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How to Treat a Dog Ear Hematoma at Home

By
Kate Basedow, LVT
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0
Treating a dog ear hematoma at home is possible if it's a small hematoma on a healthy dog's ear.
Note the area of swelling (see arrow) on the flap of the dog’s ear. This is an aural hematoma. Credit: Carol Thacker | Getty Images

You can treat a small aural (ear) hematoma on your dog at home, if necessary, but you run a real risk of ending up with an unsightly cauliflower ear (more on that below).  In addition, that hematoma is painful for your dog. Frankly, treating your dog’s hematoma at home is not a good idea. The best way to treat a dog’s ear hematoma is to have it surgically repaired by your veterinarian.

What Is an Aural Hematoma?

An aural hematoma is a pocket of blood that occurs when the small capillaries inside the ear flap break. The hematoma lump will feel soft and squishy at first, becoming firm and receding over time as a clot forms and the ear heals.

An aural hematoma lump in a dog can happen for a variety of reasons. Often the dog has an itchy ear infection that causes him to scratch repeatedly at the ear, traumatizing the delicate blood vessels in the ear flap. Itchy ears due to allergies and bug bites can do the same thing.

Other potential causes include trauma from a bite wound, an object stuck inside the ear causing irritation, or a bleeding disorder.

Best Way to Treat an Aural Hematoma

The best way to treat a hematoma is to remove the blood, close the pocket of now empty space, and treat the underlying cause so that it doesn’t happen again. And you can accomplish these goals with the help of your veterinarian.

Every veterinarian has a favorite way to treat a ear hematoma, but you need to be up front about your budget limitations so your dog’s vet can choose the approach that will be the best fit for you and your dog.

The gold standard is to put the dog under anesthesia or sedation, drain the blood out of the ear using a needle or small incisions made with a scalpel, and then stitch the pocket in the ear closed with sutures through the whole ear. Closing the pocket this way makes it impossible for blood to fill the ear flap again while it is healing and encourages the development of scar tissue supporting a normal ear shape.

If your dog is calm and easy to work with, your vet may be able to drain the hematoma lump while he is awake using a large needle and a syringe. Suturing the pocket closed is not usually possible for an awake dog—that’s a lot of pokes to sit through! These dogs often need to have their hematomas drained several times over the course of a few weeks.

Some vets infuse a steroid into the ear flap after draining to address inflammation at the source.

While the ear heals, it must be protected. This is true for either a surgical repair or a basic drain. Some options to protect the ear and prevent additional trauma include wrapping the ear to the head, a No-Flap Ear Wrap, and/or an Elizabethan collar. It may take some trial and error to find the option that works best for your dog, and some dogs need multiple layers of protection.

Treating the Cause of the Hematoma Lump

To prevent a hematoma from coming back, you will need to treat the underlying cause. This is best done with the help of your vet.

Your veterinarian can swab the ear and check for an infection, then prescribe the appropriate ear meds (plus do a thorough cleaning!). If your dog has allergies, the vet can walk you through the process of managing those. Foreign bodies may be able to be flushed out or may require surgical removal. Bleeding disorders can be diagnosed with bloodwork and treated or managed appropriately.

Treating a Dog Ear Hematoma at Home

You can try to treat your dog’s aural hematoma at home, especially if it is a small hematoma and your dog’s ear is clean and healthy. This will take time, and his ear will crinkle as it heals and end up with a “cauliflower” appearance.

To encourage the blood to drain, alternate warm and cold compresses for 5 to 10 minutes each several times a day. The warm compress encourages blood flow to get fluid out of the ear flap, while the cold then slows blood flow and helps to decrease inflammation and discomfort. Be sure that warm compresses are not hot enough to burn the ear.

After each compress session, wrap the ear to your dog’s head or use a No-Flap Ear Wrap to apply pressure to the ear and protect it. An Elizabethan collar can be helpful as well.

You do also have the option of letting the hematoma heal completely on its own. This will take longer and increases the risk of a cauliflower ear. The folds from a cauliflower ear may block air flow to the ear canal and provide additional nooks and crannies for future ear infections to set up shop.

If your dog has an ear infection or if inflammation or a wound is present, he will need to see a veterinarian.

What to Feed a Dog for Urinary Health

By
Dr. Mary Cope, PhD
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2
Urinary dog food can help keep your dog's kidneys and bladder healthy.
Your dog’s food influences your dog’s urinary tract healthy by affecting the pH of their urine. Credit: Zheka Boss | Getty Images

As a dog owner, ensuring that your pet is healthy and comfortable is your top priority. One of the most crucial aspects of canine health is maintaining a healthy urinary tract, which may include choosing the best dog food to support urinary health in your dog.

Diet directly influences your dog’s urinary tract by affecting the pH of their urine, the concentration of minerals, and the overall volume of urine produced. A variety of commercial urinary care dog foods are designed to support urinary tract health. The best choice for your dog will depend upon his specific needs and any diagnosed urinary conditions.

The Best Urinary-Care Dog Food

Prescription urinary diets are best for dogs with diagnosed urinary issues and are formulated to address specific medical conditions. These diets can help dissolve existing struvite crystals and prevent their formation, prevent calcium oxalate stone formation, and support kidney function for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). As indicated by the name, you cannot purchase these foods without a veterinary prescription.

For dogs that do not have a specific medical condition but you believe are at risk of urinary tract problems, many over-the-counter foods are designed to support urinary tract health. These foods often feature high moisture content, balanced minerals, and low-to-moderate protein levels. A kidney-friendly diet can help manage urinary issues, typically have a moderate amount of high-quality protein, and are lower in phosphorus, calcium, and sodium to help reduce the workload on the kidneys. Always look for the AAFCO label on the food to ensure that it meets the required nutritional standards for optimal health.

If your dog is showing signs of a urinary tract problem, you need to take the dog to a veterinarian. Although some dogs will hide any signs, in general, symptoms of urinary infections or other urine problems in a dog include:

  • Increased urgency to urinate and/or frequency
  • Voiding small amounts of urine
  • Drinking excessive amounts of water
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)

Supporting Dog’s Urinary Health

The urinary tract is responsible for filtering waste products from your dog’s bloodstream and excreting them from the body as urine. It is essential for maintaining overall bodily function and, when something goes wrong with the urinary system, it can lead to a variety of issues. Urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder stones, kidney disease, and other urinary issues can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for dogs, and, in many cases, nutrition plays a significant role in preventing or managing these conditions.

Urine pH impacts the ability of crystals and stones to form. Certain minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, can crystallize in the bladder if the urine is too concentrated, too alkaline, or too acidic. Dogs prone to forming bladder stones may benefit from prescription diets designed to prevent the buildup of certain minerals. Diets that acidify the urine help prevent the formation of struvite crystals, whereas those prone to calcium oxalate crystals may benefit from feeding a probiotic rich in lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species that can help metabolize oxalates in the intestine and prevent their deposition in the urine.

Managing Your Dog’s Urinary Health

In addition to the right food, there are other ways to support your dog’s urinary tract health including hydration, frequent bathroom breaks, maintaining a healthy weight, and dietary supplements. Promoting healthy hydration can prevent overly concentrated urine and provides enough water for the kidneys to properly flush out waste products. Feeding a wet or fresh diet, or adding water to your dog’s food, can help ensure proper hydration. In conjunction with good hydration, frequent bathroom breaks are also important to prevent the urine from sitting in the bladder for extended periods. Supplements, such as probiotics or omega-3 fatty acids, may also help further support urinary health.

Taking these factors into consideration when selecting a diet for your dog can help ensure proper urinary tract health and a happy, healthy companion. As always, do research for your individual dog and consult your veterinarian with any concerns and to ensure the best dietary approach for your dog’s specific needs.

Do Dogs Think? (and other curiosities about the dog brain)

By
Joan Merriam
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1
Canine MRIs have played a role in better understanding what dogs think about.
Caption: In recent years, data collected using MRI has shed some light on how and what dogs think about. Caption: Credit: MediaProduction | Getty Images

“My dog knows when I’m coming home.” “My dog understands that I love him.” Many of us say these words—or words like them—every day. Yet we don’t actually know what our dog thinks about or feels: we say that she loves apples, but if she could talk, she might say she’d much prefer cheese. Like so many other aspects of our life with dogs, we simply can’t be sure—because they can’t tell us.

 

 

How Views of Dogs’ Thinking Abilities Have Changed

It was partly due to that inability to communicate that drove many early philosophers like Descartes to propose that dogs were nothing more than mindless automatons merely responding to instincts and physiological signals. Following the religious precepts of the time, he reasoned that dogs could not have intelligence, because intelligence implied consciousness, and consciousness implied the existence of a soul. The concept that any being other than humans could have a soul was, at the time, simply intolerable.[i]

We’ve come a long way since the 15th century. Over the past two decades, more and more research has pointed to the fact that, contrary to that old notion that dogs are just “dumb animals,” they have an acute ability to think and reason.[ii]  Today, thanks to those decades of research studies, the question has gone from, “Do animals think?” to “How and what do they think?”

Technology’s Role in Understanding the Dog Brain

While dogs have developed highly effective social learning skills over the eons they have cohabitated with us,[iii]  it wasn’t until 2012 that scientists began tapping the enormous power of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to study and track the actual workings of the canine brain.

First, a word about fMRI and how remarkable it is that dogs can be trained to undergo these scans. If you’ve ever gone through an MRI, you know they require you to lie perfectly still, even while the machine is loudly banging, clanking, and knocking. Many people find the experience intolerable, even wearing earplugs…yet the dogs who have been part of these studies are able to lie immobile (albeit with customized ear protection), and endure the scans even while fully awake and unrestrained.[iv]

By 2014, researchers using fMRI discovered that canine and human brains process vocal emotional valence cues (signals that reveal the emotional content of a sound) in the same way.[v]  Two years later, fMRIs showed that dogs can respond to linguistic cues—the non-verbal signals such as tone of voice and facial expression that we use to decipher a word’s meaning—a skill once thought to be uniquely human.[vi]  At the time, however, the research was limited by the elementary state of that early fMRI technology.

Fast-forward to the early 2020s, when the study of canine brains using fMRI accelerated, just as the technology itself was being perfected. By then, the use of brain imaging had proven to all but the most hidebound skeptics that dogs process language in a manner that is extremely similar to how humans do.[vii]

Brain imaging also confirmed the similarities in the structures of both dog and human brains: although the human brain is larger and more complex, the dog brain has the same lobes that human brains have.[viii]  Science writer Virginia Morell says that in comparing the canine and human brain, “at a fundamental level there are important similarities that give animals the ability to experience the world, make decisions, and do things intentionally.”[ix]

Dogs Can Think Without Language

Does that mean dogs are actually “thinking”? For decades, scientists insisted that language was essential for intelligent thought, which led to the belief that our unique language abilities pointed to humans as the only beings capable of thinking. This view has now all but been disproven—again, thanks to the magic of fMRI.  During a study, when human subjects were given a problem-solving task, the language-related regions of the brain failed to activate—meaning that the ability to think isn’t dependent upon language.[x]

Back in 2013, Virginia Morell theorized that perhaps dogs might think in pictures.[xi]  Her words proved to be prescient: ten years later, a landmark study found that dogs actually create a multi-dimensional image of their familiar toys or other objects in their minds. So, as they think about an object, they imagine its different features such as what it looks like, feels like, or smells like.[xii]  More proof of a dog’s ability to think comes from the fact that they can also differentiate between unrelated visual images, images of dogs versus other animal species, and human voices.[xiii]

Dogs Think with Us, and We with Them

Some of the most intriguing studies of dog cognition are how dogs think with us, and how we think with them. Researcher Michelle Merritt says that “by studying dog thinking we are necessarily studying our own minds.”[xiv]  Without a doubt, dogs take important cues from us in order to understand both our thinking and what we want—for instance, their ability to follow our pointing actions.[xv]  Dogs and humans create and share meanings all the time: for instance, when your dog suddenly jumps up to look out the window and you follow along to see what’s out there. Examining the interactions we have with our canine companions can lead us to reconsider our ideas about what “thinking” is. While thinking obviously means evaluating and being rational, it also means having emotions, reading social cues, and engaging in meaningful communication.

Dogs are continually surprising us with what they are capable of and how, in many ways, we are alike. And yet, no matter how comparable our behaviors might appear, the fact is that we don’t occupy the same place in the world as our dogs do, and we’ll never truly be able to get inside their minds. Perhaps, as Dr. Stanley Coren says in his book, How Dogs Think, we humans may simply lack the mental capacity to understand the workings of a dog’s mind.[xvi]

[i] Coren, Stanley. “How Dogs Think: Understanding the Canine Mind.” Free Press (Simon & Schuster), New York: 2004. (book)

[ii] Merritt, Michelle. “Minding Dogs: Humans, Canine Companions, and a New Philosophy of Cognitive Science.” University of Georgia Press. 2021. (book)

[iii] Howell, Tiffany Joseph, et al. “The Perceptions of Dog Intelligence and Cognitive Skills (PoDIaCS) Survey.” Journal of Veterinary Behavior. Volume 8, Issue 6. May, 2023. Accessed through Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787813001305

[iv] Berns, Gregory. “Deciphering the dog brain with fMRI.” Trends in Neurosciences, Volume 46, Issue 3, March 2023. Accessed through ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016622362200193X

[v] Huber, Ludwig and Lamm, Claus. “Understanding dog cognition by functional magnetic resonance imaging.” Learning & Behavior 45. February 25, 2017 Accessed through SpringerLink https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13420-017-0261-6#citeas

[vi] Ibid

[vii] Cohen, Dr. Elliot. “Can Dogs Make Decisions?” Psychology Today. Feb 15, 2021. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-would-aristotle-do/202102/can-dogs-make-decisions

[viii] Ibid

[ix] Hertzberg, Richard, interview with Virginia Morell. “On the Frontiers of Animal Research: A Conversation with Virginia Morell.” LA Review of Books. March 27, 2014. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/virginia_morell

[x] Thompson, Joanna. “Can we think without using language?” LiveScience. June 19, 2022. (Citing work done by Russell Hurlburt, Christopher Heavy, and Evelina Fedorenko.) https://www.livescience.com/can-we-think-without-language

[xi] Morell, Virginia. “Animal Wise: How We Know Animals Think and Feel.” Crown Publishers. February 26, 2013.

[xii] Dror, Shany et al. “Multisensory mental representation of objects in typical and Gifted Word Learner dogs.” Animal Cognition. June 8, 2022. Accessed through Springer NatureLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-022-01639-z

[xiii] Merritt, Michele. “Dismantling standard cognitive science: it’s time the dog has its day.” Biology &  Philosophy. November 1, 2015. Accessed through Ebscohost: https://web-p-ebscohost-com.sierracollege.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=a25664af-0300-4dfc-82ef-52e9944d107e%40redis

[xiii] Dror, Shaney. loc cit (citing research by Range et al 2008, Autier-Dérian et al 2013, and Gábor et al 2019).

[xiii] Hare Brian, et al. “The domestication of social cognition in dogs.” Science, Nov 22, 2002. Accessed through Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. https://www.eva.mpg.de/documents/AAAS/Hare_Domestication_Science_2002_1555973.pdf

[xiii] Coren, Staney. Loc cit

[xiv] Dror, Shaney. loc cit (citing research by Range et al 2008, Autier-Dérian et al 2013, and Gábor et al 2019).

[xv] Hare Brian. “The domestication of social cognition…” loc cit

[xvi] Coren, Staney. Loc cit

How to Treat Black Fly Bites on Dogs

By
Kate Basedow, LVT
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0
Black flies can leave itchy bites on your dog.
: If your dog is bitten by a black fly, you can be pretty sure the reaction will be painful and itchy. Credit Douglas Rissing | Getty Images

Fly bites are annoying, but black fly bites on dogs are painful and itchy! Fortunately, they can usually be treated at home with some basic care. The best way to protect your dog from these nasty insects is to know when and where they swarm and avoid them.

 

 

What Are Black Flies?

Black flies, also called buffalo gnats, are small dark flies that travel in swarms. They breed in running water, but prefer still air in the morning, late afternoon, and evening. Hot, humid spring and summer months are considered “black fly season” because this is when these airborne biters are most active.

Only the female flies bite, but those bites hurt. Unlike mosquitos, black flies do not specifically target blood vessels. Instead, the black fly’s bite creates a tiny wound in the skin, and then the fly drinks the blood.

Identifying Black Fly Bites on Dogs

The flies usually target parts of your dog’s body that have less hair, such as the face, ears, belly, and inner thighs.

Black fly bites develop a characteristic “bullseye” appearance with a red spot of blood in the center, swelling around the puncture, and then a red ring of irritation. Since black flies usually travel in swarms, your dog will likely have many of these bites in one area or across the body.

You might notice your dog cry out when he is bitten by a black fly or attacked by a swarm, but you will definitely notice the chewing and scratching when the bites start to itch. If your dog has been bitten on his face, he may repeatedly rub his face against the ground or you.

Allergic reactions to black fly bites are rare. If your dog does show signs of an anaphylactic reaction such as facial swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or hives, seek veterinary care immediately.

How to Treat Black Fly Bites on Dogs

Most black fly bites heal on their own. To ease the discomfort, ice swollen areas for 5 to 10 minutes. You can also apply hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera, but don’t let your dog lick it.

If your dog has many bites, ask your veterinarian for an appropriate dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl). This can help relieve both itching and swelling.

The bites can get infected if your dog chews and scratches at them. If you notice your dog bothering the bitten areas, use an Elizabethan collar or another device that prevents the dog from chewing. You may be able to put your dog in an old T-shirt or the light shirt to block your dog’s access to the itchy. If any of the bites become infected (increased swelling and redness, oozing pus), your dog will require veterinary care and antibiotics.

How to Prevent Black Fly Bites on Dogs

Dog-safe bug sprays may help deter black flies, but the best strategy is to avoid areas likely to have swarms.

Fly-bites on dogs are more common in areas where flies congregate like water sources.
The best way to protect your dog from a black fly bite is to keep him out of areas where the flies tend to swarm, such as running water.
Credit: Mary 981 | Getty Images

Remember that black flies reproduce in running water and are most active during the spring and summer when it is warm and humid. They are also generally most active in the morning and in the hours before sunset. Avoid walking your dog in the woods or near running water during these times of day during black fly season.

Rehoming Your Old Dog

By
Nancy Kerns
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6
Rehoming a dog is never easy, but sometimes it seems like the worst possibility.
This is not the dog I saw in the shelter—I couldn’t bear to take her picture. Her demeanor was very similar to this dog’s: resigned to her fate, whatever it was. Photo credit: Ksenia Raykova, Getty Images.

Let me say as a preface that I fully support people who have to rehome a dog due to extreme circumstances: the loss of income that makes it impossible to care for the dog, loss of a home, etc. I would never judge someone in those circumstances!

But what about rehoming one of your dogs if they are not getting along? Well, yes, sometimes it’s far kinder to find a dog a new home than to make them live with another dog they despise—or who despises them. It’s dangerous and stressful to live with dogs who want to kill each other, and even if you manage to keep them separated from each other at all times, the fear of accidental interactions wears on everyone in the household.

The trick, though, is finding a new home for one of your dogs. Few people want to take on the burden of owning a dog-aggressive dog—but perhaps your dogs are only aggressive to each other, and never to any other dogs? It seems unlikely, but if this is the case, and you can find a home for either of your combatants, it seems like the right thing to do for all concerned.

However, the situation that is simply unthinkable to me is when someone simply surrenders one of their dogs to a shelter—particularly if they chose to relinquish the dog they’ve owned for a longer period of time.

I was at my local shelter recently and was taken by a large, grey-faced, shaggy older female dog. She sat, stoic, in front of her kennel door, only giving a slight wag of the tail in acknowledgement as I stopped to read her cage card. What was she doing at the shelter? “Fights with younger dog in home,” read the surrender notes. Did the owners understand that she was likely going to be euthanized at the shelter, because there are just not enough people who will choose to bring home a dog-aggressive older dog? According to the shelter’s front counter staff, yes, the owners understood. But they wanted to give her a “chance” of getting adopted instead of having her euthanized by their veterinarian.

All of this just makes me see red.

Sundowners in Dogs

By
Kate Basedow, LVT
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1
Sundowners in dogs is equivalent to sun downing in senior citizens.
Usually associated with aging, sundowners in dogs causes symptoms such as disorientation, anxiety, and disordered sleep/wake cycles. Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial | Getty Images

Sundowners syndrome in dogs is officially called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, and may be abbreviated CCD or CDS. This is a degenerative disease, meaning that it will steadily get worse over time. Usually, we first notice that our senior dogs aren’t quite right, but over time the disorientation and mood swings become more dramatic and interfere with both your and your dog’s quality of life.

There is no specific test for canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Instead, you and your veterinarian will work together to determine if there are other health problems contributing to your dog’s behavioral changes or if they are the result of brain degeneration.

Symptoms of Sundowners in Dogs

Thanks to the Purina Institute, we do now have the DISHAA tool to help with diagnosing CDS. This simple tool is freely available online and will guide you through identifying behavioral changes that are associated with CDS and then giving your dog a score for each behavior. At the end, add up your dog’s total to determine how much he is affected by CDS. You can then use that information to start a conversation with your veterinarian and create a treatment and management plan.

There are six categories, each represented in the DISHAA acronym:

D – Disorientation

I – Social Interactions

S – Sleep/Wake Cycles

H – Housesoiling, Learning, and Memory

A – Activity

A – Anxiety

Disorientation

This is one of the easiest hallmarks of CDS for us to identify. Dogs suffering from sundowners may get lost in their own homes, struggle with navigating doorways and other physical obstacles, and get “stuck” in odd locations, such as behind a door or in a corner. You might also notice a vacant stare, as if your dog isn’t totally sure who you are or where they are.

Social Interactions

Dogs with CDS often become less social than they were during most of their lives. You may notice your dog becoming more fearful or even aggressive to strangers, and he may be less tolerant of your other pets. Some dogs also interact with their owners less, choosing to sit by themselves instead of asking for play or cuddles.

If you describe your dog as being “cranky” or a “curmudgeon,” he may be showing signs of canine cognitive dysfunction.

Sleep/Wake Cycles

This hallmark of CDS can be very difficult for us to handle. Dogs with CDS frequently switch to an abnormal sleep schedule, sleeping excessively during the day and then being awake at night. Worse, the nocturnal wakefulness often comes with pacing and fussing or whining.

Your dog may also sleep very deeply, which can be concerning when trying to wake him up.

Nighttime pacing, whining, and crashing into things (because our senior dogs also often have poorer nighttime vision) all combine to prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep. Over time this can lead to resentment, because while the dog gets to sleep all day, the humans often have to go to work. This makes altered sleep schedules one of the most common reasons that owners seek veterinary assistance.

Housesoiling, Learning, and Memory

Dogs affected by sundowners syndrome often forget behaviors that they once knew well (such as sit or come), and struggle to learn new things. They also may start eliminating in the house, seeming to forget how to ask to go outside or their housetraining.

Activity

Your dog’s activity may both increase and decrease as CDS progresses. Many dogs with this disorder become less active overall, no longer interested in long sniff walks or in play sessions. But other activities, especially repetitive ones like licking objects, chewing, walking in circles, or staring at the sky, may increase.

Anxiety

Anxiety can be another difficult symptom to manage and adjust to. You may notice that your dog is suddenly fearful of things he never cared about before, or that storm and noise phobias have gotten worse. Your dog may develop separation anxiety after a lifetime of being comfortable left at home alone. He may also get upset when introduced to new people or taken to new places.

Managing Dog Dementia

There is no cure for canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, but there are ways we can slow its progression and treat symptoms to preserve your dog’s (and your!) quality of life. We’ll get into medications shortly, but first are some things you can do at home.

  1. Provide regular enrichment opportunities.

Just like human brains, dog brains need regular exercise. Since your dog probably isn’t going to be doing crossword puzzles, stimulate his mind by taking him on walks, using puzzle toys, and engaging in play and training time. All of these activities encourage him to be engaged in his surroundings and reinforce the brain pathways associated with each one.

Training time does not need to be aimed at formal or challenging skills. Choose fun tricks and behaviors that your dog can easily handle physically, and that he enjoys! You can also review basic obedience skills and old tricks that your dog knows well to both refresh his mind and give him an easy win.

  1. Make a routine.

Try to have a consistent routine for your older dogs. For example, wake up is at 7, breakfast at 7:30, short walk midday, longer walk or playtime after work, brief training session or playtime after dinner. Dogs with cognitive dysfunction like knowing what is going to happen next and having a routine helps them feel calmer.

Keeping your dog active during the day and having a consistent bedtime will also help to keep your dog on a normal sleep schedule.

  1. “Senior proof” the house.

Puppy proofing means going through the house to address all potential hazards (cover electrical cords, block stairs) and safeguarding things that might get chewed (your kids’ favorite toys, an heirloom quilt). Senior proofing is geared toward making sure your house is safe and accessible for your aging dog.

Keep furniture locations consistent so that your dog doesn’t get confused and can navigate your house or apartment easily. Also make sure that the entire family is onboard for picking up shoes, bags, and other personal items so your dog doesn’t trip.

Make sure that the flooring provides a good grip for your dog. If you have laminate or hardwood floors, put down runner rugs so your dog doesn’t slip.

Set up ramps or step stools to help your dog go up and down stairs and on and off furniture safely.

Provide nightlights if your dog likes to get a drink of water at night but is having trouble seeing in the dark. For one of my dogs, I used glow-in-the-dark tape to outline her ramp so she could get on and off the bed by herself at night.

Block off staircases and high furniture if your dog is unsteady on his feet and prone to falls. You can also put thick cushions on the floor by the couch or bed in case of stumbles.

  1. Frequent walks.

Plan frequent pee breaks to encourage your dog to eliminate outside and limit “accidents” in the house. Remember those early days when your tiny puppy needed to go out every two hours? Most senior dogs don’t need to go out quite that often, but experiment to determine what schedule works best for you and your dog.

Prescription Diets and Supplements for Senior Dogs

There are prescription diets and some supplements available that are geared toward supporting senior dogs mentally and physically.

Two prescription diets designed to help our aging dogs are Hill’s b/d and Purina NeuroCare. The Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind formula is an over-the-counter food that you can get at most pet supply stores. My current senior dog has been on the Bright Mind food for a couple months to hopefully support her brain and body as she enters her golden years. Only time will tell!

SAMe, Senilife, and supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil may help support cognition in dogs. As with any supplement, check with your veterinarian before starting a new product to make sure that it isn’t likely to interfere with any of your dog’s current medications.

Medications for Sundowners in Dogs

There is only one medication that is FDA approved for canine cognitive dysfunction: selegiline or selegiline hydrochloride (brand name Anipryl). You may recognize this as an anti-depressant, and you’re correct. Selegiline works by limiting the breakdown of dopamine, which increases the circulating dopamine in your dog’s brain, as well as decreasing the number of free radicals in the brain.

Selegiline is given once a day and it may take up to two months to see an improvement. The good news is that about 76% of dogs respond to this therapy and have a decrease in symptoms. I was one of the lucky ones with my dog—her nocturnal pacing stopped within a week of starting selegiline and her mood improved.

As with anything that your dog takes by mouth, selegiline can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and a poor appetite in some dogs. Other possible side effects include tremors, drooling, disorientation, and restlessness. Selegiline also does not play well with some other medications, so your dog’s veterinarian will weigh pros and cons before prescribing it for your dog.

We do have other ways to approach the symptoms of CSD and improve your dog’s quality of life. Most important is pain relief. Many of our senior dogs have arthritis or other painful conditions and adequate pain relief does wonders for improving their attitude and well-being. Depending on the symptoms of sundowners that your dog is experiencing, your dog may be prescribed medications to help with urinary incontinence, anxiety, and promoting normal sleep schedules.

You are Your Dog’s #1

You are the most important part of managing your dog’s canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Ask your veterinarian if you are concerned that your dog might have CDS and use the DISHAA tool to evaluate your dog’s current mental state. Then make changes around your house and to your dog’s routine to help him feel safe and happy throughout his golden years.

Dog Owner’s Guide to Types of Ticks

By
Kim Campbell Thornton
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There are many types of ticks that can bite dogs, and spread diseases.
Depending on its species and how recently they’ve fed, ticks can range from the size of a poppy seed to that of a small grape. Credit: Bernard Lynch | Getty Images

Nine tick species make their homes in various regions of North America. Besides being squicky to think about or, worse, encounter on your dog or yourself, some of the blood-sipping parasites—members of the arachnid family—can spread serious diseases to dogs and humans alike, including Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (which is not limited to the Rocky Mountains), anaplasmosis and more. That’s the best reason to know which types of ticks are out there, where they live, how to identify them, ways to protect yourself and your pets from them, and what to do if you find a tick on your dog.

Types of Ticks Dogs Get

Depending on where you live, these are the tick species you can encounter in North America:

Tick populations are constantly on the move, finding new territory by way of migrating wildlife, traveling pets, and improved habitat resulting from climate change. Here’s what to know about the various species.

American dog ticks, sometimes called Eastern wood ticks, are found in the eastern United States as well as the Pacific Northwest and certain areas of Canada and Mexico. Grassy fields and trails are their habitat. They feed on dogs and humans and their bite can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and canine tick paralysis. American dog ticks are brown to reddish-brown with gray or silver markings on their back.

Invasive Asian longhorned ticks reported throughout most mid-Atlantic states, are generalists that feed on livestock, dogs, deer, and other animals. While they can be found anywhere, they appear to prefer tall grasses and wooded areas. They aren’t known to transmit Lyme disease but have been shown experimentally to transmit the emerging Powassan and Heartland viruses. Severe infestations can result in fatal blood loss. Their appearance varies by feeding status. Asian longhorned ticks that haven’t fed are a light reddish-tan to dark reddish with brown. Adult females that have fed appear gray-green with yellowish markings and can be the size of a pea. Males are rare because these ticks can reproduce without them.

Black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks, are found in the eastern U.S. and Midwest, as far north as southeastern Canada and as far south as northeastern Mexico. They can spread Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis to dogs and humans. Deer ticks favor forested habitat with low bushes and shrubs from which they can launch themselves onto their blood-filled feeding stations. They are reddish-brown with a black marking resembling a shield on their back and are about the size of a sesame seed.

Brown dog ticks are global. In the U.S., no state is free of them, including Alaska and Hawaii. Brown dog ticks can live indoors and outdoors, in urban and rural areas, and dogs are their preferred hosts. They not only spread deadly Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but also ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis. Around the world, they show resistance to acaricides, products that kill ticks. Habitat management and pesticides help to keep them under control. As the name implies, they are brown with few distinguishing features.

Gulf Coast ticks live along the Gulf Coast and up into the Atlantic coast. They spread an emerging disease in dogs called American canine hepatozoonosis (as opposed to Old World hepatozoonosis), first identified in the U.S. in 1978 on the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, the disease has been diagnosed in dogs in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Gulf Coast ticks live in grass prairies and coastal uplands.

Female lone star ticks can be identified by the bright white spot on their back, or scutum. They inhabit the southern and eastern U. S., hiding in leaves and mulch and rushing out when they sense potential hosts. Not-so-fun fact: They are the fastest and most aggressive tick species when it comes to latching onto a host. Lone star ticks spread a number of diseases, including tularemia and ehrlichiosis to dogs and humans, and Heartland virus, Southern tick-associated rash illness, and Bourbon virus in humans. Their bite may also lead to a meat allergy called alpha-gal syndrome.

Rocky Mountain wood ticks, found primarily in Rocky Mountain and Western states, northern Plains states such as North and South Dakota, and southwestern Canada, prefer shrublands, lightly wooded areas, grasslands and trails, generally at subalpine elevations. They can transmit RMSF and tularemia to dogs and humans (and cats) and Colorado tick fever virus to humans. In some instances, their saliva contains a neurotoxin that can cause tick paralysis in dogs and humans. Rocky Mountain wood ticks have a red body shaped like a tear drop. Females have a white, shield-like marking at the top of the body, while males have gray and white spots.

Spinose ear ticks, a type of soft tick, range in color from gray to light brown. They are found throughout North America, including Mexico and western Canada. The good thing about them is that they don’t spread any diseases. The bad? They’re ticks. Wounds caused by their bite can develop secondary microbial infections or maggot infestations in severe cases.

Western black-legged ticks are West Coast cousins to black-legged ticks, living in forested areas all along the Pacific coast. Like their eastern cousins, they are vectors for Lyme disease, feeding on infected host animals and then transmitting disease to other animals, including dogs and humans, in subsequent blood meals. They are oval-shaped with a brownish-black body and black legs. Although you wouldn’t want to examine one closely enough to find out, females have an orange abdomen.

Ticks and the Diseases They Spread to Dogs

Tickborne-disease diagnoses have risen steadily over the past two decades. More ticks in more places mean more close encounters with ticks by dogs and humans.

Most tickborne diseases are transmitted through saliva to the unwitting and unwilling host: your dog or yourself. If ticks have fed on an infected animal, the saliva they inject through a bite of the next host contains disease-bearing pathogens. Dogs don’t directly spread tickborne diseases to humans, but they can bring ticks into homes, putting their people at risk of tick bites as well.

For instance, Lyme disease begins with infected deer ticks on dogs. Approximately 50 percent of deer ticks are carriers of this potentially devastating disease and the ticks are difficult to find because of their small size. Fortunately, they must be attached to the host for nearly two days or slightly longer before infection occurs, so if they’re removed in a timely manner, disease risk is limited.

You may have heard that dogs don’t get Lyme disease, but that’s a misconception. Many dogs are asymptomatic or have only subtle signs, but they can become infected and some do exhibit serious signs that come on quickly: lameness from painful joints, depression, weakness, reluctance to move, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Chronic cases can result in persistent polyarthritis, acute progressive renal failure, and—although they are not conclusively linked to Lyme borreliosis—neurological signs such as changes in behavior: think sudden or unusual depression, fear, or aggression. If your dog has experienced a tick bite and shows these signs, talk to your veterinarian about running a tick panel and instituting aggressive antibiotic treatment right away.

Lyme disease isn’t always easy to diagnose in dogs or humans. It’s a disease of exclusion, so your veterinarian may want to rule out orthopedic disorders or other potential infectious causes.

For instance, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, transmitted mainly by black-legged ticks, can cause clinical signs resembling those of canine Lyme. Anaplasma is seen most commonly in California and in the northeast United States. Signs include lameness, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Another member of the rickettsia family, Anaplasma platys, causes infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia in dogs, resulting in periodic platelet loss and problems with blood clotting.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is delivered by the bite of a tick carrying Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. Signs of infection include high fever, appetite loss, muscle and abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and a stiff gait. Besides the Rocky Mountain area, it has been diagnosed in areas east of the Mississippi, including New York, and can be deadly in both dogs and humans.

Ehrlichiosis is a group of bacterial diseases caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis or other types of Ehrlichia. It’s usually transmitted by lone star ticks and brown dog ticks. Signs can be short-term or long-term and include fever, swollen lymph nodes, appetite loss, depression, stiffness, and coughing or difficulty breathing.

Babesiosis is a protozoal infection transmitted by blacklegged ticks, with transmission taking 48 to 72 hours. It invades red blood cells, triggering fever, anemia and weight loss. It is seen in the South and in California.

Signs of tick bite paralysis, caused by the bite of an American dog tick or Rocky Mountain wood tick, include weakness, fever, a change in the dog’s voice, vomiting, dilated pupils, and incoordination. Removal of the offending tick usually brings relief.

American canine hepatozoonosis is unusual in that transmission occurs not through the bite of a tick, but when a dog ingests either an infected tick or an infected intermediate host such as a rabbit. The disease is lifelong, with signs including fever, depression, weight loss, muscle atrophy, soreness and weakness. Many dogs die within two years of diagnosis.

Finding and Removing Ticks on Dogs

Any time your dog has been outdoors in wooded areas or tall grass, a tick check is in order before you let them enter the house. Start with the head, face, neck, and inside of the ears. Look between the toes, at the junctures of legs and belly, and at the tail. Run your fingers through the coat in search of any bumps that aren’t normally there. Part the fur so you can see down to the skin.

Once you overcome the ick factor, here’s how to remove a tick. Put on latex gloves to protect your skin in case the tick bursts, grasp the tick with tweezers, as close to the skin as possible, and pull back with steady, even pressure. The goal is to remove the entire tick, including the head, in one go.

Kill the tick by dropping it in alcohol—no crushing or flushing. Crushing the tick can expose you to disease, and flushing isn’t good because ticks have air sacs that help them to survive in water. Then disinfect the bite area (and the tweezers) with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

Don’t use the end of a burnt match or lit cigarette or try to smother the tick with petroleum jelly or nail polish. These old-timey techniques can hurt your dog, increase the amount of time the tick is attached, and cause the tick to release more bacteria or protozoa into the bite site—both of which increase the risk of disease transmission.

Keep Ticks at Bay

  • Create a tick-unfriendly yard by keeping lawns short, lining the perimeter of your yard with wood chips or gravel, removing leaf litter and other brush that can shelter ticks in winter, and planting lavender, garlic, and chrysanthemums, which are natural tick repellents.
  • Consider protective clothing for your dog—and yourself. Vests, t-shirts, and other items treated with dog-safe insect repellent can help keep ticks off your dog, or you can have them wear a onesie or similar item to reduce the amount of skin exposed to ticks. For yourself, wear shirts with long sleeves and socks pulled over pants legs. (And don’t lean against trees—ask me why.)
  • If you live or hike in areas where ticks are common, consider putting your dog on a preventive product. Tick preventives come in oral or topical form, as well as a collar that lasts for eight months. Depending on the product, it may repel ticks, kill on contact, or kill ticks if they bite a dog. Just because a tick is on your dog doesn’t mean the preventive product isn’t working. If you have any questions about which products might work best for your dog and the area where you live, check with your vet.

Acute Renal Failure in Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

By
Dr. Jennifer Bailey, DVM
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Renal failure in dogs can be caused by multiple conditions and requires immediate intervention.
: Acute renal failure in dogs calls for emergency veterinary care and often requires hospitalization. Credit: Sebastian Condrea | Getty Images

Acute renal failure—better known as acute kidney injury—is a condition that has a sudden onset and can make your dog feel extremely ill. Symptoms of acute kidney injury include lethargy, not eating, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most dogs will experience a sudden increase in thirst and urination. This may progress into drinking little to no water and hardly urinating.

There are several other diseases that share symptoms with acute kidney injury. Your dog should be evaluated by your veterinarian immediately if he is showing the symptoms mentioned above. If your veterinarian is unable to see your dog immediately, take him to the closest emergency veterinary hospital for evaluation.

Causes of Acute Kidney Injury in Dogs

There are many causes of acute kidney injury. These can include infections, toxins, certain medications, obstruction of the urinary system, and diseases that cause severe inflammation of the body.

Infectious causes include pyelonephritis and leptospirosis. Pyelonephritis is also known as a kidney infection. Pyelonephritis typically starts as a bladder infection. Bacteria in the bladder can ascend to the kidneys via the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) and cause a kidney infection.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Leptospirosis can infect many organs in a dog’s body, including the kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs. See the article “Leptospirosis in Dogs” for more information about leptospirosis.

Toxins that can cause acute kidney injury in dogs include tartaric acid and ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is found in automotive antifreeze. Tartaric acid is found in grapes, raisins, Zante currants, and tamarind. Zante currants are also known as Corinthian raisins. Currants in the Ribes genus—such as blackcurrant, redcurrant, white currants, and European gooseberries—do not contain tartaric acid and are not considered toxic to dogs.

Ingesting an overdose of cholecalciferol (also known as vitamin D3) can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. Dogs can overdose on cholecalciferol by ingesting vitamin D3 supplements, their owner’s medicated skin creams that contain vitamin D3, or rodenticide (mouse poison) that contains cholecalciferol.

Certain medications have been associated with an increased risk of developing acute kidney injury in dogs. These medications include antibiotics in the aminoglycoside drug class, such as gentamicin and amikacin. The antifungal drug amphotericin B is also known to cause acute kidney injury in dogs.

Other drugs that can cause acute kidney injury are the chemotherapy drug cisplatin and radiographic contrast agents used for imaging with CT and MRI. An overdose of a prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)—such as carprofen or deracoxib—or ingestion of an NSAID made for humans—such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen—can cause acute kidney injury in dogs.

Acute kidney injury can also be caused by an obstruction of the urinary system. A urinary obstruction is one that either blocks a dog’s ability to urinate (urethral obstruction) or a kidney’s ability to empty urine into the bladder (ureteral obstruction). A urethral obstruction can be caused by one or more bladder stones, a tumor of the bladder or urethra, or an enlarged prostate. A ureteral obstruction can be caused by a kidney stone or a tumor of the ureter.

Dogs experiencing an illness that causes a severe inflammatory reaction in the body may develop acute kidney injury. Conditions such as sepsis, pancreatitis, and acute shock release inflammatory mediators that can damage the kidneys.

Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury in Dogs

If your dog was observed ingesting a known renal toxin, your veterinarian may request that you contact an animal poison control helpline (such as ASPCA Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline) to determine if the amount of toxin ingested puts him at risk for acute kidney injury. Your veterinarian and the toxicology consultant with poison control will recommend diagnostics and treatments based on the type of toxin and how much of it your dog ingested.

For other potential causes of acute kidney injury, your veterinarian will want to complete blood work (including a complete blood count and chemistry panel) and a urinalysis. A urine culture and sensitivity will be recommended if your veterinarian suspects your dog may have pyelonephritis. Testing for leptospirosis may also be recommended.

Abdominal radiographs (x-rays) may be recommended to look for stones in your dog’s urinary system. An abdominal ultrasound may be recommended to examine the architecture of your dog’s kidneys to help determine the cause of acute kidney injury.

Treatment for Dogs Suffering from Acute Kidney Injury

Dogs with acute kidney injury should ideally be hospitalized. Treatment includes administration of intravenous fluids and medications to address nausea, vomiting, and pain. Antibiotics may be administered if an infectious cause of acute kidney injury is suspected.

Your dog’s urine output will be closely monitored and compared to the amount of fluids being administered intravenously. This helps determine how well the kidneys are responding to treatment.

Dogs that are in the advanced stage of acute kidney injury may benefit from renal hemodialysis. Hemodialysis removes waste products from the blood that are normally removed by healthy kidneys. Multiple sessions of hemodialysis will be required until the kidneys have recovered and can begin filtering out waste products on their own.

Acute kidney injury that has been caused by an NSAID overdose may respond to two different treatments, either used singly or in combination. The first treatment is called therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). NSAIDs bind to proteins found in plasma (the liquid portion of blood). TPE involves separating plasma from the red blood cells and replacing it with plasma from a canine donor along with intravenous fluids.

The second treatment that can help eliminate a toxic dose of an NSAID from the body is intralipid emulsion (ILE) therapy. ILE involves the intravenous administration of a fat emulsion solution. The NSAID molecules are drawn to the emulsion and bind to it, facilitating its removal from the body.

Hemodialysis and TPE are only available at certain specialty and veterinary teaching hospitals. ILE therapy is more widely available at many specialty and emergency hospitals.

Prognosis for Dogs Diagnosed with Acute Kidney Injury

The prognosis for a dog experiencing acute kidney injury depends on the cause and the severity of laboratory abnormalities. Dogs with acute kidney injury caused by leptospirosis typically have a good prognosis with treatment. Acute kidney injury caused by ethylene glycol carries a poor prognosis.

Dogs that have severe elevation of their kidney values, severely low calcium, and high phosphorus, anemia, and decreased urine production have a guarded prognosis for recovery. Dogs that do not improve or worsen with hospitalization and intravenous fluid therapy have a poor prognosis.

Dogs that respond to therapy may make a full recovery and not suffer any long-term effects of their illness. Some dogs may experience short-term damage to their kidneys that takes several weeks to months to resolve. Other dogs may have some level of chronic kidney disease for the remainder of their lives following recovery from acute kidney injury.

How to Keep Dogs Off the Couch

By
Laura Vinogradov
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Keeping dogs off the sofa and other furniture is a training exercise.
The choice of a dog on the furniture or not is personal, but enforcing the decision must be consistent. Credit: Svetikd | Getty Images

For many people, a dog on the furniture is taboo, an unacceptable behavior. Others may be wishy-washy in their choice, which is unfair to the dog. Once the dog becomes used to getting on the couch or bed, it becomes a learned behavior. Fortunately, any learned behavior can be unlearned if everyone in the household consistently enforces the new rules.

 

 

When you’re making the decision on whether to allow your dog on or off furniture, be aware that one big consideration is ensure that your dog has his own spot. This might be an extra special comfy dog bed or blanket in the room where you’re spending most of your time. Some folks designate one piece of furniture as the dog’s place to keep her off other pieces of furniture, which is fine if you’re consistent. Reward your dog for seeking out the right spot to rest.

How to Keep Dogs Off The Furniture

If your dog has never climbed onto the furniture, don’t encourage it. Instead, reward her with a yummy treat for seeking out her own spot.

If your dog already climbs on the furniture, you will need to re-educate her. Again, start by consistently not allowing her to climb on the furniture. You might be able to do this by blocking her access to the furniture, whether you use pillows or piles of blankets the dog can’t possibly crawl up or a barrier like a baby gate (more on this below). Never use aggressive actions like trying to pull her off the furniture or using noisemakers to scare her off. These actions are not positive training techniques.

If you’re in another room or not at home, and your dog is free in the house instead of in a crate, you will need to use a blockade method:

  • Close bedroom doors and block off access to rooms where the temptation is greatest.
  • Strategically place boxes or turn the couch cushions to physically block access.
  • Consider using room barriers like baby gates. They are convenient, easy to install, and designed to not damage furniture.

Keep in mind, though, where there’s a will there’s a way and many dogs figure out ways to jump over, climb up, dig under, or push aside barriers. Choose your barriers with that in mind. Be certain they’re safe but be prepared to switch them out periodically.

Stick with the Rules

The best way to teach your dog to stay off furniture is to never let your dog on the furniture in the first place. This is especially important when adopting a new dog. If you allow your dog on the furniture (even once!), your dog considers this permission and it becomes a learned behavior, as we stated above. While the behavior can be changed, it’s not easy. Everyone in the household must consistently enforce the rules.

Note for those considering a puppy and haven’t decided about the furniture rule, consider this: That cute little puppy you snuggled with that took up a quarter of your pillow will soon grow up and may take up more of the bed than you, or your spouse, may be willing to give up. And dirty paws aren’t always caught at the door. And then there is the fur. Don’t start a habit you’re eventually going to want to break.

Introducing a New Dog to a Jealous Dog

By
Debby McMullen, CDBC
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Introducing a new dog to a jealous dog can be a challenge, but it isn't insurmountable.
It’s not difficult to tell that this little guy does not want to share his person with anybody or anything. A proper introduction that includes a proper, slow introduction and, above all, fairness may avert bigger problems. Molly Wolff Photography | Getty Images

Without question, dogs get jealous, and it’s especially apparent if you’re giving attention to a different canine. Studies have proven dogs have this emotion. If you have a jealous dog, don’t despair. You can get another dog, but you need to understand the roots of jealousy.

Solving the problem starts with recognizing the signs of jealousy, which means being able to read dog body language. One of the most useful books on the market is “Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend” by Lili Chin. This inexpensive book says a lot with few words and many great illustrations.

Possible signs of jealousy when another dog approaches you and your dog or vice versa include:

  • Physically nudging a dog out of the way.
  • Showing various degrees of aggression, such as facial expressions mean to warn, growling, even snapping at the other dog.
  • Whining or anxious behavior that can include pacing.
  • Attention seeking behavior such as offering you a toy, paw, etc., sometimes seeming frantic.
  • Crowding or physically blocking access to you.
  • Resource guarding (any degree of) their possessions/areas such as beds, toys, meal areas, etc.
  • Even potty accidents related to a timeline of having another dog near you can imply jealousy.

Jealousy is normal. Dogs get jealous because you are a resource and the source of all good things in your dog’s life. It’s naturally ingrained in a dog to not want to share, and your dog may act aggressive. This also has been seen when a new baby arrives home! Your dog doesn’t want to share the attention.

But, with dogs, if your dog already truly likes other dogs and enjoys their company, it’s not a difficult proposition to introduce the concept of sharing you to that dog.

Note: Reactive dogs are different from jealous dogs. Introducing reactive dogs is a carefully choreographed dance that takes many things into consideration and may require the help of a professional trainer. Reactivity is an overreaction versus a normal range of emotions.

Tips for Success With Jealousy

I like to take things as slowly as possible. If you are adopting a dog from a rescue or shelter, it’s imperative that there be a meet-and-greet first. Ideally, the rescue or shelter staff will be savvy enough with dog-play behavior so that they can start you off on the right path. It’s helpful for you to know what style of play your dog enjoys best with other dogs so that they can choose the best possible match. The same savviness should apply to a breeder with an adult dog and even a puppy. But be aware that adding a puppy can be much more work than with an adult dog as puppies are a lot of work in of themselves, let alone when creating a new relationship.

It’s best if you can have several meet-and-greets in advance of bringing the new dog home. Mutual walks are a great way to help create a bond with shared activity. Show some attention to each dog and make sure that you verbally reinforce your current dog for accepting your attention to the other dog. Your dog may show jealousy when you pet the new dog. Make it clear with your body language that you can pet both at the same time equally. You do have two hands!

Once you decide that things look promising and set a date to bring your new addition home, plan on spending a few days off from distractions to develop the foundation. It’s important that each dog has their own things and their own space for meals, sleeping, toys, etc. Be fair. Have a few pairs of identical toys for each that you introduce carefully. Active supervision is key. I start with each wearing a drag leash so that you can intervene quickly if necessary.

Open Space and Fairness

If the weather is amenable to such, starting the calm togetherness training outside is often better, with the space being more open, even if your porch or yard isn’t large.  The illusion of space is helpful. Another human helper is great but if that’s not an option, I have certainly done this on my own with multiple dogs in the household. You can too. Start with some shared training exercises so that impulse control around treats can move forward on the right path. Take turns with who you treat first and be obviously fair. In case you question the logic here, this is also based on science. A 2009 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science in the United States of America showed dogs notice and understand fairness.

The next step can include relaxing together with the human seated. If you have seating on your porch or in your yard that makes sense to use, you can start there. Otherwise, choose the room in your home with the most open seating plan. Move a coffee table if need be. The human part of the equation must learn to use their own body language to help shape where each dog should safely be. This is an exercise in learning to be an effective parent who is kind but puts boundaries in place for the safety of everyone. I think it’s helpful to establish the boundaries right away for quiet time when each dog will probably want to cozy up to you.

For example, if your dog is starting to nudge the other dog aside during this practice, you can subtly use an arm or a leg to define the boundaries and show that both can get attention at the same time in a fair manner. Pet both dogs while softly verbally reinforcing your resident dog when she accepts that they can both share you.  The sooner that you establish what is and isn’t acceptable in the realm of stretching boundaries, the smoother this forward path will go.

Overboard Jealousy

The steps in this article are for dogs who exhibit tendencies on the lower end of the jealousy scale. If your dog resource guards anything/anyone in such a way that you are concerned about a battle and bloodshed, then you should find a well-qualified rewards-based trainer/behavior consultant to help you move forward with this scenario. Knowing how to introduce a new dog properly at the get go sets your life with said dogs up for success rather than failure. You won’t regret a moment of time spent moving at the right speed.

How To Pick the Best Animal Charities to Donate To

By
Mary Schwager
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Finding the best animal charity requires doing some research to find one whose cause you fully support.
Doing some research before donating to an animal charity will help ensure your money makes a difference for dogs in need. Credit: Liudmila Chernetska | Getty Images

You’re scrolling through your social media feed, and a heartbreaking video of a trembling, filthy, emaciated dog with the saddest, haunting eyes stops you in your tracks. The post says, “Bella needs medical help. Please donate to our rescue…” But you’ve never heard of the organization.

What do you do? How do you know the group is a legitimate nonprofit? And that Bella will get the care she needs?

“Paws-ing” for a moment, understanding how the system works, and doing a few minutes of research before you donate to dog charities can pay off.

Donating to Dog Charities

Thousands of animal-related nonprofit organizations are vying for donations, and experts say animal lovers are ready to assist.

“We find donors are highly invested and very interested in how they can support the animal welfare space; it’s one of our most searched areas,” says Jennifer Prelack, the director of charity curation at Charity Navigator, which researches, reviews, and rates nonprofits.

When it comes to the companion animal space, there’s a range of dog charities that need support.

From small, all-volunteer nonprofits that save dogs and find them new homes—to large charities with hundreds of employees that push for tougher puppy mill, backyard breeder, and animal abuse laws.

There are also nonprofit animal shelters, charities that provide spay and neuter surgeries, and foundations that help pay dogs’ veterinary bills.

“Many people see animals as a very vulnerable group,” Prelack says. “I think that’s why it feels so good to contribute, wanting to help crosses all people, all groups, and all viewpoints.”

Finding the Best Animal Charities

With such a vast array of nonprofit groups all rallying for seemingly good causes, how do you decide where to donate?

Look for organizations that advocate for issues that are important or even personal to you.

Perhaps you adopted your beloved pup from a rescue that saves dogs from high-kill shelters and want to give back. Or you know your local animal sanctuary is overwhelmed. Maybe you want to help Bella, the dog on your social media feed.

Once you’ve identified a dog charity you feel pulls on your heartstrings, head to their website and read the mission statement or “about us” section.

Does their cause align with your personal beliefs and a purpose you want to support?

If you feel like there’s a connection, it’s time to put on your pet detective hat and find out more about the group. “We say give with heart but use your head,” Prelack says.

These days, there’s a wealth of information about charities online.

How to Check Out a Charity

Stay on the group’s website and see what information you can dig up.

Check Out a Charity’s Website

Look for how the nonprofit showcases its impact.

  • What programs do they offer?
  • Do they show examples of their work?
  • Do they have an online annual report listing their accomplishments?
  • Do they say where their donations go?
  • Do they have statistics such as the number of dogs saved?

“We’re finding a lot of donors are increasingly valuing data-driven results and organizations that have measurable outcomes,” Prelack says.

Check Out a Charity’s Tax Return

Finding an organization’s tax return (Form 990) on its website can give you a lot of information and help you ensure a group is an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You can also ask the charity to send you a copy.

If the form isn’t on the nonprofit’s website, or you have trouble getting it, you can likely find it on the IRS website or on the websites of groups that review nonprofits, like Charity Navigator, Guidestar, CharityWatch, and ProPublica.

These charity watchdog websites have experts and number crunchers who interpret the tax forms for you. Each organization has different criteria for evaluating nonprofits and following the money trail.

One nonprofit might have an excellent rating on one site and a failing grade on another.

“There are about 1.8 million nonprofits in the U.S., and donors are looking for guidance; they’re looking for some understanding,” Prelack says. “We want them to be able to confirm if an organization is reputable and is effectively achieving its mission.”

Here are some key factors to review on a group’s Form 990:

  • How much are the executives and employees making?
  • What is the charity spending their money on?
  • How much of their total income goes to the cause?
  • Is most of the money going to the dogs?

If you’re reviewing a large animal rescue’s tax return, does a majority of their money pay for boarding, medical care, supplies, food, and vaccines that benefit the dogs? Or do most of the donations go to someone’s paycheck or paychecks?

Try Different Google Searches

Google the nonprofit’s name and see what you find. It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at what might pop up. Sometimes, you’ll see the good, the bad, and the ugly. The organization may have been honored with awards, covered positively in the news, or is recovering from a scandal.

Then, Google the group’s name with quotation marks around it (e.g., “Doggy Dog Rescue”). This tells the search engine to only look for the nonprofit’s exact name and weed out other entries.

While you’re Googling, try one more search. Type the charity’s name with the word: complaints (e.g., Doggy Dog Rescue complaints). This keyword helps narrow your query even more. You can see if people are griping about the organization or if the group has ever been in trouble.

Check Out a Group’s Social Media Pages

A group’s social media pages can reveal some essential information.

  • Is the group posting achievements and compelling cases?
  • Do you see before and after pictures of dogs the group saved?
  • Do the posts seem coherent, spelled correctly, and thoughtful?
  • What are people saying in the comments section of posts?
  • What is the group’s rating? (If the social media site has that feature)
  • What do the complaints and compliments say?

Of course, some comments or complaints may be exaggerated or unfounded, but also see how a group responds to complaints. Are they respectful and can you see their side of the situation?

Watch Out for Scams

Sadly, scammers are out there trying to take advantage of your goodwill.

Watch for some common pitfalls, warning signs, and red flags.

Email Precautions

If you get an email from a charity, even if it’s one you’ve donated to in the past, read it carefully. Does it sound legit? Are words spelled right? Are sentences properly structured?

What is the sender’s actual email address? It might say “Doggy Dog Rescue” in the name field, but if you look at the exact email address, is it clearly from the organization? Or is the email address weird? Like a bunch of letters, numbers, or something odd?

Those are all red flags.

Be careful about clicking on any links in the email, especially if it seems suspicious. If you want to donate, go directly to the charity’s website.

Text and Phone Precautions

If you get a call from someone who says they’re with a charity that needs your support, hold the phone.

Should you want to listen to what they say, ask them to clearly identify which charity they’re with and how you can donate.

If the caller’s plea is overly emotional, feels like high-pressure sales, and “they need you to act now,” that’s a red flag.

Be cautious about giving credit numbers over the phone. Never pay anyone who asks you to send donations via gift cards, pay cards, or wire transfers. Instead, ask the caller for the nonprofit’s website and follow all the steps above to check out the charity.

If you receive a text, be wary of clicking on links, texting back, or giving personal information.

Check Mailing Precautions

Unfortunately, even mailing a check these days comes with risks.

Record numbers of criminals are swiping checks from the mail, even robbing carriers and stealing their mail.

The thieves often use chemicals or heavy-duty erasers to “wash” checks. They may change your $500 check to a $5000 check, make it payable to someone else, and cash it. This could clean out your bank account, and getting the money refunded can be a mess.

If you want to donate by check, take precautions:

  • Put the check in an envelope you can’t see through.
  • Bring the envelope inside the post office to mail.
  • Don’t put the envelope in your mailbox with the flag up.
  • Use permanent, gel-based ink to write the check so it’s difficult to alter.

The American Bankers Association has more tips on how to prevent check fraud.

Contact a Nonprofit

If you need help finding more information about a charity, contact the organization. Their response, enthusiasm, and willingness to answer your questions may determine whether you want to donate.

If you can’t donate but want to provide help for animals, shelters and rescue groups need volunteers and fosters. Right now, a record number of dogs are in dire need of assistance.

“There are so many organizations that are working really hard to do the work they’re doing,” Prelack says. “Donating is critical and a great way to support an organization you care about, but volunteering is also an excellent way to give back.”

Can Dogs Get Poison Ivy?

By
Dr. Debra M. Eldredge, DVM
-
0
Dogs can get poison ivy, and it is a hazard to be avoided on woodland walks.
Poison ivy likes dense wooded areas, but it can also be found in other areas, including fields. It is usually a vine, but some types of adapted and can grow close to the ground, so your dog may tromp right through it without you realizing it.

Poison ivy can affect our dogs, but it is not nearly as common as human exposures. The toxic component of this plant is urushiol. This is a clear liquid, and if skin is exposed a very itchy rash follows soon after.

Luckily most dogs have enough hair that the sap usually does not get down to skin. However, hairless breeds, dogs with basically bare groins, and dogs with any skin condition that leaves them with exposed bare skin are all susceptible to the rash.

What to Do for Poison Ivy on a Dog

If your dog is exposed to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, and you are aware of the exposure, the best bet is to do a quick bath. Colloidal oatmeal shampoo is recommended by the Pet Poison Helpline to minimize risk of rash and pruritus (itching) developing.

Dog Spreads Poison Ivy to Person

It is more common for you to get a case of poison ivy from your dog. If your dog runs through or rolls in a patch of poison ivy, the oils on the outer hair can transfer over to you if you pet or hug your dog. If you have hiked through an area known for poison ivy, wipe your dog off with a towel or baby wipes. Wearing gloves while doing so is not a bad idea, especially if you are sensitive to poison ivy reactions.

My Dog Ate Poison Ivy

If your dog is silly enough to chew on or eat poison ivy, he may get some gastrointestinal irritation leading to vomiting or diarrhea. Usually, these signs are mild and pass without a need for veterinary care. It is not recommended to induce vomiting, as that may simply cause more exposure to urushiol on sensitive tissues. Note: Many plants can be poisonous to your dog, so don’t let them chew on something you don’t recognize.

Precautions to Take

Many hiking sites post warnings if poison ivy is common along the paths. Poison ivy seems to thrive along beaches, so be careful walking through dunes. Stick to boardwalks where you can. Check websites ahead of time and look for notices at parking areas.

If you are clearing a patch of poison ivy from your yard or off trees, keep your dog away. The oils can stay active even after the plant is dead. In addition, do not burn poison ivy in a leaf or brush pile. The urushiol is in the smoke. Inhaling it can irritate airways and lungs.

The same rules apply to poison oak and poison sumac.

Overall, it is best for your dog and you to simply avoid poison ivy. Learn to recognize the plant: The old saying, “Leaves of three, let it be” holds true.

During growing season, the leaves will be a bright green. In the fall, they turn a pretty red but can still cause a rash. The plants may grow along the ground, or “climb” up trees as a vine.

Check your yard for any poison ivy plants and remove them carefully while wearing gloves or contact a yard-care company. Dispose of plants carefully. This is a perennial, so you need to get down to roots for complete removal. Spraying with a mix of vinegar, salt, and dishwashing liquid. The North Carolina Department Cooperative Extension has suggestions for environmentally friendly ways to kill unwanted vegetation like poison ivy.

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