Does Your Pet Qualify as a Senior?

One of my collies, Desi, turns 8 years old in October.  I have to admit that this is kind of freaking me out.  My previous tri-color rough coat Collie, Cooper, passed away suddenly just before he turned 9 years old.  I never thought of Cooper as an "old dog," nor do I think of Desi that way.  However, collies are big dogs and it's a fact of life that large breed dogs have shorter life spans than smaller breed dogs.  Still, 8 years old doesn't seem that old really, especially given how well cared for my dogs are.  Okay. Yes, they are spoiled.  Nonetheless, I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to not just increase my dog's life expectancy, but increase his quality of life.  So, how old is old?

First of all, it's a total myth that one human year is the equivalent of 7 dog or cat years. This is just too much of an over-simplification as this popular notion was based on the "average sized dog." What in the world is an "average sized dog?" And cats vary little in size and yet this same reference point was used for them as well. Not too long ago, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) came up with a new way to measure the age of our pets using something called the "Canine Life Stages Guidelines" and the "Feline Life Stages Guidelines." These guidelines make a lot of sense and help pet owners and their veterinarians to better determine the needs of these animals.  AAHA divided dogs into six categories: Puppy, birth-6 months of age; Junior, 6-9 months of age; Adult, 9 months to 6.5 years, Mature, 6.5 years to 9.75 years; Senior, 9.75 years to 13 years; and Geriatric, over 13 years old. Here are the guidelines they came up with for cats: Kitten, birth to 9 months of age; Junior, 9 months of age to 3 years; Prime, 3 years to 7 years; Mature, 7 years to 11 years of age; Senior, 11 years to 15 years of age; and Geriatric, over 15 years of age.

So, looking at Desi coming up on his 8th birthday, he is considered a mature dog; he is in the middle to last 25% of his life expectancy, and he certainly isn't a senior! And while he is a large dog based on his breed, this isn't the only determinant of his life span.  His nutrition and associated weight play a significant role as well. And his diet affects his teeth and the health of his teeth affects his life expectancy, and so on.  So, basically, me doting on my dogs with healthy snacks, bones to clean their teeth, a high quality diet, daily walks, daily grooming, interactive toys, and new daily experiences is not only enhancing their quality of life, but helping to insure that they live longer as well. That's a huge relief!

Many of my clients focus a lot on the physical exercise their dogs receive, as well as the diet they feed their dogs.  As an animal behaviorist, I also try to get them to focus on the mental exercise and psychological well-being component.  Those interactive toys and games, letting their dogs sniff and explore on walks, and moving away from free-feeding are key factors in stimulating the brain.  Older dogs (and cats!) can't do the New York Times crossword puzzle, but they can forage for their meals, play with interactive toys, and have their daily environments enriched.  Keeping those older minds active will extend their life expectancy too.

The bottom line is this: Work with your veterinarian to determine what your pet needs based on these guidelines.  Enroll your dogs of all ages in classes to keep them active or try a new sport or activity.  Even pet assisted therapy qualifies as a brain-building job and is one that can be performed by a pet of any age.  That is definitely Desi's favorite job!

I am looking forward to many more birthdays with Desi and intend to make every one of his remaining years count...because he is family.

When Your Dog is Blue

We just got back from vacation on Sunday and Ozzie was depressed.  He's usually a pretty easy-going dog who enjoys just hanging out in his yard or my office. Since we've been back, however, he's been listless, not really wanting to do anything, not interested in his snacks or his meals.  I know he isn't ill in the traditional sense of the word; what he is is depressed.  He is sad about being home. Ozzie really enjoyed our vacation on the Oregon coast.  It was so much cooler there and everything we did revolved around the dogs.  They went everywhere with us for a whole week, so lots of new smells, new adventures, and our undivided attention.  Now that we are home, we are back to work and the usual routine.  We are having triple digit heat, so dogs need to be indoors with fans and the A/C running. No adventures in the car for sure as it's way too hot.  No wonder Ozzie is depressed!  Hey...I'm a little sad too!

Depression is a very real thing for our pets.  There are documented cases of depression across all animal species.  Some animals experience depression with changes in their living situation such as following moves, end of summer/return of the kids to school, vacation, etc. Many animals experience depression with the loss of family members, whether those family members are human, canine, or feline. Some animals can move through their depression on their own, while others really do need our help.  The signs of depression in animals are lethargy, increased sleeping, lack of desire to pursue things they would normally enjoy, loss of appetite, and change in mood. Sound familiar? The symptoms are very much like those you might see in a person experiencing depression. The big difference, however, is that animals cannot verbalize their feelings and thus must rely on their humans to help them overcome their depression. Treating depression in animals involves environmental enrichment with new interactive toys and games, increased exercise, and an enforced change of scenery.  For many animals, these steps are enough to overcome their depression, while for others a trip to see their veterinarian is also necessary as a short course of Elavil (Amitriptyline) is needed to get them back on their feet and enjoying life again.  If the cause of the depression is the loss of an animal companion, exploring the addition of a new animal companion may even be in order.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that depression is a very real experience for our pets. Psychological issues can most definitely affect physical health and well-being and as such must be taken seriously.  Just telling your pet to "snap out of it" or ignoring the symptoms and expecting them to just "cowboy up" won't work and may even result in profound repercussions.  Thus, while mourning periods can be observed by both humans and animals after the loss of a loved one, for certain individuals more must be done to be able to successfully move forward with a quality of life.

For Ozzie, after a couple of days of being cajoled into walks and enticed with tiny bits of human food, he is back on track.  He still isn't happy about the heat, but he is back to his usual goofy self,  hanging out with us and is eating his meals again.  He is so different from Desi who I think really is happy to be home and back to the usual routine.  Dogs, like people, approach life differently.  We know that there are certain personality types in humans that are more prone to depression.  That may be true in animals as well, though it is a bit more difficult to explore with them and more research is needed.

Have any of your pets ever experienced depression?  What did you do to help them overcome it? Let me know your thoughts.

Water-Loving Dogs: A Cautionary Tale

I received a message from one of my favorite clients.  A neighbor's dog had died from acute water intoxication.  Neither she nor the neighbor had ever heard of such a thing!  Heartbreaking to lose a dog, but to lose an otherwise healthy, active dog from something that is preventable is even more upsetting.  I feel fortunate that none of my dogs has ever really been a water-lover.  My Collies prefer dry land and even my Labrador was not a fan of water. Go figure.  That being said, I think we should all be aware of this condition, the symptoms, how to treat it, etc.

Acute water intoxication is somewhat rare but most commonly seen in dogs that love to play in water. It can actually occur anytime an animal ingests a large quantity of water quickly. High risk dogs are those that engage in water play, including those who like to bite at sprinklers or play with the garden hose. Dogs who love to retrieve round toys in water, or compete with other dogs to get those water toys are also at risk of ingesting large quantities of water as their mouths are open when retrieving.

So, what are the symptoms of water intoxication?  They are: loss of coordination, lethargy, bloating, vomiting, glazed eyes, excessive salivation, difficulty breathing, seizures, and coma.

Once a dog begins showing symptoms of water intoxication, it is critical to get them veterinary care immediately if they are to recover. When a dog ingests too much water, this results in a condition called "hyponatremia," which is excessively low sodium levels in the blood. Too much water causes unbalanced electrolytes and dilutes the sodium storage in the fluid around the cells. Cells fill with water which causes swelling that affects the nervous system since sodium helps maintain blood pressure and is important to nerve and muscle function. It is also the case that dogs who play in salt water for extended periods of time may ingest too much salt water leading to hypernatremia.

If you have a water-loving dog, or one who will retrieve a toy tossed in the water over and over, you need to monitor their water activity and insist on breaks.  Even if they just love playing in the sprinklers or biting a garden hose, watch them for taking on too much water. Even a dog who quickly empties a water bowl following brisk play or exercise is a risk for water intoxication.  Wait to refill that bowl until the dog has cooled down and the water they drank has been properly absorbed.

Prevention is obviously the best course of action with this issue. If your water loving dog does however, show any of the above symptoms, get them to the vet quickly. And spread the word about this condition so that no other dog owner has to go through the pain of losing their beloved canine family member.

Mommy Loves Her Pookie Puppies

Dave was watching a hilarious video about two dog owners and their Corgi. I'm sure you've seen the video; it went viral on social media. Basically, the two owners talked to their dog in baby talk, referred to themselves as the dog's parents, and scheduled their lives around the dog's well-being.  Dave turned to me and said, "That's you!"  No kidding. Sound familiar to you too?

I'm actually not embarrassed by this at all.  Researchers found that dogs were more responsive to and favored speakers that spoke to them in a high-pitched/baby-talk style voices as compared to a normal adult's voice. In the study, this kind of interaction was referred to as "dog-directed speech," basically high-pitched voices and exaggerated emotions, like those used with babies and small children. The researchers also found that the dogs in the study preferred speech with dog-related content.  Well, no kidding.  When I talk to my dogs about my day, they are less interested in the price of gas and more interested in the snacks I picked up for them and when we will be going for our walkies.

If you'd like to see a summary of this study's results which were originally published in the scientific journal "Animal Cognition," here's a link:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/dogs-animals-pets-baby-talk/

So, don't feel bad if you, too, speak to your pets like they are babies.  They actually enjoy it.

Gotta run. It's time for mommy to feed her collie boys their snickety-snacks!

K9Freud Is In!

Wow....this is the fifth time this week (and it's only Wednesday!), that I've had a prospective client thank me profusely for taking their call/answering their email/responding so quickly. Makes me wonder what the heck other practitioners are doing!?   I know how much I dislike when my own requests for help are ignored or I have to wait months to get an appointment.  I just feel like it really shouldn't be that way. Even if someone is booked way out for an appointment, just calling a client back or responding to their email and letting them know, isn't too much to ask. I get it.  And that's why I respond as quickly as possible. I don't want anyone to ever say that I wasn't responsive or that they never heard back from me. Helping you solve your pet's behavior problems are a priority for me.  I know that it took a lot for you to reach out to me in the first place, likely because your veterinarian or a friend told you that you really needed my help.  Now that you've reached out, it's my job to follow through.  Having said that, keep in mind that I work all by myself.  When you schedule an appointment with me, it's really me that shows up.  This might mean that you have to switch your schedule around to meet with me at a time that isn't most optimal for you, but that's when I can get to you from where my office is located.  And if you'd really rather come to me, you can do that too. We can meet at a lovely park in my area and talk about the problems your pet is having. If you think a phone consultation is needed right away, I can certainly make that happen. I almost always have at least one phone appointment left open every day, just in case.

Why am I telling you all of this? Just because I want you to know that I am here to help.  And that I will respond in a timely fashion.  I won't leave you waiting days for an answer because I just don't think that's fair to you or to your pet.  I've been called a work-a-holic more than once given that I still answer emails and phone messages even when I am on vacation.  That may be true, but I think it is important that my clients and prospective clients know I care.  And being courteous was something I learned from my mom.  I like to honor that lesson and pay it forward every day. Now, it's time to go charge my phone!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July everyone!

4th of July Madness!

Just got off the phone with one of my favorite clients.  She has a new puppy and she wanted to know how to prepare him for the 4th of July festivities.  There will be a big party at their house and a fireworks show.  This pup is a real trooper; he's already done several large gatherings at their home and been the star of the show!  He hasn't displayed any instances of noise sensitivity, so my assumption is that he will likely do okay with the fireworks.  We did review, however, what to do should he become anxious. Here are a few of the things we discussed:

1.  No coddling.  If your dog gets anxious, you coddling them will just reinforce the anxiety.  Be proactive--get them out of the situation as gracefully and confidently as possible.  They need to "cowboy up" and see that you aren't anxious; you will get them to safety without panicking.

2.  If you know your dog is noise sensitive, just assume that fireworks displays, even in the distance, will be too much for them.  Keep him indoors and use fans, TVs, stereos, etc. to help blot out the noise.  Close drapes and windows as well.  Your dog will likely still be able to hear the fireworks, but they will be greatly muted by these actions that you can take.

3.  If your dog is really panicky, get them into a bathroom.  Bathrooms tend to be very insulated from sounds.  Turn on the bathroom fan and sit with your dog if you like. Just remember not to reinforce the anxiety.  Bring a book and just hang out.

4.  Don't let your dog outside to go to the bathroom without wearing their collar, ID tags, and a leash.  If they panic and get away from you, you want that collar and tags on them so that you will be quickly contacted when they are found.  I've known more than one dog to panic and escape from their yard without ID on the 4th of July.

5.  While we only have one week left until the 4th, you can also try some desensitization exercises with your dog to prepare them.  Bring up the sound of fireworks on your computer or on the TV.  Start at a very low volume and gradually increase the volume, helping your dog to see that this is no big deal.  Keep in mind that real fireworks are about sound AND lights, so these exercises really only work on the sound component.

6.  You can certainly try a Thunder Shirt for your dog, although most people find that they have limited success with just using a Thunder Shirt by itself. You may need to speak with your veterinarian about an anti-anxiety medication just to get your dog through this holiday.  You will, however, want to stay away from any medication that makes your dog woozy; you will want to work with your vet to pick a drug that actually makes them tired so that they will sleep peacefully through the holiday.

7.  And finally, many people have had success giving their pets CBD based treats to reduce anxiety and promote calmness.  If you'd like to learn more about this holistic alternative, visit www.treatibles.com.

Years ago, I had a Border Collie who seemed to enjoy fireworks.  I took her more than once to holiday festivities that included fireworks and she seemed to actually have a great time!  While I found this quite unusual, she was really just one of those dogs who would do pretty much anything if it meant doing it with me.  The two collies I have now are not huge fans of fireworks. They bark and patrol.  What's funny, however, is that Desi who is usually the most chill dog on the planet, is the one who seems most anxious about it. Ozzie who can hear a fly buzzing two rooms away and is a champion micromanager, is less anxious about fireworks overall, but does seem to feel that he needs to back Desi up in his vigilance.  Just one more reason to love collies. They always have each other's backs.

I hope that you and your family have a lovely 4th of July holiday.  As always, if you have questions about your pet's mental well-being, I am here for you.

A Bit More About Dog Bites

I know we've talked before about dog bites, but that was with specific reference to kids and dog bites.  I think it's important to look at dog bites and how they affect anyone who has been bitten, regardless of age.  I also believe that it bears diving a little deeper into who is doing the biting.  That is, are biting dogs more often unneutered? Male?  A specific breed?  A certain age? There seems to be a great deal of misinformation out there about dogs that bite, particularly with regard to breeds.  This kind of misinformation leads to knee jerk reactions such as breed discrimination which puts responsible dog owners who have those dogs as family members at great risk for keeping their dogs.

Here are the statistics as provided by the CDC, Center for Disease Control:

• the top ten breeds for dog bites are Chihuahuas, Bulldogs, Pitbulls, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Lhasa Apsos, Jack Russell Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Bull Terriers, and Pekingese
• 4.5 million dog bites occur each year and of those 81% cause no injury or only minor injuries not requiring medical attention
• there are more than 30 breeds of dogs and dog mixes incorrectly identified as Pit Bulls, thus leading to an unfair over-representation of this breed in bite statistics
• popularity of a particular breed as evidenced by AKC registration can lead to a breed being labeled as a "fad breed" leading to over-breeding and then over-representation in bite statistics

A few years ago, a very interesting study was published in the "Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science" that really turned the "knee-jerk, big-dogs bite more often, etc." school of thought on its ear. This study found that the most aggressive dog breed was the Dachshund where one dog in five has tried to bite or has bitten a stranger and one in twelve has bitten or tried to bite their owner.  Chihuahuas were the second most aggressive in this study, followed by Jack Russell Terriers.  Not a German Shepherd, Pit Bull, or Rottweiler in the bunch. Why is that? Well, these researchers think that the reason bigger dogs are thought to be more aggressive is that most research just looks at bite statistics, and most dog bites go unreported, particularly those delivered by smaller dogs. 

I think the bottom line in all of this is that ANY dog can bite.  Understanding WHY a dog might bite is critical to prevention.  Dogs may bite when they are scared, stressed out, not feeling well, needing to protect themselves or their family members, etc. While bites toward people do seem to occur more frequently by young, unneutered male dogs, both male and female dogs of all ages are equally likely to bite if they are protecting a possession or food. 

The conclusion in all of the studies I reviewed seems to be that breed alone is a very poor predictor of aggression and bite risk.  My own experiences over the last almost 30 years in practice certainly backs this up.  My worst bite? A Golden Retriever that bit me three times in the chest.  Biggest scar? A bite and hold from a rare breed Terrier. Most frequent breed that has bitten me? Dachshund.  I've been bitten by two.  Most annoying bite? The Chihuahua who tried to bite my ankle three times, but only got a mouthful of leather boot. And I've certainly seen and treated my fair share of Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers over the years, but as of this writing, never received a bite from one.   I respect all dogs, regardless of breed. I don't approach or pet dogs that I don't know.  When I go into homes with fearful, aggressive, anxious dogs, I ignore them for the most part as I've found that not paying attention to them takes the pressure off of the situation.  I don't put myself at risk. And when owners tell me that their dog has bitten someone before, I heed that information and advise them accordingly.

Those of you who know me know that I've spent the last year working weekly with a lovely female Rottweiler.  Her owners have spent a great deal of time and effort socializing her, training her, and challenging her to be the ideal companion and guardian of their home. She is sweet and friendly meeting new people, loves to sit on laps, and walks nicely on a leash. She is a favorite with other dogs and their owners at the local dog park.  Would I advise stepping onto her owners' property uninvited? Absolutely not.  However, if you are an invited guest, you are in for a treat.  There's nothing like a 70 lb lap dog showing off her tricks and giving you a tour of her yard. A well-trained dog, regardless of breed, is a wonderful thing to behold.