Perfect companions: Like master, like dog

It was Monday morning after the Navratras and Ram Navmi festival. A woman brought her sick dog to the university veterinary hospital for treatment. The dog had been vomiting for 24 hours and was in a dehydrated state. Nothing was visibly wrong with the pet and the owners seemed careful about its upbringing. Just then a red tikka (mark) on its forehead caught my eye. I asked the woman if they had kanjaks at their place the previous day. She said, “Yes, and since our dog is just like family, it was also involved in the ceremonies.” The dog was served halwa, puri and black grams, just like other family members. So that explained its condition!

Invariably, owners share their food habits with their pets. The refrain is, “Whatever we take, we give to our dog.”

It is not only diet, owners and pets even share their eating pattern. A gentleman once told me that the only way to feed his dog is to keep him amused by making small talk. Many a times, the dog has to be bribed with candies to cheer it up! Another person shared that they have such a strong association with the dog in the family that it has a special seat for itself at the dining table. All family members enjoy their dinner together and whenever their dog is off feed due to one or the other reason nobody in the family relishes the meal.

When it comes to lifestyle, these furry companions not only share air-conditioned rooms, cars but also toiletries. A woman told me that in their house they use only Patanjali shampoo for themselves and their dog and everybody is happy. Some time ago, the wife of a senior official brought her dog with behaviour issues. She felt the dog had mood swings and got irritated at the drop of a hat. Her mother-in-law, who was accompanying her, asked, “Dr ji can we try giving Gond Katira (Tragacanth gum) to the dog as it is considered to have a cooling effect in summer.”

Many a times, dogs mimic the environment in which they live. Once a music teacher shared that whenever she does riyaaz (practice), both her dogs sing along in their inimitable style. She even gave a demo of their talent at the clinic.

Is it the family environment or a coincidence that the dogs at times also share some diseases with their masters? Once I told a couple that their obese Labrador was suffering from hypothyroidism (deficiency of a hormone leading to obesity). They had a good laugh and shared that both of them were suffering from the same condition and now everybody in the family will be on the same medication.

A few months ago, a woman in her fifties brought along her 12-year-old pet, who was diagnosed with urinary tract infection. The owner was amused that she too had the same problem and was sceptical about using public toilets. She carries an antiseptic spray in case she has to use a public toilet. She enquired, in all seriousness, if similar precautions were to be taken for her pet as well.

ONCE I TOLD A COUPLE THAT THEIR LABRADOR WAS SUFFERING FROM HYPOTHYROIDISM. THEY SAID EVERYBODY IN FAMILY WILL NOW BE ON THE SAME DRUG