Your Dog Wants You to Know…

                                                                   

If our dogs could talk to us, I’m certain they’d have lots to say.  They’d tell us pizza is good for them and that cats are fair game, but along with this stuff, they’d probably give us some good advice.  Here are some things I think they’d want us to know:

 

“I don’t really understand English, and I don’t always know what you want.”    Unless you’ve taken the time to teach your dog what words and commands mean, you can’t assume that he knows what you want him to do.  We may know what the command “Come” or “Stay” means, but the words are meaningless to him unless you’ve taught him how you want him to respond.

 

“I’m afraid to come to you when you sound angry.”  Dog trainers everywhere will tell you that your dog must always feel safe and welcome when you call him.  Anger or frustration in your voice may cause him to stay away, especially if he has ever been disciplined right after coming to you.  It’s easy to say in theory, but hard to do in practice.  No matter what you’ve had to endure to get him to come, you’ll have to grit your teeth and tell him he’s a Good Boy when he gets to you. 

 

“I don’t do ‘revenge’ and I won’t ‘get back at you’ for something you did.”  Your dog probably didn’t get into the trash can or chew your favorite shoes to get back at you for not taking him to the park.  Chances are he did it to relieve stress, or it was accessible and he was bored.  Thankfully, revenge isn’t an attribute of dogs.

 

“I have a ton of energy that I have to burn off one way or another.”   All dogs need exercise and some breeds need lots of it.  Others are sedentary by nature and can get away with much less.  The amount of physical exercise a particular dog needs should be one of the main things taken into consideration before bringing a dog into the family.  Need for vigorous exercise varies from breed to breed, and from individual to individual.  If you don’t provide the dog with an acceptable way to burn off his energy, you might not like the results.

 

“I’m way too little to feel safe with some kids.”  Some of the tiniest breeds really don’t belong in homes with small children.  The kids will inevitably want to pick up the dog to play with it or dress it up.  Young children don’t know the proper way to handle small dogs, and they can injure them badly, especially if they drop the pup or step on it.  Some tiny breeds are notoriously snappy around small chldren, no doubt a character trait that has its roots in self-defense.

 

“There is a whole world of adventure out there.  My breed was born to chase and to run.  How do you expect me to stay home if my yard has no fence?”   Dog trainers hear this all the time – “My dog won’t stay on my property.”  Physical boundaries such as fences or, in some cases, “invisible” fences are the only real way to keep your dog home unless he’s never let off the leash or is on a tie-out when he’s outdoors.  Get out there and let him experience the world in a safe manner – with you and under control, but keep him safely contained in your yard when he’s outdoors without you.  Don’t expect your hound, husky, or terrier to just sit on the porch.

 

Living in a kennel at the far corner of the yard is so lonely.”  It’s not fair to a dog to make it live in a kennel with minimal attention.  Dogs are social creatures who need to interact with their human families.  Train him and bring him into the house at least part of the time.

 

“I like being a dog.  Why don’t you try to see the world the way I do?”  Try to see things from your dog’s perspective.  It will help you teach him what he needs to know to be the perfect pet.

 

By Dorothy Miner

Dorothy Miner, featured above with her Airedale puppy, "Fergus," is a long-time dog obedience and tracking instructor, judge of canine events, and author.  She teaches weekly classes for the Allen Correctional Institution’s PETS Program in Lima, Ohio and provides training and consultation under the banner of “Sidekicks” and “Training for Dogs and Their People.”

The Puppy and the President

                                                                          

            I was talking to my Missouri friend, Dr. John Dodam, a few weeks back, and a familiar topic came up in our conversation- our age. We are both exactly half-way through our fifties, although I am three weeks older, thank you. John is usually the more optimistic one, but on this particular day he seemed down,  lamenting the fact  he could no longer do the physical things once possible even a short time ago.

             Of course, he was right. I've spent most of the last year coming to terms with that. However, I also learned recently that with the right motivation, the exhaustion and physical limitation can be overcome. Our office is open six days a week. By the time Saturday afternoon arrives, I'm pretty well beat, and often feel like I've got no more left to give. Such was the case two Saturdays before Christmas. Then, shortly before 5 o'clock, my phone rang.

            The emergency call was from a man named Rick regarding his sick puppy. Zeek, a ten week old Labrador mix had just been diagnosed with parvo at an emergency facility. Canine parvovirus destroys the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract resulting in severe vomiting, profuse bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and often death.

            Zeek was examined by me only three days before and seemed to be a normal, healthy pup. That's the nature of this nasty disease. I even gave him his first distemper-parvo vaccination. However, puppies are not fully immunized until they've received vaccination boosters every 3-4 weeks with the last given at sixteen weeks of age or older.

            The hallmark of  parvo treatment is intravenous fluids given to combat the profound dehydration. The fluids actually are not that expensive, but the constant monitoring required to administer them is.  With Christmas around the corner, that's the dilemma Rick and his wife, Melissa, found themselves in. They couldn't afford the estimate for the treatment that could save their puppy's life. "What can we do? We can't just let him die."

             Earlier at lunchtime, I did what has now become the new ritual in our office-  scrolling through the postings of Facebook friends. I guess I could blame our young employees for getting that started, but it was easy to fall into the habit. I don't have that many Facebook friends- only nineteen, and I must admit nearly half of them were obtained because, apparently, I have a twitchy finger.

            Since most of my "friends" are from this area, not merely geographically, but also politically, I was more than a little surprised to stumble across a photograph of Jimmy Carter. That was before I realized the post had less to do with his presidency, and more to do with his humanitarian efforts.

            Mr. Carter was shown dressed in his Habitat for Humanity gear, along with the following quote: "My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference."

            For the rest of the afternoon that quote weighed heavy on my mind, especially in light of my previous conversation with Dr. Dodam. The timing for Zeek couldn't have been better, though. No way were we going to let him die. Not without a fight, anyway.

            "Do you think you can give him injections?", I asked Rick.

            "My wife can," he quickly volunteered. "She had to give shots to her mom when she was sick."

            Rick, Melissa, and a still bright-eyed Zeek met me  in our parking lot half an hour later. I showed them how to administer subcutaneous fluids under Zeek's skin, as well as antibiotic and anti-vomiting medications.

            I, or one of my staff, called to check in on him daily. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, Zeek held his ground dehydration-wise, although he was more lethargic. Wednesday was probably his worst day, but  by Thursday he was starting to turn the corner. Zeek has  since fully recovered, due in no small part to the resolve and dedication of his parents, along with a little nudge from an old man in Georgia.

            Thank you, Mr. President, for a lifetime of service to your country, your fellow humans, and for  your role in saving the life of a now rambunctious puppy in Lima, Ohio. Your inspiring quote would make a fine oath for the veterinary profession. Heck, it would be a darn good New Year's resolution for everyone.

 

By Dr. John H. Jones

 

 

Putting the Spring Back in Your Pet's Step

                                                                 

                                Another year is coming to a close, and I am reminded that  I, too,  am another year older.  While I am blessed with excellent health in my thirtieth year of practice,  I am not certain that many  realize veterinary medicine is a physically demanding career.

                                Veterinarians and their staff often spend long hours on their feet.  The nature of our job requires a lot of bending, squatting and kneeling to attend to our larger and "table-timid" patients.  Lifting anesthetized or  disabled pets and restraining unwilling patients can and does take its toll on one's back as well.  We also perform  many repetitive motion tasks which lead to hand and wrist arthritis (she states after performing ten toenail trims during a six hour shift).

                                While some of us might feel  the discomfort of every day occupational aches and pains, I hurt more for my arthritic patients who experience chronic pain and suffer in silence.  Osteoarthritis, or inflammation of bones and joints, occurs when  cartilage lining the surface of bones is damaged or absent.  Since cartilage acts like a shock absorber in joints, when it is defective bones begin to wear abnormally within the joint, and they, too, become deformed and ultimately painful.

                                It is not a secret that I adore senior pets, but along with their aging counterparts, even young pets  develop osteoarthritis. The joint discomfort noted in this younger group is often a sequela to congenital defects, athleticism, or injury.  Common causes include obesity, shoulder/hip dysplasia (malformation of ball and socket joints), torn knee ligaments (ruptured  anterior cruciate ligaments or ACL's), or unstable knees (medial patellar luxation).

                                Most multiple pet households have at least one pet that is suffering quietly with osteoarthritis pain.  In my pet family, our two Border collies have taken their "jobs" to assist their shepherd quite seriously.  Twelve year old, "Robbie,"  still puts in long days of "watching her man's back" to keep him safe around rams.  She and her nine year old brother, "Jimmy," are also a dutiful  herding team,  circling wide and near, repeatedly, to move the flock as a unit. These two herders love to work so an occasional limp is sometimes observed.

                                Even our low-riding Welsh Corgi, "Betsy Louise," is an athlete that lives to "play ball-y"--- so much so, that she had to have knee surgery after she ruptured her ACL when she was  just two years old.  Now, if she has a full day of activity or exerts herself, she sometimes shows  it.

                                Pets with osteoarthritis will show their discomfort in varying ways. Symptoms may include limping, difficulty sitting or rising, stiffness, reluctance to climb or jump, unusual irritability or aggression, vocalizing when handled, or licking/chewing painful areas. Cats tend to hide their discomfort more so, but even they can show pain by no longer seeking their usual perches, sleeping on or near heating vents, or resting in sun beams.

                                To further diagnose arthritis in pets, veterinarians  may recommend  x-rays to visualize the shape of bones and damage to joints. Once diagnosed, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed, along with glucosamine chondroitin supplements. The latter are nutritional supplements provided as powder, flavored chews or tablets (Nutramax's Cosequin or Dasuquin) that  rebuild cartilage on joint surfaces, thus reducing  inflammation.  Please be aware that not all glucosamine chondroitin supplements are created equally! A large number of human and pet supplements are available; most are costly and not all are actually utilized fully by the body.

                                Some pet foods  such as Hill's Science Diet Healthy Mobility or Prescription Diet J/D also  contain glucosamine chondroitin.  Be certain to seek your veterinarian's advice when selecting diets,  joint supplements and anti-inflammatory medications. Note also that pets should never be given Tylenol and aspirin is not always a good choice, especially for cats.

                                Speaking of diet, obesity is a major contributing factor for the development of arthritis in pets. If you own a "Flabby-Labby" or "Tubby-Tommy," please heed your veterinarian's recommendations for weight reduction and exercise. Even pets with joint pain can benefit from short periods of exercise, especially low-impact walking, jogging or swimming. 

                                In addition, consider providing heated and cushioned pet beds and shallow litter pans for aging cats.  And, who doesn't love a good massage? Many pets will enjoy your  undivided attention during a personal massage of their sore joints.

                                Finally, please don't ignore your pet's subtle signs of discomfort! Limping equals pain and should never be considered "normal"  or tolerable! Your veterinarian can help you understand and treat your pet's seemingly silent osteoarthritis pain.  Why not resolve to put the spring back in your pet's step in the New Year?

 

By Dr. Bonnie Jones