Your pup will forever be your baby, but he may need to come to terms with an actual baby. It's tough enough to teach human siblings to accept such a major change in their lives; getting your canine to welcome a new baby requires patience and foresight. Taking the time to make your dog feel at ease will ensure a happy home life for you, your pet, and your new baby.
Start Early
As soon as you find out about the baby, start changing how you interact with your current "baby." It will break your heart a little to do this, but try to reduce the acknowledgment you give your dog. Of course you won't neglect him, but you must remind him that you are the pack leader. He can't command your attention by pawing or barking. Breaking him of such habits now means he won't associate the new baby with reduced attention.
If you have a separate room for a nursery and choose to keep your dog from the room, bar him from it early so he'll become used to it as an off-limits place. If you prefer to accustom your dog to the baby's room, make a place for him to lie down and praise him effusively for using it. Teach him which place is his and which is the baby's; otherwise, you may one day find a toddler in the dog bed and a sheepish-looking hound in the crib.
Give Him Exposure
Babies make a fuss sometimes, and dogs who are unused to infants may wonder why you're cuddling a fire alarm. Shouldn't you be barking as he is? Acclimate him to babies. Ask relatives or friends with babies to visit. Take your dog to the park and praise him for behaving well around children. If he acts agitated, calmly remove him from the area rather than give him negative feedback. He should associate children only with positive events.
Babies grow into toddlers, and toddlers invariably grab whatever is at hand. Sometimes that may be your poor pooch. Get him used to toddler behavior by giving him a few childlike pats and pulls as you give him a treat. Step up the treatment slowly. By the time your new baby becomes a toddler, he'll be used to anything.
The Big Day
Dogs experience the world through their noses. Arrange for a piece of the baby's clothing to be brought home from hospital before the baby herself. Let him sniff to his heart's content and praise him for being calm. When the baby comes home, greet your dog normally. The more naturally you behave, the more relaxed he'll stay.
Most dogs recognise the new little person as "pack," but they still need time to adjust to the changed family. Be patient and keep all interactions involving him and the baby positive. If he becomes agitated near the baby, separate them calmly and try again later. He'll reward your patience by becoming a loving friend and protector to your child.
Recent Articles
Thursday 30 June 2011
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Arthritis in dogs
In winter time owners of older pets may notice that their dog or cat seems a little stiff in the morning or that they seem to be “slowing down”. Many people put this down to “old age” but in reality their pet may be suffering in silence.
Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative condition of the joints. It most commonly affects older pets, particularly large breed dogs, through long-term wear and tear. It can however occur at any age due to injury, anatomical defects (such as hip and elbow dysplasia), and less commonly infection and immune-mediated diseases.
It may be difficult to recognise the symptoms of arthritis, as animals won’t necessarily vocalise when painful. Signs of arthritic pain may include one or more of the following:
• “Slowing down” on walks
• Limping or stiffness
• Reluctance to play
• Grumpy or “touchy” when handled
• Reluctance to jump (e.g. into car, onto bed)
• Difficulty rising from rest
• Licking joints
A diagnosis of arthritis is often made on history and clinical examination of your pet. In some circumstances radiographs (x-rays) are needed to confirm the diagnosis or to assess for possible anatomical defects.
Treatment for arthritis is aimed at management rather than a cure. We need to reduce any discomfort and slow further progression of the disease. This is done in a multi-modal fashion, meaning we approach the problem from many different aspect and combine therapy, both at home and at the veterinary clinic, to achieve the best results.
What you can do at home:
Provide warm, soft bedding away from cold drafts. Consider using a rug or jacket for cold nights. Keeping the joints warm can reduce ‘stiffness’.
Exercise – short regular walks, rather than one long walk on weekends, encourages joint fluid circulation and nourishes cartilage.
Improving access – for example, using a ramp for larger dogs to walk into the car rather than having to jump up.
Nutritional supplements:
There are many over-the-counter products that have long been used for people suffering with arthritis and they are often beneficial for our pets as well!
Research is showing that omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA, may be helpful in reducing the inflammation associated with arthritis. High levels of omega-3 fatty acids can be found in marine fish oil or flax seed oil. An average 20kg dog can benefit from 1000mg fish oil capsule daily.
Glucosamine (as glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine HCl) has great anecdotal and increasing scientific evidence of its benefits for arthritic patients. An ideal dose rate has not yet been determined, however 500mg for a 20kg dog is a rough guideline. Some studies suggest the liquid forms of glucosamine sulfate are better absorbed rather than the tablet forms. Glucosamine is often sold in combination with chondroitin and omega oils. Registered veterinary products include “Cosequin”, “JointGuard”, “Sasha’s Blend” and “Paws Osteo-Support”. There are also complete balanced dog foods for arthritic dogs that already contain these supplements such as Hills J/D Diet.
Veterinary Treatments:
Cartrophen Injections
Cartrophen (pentosan polysulfate) is classified as a chondroprotective (cartilage protective) agent and acts to slow down the progression of arthritis. It does this by stimulating the production of lubricating joint fluid and encouraging the repair of cartilage in the joint. The initial course is four injections at weekly intervals. Most dogs benefit from single boosters administered every four to twelve weeks. It is often used as a first-line treatment, due to the relative low cost and few side effects, however not all dogs respond to cartrophen alone.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Oral medications such as Rimadyl, Metacam and Previcox are a prescription drug that can be used at home to control pain associated with inflamed, arthritic joints. These drugs have the benefit of providing strong pain relief to even severely affected dogs and can greatly improve the quality of life of our geriatric patients. They must however be used with caution as the disadvantage of NSAIDs are side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, less common but more severe gastric ulcers, liver and kidney damage. We recommend blood test monitoring of liver and kidney enzymes, especially in long-term use.
(Note: NEVER administer human anti-inflammatories to your pets, they can be toxic even at very low doses!)
Acupuncture is another therapy that is often well tolerated by pets and can provide relief.
Using a combination of these treatment methods will no doubt improve the quality of life for our arthritic pets. If you have any questions or would like your pet to be assessed for arthritis please do not hesitate to phone us at Warrandyte Veterinary Clinic on 9844 3071.
Written by Stuart Turner
Head Vet at The Warrandyte Vet Clinic
91 - 93 Melbourne Hill Road Warrandyte, VIC 3113
www.warrandytevet.com.au
Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative condition of the joints. It most commonly affects older pets, particularly large breed dogs, through long-term wear and tear. It can however occur at any age due to injury, anatomical defects (such as hip and elbow dysplasia), and less commonly infection and immune-mediated diseases.
It may be difficult to recognise the symptoms of arthritis, as animals won’t necessarily vocalise when painful. Signs of arthritic pain may include one or more of the following:
• “Slowing down” on walks
• Limping or stiffness
• Reluctance to play
• Grumpy or “touchy” when handled
• Reluctance to jump (e.g. into car, onto bed)
• Difficulty rising from rest
• Licking joints
A diagnosis of arthritis is often made on history and clinical examination of your pet. In some circumstances radiographs (x-rays) are needed to confirm the diagnosis or to assess for possible anatomical defects.
Treatment for arthritis is aimed at management rather than a cure. We need to reduce any discomfort and slow further progression of the disease. This is done in a multi-modal fashion, meaning we approach the problem from many different aspect and combine therapy, both at home and at the veterinary clinic, to achieve the best results.
What you can do at home:
Provide warm, soft bedding away from cold drafts. Consider using a rug or jacket for cold nights. Keeping the joints warm can reduce ‘stiffness’.
Exercise – short regular walks, rather than one long walk on weekends, encourages joint fluid circulation and nourishes cartilage.
Improving access – for example, using a ramp for larger dogs to walk into the car rather than having to jump up.
Nutritional supplements:
There are many over-the-counter products that have long been used for people suffering with arthritis and they are often beneficial for our pets as well!
Research is showing that omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA, may be helpful in reducing the inflammation associated with arthritis. High levels of omega-3 fatty acids can be found in marine fish oil or flax seed oil. An average 20kg dog can benefit from 1000mg fish oil capsule daily.
Glucosamine (as glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine HCl) has great anecdotal and increasing scientific evidence of its benefits for arthritic patients. An ideal dose rate has not yet been determined, however 500mg for a 20kg dog is a rough guideline. Some studies suggest the liquid forms of glucosamine sulfate are better absorbed rather than the tablet forms. Glucosamine is often sold in combination with chondroitin and omega oils. Registered veterinary products include “Cosequin”, “JointGuard”, “Sasha’s Blend” and “Paws Osteo-Support”. There are also complete balanced dog foods for arthritic dogs that already contain these supplements such as Hills J/D Diet.
Veterinary Treatments:
Cartrophen Injections
Cartrophen (pentosan polysulfate) is classified as a chondroprotective (cartilage protective) agent and acts to slow down the progression of arthritis. It does this by stimulating the production of lubricating joint fluid and encouraging the repair of cartilage in the joint. The initial course is four injections at weekly intervals. Most dogs benefit from single boosters administered every four to twelve weeks. It is often used as a first-line treatment, due to the relative low cost and few side effects, however not all dogs respond to cartrophen alone.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Oral medications such as Rimadyl, Metacam and Previcox are a prescription drug that can be used at home to control pain associated with inflamed, arthritic joints. These drugs have the benefit of providing strong pain relief to even severely affected dogs and can greatly improve the quality of life of our geriatric patients. They must however be used with caution as the disadvantage of NSAIDs are side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, less common but more severe gastric ulcers, liver and kidney damage. We recommend blood test monitoring of liver and kidney enzymes, especially in long-term use.
(Note: NEVER administer human anti-inflammatories to your pets, they can be toxic even at very low doses!)
Acupuncture is another therapy that is often well tolerated by pets and can provide relief.
Using a combination of these treatment methods will no doubt improve the quality of life for our arthritic pets. If you have any questions or would like your pet to be assessed for arthritis please do not hesitate to phone us at Warrandyte Veterinary Clinic on 9844 3071.
Written by Stuart Turner
Head Vet at The Warrandyte Vet Clinic
91 - 93 Melbourne Hill Road Warrandyte, VIC 3113
www.warrandytevet.com.au
Monday 13 June 2011
Pound vs. Pet Shop
Selection
Those who want to adopt a particular breed of dog may look to pet shops first. Shops sell a wide selection of purebred puppies. Adopting from a pet shop is in many ways like purchasing a new off-the-rack handbag, albeit one who wags and woofs. The animals are largely identical within their breeds: almost exclusively young, energetic and highly appealing. Like handbags, pet stock moves into and out of the shop quickly. This high turnover rate means that pet shop workers may not get to know individual animals well.
The local RSPCA also deals with pure breeds. Both the RSPCA and Lort Smith Animal Hospital also feature a number of purebred crosses. They may never appear in dog shows, but crosses can make wonderful pets. The RSPCA features a lifestyle colour code to describe each animal's unique needs, while Lort Smith describes each pet's personality. Adopting from a shelter is more akin to shopping for vintage clothing; while the selection is smaller, that rare find can mean true love.
Health
A pet shop puppy usually comes with a money-back guarantee of good health. While these young animals are full of vigour, few adoptive households have reason to make use of such a guarantee. However, the demand for certain breeds is so high that some breeders over-produce them, leading to potential genetic weaknesses that appear only with age.
Shelters typically paint a more realistic picture of the animal's state of health. Older dogs and those with health problems bear clear labels on their charts. It takes an exceptionally big heart to adopt an animal with special medical needs or one who has little time left, but shelters are unflinchingly honest about informing adoptive households of any known health concerns.
Cost
Pet shops' prices vary by breed; shelter adoptions generally have flat fees. Part of a pet shop's cost is in papers, and for those who require a purebred pet, that pedigree is worth the price. Many shelter animals have more dubious lineage. However, many families find that having a dog who simply looks like a chihuahua is just as good as having one with paperwork to prove it.
Time
Many shelters have a waiting period, background check or interview before releasing a dog for adoption. Pet shops typically sell that day, which is a plus for anyone who wants to surprise the family with a new companion. The interview process that pounds and shelters require may help find a better fit between household and pet if time is not of the essence.
Sunday 5 June 2011
Three's a Crowd?
The Nose Knows
A dog's sense of smell is so keen that humans can only imagine the sheer volume of information a dog gleans from worn clothing or bed linen. Dogs become confused when their "pack leader" declares an area that smells so strongly of security and comfort off-limits to them. It's therefore vital to supply the dog with a space of his own that still retains a connection with his pack. The presence of his pack reassures him, but he'll settle for their scent. Remove a used pillowcase from the bed and place it in the dog's bed. He'll gravitate to it like a toddler to a security blanket.
Comfort Is Key
Ensure that the dog has a comfortable bed. He doesn't like a scratchy, smelly old bump of a bed any more than a person would, so treat him to a designated doggie bed. Observe his favourite sleeping positions and choose a bed that suits his style: a long pillow for a sprawling sleeper or a cup-shaped bed for a curled-up pup. Keep the bed in one of his preferred napping spots if possible and he will naturally begin to sleep there, especially if the bed smells enticingly like his pack.
All Night Long
Dogs may try to sneak into bed with their people if they're accustomed to sharing a bed. It may take a few nights of waking up, leading the dog back to his own bed, and offering praise once he settles in before he takes the hint. Avoid food rewards for these nocturnal lessons, though, lest he learn that waking the household by jumping onto beds earns him a midnight snack.
Paper Training
If a dog is still reticent to sleep in his own bed despite plenty of positive reinforcement, try placing a layer of parchment paper on the bed when it is not in use. He won't like the slick paper under his feet, but he won't feel snubbed the way he might if his pack leader chased him off with a "No!" He may wonder why people would choose to sleep with rustling stuff when they could have a nice cushion on the floor to call their own, but he'll stay off the bed.
A dog's sense of smell is so keen that humans can only imagine the sheer volume of information a dog gleans from worn clothing or bed linen. Dogs become confused when their "pack leader" declares an area that smells so strongly of security and comfort off-limits to them. It's therefore vital to supply the dog with a space of his own that still retains a connection with his pack. The presence of his pack reassures him, but he'll settle for their scent. Remove a used pillowcase from the bed and place it in the dog's bed. He'll gravitate to it like a toddler to a security blanket.
Comfort Is Key
Ensure that the dog has a comfortable bed. He doesn't like a scratchy, smelly old bump of a bed any more than a person would, so treat him to a designated doggie bed. Observe his favourite sleeping positions and choose a bed that suits his style: a long pillow for a sprawling sleeper or a cup-shaped bed for a curled-up pup. Keep the bed in one of his preferred napping spots if possible and he will naturally begin to sleep there, especially if the bed smells enticingly like his pack.
All Night Long
Dogs may try to sneak into bed with their people if they're accustomed to sharing a bed. It may take a few nights of waking up, leading the dog back to his own bed, and offering praise once he settles in before he takes the hint. Avoid food rewards for these nocturnal lessons, though, lest he learn that waking the household by jumping onto beds earns him a midnight snack.
Paper Training
If a dog is still reticent to sleep in his own bed despite plenty of positive reinforcement, try placing a layer of parchment paper on the bed when it is not in use. He won't like the slick paper under his feet, but he won't feel snubbed the way he might if his pack leader chased him off with a "No!" He may wonder why people would choose to sleep with rustling stuff when they could have a nice cushion on the floor to call their own, but he'll stay off the bed.
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