Are You Really The Alpha In Your Dog's Life? What Does That Even Mean?

As dog owners it is our responsibility to be the "alpha" in the relationship.  This just simply means you're the boss.  Like with your children someone has to be in charge and that is YOU.  It really is not hard to become alpha but it does take persistence and consistency.  I personally learned that the hard way with my rottweiler.  She was hard headed and stubborn but I was more stubborn than she was so I won, but never stopped letting her know I was still in charge.

Training is very important as well.  This can never stop over the course of your dog's life because, depending on the breed, they always need something to learn and do in order to keep themselves busy.  Whether it is interactive toys, playtime, agility training, etc. it doesn't matter.  Keeping your dog's mind occupied and stimulated is important because a bored dog is a destructive dog.  Here are some links that have some great information:

http://www.dog-adoption-and-training-guide.com/alpha-dog.html

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/topdog.htm

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/alpha1.html

http://www.nck9solutions.com/

The last link you visited, as you noticed, is a trainer's website.  This trainer is in the Raleigh, NC, USA area and is one of the best I have found.  They are honest, knowledgeable and will work with you no matter what problem you are having.  Ultimately they are training you and not your dog.

Now, all of this being said, what is really the worst thing that could happen if you don't train your dog?  I mean you have the sweetest dog on earth right?  Yes, we all do.  However, if you don't train and socialize your dog then you will have a dog that will bite your visitors, makes walking very stressful because he/she will go exactly where he/she wants to and will take you with them because you let them, one that will growl at you if you try to take a food bowl away and one you can't take to pet stores or dog parks.  Now that sounds fun doesn't it.

A lot of small dog owners think it's cute when their little one barks their little heads off at other people or growls at them.  I can tell you it is not cute or appropriate behavior from any size dog.  This behavior needs to be changed by you becoming alpha.  Little dogs need an alpha just like big dogs.  Size doesn't matter.

 

As you can see from these two pictures, these dogs are showing aggressive or maybe territorial behavior.  The top picture shows the human walking away from the barking dog which means the dog has won and thinks he is now above that human which is obviously not what you want. A calm, confident dog that is social and most importantly listens to you is what you want.

So what do you do?  Well your stance says a lot to your dog.  So does your tone of voice.  I'm not talking about yelling, but a firm and stern tone definitely gets the point across.

Personally the most important thing for my dog has been consistency and persistence.  That really is key.  He gets really excited when I get home and tries to jump.  I simply ignore him until he's calm and then he gets love.  I actually do that with both the dogs when they are both in that mood and it has worked really well thus far.  It's always a work in progress but nonetheless it is working. 

I hope my few tips have given you some ideas and you will contact a trainer in your area if you are having problems with your dog.  Also, if you have a little dog such as a yorkie, maltese, etc. please do not think their barking incessantly or growling is cute.  It's not.  It simply means your 5 pound dog is in charge of you and your home.

As always we welcome any productive and respectful comments and questions.  Please let us know if you have a topic you'd like to see discussed here and don't forget to tell your friends and family about us!  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well.  Thanks for reading!

What Is It Like To Have A Big Dog And What Should You Expect?

I have to say I never thought I would ever be owned by a large breed dog.  I love them and think they are great dogs but didn't ever think one would be in my life.  So what is it like to be owned by one of these gentle giants?  What should you expect?  There are a lot of pros and some cons as with anything.

First of all these dogs are the sweetest dogs and are some of the most gentle animals on earth.  They are excellent with children and make wonderful family dogs.  They ironically do not take up as much room as you might think but they do eat on average 6 cups of food per day.  They love human attention and are loyal to their family pack.  As with any dog, though, they should be well socialized so they are good with other dogs minimally. 

Here's some information on some various large breeds:
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/great-dane

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/newfoundland

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/boxer

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/great-pyrenees

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/rottweiler

I put some of these links here because research of the breed you think you want is extremely important because just because a dog is cute doesn't mean the dog is good for your family.  For instance, smaller dogs may or may not be best for your family depending on the personality of the individual dog.  In my experience, small dogs such as chihuahuas, tend to be a little more snippy than other dogs and may not be the best around small children depending on the particular dog.  A lot of people are also afraid of rottweilers and they are honestly a wonderful family dog and are fantastic with children.  I was owned by a wonderful rottweilter for a few years (I got her when she was an adult) and we used to visit the children's playground and she would let the kids do whatever they wanted to her.  They are loyal dogs but definitely need training and are not for first time dog owners.

Some things to be prepared for prior to being owned by a large breed dog is the food bill (like I said...6 cups a day depending on the size of the dog), monthly heartworm and flea/tick costs, the loss of part of your couch, some drool (depending on gender and breed), and a great deal of love in return for just arriving home from work or school.  The larger breed dogs do not live the same life span as the small dogs which is honestly not fair but the love they give while they are with you is two-fold.

This is my Great Dane Lucien.  He's 4 years old.

Lucien loves to play with his humans, is great with dogs and cats, and is very loyal and protective.  However, if you call his name and give him a treat he will be your friend forever and show you where the good stuff is in the house.  Great Danes tend to be goofy dogs and will definitely keep you smiling and laughing. 

All of this being said, please research the breed of dog before you adopt or see a breeder.  There are so many misconceptions about a lot of breeds (ex. rottweilers, German Shepherds, "pitt bull") and the fact is any dog can bite or snap but if raised correctly and trained properly then they will be fine.  It is all about the owners and how the dog is trained and how kids behave around the dog, etc.  There are exceptions to every rule, however.  The key is personality and spending time with the dog prior to adoption.

As always, if you have any comments or questions feel free to let us know.  If you want to see a topic discussed please let us know and we will make it happen.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and tell your family and friends about us!  Thanks for reading!

Do You Have A Large Breed Puppy That Is Limping? It Could Be Panosteitis.

For those with large breed dogs, or any dog really, this post is for you because when they are puppies their bones and joints are so fragile.  Playing has to be careful and they mostly just sleep.  Then the training comes and for those of us with big dogs know sometimes the stubborn streak kicks in and training time comes to an end.

They are also prone to several health issues.  I'd like to talk about one of these issues...Panosteitis.  It is also referred to as growing pains.  It is a painful thing for animals to go through and each instance can last 2-3 weeks and can switch legs for another 2-3 weeks of pain for the dog.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=466

http://www.vetinfo.com/canine-panosteitis-symptoms.html

There is no cure for Panosteitis (Pano) except for time.  The pain can be managed with a variety of medication such as Rimadyl or Meloxicam but know that this treatment is simply managing the symptoms and not treating the cause of the pain. 

While this painful disease usually strikes younger male large breed dogs between 5-18 months, it can happen in any dog so it's important to know your animal as well as you would if he/she were a human baby.  That way you can tell when he/she isn't walking right or is a little wobbly, etc.

While no one knows what exactly causes Pano, it is thought to have a correlation to nutrition; particularly a high protein and high fat concentration.  The breed specific foods out on the market are not known to be helpful in preventing this disease either.

This is an x-ray of a dog with Pano.  It is labled so you can tell the difference between normal bone marrow and the Pano.  It is important for your vet to do an x-ray for this because Pano manifests

within the bone marrow which is easily seen on an xray as you can tell.    Nothing has been found to be a definitive cause of Pano as of yet but one theory is this disease is viral and not bacterial which means antibiotics are ineffective.  This is frustrating for owners watching their dogs in pain and know that the only thing they can do is give them pain medication and an anti-inflammatory.

The majority of dogs will grow out of this without any complications or side effects which is definitely a good thing. 

So what are we big dog lovers supposed to do?  The only real thing we can do is feed them the best food we can (I personally feed my Great Dane Purina One and my vet is happy with that), love them, and make sure we do the best we can.  Sound like the same thing you do for your children?  It's pretty much the same thing.  We can never know it all and never know what to do every time.  However, keeping and eye on them and knowing what is normal and what is not normal is half the battle.

As always your comments and questions are welcome.  Please let us know if you'd like a topic discussed here and we will make it happen.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and of course tell your family and friends about us!  Thanks for reading.



Dehydration: How Do I Tell If My Pet Is Getting Enough Fluid?

Drinking water is important for every living thing from plants to animals.  Our pets are obviously included in this so how do we as parents know if they are getting enough?  How do we know if they are dehydrated?  There are a few simple ways to tell.  One very simple thing to do is to make sure to leave water out for them to drink at all times.  That really is the best thing to do.  However, if you are already doing that then just watch their activity level.  Are they playing normally (or not playing as normal)?  Do they seem interested in the same things they have always been interested in?  If the answer is yes...great!

Here are some physical signs you can look for if you want to check further.  Your pet's eyes should always be bright and shiny and alert.  If they seem dull or 'sad' seeming then more than likely he/she doesn't feel good.  Another physical test for dehydration that I use literally all the time is to test the animal's gums to make sure they are moist and pink.  If they feel tacky and are white then the animal is dehydrated.  They normally do not like it that much but if they fight you a lot then they probably do not feel too bad.

This is what you are looking for when I mention "white gums"

Another physical test is what I like to call the "tent test".  I pull up the scruff (skin on the back of the neck) so it looks like a tent and then let go.  If it goes right back down then you have perfect hydration.  The longer it takes to go down the more dehydrated the animal.  I have seen rescued animals so dehydrated the tent just stayed up when I let go.  That type of dehydration takes an IV of fluid in the vet's office for a day or two.  Also, keep a check on their breathing because if the breathing is a little faster than normal you'll want to check the other things mentioned here.  Cats are particularly sensitive to dehydration and can go into shock so keep a close eye on them if you think your cat is dehydrated. 

So, what do you do if your pet is dehydrated?  Obviously fluid but what else?  Unflavored Pedialyte

will work wonders for hydration.  It has to be unflavored or the animal won't normally drink it, though.  Any of the baby animal meal replacements you can find in the pet stores will work as well since they tend to like the taste and it's fluid.  You can also give them a little canned food (the kind with gravy) in with their dry kibble as well.  Just be sure to monitor how much they get at a time when hydrating them because if they drink too fast (and most of them do) they will vomit everything right back up which does neither of you any good.  Just give them small amounts of liquid at a time so their bodies have time to adjust to the liquid coming in and doesn't reject everything.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5852091_rehydrate-sick-dog.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_8671227_tell-cat-hydrated.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_8551695_keep-cat-hydrated.html

The important thing to monitor with this in addition to intake is output.  If your pet is taking in a gallon of water, for example, but only outputting a cup then a trip to the vet sooner than later is warranted because something is wrong.  There are many medical reasons this could be happening and you don't want to prolong a diagnosis or treatment.  If you do end up at your vet's office, be sure to mention all treatments you have done at home to help your pet so the vet can give you an appropriate treatment and diagnosis.  It's always important to tell your vet everything that is a change in your pet's life so he/she has the full story as to what is going on and what may or may not have contributed to your visit.  If you only feed dry kibble, though, it is extra important that you leave water out for your pet at all times so he/she has access since they are not getting this moisture through their food.  I personally feed dry only (wet only as a treat) and have a 2.5 gallon water container out all the time for two dogs and that lasts about a week or less depending on how long they have played and what the temperature is outside.  They go through more on the weekends.

I hope this information has helped you and maybe someone learned something they didn't know.  Feel free to research on your own or ask your vet anything you question here. 

As always we welcome any questions and comments and hope you will let us know if you have any topic you'd like to see discussed here.  We are always looking for something new and exciting to research and if you are interested in the topic then so are we!  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tell your friends and family about us!  Thanks for reading!

TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) and Feral Colonies: Are They Good For The Neighborhoods?

The term TNR (trap, neuter, return) has been around for quite some time and rescuers have been doing this for just as long or longer to help control the feral cat population.  What is a feral cat?  These cats are ones that cannot be touched by humans and do not like humans.  They normally will not come up to you but may watch from afar.  These cats can only be caught with humane traps in order to be spayed/neutered and then re-released back where they were caught.  It is important they are put back where they were trapped because introducing a feral cat into a new colony is nothing like introducing a new cat into a household.  The hierarchy is extremely different and there will be fights for this hierarchy.  Life threatening injuries can occur during these fights as well so it is just best to put them back where you found them.

Once the colony is established these cats will help control the mouse and bug population as well as some snakes.  If these cats are taken away the rodents, bugs and snakes will come into your area and you will have problems with them.  The cats go where the food is so if there is a colony then chances are there are mice.

The picture to the right is a cat in a humane trap.  The animal is not harmed in any way.  These cats are scared, confused and will strike out at you when you come close so you will need to be extremely careful.  Placing a towel over the trap can help them feel safer because cats like tight places to hide in to feel safe. 

Once this cat is neutered then recovery time will need to happen.  This only requires a day for boys and a couple of days for girls depending on the vet's suggestions.  Once this time is over, the cat can then be taken back to the place where he/she was trapped and released.  This is also a time to be cautious and stand to the back of the trap and make sure the cat doesn't try to come around the trap to get to you.  Most of the time they just want to get away from you and will run away. 

Here are a couple of good links for information regarding TNR and feral cats.

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_WHAT_IS_TNR

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.aspx

Some rescue organizations will adopt out what they call "barn cats" which is basically a semi-feral cat that doesn't necessarily like humans but relies on them for some food but will control the mouse population in a horse barn, for example.  It is a great way to keep the cats safe from the various dangers such as cars, mean spirited people, etc. as well as solve a problem for people who may have a mouse problem in their horse barns.  If you are even considering an outdoor only cat this may be the way to go for you and something you might want to consider.  These cats are very outdoor savy as opposed to those who have never lived outdoors or who have grown VERY accustomed to living indoors and prefer the indoor life.

If you have stray cats around your area please contact your local shelter or rescue organization for ideas on TNR programs or organizations in your area because there are likely options for you and keep in mind they are there because there is a food source that you might be glad they are controlling.

As always thank you for reading our blog and your questions and comments are welcome.  If you have a desired topic please let us know and don't forget to tell your friends and family about us.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook too!

Feline Herpes...What Is It and Can I Get It?

This is an extremely common question and the answer to the second part is no, you cannot catch feline herpes.  The answer to the first part, "what is it", is a bit more in depth but I will try to give some insight.  The most basic answer to this question is it's a virus much like a cold which 99% of cats are exposed to very likely early in their lives.  While the exposure may not lead to any outbreaks the virus will lay dormant and stress will lower the immune system and can lead to an outbreak.

For instance, if you move to a new home and all of a sudden your cat starts sneezing a lot and his/her eyes are red and watery then it is likely he/she has an outbreak of the feline herpes virus.  The very long, complicated name for this is feline viral rhinopneumonitis (FVR), rhinotracheitis virus and feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) and can lead to upper respiratory infections, but not always.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-care-herpes.aspx    

The kitty to the right here appears to have an upper respiratory infection which is a bacterial infection which is what antibiotics will treat.  Vets often given antibiotics in order to ward off any bacterial infections that may be lurking behind the herpes virus itself.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but just keep in mind that if your kitty is on antibiotics for a number of times then he/she will build up an immunity to them and over time they will not work for any infection he/she may have and that is definitely a bad thing.

Giving L-Lysine every day to your kitten/cat can help ward off any viruses that may be laying dormant in their system.  L-Lysine is an amino acid that help stops the replication of viruses which allows their immune systems to fight off whatever is holding them down.  Several rescue organizations give it to their wards to help with the stress of coming into a new place, getting used to a new way of life, new kitties, puppies, etc.  It is available at any store you can get vitamins and is available in capsules so it can be pulled apart and the powder can be put on their food. 

Here is a picture of swollen conjunctiva in a cat which is pretty indicative of feline herpes virus.  It looks really painful and while none of them have ever told me it is I can only imagine it does hurt and it appears to also itch. 

I know this seems a little graphic, but I really wanted you as pet owners to know what to look for with this virus. 

Also, please know that it is really is not an emergency vet visit either.  If you'd like your vet to see your pet that is fine, however, giving him/her Lysine for a week or so to see if it helps and a nice quiet environment will more than likely help if there is no color to the discharge.  If you think to when you go to the doctor, don't they ask if there is color to the discharge?  That's because they want to know if there is bacteria or not.  Clear discharge means no bacteria.  If your pet doesn't appear to be doing better with Lysine twice a day and a calm quiet environment in a few days then you can call your vet.  I do NOT advocate not calling your vet by any means whatsoever.

If you'd like an eye professional to take a look at your pet that is wonderful too.  Those experts can definitely tell you if there is any damage to your pet's eye or not.  If you are in the Raleigh, NC, USA area I'd like to recommend Dr. English as he is one of the best.  Check out his website:

http://aecassociates.com/

All of his colleagues are wonderful and extremely knowledgeable so if you take your pet to any of them you will not be sorry and will get the best care available.

I know sometimes things with our pets seem emergent (I know they do with my own personal ones sometimes) but if we take the time to educate ourselves a little bit prior to anything happening then maybe things won't seem so bad at the time.

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and any topics at all you'd like to see discussed here.  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to tell your friends and family about us!

Animal Odor...How Do We Get Rid Of It?

So we all have pet odor in our homes.  We can't get around it because we have pets.  The question is how do we keep our homes smelling nice with our furry friends?  Well there are a number of ways and one of which is to vaccum with baking soda.  I know that sounds strange but if you think about it baking soda is made to absorb odors.  People put boxes in their refrigerators and freezers for odor control.  There are those who use it in litter boxes (I have actually done this) for extra odor control and it really works.  Of course regular baths with oatmeal or scented shampoos help keep the odor down as do regular brushings. 

The less carpet in your house the better because fabrics hold odor as everyone knows.  Rugs are better because those are easier to be cleaned than entire rooms of carpet.

Now, there are always the commercial products such as candles which can be a little dangerous when it comes to animals, especially if you have cats.  One of my former roommates had a cat that would litterally back up to the candle and set herself on fire.  A few trips to the emergency vet can only be explained away so many times. 

Another option is scented wax in warmers.  This is available through various box stores such as Walmart.  These warmers come in various sizes and colors.  The scents available just depend on the store.

Another option is through a company called Scentsy.  Their scents tend to last longer than the box store waxes.  Yes, this is a selfish promotion as I do sell Scentsy products but I will tell you I have tried both box store products and Scentsy does last longer.  I do get the waxes from Walmart in a pinch though.

One thing about this whole topic is, though, your dog or cat or whatever pet will never smell like a rose.  He/she will always smell like whatever pet you have so if you want to try to minimize this in your home just try the tips I've given you today.

As always, I welcome your comments, questions or any topic you'd like to see discussed here.  Please feel free to send me a note and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Tell your family and friends!!