Ask Ashley: Great Plains SPCA

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In November, we rescued Zelda, our golden retriever/husky mix. She's roughly two years old. Zelda's biggest issue is harassing our nine- and ten-year-old cats in an attempt to play. She is never aggressive, but this consistent behavior overwhelms the cats. We have tried redirecting Zelda, giving the cats more "safe" spaces, putting up a gate, etc. but nothing seems to hinder her persistent desire to play with them. The cats will hiss and swat at her, but she only takes this as another "fun" cue that they want to play. Any advice? - Joy

You are doing a good job by working on redirection and giving your cats plenty of safe places and breaks from Zelda. I recommend working on recall training and getting a high response for the commands “sit” and “lay down” so that you can use them when she’s being overly playful with the cats. Having a strong recall will help in these instances so she will come back to you when she’s being inappropriate with the cats. You can also teach Zelda “stay” and have her stay and watch the cats without interacting. With consistency and time, it will get better if done appropriately.  – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

How can you tell if your dog has Alzheimer’s? My dog is getting older and seems to be displaying some odd behaviors and not remembering where she is or how she got there. She will also stand and stare at the wall for a long time. It’s a little weird. – Max

Yes, dogs can get dementia. It’s called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), and it is not curable. However, the symptoms can be treated. If you think your dog may have “doggy dementia,” I recommend visiting your veterinarian to learn more since it affects memory, learning, and comprehension. Some symptoms of CDS are anxiety, failing to remember routines, slowness in learning new things, staring blankly at walls or nothing, lethargy, lack of self-grooming, not responding when called, and aimless wandering. Early detection can help with symptom treatment so please get your pet checked out by your veterinarian soon. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I found a stray cat about six months ago and she is a little thin in my opinion. I noticed she seems more petite than other cats in my neighborhood. I leave food out for her and give her treats frequently. She eats less than the recommended amount of food suggested on the bag, but she doesn’t seem to be going hungry or anything. She seems quite content and happy. Please help this first-time cat owner. – Evelyn

Like humans, some cats are naturally thin and may not want to eat as much as others. If she is content and able to eat whenever she wants, I would not be too concerned. However, if you feel she is underweight or you can easily see her ribs, I recommend visiting a veterinarian so they can check her body index score and treat her if necessary. They can prescribe food that can help cats get to a healthy weight if needed. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

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Featured Pet – Destiny

Hi, I'm Destiny, and I'm a friendly and social young lady who likes attention and affection. One of my very best attributes is my skill at walking on leash. When we walk, if you stop, I stop. I'm a very good girl. I am also smart and talented. I know "come", "sit", and "down". I love to play with toys, and the plush ones are my favorites -- I like to shake them all about. When I play, I can get enthusiastic, so I'm learning how to play and then calm down if I'm overexcited. Hey, everybody has something to work on, right? I had a meet-and-greet just the other day, and while I was nervous, I showed everyone how much I love laps and just how very sweet I am!

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered here in KC Parent magazine.

Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501(c)(3) no-kill shelter serving approximately 6,000 animals annually in the Johnson County community. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities with which we are contracted including Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Shawnee, Lake Quivira, Johnson County Parks and Recreation, and unincorporated Johnson County.

Great Plains SPCA

5424 Antioch Drive Merriam, KS 66202

(913) 831-7722(SPCA)

https://www.greatplainsspca.org