Every other week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Rebecca Daniels. Question: What causes people to be allergic to cats, and is it more of a problem than with dogs?  Answer: Sorry cat lovers — about 20 percent of the population has pet allergies, and cats are the worst offenders. In fact, cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. As I explained in an Ask the Vet column a few weeks ago, there is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion about…

Every other week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question is from Deanna Dickson. Question: What can be done to reduce the number of allergens on a dog and in a house? Answer: There are many things you can do to both your dog and living space that help reduce allergens. In fact, I would recommend these techniques for anyone that owns a “furry” animal, whether they have pet allergies or not. It is healthier for pet owners to live in a house with less allergen–filled …

Every other week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Cynthia Shipman. Question: Which dog breeds are best for people with pet allergies? Answer: As we discussed in the last Ask the Vet article, there is no dog breed that is truly non-allergenic. There are some dogs that are considered to be hypoallergenic (meaning less allergenic), and/or low-shedding or low-dander. Adding a dog to your family is a major decision and commitment, and it is important to…

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Bonnie Wright. Question: Is it really necessary to vaccinate an indoor-only cat? If so, why? Answer: There is not a simple answer to this question! Based on my years of experience in treating and owning cats, and the ongoing research about vaccines and feline immune system, I do think it is necessary to vaccinate indoor-only cats. However, it is very important to consult with your veterinarian to determine…

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Sarah Ronquillio of Affton. Question: What can I do to help my dog cope with the fear of thunderstorms? Answer: This is a very timely question since spring begins the season when many dogs experience “thunderstorm phobia.” It can be confusing to figure out what part of a storm frightens our canine friends the most. Are they reacting to lightning flashes, the sound of thunder, gusting wind or rain hitting …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Rob Sawyer of Webster Groves. Question: If you lose a pet in the St. Louis area, what steps should you take to try and find him/her?  Answer: Needless to say, it is very stressful to lose a pet. In the past, the loss was made worse by confusion over where and how to search for missing animals. Pet owners had to navigate through a maze of different groups, agencies and websites. Thankfully, it has become …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Linda and Steve Smith. Question: Our indoor cat is still obsessed with going outside even though we provide lots of indoor stimulation. We realize it is probably too dangerous to let him go out. Is there anything we can do to satisfy our cat's desire to go outside? Answer: Some cats are preoccupied with the outdoors even when they have abundant indoor enrichment. It is often worse with male cats or those …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Joe Turner. Question: Is it bad for an indoor cat to occasionally roam outdoors?   Answer: As I stated in last week’s Ask the Vet article, it is best to keep our pet cats indoors and prevent them from roaming around outside if at all possible. Some pet owners believe that cats are happier if allowed to go outdoors and they “deserve” complete freedom. Even if cats do enjoy being outside, the dangers far …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Patty Walker. Question: It seems like indoor cats have a lot more behavioral issues than cats that are allowed to go outside. Do you think it is possible to have an exclusively indoor cat that is happy and well adjusted? Answer: Yes, it is possible for an indoor-only cat to be happy and well adjusted. However, “environmental enrichment” is necessary to ensure the kitty is stimulated both mentally and …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Sharon Evanston. Question: Why does my cat urinate outside of the litter box? Answer: Inappropriate urination, or house soiling, is a common problem in cats that can be very challenging to analyze and correct. Sadly, it is the main reason that countless pet cats are given away, abandoned or euthanized. Many house-soiling issues are behavioral in nature, but others have a medical cause. The earlier you …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Corey (Sweeney) Engmann. Question: As awful as this sounds, I have caught our dog eating her own feces in the backyard. Why is she doing this and is it harmful? Answer: Although it is somewhat unpleasant to talk about, many pet owners have experienced coprophagia (the medical term for “eating feces”) with their dogs. Not only do dogs eat their own stools, but they often like the feces of cats, birds…

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Dana Walker. Question: Should I find another home for my cat because of the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis while pregnant? Answer: I am frequently asked about this parasitic disease that can cause miscarriage and birth defects when passed from a mother to her unborn child. Although you can catch toxoplasmosis from cat feces, the chances are extremely rare. You don’t need to find another home for your …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Karen Schmidt. Question: We have a new dog and were wondering if crate training is a good idea? We have never used a crate with our other dogs, but the rescue group where we adopted our new dog highly recommends them.  Answer: I highly recommend crate training to all of my clients, whether they are getting a puppy or an older dog. I have personally used crate training for every one of my own dogs (and …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Corey (Sweeney) Engmann. Question: My dog's breath smells awful, but it is almost impossible to brush his teeth. What are other options to improve his dental hygiene? Answer: National Pet Dental Health Month is coming up in February, so this question came in at a good time! As Ms. Engmann realizes, it is very important to practice good dental hygiene with our pets to avoid oral disease and its …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Julia Watson. Question: What are the most dangerous household hazards for cats? Answer: Our homes are full of possible "hazards" to our feline friends, some more obvious than others. Because of their curious and playful nature, cats can get into all kinds of unexpected mischief. Unfortunately, the old saying “curiosity kills the cat” is often true! Pet owners should take the time to “cat proof” …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. Last week, reader Lou Cimo asked what kind of sweet treats are harmful to dogs. That topic prompted reader Ethan Andrews to ask this week's question. Question: What other "people" foods are dangerous for dogs?  Answer: There are quite a few “people” foods that can be dangerous for dogs. Even though a certain food might be healthy for a human, it does not mean it will be good for their dog! Be sure and check with your veterinarian or an …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Lou Cimo. Question: I have heard that chocolate is harmful to dogs. Is it just chocolate or are all sweets harmful?  Answer: This is a good question as we head into a holiday week! Because chocolate and other sweet treats are more prevalent during this time of year, pet owners need to be extra careful. Dogs require more supervision than other pets; they sometimes develop a “sweet tooth” and are good…

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Lou Cimo. Question: Is Christmas a good time to get or give a new pet?  Answer: People often assume that the holidays are a terrible time to get a new pet—especially a “high maintenance” choice like a puppy. They worry about busy schedules, winter weather, travel plans, hazardous decorations, dangerous foods and general chaos.  While these issues might be a problem for some, the holidays can often …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. Last week, reader Terri Sue Thompson asked if it was safe to use peroxide and Neosporin on pets for minor scratches. That spurred this week's question from reader Bettie Woodside. Question: Can you give a dog or cat pain medication like Ibuprofen, aspirin or Acetaminophen?  Answer: Last week I answered a question about over-the-counter (OTC) ”human” drugs and remedies that are safe to use on a pet’s skin. Because this week’s question …

Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Mary Anne McCarthy. Question: How do I stop my 3-year-old cocker spaniel from growling over her food and toys? Answer: Unfortunately, growling over food, toys, rawhides, bedding and other “resources” is a common problem among family dogs. This type of behavior is known as “resource guarding” and usually becomes worse if not addressed. It is important for the owner to develop a plan of action before …