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Q. My 2 year old + (we don't really know her age) pug/border collie mix, often will lick my nose or chin, and then I feel her nibbling. I'm assuming these are "love bites," but figured I'd ask an expert. Is this just my dog playing? A sign of respect? A sign of dominance?
A. Licking is used by mother dogs to care for their pups, and also for puppies to ask adult dogs for food. So it’s not unusual that she would lick you in this context, but I would try to stop her before it progresses to a nibble. She probably is just having fun and doesn’t have any ulterior motives, but you would not want her to accidentally nibble a stranger, particularly a child. (Many behaviorists for this reason recommend never letting a dog lick your face.) Don’t feel bad about setting a limit with her. You should be able to nip the nibbling in the bud by simply ending the interaction with a firm “no bites” if she persists.
Q. I was hoping you might be able to help me or answer a few questions. I have a 4 month old ragdoll kitten that is getting his routine vaccinations. I have 2 other indoor cats who have been vaccinated (including FIP) as kittens…they are 1 ½ & 2 ½ years old. I am curious about the FIP vaccine. Do you think it would be wise or necessary to vaccinate my kitten? They all share the same litter box & share food bowls. However, they never go outside or have had any sickness…occasional vomiting only (I believe from eating too much too fast). I feel as if I do not want my kitten to have the vaccine because of all the controversy, but I just don’t know. Could my other cats be carriers, how likely is it for any of them to develop the disease? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time any help you can offer.
A. I would not recommend the FIP vaccine for any of your cats. It’s effectiveness has simply not been proven. Your adult cats are at very low risk for contracting the disease, as most clinical disease occurs in kittens. I cannot say whether they are carrying the virus – it depends on their exposure as kittens. If they are carrying the virus, however, the chance of developing clinical disease as an adult is very small.
Your kitten’s greatest risk of exposure to the virus was at the breeder’s. Since the vaccine cannot be used before 4 months, breeders cannot use it for those most at risk. Hopefully the breeder maintained good hygeine and veterinary care of her cats, as we know that purebred cats are more likely to carry the viruses that cause FIP. Since your kitten has already entered your household, if your adult cats were carrying the virus, he will have already been exposed. But remember, only a very small percentage of cats exposed to the virus develop FIP. The vaccine has no effect on that outcome.
For more detailed information you can read my previous column on FIP at
http://www.eastbayspca.org/vetservices/PV072206.cfm
Q. 7 year old cat is losing all hair on belly, otherwise seems fine. All I see is pink belly and its seems to be getting bigger....he's an indoor cat.
A. You should definitely have your cat checked by a veterinarian for his hair loss. It could be a simple matter of allergies, which can be helped by medication. It could also be an indicator of a more serious problem, such as an thyroid disease or an endocrine problem.
If you do not have a veterinarian, you can schedule an exam at our Oakland clinic by calling 510-569-1606.
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