Pleasing 4 Pets

A recent report has revealed that there are approximately one million dogs which will become distressed and display increasingly destructive behaviour if whenever they are left alone. This is known as separation anxiety.

A chief vet from threading animal welfare organisation the RSPCA said: -

“Typically dogs will bark, chew furniture, and/or urinate and defecate indoors when left alone by their owners; It may not be obvious to owners that a dog suffers from separation anxiety. Unless owners find evidence of destructive behaviour or toilet problems when they return home, they may be totally unaware. If a dog has this problem it is important to teach them that it is okay to be left alone”.

If you suspect that your dog may be showing signs of separation anxiety it is vital that you remain consistently relaxed and predictable in your approach to him.

Offer him rewards when he is well behaved, and lavish him with extra attention or with treats. Take no notice of any attention seeking behaviour that he might display.

It is not recommended that you punish your dog, as this will damage your relationship and may cause your dog to be afraid of you. A dog which may appear shamefaced or remorseful will have simply realised that on occasion you become cross on your return home, but your dog does not possess the ability to relate you temper to what they did whilst you weren’t at home.

It is a good idea to leave your pooch alone for steadily increasing intervals - begin by leaving your dog home alone for just a minute and progressively build up the time that you are away from him.

Provide your dog with a pleasant distraction or diversion to keep him occupied in your absence such as a chewy bone or a sturdy rubber toy filled with treats.

In the days before Paris Hilton transported her favourite miniature dogs around in her handbags and prior to dog-walking being considered a serious profession, the most accepted treatment for a discontented dog was to give him a bone.

However modern times have seen a sudden rush in the licensing of new animal pharmaceuticals which in turn has lead to dog owners in the United States attempting to offer their pooches comfort and contentment via ‘Pet Prozac’ rather than the more traditional means of a tasty doggie treat or a much loved marrow bone.

Pharmaceutical companies desperate to cash in on the global love affair between dogs and their owners have launched a barrage of new prescription medicines for canines, including drugs for anxiety and depression, obesity and destructive or bad behaviour. Controversially, the vast majority of this new range of medications contains almost exactly the same ingredients and chemicals as those prescribed their human owners for similar problems.

Campaigners opposed to these drugs are concerned that there effects will promote humanisation amongst domestic pets which in turn will have a damaging effect on their overall wellbeing. They believe that any form of behavioural suppressants will encourage dog owners to overlook conventional dog training methods and will enable them to offer their pets’ inadequate care or supervision and neglect their responsibilities as dog owners.

Having strong healthy teeth is as essential to your dogs’ wellbeing as it is to yours. Unfortunately your dogs’ teeth are susceptible to the accumulation of plaque and tartar, which can lead to gum disease or infection if they are not dealt with adequately.

The bacteria and germs that are present in dental plaque can aggravate and inflame your pets’ gums, and they may experience bad breathe, bleeding and soreness around the gum area and in some cases toothache.

Your vet should offer dental care in the form of regular oral check ups, and will even be able to clean your dogs’ teeth for you. Where possible you should ensure that your dog receives routine dental examinations from as early an age as is practicable so that any early abnormalities or irregularities are treated without delay, and you may find that as your dog increases in age they need extra dental care in order to keep their teeth at optimum health.

Aside from visiting your vet periodically for dental consultations, there are a number of things that you can do as a dog owner to ensure that your pets’ teeth remain in prime condition. High quality dried foods offer oral benefits in addition to the obvious dietary benefits. The brittle and crunchy consistency of these foods facilitates the loosening and effective removal of plaque from your dogs’ teeth and gums.

Certain breeds of canine are more vulnerable to dental afflictions than others, but your vet should be able to recommend some preventative measures. Pigs’ ears and chewing bones promote healthy teeth and gums in canines, and there are certain toothpastes on the market specifically designed to clean your dogs’ teeth. Ordinary toothpaste is unsuitable as it container ingredients that will upset your dogs stomach. You should use a regular soft bristled toothbrush to clean your dogs’ teeth at least once weekly, bearing in mind that the younger your dog is when you begin these practices, the more accustomed to it he will be throughout his life.

When Gayle and Mick Curtis of Birmingham left their two much-loved pooches in Tenerife, Canary Isles, they were astutely aware that it would be some time before they would be reunited with them.

When the Curtis family who returned to the UK after 7 years of living under the sunny skies of Tenerife, they spent months anticipating the return of their adored pets whilst they were put through a meticulous quarantine program before being granted entry back into the UK.

But the couples’ anticipation quickly turned to alarm when they were informed by representatives of Manchester International Airport that their beloved animals had some how been lost in transit from Tenerife to the UK.

The Curtis’ pets, an eight year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Ebony and 13 year old West Island Terrier, Libby were in fact never discharged from the plane when it touched down in Manchester. Instead, Mr. & Mrs. Curtis learned that disorganised and inefficient luggage handlers had actually forgotten to remove the dogs, leaving them on the aircraft for the return journey. The unfortunate canines were flown back to Tenerife, travelling a total of 4,000 miles in 9 hours.

The couple then faced another agonising wait as their pets attempted to return to the UK for the 2nd time in 24 hours. They were gravely concerned for the welfare of the older of the two dogs, Libby, and claimed that they were simply unsure that the fragile health of their aged pet could endure another flight.

Fortunately, both Libby and Ebony landed safely and soundly back on British soil in Birmingham on Saturday morning at around 9.30am, almost 24 hours after their initial departure from Tenerife.

National animal charity Dogs Lost has revealed that criminal gangs are becoming progressively more aggressive and are prepared to employ violent behaviour in order to steal high value pets.

The charity claims that there are a growing number of criminal organisations who are intent on intimidating and menacing pet owners with weapons such as knives and in some cases firearms to make off with rare pedigree or high-priced dogs. Over a one week period the charity confirmed that it had taken in excess of 100 calls from devastated dog owners claiming that their beloved pets had been stolen.

The Missing Pets Bureau also recently voiced its belief that at least one third of missing animals are actually the victims of pet theft rather being simply lost.

Both agencies believe that there are two basic categories of dog bandits - the skilled professionals that tour the UK in search of vocational canines such as Terriers, Lurchers and Labradors.

And secondly and perhaps more regrettably there is are a new breed of urban dog poachers, who more often than not steal pets in order to raise funds to feed drug habits. These are usually opportunist criminals who may for instance see a dog tied up outside a shop and will steal it and sell it at the earliest opportunity, often for a little as £20.

In other cases it is proving more apparent that thieves are becoming increasingly desperate for cash and have violently assaulted dog owners and even threatened them with knives in broad daylight and in public places.

Dog owners can limit the risks by refraining from leaving their pet tied up in a public place for any length of time and in the unfortunate case that their pet is taken, can improve their chances of recovering their treasured pet by ensuring their pet is identifiable by means of a microchip or other comparable device.

Believe it or not, in the same way that humans leave an environmental foot print, their pets can also leave an environmental paw print. But as the more green savvy amongst today’s pet lovers know, there are a variety of ways that you can ease your animal companions’ impact on the environment.

For a start, canine faeces poses more of an environmental issue than many pet owners appreciate, particularly for those living in urban areas. The copious amounts of concrete found in our towns and cities acts as a run-off for animal waste, transporting it into ponds and water courses. The micro-organisms that flourish on animal faeces devour oxygen in ponds, which in turn has a detrimental effect on many forms of pond life, this makes the need for pond pumps and filters even more important than ever before.

Faeces left by our feline friends also offers a first-rate residence for a number of unpleasant parasites including toxoplasmosis which is now acknowledged as being able to endure standard sewage treatment, and can find its way into our oceans, damaging marine life.

The obvious answer is not to allow cats or dogs to relieve themselves anywhere there is the possibility that the waste might have access to drains. Dog owners are already familiar with ‘bag it ‘n’ bin it’ practices, but the advanced green option would be to use eco-friendly bags that will biodegrade within in a matter of weeks.

There are also environmentally friendly choices available for cat litter these days. It is worth bearing in mind that Sodium Bentonite or clay-based cat litters carry a coating of silica which is known for its carcinogenic properties and is a recognised factor in some respiratory disorders. You can reduce your kitty’s carbon paw print by using one of the many 100% biodegradable cat litters that are currently on the market.

You can also lessen the ecological impact that your pet has on the planet by controlling what you feed them. Substitute commercial pet food, which frequently includes unhealthy and unnatural additives and preservatives, with organic pet food. In today’s society there is a much greater range of organic pet provisions than you might think.

When the sun is shining and the weather is nice, it’s tempting to take your dog with you whilst you run errands or pop to the local supermarket, but during the summer months the temperature inside a parked car can reach 100° within minutes, even if the vehicle is parked in the shade and windows are left open a touch.

On a sunny day the windows of your car will collect light and trap heat inside. When the temperature outside is 85° the temperature within your car can reach 102° inside of 10 minutes, even with the windows left slightly open. Within 30 minutes the temperature can reach 120°, since at 110° your dog is at serious risk of heatstroke the situation can swiftly become lethal.

All this can only spell trouble for your canine friend if he is left inside. Dogs are designed to conserve heat and are unable to perspire and so are only really able to dispel heat by panting. Their sweat glands, located on the nose and pads of their paws are not sufficient to cool them on hot days. If they only have access to over-heated air, a dog can suffer organ and / or brain damage within just 15 minutes.

Leaving your pooch in a hot car even if only for a brief time can cause them to suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and in some cases the results can unfortunately be fatal. Pugs, bull dogs and other short nosed breeds are particularly vulnerable to the stresses caused by heat. The only guaranteed way to prevent your dog from suffering either this summer is to eliminate the risk by leaving your pet at home whilst you travel.