The Curious Case of The Dog with Chattering Teeth…

Since 1988, we at Mud Bay have been providing helpful advice to PNW pet owners. Now, we’re making our team of experts—led by multiple nutrition-certification veterinarian Dr. Katy Miller—available to everyone!  

From dogs whose teeth chatter whenever their owner is driving to cats who want to groom all the human visitors dropping by a house—and everything in between—Dr. Katy and her team will be answering the most interesting and entertaining pet-related questions around, submitted by readers from around the Pacific Northwest. 

Is My Cat Addicted to Kibble?

Dear Off Leash: I adopted my young adult cat from a shelter six months ago. The shelter fed her a good quality kibble, but I switched her to an equally good quality paté. She eats the paté but still begs for the kibble, so once daily, I give her a small snack of the kibble mixed with dry dental chews. Is this ok? I don’t want to over-feed her, but she has become rather large now. I play with her, so she gets exercise every day. 

     -Split About Kibble 

Dear Split: Stay strong, and say no to the kibble! All kibble has added palatants—items added to increase the amount a dog or cat likes the taste, smell and texture of a food—that make it highly addictive and keep your cat coming back for more. Certainly, some kibble in a varied diet is fine. But from a health and weight perspective in your circumstance, it is better to just pass on providing the extra food and use only your dental treats for a fun crunch factor at snack time. Instead of the bonus kibble, take your daily feeding of paté and split it into two separate mealtimes (or more)! Cats love to hunt, and they usually prefer small meals eaten throughout the day as more satisfying than one big meal.  

     -Dr. Katy

Need to try some different cat food?: Shop for paté cat food (or any other wet cat food by texture)

Is My Dog Anxious or Just Car Sick?

Dear Off Leash: What techniques or actions can reduce anxiety on car rides? Whenever the speed approaches 45 mph, our dog begins to shake—with occasional teeth chattering. 

     -Chattering Toofers 

Dear Chattering: I’m going to refrain from making any doggie “backseat driver” jokes. In all seriousness, because your dog seems fine below a particular speed I am inclined to think this may be a case of your dog actually experiencing motion sickness vs. just not enjoying the car or a behavioral issue. In the case of motion sickness there are a few steps you can take to reduce this sensation:  To start, try and let your dog get some exercise before getting in the car with a quick bout of fetch or a short wall; next, don’t offer food or water for a few hours before or after a trip; third, keep the temperature in the car cool and possibly roll down the windows.  

Finally, I would consider some “fast-acting” calming supplements. It’s important to note “fast-acting,” because some supplements can take days or weeks to begin working, while others are effective in only an hour or less. Make sure the product you choose is one of the “fast-acting” supplements. Look for products containing calming herbs like Valerian, German Chamomile, Colostrum, calming amino acids (L-tryptophan, L- thionine) and Thiamine.  

     Dr. Katy 

Think your dog may have motion sickness?:  Shop for calmatives at Mud Bay

Is My Cat A Bit Too Friendly or Should I Be Worried That I Taste Good to Her?

Dear Off Leash: My cat often wants to groom the hair of people that she likes.  It’s weird to have her rough tongue on your skin or hair. Why does she do that?  Is it safe for my kitty, given soap, lotions or hair products could still be in the hair? 

     -The Phantom Kitty Groomer Strikes Again 

Dear Phantom Kitty: Wow! That is the ultimate compliment for your cat to give you and other people! I would feel very lucky and special! Cats groom other cats to bond, create connections, and calm each other. If this has transferred to her humans, you are being given a sign that she really likes you and is a very happy, content social cat.  

As far as the rough tongue, it may feel odd because cats have keratinized papillae on their tongues that is very similar to Velcro (in fact, some say a cat’s tongue is where the idea for the invention came from!). This natural marvel is perfect for brushing through cat hair, distributing oils and removing debris. But to humans, it may feel like someone is rubbing Velcro through their hair. Try to reframe this situation and consider what a compliment your cat is giving you!  

Any human hair or skin-care products she might inadvertently consume should be in very minute quantities and not cause any ill effects for her. If you are someone whom she is particularly fond of grooming, you could consider making sure any products likely to leave a residue on the skin and hair are made from organic, all-natural ingredients that are free from synthetic chemicals. Happy grooming to you and your cat! 

     –Dr. Katy 

I Want the Best for My Dogs—Should I Cook for Them?

Dear Off Leash: I started cooking my dogs’ their own wet food (replacing store bought) and mix it with kibble. I include a multivitamin and powdered eggshells—can you suggest any other supplements to make sure they get all of the nutrients they need? My pups are both lab mixes. Thanks! 

     -Cookin’ for My Labs 

Dear Cookin’:  

To do a project like this safely, I would offer a few recommendations: First, keep your home-cooked food portion to 10% of the overall diet for now. Second, contact a veterinary nutritionist to work together preparing recipes specifically tailored for your dog—and then follow them exactly.  

Alternatively, you could use a commercially-prepared product (like a gently-cooked or dehydrated complete-and-balanced pet food) if you would like to supplement more than 10% of the diet. This way, you can be sure you are providing the right amount of vitamins and minerals to keep your dog healthy. 

I would hesitate to recommend creating a 100% home-cooked diet to anyone because there may be a high—if not definitive—risk of unbalancing the diet and unintentionally causing vitamin/mineral excesses or deficiencies. The danger is the amount of time it actually takes to prepare and serve this kind of diet. Many folks find that life gets busy, and they might feel the need to cut corners, and in that case, the nutrients quickly become unbalanced. 

I completely respect your desire to add fresh, less processed foods to their diet—and that is commendable. Ten percent of fresh, whole foods in your dog’s diet is highly recommended. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that there’s currently a supplement or supplements that would allow you to cook a larger percentage of your dog’s food without working closely with a veterinary nutritionist to avoid any possible nutritional deficiencies or excesses.

     -Dr. Katy