First Coast Pet

Archive for October, 2009

Because dogs are such social animals, separation from their human family can be a very traumatic experience once the attachments have been formed. Dog separation anxiety can become a serious issue if not treated correctly, but it is a controllable behavior when given care and time.

When a dog is suffering from separation anxiety issues, there’s often bizarre behavior patterns. Certain dogs will become depressed and slow, and seem very sleepy. They will stop eating and drinking, and they might not leave very familiar areas to use the bathroom. Obviously, in a situation where the separation anxiety is that acute, there is a great danger of the dog becoming physically ill from malnutrition if it continues for any length of time.

Other dogs will show their problems with separation anxiety by extremely destructive behaviors. This behavior can take the form of extreme whining, barking, or howling, or destruction of property through means such as urinating or otherwise relieving themselves in and around your belongings. Even though this sort of behavior is considered a common way of displaying their anxiety, it’s certainly not what any pet owner wants to be forced to deal with.

But when your dog starts to feel fear at the idea of being separated from you or someone else in his “circle,” separation anxiety begins to take hold. Dogs that are extremely attached to their owners or family seem to suffer the most. This can happen when a dog spends all of his time with the owner when the owner is at home. They will be constantly looking for attention, and following their owner throughout the house all day. Usually, it’s completely the owner’s fault if their dog has been wrongly conditioned to be hyperattached to them. While there’s a certain joy in having your dog as your constant, adoring companion, you have to be responsible about encouraging a sense of independence as well, so when you are gone the dog doesn’t go into a panic.

Separation anxiety is a terrible ordeal for your dog to go through. In order to fix this issue, the attachment needs to be broken to some small degree. Your dog needs to learn independence. It is critical to the success of treatment for your dog’s separation anxiety. You’ll need to discourage the constant affection your dog lavishes upon you. Other people in your house can also care for your dog, and you can even show it how to play by itself or with others. Doing this may be difficult and you might feel as if you are being insensitive, but this is the beginning of the treatment that will end up dramatically improving both your and your dog’s quality of life.

Next, it’s essential to desensitize the dog to separation anxiety. Much of the anxiety that your dog suffers through can happen before you’ve even left them behind. Dogs are intelligent and observant. They will realize unfamiliar behaviors, such as rattling your keys, changing your clothes and turning off appliances – all of which are signals that you’ll be leaving soon. Obviously when they see this they realize you will be leaving and fear begins to set in. You can divert this behavior by acting as if you are leaving the house, but not actually going anywhere. The more you do this, the less the dog associates them with you being gone, and the calmer he becomes before you go out.

Of course, there are several other options available to you for help in alleviating separation anxiety. A lot of people have found that dog appeasement pheromones are successful in creating a sense of calm within the dog’s environment. Though odorless to humans, the pheromones create a more relaxing environment for your dog. You might also try leaving on the radio or TV to aid your pet’s separation anxiety.

Do you have a shy or fearful dog?  He’s probably very attached to you, but is leery of strangers.  Your pet may even go so far as to growl and snap at unfamiliar people or dogs who get too close.  People may say he’s a “one-person dog.”

It’s important to work on training your shy dog before his behavior escalates to fear aggression in dogs.  This type of aggressive dog behavior is characterized at first by growling at people he doesn’t know, and can quickly progress to snapping and biting.

Why Is My Dog Shy?

Sometimes a dog is shy or fearful of strangers due to a bad experience somewhere along the line.  Some cases are due to genetics.  But most cases of shyness in dogs are caused by one thing; neglecting to socialize a puppy in his first few months of life.  It’s also very important not to stop socializing your dog too soon, as many dogs go through a shy period around six months of age.

Are You Teaching Your Dog To Be Shy?

Speaking softly and reassuringly to your fearful dog in an attempt to calm him down is a mistake.First, your dog is learning that if he hides, growls, and even snaps at someone, you’ll reward him with your praise and attention.

Second, consider the sound of your voice when you’re comforting your dog.It sounds like a dog’s whimper to your canine’s ears.Your dog understands the sound of your voice, even though he doesn’t understand your words.Your dog will become even more nervous about the stranger because he thinks your voice is a whimper.

Training Your Shy Dog

Socializing your dog when he’s a puppy is the best way to prevent your canine from becoming a shy dog.  He needs to be exposed to a wide variety of people, places, and dogs so that he can learn through experience that there’s nothing to be scared of.

If your canine friend is already a shy adult, socializing your dog is still possible.  It takes longer, and you’ll need lots of patience, but  it can be done.

The important thing to remember with training your shy dog is not to rush him.  If you try to force him into socializing with unfamiliar people or dogs, all you’ll do is reinforce his belief that these things are scary.  Plus he may feel that he has no choice but to defend himself, which leads to aggressive dog behavior.

It’s never a good idea to let a stranger come up to your dog and attempt to pet him.Allow your dog to make the first move.  If he doesn’t want to, that’s fine.  If he’s hiding, don’t try to coax him out, as he’ll think you’re praising him for hiding out.

Ignore your dog when he acts shy or scared around strange people or dogs.  Keep him on his leash, and don’t let him get close enough to start displaying fear aggression in dogs.  Let him hang back and check out the situation from a distance.  When he’s ready, he’ll get closer on his own to the stranger.  This is when you praise him lavishly.

A Good Dog Training Course Can Work Wonders With A Shy Dog

You can see how easy it is to give your dog the wrong idea.  The fact is that dogs just don’t think like people do.  Understanding how your dog thinks is crucial to training shy dog properly.

Investing in a good dog training course is essential.  You’ll want to find out what other dog owners who have used the course think of it.Check for testimonials from dog owners who have used the course to train their own pups.

If you’re struggling with a shy or fearful dog, just click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training course that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.

If urinary tract infections in dogs are a problem for your canine companion, perhaps you should consider using natural remedies for dogs to treat this problems.  Interest in herbal and homeopathic treatments is increasing all the time, so it’s only natural that dog owners would be wondering about natural treatments for canine urinary tract infection. 

Two Well-Known Herbal Treatments For UTIs

Barberry, also known as Oregon grape holly, has been used for centuries in Europe, China, and North America to treat all kinds of urinary tract disorders.Berberine, an anti-inflamatory agent that’s also effective for killing staph and strep, is found in this herb.  With these properties, barberry is extremely useful in treating these infections.

Uva ursi has a long history in the traditional folk medicine of Europe for treating bladder problems.  This herb is a strong diuretic that also tones the urinary system.  Like barberry, it has an antiseptic effect on the bladder, plus it soothes inflamed tissues.

Homeopathic Remedies For Bladder Infections

Homeopathic remedies soothe the pain and urgency of bladder infections, along with helping the body heal itself.  Two remedies especially recommended for cystitis are Cantharis and Staphysagria.

Cantharis helps to relieve the burning and urgency a person experiences with a bladder infection.  It also helps to get rid of the feeling that the bladder is still full, even after it’s just been emptied.

Staphysagria is useful for the burning pain as well.This remedy is recommended for cases where a catheter has been used, as it promotes healing.

Are These Herbs And Homeopathic Treatments Available As Natural Remedies For Dogs?

Cystitis in dogs is about as common as cystitis in people is.  The question is, are natural remedies for urinary tract infections in dogs as common as they are for people?

Yes, they are.However, there are a few things you need to be aware of.  If you use one of these remedies, and it doesn’t help within 24 to 36 hours, take your dog to the vet.Don’t delay taking your dog to the vet if the remedy doesn’t work within a day or two, as some bladder infections can travel to the kidneys very quickly.

There’s no problem with using natural remedies for dogs if you’re giving your pup an antibiotic too.  In fact, these therapies work well together.  The antibiotic kills the bacteria causing the infection, while the natural remedies support bladder health without interfering with how the antibiotic works.

Do I Need To Give My Dog Four Different Treatments?

The good news is that these four safe, effective treatments have been combined into one easy-to-use product.  Just sprinkle the granules on the back of your dog’s tongue and let them dissolve.  No more fighting to get a pill or bad-tasting medicine down your dog’s throat!

Be sure to buy your remedy from a company with a great reputation for producing only the highest-quality products for pets.  It’s important to use a product that has been formulated especially for companion animals, not for people.

To learn how natural remedies for dogs can help your pet with a canine urinary tract infection, just click on any link in this article.

Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.It’s a sad fact this is behavior is the second most common reason for people to give up their dogs or even have them put to sleep. 

You can improve your dog’s life by identifying the signs of the condition, and learning how to deal with it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Levels of bad behavior can vary in dogs with separation anxiety.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself. 

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don’t know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it’s time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here’s how you can tell:

• The destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If his destructive behavior is because he’s a bored dog, he’ll do it anytime, not just when he’s alone.
• Your dog is “hyperattached” to you.Not only does he follow you all over the house, but he wants you to hold him all the time.  This is flattering for the owner, but it’s not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
• He’s learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
• He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
• He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
• Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy’s distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

If your pet does some, or all, of these things, his dog behavior problem is because of separation anxiety, not boredom.

Tips For Helping Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own. 

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha dog, or pack leader, he’ll get very upset if you leave him, since you’re not supposed to do that.  He thinks he’s responsible for you, and if you go away, something might happen to you.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

You may be surprised to learn that many dog owners think that canine urinary tract infections are no big deal.  All you need to do is give your dog an antibiotic for a couple of weeks, and the problem’s solved, right?

Wrong.Being sure of whether or not your dog even has canine cystitis can sometimes be difficult.

Does My Dog Have A Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

As smart as dogs are, they can’t talk and tell us what their problem is.They communicate with us by using their behavior.  If your dog has canine cystitis, she’ll try to tell you by her actions.

If you’ve ever had a bladder infection, you know that the main symptom is pain and burning when you urinate.  Your dog will tell you she’s unhappy, with restless behavior like pacing around the house and whining.  She may want to go out again right away, even though she just came in.

Worse, she may urinate on the floor, your bed, or in other inappropriate areas.  Many dog owners mistakenly think this is a behavior problem.  Before you start looking for a dog trainer, rule out bladder infections in dogs first.

Tests Your Vet Should Do To Diagnose Canine Cystitis

Urinalysis is the first test done to diagnose canine urinary infection, followed by a dog urine culture, and a sensitivity test.

A urinalysis should be done to see if bacteria or stones are present in your dog’s urine.  If bacteria are found, a urine culture needs to be done to find out exactly which bacteria they are.  The sensitivity test will tell your vet the correct antibiotic to use.

The problem arises because urine culturing and sensitivity testing increases your vet bill by $25 to $100.  Some dog owners can’t afford the extra money, and others just won’t pay for it even it they can afford it.

So what happens?  Your vet ends up prescribing an antibiotic that may or may not kill the bacteria causing your dog’s bladder infection.

Why Using The Wrong Antibiotic Is A Bad Idea

The first reason is that if you’re not using the right antibiotic, you can spend a lot of time and money with no results.  Giving a dog an expensive antibiotic for two or three weeks is no picnic, so you don’t want to waste time with the wrong drug.

Secondly, if you skip the sensitivity test, you may be treating your dog with a drug that won’t kill the bacteria causing the infection.  This can lead to a life-threatening bacterial infection that’s very hard to treat.

An even more important reason to use the right drug is the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Natural Remedies For Pets Can Prevent Bladder Infections In Dogs

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a safe, effective, natural remedy you could give your buddy every day to prevent bladder problems in dogs?  Well, you’ll be happy to know that there is.  This remedy is manufactured specifically for pets, not humans, which is very important.  And it’s made by a company with a great reputation for producing the highest-quality natural remedies for pets.

Click any link in this article to learn more about a safe, effective remedy for canine urinary tract infections.

Is separation anxiety in dogs destroying your hopes of having a happy, well-behaved dog?  Are you tired of having your pet go into a frenzy of destructive dog behavior whenever you leave him alone?  

If so, you’re not alone.  This dog behavior problem is the second most common reason that pet owners have for giving up a dog, or even having him to put sleep.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  

What Is Canine Separation Anxiety?

Basically, your dog has a panic attack when you leave him alone, usually within a half hour of your leaving.  Your canine may show the following dog behavior problems:

• High-pitched yipping and whining, in hopes of getting you to come home
• Digging at doors and windows in an effort to escape
• Inappropriate urination or defecation, even if he’s housebroken
• Destroying furniture, clothing, or whatever else he can get into

Your dog isn’t doing these things to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared.

Why Does My Dog Have This Problem?

Nobody knows for sure why some dogs with separation anxiety develop this condition, and others don’t.  Some breeds, including Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales, are more likely to develop canine separation anxiety.  

When the owner is absent from home a lot, it often contributes to the problem.  Dogs are social animals who need lots of interaction with their owners to be happy.  You may want to have somebody come in to walk your dog during the day, or take him to a doggy day care, if you know your dog will be alone most of the time.  

Avoid Making A Big Fuss When You Get Home

Does your dog greet you when you get home by jumping around and barking, almost to the point of being out of control?  Do you encourage this behavior by petting him, and lavishing attention on him when he’s acting crazy?  

If you do, you’re making a big mistake.  It’s flattering to have your dog so happy to see you, but giving him attention when he acts like this only reinforces the idea that your daily homecoming is the highest point of his day.  He’s nearly manic when you get home, but the depression sets in once more the next day when you have to leave for work again.

Keep your comings and goings low-key.  Yes, he should be happy to see you, but not excessively so.

Are You The Alpha Male Or Is Your Dog?

Many dog owners make the mistake of trying to treat their dog as an equal.  You need to realize that dogs are pack animals, and there’s always a pack leader.  If you aren’t the alpha dog, there’s a leadership vacuum that your dog will step up to fill.  

If your canine thinks he’s the pack leader, he may suffer separation anxiety in dogs if you leave.  This is because in the wild, the pack leader can leave the pack and come back.  However, the other dogs (the followers) don’t have this option of leaving their pack leader.  

Your dog sees you leaving, and this upsets him because he believes he’s responsible for you as his pack member.  This is another reason you need to be the pack leader, not your dog.

The Right Training Is Key

Dogs don’t think the way we do.  They run on instinct much of the time.  Learning how your canine thinks is very important to avoid dog behavior problems.

A good dog training course that teaches you how your dog thinks is worth its weight in gold.  Instead of inadvertently rewarding your dog when he does the wrong things, you’ll be able to quickly and easily train him, once he understands what you want him to do.  

Click on any link in this article to learn how you can solve the problem of separation anxiety in dogs.

It’s something I’ve never seen before. She was a tiny little girl. I think they called it a miniature shitsu. To use the word “miniature” was appropriate no matter what she was. She was an incredibly bad tempered little dog and always wanted to bite people who would get close to her or her owner. Her nasty disposition was obvious and she wasn’t afraid to show it. I’m referring to her in the past sense because she died not too long ago of poor nutrition. Pet Pain

Apparently these types of dogs are prone to having chronic tooth problems but let me tell you something; the kind of food my in-laws were feeding that poor dog was an abomination. These little dogs are not intended to handle the kinds of foods we ingest. While she was still relatively young even it was in quite a bit of distress from the obvious pet pain it was in. Her biggest problem was her teeth I think. She only became more and more irritated because they never got her any pet pain relief. She never got any food she needed except what my in-laws ate. Proper nutrition for the little dog was never a concern to them. Over the the few times they used to bring the dog over to my house I noticed her teeth slowly rotting away. My in-laws simply believed such a thing was common to these types of dogs and just ignored it. It never concerned them that they were actually causing the pet pain by denying her of a proper nutritious diet. Dog Pain Relief

Eventually the dog went into a state of partial canine paralysis after going totally blind. I feel that by exposing what my own in-laws did to their dog I might be able to shame others into properly caring for theire pets as well. Simply because they were too lazy to do some dog pain relief research that little shitsu went through pain she shouldn’t have to because of the data and knowledge available to common people like my in-laws.{ I found an excellent site called AvaFrick.com where anyone can go to find out immensely valuable information about the nutritional needs of their pets.} I have disassociated myself from my in-laws and so has my spouse. Dogs have a built in programming that compels them to protect the people they have imprinted on. Let’s do a better job at protecting them shall we. Pet Pain Relief

Anyone who has ever gotten a dog dreads the beginning of obedience training. Of course you want your dog to behave, but how do you get it to do so? You may be a little hesitant for fear of not training the dog correctly. Thankfully, dog obedience training is not as bad as you might believe it to be, but there are a few things to have if you want it to work out well. As a dog owner dedicated to the goal of training your dog to behave, it is important to be patient, structured, and loving when training your dog.

When you begin training your dog to be obedient, you may be surprised that your dog is not the only one that is learning some valuable lessons. When you start dog obedience training, you are training yourself as well. You will really need to get to know the personality of your dog and your dogs needs in order to find effective ways to train your dog to be obedient. The more you get to know your dog and the way he or she behaves, the easier it will be for you to figure out the best training methods.

When you are training your dog to be obedient, it is very important to be firm and consistent in your training techniques. Most of the time your dog will not change their behavior in a single day. If you stay consistent the way you are training them and be sure not to give up, your dog will learn what you are teaching them, it can just take time. It is important not to give up on them if they haven’t made any progress after just one day. You must remain firm and highly dedicated to teaching and working with them so they can learn what they need to.

Start your dog obedience training as soon as you get your dog. While your little puppy may be cute and enjoyable to play with, spending too much time enjoying him instead of training him is actually promoting bad behavior. You should show them that you are dominant from the moment they enter your house. It is also very important for both you and the dog to begin potty training as soon as possible. Other behaviors to discourage in your new puppy include, chewing furniture, jumping on your friends and family, or leaving your yard.

You must assert your dominance as dogs live in packs and will follow the direction of whomever is the dominant one. Through use of the correct training methods you can assist you dog in learning that you are the alpha leader of the pack and the one who runs things. This needs to be made a fact as soon as he arrives. This is not saying that when your puppy first arrives at the home you should treat it like a new recruit in boot camp, but you should establish control early. It is completely okay to still love on your puppy and play a bit with him, but you need to also show him or her just who is running this show.

It is best if you have done your homework and read some dog obedience training books even before you decide to get that new puppy. Even if you just found your puppy on a whim and took him or her home, there are still places for you to go to find great training tips. The two most important aspects of your dog obedience training should be to let your dog know lovingly that you are in charge and never to waiver on that fact.

 All of us that have dogs face different challenges in training.  It could be how to stop your dogs whimpering.  For some it could be “how can I get this dog to quit barking”.

 Barking is part of the dogs genetic make up so stopping it will be difficult indeed. There is no sense in punishing your pup because he is not “trying” to misbehave.

 Here’s a few ideas to stop the barking.

Stop Dog Barking

 What Type Of Barking Do You Want Stopped?

 Choosing what barking behavior you would like eliminated is the first step. Getting your dog to stop barking completely is something that you don’t want to do. This would be far to complicated a task and to unnatural for the dog. Nusiance barking should be the ones you focus on first. For instance, if you leave him out back does the barking seem like it will never end? Does the yapping start every single time somebody is at the door? That’s just a couple there are probably hundreds more.

 Decide at what times the barking occurs the most and then turn your spotlight towards curbing that one.

Stop Dog Barking Today

Why Is This Happening?

 More often than not there is a justification why your pet is barking. When the door bell rings, he goes into protection mode.

 The serenade outside your window at night could be caused by boredom or he is feeling lonely.

 By figuring out the cause of the barking will greatly improve the odds of fixing the behavior.

 There are times that the answer to the problem could be as simple as making a few changes to the environment. If, when someone comes to the door your dog starts barking, have him sit and stay.

 Pick A Training Method

 Check into clicker training for your dog. The better trained and better socialized your dog is, the fewer problems you will have.

 Time For A Professional

 Help from a professional trainer maybe needed when you are just about at the end of your rope. If you decide to go with a trainer, make sure he has dealt with barking problem dogs and the breed type of your dog.

 Try, try and try some more. There is a solution and you can find it.

Dog Behavior Problems

Everyone is entitled to get drugs at a pre-determined price regardless of their salary, age or pre-existing conditions. There is a innovative prescription medication discount card accessible to any person that desires it, and it is free of charge! Access to medical care and rx access is available too.  For too long, individuals lacking health insurance have been paying full retail prices for their prescription medication however through this novel program they will now have somebody by their side. Personal medical insurance is available.

There are many companies that have plans to drive down the cost of drugs to those Americans with no health insurance policies. This has developed into quite an chance to save health care dollars with cardholders in the entire 50 states. Commonly, these prescription discount cards are acknowledged at more than 40 ,000 regional and nationwide pharmacies.

More than a few non-profit companies and clinics hand out the cards as a way to fill a need and help out their community throughout hard times. The discount cards have been sent to area United Way agencies, clinics, physician offices and pharmacies in addition to neighborhood community health centers. These cards are not insurance, however they can reduce the cost of your drugs by up to 70  % or more. The patient just presents their card to the pharmacy next they are sure that they will pay either the discounted charge or the pharmacy’s retail fee, whichever is less.

There are persons that are saving $23 -$65  on a prescription medication and that is funds they can utilize to purchase groceries, pay apartment rental or pay the power bill. People are moreover able to get the medicines they very much want. The cards are to be had at no charge to everybody and there is no limit on how often they can be used.

A different method that several companies are able to help out uninsured persons is through Prescription Assistance Programs. These plans are operated by every drug company and every one is a little distinctive. If a individual qualifies however, they might receive their prescription at no charge. To be eligible the person needs to be uninsured and the family take-home pay must not go over selected guidelines.

There is a super need for medication aid at this time, particularly seeing as a bunch of patients continue to suffer the loss of their jobs. A lot of people could do with help right now more than ever.