on vacation and leave your cat at home, make sure you have several dishes of water laid out. -A caller's mixed breed dog has long nails. Can he clip them at home? -A caller's adult dog was never potty trained. Can that old dog learn new tricks? -A caller's four-year-old Weimaraner can't get rid of a staph infection. What more can the caller do? -Is separation anxiety causing a caller's Jack Russell to pee on the carpet? -A caller's kitten bites during play. How can the caller change that behavior? -Trivia question: Do dogs and cats have the same gestation period? How long are those periods? -Trivia question answer: yes, cats and dogs do have the same gestation period of nine weeks or sixty-three days.

A caller's cat started using the toilet to do its business. What's up with that? Find out as Dr. Dennis Cloud joins host Victoria Babu in the studio. Notes: -Matching the right pet with the right person is critical. -Don't surprise people with a pet! -www.proplan.com has a good online breed selector -When selecting a pet, be sure to inspect the mother and gauge her personality. Is she calm? Is she nervous? -If a mother is friendly and laid back, it's likely the puppies will be too. -Early socialization with a puppy or kitten is very important. Socialization at an early age sets the pet's personality for life. -A puppy should be seven or eight weeks old when you adopt it. -It's easy to predict the personality of most purebreds – less so with mixed-breeds. -A pet is a lifelong commitment. -Out of the blue, a caller's cat began using the toilet to do his business. What's up with that? -A caller's lab is a super finicky eater. Is that a problem? -Are Labrador Retrievers really prone to obesity? -Trivia question: What species of animal saved a battalion's life in World War One? -Trivia question answer: Carrier pigeon

Learn about food allergies and the canine equivalent of hay fever with Dr. Dennis Cloud of the Cloud Veterinary Center. Notes: -Atopy, the canine equivalent of hay fever, is the number one cause of itching dogs. -Up to 20% of dogs may have Atopy. -Atopy can be seasonal, occurring from early spring until October or November. -Food allergies are another common cause of pet itching. -http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/CanineProductDetail.aspx?prod=4 Purina Veterinary Diets HA Hypoallergenic Brand Canine Formula for the dietary management of dogs with food allergies, is available by prescription from your veterinarian. -Sometimes the only symptom of food allergies is an ear infection. -Another cause is fleabite dermatitis, where animals are allergic to the bite of the flea. This is a complicated condition because just one fleabite can cause the pet to itch for up to two weeks. -Sarcoptic mites, or 'the mange,' can also cause severe scratching and itching. -The mange can also be contagious to people. -Most ear infections are due to an underlying problem. 99% of the time it's an allergy. -Secondary infections can include yeast or bacteria infections. -Dogs these days are living longer, and we're seeing increased cases of canine senility. -How can a caller stop her Springer Spaniel puppy from eating earthworms after rainstorms? -A caller's five-year-old Rottweiler has recurring urinary tract infections. -Trivia question: What famous Missourian said, 'I simply can't resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course'? -Diabetes is increasingly common in cats. Some studies show that one cat out of 200 may become diabetic. -Why is a five-year-old Australian Shepherd clawing into the drywall? -Why is a seven-year-old Border Collie / Australian Shepherd mix scratching after his annual physical and shots? -Why is a caller's thirteen-year-old cat overeating and what can the caller do about it? -Trivia question answer: Mark Twain.

Leptospirosis, a canine disease communicable to people, is no joke. Learn how you can protect your pooch – and yourself – with Dr. Dennis Cloud and host Victoria Babu. Notes: -Leptospirosis is not a new disease, but emerging strains are communicable to people. -In the past, Leptospirosis was common only in rural animals. Increasingly, Dr. Cloud is seeing it in urban and suburban pets. -Raccoons and rodents often spread this new strain of Leptospirosis. -There is a canine vaccination for Leptospirosis. -One of a caller's three cats is urinating outside the litter box. Which one is the culprit? What's causing the problem? -Even after a caller takes her new puppy outside, the puppy poops inside on the couch. What can the caller do? -Will a regular rabies shot be too powerful for a caller's little Chihuahua -Trivia question: How many years do archeologists estimate dogs have been domesticated? (Hint: the range is 5,000 to 30,000 years.) -Trivia question answer: Archeologists estimate that man has domesticated dogs for 14,000 years.

Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – yikes! Dr. Dennis Cloud and host Victoria Babu discuss strategies for keeping your pet safe. Notes: -Mild winters make for more ticks and parasites in the spring -Do irregular-sized pupils on a caller's puppy indicate serious problems? -Tick-born diseases include: * Ehrlichia. Disease was imported from Vietnam. Causes dogs to become anemic. * Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). Symptoms include listlessness, swollen lymph nodes and fever. * Lyme Disease. -Prevention is paramount in tick-born disease. -A caller's dog has stiff legs in the morning. Could it be arthritis? -How can a caller curb his eight-month-old boxer's digging habits? -Can eating mushrooms harm dogs? -A caller's fifteen-year-old, three-legged dog can no longer control its bladder or bowels. Is it time to let it go? -What is the proper age to start training a puppy? -Will fixing a puppy reduce his aggression? -Adult cats up for adoption can make great pets. -Why is a caller's two and a half year old Maltese chewing and scratching around her tail region? Is it fleas or allergies? What can the caller do? -Trivia question: Can humans contract the tick-born disease Ehrlichia? -A caller's dog never goes into wooded areas; should he still use a flea and tick preventative? -A caller's Akita seems to have Epileptic seizures; what should the caller do? -Trivia question answer: Yes

Everyone knows the Irish Setter. But how about Irish Wolfhounds and Soft Coated Wheatons? Learn about these lucky dogs with Dr. Caroline Gilje and host Victoria Babu. Notes: -The Irish Setter is the most common Irish breed. -Dog popularity often goes in cycles due to who wins the Westminster competition and fads. -Mixed breed dogs generally exhibit the best of both breeds because the gene pool is larger. -Irish Setters are hunting dogs. They are very likable, loving, friendly and regal dogs in the field because they run with their head up. -Irish Setters tend to be young at heart and quite active until age three. -How can a caller remedy her English Springer's skin problems? -http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/CanineProductDetail.aspx?prod=4 : Purina Veterinary Diets HA Hypoallergenic Brand Canine Formula for the dietary management of dogs with food allergies, is available by prescription from your veterinarian. -How can a caller keep her dog from biting her hand? -Why is a caller's thirteen-year-old beagle having spells of disorientation? -Why won't a caller's dog "do the doo" in the backyard? -How can a caller stop her dog from licking her forearms? -Trivia question: Barbara Bush's English Springer spaniel was the most popular "First Dog" in history. What was its name? -Other Irish breeds include the Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Terrier, Irish Wolfhounds and Soft Coated Wheaton Terriers. -Trivia question answer: Mille

Is the cloudiness in your pet's eyes a warning sign? Find out as Dr. Caroline Gilje of the Barrett Station Veterinary Clinic joins guest host Annie Wilson. Notes: -Cloudiness in the eye commonly occurs in three places: on the surface of the eye, in between the cornea and the iris (anterior chamber), and on the lens itself. -Many cats and dogs get cloudiness on their lenses as an aging change. -Feline Herpes (different from human herpes) can get in the eye and cause infections. -Cocker Spaniels are known to get Glaucoma. -The most common eye problem Dr. Caroline sees is injury to the cornea. -When bathing your animal, protect their eyes, as soaps can burn pets' corneas. -A caller's English Setter licks and bites himself until he draws blood. What can the caller do? -A caller's Puggle's eyes water constantly. Is this the case with every breed with bulbous eyes? -A caller's female Labrador limps periodically. Could this be a sign of Hip Dysplasia? -A caller's female cat refuses to poop in her litter box. What can the caller do? -Can a caller domesticate eight-month old feral cats? -A caller's eighteen-year-old cat is shedding hair by the handful. What's the deal? -Trivia question: How fast can housecats run? Can they run faster than human sprinters? -Trivia question answer: Thirty-one miles per hour, faster than a human sprinter.

Do dogs and cats suffer from heart attacks? Learn what makes your pet's ticker tick with Dr. Caroline Gilje and host Victoria Babu. Notes: -Chocolate can be deadly to dogs. A little bit of chocolate, though not good for dogs, won't necessarily kill them. But a pound of chocolate could. -There are two types of heart conditions in cats: *With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, the walls of cat's hearts get very thick, so thick that it no longer functions properly *With Dilated Cardiomyopathy, the walls of a cat's heart become very thin, so thin that it no longer functions properly -Dogs or cats do not suffer heart attacks. There is no such thing as heart attack in veterinary medicine. -A caller heard that aspirin could treat her dog's severe arthritis just as well as veterinary-prescribed Rimadyl. Dr. Caroline explains that aspirin is not necessarily a safe alternative to Rimadyl. -Dogs are susceptible to heart valve disease. Symptoms of this include low energy, coughing after exercise and irregular heartbeat. -Feed your cat a complete and balanced diet appropriate for her life stage. Without taurine, an amino acid, cats develop heart disease. -Available by prescription, http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/CanineProductDetail.aspx?prod=5 : Purina Veterinary Diets JM Joint Mobility Canine Formula for the dietary management of dogs with osteoarthritis is available by prescription only from your veterinarian -A caller travels a great deal. Would a new puppy have trouble adjusting to more than one home? -A caller's cat bites when she's petted. What can the caller do? -If a cat squirms too much when you're trying to trim her claws, you can try rolling her up in a towel like a burrito to help keep her still. -Trivia question: Which president was the first to have cats in the White House? -A caller's sixty-pound dog hates taking baths. What can the caller do? -Trivia question answer: Abraham Lincoln

Never use human toothpaste when brushing your pet's teeth! Learn why as Dr. Tony Winkel joins host Victoria Babu in the studio. Notes: -Pets suffer dental problems similar to humans. -February is National Pet Dental Health Month. -Plaque is film that develops on teeth; tartar is the hard substance that sticks to teeth. -Tarter can creep below the gum line and create periodontal disease. -A caller's German Shorthair Pointer has a bad skin condition, with itching, bleeding, etc. What can she do to help? - Warning signs for pet dental disease include: *Bad breath *Loose teeth *A reluctance to eat *Gum bleeding *Fractured or broken teeth *Any teeth with puss around them -Inspect your cat or dog's teeth when they're young and get them accustomed to you touching their mouths. -Purina makes special Dental Diets. -A caller's dog developed an adverse reaction to the "spray bottle" method of training, and now she doesn't want to train at all. What can the caller do? -Citronella collars can help control barking. These collars contain little cylinders of citronella liquid, and barking triggers a spray of the liquid. Citronella is non-toxic, but dogs hate the smell of it. Citronella collars are a humane way of stopping pets' barking. -A caller's five-year-old cat is licking herself bald. What's going on? -A caller's ten-year-old dog has excessive eye drainage. What can she do to help? -Trivia question: In 1997, Jack Nicholson starred in a movie called As Good As It Gets along with a cute little dog. What breed of dog was it? -When brushing pets' teeth, do not use human toothpaste. -Don't rush the tooth brushing process. Start very slowly, in the front, one or two teeth at a time, and eventually, over months, you'll work up to brushing all their teeth with a pet-safe toothbrush and paste. -Trivia question answer: Brussels Griffon

It is possible to give your dog too much exercise? Find out as Dr. Caroline Gilje and Dr. Dennis Cloud discuss pet wellness and answer caller questions. Notes: -What is a wellness exam for pets? -Throughout the nation, pet obesity is on the rise. -A 14-year study by Purina proves that feeding to ideal body condition over a lifetime can help add up to 2 healthy years to a dog's life. -It is possible to give your dog too much exercise. For eight- or nine-year-old dogs, moderation in exercise is important. -A caller's dogs won't go out in the backyard when it's dark out, but they will go out in the front. How can he make them less frightened? -Lenticular Sclerosis is a normal progressive change of the eye lens in older dogs. It appears as a bilateral bluish-grey haziness at the nucleus, or center of the lens. Often confused with cataracts, it does not necessarily point toward loss of vision. -A caller's adult Chihuahua won't go outside to urinate or defecate in the wintertime. What's the problem? What can he do to re-housetrain him? -Cushing's Disease in dogs is the production of too much adrenal hormone, in particular corticosteroids. Cushing's Disease causes increased drinking, increased urination, increased appetite, panting, high blood pressure and hair loss. -Trivia question: A cat can jump how many times its height? -Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transferred from pets to people. -A caller's cat has a black sort of wax insider her ears. Is it ear mites? -A caller's ten-year-old German Shepherd has a black growth on its head. Should he take it in to the vet? -Trivia question answer: A cat can jump seven times her height.

Is your cat bored out of her skull? Learn how to keep her entertained with veterinarian Dr. Tony Winkel and host Victoria Babu. Notes: -Although cats are more solitary animals than dogs, they can still get cabin fever or just plain bored. -Boredom can result in destructive or neurotic behaviors. -Signs of cat boredom can include hair loss or destructive behavior such as chewing plants or knocking things off countertops. -To prevent cat boredom, consider creating places for them to climb. -Cats live in a vertical world, so consider buying or creating a cat tree. -Or buy your cat more toys or catnip. -Alternately, you can buy a special 'cat grass' garden, which is fun for your cat to chew and may also good for her digestion. You can buy 'cat grass' kits online or at pet stores. -Installing shelves on your windowsills is also a good idea. -Cat-specific DVDs featuring fish and butterflies are also effective distractions. -A caller wonders if there's a way you can determine how big a puppy will become by charting their growth rate. -A caller wonders if multiple males can father a single litter of puppies. -A caller's diabetic cat has a strange posture in its hind legs. Is that normal? Is it a warning sign? -A caller's Border Collie likes to lick – hands, face, arms, etc. Is this a sign that she lacks nutrients? -Border collies are considered the most intelligent of all dog breeds, so they need lots of stimulation. -How can a caller prevent her adult dog from urinating indoors? -Dogs can be trained to use dog litter -Trivia question: There are 57 dental schools in the US and 125 human medical schools. How many veterinary schools are there? -How much exercise do a caller's dogs need? -Trivia question answer: There are 28 veterinary schools across the nation. -There are an equal number of applicants to vetinary schools and medical schools, so veterinary schools are much more competitive.

A museum devoted entirely to canine art? You betcha. Get the inside scoop on the AKC's museum with its director, Barbara McNabb, and Dr. Caroline Gilje. Notes: -Located in St. Louis, the http://www.akc.org/affiliates/museum/index.cfm AKC Museum of the Dog is the only one of its kind in the world. -The museum offers one of the country's largest collections of canine art – paintings, portraits, bronzes, photographs and decorative arts. -Are female Norwegian Elkhounds more passive than males? -How can a caller stop his Dachshund from chronic whining? -A caller's Golden Retriever is ten years old. Is it time to switch to senior dog food? -http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/CanineProductDetail.aspx?prod=5 Purina Veterinary Diets JM Joint Mobility Canine Formula for the dietary management of dogs with osteoarthritis is available by prescription only from your veterinarian. -The way to gently transition dogs to new foods is:*First three days: One quarter new food, three quarter old food *Next three days: Half and half *Final three days: Three quarters new food, one quarter old food -A caller's Labrador/Chow Chow mix's ear canals are swollen with blood. How can she bring the moisture out of the ears and make sure they're clean? -How can a caller stop one of her cats from playing rough with the other? -Also, how can the caller stop her cat from scratching doorframes? -Trivia question: How many works of art are on display at the AKC Museum of the Dog? -How did Pie-Bald Dachshunds grow so different in appearance from other Dachshunds? -Trivia question answer: 511

Dr. Caroline Gilje returns to the studio with host Meme Wolff to discuss purebreed rescue groups, tick control, and healthcare tips that you won’t want to miss. Notes: -Urinary tract infection causes, symptoms, and treatment -How to collect urine samples from pets -The best way to de-worm animals -Trivia question: What breed of dog was Balto the wonder dog, the most famous of the dogs that were responsible for getting medicine to a location in 1925 that wiped out a diphtheria epidemic? (Answer: Siberian Husky) -A look at Ehrlichiosis, the Lymes disease of the Midwest -Methods of tick control -Purebred rescue groups -Why rescued animals make great pets

Why do cats purr? And just how sensitive are their whiskers? Plus, what do pet behavioral specialists really do? Learn this and more with Dr. Tony Winkel and Meme Wolff. Notes: -Theories about cats and purring -The physiology of purring -A caller's cat has its teeth cleaned and now cannot walk straight. What should the caller do? -When is it worth it to extend a pet's life with medical procedures? -A detailed look at cat whiskers -How to get rid of bad dog breath -What do pet behavioral specialists really do? -Trivia question: What breed won best of show at this year's Westminster Dog Show? (Answer: German Shorthaired Pointer)

What are the best gifts to give to pets? How can you keep your dog in top shape? Find out in this episode of Animal Advice featuring Dr. Tony Winkel and host Meme Wolff. Notes: -Heart problems in pets -How to keep hunting dogs in shape during the off-season -Trivia question: Which breed won last year's Westminster Kennel Club show? (Answer: Newfoundland) -How to detect and get rid of the heartworm parasite -Medication options for hip dysphasia -Aspirin for dogs -A Shih Tzu has benign lumps – should the owner have them removed anyway? -What are the best gifts to give to pets?

Join Dr. Caroline Gilje, Meme Wolff, and animal trainer Susan Schultz as they analyze Dr. Caroline's dog Bodo who suffers from separation anxiety. Notes: -Why does Dr. Caroline's dog Bodo suffer from separation anxiety? -How to prevent aggressive dogs from biting -How to stop a Boston Terrier's chronic licking -The "leave it" command -Does a Yorkie with bad teeth suffer from vitamin deficiency? -How to wash an animal's ears properly -Dry eyes and corneal ulcers -Hypothyroidism, a medical condition that can cause chronic hair loss -Obedience refresher training

Is there really such a thing as doggy litter? Plus, what do dogs do all day while their owners are at work? Find out with host Meme Wolff and Dr. Tony Winkel. Notes: -How to buy and administer Glucosamine, a supplement for arthritic pets -Scottish Terrier overview -Pet insurance options -How to prevent pets from eating their own stool -Motivating lap dogs to get out and get active -What dogs do all day while their owners are at work -Preventing ear infections -Food allergy problems in pets -Dog litter - http://www.doglitter.com -Preventing obsessive behavior in pets -Is caffeine bad for dogs? -How long does the average cat live?

Join Meme Wolff, Dr. Caroline Gilje, and guest Dr. Helen Kamp for an in depth look at microchip identification and how to prevent dogs from jumping backyard fences. Notes: -The difference between the humane society and county animal control -The value of microchipping pets -Cushing Disease for dogs, which is when the adrenal gland works overtime -Using Glucosamine to strengthen cartilage around joints -Heartworm prevention -Standards for animal microchipping -Animal seizures and epilepsy -How to prevent animals from licking injuries -Rabies control -How to prevent dogs from jumping the backyard fence

Tune in as Dr. Caroline Gilje, Meme Wolff, and special guest Dr. Mary Jean Gorse answer caller questions on animal surgery, reproduction, and pet health insurance. Notes: -Corrective surgery for hip dysphasia – options and costs -How to select dogs with reduced likelihood of hip dysphasia -Health insurance for pets -Developments in animal surgery -Finding good animal breeders -American Brittany rescue, http://americanbrittanyrescue.org -Animal reproduction – do single fertilized eggs split, or are multiple eggs fertilized? -Cat hair loss – causes and solutions -Flea preparations -Will spaying a Siberian Husky keep it from wandering? -Physical therapy for animals

Which breed is right for your family? What basic pet first aid should you know? Find out in this episode of Animal Advice with Dr. Caroline Gilje and host Meme Wolff. Notes: -Selecting the breed that is right for your family -Finding a good veterinarian -The best place to purchase or adopt a pet -Visiting the vet on an annual basis -Basic first aid for pets -Buying medications for pets -Choosing the right food for pets of all ages -Establishing proper feeding schedules -Is your animal overweight? -Pet identification – tattoos versus microchips -Kitty litter logistics -The importance of spaying and neutering pets -Protecting pets from poisons in the home