FROM THE DOCTOR

Dr. Mike Paul, DVM

Dog Diet & Nutrition

At first blush, you might expect that no dog would be a picky eater. Your stereotypical canine readily wolfs down food (even  that phrase implies that canines have a ferocious appetite). Some dogs  will go after anything even vaguely resembling food and, much to our  frequent chagrin, plenty of things that do not– shoes, socks, branches  and rocks. So seriously how picky could they be? Well you might be  surprised to learn that not all dogs are so quick to eat whatever is put  in front of them. 

How have ancestral eating habits changed?

First, regarding the ‘wolfing down’ aspect of how some dogs approach eating, proposed by the Journal of Nutrition’s website, their preference, as a species, for larger, infrequent meals likely goes back to the competitive feeding behavior of  early of wolves that were their ancestors. It certainly doesn’t take a  PhD in animal behavior to appreciate how eating as much as you could  get, as quickly as possible, would be essential in that situation. You  only have to have had a few brothers and sisters at your own dinner  table to understand. 

In spite of that,  however, modern dogs apparently do have some innate taste preferences.  As far back as the 1981, research indicated that dogs showed a strong  taste preference for meats and sugar1. They preferred a diet containing sugar to one that does not, and they actually preferred water with sugar added to water without1. The same research, authored by Katherine Houpt and Sharon Smith,  also showed that dogs preferred canned meat to fresh meat, cooked meet  to raw meat and have a preference for canned or semi-moist diets over  dry kibble. Furthermore, the sense of smell is very important to dogs  in determining their food preferences – though apparently not so much  when choosing between meat and non-meat options, but more so when  discriminating between different meat choices1. 

Does your dog only want people food?
Knowing  that dogs do have specific taste preferences, it probably comes as  little surprise that your dog often begs for people food. How can you  curb this behavior? Well, some of that is training. If you’ve shared  with him in the past, then he knows human food is an option. But there  could be even more to it, too. More recent research (2006) has  determined that “dogs acquire food preferences from interacting with  recently fed conspecifics2.”  What does this mean? Basically dogs prefer food they have smelled on  other dog’s breath prior to being fed themselves. Knowing this, I think  your dog may develop food preferences based on what you eat— making him  even more inclined to want what you are eating.

So what do you do if your dog is a picky eater?
First and foremost, don’t feed your dog whatever he asks for, this will lead to obesity and  any number of associated issues. When you get a puppy, raise him to eat  his food, not yours, on his own schedule, not when you are eating, and  certainly not off of your dinner table. Pick up his food in between  feedings, even if he doesn’t finish it in a reasonable (say 15-20  minute) period of time. And be firm about the rules, provided that he  appears happy, healthy and at a good weight. Remember that we should be  feeding our dogs high quality, readily digestible diets that rarely require the volume intake that we might think they must need to be eating. Use your veterinarian, not a measuring cup as your guide to what is an appropriate amount.

When could picky eating be a medical problem?
If your dog has been eating well and then becomes picky, especially if he is losing weight or looking unkempt, do not brush it off. Visit your veterinarian immediately to look for a reason. Anything from a bad/spoiled bag of food, to dental disease,  to neck pain to other serious medical problems could be the cause.  Before you decide to stubbornly stand firm and wait for him to start  eating right again, consult your veterinarian.

If  you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call  your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health  and well-being of your pets.

Source: PetHealth Network Brought to you by  IDEXX
 

Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC, 

Lifestyle Contributor and Pet Behavior Expert

Cat Behavior

Does  your feline companion lick you, and are you wondering why? Particularly  since a cat’s tongue can feel a bit rough, it’s a behavior that’s hard  to ignore! In general, there are two major reasons a cat will lick human  family members:

Some cats lick for social affiliation and affection
If you have more than one cat, or have observed cats together,  you’ll notice that cats will lick other cats in their social group.  Known as “allogrooming,” many species of animals will lick and groom  each other to strengthen their social bonds. It also helps to reduce  conflict within the group1.  Since cats live with you, as part of your social group, it’s natural  for them to engage in allogrooming to demonstrate affiliative behavior.  If your cats are generally healthy and behaving normally, licking is a  positive indicator that they like you and want to be closer.

Cats  will also lick people if they find the taste enjoyable. The natural  ingredients found in human perspiration can be appetizing for some cats.  Cats can also be attracted to items you put on your skin,  such as medical ointments and skin lotion. This can actually be a  concern if you use certain topical hormone-treatments which lead to  negative hormonal changes in cats and dogs2. According to the pet poison helpline, topical medications that  are toxic to cats include corticosteroids, Calcipotriene for the  treatment of psoriasis and creams containing zinc (i.e diaper rash  creams). If you regularly use a topical medication, consult with your veterinarian to make sure there is no risk to your pets.
 

Some cats lick to alleviate anxiety

Some cats will lick humans because they feel anxious and/or fearful. Licking their humans is a way to calm themselves3,  somewhat like how humans will chew their nails when they feel anxious.  This behavior is also observed in cats that were too young to be taken  away from their mothers. These cats develop an oral fixation, which is a  condition that can also be found in human babies. If you have a cat  that is excessively licking you, and is showing fearful or stressed behavior,  contact a feline behavior professional. Katenna Jones, Associated  Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, says, “Often the behaviors I’m  called for are actually symptoms of an underlying issue. In this case,  if I determine stress is the issue, licking is the symptom – not the  issue. I would focus more on the sources of stress and on implementing a  stress reduction program. By observing and measuring the frequency of  licking, the consultant and client can determine the success of the  program.”  

What if my cat is licking too much?
Many  people find their cats licking unpleasant eventually, as a cat’s tongue  can feel very rough on skin. There’s actually a biological reason for  this. A cat’s tongue effectively serves as a brush to remove loose hair,  mats, dirt and fleas. Small spines made of keratin called papillae are  spread out on the surface of a cat’s tongue in a backwards direction.  These spines act as the equivalent of a hair brush or comb for a person4. It’s  no wonder that excessive licking from a friendly cat can become  annoying and uncomfortable. If your cat is not stressed and is simply  licking you out of affection, you can reduce the behavior with some  positive redirection.  

To  deter a cat from this behavior, find some things that your cat really  enjoys and do those instead to distract him from licking. For example: 

• Pull  out a brush and groom your cat and include some gentle massage. Most  cats find this very pleasurable and it’s hard for them to lick and be  pampered at the same time.
• Engage  your cat with some toys. Keep a toy handy wherever you like to sit, or  lie in bed, and when your cat starts to lick, pull the toy out and  encourage your cat to play. “Fish pole” type wand toys are great for  this as you can swish it around and really get your cat going.
• Make  sure your cat has other opportunities for mental and physical  enrichment, even when you’re not cuddling. Cat trees, window perches,  food-stuffed puzzle toys and small cat toys are all excellent options.  If you enjoy training, you can also engage your cat in some clicker  training to learn simple tricks.
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Hopefully,  if you find your cat licking you, it’s a sign of affection and you can  take these simple steps to alleviate the behavior and spend enjoyable  time with your feline friend. If you find your cat licking you  excessively out of the blue, or the licking is combined with nervous,  fearful body language and behavior, consult your veterinarian and a  qualified behavior professional to help you improve your cat’s quality  of life. If you’re looking for a vet, the American Association of Feline  Practitioners list veterinarians who specialize in cats with “Cat  Friendly Practices®.” For behavior help, visit the American College of  Veterinary Behaviorists (www.dacvb.org/), the Animal Behavior Society (www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/), and the IAABC (https://iaabc.org) to find a professional near you who specializes in feline behavior.  If  you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call  your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and  well-being of your pets. 

Source: PetHealth Network Brought to you by  IDEXX