Sometimes
it may seem like a cute idea to give someone a pet as a Christmas present, but
it’s important to give that some extra thought before you do it. Most pets that
are given up lose their home because their owner loses interest in them or is
unprepared for the responsibility of pet ownership. This is a huge problem seen
among pet owners who receive their pets as “gifts.” Children especially are
given the mistaken idea that pets are all fun and games, but they are not fully
ready to take on the responsibility of feeding, walking, cleaning, and training
their pet.
Instead
of giving pets as presents, we recommend getting acclimated to the idea of
bringing a new pet into your home. Bringing your children to volunteer at an
animal shelter or babysitting the pet of a friend or family member can help.
Children and potential pet owners (no matter their age!) need to be reminded
that pets aren’t just cute; they are also hungry, need to exercise, and need to
use the bathroom. They can be messy when they aren’t fully trained, and the
training process can be difficult too.
Please,
don’t adopt until everyone in your family is READY.
You have a problem. Your cat is thinking outside the box, and not in a good way. You may be wondering what you did to inspire so much “creative expression.” Is your cat punishing you? Is Fluffy just “bad”? No, and no. House soiling and missing the litter box is a sign that your cat needs some help.
According to the Winn Feline Foundation, house soiling is the number one complaint among cat owners.
The good news is that it is very treatable.
An accredited veterinarian can help you determine if the problem is medical or related to social or environmental stressors. In addition to a complete physical exam, the doctor will ask you specific “where and when” questions.
Health factors
Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, a specialist in feline urinary disorders at The Ohio State University, and founder of the Indoor Cat Initiative says that many veterinarians recommend a urine test for every cat with a house soiling problem. The urinalysis will determine if blood, bacteria, or urinary crystals are present — signs that your cat might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
FLUTD is very common and can cause painful urination. Cats that begin to associate the litter box with pain will avoid it. Other medical possibilities include hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, and arthritis and muscle or nerve disorders that might prevent your cat from getting to the litter box in time.
Environmental factors
If there is no medical cause, the next step is to look at environmental factors. Start with the litter box. Your cat might be avoiding the litter box because it is not cleaned well enough, you’ve changed the type of litter you use, or there is only one box for multiple cats.
Another possibility is that your cat is “marking” — spraying urine, typically on vertical objects such as walls and furniture, or in “socially significant” areas near doors or windows. Both male and female cats mark.
The most common offenders are cats that have not been spayed or neutered.
Buffington says that stress can cause elimination problems too. For example, subtle aggression or harassment by other house cats or neighborhood cats may be an issue.
Even unremarkable changes in your home can make your cat anxious or fearful. Look around. Did anything change right before your cat started having problems? Did you get a new pet? A new couch? Maybe you just moved the old couch to a different part of the room, or had a dinner party. Cats are sensitive creatures and changes that seem small to you can throw your cat off his game. Check with your veterinarian about finding solutions that work for both you and your cat.
Veterinarians see a lot of patients with ear infections. In
fact, it's the second most common reason for a client visit, according to pet
health insurer, VPI Pet Insurance. With ear problems prompting so many trips to
the vet, should ear cleaning be a necessary part of grooming your pet?
Generally, cleaning a
dog's ears on a routine basis is not necessary, according to Leonard Jonas,
DVM, MS, DACVIM, a veterinarian with Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Wheat
Ridge, Colo. That's because animals have a naturally occurring self-cleansing
process.
"I've had pets my whole
life," Jonas said. "I don't remember ever routinely cleaning out
their ears."
However, that doesn't mean pet owners
should never take notice of their dog's ears. Certain breeds, lifestyles and
physical characteristics will make a dog more prone to what Jonas calls
"abnormal situations," in which the pet's normal homeostasis is
disrupted. This is when something, either systemically or locally in the ear,
interferes with the normal surface barrier defense system and the normal
cleaning process that keeps bacteria and yeast under control.
There are signs to
watch for if your pet is having an issue with its ears. These, according to
Jonas, include:
Shaking its head
Flapping its ears
Rubbing at its ears, either with a paw or by rubbing
against furniture or carpet
Self-massaging the ear to ease itch, pain or irritation
Debris and/or redness inside the ear
Sores inside the ear
Odor in the ear due to abnormal oils and bacteria
"If you [the pet owner] look in
the ear, you can see sometimes a lot of debris," said Jonas, explaining
what an ear with an infection or problem may look like. "Then [you] see
redness on the ear flaps (inside) or sores developing. And then there's also
odor that occurs when you have an abnormal ear."
Breeds to watch
There are certain breeds of dogs—such as Shar Peis, bulldogs and poodles—that
have narrow ear canals and have a higher chance of incurring ear issues.
Poodles, especially, have more hair in the canals, Jonas explained. "The
hair itself is not a problem, but if they've got something abnormal with their
whole defense system, all that extra hair in there makes it difficult."
Cocker spaniels are notorious for ear
problems, Jonas added.
When to clean your pet's ears
According to Jonas, it's best to consult your veterinarian before going forward
with an ear-cleaning regimen. Unlike cleaning the teeth, cleaning the ears does
not need be done regularly. If a pet owner suspects that something may be wrong
with the ear, it's advised to visit the veterinarian and establish whether the
dog's ear needs to be cleaned by the owner either routinely or for an
instructed period of time.
Cleaning the dog's ears without first
seeing a veterinarian is not a good idea, Jonas said, "because you don't
know what's going on inside. You don't know if there has been a ruptured ear
drum; you don't know if there's a stick or a stone or something stuck down
inside the ear that needs to be fished out by a veterinarian."
A veterinarian can diagnose the problem
and make the proper recommendations, which may be cleaning and/or medication.
Typically, there are two situations for
which a dog's ears would need to be cleaned regularly. The first is when a
veterinarian instructs for it to be done, and the second is when the dog is
frequently in water. "Water in their ears disrupts the normal defense
barrier system in that ear, and can make them prone to getting infections and
irritation and inflammation," Jonas said.
If there needs to be ear cleaning
A veterinarian should show the owner how to properly clean the dog's ears
because "there are a lot of different techniques, and it depends on what
the problem is," Jonas advised.
There are a couple of precautions to
always remember, according to Jonas. First, never use a Q-tip, because it tends
to push the wax and debris further into the ear. Second, be sure a groomer does
not pluck the hair out of the dog's ears, unless that hair is contributing to
an ear problem; Jonas believes that doing so may cause irritation.
One thing pet owners should also
consider is that if the dog has an ear infection, it could be very painful for
them. Forcing the dog to get its ears cleaned or putting medication in them can
be a dangerous situation for the owner and the dog.
"If your pet doesn't want you to
do it, don't, because it hurts," Jonas said. "You're just going to
create a problem, and you need to look to alternatives."
Unfortunately, the only thing normal about noisy breathing
for dogs with "pushed-in" faces is that it is an expected response to
a shortened upper jaw, which creates excess soft tissue in the back of the
throat.
Some dogs are
affected to the point where they experience brachycephalic (the scientific term
for breeds with pushed in faces) obstructive airway syndrome or BOAS. If left
untreated, problems can get worse to the point where an animal can collapse due
to a lack of oxygen.
Owners of affected dogs may be putting
them at risk if they do not recognize the problem and seek treatment, according
to researchers Rowena Packer, Dr. Anke Hendricks and Dr. Charlotte Burn of the
United Kingdom's Royal Veterinary College.
In their 2012 study, the researchers
discovered that owners of such dogs as pugs, English bulldogs, Pekingese,
French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Shih tzus and
others were not aware of the signs of BOAS. In fact, 58% of surveyed owners
said their dogs did not have breathing problems even when more than two-thirds
of the dogs showed difficulties during exercise.
What to watch for
According to Packer, while it is not yet known which are the best predictors of
BOAS, signs to look for include:
Increased and abnormal breathing noise that sounds like
snoring, both when the dog is awake and asleep
A shortness of breath while exercising or playing
Effortful, labored breathing with obvious abdominal
movements
Interrupting exercise, play or eating to catch their
breath
Inability to exercise for reasonable periods of time
without becoming out of breath
Difficulty cooling down after a walk; panting for long
periods
Physical collapse while exercising
Difficulty sleeping and/or periods where the dog stops
breathing during sleep
Restlessness and difficulty getting comfortable at
rest, stretched out head and neck position, forelegs spread and body flat
against the floor
Gastrointestinal (GI) problems, such as difficulty
swallowing, and bringing up food, stomach content or a lot of saliva.
"If you notice these signs, take
your dog to your veterinarian for an assessment to learn whether they are
compatible with the disease or due to a different problem," says
Hendricks.
"If left to develop," says
Burn, "BOAS can lead to secondary problems due to the effort required to
breathe—putting pressure on the voice box, digestive system and heart. In
addition, the more severe the breathing problems, the greater the severity of
GI signs. They may reflect inflammation of the esophagus, stomach ulcers and,
in some cases, hiatal hernias, when part of the stomach can become displaced
into the chest cavity during breathing."
Option for severe BOAS
If your veterinarian believes the dog may have BOAS that requires treatment, he
or she may refer you to a veterinary surgical specialist. There, the dog's
airway is likely to be examined under general anesthesia to assess whether it
shows the abnormalities associated with BOAS—an elongated soft palate,
collapsing voice box and narrowed nostrils.
If present, these abnormalities would
be surgically corrected, says Packer. That could mean, for example, that excess
tissue in the nose and throat would be removed.
Surgery may improve clinical signs, she
says, but the dog may never be "normal," because of the head
structure and is likely to remain susceptible to heat stress.
For severely affected dogs, where
significant secondary problems have occurred—for example, severe laryngeal
collapse—then treatment choices may be limited. In some cases, either permanent
tracheostomy or euthanasia may be recommended.
"That is why it is vital,"
says Hendricks, "that owners recognize the clinical signs of BOAS and
perceive them to be a ‘problem' as early as possible, so that these secondary
changes can be avoided by early intervention."
Options for mildly
affected dogs
For all dogs, including those that have had surgery or have been determined by
a veterinarian to only be mildly affected, owners can help with some lifestyle
changes, says Burn. Owners should do the following:
Closely monitor the dog to keep it at a healthy weight.
Being overweight or obese can exacerbate the condition.
Use body harnesses rather than collars on walks so the
airway is not compressed by a neck collar if the dog pulls at the leash.
Avoid walking on hot or humid days. On particularly
warm days, keep dogs calm and indoors in a cool, aerated room with access
to water.
Avoid having dogs in particularly stressful or exciting
situations.
The temperature is soaring, and it’s
only going to get hotter. Make sure you know how to keep your cat safe in the
summer heat.
Watch out forheatstroke. Symptoms
include panting, lethargy, drooling, fever, vomiting and collapse. If you
think your cat may have heatstroke, get the vet ASAP — the condition can
cause permanent organ damage and death. Learn more about heatstroke in
pets.
Offer your cat several ways to
cool off. Leave a fan on
in a place where your cat can sit in front of it, add some ice cubes to
her water or offer her a cool treat (check out our recipe for catsicles.)
Letyour cat find cool spots in
the house. Your cat will seek out the cooler parts of your home, so
make sure she has access to areas with tile floors or rooms that don’t get
much sun.
Play in the morning or evening. Any exercise should take place
during the cooler hours of the day. This is especially important for young
kittens and seniors, both of whom are very vulnerable to heatstroke. (If
your cat has just eaten, make sure you give her some time to digest before
you begin playtime.)
As the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day is a
great excuse to get outdoors. But whether you’re partying, barbequing, or just
soaking up some rays, it’s important to keep your pet’s safety in mind at all
times. To prevent any Memorial Day mishaps, we’ve put together five tips to
help protect animals during the “Dog Days” of the season.
Party
Smart
Barbequing is one of the best parts of Memorial Day,
but remember that the food and drink you serve your guests may be poisonous to
pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from animals, and remind guests not to give
them any table scraps or snacks. Raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, and
avocado are all common at barbeques—and they’re all especially toxic to
animals.
Be
Cool Near the Pool
Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or
lake—not all dogs are expert swimmers! Introduce your pets to water gradually
and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Also, try to keep your
dog from drinking pool water, which contains potentially dangerous chemicals
like chlorine.
Skip
the Spray
Unless specifically designed for animals, insect
repellant and sunscreen can be toxic to pets. Signs of repellent toxicity
include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. DEET, a
common insecticide in products for humans, may cause neurological issues in
dogs.
Made
in the Shade
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so if you’re
spending time outside, give them plenty of fresh, clean water and make sure
they have a shady place to get out of the sun. Note that animals with flat
faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since
they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the
overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in
air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
IDs,
Please
Time spent outdoors comes with the added risk of
pets escaping. Make sure that your pet is fitted with a microchip or ID tag
with identifying information, or both. It’s always better to be safe than
sorry.
Pets aren’t always easy to take care of, and they often require a
substantial time commitment (something you’re all too aware of at, say, 3 a.m.,
when Bing Clawsby is finally ready to go outside and do his business). But pets
provide an amazing return on that time investment, especially when it comes to
your health. Case in point: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and
triglyceride levels than non-pet owners. But that’s not all. Pets also model
many surprisingly healthy behaviors that humans would do well to emulate. Here
are just a few, according to veterinarians, dog trainers, and other pet
experts.
1. They focus on what matters most. You may get grumpy after a bad
day at the office, but your pooch never does. “Companion animals mostly care
about food, love, and shelter (not always in that order). As long as they have
those things, they don’t need much else,” Mary Gardner, DVM, a veterinarian and
cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice tells Yahoo Health. “Pets also
don’t complain much at all. People believe they hide their pain; I simply think
they manage it differently.” If humans could model these behaviors, Gardner
adds, we’d be healthier, happier, “and more people would want to be around
us.”
2. They practice portion control (even if not by choice). Snowball
might not want to limit her kibble intake any more than you want to limit your
tortilla-chip intake. Nonetheless, she typically eats reasonably sized helpings
of nutritionally balanced food — and never gets to eat straight out of the bag.
Follow her lead. “Both animals and people need structure and regulation when it
comes to portion size,” says Jme Thomas, executive director of Motley Zoo
Animal Rescue based in Redmond, Washington.
3. They know how to de-stress. Your pooch doesn’t pour a glass of
cabernet when the going gets rough (though, yes, it would make a very popular
YouTube video if she did). She may, however, start begging for a walk or to
play a game. Smart dog! “Actively seeking healthy activities — that function as
de-stressors when stress levels are high — helps to reset people as well as dogs,
and bring us back to a productive and functional status, from which many things
feel a lot more ‘do-able,’” Marisa Scully, a certified dog behavior specialist
in Philadelphia, tells Yahoo Health.
4. They hit the hay. People don’t get enough sleep: According to a
2014 survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 45 percent of Americans said that
a lack of sleep had impaired their activities at least once in the previous
week. Learn from your cat or dog, who knows just how important it is to get
enough shut-eye, says Jeff Werber, VVM, president and chief veterinarian of
Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. “Whether it’s a lazy dog day
afternoon, or a quick cat nap, you won’t find them burning the candles at both
ends.” 5. They stretch! There’s a reason one of the most common yoga moves is
named downward dog. Dogs (and cats) stretch constantly — and we should do the
same, notes certified dog behavior consultant Russell Hartstein. Why?
Stretching can improve flexibility and reduce your risk of injury.
6. They’re open to new things. Animals are naturally curious.
“Open a box or empty a bag and before you know it, your cat will have climbed
in to investigate. Walk your dog past a gardener planting flowers and chances
are she will check it out before moving on,” Werber says. “And they’re always
up for some fun. A game of catch, a walk, a visit — bring it on.” Since
research has found that seeking out new experiences can keep people feeling
young and healthy, we’d do well to follow suit.
7. They’re comfortable getting zen. Numerous studies have found a
correlation between mindful meditation and reduced stress, decreased heart
disease, and a stronger immune response — and that’s something your cat already
knows how to do instinctively. “Each morning I sit on the sofa with my cat,
Turtle, while I drink my first cup of coffee,” says Kristen Levine, a pet
living expert. “We spend about 10 minutes together, her getting neck and head
rubs, me enjoying her purring and having a few meditative moments at the start
of the day.It sounds simple, and it can be, but depending on the activity, it
can have a powerfully relaxing or invigorating effect for both human and
critter.”
Science is proving what pet
owners have long believed: Dogs understand what we're feeling. Specifically, dogs
can recognize the difference between a happy and an angry human face, a study
published Thursday in Current Biology suggests.
It's the first research to show definitively that dogs are
sensitive to our facial expressions, says coauthor Ludwig Huber, head of
comparative cognition at Messerli Research Institute at the University of
Veterinary Medicine, Vienna.
In the Austrian study, 20 pet dogs of various breeds and sizes
were taught to play a computer game through a series of exercises. In the
first, the dogs were shown two touch screens, one with a circle and one with a
square. Through trial and error, they learned that a treat would appear if they
chose the right geometrical figure.
Eleven of the 20 dogs were able to catch on to rules of the game
and make it to the next phase, where they were shown photos of faces. Half the
dogs were rewarded for picking a happy expression and half for choosing an
angry expression. The interesting catch: the dogs were shown only the upper
half or the lower half of a face.
It was easier to teach the
dogs to choose a happy expression than an angry one, suggesting the dogs do
indeed understand the meaning behind the expression, Huber says.
As a test, the dogs were then were presented with:
the same half of the faces they saw during the training, but
from different people
the other half of the faces used in training
the other half of new faces
the left half of the faces used in training
In the vast majority of cases the dogs chose the right answer 70 to 100 percent
of the time.
Dogs who had been trained to recognize an expression of anger or
happiness on the upper part of a face could identify the same expression when
shown only the lower part, and vice versa, Huber says, adding “the only
possible explanation is that they recall from memory of everyday life how a
whole human face looks when happy or angry.”
Dog owners know their pets not only recognize emotions but also
feel empathy.
Delilah, a 3-year-old Chihuahua, always seems to know when her
owner Eva Shure is having a bad day.
Delilah knows when her owner is having a bad day.
Making eye contact and cocking her head to the right, the little dog will stare
at Shure's face as if trying to assess her feelings. “It’s weird, I can see her
thinking and processing,” says Shure, a 35-year-old New York City business
owner. “I’ll say, yeah, it’s not a great day and she’ll come up and sit next to
me.”
Beverly Levreault, 57, says her 6-year-old Australian Cattle Dog
mix is always tuned in to her moods. “If I’m not feeling well, like when I have
the flu, Lacey is definitely lower key and will not leave my side, ” says
Levreault, a graphic designer from Williamstown, New York. “If I take her for a
walk, she’s not as rambunctious as she usually is.”
Lynette Whiteman says she’s not sure that her 5-year-old
Yorkie-Maltese cross is using facial expressions to gauge how she feels. “But
she definitely reads my emotions,” says the 58-year-old from Toms River, New
Jersey. “I run a therapy dog program and the dogs are just amazing. They go
into a room and immediately pick out the person who needs help.”
Behavioral experts say the new findings, while important,
wouldn’t surprise anyone with an intimate knowledge of dogs.
Coco and Lynettte
"This new work continues to build the case for just how sensitive dogs are
to our subtle behaviors,” says Dr. Brian Hare, chief scientific officer at
Dognition and an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke
University. “This is the strongest evidence yet that dogs are even reading our
facial expressions.”
That sensitivity may be the
result of generations of selective breeding for a true partner, says Dr. Carlo
Siracusa, director of the behavior service at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine. “We have selected animals that are able to
perceive our emotions and communicate with us at a level that no other animal
can,” Siracusa says.
Dogs may not talk, but they are very good communicators, says
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a professor in the department of clinical sciences at the
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and director of the
animal behavior clinic at Cummings.
“Just as we are masters of the spoken word, dogs are experts at
reading body language,” Dodman says.
“It’s almost impossible to hide your feelings from a dog.”
Turns out, reading facial expressions isn’t the only thing dogs
have in common with us.
They can be bitten by the computer gaming bug. “They can really
become freaks for it,” Huber says with a chuckle. “They don’t want to stop
playing. It’s incredible. They’ll play till they are exhausted and fall
asleep.”
Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but they’re actually quite dangerous for our animal companions. Our nutrition experts have put together a handy list of the top toxic people foods to avoid feeding your pet. As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten any of the following foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine
These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.
Avocado
The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.
Grapes & Raisins
Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.
Yeast Dough
Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.
Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.
Xylitol
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.
Onions, Garlic, Chives
These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but we recommend that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.
Milk
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.
Salt
Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!
Does your dog growl or bark when a stranger approaches your house or when something goes bump in the night? If so, you’re not alone.
Most dogs will vocalize when they are exposed to new or different situations, including strange people or animals entering their territory; being separated from their pack, mother or even your family members; or new or alarming sounds.
Dogs may also bark or growl when they see prey, such as squirrels, and they may bark for attention, food or if they are anxious. Dogs often growl when they are fearful or trying to assert themselves in a situation. If the dog’s fear or assertiveness is alleviated by growling or barking, the dog will learn that his behavior is acceptable and the behavior may become more frequent or severe. Some medical problems may cause growling or barking and older pets experiencing senile changes may have barking problems. Intense and continuous barking may be considered compulsive.
Check with your veterinarian to evaluate your pet’s barking or growling problem. Behavior training and drug therapy may be helpful in reducing barking for pets with medical, geriatric and compulsive disorders.
Socializing your puppy can help
Acclimate your puppy to a variety of different people, environments, situations and noises to help lessen anxiety as your puppy grows. Make sure your puppy spends time alone so that he doesn’t develop separation anxiety while you are away from him.
Proper training is essential to preventing behavior problems, such as growling and barking. Ask you veterinarian for more information about puppy training.
Correcting a barking or growling problem
Correcting a barking or growling problem first requires that you have effective management of your dog. Once you have achieved this, you can begin to train your dog to lessen his barking or growling behavior by using rewards for quiet behavior. The reward should be something that the dog really likes such as a favorite treat, tummy rubs, or a favorite toy.
Punishment is generally ineffective in correcting barking problems. Too much punishment may even exacerbate the behavior and cause the dog to be fearful or aggressive.
Begin your training with situations that you can easily control (such as a family member making a noise that causes the dog to bark) before moving on to difficult situations (such as a strange animal in your yard). When your dog barks at the stimuli (for instance, a doorbell ring), immediately interrupt the barking. When the dog is quiet offer the dog a reward for their behavior. Without the reward there is no incentive to remain quiet.Reward your dog when, at your request, he has stopped barking. Only reward the dog when he is quiet and gradually increase the amount of time that the dog needs to be quiet for him to receive a reward.
As the barking or growling problem decreases, make sure to direct your dog to more appropriate behavior, such as play, and the problem should lessen over time. Don't forget to discuss training options with your veterinarian to find the one that will work best for your pet.
1. Do not apply any sunscreen or insect
repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on
animals.
2. Always assign a dog guardian. No matter
where you're celebrating, be sure to assign a friend or member of the family to
keep an eye on your pooch-especially if you're not in a fenced-in yard or other
secure area.
3. Made in the shade. Pets can get dehydrated
quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water, and make sure they have a
shady place to escape the sun.
4. Always keep matches and lighter fluid out
of paws' reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could
potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing-or even
kidney disease in severe cases.
5. Keep your pet on his normal diet. Any
change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea.
6. Keep citronella candles, insect coils and
oil products out of reach. Ingesting any of these items can produce stomach
irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression in your pets,
and if inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia.
7. Never leave your dog alone in the car.
Traveling with your dog means occasionally you'll make stops in places where
he's not permitted. Be sure to rotate dog walking duties between family
members, and never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.
8. Make a safe splash. Don't leave pets
unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers.
We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger, ASPCA experts warn.
"Most people love to spend the warmer days enjoying the outdoors with friends and family, but it is important to remember that some activities can be dangerous for our pets," said Dr. Camille DeClementi, Senior Toxicologist at the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. "By following a few simple rules, it is easy to keep your pet safe while still having fun in the sun."
Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.
Visit the Vet
A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren't on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe flea and tick control program.
Made in the Shade
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.
Know the Warning Signs
Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
No Parking!
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. "On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time-even with the windows open-which could lead to fatal heat stroke," says Dr. Louise Murray, Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Hospital. Also, leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states.
Make a Safe Splash
Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset.
Screen Test
"During warmer months, the ASPCA sees an increase in injured animals as a result of High-Rise Syndrome, which occurs when pets-mostly cats-fall out of windows or doors and are seriously or fatally injured," says Dr. Murray. "Pet owners need to know that this is completely preventable if they take simple precautions." Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
Summer Style
Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs' coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
Street Smarts
When the temperature is very high, don't let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close the ground, your pooch's body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
Avoid Chemicals
Commonly used flea and tick products, rodenticides (mouse and rat baits), and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets' reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.
Party Animals
Taking Fido to a backyard barbeque or party? Remember that the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol.
Fireworks Aren't Very Pet-riotic
Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma to curious pets, and even unused fireworks can be hazardous. Many types of fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, arsenic and other heavy metals.
Our pets appreciate us every single day as they depend on us for food, water, shelter, and love. Let’s show our pets some extra appreciation this week!
Two major national pet stores are pulling all dog and cat treats made in China off of their shelves as years of complaints to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pile up that jerky treats from China were possibly making pets sick.
Vice President of Merchandising for Petco John Sturm said they are voluntarily removing these products after consumers voiced concerns.
Another major pet food retailer, PetSmart, is pulling Chinese-made jerky treats from its stores in the U.S. and Canada.
The treats have been linked to more than 1,000 dog deaths and nearly 5,000 other pet illnesses.
The FDA said it's still working to determine the exact causes of the illnesses.
While the products won't actually disappear from PetSmart shelves until March of 2015, Petco plans to pull the products by the end of this year.
So you received a new pet dog this holiday season.First of all…CONGRATULATIONS!Being a pet owner is one of the best things
possible.Pets are loyal, loving, kind,
playful, and much more.However, we know
that it can be a bit overwhelming at first.Here are some tips to help you with this great life changing experience.
If
you haven’t already, give your new pet time to acclimate to your home and
family before introducing him to strangers. Make sure children know how to
approach the dog without overwhelming him.
When
you pick up your dog, remember to ask what and when he was fed. Replicate
that schedule for at least the first few days to avoid gastric distress.
If you wish to switch to a different brand, do so over a period of about a
week by adding one part new food to three parts of the old for several
days. Then switch to half new food, half old, and then one part old to
three parts new.
On
the way home, your dog should be safely secured, preferably in a crate.
Some dogs find car trips stressful, so having him in a safe place will
make the trip home easier on your new pet and yourself.
Once
home, take him to his toileting area immediately and spend a good amount
of time with him so he will get used to the area and relieve himself. Even
if your dog does relieve himself during this time, be prepared for
accidents. Coming into a new home with new people, new smells, and new
sounds will throw even the most housebroken dog off-track, so be ready
just in case.
If
you plan on crate training your dog, leave the crate open so that he can
go in whenever he feels like it in case he gets overwhelmed. Ask us about
further do’s and don’ts tips.
From
there, start your schedule of feeding, toileting and play/exercise. From day
one, your dog will need family time and brief periods of solitary
confinement. Don’t give in and comfort him if he whines when left alone.
Instead, give him attention for good behavior, such as chewing on a toy or
resting quietly.
For
the first few days, remain calm and quiet around your dog, limiting too
much excitement (such as the dog park or neighborhood children). Not only
will this allow your dog to settle in easier, it will give you more
one-on-one time to get to know him and his likes/dislikes.
If
he came from another home, objects like leashes, hands, rolled up
newspapers and magazines, feet, chairsm and sticks are just some of the
pieces of “training equipment” that may have been used on this dog. Words
like “come here” and “lie down” may bring forth a reaction other than the
one you expect. Or maybe he led a sheltered life and was never socialized
to children or sidewalk activity. This dog may be the product of a
never-ending series of scrambled communications and unreal expectations
that will require patience on your part.
Following Weeks:
People
often say they don’t see their dog’s true personality until several weeks
after adoption. Your dog will be a bit uneasy at first as he gets to know
you. Be patient and understanding while also keeping to the schedule you
intend to maintain for feeding, walks, etc. This schedule will show your
dog what is expected of him as well as what he can expect from you.
After
verifying with us that your new pet has all the necessary vaccines, you
may wish to take your dog to group training classes or the dog park. Pay
close attention to your dog’s body language to be sure he’s having a good
time and is not fearful or a dog park bully. If you’re unsure of what
signs to watch for, let us know. We’ll be more than happy to show you.
To
have a long and happy life together with your dog, stick to the original
schedule you created, ensuring your dog always has the food, potty time,
and attention he needs. You’ll be bonded in no time!
If
you encounter behavior issues you are unfamiliar with, ask us for a trainer
recommendation. Select a trainer who uses positive-reinforcement
techniques to help you and your dog overcome these behavior obstacles.
Cherish
every moment…Pets are one of the greatest companions people can have. Like children, they also grow up fast!
Sometimes it may
seem like a cute idea to give someone a pet as a Christmas present, but it’s
important to give that some extra thought before you do it. Most pets that are
given up lose their home because their owner loses interest in them or is unprepared
for the responsibility of pet ownership. This is a huge problem seen among pet
owners who receive their pets as “gifts.” Children especially are given the
mistaken idea that pets are all fun and games, but they are not fully ready to
take on the responsibility of feeding, walking, cleaning, and training their
pet.
Instead of
giving pets as presents, we recommend getting acclimated to the idea of
bringing a new pet into your home. Bringing your children to volunteer at an
animal shelter or babysitting the pet of a friend or family member can help.
Children and potential pet owners (no matter their age!) need to be reminded
that pets aren’t just cute; they are also hungry, need to exercise, and need to
use the bathroom. They can be messy when they aren’t fully trained, and the
training process can be difficult too.
Please, don’t
adopt until everyone in your family is READY.
November is National Senior Pet Month. Whether you have a senior pet or have plans to adopt one, we can provide you with information on how best to care of your senior pet.
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