Tag Archives: licking

Help For Hairballs

From time to time, your cat may share the joy of a hairball with you. Hairballs form from loose hair that gets swallowed. Cats are conscientious groomers, and are constantly dislodging fur from their coats. It’s only natural to swallow a few hairs! Over time, all that loose hair collects into a hairball, and is regurgitated. An occasional hairball is perfectly normal. In fact, once the hairball is out, the problem is pretty much solved! However, if your cat is presenting you with frequent hairballs, she may need a little help in eliminating hair buildup and preventing future problems. A … Continue reading →

Why Does My Dog Chew His Legs?

In my house, we start the day with a vigorous leg-chewing session. Excessive chewing can be a sign of skin allergies, or a reaction to insect bites. Keeping your dog on a monthly flea and tick medication like Frontline can help reduce bite problems! If your dog has other allergies (seasonal or food), the paws may be the first place they start to itch. If your dog is chewing himself nonstop — especially if he has chewed his skin open — call your vet and schedule an appointment. A cortisone shot may give him the relief he needs! Your dog … Continue reading →

Instinct vs. Medicine

My brother’s dog Kuma, a pit bull/lab/boxer sort of mix, had surgery on Tuesday to remove what the vet believes is a skin tag from her shoulder. Apparently labs and lab mixes are prone to getting random fatty lumps on their bodies. The folks at the vet are going to biopsy the lump, which must have been pretty big — Kuma came home with five stitches in her shoulder. She also came with a hip new fashion accessory — the Elizabethan collar, or as I like to call it, the conehead. Kuma has been sentenced to wear the conehead for … Continue reading →

Why Do Dogs Lick?

This morning, before the alarm went off, I was awakened by Mister Moose licking my feet. He’s big on foot licking. Actually, he’s just big on licking in general. So why do dogs like to lick? It’s a behavior they pick up from birth! The mother dog will lick the puppies clean (partly to get nutrients from the placenta), and the puppies will lick each other. Part of this is grooming, and part of this is bonding. As the puppies are weaned, they may start licking at their mother’s mouth to request food. In the wild, puppies eat regurgitated food … Continue reading →