PET JOURNAL
AUGUST 2012
www.petjournalmidwest.com
10
ASK THE ALPHA DOG by Tamara Pool, Pet Journal Columnist alpha-dog@petjournalmidwest.com This month we are talking about a problem that affects 25-50% of all dogs. Separation anxiety is an enormous problem in the canine world. One of the greatest joys of dog ownership is the tight bond we experience and encourage with our dogs. However, if your dog becomes too reliant or dependant on you, dog separation anxiety can develop. Somewhat ironically, it is one of the major causes for dogs ending up in animal shelters. I wish I could say dog separation anxiety is an easy fix, but the truth is it can be a very difficult and time consuming problem to turn around.
TIMELY TICK TALK from The Practical Pet Vet blog Over Memorial Day weekend I got a FACT: Ticks are found throughout somewhat cryptic text message from a Wisconsin. They live predominantly in friend: tall grasses and shrubs. Ticks sense an approaching animal and HIM: Any tricks besides vasoline to hop on as it passes by. get ticks out. It’s under Liddy’s skin and won’t back out. MYTH: My pet is safe from Lyme disease because I’ve never found deer ticks ME: Tweezers at the base of the head on him. and slow gentle pressure. We need to get Liddy on a flea/tick preventative! FACT: Exposure to one species of tick increases risk of exposure to other speI thought that was the end of it until cies as well. Deer ticks might go unTuesday when I received an urgent call noticed on your pet while they are atat the clinic that they still had been un- tached and feeding because they are so able to pull out the tick and needed help. tiny. Ticks can attach under and in the During my examination I found a small ears and between the toes, places that hairless bump by Liddy’s ear. There was often go unchecked. Ticks engorged no evidence of a bite, no mouth parts with blood look dramatically different left behind. Polite interrogation of the from “empty” ticks, so it is difficult for owner revealed that no one had actually the untrained eye to determine which seen a tick on Liddy. The owner had species of tick is present. Furthermore, found the bump (most likely a tiny cyst) deer ticks are not the only culprit; many and assumed it was tick that had buried species of ticks are known to carry disitself in her skin! eases that can harm people and pets. This interaction reminded me there are many myths associated with ticks, with “ticks crawling under the skin” being a common one. While a client once reported to me that the cause of all her sinus problems was a woefully confused tick that had crawled up her nostril and died (yuck!), ticks do not burrow under the skin of their victims. They do embed their mouth parts in the skin while taking their blood meal, however, and these mouth parts can become lodged in the skin if the tick is improperly removed before it is done feeding.
MYTH: My dog is vaccinated against Lyme disease, so I don’t have to worry about ticks.
FACT: Lyme disease is a common disease transmitted by the deer tick. Fortunately there is an effective vaccine against Lyme disease. However, many dogs in Wisconsin are infected with anaplasmosis, a different disease carried by deer ticks. There is no vaccine to protect against anaplasmosis. Another tick species, the Lone Star tick, has reportedly made an appearance in southern Wisconsin, bringing a collection of “new” Having found a high number of Wood tick diseases to the state. ticks in unusual places this spring (my kitchen sink, porch and pillow) I feel a MYTH: My dog isn’t lame so I know he tick talk is in order. doesn’t have a tick disease. MYTH: “Tick season” occurs only durFACT: Lameness and joint swelling ing the warm summer months. are indeed typical signs of tick disease. Other symptoms may include fever, lethFACT: In central Wisconsin, ticks are argy and loss of appetite. However, out and about from early spring until many dogs found to have tick disease snow covers the ground (often March have no obvious signs of illness. Tick through November). disease screening is a simple blood test recommended as part of a dog’s annual MYTH: My pet doesn’t go “up north” wellness examination. into the woods, so I don’t have to worry about tick bites.
see TICKS on page 19
Of course, you still need to spend lots of fun time together. Step 2 The next step is to get them used to being outside when you are inside (recommended only with a fenced in yard. Otherwise work with you being outside and the dog being inside). Again, start off with very small periods apart and gradually lengthen the time over a couple of weeks. If you try this Separation Anxiety treatment make sure that you don’t just leave your dog outside to get all worked up and stressed. The trick is to start out leaving your dog out for a few seconds, then going out and reuniting before he shows any signs of Separation Anxiety. Give your dog a treat or dog toy to keep his mind off missing you. Only initiate contact with your dog when he is calm and quiet. So it is imperative that you reunite before they too worked up.
Let’s take a look at separation anxiety from your dog’s perspective. You are the most important thing in your dog’s life. Dogs are very sociable creatures and thrive on company for many reasons. If your dog had a choice he/she would spend every bit of his time with you. So it’s only natural that when you go out, your dog can experience varying degrees of distress and anxiety. He becomes confused, vulnerable, doesn’t Step 3 know where you are going, why he can’t Eliminate the distress caused by getbe with you and if you will be coming back to him. When you are separated, ting ready to leave the house. Write a all he wants is to be reunited with his list of all the triggers that start the anxipack - which is you. ety. Then set about desensitizing them to these triggers. Put your shoes on, Keep in mind that punishment is never and don’t go anywhere. Put your coat the answer to treating dog separation on, and then sit down to read the paper. Pick up your car keys and just carry anxiety! them around with you, jingling them as Why Do Dogs Suffer From Separation you go about your business. After a few Anxiety? There are many theories on weeks, they will start seeing these trigthis one. In some cases, the cause or gers as normal occurrences. In additrigger can be pinpointed to a particular tion, never say hello or goodbye to your event, but often there appears to be no dog. Coming and going should be totally explanation for the Separation Anxiety to boring happenings not an event to get commence. What I can say is that Sepa- worked up over. ration Anxiety in dogs regularly occurs Step 4 after a change in routine. Such as your work hours changing or a family member When they are calm with every trigger leaves home, if you have been on vacation or unemployed for some time and you have found from step 3, it’s time to have been spending heaps of time with leave the house. At first, just step outyour dog, or after your dog experiences side, shut the door and came back inside within 20 seconds - before they make a a traumatic event while on his own. sound. Again this is a slow process, simHere are a few steps to get you back ilar to step 2. Very gradually extend the on track with your dog. However, don’t time until he doesn’t even know you’re forget regular exercise and daily train- gone. ing. Whichever method you choose to treat dog separation anxiety, be sure to stick Step 1 with it and don’t expect any immediate Slowly teach them that they don’t results. This process will take about a always need to be close to you. Start month to 5 weeks when done correctly. out by ignoring the attention seeking Be patient and calm and remember that behavior (jumping up, barking etc.) and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. then do some solid practice of the down Sincerely, Alpha Dog stay. Little by little extend the time and distance you spend apart, until they are happy to be alone for up to 30 minutes. Editors Note: Alpha Dog, Tamara welcomes your questions on pet training, please email her at the email above or by mail: Pet Journal Attn: Alpha Dog 3120 S Business Dr. STE 270 Sheboygan, WI 53081-4818