Is the Barking Driving You Crazy?

All dogs have a voice whether it is barking, howling or yapping and some breeds speak more often than others. It’s important to choose the dog that’s right for your situation. As with any bad behavior, excessive barking can be managed, if controlled early.

Dog breeds that bark a lot
• Beagle
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• West Highland White Terrier
• Chihuahua

If your pet is sitting quietly, you can always reward them with pets and treats. If your pet is barking you can teach them the “quiet” command. If the barking continues even with training, ignore them until they quiet down.

How to Stop Your Pet From Jumping Up

Dogs can often get carried away when greeting people. And it can get very embarrassing when your dog is trying to jump all over your friends. Unfortunately, we are often to blame for this bad behavior.

Greeting pets enthusiastically encourages them to get excited and jump up on us. With us greeting them with hugs and excitement, we are rewarding that bad behavior.

Tips:
• Avoid greeting your pet enthusiastically.
• Try to gain focus of your pet and use the “Sit” command to calm them.
• Reward your pet with pets when they sit calmly.
• If your pet continues to jump up on you, ignore them by turning your back and continuing with your tasks.
• Once your pet calms down, reward them with a treat or praise.

Dog Bad Habits

Examples of unwanted dog behavior:
• playing biting,
• chewing,
• barking,
• tail chasing,
• licking,
• jumping up,
• digging.

Chewing can occur for a number of reasons – teething, boredom, or anxiety. Most dogs have all their adult teeth by 2 years of age. Teething should definitely stop by this age. If teething is a problem, give your pet ice cubes to help alleviate any discomfort that they may be experiencing. Bored dogs can also show bad habits such as chewing, barking, or digging. These pets need more exercise and toys to help entertain them throughout the day. If no one is home during the day, dogs that are left alone may benefit from a dog walker to help alleviate any boredom they may experience during the day. Anxious dogs can chew everything and anything when left alone. If a pet is to be left for long periods of time it is important that they are left with chew-proof toys. Exercise and training can help reduce anxiety. Making sure that you do not make a big fuss about leaving and returning will also help your pet to remain calm.

Pet Sleeping Habits

Dogs need their sleep and without it they can become stressed. Stress can result in behavioral changes, weight loss and a lowered immune system. Although very few studies exist on the sleep and dreaming habits of dogs, it appears that the amount of sleep required depends on the dog breed, age and energy levels. Most dogs need about 14 hours of sleep a day.

Large breed dogs such as Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards and Great Danes sleep a lot more than the small breeds. They can sleep up to 18 hours a day. Low energy dogs that sit at home such as Bull dogs and Bassett Hounds sleep a lot more than high energy dogs such as working dogs (e.g. search and rescue dogs).

Placing your pet’s bed in an area that is away from noise and activity will help them get their required amount of sleep for rejuvenation. Changes in sleep patterns can definitely be an early sign of illness. If this is the case, seek veterinary attention for further investigation.

Like humans, dogs’ do dream. The twitching, whimpering and paw movements are signs of a dog in deep sleep. Avoid suddenly waking your pet up from deep sleep.

Anti-inflammatory Side Effects

Pets are often prescribed anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to help relieve the pain following surgery, dentals or long term for pets with chronic conditions such as arthritis. These products can provide very effective pain relief, but are not advised for pets with kidney, liver, or stomach issues. Only your veterinarian is able to choose the right anti-inflammatory for your pet.

If your pet has been prescribed anti-inflammatories, it is important to monitor your pet closely for any side effects such as:
- vomiting
- diarrhea (with or without blood)
- inappetence
- tense abdomen
- black stools
- drinking a lot
- urinating a lot
- pale gums

Notify your veterinary hospital immediately if you notice any of these signs.

And NEVER use human NSAIDs on your pets!

Prevention of serious NSAID problems
- Monitor for signs
- Visit the veterinarian regularly i.e. every 3-6 months
- Have blood tests done at vet visits to pick up early signs of kidney or liver problems
- Keep to the prescribed dose (Increasing the NSAID dose does not necessarily provide more pain relief)
- Notify the veterinarian of all other medications your pet is on. Other drugs such as Corticosteroids (used for allergy relief) and Aspirin can cause serious drug reactions.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the development of a malformation of the hip in any dog breed. More commonly seen in large breed dogs, it has been reported by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as high as 80% in some breeds. The condition has a strong genetic component but can also be caused by other factors such as growth rate and diet.



Commonly affected breeds:
• Bull Dogs
• Newfoundlands
• Saint Bernards
• Labrador Retrievers
• Golden Retrievers

Diagnosis:
• Radiographs analyzed by the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP)

Treatment:
• Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain
• Nutraceuticals to help with join health
• Modified exercise program
• Physical Therapy
• Diet modification for weight loss
• Surgery

Prevention:
• Do appropriate screening of dogs before adopting them
• Get your puppy screened early at the time of vaccination

Pets with Bad Breath

Healthy pets should have normal fresh breath. Bad breath can be a sign of a serious dental disease or health problems. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports 70% of cats and 80% of dogs show signs of dental disease by age 3 years.

It's important to have your pets teeth examined by a veterinarian every year. You can help prevent dental problems by brushing your pets teeth regularly.

Other preventive measures include dental sealants, dental chew toys, and dental chews. Ask your veterinarian to discuss preventive options for your pet.

Pets with Allergies

Allergies are one of the most common problems in dogs with inhaled allergens, food and fleas being the top causes. When pets breathe in allergens such as pollens, they can develop itchy and irritated skin. Allergic pets generally show signs around 6-7 months and fully develop signs by 3-5 years. It can be seasonal or it can be all year round.

Signs of allergies in pets:
• Chewing of feet
• Discoloration of fur on feet (saliva staining)
• Hair loss
• Hot and reddened skin around face, feet, armpits and groin
• Scabby skin

If you suspect allergies, your veterinarian can run a simple blood test to determine what is causing your pet to itch.

Beware of Christmas Plants

Christmas plants are those that are often used to decorate the homes during the festive season.

Toxic Plants:
- English Holly
- American Mistletoe
- Poinsietta
- Christmas Tree Preservatives

Thinking of a Gift for your Pet for Christmas?

When considering a fun and safe gift for your pet, don’t forget good quality time. Pets love a good cuddle, a walk, lounging on the couch with you, and just spending time with their family. Cats love toys that dangle or crinkle. Dogs like squeaky toys and toys that hide treats.

Safety tips:
• Avoid rich Christmas food including roast turkey, chocolate, nuts, garlic, or onions
• Avoid cooked bones
• Keep Christmas decorations safely away from pets

Will Cat Food Hurt My Dog?

Cat food is not harmful to dogs. However, a cat’s diet does have different nutritional requirements to that of a dog’s diet. The richness of a cat’s diet can cause problems for dogs such as stomach upsets (vomiting and diarrhea) and even obesity.

On the other hand, dog food does not contain the necessary nutrients for cats. And therefore, cats cannot achieve a healthy balanced diet from dog food. It’s always best to keep the cat food for cats and the dog food for dogs.

Salmon Poisoning

Salmon poisoning actually refers to the fatal disease when dogs ingest salmon that is carrying a tiny parasite. Well-cleaned and cooked salmon is unlikely to cause a problem. However, care must be taken in feeding fish of any kind to your pet as bones can cause harm to your pet’s digestive tract.

Is it Ok to Give My Dog Milk?

Many dogs are actually lactose intolerant which means that they lack the enzyme necessary to break down the lactose within the milk. These affected dogs can become ill with vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort, when fed milk.

Whilst many dogs are lactose intolerant, some dogs are not. If you are unsure, only give small amounts of milk at a time and dilute with water.

Car Sickness

Motion sickness does occur in dogs and usually occurs very shortly into a car ride. Dogs typically start drooling and then vomit. It’s important to get your dog used to car rides from a young age. Letting them sit in a car for a few minutes a day will help them to be calm and associate the car with a good experience. Once your pet is comfortable with the car, you can then gradually introduce short car rides.

If your pet is older and does not seem to be acclimatizing to the car, you can always talk to your veterinarian about motion sickness medication.

Feet Chewing

Unlike people, where allergies cause sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes, dogs show allergies by chewing at their feet and legs. On white-haired dogs, the orange tinting is a sign of saliva staining and chronic allergies.

Common allergies:
• Fleas
• Food
• Shampoo
• Pollen
• Grasses

Your veterinarian can help run tests to determine what your pet may be allergic too.

Scooting

Scooting can be caused by a number of reasons:
• Fleas
• Worms
• Anal Gland Problem

If your pet regularly gets its parasite preventives, it may need to be examined by the veterinarian. Anal glands, particularly in smaller breeds, can become blocked. If these glands are not expressed regularly, they can cause extreme discomfort and also become infected.

Important Tips for Kids and their Pets

Pets are an important part of life for over 60% of the US population and children can benefit immensely from the bond they form with their pets. Unfortunately, serious dog bites, cat scratches, and other pet-related diseases still occur in children predominantly 4-9 years of age.

Pets' Playground - Playing Safe In a Dog-and-Cat World, published by the American Animal Hospital Association, is an essential resource to help keep kids safe while benefiting from the human animal bond. The book can be viewed here.

Pets' Playground teaches children about:
· Pet behavior and feelings
· Pet toys and playtime
· Healthy meals and treats for pets
· Good pet care and responsibility
· Creepy crawlies that pets and kids need to avoid
· Household safety and poisonous plants
· Visits to the vet
· And more!

More fun pet games at Kids and Pet Safety

Drooling

Dogs can drool for many reasons:
• Nervousness
• Excitement
• In anticipation of food
• Breed-related

To save your carpet, furniture and clothing from drool, try to wipe your pets mouth regularly, use chew toys to help them swallow more to soak up any excessive saliva.

If you pet has started to drool suddenly, seek medical attention as it may be a sign of nausea, anxiety, or painful teeth.

My Dog Keeps Pulling on its Leash

It’s not unusual for the excited dog to pull on its leash when walked. Unfortunately, this can put a lot of pressure on their neck. Gentle Leaders are a great solution for preventing pulling. The Gentle Leader attaches to the collar and wraps around the muzzle.

Taking your pet to obedience class can also help your dog learn to walk calmly.

My Dog is Attracted to Smelly Things

Unfortunately, like their wild counterparts, dogs are attracted to smelly things like dead animals, manure, droppings, and garbage. It’s not fully known why they do it, but there are some tips to help prevent it from happening:
• Keep your pet fenced in your yard
• Pick up droppings in the yard
• Secure trash so they cannot gain access even when it is knocked over
• Keep your pet on a leash when walking
• Train your pet to come and stay so that you can avoid them rolling in smelly things