Category : Dog Health

Beat the Heat This Summer

As the temperature climbed to 98 degrees INSIDE my house, it made me think maybe I should share some tips on staying cool this summer.  Number one, make sure your air conditioner does not go out if you live in Georgia in the hottest month of the year, August!  But if it does arm yourself with the knowledge you need to keep you and your dog cool all year long.

The first thing to realize, is that your dog cannot sweat out of all his pores like you can.  Dogs cool themselves by panting, and sweating through their paw pads.  This is not a rapid cooling system and that is why dogs can suffer from heat stroke very rapidly!  The veterinarian I use to work for use to tell our clients that any temperature over 70 degrees can be potentially dangerous for your furry friend.  If your dog is actively exercising his temperature will increase even more quickly, so make sure he has access to lots of water and it is best to have access to a body of water so your dog can immerse and cool his whole body when it gets hot.

Next, arm yourself with knowledge!

The first thing to know is that a normal dog body temperature is 100 to 102.5.  Put a thermometer in your car or you your backpack in case you need to use it to monitor your dog.  Dog temperatures must be taken rectally, they don’t keep it under their tongues and the ear thermometers can be inaccurate.

Recognize the signs

• Rapid panting
• Red or pale gums
• Red tongue
• Thick sticky saliva
• Vomiting, sometimes with blood
• Weakness
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Disorientation
• Diarrhea
• Shock
• Coma

What to do

Take him out of the heat immediately and slowly begin to cool him immersing him in or room temperature water.  Cold water may make things worse, his body needs to acclimate to the temperature change or it can cause other life threatening conditions.   Check his temperature rectally every 5 minutes until he reaches 103 then stop and dry him off and continue to monitor his temperature regularly as you take him to the vet for assessment.  He should be examined by a vet to make sure he is not suffering from dehydration or other complications.

Your vet will continue to monitor his temperature, administer IV or subcutaneous fluid and monitor his blood’s clotting.  Complications can include kidney failure, heart abnormalities, breathing distress, and shock.   He will be treated as your vet deems appropriate, but do not fail to take him to the vet, as these symptoms are not easily seen without having a thorough exam and blood work.

Prevention

• Dogs with obesity, heart conditions, breathing problems and those that are older can have a more difficult time cooling themselves.  These dogs need to be kept in the shade or in cooler areas and not over exercised in warm weather.
• Provide constant access to drinking water and to bodies of water if at all possible.
• NEVER leave your dog in a parked car in the heat (windows down or not) the heat in a parked car can climb upwards of 150 degrees very rapidly and cause death.
• Make sure dogs left outside have access to cool water and shade.  In extreme heat even outside dogs in the shade can suffer and die due to heat and exposure.
• If you and your dog must be outside you can access cooling mats for crates and other accessories by searching online.  You can also seek comfort by going into air conditioned places or running the air conditioning in your car for periods of time to cool you both off.

Remember, that your dog’s body temperature rises more quickly than yours and due to his coat and his inability to sweat like we do he has a harder time cooling himself off when the temperatures soar.  Monitor his comfort level, make sure he has plenty of water to drink and swim in and have a great time!

Fleas; Your Dog’s Arch Enemy

This is one of the worst years in my memory for fleas, at least here in the South!  The irony for me is that I am from the North West and I never grew up having to worry about fleas or the carnage they wreak on pets.  In the North West, it gets too cold during the winter for fleas to survive so they don’t pose much of a problem for house pets.  Even when I was a veterinary technician in Denver, Colorado we didn’t see problems with fleas in dogs or cats unless they were actively around wild life.  Truth be told, I hardly recognized fleas when I moved to Georgia four years ago however the education was rapid!

Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned about the flea, is that it can’t be plucked and squished with your fingers.  Fleas have an extremely hard exoskeleton that protects them from being squished and killed easily.  Fleas must be killed by rolling them between your fingers and then squeezing them in between two fingernails, or crushing them between two hard objects.   Fleas can also be killed by using adhesive tape, drowning in water and direct contact with anti-flea pesticides.

Fleas can survive two months to a year between meals. A flea population is unevenly distributed, with 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae, and 5% adults. Their total life cycle can take as little as two weeks, but may be as long as many months if conditions are favorable. Female fleas can lay 500 or more eggs over their life, allowing for phenomenal growth rates.

It is a common Myth at fleas don’t bite people.  Fleas often bite people and can cause itching and rashes and even skin infections in some people.

Prior to an Infestation

Educate yourself about flea products, not all products are created equal.  Flea collars are ineffective and do little to no good for most pets.  Sprays and flea baths can be effective if the product is made by a good manufacturer, however if you use topical flea medications like Frontline® frequent baths can wash away the expensive prescription medication you are using.

Speak to your local veterinarian about prescription products to help keep your best friend flea free.  The recommendation of products depends on your vet, your pet and the dynamics of your particular geographical area and the propensity for flea infestation.  Prescription products are the best, and there is even a monthly pill that can be given to help your pet be more comfortable.  Even ONE flea can cause severe reaction, itching and allergies in some dogs.

After an Infestation

Once you have recognized fleas on your pet and you have sought the assistance of your vet to help kill the fleas on your pet, it is time to deal with the problem so that it doesn’t get worse or continue to plague you.

First is to treat your pet and give him some relief.  If untreated a flea infestation can lead to severe skin infection in pets.

Next you must treat the area your pet goes and resides.  You must treat the residence inside and outside to see improvement in this predicament.  There are products you can get to spray or bomb inside (pets, humans and fish must be removed in order to use indoor bombs) or you can contact a local pest company.

You must also treat the yard and any outdoor area your pet goes.  You can also find products at your local store to treat the outdoor area, or again you can contact a pest company that will treat the area for you.

The MOST IMPORTANT PART

You must treat the inside and the outside area once weekly with whatever product you desire weekly for at least 3 weeks.  Because there are many lifecycles of the flea, you must kill each lifecycle.  When you initially treat the area, you will kill the adult flea but not necessarily the pupae or the eggs which can be very resistant to insecticides.  Care must be taken for several weeks to kill all of the fleas and their offspring in the environment both indoors and out.

Flea infestation can cause severe problems for the humans and the pets in the environment.  Speak to your vet and come up with a plan to keep your home flea free, and if an infestation does erupt just be diligent in making sure all fleas have been killed and good luck!

Preparing and Dealing with Thunderstorms

This is the time of year for afternoon thunderstorms.  Many dog’s suffer from thunderstorm phobia, and sometimes it seems the older the dog gets the more severe the phobia becomes.

Because we are not dogs, we can only hypothesize how dogs feel when it storms, but for some dogs storms truly cause a panic attack.  This can actually be life threatening in some cases; because some dogs run away, break through windows and some have even been reported to jump from secondstory windows causing mutilation and even death.

Some experts hypothesize that the electrical current in the air actually has a shocking affect for some dogs.  This theory may explain why some dogs choose to lay in the bathroom, bathtub or behind the toilet because the porcelain does not conduct the shock.  Some people report success from rubbing their dogs down with dryer sheets prior to a storm.  This may help to lessen or take away the electrical stimulation.

Some say that the drop in barometric pressure and the boom of the thunder and the crack of the lightning may actually cause pain because dogs hearing is so much keener than ours.

No matter what the cause, it is essential to help our dogs to deal with this phobia or to help them never develop it.

Alleviate the Problem:

• Got a puppy or a new dog?  When the storm begins, the barometric pressure drops and the booming starts; begin playing with your pup.  If thunderstorms equal fun and games; your dog will look forward to the event rather than fearfully awaiting its arrival. I also take this time to distribute great treats and chewies that may take a long period of time to chew; rawhides, bully sticks, and all kinds of edible bones and toys can be used to keep your dog’s mine off the impending storm.  I also crank up the radio and blast out some tunes in order to keep the sound from being overwhelming.  Any event that can be perceived as scary, should be turned toward fun and exciting.
• On the evening of the fourth of July I often play outside games and do scent work around the neighborhood so that the sounds are not overpowering they become the background to the fun that they are experiencing.

Dealing with the Problem Once it arises:

Even though I spent hours and years desensitizing my dogs to storms after one of my dog’s ear drums rupture he has experienced some noise phobia since and my oldest has watched him in his fervor and developed some of the same problems; so I know it can happen to anyone.

Desensitization

• This is the first thing to try and although it takes time it is often very effective.  Start with whatever stimulus first elicits signs of nervousness.  Pair the drop in pressure or the darkening of skies with treats, games and praise. Your goal is for your dog to emotionally respond to thunder as a predictor of something good.  You need to make the first signs of the storm induce happiness and relaxation.  If you have been working hard on getting eye contact and focus, you can also use this to help calm your dog before and during a storm.  Give him a command that he can be successful at achieving which will give him something else to think about.  Run through his tricks or commands, take him out before the storm and play ball and make this time fun for him.

Give Him a Safe Haven

• Designate an enclosed area for him to get away from the storm; a closet, in the bathroom, in his crate or wherever he might feel comfortable and add your tricks for desensitization here while the storms rage.  Crank some tunes and try to preoccupy him from thinking about the storm and hopefully the next time the storm begins he will rush to his safe haven to find comfort.
• Acupressure and Acupuncture has even been reported to help and be an effective tool for dogs with thunderstorm phobias.  Contact your local veterinarian to find a vet that provides Acupuncture.

Noise Therapy

• There are CDs you can use that mimic the sounds of thunderstorms and you can use them to help with your program of desensitization.  Start by playing the CD on low and then slowly increase the sound as your dog is more successful.
• Leeds and Wagner have developed music specifically designed to calm dogs. Their work is based on solid biological principles. You can read more about it, and get a CD or download the music by googling Through a Dog’s Ear.

Medications

• Homeopathic remedies, pheromone plug ins, flower essences and melatonin have been used and success has been shown.  A book called “The Big Bang” by Claudeen McAuliffe offers even more suggestions and tips on helping your dog with his phobia.
• Last but not least is prescription medications; if all else fails or you are not seeing victory quickly enough, talk to your veterinarian.  Thunderstorm phobia is so severe in some dogs that drugs have been specially designed to help them deal with storms.  Sometimes this is the best option for people who have to work during critical storm hours.  Often medications are only successful with desensitization and behavior modification.
  

  Is Your Dog Scared of Storms?

Thunderstorm phobia can be horrifying for your pet, but with some time, effort and dedication you can give your dog the tools needed to deal with his fears!

Exercise the Crucial Element

Probably the second most important facet in dog training is exercise.  Those of you who are getting use to my writing know that I think the number one most important point of good dog training is mental stimulation, but the next most important is exercise!  When I trained police dogs, I often had them run next to my bicycle or scooter until they were exhausted.  They needed the physical exercise to calm their minds and spirits.

Most all dogs and people can benefit to adding to their exercise regimen, unless of course they have a heart condition.  Exercise lowers our blood pressure, can uplift our moods, and can even decrease our chances for developing certain diseases.  These benefits are also obtainable to your dog.

A tired dog is a good dog!!  This is probably my favorite quote, and the truest statement in dealing with your dog.  There are many ways to attain a tired dog, but exercise is a fairly easy way to get what you want.

Almost 100% without a doubt when I do a behavior consult with someone having difficulty with their dog, I recommend increasing the amount of exercise their dog is getting.  Dogs without exercise and mental stimulation begin to rot mentally and that leads to a lot of naughtiness and problem behaviors.  Dogs that have jobs and work all day for their people or those that get a lot of exercise are much less likely to suffer from behavior problems.  Exercise is also helpful for almost all behavior problems, it very rarely increases problems.

Imagine taking a room full of small children locking them up and not giving them any exercise or allowing them to play or to mentally stimulate themselves; they would go insane and they would drive YOU insane.  The more exercise, learning and structure our children get the happier they are and less they likely they are to get into trouble.  Your dog has the same requirements, but most people buy a dog and expect it to take care of its own needs.  Dogs require stimulation and exercise to be happy.

Almost all dogs can benefit from exercise; fat dogs, old dogs, young dogs, skinny dogs, puppies can all benefit from an exercise program.  You may have to cater an exercise program to fit your dog’s needs but in any case most dogs need some way to rid themselves of excess steam.

The joy of exercise is that it comes in all forms; hiking, biking, swimming, walking, running, skijoring, retrieving, games, weight pulling, drafting and numerous others all qualify as good forms of exercise.  If you do it right, you and your dog will never tire of a boring routine.

• Just take caution with puppies and geriatric dogs.  Puppies of medium to large breeds should not exercise on hard ground or pull weights until they are at least 2 years old, extra large breeds like Rottweilers and Great Danes should wait until they are 3 or until their vet says it is safe.  Excessive exercise on growing dogs can cause the breakdown of cartilage and bones and can cause dysplasia and arthritis.  Young dogs and puppies must be exercised on soft ground.  Geriatric dogs should be allowed to lightly exercise to build muscles and flexibility which can also help with arthritis.

The majority of people who have dogs that are suffering from behavior problems have adult dogs between the ages of 1-5 and this is the time when exercise is at its most important!  Adult dogs should be exercised at a minimum of 3 times a day, morning, afternoon and evening.  Adding exercise will help to decrease your dog’s boredom and increase his success of becoming a good pet.

“I don’t have time to exercise my dog!”

“My dog has a big back yard to run in he doesn’t need exercise”

I have heard all of the excuses!  Your dog is an investment not only in money but also in time and companionship.  Your dog has needs and sometimes you have to inconvenience yourself in order to ensure success and happiness for your dog.  Get up early if you have to, or go to bed later but make sure you are devoting the time he needs to his success as a good companion and friend.

Dog’s don’t “run laps” on their own, very rarely do dogs utilize a big back yard as a means to exercise and run out their energy.  Even with the biggest back yard or acres to run he needs someone else to help him and encourage him to exercise.  He is not going to set his own exercise goals, you have to do that for him.

If you sincerely want to give your dog a shot at being a good pet and pleasing you, you need to give him sufficient exercise.  Not only will his body benefit from the payback of exercise, but he will be spending time with you listening to your voice and hopefully working on obedience and your bond as he exercises and becomes weary.

Let him run next to a bike, take him swimming, have him pull a tire; whatever you decide that is appropriate for his breed, age, size and his abilities allow him to blow off steam in a constructive manner and you will see the benefits through his behavior in a few short days!

Help! I Found a Lump on My Dog

I often get asked by pet owners what to do when they find a lump on their dog.  So I thought I would share some tips of the trade for you, that I learned while I was working as a vet tech.

1. First:  mark the area with a black sharpie if you have a light colored dog, a silver sharpie for a dark colored dog or, (my favorite) shave the area
   

   2 Lumps Marked and Shaved

2. Next: make note of the size of the lump by measuring it and writing it down, you can also take a photo for your records
3. Then: schedule an appointment to see your veterinarian

Often people feel lumps on their dog, but are unable to find them again when they come into the vet clinic.  Although a good vet can be adept at finding a large lump, and even some small bumps, they do not know your dog’s body like you do and stress and lack of time can make it more difficult for you to locate the area while in your vet’s office.  Shaving is my favorite way to help me locate and monitor a lump, because it is the easiest to relocate.

Read the rest of this entry »

Stress and Moving

Recently, I have been asked to write an article to help those of you who are having problems with adult dogs after a major stressful event or a move.  Depression, potty accidents, chewing, and changes in eating and sleeping patterns are common.

Understanding Dog Psychology

Dogs feel stress just like humans do, however what we see as a normal event dogs often perceive as stressful.

• Something as simple as children going back to school is enough to cause depression and a change in behavior for your furry friend.
• Moving, boarding, or changing normal surroundings is highly stressful for your pet.

When faced with stress or change, dogs often revert back to what they know best, which are often behaviors which were imprinted when they were puppies.

Read the rest of this entry »

Is Your Dog Bowl Safe?

We hear lots of news about making sure our dog food is safe for our dogs, but are you aware that what your dog is eating out of can be dangerous to their health, as well?

Is Your Dog Bowl Safe?

by Johann, Monday, February 22, 2010

blog.raiseagreendog.com

There are a wide variety of dog bowls on the market – plastic ones, slow down eating ones, silicon ones, stainless steel ones, ceramic ones, stoneware ones, and yes, even paper ones and ones made of sugar cane.

But how do you know if your dog bowl is safe?

Read the rest of this entry »

Urine Spots on Your Lawn Getting You Down?

It is springtime, the time of year when we begin spring cleaning and we get back outside to our lawns, gardens, and flowers.  Many people want a pristine yard, but their dog’s urine kills the grass.

Supplements abound and homeopathic advice that claims to change the PH of your dog’s urine and therefore keep the urine from burning your yard, however there are imperative things for you to know before you give your dog these supplements or any other suggested remedy. Read the rest of this entry »

Poisonous Plants to Your Dog

We can all appreciate the beauty of plants.  But, did you know that there are a number of plants that are toxic to your dog, if ingested?   Some serious problems can arise from eating the seeds of some of these plants, or from chewing on some of the leaves, or some can even come from chewing the bulbs or roots of the plant.   So, before you plant this Spring, be sure you know how to protect your dogs from accidental poisoning.

Avoid these Poisonous Plants for Dogs

findavet.us/blog

Spring is just around the corner. If you’re getting ready to plant a new garden or dogscape your backyard, the ASPCA warns that you should be sure to avoid the following plants that can be highly toxic to dogs.

Sago Palm: Although the entire plant is poisonous, the seeds or “nuts” contain the most toxins. Even if your dog only eats a seed or two, serious effects including vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure can occur.

Tulip/Narcissus bulbs: These bulbs contain toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.

Azalea/Rhododendron: These plants contain grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dog Laps Water in Slow Motion

You might find this little video clip interesting if you thought that a dog laps water a little differently from what is actually shown here.