Dear Uncle Matty: My 7-year-old cat, Abigale, was really listless and wouldn't eat recently. I took her to the vet, and he said she had a fever. We used medication for several days, and it took a long time to get rid of her fever. A friend said there is a natural herb that can be used for cat fever. Have you ever heard of this? — R.N., White Plains, N.Y.
Dear R.: Home remedies are sometimes very effective, but before you deal in diagnosis, you should always consult your veterinarian.
To answer your question, I've heard that a catnip tea can be quite effective at reducing kitty fever, and certainly, cats seem to like catnip! Dr. John Heinerman wrote a book on natural pet cures, and his instructions are that one heaping teaspoon of catnip in a pint and a half of boiling water, steeped for 30 minutes, might do the trick. You will have to cool the concoction, strain it and give to your kitty in place of water.
Dear Uncle Matty: My husband and I rare on a waiting list for a Swedish Valhund, a k a Vastgotaspets. We would like to eventually do flyball and agility or obedience training. We know that for the first two, the dog should be fully grown. Does that apply to obedience training as well? Any information would be great. — Kelly B., The Netherlands
Dear Kelly: What delightful, interesting and fun-loving dogs these are. Be sure to temperament-test the puppy before you bring it home. You want to rule out aggression and then know what type personality your dog has so you can train according to type.
Absolutely do not wait for the dog to become an adult before you obedience-train him. Basic training should begin when the puppy is from 7 to 10 weeks old, and one-on-one training with a qualified trainer is very important. Your dog has to be well trained and know how to communicate before progressing to advanced training and agility.
Dear Uncle Matty: I would really like to make my own dog food for my puppy, Nimba. I think it would be better for her than commercial food. What do you think, and where can I get some recipes? — R.M., Des Moines, Iowa
Dear R.: You should really think twice before you start cooking up a storm for Nimba. This has nothing to do with cooking and everything to do with canine nutrition — a really different animal.
On Page 124 of my book "The Good Life," I said about home cooking, "You must formulate a diet that provides your growing puppy with all the nutrients he needs to meet his full physical potential. . . . This is complicated even if you've calculated his daily requirement for protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals."
I suggest you read "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs" published by the National Academy Press. You can actually read this 81-page document free online at www.nap.edu.
Good luck and WOOF! — Uncle Matty
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