Q-I have a small outdoor fish pool. I began using a 5-gallon container as a winter quarantine spot for additional fish for the pond I put in tiny goldfish and they adapted well, but gradually all jumped out of the container and died. The jumping always started after they had become accustomed to the basin and appeared to be well-fed and happy.
I`d like to know whether the goldfish jumped out of the basin out of desperation or because of ”exuberant spirits.”
A-My knowledge of fish care and medicine are limited. But my first thought is for you to cover the container with flexible netting.
It might help to contact the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, c/o Dr. J.P. Schroeder, Naval Oceans Systems Center, Box 997, Kailua, Hawaii 96734. When writing, describe the problem or ask if there are members of the group in your area whom you could ask for help.
Q-We adopted an 8-month-old female Dalmatian with unknown background. We had her spayed soon after and asked the doctor to check her hearing. The doctor concluded that she is deaf. Can anything be done? She`s a lovely dog and seems to learn quickly, but we wonder if she can be trained. Also she barks. If a dog really was deaf, would it bark?
Her sight seems OK, but she has one brown eye and the other is a mixed brown, blue and white.
Also, is it all right to feed a Dalmatian meat and vegetables? What kind of food and how much is recommended? Do Dalmatians shed more than other dogs? Is there a special shampoo for them?
A-If a Dalmatian is deaf, there really is nothing you can do about it. Deafness is far more common in Dalmatians than in other breeds. There are specialists who can determine whether your dog has any residual hearing and, if so, fit her with a hearing aid. However, most deaf dogs do very well without such a contraption.
Just because your dog can bark does not mean she can hear.
The difference in eye color does not indicate a vision problem.
It`s all right to feed your dog meat and vegetables, especially vegetables. Some Dalmatians are prone to a type of bladder and kidney disease that must be treated with a special low-protein diet. Therefore, I suggest not feeding her a lot of extra protein. A good-quality, low-protein commercial dog food should make up the bulk of her diet.
As for shedding, Dalmatians don`t shed more than other dogs; it just seems that way. There`s no special shampoo for them, but bathing and frequent brushing help reduce hairs around the house.
