Pet owner Mistakes and how to Fix them

 You get a pet and have the best of intentions.  You want to love and care for your pet, but maybe sometimes you forget that dogs and cats (as well as other pets) are very different from humans.  They do not speak your language and must be taught what things mean. Here are some of the mistakes we all make at times with our pets:

Not making sure your pet is properly socialized-

When left with their mothers, most dogs and cats are exposed to others of their breed, whether their litter mates, or just others around them.  They learn the rules of being the kind of animal they are from this experience.  When they are removed from their mothers early, as most are, they miss this experience.  They then are confused about who they are and what they are supposed to do.

You don't know enough about what your pet needs for health-

Dogs are omnivores and can eat both meat and plant based food.  There are, however, many things that are toxic for dogs like onions, chocolate and more.  It is your responsibility to learn about what your dog can and cannot eat.  You also should talk with your vet about what the optimal weight is for your dog and learn the proper proportions to feed. Feeding table scraps, while it seems okay, can cause your dog upset stomach due to the seasonings, fat content, and any sauces added.  Dogs need food plain, not drenched in sauce.

Cats are carnivores.  They eat meat.  This is the type of diet they are genetically predisposed to eat.  Feeding your cat vegetables seems normal, but actually cats cannot digest any plant based food, so it may cause upset stomach and diarrhea. As a cat owner, you should talk with your vet about optimal weight for your pet and proper amounts to feed.  Cats fed too much or fed incorrectly have a predisposition to develop diabetes and they also can develop kidney stones due to lack of running water.  Cats much prefer moving water to drink, so a bowl of stale water is unappealing to them and they may not take in enough fluid.

You don't spay or neuter your pet-

There is some type of mind-set in our society that removing reproductive abilities for pets is harmful or cruel.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Spaying or neutering your pet causes no long term harm and research shows that doing this can extend the life of your pet. It is not cruel to prevent a dog or cat from having one litter after another, which causes the female animal a great deal of distress and diminishes her ability to stay healthy.  Not to mention the overpopulation problem we are faced with today.  Contrary to popular thought, pets don't have to have at least one litter to be happy.  So, please spay or neuter your pet.

You don't give your pet enough attention-

You get a pet and enjoy spending time with it until you have other things more important to do.  Unfortunately, to your pet, you are their world and they do not have more important things to do.  Pets require attention on a regular basis, whether grooming, feeding, playing with them, or walking them; they deserve your attention and your time.  When you ignore them and leave them to their own devices, you invite trouble.  This is when they become destructive or they become very needy.  You are their whole world and they expect you to spend some of your time focused solely on them.  One of the problems with lack of time is lack of exercise for them.  As I covered earlier, weight management is as important for your pets as it is for yourself.  If you don't give your pet enough exercise, they become lazy and fat which leads to major health issues.

You don't learn how to read your pet's body language-

Your pets speak and it is up to us to learn their language just as we expect them to understand some of ours.  Dogs give cues to how they feel and what they are thinking.  Unfortunately, we don't always listen or pay attention to what they are trying to tell us.  Therefore, there are sometimes unfortunate but preventable accidents. People get bit every day by "friendly" dogs simply because they cannot distinguish between a tail wag and a tail flag. Take the time to learn what your pet is telling you because your pet is having to learn what you are saying, too.

You don't have a disaster plan for your pets-

No one wants to think about being in a disaster, but the truth is that there is always the possibility that you may experience one.  I live in Oklahoma, so we are all watching the skies for signs of tornadoes.  People all over experience traumatic events like mud slides, sink holes, flooding, fires, and other emergency situations. When making your family's disaster plan, don't forget to include your pets.  They will not be able to fend for themselves without you.  Make a plan and make sure everyone knows what it is.

These are just a few of the mistakes we often make when we get a pet.  All of us are guilty of one or more of these.  Our pets expect us to take the lead and keep them safe and healthy.  Don't let them down.

You can read more about this issue here.

Separation Anxiety Can Be A Reality For Your Dog When The Kids Go Back To School

Image via WikipediaWhen summer is over and the kids have to return to school, sometimes our pets have difficulty adjusting to the loss of their playmates of summer.  Some develop anxiety disorders, some develop really bad habits and regress to puppyhood.  Here is an article that addresses this issue.  It is from Banfield.com and has really good information you can use immediately.

Another way to help your pet with anxiety is with the new wrap that snuggles your pet and makes them feel safe and protected.  You can visit this link to find out more about this wonderful product.

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In September, as the kids head back to school, did you consider that your dog may have to adjust to the changes in the family routine just like everyone else? During the summer, your children and the family dog can develop a strong bond. Now there’s suddenly an empty and quiet house. This change in routine can cause your dog to suffer from separation anxiety or depression—to actually miss your kids—and even follow them to school. Your dog may experience the effects of the loss of extra playtime and the friendship developed with your children by exhibiting signs of separation through destructive behaviors such as:

• Chewing furniture
• Ripping the stuffing out of pillows
• Shredding paper
• Obsessive barking/whining for extended periods of time
• House soiling

Separation anxiety is a serious condition that can be managed with structure and patience. NEVER punish your dog for exhibiting this behavior, as it will make him more fearful and potentially aggressive.
Tips to manage anxiety:

• Start with leaving your dog at home for very short periods of time to get him used to being alone
• Avoid emotional departures and greetings
• Have your belongings prepared so that your departure from home is calm
• Consider doggie daycare for prolonged absences
• Teach the kids to avoid over stimulating the dog with departures and arrivals
• Exercising your dog before leaving the house in the morning is a good idea so he’ll be relaxed when you return and be set for when you’re away.
• Leave some sturdy, interactive toys for your dog to help keep him from being bored.
Be sure to check with your veterinarian to have your dog fully evaluated and correctly diagnosed before trying to manage the symptoms. There may be an underlying medical condition that may be misconstrued as separation anxiety.

Related articles

• My dog has separation anxiety (tithebarn.wordpress.com)
• Separation Anxiety in Dogs (everydayhealth.com)
• Does Anti Anxiety Dog Coats Help Dog Behavior Problems?. (animaltopics.com)
• Discover if your canine friend has dog separation anxiety. (animaltopics.com)
• Dog Behavior Problems (mademan.com)
• 6 Tips for Conquering Separation Anxiety as Kids Head Back to School (tricitypsychology.com)

Thursday's issues -- service dog training

Dogs Help Wounded Soldiers Heal

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left many of our soldiers with wounds, both visible and invisible.  But now, service dogs are working to help our men and women in uniform overcome their injuries.  And, in turn, wounded soldiers are training the dogs for future service people returning from battle.  Trained dogs are able to aid the injured in numerous ways.

"They can open refrigerator doors, pick up fallen items unreachable by wheelchair-bound humans and even create hedges of protection around handlers who struggle with anxiety in public places or are easily startled because of symptoms associated with post- traumatic stress disorder.

Some dogs can even read.

And by age 2, they have mastered between 90 and 130 different verbal commands."

The pilot program at Fort Stewart in Georgia is producing "phenomenal" results, according to participants, helping amputees, those afflicted with PTSD, and other disorders.

This article is from Dog News Daily.   This is a great site to find articles about dogs in the news and to research ongoing issues for dogs around the world.  Join them when you are there, won't you?

We're having Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain -- Uh Oh! Satch is in the tub again!

Image by ConnieG via Flickr

My dog is deathly afraid of thunder.  He becomes a pitiful, shaking, quaking mess when storms roll in.  I have tried all different ways to relieve his anxiety and pain, to no avail.  He will pace and hide and pace and hide, all while shaking violently and whining.  It hurts me to watch him.  I recently read an article about using Melatonin to deal with this problem.  Below is an article I found, which is just one of many available, that talks about using Melatonin.  I found it on OhMyDogSupplies.com.

The first time I tried this was in the middle of the night when Satch's severe shaking woke me up from a sound sleep.  He was finally able to calm down and go back to sleep, but it took a while for the effect to occur.  Today, however, the storms arrived before I realized it and he was in full-blown panic.  I gave him a dose but so far no effect.  I will have to wait and see if I will need to do something else.  The last time he went into a panic, he jumped into the bathtub and howled.  I want no repeat of that, please.

So, here's the article I'm talking about:

Melatonin: Used To Treat Fear Of Thunderstorms

December 15, 2008

Dogs are often scared of loud noises, not all dogs, but many.  And of those who do have a noise sensitivity,  thunderstorms  and other similar, unexpected sounds, are often the culprits of  their fears. Fear of thunder or other loud noises is very common.  This is often true for puppies and older dogs. Dealing with the possibility of having a panic stricken, nervous  dog, many owners resort to tranquilizers whenever alerted to an  impending thunderstorm. This is an extreme treatment that is  often recommended, but seldom needed. I would like to now  introduce you to a new alternative should you ever need it for  your own scared dog the next time a storm comes through your  area. It is a safe, drug-free, over-the-counter supplement that is  easily available to to any dogs with these anxiety problems. It is  called melatonin. You have probably heard of melatonin before. It is a naturally  occurring hormone that is secreted by a small endocrine gland  called the pineal gland, located at the base of the brain. It helps  to regulate and maintain the body’s circadian rhythm (the body’s  internal clock that tells mammals when to fall asleep and when to  wake up). Melatonin, in humans, is often used as a natural  sleeping aid. For dogs, melatonin is often administered to  alleviate their fear of thunder and other loud noises. I have read studies that melatonin has a positive result with at least  75% of dogs who take the supplement. When do you administer  melatonin, you may be wondering? With some dogs, melatonin is  most effective when it is given just before the storm hits.  In other  dogs, it is best when this supplement is given just as they are  starting to show signs of stress, anxiety and fear so you may have  to experiment over the course of a few storms before you find the  perfect application time for your own dog. Melatonin is said to work in the dogs body for about eight hours or  so. One important note: do not use melatonin on any pregnant dogs  or very young puppies. The best advice I can give you is to check with your veterinarian prior to using melatonin to make sure there  will be no problems with pre-existing health problems or medications  that your dog currently has (or is on) and also for the recommended  dosage for your own pet. By: Debbie Ray Need German Shepherd or Purebred dog information  (http://www.pedigreedpups.com) ? Check us out if you have other  dog related questions!

http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/xnews.php?newsid=160