Tip of the Month

6/25/2008	Caring for your Dog while on Vacation Summertime is a popular season for getting away on vacation, and many airlines and hotels will not allow owners to bring their dogs along for the trip, especially those of larger breeds. True relaxation will prove difficult if you are constantly worrying if Fido is being well taken care of. So, how do you ensure that your beloved canine is properly cared for while you and your family enjoy your trip? Here are a couple of reliable options for leaving your pet behind and keeping him or her happy and comfortable until you return. Boarding kennels – Boarding kennels are brick-and-mortar businesses that have been established for the sole purpose of housing and caring for pets while their owners are away. According to the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA), there are approximately 9,000 boarding kennels in the U.S. and Canada offering services to more than 30,000,000 pet owners annually. To find a boarding kennel in your area, you may try an internet search, phone book, or better yet, personal recommendations from experienced friends or your veterinarian. Some veterinary facilities also offer boarding services. Make sure to book your pet’s stay as early as possible as boarding facilities can become booked up, especially during popular vacationing seasons. Also, check out the facility personally in advance to make sure that supervision, sanitation, and security are up to par. All boarding kennels should require that your dog is up-to-date on his or her immunizations. For canines, required immunizations are the DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus) and bordatella vaccines. Inform the kennel staff of any special instructions upon booking your canine’s spot – for instance, if your canine is dog-aggressive and must be kept away from other dogs, this is essential for the kennel to be aware of in advance. Pet Sitters – For some dog owners, hiring a pet sitter may be preferable to boarding their dog in a kennel. A pet sitter is a person who comes to your home to feed, water, exercise, and watch over your pet while you are away. Some pet sitters offer the option of staying at your home for 24-hour supervision, though you can also choose to have them stop by once or twice daily instead, depending on your preference. One of the benefits of hiring a pet sitter is that your pooch or pooches can stay in the comfort of their own home during your absence. This can be especially comforting for the dog. You can also give more specialized instructions for care of your pet. It is recommended that you meet with pet sitters before choosing one to confirm their qualifications. Some pet sitters are certified through Pet Sitters International (PSI), meaning they are pre-screened by the association. These and other sitters can achieve certification in pet CPR as well, which can be an added comfort to an owner away from home. No matter which option you choose, make sure to personally check out the facility or sitter before leaving on vacation. Also, ensure that your pet is essentially healthy, and if he or she has special medical needs, inform the kennel operator or pet sitter of required medications prior to your departure. ABC wishes you and your pets a happy summer!
5/27/2008	Swimming with your Best Friend… Safely! Many dog owners are surely considering bringing their pooches along on their summer excursions to enjoy the season together. In regards to canine water safety, what precautions should be taken to ensure an enjoyable and secure experience for both dogs and the water enthusiasts they accompany? It is important to consider that not all dogs can swim well enough to be completely safe when in or around water. Basset hounds, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs, for example, have very short legs that usually cannot move quickly enough to keep their bodies afloat. Also, dogs of breeds that naturally have a low body fat percentage such as Doberman pinschers and Boxers are more likely to sink. While many dogs love water and can swim without a problem, others do not like water or are afraid of it. This can inhibit their ability to swim. Any dog can drown, and hypothermia is always a risk. To ensure that your canine is comfortable in water prior to taking him/her out on the water, begin by assessing his/her skills in a swimming pool or just off the shore of the lake or ocean. Never throw your dog in the water – introduce him/her to swimming slowly without encouraging a negative reaction. If he/she seems happy and proficient at swimming, you can attempt an outing on your boat or at the beach, but keep your first outing brief. You may consider purchasing and using a canine personal flotation device (PFD) as this can help them to float in case they fall off of a boat or get pulled out into the ocean. Many manufacturers have created PFDs for dogs that come in various sizes and colors. Bring your canine with you when purchasing a PFD so you can try it on him/her for correct sizing. PFDs for canines often come equipped with a handle on the back of the vest that allows the owner to lift the dog out of the water if necessary. You may want to choose a vest of a color that stands out, such as neon yellow or orange. This can help you to find your dog in the water. Remember that the sun’s rays and heat are harmful to not only humans but dogs, too. Dogs can get sunburned (especially those with short fur and/or pink skin) and can suffer the severe repercussions of heatstroke just as humans can. Early heatstroke symptoms include heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, bright red gums and tongue, and standing four-square in an attempt to maintain balance. White or blue gums, lethargy or unwillingness to move, uncontrollable urination or defecation, labored, noisy breathing, and shock are all signs of advanced stages of heatstroke. You can cool your dog down by applying rubbing alcohol to his/her paw pads, applying ice packs to the groin area, hosing him/her down with water, and allowing the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water. Pedialyte to restore electrolytes is also recommended. Have a ton of summer fun with your dogs!
4/25/2008	“Give your Paw” or “Shake” Teaching your dog to give you her paw or to shake hands on command is a cute trick that is both impressive and endearing to onlookers. Dogs who are prone to “pawing” (using their paws to play and/or to gain attention) are best suited for this trick, though other dogs can be trained easily as well. Once this trick is mastered, there are variations that can be taught, including the “high five” and the “wave.” Let’s begin with some simple steps as instructed by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz in her book, The Everything Dog Training and Tricks Book (Adams Media Corporation, Avon, Massachusetts; 2003). For this exercise, you will need a good amount of yummy, strong-smelling treats and a clicker. Determine what gets your dog to paw at you and utilize it to get her to lift her paw. If she is not prone to pawing, try scratching her chest, holding a treat in your fist at nose height, or touching her toenails your finger. Try using your outstretched hand as a prompt. Once the dog’s paw is in the air, immediately click and treat. Repeat this process 15 to 20 times or until the dog is readily offering her paw. Leave your hand outstretched for the dog’s paw and wait it out without prompting. As soon as she lifts her paw, click and treat. If the dog is not lifting her paw after a few seconds, repeat a few more repetitions as described earlier until she associates lifting her paw with the click and treat. Try connecting the cue (your outstretched hand) with the behavior (the dog offering her paw) by showing your hand and clicking and treating when the dog stretches out her paw. Once the dog is offering the behavior on a regular basis, you can add the verbal cue “give your paw,” “paw,” “shake,” or whatever you choose. Remember to be consistent. Practice this trick in a variety of places and under several different circumstances. If the trick is not working, simplify things once again by practicing at home with few distractions. Be careful not to overwhelm your dog. Avoid repeating yourself over and over; give one cue, wait for the dog to respond, then click and treat. If your dog is not responding consistently every time, try practicing more repetitions under low-stress conditions. Set your dog up to succeed and she will learn to do this trick consistently.
3/25/2008	Just Say No to Table Scraps – Human Foods that are Poisonous to Dogs When little Fido is sitting at your feet under the dinner table with his wiggly tail wagging and his eyes bright and pleading, it can be tempting to toss a scrap of your dinner under the table to him. He gobbles it up with delight and awaits his next treat, and you can almost see his adoration for you growing. However, there is more than one reason to avoid feeding table scraps to your beloved, spoiled little guy. Not only does it teach him that begging brings rewards, but you can also inadvertently be causing harm to your pooch. Here we will discuss human foods that are poisonous and sometimes deadly to canines. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the following foods are harmful and even potentially deadly to canines: • Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other products containing caffeine • Alcoholic beverages • Fruit pits and seeds • Bones from fish, poultry, and other meat • Fat trimmings from meat • Any candy containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol • Grapes and raisins • Onions and onion powder • Garlic • Salt • Macadamia nuts • Mushrooms and mushroom plants • Hops • Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves and stems • Yeast dough Moldy, spoiled foods, such as those found in garbage, are another source of toxins that can cause illness in a dog. Garbage often contains multiple toxins that can induce vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, other organs and systems are affected and the damage can be permanent and severe. This is yet another reason to avoid feeding your canine table scraps. If you insist on spoiling your canine companion from time-to-time, remember that table scraps are not nutritionally balanced and should never exceed 10% of his diet.
2/25/2008	Canine Vehicle Safety Systems Studies show that seatbelts save lives – according to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), 64% of people killed in car accidents were not wearing a seatbelt. For this reason and due to the enforcement of seatbelt laws, most people wear seatbelts while driving and while riding in the cars of others. However, many people neglect to follow the same precaution with their dogs, allowing their dogs to roam freely inside the cab of their vehicle and endangering their lives. Think about it – the average Labrador Retriever weighs approximately 60 to 75 lbs, which is the same average weight for an 8-year-old child. An unrestrained Labrador would receive the same trauma that an 8-year-old child not wearing a seatbelt would in an accident. We wouldn’t let our children ride without seatbelts – so we should make sure we “buckle up” our precious companions as well. While seatbelts did not always exist for dogs, this has changed in the recent past with the invention of canine vehicle safety systems. One excellent canine restraint system is the Ruff Rider “Roadie” which is manufactured by Ruff Rider Products, LLC. The Roadie's tensile strength exceeds the Society of American Engineers’ tensile strength standards for human seatbelts of 5,000 pounds. In addition, in creating the “Roadie,” consideration was given to the forces that occur in all directions while traveling in the car in both normal and emergency situations. Thus, this system was manufactured with great attention to all things that could go wrong and injure a dog while he is a passenger in a vehicle. Canine vehicle safety systems can be purchased from many pet supply stores. The “Roadie” offers 5 models to choose from, and they manufacture systems that fit dogs ranging in weight from 7 to 160 lbs. Make sure to choose the right size for your dog as proper fit is essential in maximizing the efficacy of the system. Also, read all manufacturers’ instructions for adjusting and applying the harness to your canine. Be patient during the first few tries as your dog may resist being strapped down. However, while applying the harness may prove tedious at first, it can make a world of difference in the event of an accident.
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