Did You Know: Head Pressing

There’s an article that came across my newsfeed on Facebook today that warned pet owners to be concerned if their pet exhibited “head pressing” behavior.

I was initially skeptical.  I had a cat that used to “punish” herself or pout by sitting in the corner, so I did some quick research.  It’s what I do. 😉  And I found out that there is indeed a medical condition called “head pressing,” (and it differs from normal cat/dog head-butting behavior, which has its roots in scenting and sometimes the desire for attention.)

Head pressing is a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason.   This generally indicates damage to the nervous system, which may result from a number of causes, including prosencephalon disease…and some types of toxic poisoning. (source.)

It should be noted, the above quote was from an article referring specifically to dogs, whereas the initial article seemed to include cats as well.  When dealing with our furry friends, I always advise erring on the side of caution.  Head pressing is considered a medical emergency.  It can be a symptom of a number of serious illnesses, including tumors located near the skull and brain of the animal, toxins (like lead) being introduced into the system, metabolic disorders, acute head trauma, or stroke.(source)

From my own experience, I know that people often to not realize when their pets are ill, because they misinterpret symptoms and/or because our pets generally do not vocalize discomfort the way people do.  So when they DO begin to act different or funny, the underlying cause has often advanced to a critical point.  I went through this when my own shelter girl, Neeners, died.  The point is, if your beloved furbaby is acting funny or even doing things that are just out of character (like soiling in the house, etc), a trip to the vet may be in order.  It may just save their life.

As always, safe is better than sorry.  Be informed.

Peace,

Kelly- ABCDT

 

SDiT Laws

Did you know that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does NOT cover service dogs in training (SDiT)?  Trainers of service dogs must look to their individual state’s legislation to see if it bridges the gap between ADA coverage for a service dog and a SDiT. Here’s a helpful resource I found that details laws by state and highlights “SDiT friendly” states.  This is pretty important, as if your SDiT is not allowed the same access to public spaces as a fully graduated service dog, it will take that much longer to properly socialize and desensitize him to all of the situations and places he will need to become a dog capable of passing a Canine Good Citizen test.

And since Blessings Unleashed is based in Kentucky, here is a link to the state laws governing service animals in Kentucky.

Be informed of your rights!

-Kelly- ABCDT

Theobromine Poisoning- Chocolate and Dogs

Most dog moms and dads have likely heard from one source or another that chocolate is not good for their canine companions.  The reason for this is a chemical called theobromine, which acts as a stimulant similar to caffeine.

In people, it has been medically used as a vasodilator (a blood vessel widener), a diuretic (urination aid), and heart stimulant.(source)  In dogs, it is a poison, and depending on the amount consumed, can be fatal.  Dogs and cats metabolize this chemical too slowly and thus are susceptible to theobromine poisoning.  (*It is interesting to note that this is also the case with some human medicines as well, like acetaminophen. Cats are so sensitive to the adverse effects of acetaminophen that just one, regular strength tablet can result in death. (source)

Theobromide mainly affects the heart, central nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms will occur from 4-24 hours after your dog has eaten chocolate and will vary depending on the amount of chocolate (theobromine) your dog has eaten.  (source)

If your dog has eaten chocolate, you may see:

Vomiting (may include blood)

Diarrhea

Restlessness and hyperactivity

Rapid breathing

Muscle tension, incoordination

Increased heart rate

Seizures

As a general rule, darker chocolate contains more of the chemical than milk or white chocolates, and cocoa powder contains.  Cats may also be at risk for theobromine  poisoning, but are less likely to be tempted to eat sweet things like chocolate, due to their lack of sweet taste receptors. (source)

If you have reason to believe your dog has eaten chocolate, contact your vet immediately.  Treatments may vary depending on what symptoms your dog is exhibiting.  As with our human children, better safe than sorry!

Kelly- ABCDT

Chocolate Lab

Chocolate Not-Lab

Doggie Dos and Don’ts?

Making its way around the internet is an article titled 11 Things Humans Do That Dogs Hate.

Although I am a trainer, I will make no claim to being an “expert” on our four legged friends.  I would however like to offer some of my thoughts upon reading this piece.

Some of the things mentioned in the above linked article ring true, to an extent.  The author of the article mentions that dogs “like” rules.  From what I learned during my schooling (and watching The Dog Whisperer— haha!) dogs do seem to appreciate the feeling of security that having a family “pecking order” and limits seems to offer.  However, the author also goes on to say we should not “force” our dog to interact with people or dogs they don’t like. If we are to be the leader of our pack, it is our job to determine and enforce the behavior we want from the rest of our pack, and that may mean tolerating “people” they don’t like if we say so.   Furthermore, the idea behind most positive based training methods actually involves motivating the dog in such a way as to make a normally “unpleasant” (ie: interacting with an unliked dog) or ambivalent (learning to sit/lay on command) experience something the dog looks forward to by rewarding desirable behavior.

The author claims that what we tell our dogs with body language is often different from what we actually are verbally asking of them, thus confusing the dog.  While this may often be the case, I think that happens more in every day life than in training situations.

The example the author cites is telling a dog to “stay” while leaning forward toward the dog and holding out a hand like a traffic cop is, in body language, actually inviting the dog to come toward you. (see article.)  I find this interesting because that is one of the ways I was taught as a trainer to train “stay,” and I have not had any issues with it. If dogs are, as the author suggests, so in tune with body language, a dog who is paying attention to a competent trainer should have no problems picking up new meanings of the “stop hand” or any other physical cue.

Basically, the whole point in training a dog in obedience is that it will sometimes require the dog to go against his “instincts” to do certain things, so her assertion that we should not do certain things with our dogs, (especially in the context of training, ) doesn’t necessarily sit well with me. 

As to hugging your dog and head petting, it is true that some dogs may view this as a play for dominance.  Many will tolerate it, some will not.  As with anything, to me it is common sense that if something you are doing is making a dog uncomfortable or unhappy (unless it is absolutely necessary) you should just stop it.  As the author suggests, people should carefully keep an eye on their dogs’ body language to determine if something they are doing is upsetting their furry friend.

Anyway, those were my impressions of the article, such as they are.  I welcome any comments or opinions from you, our dear readers (providing of course that they are respectful of other readers and myself.)

I’d love to hear what you all think of these doggie Dos and Don’ts!

Kelly-ABCDT

Doggy Safe Summer Treats

Courtesy of Dogtube.us, here’s a list of a few tasty (and healthy) treats your pup can enjoy this summer! (see link for more details)

1. Watermelon: Refreshing, great for the immune system, low in fat, high in water content, and packed with antioxidants and vitamins, most dogs love watermelon.
2. Cantaloupe: Protects vision from cataracts by providing a healthy dose of beta-carotene
3. Blackberries: These tasty berries  are full of fiber and vitamins (not all berries are safe for dogs).
4. Strawberries: This free radical fighting berry tastes delicious while fighting disease, cancer, and delivers immune support with its powerful punch of vitamins.
5. Apples:  They contain lots of soluble fiber and are great for overall health (feed slices, the seeds toxic).
6. Bananas: On a hot day, they replenish electrolytes, minerals, and potassium. Higher in sugar than most fruits, they provide a boost of energy to busy dogs and are full of amino acids, vitamins B6 and C, potassium, fiber, and manganese.
7. Blueberries: Fight cancer, protect the cardio vascular system, and help prevent urinary tract infections.*A good rule of thumb when feeding your dog fresh fruit is to never feed the seeds or rinds. All fresh fruits should be washed before serving to remove pesticides and molds. Not all fruits are safe, (such as grapes. 

(photo:Scott Cromwell on Flickr)

Kelly-ABCTD

BEWARE: Common Plants That Are Toxic to Your Dog

Plants are everywhere and many times people assume that because they are “natural,” most plants are harmless or edible.  I can not recall the source, but I once heard more of the plants around us are toxic to people than are safe/edible for people.  One should never assume that because it is green, you can eat it.

The same goes for our furry friends.  Many of the plants that are common in our environment, whether our gardens or kitchens have at least some level of toxicity to our pets, and many can even be lethal.

A few very common plants that can have adverse effects on your dog are listed below.

Some common kitchen/cooking plants that are poisonous are:

• Black Walnuts
• Grapes (here’s another post on grape toxicity)
• Mushrooms
• Tomato Plants
• Castor Beans (source)
• Onion
• (some intolerance) Garlic (source)

Some common house or garden/landscaping plants that are toxic are:

• Aloe Vera
• Azalea
• Baby’s Breath
• Begonia
• Carnations
• Cyclamen
• Daffodil
• Gladiola
• Ivy
• Morning Glory
• Mums (Chrysanthemums)
• Oleander (known to be highly poisonous to people too)
• Poinsettia
• Rhododendron
• Tulips
• Yew

 

I can remember having quite a few of these in our garden and yard as kids!

ASPCA has a comprehensive list of the many plants that may be poisonous to your furry friend.  Here’s one with photos to identify some commonly encountered plants.

When in doubt, I think it’s safer to assume something is not okay for your pet unless you know that it is, and err on the side of caution when feeding your pet foods from the kitchen and when planting (unless you know your dog has no interest in your garden.)

Also, here’s a helpful list for you as well from a vet clinic.

 

Stay healthy!

Kelly-ABCDT

Doggie Truth #2

And for those of us that have cats too, nothing is friendlier than a cat when you’re wet (like freshly out of the shower!)

Kelly-ABCDT

How Often Does Fido Really Need Vaccinations?

We all know that vaccinating our puppies and adult dogs, especially against killers like parvo and rabies, is extremely important.

• Core vaccines are considered vital to all dogs based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility (sic) to humans. Canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines…
• Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira bacteria.  (source)

But did you know not all vaccinations are needed yearly?  Some vaccinations may last as many as three to seven years!  This is also the case for our feline friends, and it has been suggested over-vaccination can actually be problematic. Below I have included several links to information about vaccinations.  In the end, the decision to vaccinate is yours, and I would never in good conscience advocate not vaccinating your pets, however, you are your pet’s advocate, so make sure you are informed about the various diseases and vaccines that could affect your furbaby.

 

Mercola- canine vax

2nd Chance Info- dog vaccinations

2nd Chance For cats

PetSmart puppy shots timeline

 

Kelly- ABCDT

Sometimes the Solution is Simple

As trainers, we often get asked how to help solve common behavioral issues, like barking or jumping.  People may be surprised to learn that many commonly complained about dog behaviors are easily solved with a little more consistency or attention  from the human half of the pair.  Many “bad” behaviors are simply normal dog behaviors that are either self-rewarding, or simply the result of a dog needing more physical or mental exercise (digging is often one such behavior.)  Many people are receptive to the advice we give, but sometimes, we run into people who want an “easy” solution to their problem (ie: one that does not require them to do or change anything.) While there are dogs out there that require little in the way of instruction or consistent reinforcement, this is not the norm.  Most dogs are not perfect and it is not fair to expect your dog to “behave” according to human standards if you are not making it clear what it is you expect from them.

I once had someone ask me how to keep their dog off their furniture…  after they told me what they weren’t willing to try (like a crate when they weren’t home,) I offered a few other suggestions, but finally discovered it wasn’t that they were trying to teach a new dog the rules of the house, but that they had gotten new furniture, and wanted to change the established habits of the family dog (which could be done, but they seemed to believe they should be able to do it with little to no effort on their part.)

I’m assuming I don’t have to tell most of you that it doesn’t work this way, but it wasn’t until I was on my way to becoming a trainer that I realized how many people “own” dogs, but don’t really understand them, or realize that if they want an obedient dog it’s more than likely going to require some time and attention.

Likewise, I have an acquaintance whose dog is insecure around other dogs, especially bigger ones, which seems to result in him adopting a sort of faux bravado (which has gotten him in trouble before.)  When he inevitably attempts to “talk crap” to the other dog, his owner sort of chocks him on his blocky head and scolds him.  I cringe every time I see her do it.  But she did not ask for my advice, and I don’t want to be be one of those obnoxious people who offers unsolicited advice.  If I were one of those people though, I would tell her she may actually be reinforcing negative associations about other dogs by scolding him in this manner.

SO I leave you with this:

Just a friendly reminder– try not to get to frustrated when you are not getting the behavior you want from your dog.  Examine how your own habits and methods may possibly even be inadvertently contributing to the very behavior you want to avoid.  DO research or ask a vet or trainer for help if you are unsure.  Our dogs may be our best friends, but they are still dogs, and they don’t understand English unless you teach them what the words mean (literally and metaphorically.)

Kelly- ABCDT

Grape Toxicity In Dogs

Grape and raisin (dried grapes) toxicity is well documented in dogs.  Although the exact substance that causes the toxic reaction is not yet known, it has been shown that even small amounts of grapes or raisins can prove to be fatally toxic for a dog Yet not all dogs are affected in the same way or with the same severity of reaction.

 Some signs of grape toxicity to watch for are:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea – often within a few hours; after 24 hours of ingestion vomit and fecal contents may contain pieces of grapes or raisin
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy, weakness, unusual quietness
• Abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• passing only a small amount of urine or none at all
• Kidney (renal) failure and death (source.)

Other foods that can be hazardous to dogs are avocados, bread dough, chocolate, alcohol, nuts, garlic, and onions (source.)

I know we all love to pamper our pets, but often what they want is not what they need or what is good for them.  I know it’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes, but just make sure you are aware of the risks of feeding your beloved canine buddy certain people foods.

-Kelly- ABCDT

Related Links*   http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat