Category: training

172 Noise phobias- new resources

I have had numerous clients report to me that recent thunderstorms are upset dogs and cats. I looks like we might finally get a break in the rain and storms, but then July 4 and fireworks will come along.

I normally recommend a ladder of approaches. The lowest rung in calming phermones like Adaptil for dogs or Feliway for cats. I have had some good results with Thundershirts, and white noise machines.


For the more serious affected dogs, I recommended medications. I normally start with Trazadone, but can escalate to Sileo if severe.


And I always recommend letting the pet feel safe, where ever that is, without inadvertently “rewarding” the attention seeking with lots of attention.


For a long term approach when it isn’t thunderstorm season, I recommend a gentle approach of playing a CD or digital file of thunderstorms, first very softly, then gradually increasing the volume, while the pet is distracted with pleasurable stimuli (food, treats, toys) to help desensitize to the noise. When the real deal comes along, there is much more than noise, but it can help decrease the severity of the pets reaction, or postpone the anxiety.

For more info:
https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/kit/fear-of-thunder-fireworks/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=What+s+New+In+June&utm_campaign=20210601_Newsletter_FFP#blog_link1

169 In-Room Appointments starting in May 2021

Beginning in May, we will be offering in-room appointments with the owner present, social distancing, and masks on. Everything else will still be curbside (for now). Clients with appointments will call from the parking lot, history taken over the phone, and they will be escorted into an exam room, where they can be present with their pet. This is only for appointments, not medication refills, grooming, food, etc. And if the client does not wish to come in, we will be happy to offer curbside appointments like we have been doing for the last year.

This is our plan to transition back to “normal” since the Covid-19 case numbers are very low now in Denton County. Even the Lewisville Library has opened to normal visitation, with masks and social distancing.

Vet practices nationwide are experiencing problems with curb side care. The biggest one we have been encountered this week is loose dogs. Several dogs have simply slipped out of collars that were too loose, and even harnesses that were too loose. And we had one pit bull in the car for moral support for the tiny dog who had an appointment, and when the owner opened the door, it hopped out of the car, and ran around the parking lot. Fortunately, it was not fearful, didn’t bit any people, dogs or cats, and didn’t run out onto Garden Ridge Blvd. We have never had this many loose dogs on our parking lot before. So help us out my making sure your cat is in a carrier (we have loaners if you need one), and dogs are on a leash attached to a well fitted collar.

Call now to book your In-room appointment starting Monday, May 3, 2021

168 National Bite Prevention Week

April 11 to 17 is AVMA’s Dog Bite Prevention Week, co-sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association and State Farm Insurance. Any dog CAN bite, but most dog bites can be prevented by paying attention to dogs’ body language and health and by desensitizing dogs to certain external stimuli. Most homeowner’s insurance will pay for damages but might have breed restrictions. According to State Farm’s claim information, there were more dog-related injury claims in March 2020 than in any other month last year, with a reported 21.6 percent increase in dog bites compared to March of the previous year

Nipping and play biting might be cute as a puppy, but we never want it to escalate to the point of breaking the skin. Taking the Fear Free training has trained me to look at biting as much more than “aggression”, but a sign of dog pushed past their point of control with anxiety and fear. It might be triggered by new people, pushing past a dog’s comfort zone on their body, or defending what they perceive as their home, or their resources. Resources might be food, toys, sleeping places, or their owner’s attention.

We have been seeing more behavior problems in “pandemic puppies” due to lack of opportunities to exposed them to new situations. Trainers were closed but starting to reopen for classes.

To help our pets with this transition, the National Dog Bite Prevention Coalition recommends the following tips:

  • Make sure your pet is healthy. Not all illnesses and injuries are obvious, and dogs are more likely to bite if they are sick or in pain. If you haven’t been to the veterinarian in a while, schedule an appointment for a checkup to discuss your dog’s physical and behavioral health.
  • Take it slow. If your dog has only been interacting with your family this past year, don’t rush out into crowded areas or dog parks. Try to expose your dogs to new situations slowly and for short periods of time, arrange for low-stress interactions, and give plenty of praise and rewards for good behavior.
  • Educate yourself in positive training techniques and devote time to interact with your dog.
  • Get outside for leash training and allow your dog to do more socializing.
  • Gradually start arranging play dates with other dogs and people as allowed, and carefully increase the amounts of time and freedom together. This will help your dog get used to being with other canine companions again.
  • Be responsible about approaching other people’s pets. Ask permission from the owner before approaching a dog, and look for signs that the dog wants to interact with you. Sometimes dogs want to be left alone, and we need to recognize and respect that.

If your puppy or adult dog (or cat) has triggers that might result in a “nip”, please call for a behavior appointment so we can “nip” it in the bud with helpful training tips for your pet and family.

https://www.avma.org/events/national-dog-bite-prevention-week



165 Puppy Bingo

March 23 is National Puppy Day https://nationalday365.com/national-puppy-day/. We have been seeing a lot of puppies lately, for a variety of reasons. A new tool that I have been using is a “game” called “Puppy Bingo”. It is a free handout, also available online, that is a grid of 25 squares with things to do with puppies to help socialize them to 25 different things. I was amazed when I saw it. I could probably think of 10-15 of them, but 25 if great! Our goal is to help expose puppies, especially before the age of 16 weeks, to novel experiences that might generate fear if exposed later in life. Some example are hearing construction sounds, seeing a train or bus, or walking on 3 different surfaces like wood, gravel, sand, rubber, and metal.

The same concept of new experiences works for kittens too. It has squares for meeting new people, being touched by towels, and walking on different textures.

If these experiences trigger fear, then we stop, and “circle back” when the youngsters are in a calm, happy place, maybe distracted with food or toys, and try again.

Imagine a world where adult dogs and cats aren’t afraid of vet visits, thunderstorms, or other animals.

Check out this link.

https://fearfreepets.com/puppy-kitten-socialization-bingo/

162 National Peanut Butter Day (March 1) is for Dogs Too

Why am I talking about peanut butter in a veterinary blog?  As a Fear Free Certified Vet Professional, I use a lot of peanut butter during exams.   Happy dogs, nervous dogs, new puppies.   (We use other foods for cats).

Dogs love peanut butter. Just like with people, food can elicit an automatic positive response.   What we are going for is an association that a vet visit= yummy snack.  We want our patients to WANT to come in the building, hop on the scale, go into an exam room, be lifted onto a table, and a strange person (with a mask on these days) give them YUMMY treat like lick-able peanut butter. 

When do we use peanut butter?  We use it for almost everything, from weight checks, exams, vaccinations, blood draws, nail trims to grooming.  We even have sticky mats with little nubs that we can stick to the wall of the bathtub, coat with peanut butter, and it takes a while to lick it clean. I do avoid it if they get car sick, if they are already nauseated, in for anesthesia, or if the owners have a family member with peanut allergy.

Sometimes we go with freeze dried meats, pill pockets, or other small dog treats.  But the advantage of peanut butter on a tongue depressor is that is takes a while to lick and swallow it, so they are pleasurably distracted.  And we hope they shift from being a little nervous or anxious about all those needles to a memory of “that wasn’t so bad, and I got peanut butter!”

It is not just a reward for good behavior like giving a child a sucker after a pediatrician visit. We use peanut butter before touching them, while touching them, and after.  It is part of our whole Fear Free Approach to provide low stress experience for our pets, which also benefits owners and staff. 

If your dog is anxious or timid about even getting in the car or approaching the building, we might suggest adding some oral mild anti-anxiety medications.  We even schedule “Happy Visits” to some in when we do absolutely nothing except invite them in, offer treats. 

Expect more to come about using Fear Free techniques for nail trims, cats exam, and puppy visits.

For more information and videos, Fear Free has a companion website for pet owners that is free and loaded with articles and videos. Check it out! https://fearfreehappyhomes.com/

National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day – March 1

159 Going Back to Work Could Be Tough on Your Pet

As I prepare to return to being back in the building to see patients next week, I worry about my two little high energy terriers. They have LOVED this time when they were out in the country, running over acres, digging holes, and eating rodents and rabbits (yes Chuck eats rabbits now). I am anticipating some destructive chewing up the backyard, or the house if I keep them inside on a hot day.

Many of the owners I have talked with in the last two months have described good quality time with their pets since many are home more. Many of the behavior issue clients describe are better, except the thunderstorm phobias.

Veterinary behaviorists are predicting an increase in problems as many of us go “back to work” outside the home. I read a great article, which I will share rather than write my own. The bottom line is we need to train our pets to be OK home alone. Here is the link.


https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2020-05/as-people-return-to-work-those-who-adopted-a-dog-during-the-pandemic-could-be-in-for-a-rude-surprise/

“People are preparing to go back to work, but their new pets most likely won’t be going with them. And those who adopted a pet during lockdown could be in for a rude surprise once they get home.
While the number of pandemic-inspired pet adoptions may be less than media reports suggest, there are still a lot of new pet owners out there whose pets have never known anything but 24/7 attention from their owners.
And those new best friends who kept their owners from going crazy during lockdown are going to be faced with a lot of unfamiliar alone time.
That could mean problems.
“I think we’re being a little naive to think we can spend 24/7 for [several months] with these guys and then abruptly leave,” says Leslie Sinn, DVM, DACVB, CPDT-KA, a certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Behavior Solutions for Pets, a consulting firm in Hamilton, Virginia.
Does that mean Sinn is expecting a huge wave of unpleasantly surprised pet owners? “Truthfully, yes,” she says.
Sinn told NEWStat that the primary issue is going to be separation anxiety. “With these dogs being used to having that social support and that social contact, and now being left basically alone under house arrest, I think that’s going to be rough for some of them.”
Sinn doesn’t blame this plethora of new pet owners for not expecting anxiety issues when the time comes to go back to work. “I don’t know that people are aware of [separation anxiety] as a problem in dogs and cats. So there’s been no reason for them to anticipate it [or] to take any particular steps.”
But Sinn says there are steps veterinarians can take to help their new patients and clients prepare for it.
“Hopefully, veterinarians have been having conversations with new owners about appropriate socialization in general,” Sinn says. That includes “encouraging independence and encouraging exposure to as many different people, places, and things as has been physically possible during the pandemic.” She acknowledges that introducing pets to the wider world can be difficult, given the CDC’s recent recommendations on social distancing pets, but stresses its importance.
The most important thing, she says, is “accustoming the pet to some period of time alone.”
For example: “In the past, if I had to run an errand, I’d take my dog with me when I left the house because it was a chance to spend more time with him,” Sinn says. But that’s the opposite of what you want to be doing during lockdown. “Now, when I go out for my [semimonthly] grocery run, I make a point of leaving the dog behind.” This allows for some much-needed separation between owner and pet, and gives the pet a chance to practice being alone.
Owners should avoid taking their dogs with them every single place they go, Sinn says. That way, it’s not such a shock when they have to leave for work.
Sinn says veterinarians can make these basic recommendations to owners to practice the healthy separation behaviors we want dogs to acquire while there’s still time: “The ability to be alone, the ability to be independent, the ability to settle without us having to encourage them to settle,” Sinn says. “Those are all things a new pet owner should be doing on a regular basis.”
Sinn adds that veterinarians who haven’t had this conversation with their clients yet should have it sooner rather than later.
“[Because] one way or another they will be having the conversation,” Sinn says. And if they’re having it later, then “it’s going to be a disaster-mitigation conversation versus a preventive conversation.”

https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2020-05/as-people-return-to-work-those-who-adopted-a-dog-during-the-pandemic-could-be-in-for-a-rude-surprise/

144 Watching Dogs Perform

The days before Valentine’s day usually mean hunting for the perfect card, getting reservations at a special restaurant, or ordering gifts for that “special someone” online. For Dog lovers, it means time to watch the Westminster Dog Show on TV. I have never been to a real dog show, but the Westminster is the Super Bowl of Dog shows in US.

I used to assume it was just a “beauty pageant” like Miss America, but it is so much more now. There are separate Agility and Obedience competitions also. Last night, the Standard Poodle won the Best in Show section. Siba was an outstanding examine of a standard poodle, even with the crazy hair cuts that are the breed standard. She was beautiful and “floated” around the ring. I was rooting for the gorgeous merle Sheltie or the crowd-pleasing Golden Retriever, but the poodle won. After over 30 years in vet practice, I have a profound appreciation for the sturdiness and intelligence of poodles in general, even though I see many more Toy Poodles than Standards.

I also enjoyed watching highlight of the Agility competition. I personally took a Agility class with my Sheltie, Sarge, when he was younger.  It was so much fun, but it was exhausting to do outside in June in Texas. Sarge loved it though. He could hardly wait for his turn to run the course.

On a similar note, my husband and I attended the Fort Worth Stock Show last weekend, on the last day. There weren’t many critters there, but my favorite thing was watching the Sheep Dog competition. We saw dozens of border collies, working 3 scared sheep around a large sand area, working only from the owner’s voice or whistle. They had to listen, read the sheep’s body language, and move a group around a course, around barrels, though a fenced area, and ultimately into a small 10’x10’ pen, all by himself. We saw several overexcited dogs be disqualified to nipping at the sheep. But in their defense, some of the sheep were pretty stupid and didn’t stick together. Sometimes it reminded me of trying to herd cats. Or the movie Babe about the pig.

Overall, it has been a pleasure watching dogs do what they were bred to do, whether it was herding, agility, or a beauty pageant. Dogs are amazing.

Westminster Best of Show   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh8Bot1OfkE&t=1s
Agility Championship   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZn7oWMHD90
Sheep dog competitions  https://www.texassheepdogassoc.org/

133 How to Trim a Dog’s Toe Nails with a Dremel Tool

As vets, we kind of take nail trimming for granted. How hard can it be to trim a dog, cat or bird’s nails? We have plenty of staff, big towels, and even anti-anxiety medicines to help in some cases. The reality is it is hard for most owners to do. And long nails, especially in dogs, can break off accidentally and cause the dog a lot of pain and bleeding, or they can scratch owners and flooring. Cats seem to have fewer problems with long nails, but I did have an aged Siamese cat brought in for inability to walk/possible euthanasia that was just long nails growing into the pads.

The latest trend I see for nails is grinding a dog’s nails with a Dremel tool. Show dog owners have been doing this for years, starting with young puppies to overcome the noise factor. Those dogs always had great short smooth nails. A few years ago, a battery powered product called Pedipaws was marketed to grind nails. I found it to be under powered to grind nails, but was satisfactory to smooth the rough edged AFTER a nail clipping.

Lately I have revisited the Dremel tool (or any brand powered craft tool – mine in a Craftsman) on dogs in the hospital and my own young adult, Chuck. We are finding it does work with the right coarse sanding drum attachment. It leaves a nice smooth nail, is less scary for many dogs than clipping, but takes a lot more time. I think most owners could do this at home, with the right tool, and a lot of patience.

Before you head out to the grinding process, you must familiarize your dog with the Dremel tool. The introduction should be simple and slow. Don’t rush, since you could create a bad association of the tool and your dog.

The first part of the introduction involves using special high value treats that your dog is crazy about and can eat slowly. Some of the treats to use include salmon, steak, and grilled chicken or even peanut butter. Once you have the food, turn on the Dremel tool while feeding your dog with the delicious foods. Then turn off the Dremel tool and stop the feeding. The association becomes Dremel off /no food, and then Dremel on/ special treats. Also, let your dog sniff and touch the Dremel tool while it is off. This investigation of the tool makes your dog less fearful around the Dremel.

Next, While running the Dremel tool (noise),have your dog get used to having his or her feet touched. Feed treats. We want the noise and foot handing NOT to be a scary experience. You may only be able to touch a foot, or a few nails at first. Be patient. With time your dog becomes accustomed to the noise. With multiple practice sessions, your dog is now ready to be trimmed off its nails.

Also, try to get your pup to lie on its side on the floor, rather than standing up. This provides a relaxation mood to the dog and a perfect position for the trimming activity. Taking the process slow is both beneficial to you and your dog. I found with Chuck, standing up with his foot flexed and flipped back like a farrier does a horse worked better. He does NOT like for me to pull on his feet.

Once these steps are accomplished, you are ready for the crucial part :  trimming of the nails.

1) Prepare your Dremel tool with the little sand paper drum. The treats  should be ready and nearby.  Ideally, have a partner to offer treats while you concentrate on the nails. Your dog should be in a comfortable position.

2) At this stage ask your dog to give you his or her paw, and then hold the paw firmly without squeezing it. Separate the nail from the rest of the part, by pushing gently at the top of your dog’s paw.
The nail will extend slightly from the pressure applied. If your dog has a longer coat the fur might be caught by the spinning Dremel. It is recommended to either trim the hair first, or put a “sock” on the foot with the a hole for the nail. This keeps the fur out of the spinning Dremel spindle.

3) Turn on the Dremel tool, on low power, and touch the tip of your dog’s nails with the spinning Dremel. The tip of the nail will be ground awayl. Take care not to apply too much pressure as this will injure your dog or cause the tip to slip.
Start grinding across the underside of the nail. This removes the uneven edges and the rough stuff. Then grind on the  tip of the nail  to an angle so it will be flat on the floor when the dog stands. Take off the sides, corners and the rough edges that are surrounding the tip.
While doing this your grinder should be moving, not just holding in one place too long. Get close to the quick without nicking it. When the quick recedes further back, the nail will get much shorter.

In order to smooth the nails, grind the small loose layer that runs alongside each nails bottom gently. Do this by rotating the Dremel in one or two swipes around the nail. The smoothing achieves perfect rounded corners and prevents the cracking of nails.

4) During and after finishing the trimming process, reward your dog by offering treats and praises.  A second person makes this much easier at first.
Shorter sessions are less traumatic and comforting; hence take a little break after trimming each nail. Even if you just do a few nails the first time, without fear, it will be easier. Wait a day or two and try for a few more. Overtime, most dogs will tolerate the higher speed setting, and the whole process is much faster. With practice, you will be able to trim perfectly the long nails.

Dremel tips-https://rotarytoolsguy.com/trim-dog-nails-with-dremel-tool/

Trainer tips- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18UjGBiMpQM
Vet video-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRVhIOqjeU

127 Deaf Dog Awareness Week

Deaf Dog Awareness Week is the last full week of every September. Dogs that are deaf in just one ear are more common, about 120,000, compared to 35,000 who are deaf in both ears.

Many breeds of dogs have a known incidence of deafness. Some of those breeds include Australian shepherd, Boston terrier, cocker spaniel, Dalmatian, German shepherd, Jack Russell terrier, Maltese, toy and miniature poodle, and West Highland white terrier. In most of these dogs, the deafness is hereditary and is associated with piebald or merle coat patterns. (Merle is a pattern in a dog’s coat. Merle comes in different colors and patterns. The merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat, blue or odd-colored eyes, and can affect skin pigment as well.) So, almost any dog with white in its fur or any “blue” dog is at least more likely to be deaf. Sometime the deafness is only in one ear, or only for some frequencies of sound.

Other dogs lose their hearing due to ear infections, medications, or long term exposure to loud noises. And most just lose it naturally with aging. My own Sheltie, Sarge, has gone mostly deaf in this 12 year of his life. Sometimes he can hear a sound, but can’t tell where it is coming from.

The only definite Testing is called a BAER test, and uses ear muffs and sticky sensors on their scalp to measure brain response to sounds. Other common testing that you can do at home include looking for a reaction to any sound that doesn’t create a vibration enough to feel. These might include a door bell or cell phone ringing, a squeak toy, jingling keys, or a vacuum cleaner that is out of sight, or even banging two metal pots.

If you suspect your dog has deafness, there isn’t a lot we as vets can do. If I diagnose or suspect it in young puppies, we stress no free roaming and teaching hand signals. Deaf dogs are stupid, they just can’t hear. And some genetic cases may also have some vision problems that require referral to an eye specialist. We will always look in the ear to make sure the ear drum isn’t ruptured. For the old timers like my dog, we just love him and try to use his other senses. Some people have used a vibrating collar (not a shock collar) to alert a dog to “check in” with the owner. My mom used to flash the lights to get our old dog’s attention when he went outside in the dark and wouldn’t come in. And most deaf dog can “feel” loud sounds just like we can feel a loud stereo, and sometimes we can use that to alert a deaf dog.

For more information:
http://www.deafdogs.org/faq/
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/what-you-need-know-about-deaf-dogs

126 Hunting season

Hunting season is upon us. I know not everyone has a hunting dog, but if you do, here are some reminders to keep your dog healthy and safe.
First exercise your dog regularly, and start early before the big day. Just like us, conditioning for an athletic event takes time and practice. Think of it like training camp for dogs.

Watch your dog’s weight. It is easy for athletic dogs (and people) to get heavy in the off season. But I have also seen a lot of hunting dogs that are always thin, and get thinner while hunting and running. Strive for an optimum weight.

Visit your veterinarian to make sure your hunting buddy is up to date on vaccines and heartworm prevention. Have a conversation with your vet around possible disease risks in the region you are traveling too. We may not have it in Lewisville, but we are trained to discuss diseases in other parts of the state or country. Plus often your dog will be around other dogs and wildlife.

Talk to your vet about fleas and ticks. Hunting dogs are a higher risk to encounter these nasties, and the diseases (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia and Lymes) they may carry. I especially like the oral systemic flea and tick medicines like Credelio, Nexgard and Bravecto.

Lastly, think about safety gear for your dog. A reflective collar with ID is a minimum. A blaze orange vest is a good item. And it is always a good idea for dogs to be microchipped, especially valuable ones. Always carry a first aid kit, with simple things like tweezers, eye saline rinse, gauze, Neosporin, Benadryl, honey packet and tape. And it wouldn’t be crazy to research the contact info on a vet who sees emergencies in you hunting area, “just in case”.
For more hunting info- https://www.avma.org/public/Health/Pages/Disease-Precautions-for-Hunters.aspx