Q. I have two 1-1/2 year old toy poodles that eat anything. Lately, the delicacy of choice has been crickets. I have noticed that they are now throwing up a yellow froth several times a day and seem to be trying to get rid of something stuck in their throats.

I have heard that the coughing and spitting up may be due to a worm that comes from the cricket that hatches in the throat. Is this true? If so, what treatment should I seek or is it self-correcting? They currently receive monthly HeartGard Plus, to kill heartworms.

A. Although rare, there is a worm called Physaloptera that dogs can get from eating crickets. The cricket is a host for the Physaloptera larva, which develops into a worm in the dog's stomach several months later. The worm attaches itself to the stomach lining and may cause vomiting or anorexia. Their eggs can be difficult to detect in a fecal sample. Several dewormers can be given by your veterinarian that may be effective against Physaloptera. Heartgard Plus would not necessarily be effective, particularly if they are continuing to eat the crickets and they re-infect themselves.

However, eating crickets (or any insect for that matter) can cause vomiting by simply irritating the throat or stomach. A gagging cough in both your dogs could also be a sign of kennel cough. Your veterinarian should be able to help you determine the cause of the vomiting and coughing.

After seeing your veterinarian, your best bet is to keep your dogs from eating crickets. If you call a pest controller, make sure they use a product that is safe for your dogs.

Q. We have a four-month-old male Chihuahua and have noticed that one of his testicles hasn’t “dropped.” What kind surgery does he need to go through and how much can we expect to pay?

A. The condition you describe is called cryptorchidism. We recommend dogs with undescended testicles be neutered as they are more prone to cancer as they get older. The neuter surgery requires a little bit longer time than a regular neuter. At East Bay SPCA clinics, we charge an extra $40-$80 (in addition to our $100 neutering fee), depending on how long it takes to remove the undescended testicle. You would need to check with your veterinarian for his or her rates for cryptorchidism surgery.

Q. My dog pulls constantly when we try to walk him. The choke chain we bought doesn't help at all. Do you recommend getting a pinch collar? He weighs almost 90 pounds, but we want to be able to walk him.

A. The problem with choke chains and pinch collars is that they are very difficult to use correctly. The idea behind a choke chain is to have the collar loose, and leave slack in the leash while walking. When the dog starts to pull, the chain collar becomes smaller and smaller, if you have put it on correctly. Eventually, it tightens to the point of hurting and the dog is forced to stop. A dog who is going to respond to a chain collar will quickly learn to stop as soon as he hears the links running through the ring. If the collar has to be pulled constantly, then it's not working for that dog. One possibility is that you have put it on incorrectly. It may be too small for the dog. And then there are the dogs that just don't get it, who will pull and pull until the point of choking and gagging, causing people to stop and stare at you!

Prong or pinch collars operate on the same principle of negative reinforcement. Pulling by the dog causes the collar to tighten, which is uncomfortable due to the prongs, so the dog stops. These come in many sizes and weights and will not work unless the correct size is used. While many dogs respond to these collars, dogs with thick coats may not. They can cause injury if used improperly. Most people don't like the look of prong collars.

At our shelters, we often use a head collar called the Gentle Leader. It goes around the dog's muzzle just under the eyes and also buckles around the dog's neck. When the dog pulls, pressure on the muzzle brings the head down toward the neck and stops the dog very effectively. A similar device called a hackamore is used for training horses. The dog can bark, drink, and even pant with a Gentle Leader on. They are widely available at pet stores and usually work very well for big, headstrong dogs. A Sensible Harness, which fits around the dog’s shoulders and chest, and contracts when he pulls, is also an option.

Whatever type of collar or harness you use, try to pair it with positive reinforcement. Remember, at walk time he only has one thing on his mind and that is to see what's going on outside. Positive reinforcement works like this: when the dog pulls, you stop walking. Eventually the dog takes a step back toward you, you praise the dog for not pulling, and start walking again. In time, he will learn that this is the only way he's going to get on with the walk, and outings will be much more enjoyable for both of you.