Dog Days of Summer

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it informative! –Kim

Keep Pets Safe from Warm Weather

If April showers bring May flowers, then the combination of the two mean a climbing heat index. While pets are eager to get outside as much as possible in warmer climates, the sunny weather is not without some perils for both cats and dogs.

Who should know better about pets, warm weather, and fun activities than Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow USA (or Camp Bow Wow Canada), which boasts 200 nationwide franchises handling 108 camps a season. With each camp keeping about 100 dogs active on a daily basis, Ganahl is the premier expert on taking care of pets during the dog days of summer. So, Zootoo Pet News got her take on what owners can do to keep their pets safe this summer:

Q: In your experience, how have you watched the summer heat impact cats and dogs?

Ganahl: Summers provide lots of opportunities for fun with your dog — camping, hiking, swimming, kayaking and backpacking, to name a few — but also bring a unique set of health hazards and risks pet owners should be aware of including: dehydration, burned pads, parasite infestation, heat stroke, leptospirosis and seasonal allergies.

Q: Some heat-related "symptoms" are obvious — panting, drinking more water — but what are some more hidden behaviors which should indicate to owners that a cat or dog is feeling the effects of warm weather?

Ganahl: The eyes appear sunken and lack moisture. The mouth appears dry; gums and nose are dry.

Q: What is the most important activity a pet should be doing to beat the summer heat?

Ganahl: Keep them cool or out of the sun, and keep them calm and not too active!

Q: Are dogs or cats more prone to feel the effects of heat?

Ganahl: Different issues for each, but here’s the scoop on keeping kitties safe: you can help your cat survive extremely hot weather by keeping him indoors in a cool interior room. Rubbing him down with a damp towel will help; so will immersing his feet in a tub of cool water. Wrapping a cold compress under the cat's neck will also help cool him off. He may fight at first, but most likely will appreciate it once he gets used to the idea. Try wrapping a plastic bag of frozen peas in a towel, and placing it in his bed for a cool spot to lie. The peas will rearrange themselves to fit his contours and he'll have a "custom spa" for cooling off.

In addition to Ganahl's advice, there are myriad ways owners should work on keeping their pets safe. Check out Zootoo's compiled list below to ensure your cat and dog have a carefree and fun summer:

Pets need sunscreen. Just like humans, your cat or dog can get extremely sunburned, especially if your pet has light colored hair. Animal sunburns can cause the same problems as those of humans: peeling, redness and even cancer. Skin cancer in pets is much more prevalent than one would assume, so purchasing pet-friendly sunscreen can go a long way in protecting the health of your pet when the heat kicks in. Places that are easy to forget, but prone to burning are: inside the nostrils, tip of nose, around your dog’s lips and the inside of ears for dogs with stand-up ears.

Never leave your pet in the car. It may seem like a car trip will cool off your pet, but it will probably do more harm than good if you leave your pet in the car for even a few minutes. The temperature in your car can rise over 100 degrees in a manner of minutes, so if you are bringing the dog in the car, make sure you can take him out on any errands you run when parking the vehicle.

Pets need extra water... but don’t let them drink just anything. Just like humans, pets need a lot of water during the summer, but be careful not to leave that water out too long. The heat can breed bacteria, which can sicken your pet if you've left it out in the sun too long. Give your dog extra water during the spring and summer, but be careful to change the water often. If dogs are extra thirsty, pets are bound to drink something they shouldn't drink. Puddles of what looks like water may be on the ground, but these may include antifreeze or other dangerous chemicals, so keep an eye when the dog is panting and looking for something to sip on.

Don't give your pet TOO much exercise. Don't overdo it in the heat. Keep walks to a gentle pace. If your pet is panting a lot or seems exhausted, it's time to stop. There are quick and easy ways for you and your pet to get in shape together this summer, but one of them is not overdoing it — try changing up the routine and jogging intervals with your dog, or walking up and down hills in order to exercise both yourself and your pet.

Inside is better than outside. Even if your pet is in the shade, it can get sick quickly on hot days. As much as Fido wants to go outside, it is usually smarter to keep your pet inside as much as possible. If you have to leave the dog outside on a hot day, make sure to check on him/her regularly. NEVER leave the house on a hot day with the dog outside.

Watch for heatstroke. Dogs can develop heatstroke fairly quickly. Signs of this are excessive panting, staring, anxious expression on the face, warm skin, refusal to obey commands by owner, vomiting, collapse and rapid heartbeat. If you suspect that your pet is suffering from this, lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often, the pet will respond after just a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. Take the dog to the vet immediately — don't try to solve this yourself.

Throw away uneaten food. Although you may leave wet cat or dog food food out during the day in winter months, summer months and warm weather lead to increased bacteria growth, so if your pet doesn't eat it immediately, bring the food inside to the cool house, where it can be kept for longer.

Source: http://petpac.net/news/headlines/keep_pets_safe_from_warm_weather/
© 2010 PetPAC

Problem Dog Behaviors

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it useful! –Kim

Jumping Up on People or Escaping & Running
By Dawn Keadic

Every dog owner must eventually deal with some unwanted behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of the most frequently encountered training problems with puppies and dogs alike are jumping on people and performing those amazing feats of escape.

Jumping up on people

Jumping up on people can be a cute trick for puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the dog gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy dog can easily knock a child or even a small adult of his or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an annoying one.

The reason puppies and older dogs jump on people is obvious – they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways. Many well meaning owners, family members and friends inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.

This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper dog training, and in order for the dog to be trained not to jump, every member of the family must recognize and accept the importance of the training. If one member of the family allows the dog to jump up while other family members do not, the dog will understandably become confused and frustrated. The training must be firm, kind and consistent in order to be effective.

One way to redirect the dog's happiness and excited ness from jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you. This "shaking hands" posture is an acceptable way for the dog to show his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their dogs to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on people.

Escaping and roaming the neighborhood

A responsible dog owner would never dream of allowing his or her dog to roam the neighborhood freely. Allowing a dog to roam on its own is irresponsible, dangerous (to the dog and the neighborhood) and probably even illegal. Most towns have ordinances which prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found wandering the neighborhood unattended.

Of course, sometimes that wandering dog is not the owner's idea, and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other dogs. It is much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose dog, so let's talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can take.

Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution. A bored dog is much more likely to spend his day plotting the great escape. A dog that is surrounded by everything he or she needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean, water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.

In addition, a dog with lots of pent up, unused energy is likely to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play sessions with your dog into your daily routine. Make one of those play sessions right before you leave. If your dog has a chance to work out his or her energy, chances are he or she will sleep or relax much of the day.

Of course, dealing with the dog is only half the problem. It is also important to make the property as escape-proof as possible, through proper fencing and other measures. For dogs that dig, it may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing metal stakes in the ground every few feet. For dogs that jump, it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the dog to the house when you are not at home.

Source: http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com/index.php/chicago-dog-training-articles/52-problem-dog-behaviors

HSUS Isn't a Pet Shelter Group

Here's an informative article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

More and More Americans Know: HSUS Isn't a Pet Shelter Group
May 18, 2010

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably aware of our 3-month-old, revitalized HumaneWatch campaign that's exposing the deceptive "Humane Society" of the United States (HSUS) as the PETA-esque animal rights group that it is. Judging from the reaction of HSUS (and its head honcho "Humane Wayne" Pacelle) to our new efforts to keep the group honest, we're having a serious, nationwide impact that threatens HSUS's attempts to continue to masquerade as a pet-shelter umbrella group. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, after all.

Yesterday, we upped the ante with full-page ads in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to make sure our message reached millions of Americans. And today we're targeting Hollywood celebrities who lend their star power to this faux humane society with a full-page ad in Tinseltown's must-read magazine, Variety.

You may not know it, but more than 100 celebrities, from Carrie Underwood to Harrison Ford, have aligned themselves in serious ways with HSUS. These stars (and their agents) may not know that HSUS is simply PETA in a suit-and-tie, so we're happy to set the record straight:

You can see all of our HumaneWatch ads here.

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Source: http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/4173-more-and-more-americans-know-hsus-isnt-a-pet-shelter-group
Copyright © 2010 Center for Consumer Freedom

Another Reason to Stop Smoking: Your Pets' Health

Here's a great article about your pet's health...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer in Pets

By Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY

Amid growing evidence that secondhand smoke is causing cancers and possibly a range of other health problems in pets, many groups are intensifying efforts to encourage people to stop smoking — if not for their own sake, then for their animals'.

Veterinarians are redoubling efforts to warn smokers of the dangers to their pets, and smoking-cessation programs, including Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control, Breathe New Hampshire and smokefreesociety.org, have posted fact sheets or printable fliers on their websites. Some groups are sharing information where animal aficionados gather, including at last month's Dachshund Dash in Oklahoma City, where the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition warned of secondhand smoke's dangers to dogs.

And the ASPCA last month linked up with American Legacy Foundation, a stop-smoking group, to spread the word to the pet lovers of the world.

Studies have shown that toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats.

"The evidence is striking," says Steven Hansen of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center.

"Most veterinarians believe pretty strongly secondhand smoke presents a strong danger to dogs and cats with pre-existing respiratory problems," he says. "And extrapolating, why would you expose a healthy animal?"

Although studies showing strong links between smoking and pets are limited to a few cancers, veterinary oncologist Aarti Sabhlok, who treats 40 or more cancer patients a week at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, believes an "animal in an environment with constant exposure to a toxin, and that would include cigarette smoke, could be at greater risk of developing tumors."

It may seem odd to believe that people who continue to smoke despite the risks to themselves and others might pay heed when pets' health is jeopardized, "but we know people sometimes pay more attention to their pets' well-being," Hansen says.

Indeed, a Web-based survey of 3,293 adult pet owners published last year found that 48% were smokers or living with smokers, and 37% said clear evidence that smoking is harmful to their pets would motivate them to quit or ask the people they live with to quit; 14% said such evidence could prompt them to do all their smoking outside.

"We want people to have the facts," Hansen says. And "if a person needs one more reason to stop smoking, maybe this is it."

NOTE: Secondhand smoke is not the only danger cigarettes pose for pets. Chewing on a cigarette or cigarette butt can cause serious reactions in dogs, says veterinarian Steven Hansen, including rapid respiration, muscle weakness, excitability, vomiting and diarrhea. For some, it can be life-threatening; a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-05-11-petsmoke11_ST_N.htm
Copyright © 2009 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

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Also, see:

• New Poison Alert for Pet Owners: Nicotine
• Providing Relief from Dust and Allergies

Inside of a Dog - Part 3

Part 3 of a fascinating interview! Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, a PhD at Barnard College, Columbia University, discusses some really interesting research from her book Inside of a Dog. –Kim

How a Dog's Hearing is Different from a Human's

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/dogs-hearing-humans-9080236
Copyright ©2010 ABC News

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See Part 1: http://topdogblog1.blogspot.com/2010/04/inside-of-dog.html
See Part 2: http://topdogblog1.blogspot.com/2010/05/inside-of-dog-part-2.html

Inside of a Dog - Part 2

Part 2 of a fascinating interview! Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, a PhD at Barnard College, Columbia University, discusses some really interesting research from her book Inside of a Dog. –Kim

Can Dogs Really Smell Time?

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/dogs-smell-time-9080306
Copyright ©2010 ABC News

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See Part 1: http://topdogblog1.blogspot.com/2010/04/inside-of-dog.html
See Part 3: http://topdogblog1.blogspot.com/2010/05/inside-of-dog-part-3.html

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