What to do if your pet is afraid of thunderstorms…

Have more specific questions? Brad can be reached via email at b.phifer@bracpet.com

A visit to the swimming pool, the local creek, or the ocean helps us stay cool during the “dog days” of summer.  But what about our canine companions – how do we keep them cool?

Mrs. Jones was frantic! Just an hour before, her dog Snickers was playing in the yard. Now he was listless and having trouble breathing.

Rushing him to the nearest veterinary clinic, a concerned veterinary technician informed her that Snickers’ temperature was over 106 degrees – he was suffering from heat stroke. Luckily for Snickers – and with the help of a quick thinking owner and veterinary technician – he recovered.

Every summer, in cities all over the country, hundreds of dogs find their way to the family veterinarian after spending just a few hours in the hot sun.

It’s important to remember dogs don’t sweat like we do. Cooling themselves by panting, dogs use the moisture evaporating off their tongue as a means to lower their body’s temperature. Anything overwhelming this natural cooling system leads to heat stroke. With more families away from home during the day, our dogs are often left outdoors where it may be difficult to find shady, cool places and water to drink.

Normally, a dog’s temperature ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees. In cases of heat stroke, temperatures over 106 degrees are considered to be an emergency situation – temperatures over 110 degrees can be fatal in a matter of minutes.

This level of hyperthermia (higher than normal body temperature) can affect every major body system and it’s imperative you get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as you safely can.

Dogs who succumb to heat stroke often show the following symptoms:

• Vigorous panting
• Inability to stand, or weakness while standing
• Thick, ropy saliva, literally foaming at the mouth
• Bright red mucous membranes, although some dogs may show pale or even muddy gums.

Heat stroke can affect any dog, although dogs with short faces, such as Boston, Pugs, and Bulldogs may be at higher risk due their inability to effectively pant and cool themselves.

Many people believe that their pet will be fine outdoors. However, inadequate shade and/or water can affect even the most seasoned outdoor dog.

Interestingly, heat stroke in cats is very rare.   Most animal experts believe that cats are extremely good at finding the coolest spots to lay and also avoid the overly zealous exertions that many dogs seem to thrive on.

If you find your dog vigorously panting on a warm summer day, immediately move the pet out of the environment and into a cooler place.   Getting the pet into a shady area with a fan running on him can be very helpful. Using cool, not cold, tap water on the extremities and trunk can also help to effectively lower the body temperature, as well as rubbing alcohol placed on the skin of the stomach. Do not use ice or extremely cold water.  Although it seems logical, extreme cold will cause surface blood vessels to contract, forming an insulating area that traps heat in the body, delaying the cooling of the vital organs.

Attempting to force your pet to drink is also not advisable. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke, immediately load your pet carefully into a car and seek care from your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital. Under no circumstances should you leave your pet alone in the vehicle.

Without these life-saving steps, many dogs might lose their lives to the “dog-days” of summer. But, as Snickers will testify, quick thinking owners and veterinary professionals can help get them back on their feet in no time. If you have any questions, or need veterinary care for your pet, please call us at 317-257-5334.

Commercial mulch products that contain cocoa bean shells are popular in many areas. It is known for its fine texture and sweet aroma, but that sweet smell translates into a dangerous temptation for dogs. Cocoa mulch contains two ingredients also found in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. These ingredients can make your pet very ill, displaying symptoms such as: upset stomach, bouts of diarrhea, acting jittery, or even beginning to display seizure activity. Theobromine is toxic to dogs, if ingested in a large enough quantity.

Dogs and puppies are naturally curious, and some are known to eat just about anything! If you notice your dog eating mulch, make sure you intervene and check the ingredients, if available. When purchasing mulch, please be aware of these risks and always read the labels for ingredients and written warnings for dangers to pets. If your pet displays any of the symptoms listed, and you suspect ingestion of a foreign material, please contact your veterinarian immediately, or call the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

My most vivid memory of the Delta Society Pet Partner^® testing session with my golden retriever mix, Gracie, was asking her to obey the simple command, “Come”.  This particular portion of the test required that she ignore the attention she was receiving from the evaluator (a belly rub, in this case) and actually listen to my command.  I knew I was in trouble when I said the word and Gracie, all four paws in the air, lolled her head toward with me with a look in her eyes that said, “Yeah right, and leave this??”  Much to my surprise, after a few missed beats, Gracie made a slow-motion rise to her feet and reluctant saunter my way.  The remainder of the evaluation, which included dealing with loud noises and visual distractions, basic obedience, and handling, was a breeze.  Gracie particularly loved the test during which a group of 6 people were petting her vigorously at the same time – heaven!

In the end, we passed the entire evaluation, and were approved as a registered Pet Partner^® team.   I was a proud mom and, although it might be my imagination, I think Gracie looks pretty darn proud of herself in our post-evaluation picture.  With our new title, we visited nursing homes and library reading programs.  Gracie loved the attention and chance to meet new people.  I enjoyed the special time I was spending with her and also liked the satisfaction that comes with volunteerism.  Above all, these short visits clearly made an impact on those we visited, giving them a chance to tell stories about their beloved pets, families, or anything else on their mind.  Some said nothing, but would just reach out to pet Gracie’s soft coat or receive a friendly kiss from her.

Many types of domesticated animals can be registered as part of a Delta Society Pet Partner^® team, including dogs, cats, llamas, birds, guinea pigs, and more.  Visit www.deltasociety.org for more information.  Another option for getting started – the American Kennel Club (AKC) certifies dogs as a Canine Good Citizen^® after testing to ensure that your handling skills are up to snuff and that your dog displays good manners and passes basic obedience tests.  Information for this program can be found at www.akc.org/events/cgc/.  If you have a sweet pet that is controllable, predictable, and reliable, and you have a desire to work as a team with that animal, consider volunteering with your furry or feathered friend as a service/therapy animal.

Already registered as a Pet Partner^® team or Canine Good Citizen^® and interested in taking the next step?  Call Bark Tutor at 317.259.8336 to inquire about their 8-week training program for therapy dogs.

Emergencies, accidents and illnesses are a fact of life when you have pets. Many people comment on the cost of veterinary care, comparing it to their affordable health insurance co-pay. We all know that health insurance premiums have been sky-rocketing over the past several years and that the co-pay is only a portion of what health care truly costs. Many of us are not prepared financially to pay for sudden, unexpected veterinary care. That’s where pet insurance can truly help.

Pet insurance allows you to visit any veterinarian, whether it’s a general practitioner, a specialist or an emergency provider. There are no networks, and no pre-authorization is required or necessary.

Car insurance is a much closer comparison to pet insurance than human health insurance, both in it’s affordability, as well as in the way that it works. If you are in an automobile accident and your car requires several thousand dollars worth of repairs, what do you do? Typically, you will visit your collision repair shop, obtain an estimate and agree to services to repair damages to your car. You would pay for these services and submit a claim to your car insurance provider. You would then receive reimbursement for your expenses, minus your selected deductible. Pet insurance works in exactly this manner! If your pet has a serious accident or illness, you would visit the veterinarian of your choice for treatment. You would pay for your pet’s veterinary care, then submit a claim to your pet insurance company for reimbursement. You would receive direct payment from your insurance company, minus your deductible.

Several years ago, most companies had pre-existing condition clauses that prevented some pet owners from obtaining affordable insurance for their pets, especially if they were older or had already suffered a major illness. Today, there are many choices available and pre-existing conditions and the ages of pets are treated differently. To find pet insurance that fits the needs of your individual pet, go to Pet Insurance Review for an overview of available plans in the U.S., along with costs and comparisons.

What’s stopping you? Get your pet’s insurance today!

If you already have a dog, Canine Colors will help you better understand and communicate with your dog, as you discover what your True Colors Spectrum is as a dog owner. If you are currently looking for a dog, we highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book. It can assist you in finding a true match, so you and your future dog will experience a long and happy relationship.

You can get your copy online at Canine Colors, or stop by either of our locations or Bark Tutor School for Dogs to purchase a copy and save yourself the shipping fee. We hope you enjoy this great new tool as much as we do!

We asked our clients to share their weight loss success stories with you, and here’s how they were able to succeed:

• Carol C’s story starts with Caoimhe, who was relinquished at the age of 5. When Carol rescued her she had been diagnosed with anxiety and she was obese. She is now 30lbs down from 42lbs. A combination of good food and exercise cured the weight and the anxiety. That is a 28.6% loss in excess pounds. Way to go, Carol and Caoimbe!
• Dara N’s story began when at age one, Molly (Bull Mastiff/Newfie Mix) blew out her knee. She was 130lbs. Once she recovered from knee surgery, the weight needed to come off. Nice long walks turned into short runs for exercise. Dara also replaced half of Molly’s food with green beans and carrots. She was soon down to 101 lbs. and the knees are doing great! She is now five and running up to a mile a day and is keeping her girlish figure under control. Molly’s 22.3% reduction in weight not only has her feeling better, but Dara’s probably in great shape as well with those daily runs.
• Karen R. reduced her pet’s dog food and added green beans to each meal. She also found the Royal Canin High Fiber food to be a big help in keeping her full. Her dog lost about 20lbs…hmmm, are we onto something with these green beans?
• Jenny A. says she did the same thing…green beans!!! And lots of walking/running. Her dog lost 11 pounds!
• Victoria W. used another magical whole food. Under the guidance of BRAC’s Dr. Gardner, her dog Rufus lost 10 pounds with just a minimal change to his food volume. He also gets 1/4 cup of fresh organic blueberries each morning. He is in great shape now!
• Lisa P., who works with Beagle Buddies shared Hank’s (ACD/Beagle) story. Hank bulked up after surgery/steroids and mixing wet food in with the dry to get him to start to eat again in 2005. She lives near the Monon so she upped her walks with Hank from 2 mi/day to 3 or 4 mi/day. Additionally, she added  tossing his frisbee into a pond for him to swim to and running free in the woods, and put him on 3 Dog Bakery Lo-Cal Chicken (dry). He dropped from a roly-poly 56 lbs in May to a smokin’ hot 40 lbs. by mid-Sept. Another 28.6% weight loss…incredible!

According to Dr. Elizabeth Murphy, weight loss in dogs can be very difficult to accomplish for several reasons. Spaying is a very important thing to do for the overall health of female dogs, but it does decrease their metabolic rate by about 35%, and dogs naturally have a decreased activity level and decreased calorie expenditure as they become adults. Dogs don’t take these two factors into account, because, as dogs,they have a very strong food drive and have the natural instinct to acquire as much food as possible. This is a great instinct in the wild, where dogs have to hunt for food but, for domestic dogs, this can be a good instinct gone bad! Many dogs put on the appropriate number of calories for their size and activity level will still act as if they are starving and do whatever they can to get more food, by begging, getting into the trash, even eating feces! If you are unsuccessful in reducing your dog’s caloric intake or sating their hunger, one other suggestion is the weight-loss drug for dogs, Slentrol. Slentrol decreases the appetite, which really helps in cases where there is a food drive problem, and it decreases the absorption of some of the calories from the food. It can really get a dog to their weight loss goal over a few weeks or months, and then the dog could go to a lower, maintenance dose for a while. Once a dog is at the maintenance weight for a few months, he or she will very likely be able to be taken off the drug as eventually the food drive will match the dog’s new weight.

Of course, all overweight or obese pets need to be checked for any underlying health problems that could lead to weight gain, such as a low thyroid production or an adrenal gland problem – solving those problems would keep pets healthier and may keep them from needing the drug to begin with! Weight loss is hard work! Work with your veterinary team to help you and your pet meet your personal goals. We’d love to share more success stories to inspire other pet lovers, so please leave your stories in the comments section below:)

You should take one step at a time, and complete three successful interactions at each step before moving on to the next step:

1. Begin by holding your pet on your lap or on the floor. Offer your pets treats to keep him or her calm. Repeat until pet appears calm and comfortable.
2. Offer treats and handle your pet’s foot at the same time. Remove treat and stop handling foot at the same time. Repeat with all feet until pet appears calm and comfortable with handling.
3. Offer treats and touch foot with nail trimmers at the same time. Remove treat and nail trimmers at the same time. Repeat with all feet until pet appears calm and comfortable.
4. Offer treats and hold nail trimmers over toenail without clipping at the same time. Remove treat and nail trimmers at the same time. Repeat with all toes until pet appears calm and comfortable.
5. Offer treats while clipping one toenail at the same time. Remove treat and nail trimmers at the same time. Repeat with all toenails. You may need to clip nails on one foot, then give your dog a break and repeat with another foot at a later time. Repeat until all nails have been trimmed.

Keep in mind that patience and consistency are the keys to success. For a demonstration of this process, call us at 317-257-5334 and one of our Technicians will be happy to schedule a time to help you. For a video demonstration, click here to see Dr. Sophia Yin.

Why does your dog bark?

*Dogs bark to warn other dogs of their territory.

*Dogs may bark when separated from their family.

*Dogs sometimes bark when anxious, afraid or frustrated.

*Medical problems, especially as your dog ages could also contribute to barking.

In many cases, we inadvertently make our barking dog problem worse, by yelling or constantly telling them to be quiet when this happens. There are several ways to prevent a barking problem, as well as methods to correct unwanted barking.

Prevention

Socialization, socialization, socialization! By exposing your young dog to a variety of people, animals, places, unfamiliar situations and other dogs early in life, you can prevent anxiety and fear from taking control later in life. Frequenting dog parks, play groups, meeting neighbors, or utilizing training programs that focus on socialization are great ways to accomplish this.

The trainers at Bark Tutor know how valuable socialization can be in preventing problems. They frequently dress-up in costumes, employ the use of canes, strollers, walkers and other objects to expose their students to a variety of situations. Their play groups also focus on controlled socialization so that no one gets “bullied”.

Correction

There are several methods for working on correcting your dog’s barking problem. The key to all of them is consistency and patience. It is important to always redirect your dog’s attention to what you want them to do, rather than bring attention to what you don’t want them to continue doing. Using a doorbell to trigger the barking behavior, with treat in hand, offer the treat to “sniff” when the dog barks. Dogs can’t bark and smell at the same time, so when your dog “quiets” to smell the treat, praise them for being quiet and reward them when they remain quiet for a few seconds. Continue this pattern, alternating different “barking triggers” until you get longer and longer periods of “quiet”. It’s also important to be very quiet and calm yourself in your praises. You want your dog to understand you are looking for “quiet and calm”.

If you have an out-of-control barking problem, you may need expert assistance. Our Director of Pet Behavior Services, Brad Phifer has extensive experience with the “barking dog blues”. Give him a call at 317-257-5334 or email him at b.phifer@bracpet.com for real solutions!

by Elizabeth Murphy, DVM

Everyone knows that doing a crossword puzzle every day helps keep our brains sharp as we get older. But what about our pets? Well, taking your older dogs for a walk every day is the canine equivalent of getting them to do a daily crossword puzzle. Dogs “read” the environment on their walks by sniffing the ground or the closest lamppost for information on the other dogs that have passed by, such as their age, their gender, their health and even the amount of adrenaline coursing through their veins! Dogs have 200,000 olfactory, or smell, receptors, in comparison to the human number of 20,000, so they get a great deal of information from their environment, which their minds must then process and interpret.

The world outside their yard is their crossword puzzle, and olfactory stimulation translates into brain stimulation for them. Just being let out into the yard is not challenging enough to their brains, and aerobic exercise is important anyway for good blood flow to the brain, so walks, even slow ones, are the way to go. What else can we do to keep our old dogs learning new tricks? Keep them learning new tricks, or at least practicing old ones! People that retire need to make the effort to stay involved with their former professions, or to develop new hobbies, in order to keep their minds active, and dogs need jobs and hobbies, too. If there are tricks that your dog enjoys doing, or that you enjoy seeing, keep doing them. If both of you are bored with those tricks you have been doing all these years, teach new ones! Dogs of any age will learn new things readily as long as the right rewards are given. Dogs can “hunt” around the house as a new hobby, too – hide favorite rawhide bones, Greenies or treat?stuffed toys around the house, and encourage your dog to find them, then make a big deal of applauding and petting him when he accomplishes that great feat!
There are many other ways to keep your older dog’s brain healthy – most can be extrapolated from human geriatric research. Social involvement with family and in the community is important for humans: for dogs, frequent daily interactions with all the human family members and frequent visits to see favorite canine and human friends would be equally important. Play time at the dog park or at doggie daycare, or just being at those beehives of canine activity and simply watching the other dogs play, would be protective for the aging canine brain.

And what about cats? Few of us can take our cats for a walk, and there are definitely no “cat parks”! We can, however, keep their brains and bodies toned up by playing with them often – even the oldest cat can usually be lured to chase a feather or a mouse on a string. Enriching the indoor environment of cats is important at all ages, too. Cats in the wild need a high perch to keep track of their predators and prey, and research has shown that indoor cats thrive if they have a “cat tree” or other human approved high perch to keep track of the other members of the household.

In addition, bird-watching is a great hobby for cats. Having a bird feeder outside a window is very stimulating to cats and amusing for their owners. No birds available? No problem! There are many bird-starring cat DVDs to play on the TV which greatly magnify the sound and images of birds, chipmunks, squirrel, etc and catch the attention of even the most sedate cat. Try “Video Catnip”, for example, and watch your cat dive for the bird that “flies” off-screen and, in your cat’s mind, out of the TV. Playing with your older cat provides exercise as well as some of the social interaction needed to keep your cat’s aging brain healthy – and don’t forget to add a little extra petting time, too!
The moral of this story is: DON’T let sleeping senior dogs (or cats) lie! Their brains might rust if they are allowed to rest too much.