Pampered Pets

QWe gave a home to a rescue female labrador six months ago. The problem we have is that she seems terrified of the outdoors. It took months to get her into the garden but it is impossible to take her out for a walk. Please advise.

A

Without knowing details of her previous life it is difficult to pinpoint the reasons for her fear. She might have been kept in kennels in a puppy farm with poor socialisation and inadequate exercise, and just used as a breeding machine.

Alternatively she may have experienced fearful situations such as aggressive dogs or thunderstorms, alongside a general lack of exercise, leading her to conclude it’s safest inside.

You will need a lot of patience and support from a qualified dog behaviourist to improve this situation.

There are some things that will not help. Forcing the dog outside will almost certainly reinforce the fear of leaving the front door.

Even putting on a lead and collar can trigger panic attacks, as she may associate the lead with previous force from her old owners.

A behaviourist will be able to formulate a training programme that you can follow on a daily basis.

Programmes typically look to desensitise the dog to fear of the outdoors, by counter conditioning and making outside a fun place to be.

A trail of treats just outside the front door and play activities, for example with her favourite toy, can gradually be extended to build confidence.

Behaviorist support is essential to fine tune the programme.

Q

My two-year-old neutered female cat suddenly looks very sleepy with some sort of a film covering part of both eyes. She doesn’t seem unwell so should I take her to the vet or wait and see if it gets better on its own?

A

Waiting and seeing is never a good option when a cat like yours doesn’t seem quite right. This is even more important with eye problems because they can get dramatically worse if not investigated promptly.

The films are likely to be the third eyelids and they are present in cats and dogs. Third eyelids, also called nictitating membranes, are normally tucked away in the corner of each eye nearest the nose. They perform an important function in keeping the cornea clean and lubricated.

Normally you won’t see them unless the cat either has an eye condition or is unwell. In those cats, the condition is often called Haw’s syndrome, and is simply a sign of problems elsewhere.

There is a long list of potential eye problems that can only be identified by a veterinary examination. A physical examination, and possibly lab tests, are also important to identify if a cat is unwell, and why.

It’s an encouraging sign that your cat is not appearing unwell. It could be she has a mild underlying gastrointestinal or respiratory upset. Some viruses cause this, and it can even be down to worms.

The outlook is very good in treated cases, with improvement usually within a few weeks.