Pet Daily News

SEPERATION AXIETY IN DOGS:

Separation anxiety is an important behavioral problem, which can cause huge emotional distress for both dogs and owners. It occurs in dogs of any age or breed, and is one of the most common reasons for pet owners to give up their dogs or have them euthanized.

What are the signs of separation anxiety?

• Dogs experiencing over anxiousness when separated from his owner. How severe the anxiety and behavior vary from dog to dog
• Some dogs become anxious if they can’t actually see their owner; they constantly follow the owner from room to room.
• Other dogs can tolerate being alone in a room but will check frequently to make sure the owner is still in the house, and then go back to playing or chewing on a bone in another area.
• Some dogs don’t become anxious until the owner actually leaves the home.
• Some dogs become most anxious as soon as the owner leaves, and other dogs have a period of time during which they are comfortable alone, but they become anxious if the owner is gone for a longer time.
• Often the longer the owner is gone, the worse the anxiety gets.
• It can cause whining, pacing, salivation, barking, howling, hyperactivity, scratching, chewing, digging, urinating or defecating, and destruction of personal items or household objects.
• Dogs have been known to break their teeth and tear their nails and skin trying to get out of crates, and to destroy doors, and jump through windows as their anxiety increases.
• They often have an overly excited response when their owner returns home. Whining, jumping, or running in circles. This behavior may go on for a length of time after the owner gets home, and the dog will have the same extreme response even if the owner has only been gone for a few minutes.

What are the causes of separation anxiety?

• No one really knows; why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others do not.
• It can occur in animals from multiple or single-pet homes.
• Animals with a history of abuse or of multiple homes have a higher risk
• Dogs that have missed out on normal social interaction with people or other animals, especially as puppies
• A change in the owner's work schedule,
• After the household has moved to a new home.
• Some dogs may also develop it as they grow older. What should I do if I suspect my dog has separation anxiety?
• Dog owners must understand that the bad behavior the dog has is due to anxiety, and not because the dog is angry or trying to 'get back' at the owner.
• Scolding or punishing the dog only leads to confusion, more anxiety, and worse behavior.
• By videotaping some dogs whose owners have punished the dog for his destructive behavior; it’s been shown that the dog's anxiety level increases just before the owner would normally come home. In these cases, behaviorists feel the dog's problem behavior is not due to anxiety about being alone, but because the dog is anxious about the punishment it’s going to get when the owner returns.
• If you think your dog has separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian. It is important to make sure that your dog's behavior is really due to separation anxiety and not to something else. Your veterinarian may recommend some testing to make sure your dog does not have any underlying medical problems, which could cause behavior problems or make them worse. (For instance, accidents in the house may occur if your dog was never actually fully housetrained, or if he has a urinary tract infection. A dog may bark when alone because he feels he is protecting his property, or because he can hear another dog.) Can separation anxiety be treated?
• For dogs with separation anxiety, the best approach is usually a combination of both behavior altering exercises and anti-anxiety drugs. In most cases, using only one will not be enough.
• The medication is used to help your dog relax so that she can concentrate on performing the behavior modification exercises
• The exercises are what actually change the dog's response to a stressful situation, over time.
• More overall exercise and mental stimulation is also important (playing fetch, working on commands, practicing agility exercises at home or in a class). Conclusion
• Remember your dog does not have this behavior problem because he is mad at you or trying to 'get back' at you.
• Punishment, especially after the fact, will only be confusing and cause more anxiety.
• Always start with a visit to your veterinarian to rule out health problems. Separation anxiety can be a very frustrating and upsetting for both you and your dog, but with patience and proper treatment it can usually be greatly improved.

Winter can be harmful to your Pets:

• Frostbite and Hypothermia in Cats and Dogs
• It is wise to prepare our pets for the cold winter temperatures coming ahead.
• It is a misconception that cats and dogs can withstand cold temperatures because they have fur.
• Some large dog breeds are well equipped for the winter months and love to be outdoors while others like small breed dogs are more sensitive and have no tolerance for the cold.
• Even a quick moment outside to do its business is all it takes for a little Dachshund's paws to freeze up and have him shivering.
• Providing your Dachshund or other small breed with a coat and boots is a smart move.
• Cats usually don't stay out doors for long when it's very cold. They might make a quick pounce and come right back into the house. Always make a note of the upcoming forecast before letting your cat out. It might be colder the next day and if kitty hasn't come home he or she will be more at risk to developing frostbite and hypothermia especially if hurt.
• If you are not going to be home to let your cat back into the house don't let it out.
• Don't leave a cat or dog out in cold temperatures! The consequences could cost your pet its life.

Hypothermia (too cold)

• Hypothermia is an abnormal lowering of the body's temperature. This is a serious condition that can cause unconsciousness, shock and even the death of a pet.
• Pets that are outdoors in cold or subzero temperatures can become hypothermic. If your pet shows signs of frostbite he or she may be also experiencing hypothermia. However do not rely on frostbite alone as an indication of hypothermia, as it can occur without the presence of frostbite.

SIGNS may include

• A low body temperature (below 37.5) (normal is 38.5 C)
• Shivering and weakness may occur.

Always seek Veterinary care. Kidney and bladder problems are common in pets that have been exposed to cold temperatures (infections can kill). An animal that has been hypothermic and or has frostbite is in danger for his or her life. Veterinary care is a must.

Frostbite

Animals have ways of dealing with cold temperatures but when exposed to extreme freezing temperatures for longer times these same mechanisms that work to keep them warm and alive can actually cause damage and death to the tissues of their extremities (tips of ears, tail, foot pads.) more commonly known as frostbite.

When a dog or cat is exposed to cold temperatures its body reacts in stages:

1. Your pet's fur provides insulation just like us wearing a coat. Its hairs, when exposed to cold air undergo pilo-erection. This is like you and I getting goose bumps. The hairs "stand up erect" trapping the air in that layer. This air is warmed by the body and ads additional insulation. When the body's core temperature decreases, an involuntary reflex by the skeletal muscles known as "shivering" is triggered to generate heat and warm you up. Animals like humans experience this same reaction.
2. When the body is really getting cold and the animal’s life may be at risk, the body responds by vasoconstriction the peripheral tissues. This means the body is being selective in where it is sending warm blood.
3. The organs are the most important to keep an animal and human alive so blood is circulating in the core of the body (heart, liver, kidney lungs,) and shuts down temporally by constricting blood vessels to the extremities until the body's normal temperature is reached. By this stage if a cat or dog has not received First Aid or warmth on it's own, frostbite will develop. Tissues that have frozen due to this response die.

Cats and dogs often experience frostbite on the tips of their ears, tails, face, footpads, legs and the genitalia in male dogs. Frostbite can result in the loss of limbs, toes, tips of ears.

Symptoms to look for if your pet has been outdoors and you suspect it may be suffering from frostbite:

• Ice on body and limbs
• Shivering
• Tissues are bright red followed by pale color to black color (death of tissue/ sloughing of skin) Prevent self-trauma
• When the tissues are warmed it may cause some discomfort to your pet. The same also occurs when tissues are dead.
• Wrap your pet in a blanket to prevent self-trauma and keep him or her warm.
• Seek Veterinary care. Secondary infections can sometimes result from gangrene tissues.