Sep 24

Bully, Bully…Not for This Dog!

General, Health No Comments »
Dog Behavior – What to Do When your Dog is Being Bullied
 
What are the signs of “dog bullying” and how can you prevent your dog from being bullied by other dogs?
 
There are dogs out there that bully other dogs when in a “doggie environment”, such as a dog park, dog daycare, or a beach area designated for dogs and their human companions. Often, bullying takes place in large groups, regardless of the size. Most of these dog bullies are of the large breed and prey on smaller dogs, although there are also smaller breeds with a strong, dominant personality that bully on other dogs of varying sizes.
 
The next time you take your dog to the daycare, the park, or other environments where there are other dogs around, observe how he behaves toward the other dogs and vice versa. Find out if your dog is being bullied by other dogs or if your dog is the one who does the harassing to other dogs.
 
Dog bullying comes in many shapes and sizes. You can tell that your dog is being harassed by other dogs if he is being surrounded by them, ganging up on him, jumping at his face, and growling at him, often for no legitimate reason. Below are other signs of a dog that is being bullied by other dogs:
 
1. A dog that is almost always happy around other people and dogs, but nervous and scared around the “bully” dogs.
 
3. One that is repeatedly mounted.
 
3. One that is continually being taken away from his toys, water, or certain spots.
 
4. One that is being attacked, beaten, pinned to the ground, and pushed around.
 
5. One that is continually being menaced.
 
6. In worst cases, one that is being bitten or badly hurt.
 
These acts are not appropriate and should not be tolerated. Repeated display of these behaviors is not only hurtful to your dog in a physical way, but can also be mentally damaging.
 
It is important to determine the underlying causes of the harassment among these dogs and put an end to the improper behavior. Some dogs are just real bullies, without any direct reason for acting that way. Keep in mind that in many cases, it only takes one bully to rev up other dogs and follow his behavior. In this case, separating the dog from the playgroup will solve the problem.
 
Another reason for dog bullying is a lack of supervision from the owner or staff member in the day care. Dogs that aren’t properly watched tend to get out of control while playing, and that’s when the bullying starts. Therefore, when you take your dog to a day care, make sure that there is enough staff members to supervise all the dogs and that they are being looked after at all times. And lastly, whether it is at the park, the beach, or your neighbor’s house, make sure to keep an eye on your dog at all times.
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Sep 17

Woman’s Best Friend-Women writers on the dogs in their Lives

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Look at Books
Book Review
A Woman’s Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs In Their Lives
Ed. By Megan McMorris
Seal Press, 2006
 
This is an uplifting collection of short stories about dogs, from the perspective of the women who share their lives with them, the “dog moms” so to speak.
 
Some of the 26 stories will touch your heart and with others you may just find no common ground.
All are vignettes written by well known women who have had an enduring connection to a dog at some time in their life.
 
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shake your head as you read each story that will carry you into the dog world of the women and their families. McMorris provides thumbnail photographs of each dog character so that you are able to connect a face with the story told. It helps to cement the bond while reading.
 
This is an easy reading, light book with stories and emotions as varied as the women who wrote them. One nice thing about some of the stories was that not every story was gushing over how wonderful, grand, and spectacular the dog in the woman’s life actually was…sometimes the dogs were merely annoying and not especially welcome in the home.
 
I liked the concept of the book, but found that I wanted more from each “tail.” I suppose that is the reason I have always found short stories unfulfilling. I will say, however, that the book not only looked at women’s dogs, but at life and how the dogs fit into each of their lives, often helped to make life choices and decisions, and of course to teach them how to live, love, and lose those that are so integral a part of their life fabric.
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Sep 10

Kennel Cough: The Dog Equivalent of a Cold

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What’s All the Coughing Really About?
 
If you own a puppy or adult dog that was purchased from the local pet store, and he is coughing on a regular basis, then there is a solid possibility that your new dog has brought home "kennel cough".
 
With kennel cough, a dog will typically have intense periods of nonstop coughing and even end these sessions with vomiting. Although this spasm of coughing looks like a terrible experience to your dog, kennel cough does not affect his energy levels and he may still seem very alert and upbeat after having a full blown cough attack.
 
Kennel cough is highly contagious
 
If your dog is indeed displaying the above signs of coughing problems then you need to accept the possibility that he has kennel cough. The technical term for this disease is called "infectious tracheobronchitis" and is very contagious. It is a respiratory condition that is most common in dogs that have spent time in pet stores where they are enclosed with other dogs and animals. Kennel cough is a combination of several bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma.
 
The most common symptom of kennel cough is when your dog gives out a dry and rough sounding tracheal cough. Your dog may gag and choke frequently in the attempt to clear his air passageway.
 
Kennel cough in dogs is very similar to the common cold that humans get, with the symptoms lasting anywhere from five to ten days. The cough may pass after that time but then return to afflict your dog, much like the common cold comes back to infect our bodies.
 
Steps to Help Your Canine Companion
 
Like any health concern, the first thing you should do is take your dog to the veterinarian. The vet will be able to properly examine your pet and find out exactly how serious the symptoms are, as well as advise you as to a few possible remedies.
 
The vet may administer cough suppressants and possibly antibiotics depending on how bad the cough is. Some dogs have a deeper health issue due to kennel cough which can be the formation of pneumonia. Pneumonia is caused because bacteria has infiltrated the dog’s air sacs.
 
You may also want to look into preventative measures such as intranasal vaccines. This is a great way to help prepare your dog to avoid infection of kennel cough if he ever has to be placed in a kennel at any point in his lifetime. These types of vaccines have been shown to offer stronger immunity than injectable types because they help stimulate both the upper and lower airways with strong immunity.
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Sep 03

Dog Compulsions: It’s Called Pica

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Your Dog Has Compulsive Disorders
With some dogs, meals aren’t the only source of oral intake they have. Wool and other fibers, non-digestible plant material, rubber, plastic, wood, and even their own hair are just some of the things a dog may choose to ingest. Called pica – the drive to consume material that is not generally considered food – is what animal behaviorists call a compulsive disorder.   The causes may range from iron or zinc deficiency to an underlying disease.
 
In a human, a compulsive disorder may be repetitive, such as frequent hand washing or pulling one’s hair out. In dogs, these disorders can include excessive licking and spinning in circles. Compulsive disorders are repetitive, nonfunctional, non-beneficial behaviors. Although the exact cause of compulsive disorders is unknown, animal behaviorists feel that they are often caused by stress brought on by environmental conflicts such as competition with other pets, changes in the home, constant punishment, or confinement to small areas such as cages or crates.
 
Lack of socialization or too much attention may bring about a compulsive behavior as well. A nutritional imbalance can also lead to pica. A dog with a compulsive disorder loses control over his ability to initiate and stop these negative, repetitive actions. Often the compulsive behaviors are oral in nature, causing the dog to eat things he shouldn’t.
 
Controlling Your Dog’s Disorder
 
1. The first step in treating a compulsive disorder is to identify the cause and eliminate it. For example, if your dog is crated for a large portion of the day, allow him outside the confined space to help get him on the road to recovery.
 
2. Don’t reinforce the behavior by paying attention to him while he is engaged in it. Providing good quality time on a set schedule is preferable and more effective than petting, stroking, or verbally consoling your dog in the midst of repetitive activity.
 
3. Do not reinforce the behavior by punishing your dog for the compulsive behavior or for other inappropriate activities. It may make the problem worse.
 
4. Spray household objects your dog likes to chew with cayenne pepper, essential oils in citrus, cinnamon, or eucalyptus scents, spray deodorant, or perfume that is not your own. There are specifically designed pet repellent sprays that are highly effective in deterring unwanted chewing. Bitter orange, apple, and cherry as well as herbal mixtures work well and are not poisonous to the dog.
 
5. Spray favorite chew-ables with a pet repellent to deter your dog from sticking non-food objects in his mouth.
 
6. Keep dangerous objects such as yarn or string out of your dog’s reach to prevent him from chewing and swallowing them.
 
7. If your dog is chewing his hair, he may have an allergy. Discuss the problem with your veterinarian before embarking on a behavior modification program.
 
8. As a last resort to solve a compulsive eating disorder, discuss drug therapy with your veterinarian. Drugs that increase serotonin levels, like Prozac and some antidepressants, are used for treating compulsive disorders, including compulsive eating.
 
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