Q Is it possible my dog has trained me to take a daily medication I require for a heart problem? Here's what happened: I keep my medication in the same cupboard as Snoopy's treats. For a few days, I would give Snoopy a cookie as I took my medication, always around 6 p.m. Now, each day at 6 p.m., my dog reminds me he wants a cookie — and he reminds me to take my medication.

— S.C., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A I love your e-mail! This is exactly how service dogs are sometimes trained to remind people to take their meds. This is one way dogs can benefit us, even if Snoopy doesn't know why he's helping you.

Q I've had cats all my life, and now I have five. Jessie, a chubby tortie, has an odd habit I've never seen before. She makes a sound like she's chewing on her cud. I can't relate this behavior to any particular mood, but the chewing sound bothers me. She also snores. Is this related to the cud-chewing? My vets can't find anything wrong. Any ideas?

— C.M., Peoria, Ill.

A Dr. Colleen Currigan, a feline veterinarian in Chicago, is concerned that the cud-chewing sound you mention could be due to a physical problem.

"Sometimes, dental problems are hard to find with a quick look under the lip, and an exam under anesthesia could be suggested," she notes. "There may be lesions in the cat's mouth or on her tongue, which could be related to a kidney problem. Believe it or not, I've seen cats who chew very oddly because of abdominal

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discomfort."

Currigan said she's watching a friend's cat who chews her food as meticulously as she grooms. There's no explanation for this, and this cat is fine, as yours may be.

As for the snoring, Currigan says the "overnight vocalization" may be related to whatever's causing the unusual chewing habit — or blame your cat's rotund figure. It's not unusual for overweight cats (or dogs) to snore, particularly as they age.

Q A neighbor has a boa constrictor. He and his girlfriend swear it's dead or maybe asleep for the winter, and they've threatened to dump it outside. Do boas hibernate? Would it survive in the cold and snow?

— J.K., Sheboygan, Wis.

A It would be horrifyingly cruel to abandon a tropical snake to cold and snow. The snake would surely freeze to death. In Southern climates, where a tropical snake could possibly survive, it would add to nonnative species impacting the environment.

Dr. Stephen Barten, a Mundelein, Ill., veterinarian with a special interest in reptiles, points out that many kinds of snakes found in the Midwest do hibernate. These species are acclimated to cold climates, but even they must find a warm place to snooze through the winter. A boa constrictor, on the other hand, is strictly a tropical snake, totally unsuited to Wisconsin winters.

It's not necessarily surprising but certainly sad that your neighbor doesn't know more about his pet. If you don't know anything about exotic pets, you shouldn't have one. If he suspects the boa is dead, he may be right. While boas do slow down in the cold — and I only hope the snake's cage is heated — they typically do respond if touched. Kept at inappropriate temperatures, snakes become more susceptible to illness. In any case, your neighbor should take his snake to a vet —- today.

Q My cat loves sleeping on top of my computer, probably because it's warm. How do I keep Big Red off the terminal?

— A.D., Baltimore, Md.

A Big Red is likely choosing a warm place, but it's also a place where you are. In any case, computer experts tell me that terminals easily collect cat hair, which may impact performance.

You could buy a product called Sticky Paws to place on top of the computer (make sure it can be removed easily before you put down this double-stick tape). Cats detest sticky stuff on their paws.

Another idea is a product called SSSCAT. Place the can near the computer, pointed to where you don't want the cat to go. If the cat tries to jump on the computer, a motion detector will activate and a tone will sound, followed by a nontoxic spray. SSSCAT is available at some pet stores and multivet-inter.com or call 800-732-2677

Equally as important, provide a warm, soft place near your work station; consider placing a cat bed or lamb's wool blanket on the desk. To get your cat into the habit of snoozing there, place a hot water bottle nearby or a heating pad under the bed/blanket (make certain the heating pad is set on low and unplug it when you're out of the room).

Write to Steve Dale at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to petworld@ stevedale.tv. Include your name, city and state.