Yahoo! Answers

Photo by Terry Bain

I love my dogs. They’re a lot of work (and occasionally expensive), but adopting them was the best decision we have ever made. From the beginning, I gave them loads of affection balanced with discipline. Since we don’t have kids, my mother refers to them as the “grand-dogs” and my friends call them “fur babies.” I am of the opinion that pet owners, as a group, spoil their pets.

“Spoil” is such a general term—what does it mean when applied to a dog? Dressing one up? Having dozens of doggie toys? Massages? Or just simply a pet without discipline?

Every dog is different, even when they live together in the same household. Our two dogs have different needs, but the thing that has kept them the happiest has been having a strong alpha in the house. So has been strictly adhering to the dominance structure in the house. Whether your training opinions come from a book or the “Dog Whisperer,” dogs will be dogs—they can’t be treated like furry people. We use only positive reinforcement training techniques, which is a choice we made based on the needs of our dogs—and our personal preferences.

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A native tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens), by Calimecita

Last week, we introduced you to our Answers biologist, Calimecita. We learned about her amazing job and what she likes about it.

In the second of two posts, we’ll discover more about Cecilia and her passion for Answers.

“My interests include reading and intermittently collecting stamps and coins, among others. Although I enjoy almost anything, I’m a Tolkien fan. In fact my nickname, Calimecita, derives from the 177px[fictional Elvish language] Quenya word Calima, meaning bright, clear — I picked it because my second name is Clara. I am also an avid reader of fiction in general and fantasy literature in particular.

“I also love my pets, of course! These days I only keep cats, dogs and gerbils, but I’ve had more interesting pets in the past, including a capybara, all sorts of other rodents, axolotls, and a small gecko.

Anónima, my calico girl, by Calimecita

Sunny, my gerbil, by Calimecita

Lamprotornis-purpureus, by Calimecita

Tiger, by Calimecita

Phrynops-hilarii (side-necked turtle), by Calimecita

“Above all, I enjoy learning all kinds of new stuff — either by reading, watching documentaries, or my own research — and sharing what I’ve learned with others. Everybody who knows me knows that I have a knack for finding that piece of information that nobody else has, so in “real life,” I’m often answering questions and solving problems, just like in Yahoo! Answers!

“What I enjoy the most here are the challenge, the fun, and the people.
“When I first started, it was mostly about answering questions and sharing what I knew. I like the challenging questions, especially when there’s an animal to identify or some obscure data to find. I especially love the difficult zoology questions, those that demand a bit of “detective work” in order to answer. In addition, I spend a lot of time in the Yahoo! Answers category, helping new users. Finally, I visit other areas such as Languages to help with Spanish-English translations or Music.

“But the social aspect is very important, too. Ever since I started, I’ve been very much part of the community, and I like how that feels. I’ve been able to participate in the development of the whole Yahoo! Answers concept, and now I’m sort of addicted to the interaction.

“Thanks to Yahoo! Answers, I’ve met people from all over the world, greatly improved my English, and learned a lot. What more could I ask for? Ah yes, I keep hoping that one of these days, my Yahoo! Answers friends will come to visit Argentina.”

Five of her Best Answers:

• What is the Oscillatoria?
• How do you tell a shark’s age?
• How do you tell a male and female gecko apart?
• Has the snake evolved at all?
• Why do people have kneecaps but not elbow caps?

Know someone who’s “wow-ed” you on Answers? Think somebody deserves to be celebrated as the next Featured User on the Answers Blog? We want to hear from you!

Leave a comment below with a link to the user’s profile or best answer, or email the Answers team at: y_answrs_editors@yahoo.com

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Photo by TroyMason

A good friend of mine is heading out of town for the Fourth of July weekend, and since I had no big plans, I volunteered to dog-sit for his great little mutt, Juicebox. Being a frustrated animal lover with no pets of my own (aside from some less-than-affectionate guppies), I jumped at the chance to get in some doggie time.

But now, as the weekend approaches, I’m starting to get a little worried. This is Juicebox’s first Fourth of July, and he’s a bit on the skittish side—I’m not sure how he’s going to react once the night is in full swing. I remember how scared the dogs I had as a kid would get—all those loud whistles and booms from the fireworks were just too much for their nerves. Apparently, it’s pretty common for dogs and other animals to become frightened at extremely loud noises like fireworks or thunder, but is there anything that can be done to help soothe their anxiety?

Answers users have apparently been dealing with this problem for a while, and I ferreted out some great ideas to help keep Juicebox from going bonkers. Obviously, the best idea is to take your dog away from the noise. But if that’s not an option, most people recommend keeping pets inside and distracted during fireworks displays. Playing soothing music or turning on the TV can help diminish the auditory melee outside. Keeping your pet’s favorite toys and treats on hand can also help keep them occupied.

A good piece of advice that many users suggest is to avoid coddling the dog while he’s displaying fear, as this will only make things worse. It’s better to keep things light and playful, and to demonstrate that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

For particularly anxious dogs, a sedative might be the best choice. Your veterinarian can suggest the best pharmaceutical for your particular breed, but there are a number of safe, herbal alternatives to consider as well. One user suggests using a couple drops of Bach flower remedy in their water or spearmint oil on their paw pads as a calmative option. Another recommends chamomile tea as a way to keep your pooch mellow and relaxed.

If all else fails, you can invest in some doggie earphones. It’s probably too late to pick up a pair this year, but thanks to LolaMarigolda, I learned about a product called Mutt Muffs which act like noise-canceling headphones for dogs. Who knew?

Hopefully, Juicebox will be perfectly fine come fireworks-time, but at least I feel better armed with some great ideas in case he starts to get worked up. Is there anything else I should know? What suggestions do you have for keeping your pets calm and stress-free during the big fireworks show?

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Photo by Notlob86

Yesterday, we were lucky enough to enjoy a perfect spring day—sunny, clear, warm, and fragrant with blooming flowers. After all the rain we’ve had, it was nice to be able to take a leisurely walk with our golden retriever, Angus.

As he happily trotted along smelling everything in his path, I remembered that around this time last year, he couldn’t walk at all. He had blown one knee out and within days the other one gave out as well. He was too big to carry so I had to help him move around by looping and lifting a towel in front of his hind legs.

After a trip to the veterinarian’s office we got the bad news that both cruciate ligaments were torn. Surgery was recommended because of his size but it wasn’t going to prevent arthritis from setting in down the road. After evaluating the pros and cons of putting an older dog through major invasive surgery, we explored other treatment options.

We knew that with or without surgery, we needed a way to rehabilitate his muscles and provide enough exercise to keep his weight down. After doing some research, we found a great physical therapy clinic with cutting edge equipment and methods. They put Angus on a water treadmill program and we took him in three days a week. Basically, they put him in a tank and filled it with warm water up to his shoulders. That took the weight off his legs and he was able to walk slowly on the treadmill installed in the floor of the tank. His first sessions only lasted about 7 minutes, but over the months, he worked up to 45 minutes. He built the muscles back up in his legs which helped to support the knees, and the warm water helped to alleviate arthritis symptoms. After about four months, he was a new (and very soggy) doggie. Even the doctors were amazed at his progress.

While the water therapy approach alone may not work in all situations, it seemed to work wonders for Angus. If surgery is required after all, water therapy may help with the post-op healing process. And of course, a consultation with your veterinarian should always be your first step in finding the appropriate treatment for your treasured pet.

Angus will never be completely recovered—we will have to keep his weight down, make sure he gets regular exercise, and watch for signs of arthritis. But he is otherwise a happy, healthy, and very mobile dog enjoying walks through the neighborhood once again.

Do you have any stories to share about caring for an injured pet?

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