House calls may help reduce fear

Dear Cathy: I have a 12-year-old German shorthair pointer. She has arthritis in her hind legs and is being treated. This sweet pup is terrified of going to the veterinarian’s office. I would like to find a vet to come to the house. Do you have any suggestions of how to go about finding one? — Kathy, Kings Park, New York

Dear Kathy: Visit the vet locator at www.vetlocator.com/housecallvets.php and plug in your ZIP code to find a mobile clinic or house call veterinarian near you. Just know, these veterinarians often see fewer patients in one day, so their office visits may cost a little more.

Most veterinarians will provide medication to give to pets for their visit to veterinary clinics, so that is an option. Even with a house call, your dog may still need to be medicated to reduce her stress.

Another option may be to find a Fear Free veterinary clinic near you. These clinics go the extra mile to reduce a pet’s stress, from bringing them in a quieter entrance to spraying pheromones on their clothing to calm the pet during an exam.

Dear Cathy: I started out with three feral cats more than eight years ago. I got them fixed and sheltered them. A large white cat recently appeared and intimidates my other cats. They run away and sometimes miss meals. I don’t feed this cat and chase it away. How can I get it to stay away? — Mary, Las Vegas, Nevada

Dear Mary: If the white cat is only around occasionally, try feeding your colony cats at other locations or times to throw off the white cat. I also recommend trapping and fixing the white cat because it can reduce some aggression and territorial behaviors. It may take a week after the surgery before things settle down.

Have the vet’s office scan for a microchip. If the cat belongs to someone else, your problem is solved. If not, another option is to relocate the cat.