Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs

This post is dedicated to my dog Lexie who decided a nasty slug would be a tasty treat for her to bring in the house and eat on the kitchen floor.

Do you ever ask yourself these questions: Are some bugs worse for my dog than others? Can bugs, when ingested, be toxic? Why does my dog eat bugs? Well here's the scoop on the dreaded bug affair some dogs seem to have with insects and what dog parents need to know.

Slugs:
         Slugs are not dangerous but dogs can catch lungworm through eating slugs and snails which carry the larvae of the parasite.

Wasps, Hornets, and Bees:
         These flying insects not only hurt when they sting a dog, but facial swelling can ensue as well as severe hives and allergic reaction that include vomiting and diarrhea. Always keep Benadryl handy if you are an owner of a bug chaser.

Stinkbugs:
         This smelly creatures are named after the odor they emit when disturbed or crushed, the stinkbug has been known to cause intestinal upset and producing symptoms of vomiting, nausea, excessive salivation and loss of appetite.

Caterpillars:
          These creepy crawlies are a tempting mobile snack for many dogs. Teaching your dog a command like "leave it" is very helpful in these situations. Some caterpillars can be toxic or their bristles can cause irritation in the mouth or GI tract if eaten. The exact type of toxin varies depending on the type of caterpillar, if you fear your dog has eaten a caterpillar, seek veterinary care.

Spiders:
         In our part of the United States, there are both brown recluse and black widow spiders, both capable of potentially fatal stings.

Flies and Mosquitoes:
          Flying insects like flies and mosquitoes are not toxic and generally do not cause a problem for dogs. Flies have been known to carry roundworms, which can be passed to a pet when the insect is eaten, so watch for signs.

Ladybugs:
          These cute little beetles can be toxic if ingested. They cause what amounts to a chemical burn when swallowed.

Ants;
         Ants, especially fire ants, cause stings that product a lot of swelling. And of course, the dog usually encounters a nest of ants, so gets stung by hundreds. seek veterinary care immediately.

Fleas:
        The dreaded fleas carry disease and can be potentially toxie to your furry friend. Fleas can carry tapeworms and can pass them on to pets when ingested while grooming.

Loving & Caring for Your Pets: Pica and Coprophagy Disorder

Loving & Caring for Your Pets: Pica and Coprophagy Disorder: Pets with pica or coprophagy eat substances that are not considered fodo. Pica involves the eating of objects. Dogs may be more likely to ea...

Pica and Coprophagy Disorder

Pets with pica or coprophagy eat substances that are not considered fodo. Pica involves the eating of objects. Dogs may be more likely to eat objects such as rocks and toys, while cats may eat clothing, strings, and kitty litter. Oriental breeds of cats  are more likely to eat fabrics and wool.

Coprophagy is the consumption of feces. It is a natural behavior for nursing mothers to eat the feces of their puppies or kittens. Coprophagy is more common in dogs than in cats, and female dogs are more likely to display this behavior than males. While coprophagy is generally more distasteful than it is harmful to the pet, eating of nonfood objects may result in vomiting, diarrhea, or a blockage in the digestive tract, which may require an emergency surgery or use of an endoscope to retrieve the object while the pet is under anesthesia.

The exact cause of pica and coprophagy is unknown. Some pets chew on objects out of stress or boredom. Dogs may eat feces because they are not being fed enough or if they go too long between meals, but it is usually they are lacking a nutrient in their diet. Dogs that have been punished for defecating in the house may eat their feces to avoid further punishment. Rarely, an underlying condition such as anemia, intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal disorders, or liver disease may lead to an animal eating strange objects.

If there isn't an underlying medical problem leading to the behavior, the best thing to do is to eliminate access to objects the pet likes to eat. Make sure to store clothing, plastics, wool, and linear objects where your pet cannot find them. If your dog eats objects in the yard, consider a basket muzzle. However never leave a dog with a muzzle unattended. You can also try covering the objects with an unpleasant-tasting substance, such as cayenne pepper or bitter apple products, which are available at most pet stores.

For dogs with coprophagy, remove and dispose of feces from the yard immediately. Better yet, increase the number of daily leash walks and reward your dog with a treat after he or she defecates to distract him or her from the feces. Then pick up and dispose of feces appropriately. Some owners may try sprinkling feces with cayenne pepper or bitter apple so the dog experiences an unpleasant taste, but it's generally a better idea to just remove the feces.

Canine Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Excessive Licking, Sucking, Snapping and Running In Circles - The answer you may be looking for to as what is going on.

The first revelation that animals have OCD was made by Dr. Judith Rapoport, a child psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health. She wrote a book about a boy with OCD - The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing - and following a national media tour was inundated with messages saying, "My dog does that, too." The dogs referred to were compulsively licking the lower extremities of their limbs, so-called acral lick, and on the surface it did look a lot like canine "hand" washing.

Compulsive disorders are caused by conflict, stress and/or frustration. With each stressful event that your dog encounters, there is a release of neurotransmitters involved with the stress response. When a dog is frustrated or stressed, he may start to perform a normal behavior such as holding a toy in his mouth in order to relieve that stress. If holding the toy in his mouth actually reduces the neurotransmitters involved with the stressful event, the dog is likely to perform that behavior again when he is stressed.

The first thing to do if you think your dog has a compulsive disorder is to go to your veterinarian for help. Because medical conditions can cause signs similar to compulsive behaviors in dogs, it is extremely important to rule out medical diseases such as neurologic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and orthopedic disorders. Your dog should receive a thorough physical examination as wella s screening lab work before considering treatment for a compulsive disorder.

If your dog is completely healthy and is free of pain, he may have a compulsive disorder. Compulsive disorders are treated with medications to lower arousal and conflict as well as behavior modifications to give the dog an alternate coping strategy outside of the compulsive behavior. Treatment is often prolonged and continues for the life of the dog. If your dog is diagnosed with compulsive disorder you can expect some ups and downs in treatment and in your dog's behavior. Often chronic cases are referred to a board of certified veterinary behaviorist for treatment.

The best thing you can do for your dog if you suspect a compulsive disorder or if your dog repeatedly displays any behavior, even if it seems harmless now, is to seek help from your veterinarion. When compulsive behaviors are treated early and quickly the prognosis is much better than if they have progressed to a chronic state.

Pit Bulls - Myths/Facts

4 Year Old Pit Bull Chevy with
New Puppy Lexie Playing Tug of War

4 Year Old Pit Bull Chevy Sleeping while
Lexie Rest her Head on Him for Comfort.

Let me start off by saying I adore our Pit Bull, Chevy has been around children, adults, elderly, other dogs, cats, gone to crowded area's and loves pet store visits and car rides. Chevy has never in his 4 years showed aggression towards anyone and is a very protective dog which is why I love him so much.

In decades past, the American Pit Bull was a canine icon. Nicknamed "America's dog," and loved for its remarkable loyalty and affability, images of the breed were everywhere. A Pit Bull named Sergeant Stubby won 13 decorations for his service in the trenches of the First World War. Nipper, the dog from the classic RCA advertisements, was a Pit Bull. So was Pete the Pup, canine companion to The Little Rascals. Their affinity and gentleness toward children was so widely known and appreciated it inspired a second nickname: "the nanny dog."

That perception profoundly changed in the 1980s. Dogfighting enjoyed a major resurgence in America in that decade.

The Pit Bull's trademark loyalty combined with it's muscular physique made it a prime candidate for exploitation. The breed quickly came to represent aggression and a perverse idea of machismo, thus becoming the preferred guard dog status symbol for drug deals and gangsters.

Popularity for the breed in low-income, urban areas exploded. Consequently, there were (and still are) a large number of unspayed and unneutered Pit Bulls living in extremely close proximity to one another. It was the perfect recipe for an epic puppy-boom. According to Mid-American Bully Breed Rescue, there are approximately five million registered Pit Bulls in the United States today: a combination of breeds which includes Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, or any mix thereof. This figure does not include the substantial number of pit bulls circulating the shelter system and living on the streets. The ASPCA reports that 35 percent of American shelters receive at least one pit bull a day. And in Detroit, where the stray problem boards on epidemical, pit bulls and pit mixes compose 90 percent of the homeless dog population.

Where pit bulls were once ubiquitous in American pop culture, they are now ubiquitous in actuality. And because of overpopulation centers predominantly on low-income areas, the pit bull is arguable one of the least-responsibly cared for breed in the country.


Pit Bulls have locking jaws.
MYTH

• Pit Bulls do not have any special physical mechanism or enzyme that allows them to "lock" their jaws. If you compare a Pit Bull skull to a skull of any other dog breed, you can see with the naked eye that both skulls share the same characteristics and general bone structure. However, one personality of a Pit Bull breed is determination. Whatever Pit Bulls do, they do it with a great deal of enthusiasm and passion, an it is this trait that can make them seem like they have a locking jaw when they bit down on something and are determined not to release it. 

Pit Bulls are all inherently vicious.

MYTH

• This is a STEREOTYPE that is biased toward generalizing and condemning an entire breed based on the actions of a few bad people. The truth is that each dog should be evaluated by his own merits and not by his breed. A corollary truth is that there truly are no bad dogs, only bad people. Yes dogs can be a victim of racial profiling just like humans. But who stands up for them, who marches down streets for them. Think about it.

A Pit Bull that is aggressive toward other dogs will also be aggressive toward humans.

MYTH

• Dog-aggression and people-aggression are two distinctive traits and should not be confused. Unless a Pit Bull has been poorly bred or purposefully trained to attack humans, they generally love people. They are, in fact, one of the most loving, loyal, friendly and dedicated companions you can have. THIS I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH

It is dangerous to adopt a Pit Bull that has an unknown history and parentage from a  rescue or shelter, rather than buying a Pit Bull from a breeder.

MYTH

• Remember: each dog is an individual and should be judged by his current personality and behavior. Certainly he may be influenced by his genetics or history, but after working with several Pit Bulls, I can assert unequivocally that many (if not most) Pit Bulls of unknown parentage that have been horribly abused, neglected, and/or forced to fight still love people more than anything, and still will be loving family pets. Responsible rescues and shelters evaluate dog behavior prior to adoptions, and then adopt out only those Pit Bulls that display the proper temperament toward humans. 

It is better to adopt a Pit Bull puppy instead of an adult.

MYTH

• It's a fact that puppies are adorable and we all love them. But the thing about puppies is, well, they grow up. And as they mature their personality develops and that's when you really find out whether your Pit Bull is dominant or submissive with people, or whether she is aggressive toward some, non or all dogs. Dog-intolerance and dog-aggression are traits that do not develop in some dogs until they are fully mature. It is possible that a cute little puppy you adopt who is friendly with all other dogs may not like other dogs at all later in life, even dogs she has grown up with and lived with for her entire life. Both nurture (environment) and nature (genetics) play a role in determining a dog's mature personality. This doesn't mean that Pit Bull puppies should not be adopted, but if you want to know how big your dog will ultimately be and how she will act around humans or other animals, you may want to consider adopting an adult.

Pets and Floods - Keeping Your Pets Safe

What to do during a flood warning

1. Bring all of your small animals inside and if possible take them upstairs.
2. Move their food, bedding and some fresh water to the safe and dry place you found.
3. Make sure you can locate your portable pet carriers and they are close at hand.
4. Keep familiar toys dry, this will help the animals with their stress as they will welcome something that smells of home.
5. If possible take your animals to a family member or friend who lives outside the flood risk area until the risk has passed.
6. Put all vet records including vaccination records in a sealed water proof bag.
7. If you have horses, be sure to move them to high ground.
8. Keep tack and rugs off the floor.
9. Put your contact details on field/stable gates so you can be contacted in an emergency.

During the flood

1. Leaving your animals behind, even if you think you've created a safe place for them could lead to injury or loss.
2. It could be several days before you can return home.
3. Cats, rabbits and other small animals must be transported in suitable carriers, birds in a secure cage and dogs using sturdy leases.
4. In cold weather put a blanket over the carrier. Do not put water inside the carrier during transportation.
5. Remember to take your animals' food, water, bowls and bedding with you.
6. If you have no choice but to leave your animals behind, leave them shut inside an upstairs room with ample supplies of food and water.
7. Leave notices on external doors saying their are animals inside and contact the RSPCA or your local flood Warden immediately.

Keeping Your Dog Safe, Healthy and Happy

Make sure your dog is identifiable

Make sure your dog has a collar with an ID tag that includes your name, address and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there's a chance your companion may become lost—an ID tag greatly increases the chance that your pet will be returned home safely. The dog’s collar should not be tight; it should fit so two fingers can slip easily under his collar. 

Have your dog microchipped by your veterinarian. Microchip ID will ensure that your dog will be returned to you if he is lost, even if his collar came off. When scanned by a veterinarian or animal shelter, your phone number, address and other vital information will appear, and you can be contacted.

Follow local laws for licensing and vaccinating

Check with your local animal shelter or humane society for information regarding legal requirements, where to obtain tags and where to have your pet vaccinated.

Keep your dog on a leash

Even a dog with a valid license, rabies tag and ID tag should not be allowed to roam outside of your home or fenced yard. It is best for you, your community and your dog to keep her on a leash and under your control at all times.

Don't let your dog get lonely

A fenced yard with a doghouse is a bonus, especially for large and active dogs; however, dogs should never be left outside alone or for extended periods of time. Dogs need and crave companionship; they should spend most of their time with their family, not alone outside. 

Take your dog for regular check-ups

If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral on a veterinarian. If you are having trouble paying for veterinary care, you may be able to employ creative options or find sources of assistance.

Spay or neuter your dog

Dogs who have this routine surgery tend to live longer, be healthier and have fewer behavior problems (e.g., biting or running away). By spaying or neutering your dog, you are also doing your part to reduce the problem of pet overpopulation. If you feel you can't afford to have your pet spayed or neutered, we can help you find low-cost options.

Give your dog food and water

Dietary requirements change as dogs get older, and a dog’s teeth need to be cleaned and monitored regularly to ensure she can eat properly. Also keep an eye out for pet-food recalls and foods and plants that can be toxic to you dog. Keep your pets water bowl filled at all times especially during these long hot summers.

Enroll your dog in a training class

Positive training will allow you to control your companion's behavior safely and humanely, and the experience offers a terrific opportunity to enhance the bond you share with your dog.

Give your dog enough exercise to keep him physically fit (but not exhausted)

Most dog owners find that playing with their canine companion, along with walking him twice a day, provides sufficient exercise. Walking benefits people as much as it benefits dogs, and the time spent together will improve your dog’s sense of well-being.  If you have questions about the level of exercise appropriate for your dog, consult your veterinarian.

Be loyal to and patient with your faithful companion

Make sure the expectations you have of your dog are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved. Remember, not all "behavior" problems are just that; many can be indicators of health problems. For example, a dog who is suddenly growling or snapping when you touch his ears may have an ear infection.