Puppies, pocket pets and more

Dear Dr. Forsythe: Will my older dog get freaked out when my new puppy comes?  I have a 12-year-old lab but my girlfriend got us a new puppy and the puppy is arriving in a few days from the east coast.  She is an eight-week-old golden retriever female.  I hope they will get along because I would never want to do anything to upset Jake.  Are we making a mistake getting the puppy? Sign me – “Love” Jake

Dear “Love”: Not only do I NOT think it is a bad idea to get a puppy, it may be a really good idea.  It is as natural as mom’s apple pie to have more than one pet in the house.  If you make sure to include proper puppy training, and make sure to have crate training at hand, there is no reason why Jake shouldn’t benefit from a new puppy in the house. As long as you show Jake some consideration, and don’t allow a new puppy to “overchew” on him during play time, I believe that a happy and fun relationship between the dogs will very likely be able to develop.  This relationship will most likely be reciprocal: the new little puppy will benefit from an older, wiser lab to teach him boundaries and “show him the ropes.”  The puppy will be a fun play friend and keep things happy and curious around the house.  In my opinion, it is a win-win situation.  Good luck with the golden lab synergy!! – Dr. F

Dear Dr. Forsythe: Which small pet do you recommend for my daughter?  We are ready to get her a little animal that can live in her room with her, and we were at a pet store the other day and saw rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and even a chinchilla.  What would be a good starter pet?  Also, is it better to get one or two?  Do caged animals do better in pairs? – Allison’s parents

Dear Allison’s parents: I really like many of the small “pocket pets” that are available today and can be kept in fairly small spaces in a child’s bedroom.  It all depends on what type of pet Allison thinks she would bond with and have fun caring for.  I personally admire hooded rats, the brown and white ones.  They are smart and sweet and make excellent pets.  Another interesting and exciting pet for children are snakes.  Many kids love to care for pretty and friendly corn snakes.  They are easy to keep, interesting, relatively clean and hassle free. However, if someone in the family has an aversion to snakes, you could turn to one of other easy to keep rodents such as hamsters or gerbils.  They can also be fun, but I’ve found that children tend to become bored more quickly from these pets than some of the others.  A rabbit may also be another good pet to consider.  I have several clients who are very close to their bunny rabbits.  One, in particular, named Elliot, is cherished by his people like a God. I have to admit, watching him wriggle his nose and stare at me with his bulging shiny eyes I get that powerful urge to smooch his shimmery hairy nose bridge.  He is pretty darn beguiling. And most of these pets I’m telling you about do well solo rather than in pairs. I’m confident that whichever pet you choose for Allison, she will enjoy herself immensely and learn a lot at the same time. Have fun and good luck.

– Dr. F

Dear Dr. Forsythe: My cat has crystals in her urine.  The vet has asked me to feed her special food that makes her urine more acidic.  My cousin went online and found out that making the urine more acidy can cause other crystals to form.  It seems like no matter what I do, my cat is bound to get more crystals.  It this a never-ending problem? – Worried about my cat in Sonoma

Dear Worried: Your cousin raised a good point.  There are some common types of crystals that thrive in basic urine that is above 7.0 pH.  If we feed special food to the pet and lower the pH so it the urine becomes more acidic (low pH, 5.0-6.0) the crystals will dissolve.  However, there are different types of crystals that can precipitate out in acidic urine and cause problems, so the ideal pH for pet’s urine is physiologic pH, around 7.0.  The delicate health of the bladder can be easily compromised by urinary tract infections and dehydration as well as improperly functioning kidneys and diets that have an incorrect amount of protein or minerals.  A discussion with your veterinarian about your cat’s specific crystal type and the best food to feed as well as the most ideal way to monitor her progress and urinary tract health is really important so you won’t have to worry about having her yo-yo between crystals that like acidic and basic urine.  No cat should have to struggle with that problem! – Dr. F