Season 2, Show #2 – Boredom and separation anxiety

Dr. Tony Winkel, veterinarian extraordinaire, joins host Victoria Babu in the studio to discuss separation anxiety and boredom in pets and answer caller questions.

• 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.