Caring For Your Dog

Are You Ready To Own A Dog? Tips On Being A Responsible Owner Crate Training Ten Tips for Preventing Pet Behavior Problems Chewing & Digging Ear Infections Heartworms Caring For Your Senior Pet

Are You Ready To Own A Dog?

1. Have you read about the history of the breed of dog you plan to buy? Do you know the desired characteristics of this breed? Do these characteristics fit your life style? Does the breed's activity level match yours?
   
2. Do you have the necessary supplies for a new puppy? You will need food and water dishes, puppy foods, a crate or other safe resting place, a collar, leash, comb and brush, etc.
   
3. Have you considered the cost in time and money to provide health care, food, and training for a puppy? Will you make an appointment with a veterinarian for a health examination, shots, and worming if needed?
   
4. Will you be able to take the time to introduce your new puppy to the routine at your house? It is best to get puppies on weekends or when you can take some vacation time.
   
5. Have you located a puppy training class? Do you know when your puppy can start training? Do you have books or pamphlets to help you cope with your puppy until he or she is old enough for classes? Most of the major dog food companies, veterinarians, and pet supply shops carry this information. Many dog training clubs or schools also have new puppy information.
   
6. If you work outside the home, are you prepared to teach your puppy to spend your working hours alone? Since dogs are social animals, your puppy will not want to be alone. Expect your puppy to whine, cry, and/or bark when you leave for work. This is a normal survival behavior to get the pack leader (you) to rescue the puppy before he or she gets into real danger. If your puppy protests being alone he may annoy your neighbors even if he doesn't bother you. This can cause serious problems with your neighbors or landlord. Many urban and suburban dogs need to tolerate being alone eight to ten hours per day. Your puppy's breeder, puppy books, veterinarian, or puppy class instructor should be able to help you with this task.
   
7. Are you prepared to prevent environmental contamination by picking up and properly disposing of your dog's feces? This is necessary to protect yourself from diseases that can be transmitted from your dog to you. Your family, friends, and neighbors may also become infected with diseases that can be transmitted from your dog to people. It is also necessary to prevent re-infestation of your dog with worms from exposure to infective worm eggs and larvae.
   
8. Have you planned to spay or neuter your pet? Neutered pets are excellent companions and they don't produce litters of unwanted puppies.

It is quite expensive and very labor intensive to provide proper medical and nutritional care for your female dog and her puppies. Males that are bred will often try to escape from their yards to search for other females to breed. This often leads to fights or accidental injuries. Your male could also become infected with diseases such as brucellosis or canine venereal tumor. If your dog has genetic defects or carries hidden genetic defects, breeding (especially to a dog with the same defects) may often lead to puppies born with defects. Progressive retinal atrophy (which causes blindness), hip dysplasia, heart defects, and deafness are common examples of genetic diseases. It takes careful research and planning to raise healthy, well-adjusted puppies. Breeding your male or female is almost always an expensive proposition which is seldom profitable and does not alleviate behavior problems. In most cases, you can buy a quality puppy cheaper than you can raise one.

If you have answered yes to all the questions above, best wishes on your new dog! On the other hand, if you have answered no to several of these questions, dog ownership may not be for you. While dogs make great companions and friends, they also require a degree of responsibility that not everyone can achieve. Don't contribute to the huge number of dogs in animal shelters that will be euthanized because no one wants them. It would be inhumane to neglect a dog's need for social interaction by keeping the animal constantly (1) tied in the yard, or (2) locked in a basement or garage due to behavior/housebreaking problems that could have been prevented.

Even worse is the owner who dumps his unwanted dogs on country roads or back alleys to fend for themselves. Most of these animals die from injuries, starvation, or disease. If you already have a dog and you have answered no to several of these questions, consider finding a responsible owner to adopt your dog. If you aren't ready to take on the responsibility of owning a dog, please don't contribute to over-population and dog behavior problems.

By Dan Maurer The Turnaround Team

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Tips On Being A Responsible Owner

• Spay or neuter your pet.  It not only helps to keep your pet from roaming as much, but greatly reduces their chances of a variety of cancers if they are altered sooner rather than later.  Male cats may spray urine on walls, furniture, etc. to mark their territory, neutering them helps to prevent this unwanted behavior before it starts.

• Train and socialize your dog so that he or she is comfortable being around people including friends, neighbors, and children.

• Never play "attack" games with your dog/cat.  Your pet won’t always understand the difference between play and real-life situations.

• If you don’t know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious.

• When a letter carrier or other service person comes to your door, be sure your dog is safely restrained or confined in another room before opening the door. Don’t allow your dog to bark, jump against the door, or bite the mail as it comes through the mail slot; this will only teach your dog to attack the letter carrier.

• If your dog exhibits behavior such as growling, nipping, or biting—even on an occasional basis—seek professional advice from your veterinarian, an animal behaviorist, or a skilled dog trainer.

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Crate Training

Pet crates are an excellent way to train your dog and provide it with its own sanctuary. There are numerous benefits to crate training your dog.

• Security for your dog
  
• Safety for your dog and young children
  
• Prevents costly damage
  
• Helps you train proper chewing and elimination
  
• Easy traveling
  
• Improved dog/owner relationship

Tips to Remember

• A crate should have enough room for the dog to stand and turn around.
  
• Because dogs are social animals, the ideal location for the crate is in a room full of activity.
  
• For the crate to remain a positive retreat never use it for punishment. You can, however, use the crate to avoid potential problems (e.g. chewing, jumping). If you use social isolation, or "time-out," place the dog in a separate room instead of the crate.

Training Puppies

Introduce the puppy to the crate as early in the day as possible. Place a few treats, toys, or food in the crate to motivate the puppy to enter voluntarily. The first confinement session should be after a period of play, exercise, and elimination (e.g., when the puppy is ready to take a nap). Place the puppy in its crate with a toy and a treat, and close the door. Leave the room but remain close enough to hear the puppy. Expect some distress at first. Never reward the pup by letting it out when it cries or whines. Ignore it until the crying stops, and then release it.

If crying does not subside on its own, a light scolding may be useful. Avoid any excessive correction— it can cause fear and anxiety, which could aggravate the whining or cause elimination. When correcting, remain out-of-sight so that the puppy does not learn to associate the punishment with your presence. A squirt from a water gun or a sharp noise (try a shaker can containing a few coins) can be used to interrupt barking.

Training Adult Dogs

Training an adult dog is similar to training a puppy, except regarding the initial introduction to the crate. Introduce the dog to the crate by setting it up in the dog's feeding area with the door open for a few days. Place food, treats, and toys in the crate so that the dog enters on its own. Once the dog is entering the crate freely, it is time to close the door. When punishing the dog, take the same advice given for puppy training. Gradually increase the amount of time the dog must remain quietly in the crate before you release it.

By Wayne L. Hunthausen, DVM, and Gary M. Landsberg, DVM

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Ten Tips for Preventing Pet Behavior Problems

• Set rules immediately and stick to them.
• Avoid situations that promote inappropriate behavior.
• Observe the pet and provide what it needs to be cared for and attended to.
• Supervise the new pet diligently through undivided individual attention and training, and restrict the pet's access to a limited area of the house until training is complete.
• Encourage good behavior with praise and attention.
• Correct bad behaviors by providing positive alternatives. (A toy for a slipper, scratching post for the sofa.)
• Never physically punish or force compliance to commands. This may lead to fear biting or aggression.
• Don't play rough or encourage aggression or play biting.
• Expose pets to people, animals, and environments where you want them to live.
• See your veterinarian if serious or unresolved behavior problems exist.

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Chewing & Digging

Most puppies have a strong, natural desire to investigate. But this curiosity can lead to problems when your puppy digs up your roses or destroys your new shoes. Many owners rely solely on punishment to correct problem behavior, but you'll find that reinforcing good behavior works better and keeps your dog happier.

Chew Toys

• Begin with a variety of toys and determine which types your pup prefers.
  
• Rotate different toys to keep them novel and interesting. Reward your dog when it chews its toys.
  
• Never give items to the puppy to chew that are similar to household items you don't want destroyed. (e.g., your puppy may not distinguish between old shoes and new shoes.)
  
• Use commercial anti-chew sprays, citronella oil, or a small amount of cayenne pepper mixed with water as deterrents.

Chewing and Anxiety

Destructive behavior is often a direct response to anxiety. Lesson the problem by teaching the dog that it cannot receive attention on demand. Train it to rest in its own bed or crate, rather than constantly lying near you. Exercise your dog before you leave home, and try to sneak out when it is occupied. Practice short departures, then gradually increase the length of time your dog is alone.

Digging

Dogs dig for a number of reasons: to cool off, chase rodents, bury and retrieve bones, escape confinement, or just for the fun of it.

Digging commonly occurs when pets are left alone with insufficient stimulation. Provide your dog with stimulating chew toys, increased play and exercise, and perhaps even a second pet. Of course, give some thought to the addition of a second pet, since you could end up with two diggers instead of one.

Try these methods to discourage digging: remote punishment (turning on a sprinkler, pulling on an extended leash, tossing a tin can containing a few pebbles near the pet), changing or covering the surface (by placing rocks over the area or covering with concrete). For some dogs the most practical solution is to provide a digging area and to reinforce appropriate digging.

By Wayne L. Hunthausen, DVM, and Gary M. Landsberg, DVM

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Ear Infections

Ear infections are very common in dogs, although less so in cats. Two types are most often seen: otitis externa, infection of the external ear canal, and otitis media, infection of the middle ear. Although any dog or cat can get an ear infection, some breeds appear to be more prone than others. Dogs with pendulous ears, like Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, or dogs with hairy inner ear flaps, like Miniature Poodles and Schnauzers, tend to have a higher occurrence of ear infections. In cats, the Persian breed seems to be more prone to such infections.

Most ear infections are easily and successfully treated. But if left untreated, they could result in serious damage.

Causes
Bacteria or yeast are most often the culprits of otitis externa. Other causes include an accumulation of wax, thick or matted hair in the ear canal, debris, a foreign body, a tumor or impaired drainage of the ear. Sometimes, infections of the external ear canal are a secondary result of some other bodily infection or ear mite infestation.

Otitis media usually results from the spread of infection from the external ear canal to the middle ear. Also, foreign bodies, debris, ulceration or improper ear cleaning can rupture the eardrum and allow infection to reach the middle ear.

Symptoms
Ear infections are very uncomfortable for your pet. Your dog or cat will show his discomfort by shaking his head or scratching at his ears. Often, the ears will become red and inflamed with an offensive odor and perhaps a black or yellowish discharge. If your pet tilts his head constantly, it could be a sign of a middle ear infection.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Because many different culprits can be the cause of your pet's ear infection, it is important to have your cat or dog examined by a veterinarian, who can then determine the proper medication or treatment. Your veterinarian will also make sure the eardrum is intact, as some medications can result in hearing loss if administered to a pet with a ruptured eardrum.

What is involved in an ear exam? Your veterinarian will use an otoscope-an instrument that provides light and magnification-to view the ear canal. He or she will determine whether or not the eardrum is intact and if any foreign material is present. If this is very painful to the pet, sedation or anesthesia may be necessary to complete the exam.

Your veterinarian may take a sample of the material in the canal and examine it under a microscope. This is called cytology, and allows the doctor to determine the organism causing the infection. If more than one organism are culprits, multiple medications or a broad-spectrum medication is necessary.

If your veterinarian finds a foreign body, a tick or a very heavy buildup of debris, sedation may be required to remove the irritant or to allow a thorough cleansing.

A middle ear infection can be more difficult to clear up. Diagnosis and treatment may include lab tests, X-rays and even surgery. Four to six weeks may pass before the infection disappears, and often during this time you will be told to restrict the activity of your pet.

For both types of infection, you should keep water from entering your pet's ears. Follow-up visits to your veterinarian are very important to make sure treatment is working and the infection has disappeared.

Remember, the longer infection is present, the harder it is to get rid of it. If an ear infection goes untreated, your pet will continue to be in pain. Your pet's head shaking and scratching can cause further problems, such as broken blood vessels that require surgery to correct. Chronic infections can harm the eardrum and close the ear canal. Surgical reconstruction of the ear canal may then become necessary.

Medicating
Treatment prescribed by the doctor usually includes administering medication to and cleaning the ears daily for one to two weeks. Remember, your pet's ears are painful, and Fluffy or Fido might not appreciate what you are about to do, so use caution. Ask your veterinarian for a demonstration on how to treat the ears properly.

Prognosis
Most often, with proper diagnosis and treatment, your pet's ear infection will be cured. However, if ear infections are chronic or recurrent, an underlying problem, such as allergies or thyroid disease, may be the cause.

Because cats are normally resistant to ear infections, other problems should be explored. Your cat may have an unusually shaped ear canal, or its immune system could be suppressed. Have your veterinarian test your cat for the feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), both of which affect the immune system. Also, diabetic cats tend to be prone to ear infections, so testing for diabetes may be indicated.

Prevention
Pet owners can help their pets avoid ear infections by practicing preventative care at home. This is especially important for those animals that have pendulous ears, have lots of hair in their ears, or have allergies or other medical problems that make them prone to ear infections. A weekly ear cleaning with a veterinarian-recommended ear cleansing solution can minimize or prevent infections. Such a cleaning provides other benefits, as well.

"Weekly ear cleanings get the pet owner to really see the ear on a routine basis, allowing him or her to notice any early warning signs of infection," says AAHA veterinarian Dr. LeeAnn Dumars. "And they get the pet used to having its ears handled, making exams and medication administration easier when necessary."

In addition to ear cleanings, pets with lots of hair on the inside ear flap should have those hairs plucked periodically by their groomer or veterinarian.

"Pet owners with animals that have chronic ear problems must realize that life-long preventative care and maintenance will be necessary to ensure their pet's good health," says Dr. Dumars.

-Used with permission from AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association)

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Heartworms

Heartworm Disease Cats vs. Dogs

Used with permission from the American Heartworm Society

Some cats with ongoing heartworm disease may be totally free of any clinical signs of disease.

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Caring For Your Senior Pet

Recommendations for Aging Pets
Keep vaccinations current
Brush frequently to keep fur from matting
Clip toenails to prevent overgrowth and to avoid slips and falls on slick surfaces
Keep plenty of fresh water available and monitor consumption
Keep other pets from preventing free access to water
Keep indoors most of the time, especially in inclement weather
Weigh on the same scale and record results every 60 days

Signs of a Problem
Sustained, significant increase in water consumption or urination
Weight loss
Significant decrease in appetite or failure to eat for more than two days
Significant increase in appetite
Repeated vomiting
Diarrhea lasting over three days
Difficulty in passing stool or urine
Change in housebreaking
Lameness lasting more than five days or lameness in more than one leg
Noticeable decrease in vision
Open sores or scabs on the skin that persist for more than one week
Foul mouth odor or drooling that lasts more than two days
Increasing size of the abdomen
Increasing inactivity or amount of time spent sleeping
Hair loss, especially if accompanied by scratching or if in specific areas (as opposed to generalized)
Excessive panting
Inability to chew dry food
Sudden collapse or bout of weakness
A seizure (convulsion)
Persistent coughing or gagging (dog)
Breathing heavily or rapidly at rest (cat)

Be sure to monitor behavior and physical conditions and report anything unusual to your veterinarian, 
who can help all of you head into the twilight years with ease.

By Kristin Stark, AAHA editorial assistant

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