Safe holidays for the Dogs

Here are some tips about how to make the holidays safe and fun for the family dog, as well as for yourself. First, be aware of holiday hazards and supervise your dog when she's exposed to them. For example tinsel, Christmas lights, wires, glass ornaments and holiday decorations can be deadly to pets. Don't leave Pup-Pup alone with any hazardous materials, not even for a minute! Make sure your holidays aren't interrupted by an emergency visit to a veterinary hospital.

To help Pup-Pup share in the fun, place dog-safe toys and ornaments on the bottom branches of your tree, and let her play with them. Attach them with string, not wire hangers. And beware of chewing on evergreen branches or pine needles, for they can make her quite sick.

Of course, she'll make every effort to convince you to share your Christmas pudding. Don't give in! Cakes, pies, puddings, and especially candies contain ingredients that dogs can't digest (rich, processed fats, sugars and dairy products). At best, such ingredients cause diarrhea; at worst, they can be toxic (for example chocolate is a big "no-no"). Does Pup-Pup deserve her share or holiday treats? YOU BET! For yummy holiday treats fit for Fido, check out The Dogfather Bakery on Main Street in Westbor (next to the Bagel Bistro); Pets Gone Healthy on route 20 on the Marlboro/Northboro line; and Pet Source, in the RK Mall in Marlboro, next to Hannaford's Supermarket.

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Traveling with your dog

Summertime is travel time and often we want our canine companions to enjoy vacation with us. Busy families sometimes forget that Pup-Pup needs to be provided for on vacation just like the kids, so here are some tips about traveling with your pet.

When traveling by car, make sure to make multiple rest stops to prevent accidents or restless behavior in the car. Remember to leash Pup-Pup BEFORE you open the car doors! The dog rescue groups that we work with get too many dogs found wandering on turnpikes. Purchase a canine seatbelt and make a couple of trial runs in your neighborhood to allow your dog to adjust to the new restraint. Most pet stores carry one or more styles of canine seatbelts. While you're packing for the kids, prepare a doggie travel kit that includes: food, bottled water, bowls, treats, favorite toy, blanket, and plastic bags suitable for poop pick-up and disposal. Also include complete copies of his health record in Pup-Pup's travel kit and don't forget an extra collar with all the necessary identification info in case he loses the one he has on. As part of your travel planning, check ahead for pet friendly hotels and campgrounds. This can be done at www.petswelcome.com.

If you're traveling with your pet by plane, make sure to get complete information ahead of time from your airline. Find out if your pet is small enough to travel in the cabin with you, and what you need to do to facilitate that. Most airlines require advance reservations for pets traveling in the passenger cabin and there's usually a pre-paid fee. Some airlines require you to rent or purchase their in-flight carriers. On travel day, allow lots of extra time at the airport to go through check-in and security with your dog.

Larger dogs cannot travel in the passenger cabin and must fly separately as cargo. There are many risks associated with this practice and most vets and pet professionals don't recommend it especially if it's only for a vacation. The least of the evils is that it's a very unpleasant experience for the dog, and problems multiply from there, including dogs that get lost like luggage, or are injured or killed by in-flight conditions. I'm not trying to be an alarmist here; I just know of many people who've lost dogs who flew in cargo. If you have to fly with a large dog, hold food at least 6 hours prior to flight to avoid vomiting and/or diarhhea, both of which are common problems in-flight. It's not a bad idea to ask your regular veterinarian if a sedative or anti-nausea medication is appropriate.

Household toxins that kill

I don't know how we raised pets when we were kids, because no one ever told us all the stuff that I currently know, yet my family had a healthy cat and a healthy dog, both of which 'made old bones'. But the ASPCA says that incidents of pets ingesting household and backyard poisons is increasing. Perhaps there are more products around that are made with poisonous ingredients; or maybe busy families forget to supervise dogs and/or leave cabinets open. At any rate I read the amazing statistic that incidences of poisoning with polyurethane glue have risen 740% since 2002 (see Petsitusa link)!!

Autumn brings particular dangers like lawn treatments and antifreeze. Fertilizers continue to be a danger in the fall for those who plant bulbs. Cleaning products are always a hazard. Many plants are toxic to dogs and cats, so as you bring plants inside for the winter, check with the Poison Control Center (phone number below). All toxic products should be keep in sealed plastic containers, like the ones you can buy at Walmart for not much money. Drop your bag of bulb fertilizer in a plastic container and make sure the top is firmly set. Same with plastic bottles containing fluids like cleaners and antifreeze. If you winterize your car yourself, make sure to clean up any spills promptly and keep the dog out of your work area! A tip I recently learned: antifreeze containing propylene glycol is less toxic than antifreeze made with ethylene glycol. But both will make your pup or kitty ill!

Salts and chemicals used to melt ice are a definite cold weather problem for pets. Walking on ice melts that contain calcium chloride and/or table salt can cause skin irritation. Chemicals used in ice melts can cause pets who lick their paws to experience vomiting, decreased muscle function and in severe cases, seizures, coma and death. Better to use benign substances like the product "SafePaw", or even ashes or sand in area where you pet walks.

If you think your pet has ingested a dangerous substance, contact your vet on an emergency basis or immediately call the ASPCA Animal Poison control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

Happy Birthday, Simon!

Simon is four years old today, and did he ever enjoy his Frosty Paws treat! He finished the whole thing before Susan could get a picture, but was willing to pose once he was done! He's a major sweetie, along with his sister, Olivia. When we sang happy birthday, Olivia pushed her way in and stared at us, like "What about me??"

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Go slow: Dogs at Play

Wouldn't your dog like to have fun this summer ??

Of course s/he would!!!

Call Susan at 508-393-6970 for a FREE daycare evaluation for your dog.

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The Doggie Den Welcomes Nicole Bonin

The Doggie Den is excited to welcome Nicole Bonin to our grooming team.  She joins Shawna Rubin who has built a loyal, enthusiastic grooming clientele at The Doggie Den.  Nicole graduated from the MA School of Pet Grooming in Medford, MA in 2005.  Then she moved to North Carolina where she worked in two different shops as an all-breed groomer.  Now she has returned to MA. to work at The Doggie Den.  Customers say her clipping and scissoring is the best.  Welcome Nicole.

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Happy Birthday Luke!

Luke was born on Valentine's Day so we had a special party for him and his puppy pals. Homemade dog cookies and Frosty Paws treats for everyone! Luke was a great host!

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Romance at The Doggie Den

It's early New England springtime and cupid's arrow has struck Cleo (Great Dane) and Teague (Irish Terrier). They're both very shy with others, but together... watch out! Lots of play and snuggles - and jealousy when anyone tries to butt in!


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Debarking Your Dog: Don't!

Every once in a while I see something about dogs online or on TV that makes me crazy. For example, I never watch America's Funniest Video's because the one time I did, they showed shots of dogs having weird accidents. It looked to me like the dogs were hurt, though not seriously. I was furious, then I saw that they do the same thing with children! There were scenes of toddlers falling down steps and, in one case, into a swimming pool. The audience thought it was hilarious. So a parent can earn thousands of dollars showing their kid having a funny accident. In several of the entries, the child was crying at the end. Guess I shouldn't be surprised that dogs were fair game.

Then the other night I saw a major network feature on debarking dogs. At first I thought it couldn't be what it sounded like. But... lest we not have a clear picture, the producers showed dog after dog having their vocal cords cut or otherwise damaged, as with a laser. Per the usual network practice of "balancing the story", we heard from those who were in favor of this practice, as well as those who were against. Didn't help, as far as I was concerned. One of the dog owners was a Sheltie breeder who had had consistent complaints from neighbors because of barking. So she debarked her dogs! I watched 20 seconds of Shelties in her back yard opening their mouths to emit a sound that resembled a sick cough. Daphne was appalled. She slunk out of the room, looking over her shoulder at me in unmistakable rebuke. I felt ashamed for humans.

Debarking involves cutting the vocal cords, or otherwise impeding their vibration. The dog is anesthezied, then an incision is made under his/her chin. It only takes minutes. Whoopee for efficiency. And the neighbors don't complain... how nice. This practice is barbaric!! It reminds me of another century when prison guards cut peoples' Achilles tendons to prevent them from bolting. It's just one example of the lengths people will go to to avoid the work of training their faithful companions. People will use electric shocks; collars that spray stinging fluids like citronella in their eyes and mouth; prong collars with barbs that dig into the flesh of the dog's throat and damage his/her esophagus; and now surgery, rather than teach the dog how to live with humans. Sorry, but there's no excuse. It's sheer laziness, not to say the need for instant gratification. Would you use a citronella collar to stop your 3 month old daughter from crying??? Would you put barbs around the neck of a toddler who constantly pulls away from you and gets herself into trouble?

I know, dogs are not children. But they are mammels with nerve endings and they hurt. It's just that they don't always show that they're in pain. So a Rottweiler with a prong collar who's dragging his master down the street doesn't look like he's hurt. If it hurt, he would stop, right? WRONG! Lots of dogs don't make the connection between pain and bad behavior. Almost all dogs can make a connection between good behavior and rewards. So why doesn't the guy teach his Rottweiler to walk nicely by giving him lots of hugs and treats when he does well?? It's just too hard, I guess. And then there's the issue of guys and macho dog breeds, but we'll leave that for another post.

The argument was made that some people would have to put their dogs down if they didn't cut their vocal chords. One judge even ordered a dog owner to have it done or euthanize the dog. Thank heavens, that judge no longer issues such orders because someone showed him exactly what's involved, and it repelled him. He now orders people to train their animals or give them up for adoption. Anyway the argument is ridulous. If you can't or won't take the time and effort to teach your dog not to bark, then give your dog to someone who will. Get help!! (from a trained canine behaviorist). It'll cost maybe the price of a dinner for two and a movie.

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What To Do About Bad Behavior (Repost from Dr. Jon)

Is your dog driving you crazy with his bad behavior? Almost all dogs I know have at least one habit that drives their owner crazy - typically things like chewing up shoes, shredding books, and getting into the garbage. It's a frustrating situation that a lot of owners just don't know how to handle. Sometimes they even resort to ineffective or even damaging methods of punishment as a way to stop the behavior. Don't pull your hair out or punish the dog! Instead, you can figure out what's causing the destructive behavior and eliminate it.

This is easier than it sounds. Behaviors that are considered “bad” are most frequently caused by a small number of issues. Today I'd like to tell you about them, as well as some simple ways to deal with them.

Health issues

If your dog is urinating or defecating inside the house, don't scold him - he may be showing symptoms of a health problem. Excessive scratching and rubbing against furniture can be indicators that your dog has allergies. Persistent gnawing might be an indication of tooth pain or disease. Keep an eye on what your dog is doing, since he might be telling you that something is wrong!

The first thing you should do if your dog starts acting out - especially if he's never done it before - is take your dog in to see the vet. Your vet will be able to diagnose or rule out health problems.

Boredom

Of course, your vet might find that there is nothing wrong physically with your dog. In that case, it's possible that your dog is simply bored! Does your dog have something to do when you're not at home? Do you give him plenty of play time and exercise? When a dog is bored, he might find ways of making his own fun. This can lead to destruction of your things, or even your dog getting into places that can be dangerous to him.

To prevent boredom, give your dog plenty of interactive toys to keep him busy when you aren't there to play with him. Try to take out your dog for runs or take him to a dog park once in a while to keep him active. Training sessions can also help reduce boredom, since they give your dog something to occupy his mind.

Stress and anxiety

Finally, your dog might be acting out because it's the way he expresses stress. Changes in your dog's environment or routine can make him anxious. If your dog starts urinating on ( “marking”) your furniture and home, he might be trying to mark your home as his territory. Think of marking as a billboard that says “This is mine.” A sudden increase in barking and whining can also indicate that your dog is feeling stressed.

To help your dog deal with stress, don't just treat the symptoms; you should aim to reduce or remove the stressor. Of course, this isn't always possible - like when you move to a new house or get a new pet.

In these cases, you can use Comfort Zone with D.A.P. Comfort Zone works by releasing dog pheromones (all-natural stress reducing compounds) into the air. Your dog smells these pheromones and they comfort him, making him feel secure in his environment - without needing to mark his territory or act out in other ways. Comfort Zone has been shown to reduce fear and stress-related destructive behavior by up to 65% according to studies. Your dog feels safe and secure, and you don't have to deal with his destructive behavior anymore - it's a solution that benefits everyone.

You see, if your dog starts displaying negative or “bad” behavior, don't punish him for it! Many times it's a symptom of one of the above causes. Consult with your vet, make sure your dog is getting enough activity and mental stimulation, and use Comfort Zone - and your dog will be back to his normal self in no time!

Until next time,

Dr. Jon


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Charlie Turns One

Charlie is one of our sweetest guests.  He walks away from vociferous encounters and plays with those who are gentle.  He loves human attention and preferred to have his birthday treats hand fed, so that's Laurie's people paw you see on the right.  Happy 1st birthday, Charlie!

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"There's a limit to sharing," Crosby exclaims.

Today is Crosby the puggle's birthday and he somewhat unwittingly shared his puppy patty treat with his Doggie Den pals. However, when it came to the container, he set his paws down.

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Loyal blog follower

Hi,
My name is Duke and I follow this blog, NOT because I'm loyal.  Because I gotta know what's goin' on!  My playpals get treats, ice cream, movies and facetime; and if'n I dint watch out I'd never know.  Susan knows I'm on the lookout now, though.  Where's mine, Susan??

BTW, you can see I'm a very tough guy.

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Fall fleas and ticks

Ah, the cool, bright days of October! The kids are settled in school, moms and dads are adjusting to new schedules, and the leaves are turning. Best season of the year!

Fleas and ticks??? But it's COLD outside, especially at night. Right! So fleas and ticks are looking for a warm winter home. The ones that live in your lawn or garden, or on your porch are redoubling their efforts to hop onto any warm body that passes by, especially furry bodies. So pick through pup's and kitty's coats for ticks and signs of fleas (like black specks on the skin, red skin rashes or signs of excessive scratching).

The best idea is to continue using a spot-on product like Frontline Plus, Advantix, or Program right up until you've had several hard frosts in your area. In Massachusetts, at The Doggie Den, we keep our pups on Frontline Plus until Christmas, then we start up again in March.


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Back on Track, Jack

Back to work on a "normal" schedule and the pups sense the change. At The Doggie Den, in our day care operation, those who took some vacation are over-the-top barky and crazed to be back. The ones who didn't are glad to see their friends and want to play non-stop. Some have diarrhea from sneaking forbidden holiday treats. At home, Daphne and Benny look at me as though I've lost my mind when I try to corral them into the van to go to work. They were perfectly happy being stay-at-home pets over each of the holiday weekends. Now they have to share me with the hordes again, and they're not happy. Daphne scratches my leg when I walk by at work; if that doesn't work, she grabs my pantleg with her teeth! No dummy she. The amount of lovin' she got over the holiday weekends was just fine, thanks, but why stop? Benny has regressed to displaying his aggressive, snarly mug whenever I greet another dog. He flew off the day care couch to kill a large Golden I was patting (remember, Benny is a small Cocker Spaniel) and almost broke his jaw... smack! on the floor. The Golden thought him a bit eccentric, but seemed unconcerned.


Unseasonably warm weather in Massachusetts and the outdoor area has turned to mud. The dogs love it. They lie down in the mud, sometimes even roll over; they chase each other around so their paws are coated, then leap onto the couches, which look like they do in the Spring, during the real mud season. This year, we get to do extra cleaning twice... at least! The good news is the heating bills won't cause heart attacks this year.


January is a low exercise time for both people and dogs. So get off the couch and take a fast walk with the pooch. Take him to a playgroup or day care while you go to the gym to work off the holiday goodies. Dogs need healthier lifestyles too!

Are There Poisonous Plants in Your Home?

As gardeners across the country say goodbye to summer, green thumbs and amateurs alike are scooping up houseplants to spice up the fall and winter months. They're also taking off their sunhats and dragging outdoor plans inside to protect them from upcoming dips in temperature. Plants are popular for their decorative, restorative, and air-cleaning properties, but many species are toxic to our curious furry friends. Soil and leaves attract dogs and cats who like to chew on vines and romp in the dirt. Here are some of the most poisonous best-sellers:

• Lilies, including stargazer, tiger and Easter lilies. "Even with very small ingestions, severe kidney damage can result," according to Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist.


• English ivy contains triterpenoid saponins which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea if eaten.


• Peace lily and pothos can cause irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue (peace lilies), and swelling of the GI tract (pothos).


• Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants to pets and people. It can lead to GI irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.

Keep the nibbler in your life safe from toxic foliage by placing all plants out of reach. Or better yet, choose a nontoxic alternative to brighten your home. For a list of safe plants, go to http://www.aspca.org/: (Aug. 29th, 2008 News Alert, "Most Popular Poisonous Plants) where there's an alphabetical listing of safe house plants. As always, if you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

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www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_newsalert082908#1

Dog Bites: Breed-specific Ordinances

Preventing dog bites is an important goal for everyone. Unfortunately, in a world addicted to whatever looks like an easy fix, outraged citizens are asking cities and towns to outlaw certain breeds, thinking that will eliminate, or at least cut down on dog bites.


But this legislative solution is not a solution, because (1)no city or town can effectively enforce such a law and (2)even if the law could be effective, eliminating all the Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans in the world would not address the basic problem: DOG OWNER IRRESPONSIBILITY. Boston recently enacted an ordinance aimed at Pit Bulls and the law has done nothing to reduce the number of dog bites seen in local hospitals and doctors' offices.


What would work, then?


1: Enforcing existing animal control laws, for example. Police can effectively fine people whose dogs run loose, or who walk dogs without a leash. A program of rewards for reporting dogs running loose would help. The key here is to increase funding for animal control!


2: So would mandatory spaying and neutering for all but AKC champions. Only bitches and dogs who have earned their championship should be bred anyway, because the goal should be to improve the temperament, health, and appearance of the breeds. It's highly unlikely that the owner of a champion Staffordshire Terrier (aka "Pit Bull")would breed her or him for killer temperament. If the law obliged veterinarians to report any non-spayed or non-neutered dog to the police, and if owners were fined, there would be fewer intact dogs to cause trouble. Intact male dogs represent 80% of dogs presented to veterinary behaviorists for dominance aggression, and are involved in 70%-76% of reported dog bites in Massachusetts.


But dog bites are only preventable in situations where owners act responsibly. All dogs need appropriate restraint, socialization, obedience training, and safe public areas in which to exercise (dog parks). Dogs and children (especially babies) need very close supervision. A child's attempt to cuddle the family dog can easily result in frightening the animal, and thus put the child at risk of a bite.


As for those who WANT dangerous dogs, they will find them - or create them through deliberate cruelty. Such people should be shot and fed to their dangerous animals.