www.roanoke.com

Paws & Claws

Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas. She lives in Blacksburg now, and answers local pet owners' questions every week in The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com.

Recent columns

• Bacteria can cause ear infections in cats
• Chiari is a malformation of the back for some spaniels
• Your plant smells like a great spot to ...
• Sting salve: meat tenderizer

Q We are going on a two-week cruise soon. Normally when we go on vacation, we take our 10-year-old dog with us, so she has never been left or put in kennels before. What do you think would be the best solution for her?

A The ideal solution for your elderly dog would be to find a pet sitter to come to your home, best of all would be a relative or friend that your dog knows who would come to stay in your home.

Failing this, she could go and stay with a trusted friend or family member.

Ideally, the fewer changes there are during your absence, the less anxious your pet will be. Boarding your dog at a kennel or your veterinarian is more stressful for your dog because it requires the greatest change in her daily routine.

However, boarding does have some advantages. Some dogs even seem to enjoy it as they develop bonds with the kennel staff and the other boarders.

If the home pet sitter has to be out most of the time, your dog may be less lonely in a kennel because the presence of other dogs and the staff will keep her entertained.

Most kennels have a set routine of feeding, exercise and cleaning that dogs, being creatures of habit, enjoy and prefer to waiting for hours in the home for the sitter to return.

If you do decide to board your dog, it is important to meet the staff at the kennel and inspect the facilities before booking.

Do this well in advance of your trip so that, if you are not satisfied with a particular kennel, you can make other arrangements. Check for poor hygiene, smells and the appearance of the other boarders, as well as the courtesy, attitude and helpfulness of the kennel staff.

It is a requirement at all good kennels that all boarding dogs be fully up to date on their vaccinations, and some even require that the dogs are vaccinated against kennel cough.

Because your dog has not been to a kennel, it may be helpful to board her for a few hours or overnight to see how she handles being separated from you.

This allows her to realize that you will be coming back for her. Tell the kennel staff of any special food needs, or any other requirements and routines that she has. Take a favorite toy or garment that smells of you to give your dog at the kennel when you leave her. This will give her added reassurance. Some kennels suggest that you bring your dog's bed and a supply of her regular food.

Whether you leave your dog at home with a sitter or put her in kennels, leave a copy of your travel schedule and a list of telephone numbers where you, or somebody you trust, can be reached in an emergency, as well as the number of your veterinarian.

It is always a good idea to phone either your home or the kennel once or twice while you are away to see if there are any problems or questions.

Q My cat prefers to drink water dripping from the tap in the kitchen sink or the shower rather than from her water bowl. I change the water in the bowl daily.

A Cats drink by cupping their tongue into a spoon shape and lapping.

Dripping taps provide perfect amounts to fill the tongue with no mess or waste. Besides, drinking from a dripping tap is fun and provides your cat with some mental stimulation rather than using a boring water bowl.

Cats have special taste buds on their tongue that can actually "taste" water, unlike many other mammalian species.

Fresh water from a dripping tap probably tastes better than water that has been sitting in a bowl for several hours and has become rather flat and stale.