A little while ago, my younger cat, Millie was giving me a warning. She was meowing and telling me to get off the darn computer and water the plants that are out on the terrace. Yes, she does this every night. When I water them, she drinks the water that drips down and loves to clean herself with the water. She also loves drinking the running water from the sink or bathtub. Why do cats like running water so much?  One theory, is that it may be due to evolutionary process. Before humans kept cats as pets, they had to find their own source of water, they didn’t have a water bowl to drink from. Running water is much healthier and less stagnant than still water. The cats that preferred to drink running water may have survived longer and more of their genes may have gotten into the kitty genepool.

Another theory is that running water from the tap tastes better than water in the cat’s bowl. After all, would like to drink from a cup or a glass that’s been sitting around all day? In addition, running water is often colder than the water in the bowl.

Infertility in male tom cats is not usually a problem. Unless your a cat breeder with a valuable, champion tom cat, it can’t fulfill it’s reproductive obligation. Veterinarians who specialize in reproductive disorders, will conduct a microscopic examination of the tom cats sperm. Is it mobile and able to move about spontaneously? Does the sperm have the proper morphology?  Other conditions that could affect the fertility of male cats include malnutrition, obesity, too much liver in the cats diet and hypothyroidism. There are pet medications that could control a thyroid problem. Sometimes it just comes down to a weak libido. Luckily there are treatments for most of these problems.

I’m sure that you’ve seen them at the park, a dog owner throwing a disc that sails through the air as his dog  runs to catch it. It’s an exciting game that encourages a dog to chase and bring down prey. Similar games are played at organized  events  called competitive disc dog trials. Two basic types of activities are featured at dog trials. One type involves distance and accuracy, with games that focus on how far the dog ran, how the catch was made and whether or not the dog was airborne. The other type is called freestyle. Dogs perform amazing routines with several discs at once. Competitors are scored on creativity, highly honed, awe inspiring skills and theatrical flare. Does this sound like something that you would like to get your dog involved with? Make sure you practice with lots of fetch dog toys including frisbees and other types of discs.

We spoke of knowing when your dog is pregnant. Now you should know what to expect at the time of delivery. Within twenty four hours of giving birth, your dog may become restless and reject food. Walk her often during this time. This will give her a chance to urinate and defecate before the delivery. When her water is broken, you may notice her licking her vulva. Soon contractions will begin and you will know that the puppies are on their way. Usually they’ll appear head first, belly down, covered by a membrane.  Your dog will lick them to remove the sac and the umbilical cord.  Giving birth is no easy task, so after each puppy, your dog will rest. Stay with her and if more than a few hours go by without a puppy appearing, call your veterinarian. After the delivery, let her rest and maybe throw in a dog treat for all of the hard work that she’s done.

If you suspect that your dog is pregnant, the best way to find out for sure is to take her to the veterinarian. There are some possible clues that you may look for at home.  For example, you may notice that your dog seeks your attention more often.  Pregnant dogs can also have ravenous appetites.  Finally, you might observe large mammary glands and a clear vaginal discharge that appears about a month into the pregnancy.  These signs may indicate that your dog is pregnant but they are by no means a diagnosis.  If you do suspect that your dog may be expecting, take her in for an exam.  The veterinarian will palpate the uterus or perform an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy. If she is pregnant, make sure that she’s comfortable and buy her another dog toy for her to enjoy!

Even though there are warnings of disease transmission by sleeping with our pets, 56 % of dog owners let their pets share their bed and 62% of cat owners let their cats sleep with them, this writer included. I read about one woman who shares her bed with six Rhodesian ridgebacks!

Two prominent California veterinarians concluded that even though sleeping with our pets is a common practice, there is still a risk for transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners. Life threatening infections have occurred through bed sharing, kissing or licking. There is still a debate whether the study that was done is exaggerated. What is clear is that our pets are bedfellows in many American households. Maybe it would be better to just get your dog or cat a nice, comfortable dog or cat bed!