By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS  December 8, 2009 Question: We have a 2 year old female cat (Kachina) who is fully declawed and spayed. She will jump on the bed or sofa with my wife (Liz) and want to be scratched behind her ears/head. She purrs while this is happening then all of a sudden she will turn and bite Liz in the arm. This used to happen 1-2 times every month or so and now it is a few times a week.... [Read more]

Lucy at 8 weeks of age Nov 22, 2009    By Dr. Sophia Yin When we last left off, I’d dropped Lucy, the 8 week old Australian Cattledog with my parents after taking a week to train her through the puppy learn to earn program at my house. Before I brought her down, she seemed virtually perfect. She would automatically sit to be petted, to get her leash on, to go out the door, to have her toy... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS       Nov 2009 Question: HELP!!! I have 2 dogs, an 8 year old purebred black lab, and a 5 year old lab mix named Bernie. We also have 2 lovely boys ages 5 and 3. Recently Bernie has demonstrated aggression toward our 3 year old, granted the actions are always ALWAYS after our 3 year old has been rolling on him, but I’m not sure what to do. Bernie is a good dog, but I’m... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM Six-Week-Old Girl Dies After Mauled By Family Dog” the headlines blared. The LA County Sheriff’s Department reported the familiar scenario. A family member had left the baby unattended on a bed for a few minutes and returned to find her head encased in the dog’s mouth. Sounds shocking, but this isn’t the first time an infant has fallen prey to the family pet.... [Read more]

Sophia Yin, DVM, MS  October 18, 2009 What’s up with the dog that eyes people who approach his food bowl or stiffens and even growls, snaps or bites if others interrupt his meal? Don’t they understand that you’re the provider of the things they want and not a threat to them? Like many dogs that are otherwise easygoing, this type of Fido has a food fetish, and he feels it’s... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS     September 2009 Anyone who hangs out with dogs and their owners has probably heard this or similar comments a million times-”My dog is dominant, he ignores our commands and plays too rough with other dogs.” To the general dog owner, this statement seems pretty normal, but to researchers studying social hierarchies in animals ranging from lions, to macaque... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS   September 6, 2009 Q: I’ve taken in a stray cat that’s about one year old and has been spayed. She’s very affectionate; however, sometimes when I pet her she either bites or scratches me. How can I stop her from doing this? A: Have you heard the joke about the patient who visits the doctor? The patient comes in and asks, “Hey Doc. My arm hurts... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS   September 5, 2009 Every year, when badly behaved dogs become the object of media focus someone asks me, “ Do you think pitbulls should be banned as pets?” To which I usually answer, “No, but some owners should be banned from owning pitbulls… or for that matter, Jack Russell Terriers, Basenji’s, Border terriers, Bengal cats and even Budgies”. In fact some... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS    September 1, 2009 Question What do you do with a cat who attacks everything and everyone? Our cat lurks behind furniture and then leaps out at people as they walk by. She never seems serious because she doesn’t bite very hard, but it’s getting annoying. Answer Picture this. Through a deep silence, the young huntress surveyed her territory. The day was... [Read more]

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS  July 4, 2009 Question I have been raising a Rottweiler puppy since she was 1 week old. I’ve worked at a small animal practice for 5 years—and a breeder came to us with a 5 day old female puppy who’s hind leg was bitten off just above the tarsal joint by another dog– the breeder wanted her euthanized, but I asked for her to sign ownership to me and thankfully... [Read more]