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Why You Should Celebrate National Pet Month!

May 11, 201635 Comments

Why You Should Celebrate National Pet Month I know, you’re probably rolling your eyes at the thought of another “National” something or other day or month, but this one is all about our best friends. Let’s face it, we all get lazy sometimes or settle into a routine with our pups, so the month of May is a perfect time to shake things up and celebrate National Pet Month!

What the Heck is National Pet Month?

National Pet Month is a holiday that was started in England to celebrate the benefits that pets bring to peoples’ lives. It’s celebrated during the month of April in the UK and during the month of May here in the US. Here are the four goals for celebrating this holiday.

Promote responsible pet ownership
Make people aware of the benefits of pets for people and people for pets
Increase public awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals
Raise awareness of the role, value and contribution to society of working companion animals

10 Ways to Celebrate National Pet Month

1. Adopt a Pet

Yep, this would be the ultimate way to celebrate! Head to your local shelter and see if your new best friend is waiting there for you.

2. Foster a Pet

If you’re not ready for a furever friend, consider fostering a dog or cat in need.

3. Volunteer

There are many ways to volunteer your time or talent to a local shelter or rescue. Maybe you can volunteer to work a few hours each week or offer your expertise to help train or take pictures of dogs to make them more likely to be adopted. You can also post images of adoptable dogs and cats on your own social media networks.

4. Donate

While doing your spring cleaning this month, gather any towels, blankets, pet toys, food or treats that you can donate to a local shelter. Of course, they also appreciate financial donations as well.

5. Recommend a Professional

If you love your vet, dog trainer, groomer, pet sitter, dog walker or any other pet professional, help spread the word about how fantastic they are.

6. Walk a Dog

Walking a shelter dog is a perfect opportunity to exercise while also helping a dog get some exercise, socialization and training. All of those things may help a shelter dog get adopted sooner. Some shelters even supply vests for the dogs to advertise they’re available for adoption.

7. Therapy Dog Training

If agility and fly ball don’t appeal to you, but you would like to do something more with your dog, think about taking a Canine Good Citizen certification class. As a therapy dog, your pup can help kids learn to read at your local library or bring some cheer to children or seniors at a local hospital or senior care facility.

8. Visit a Friend

Dogs love to get out of the house and perhaps you know a friend, relative or senior that would enjoy a visit from you and your cheerful canine.

9. Share the Joy

When someone stops to admire or pet your dog, share with them about how much unconditional love and joy your pet brings to your life and the many benefits of owning a pet.

10. Set an Example

Promote responsible pet ownership by training your dog and setting a good example of pet etiquette.

Our dogs give us their unconditional love and companionship, they make us laugh and lower our blood pressure, they keep us healthy by being motivational exercise partners and so much more. Our sweet pups do so much for us even though we sometimes get into a rut, skip a walk or get caught up in our busy lives. National Pet Month is a good reminder to keep things interesting for our dogs and to take some extra time to give something back, like trying some of these fun activities.

10 Fun Ways to Celebrate With Your Dog

1. Go Exploring

Take your dog for a walk or hike somewhere new and give them extra time to stop, sniff and explore all of the new scents.

2. Playtime With a Friend

Visit a dog park or arrange for a playdate with your pup’s favorite play buddies.

3. Make Some Treats

What dog wouldn’t want to hang out in the kitchen while you mix and bake his favorite ingredients into some tasty homemade treats?

4. Go Shopping

Visit your local pet store and allow your buddy to pick out a few toys or a bone.

5. Shop Online

Order a new, stylish collar or maybe upgrade that old, worn out bed with a new model. Plenty of beautiful handmade dog products can be found on Etsy.

6. Challenge Your Dog

Most dogs love a challenge, so teach your dog a new trick, set up an obstacle course in the back yard or play a game like Find It.

7. Plan a Day Trip

Visit a new park and explore some interesting trails or plan a trip to a beach or lake where your dog can swim and dig in the sand.

8. Try a New Activity

Try something completely different with your dog, like kayaking or canoeing or relax with a Reiki or Doga class.

9. Give a Massage

If your dog loves belly rubs, he’ll really enjoy getting a long, relaxing massage from you. Good news! It’s beneficial for you too because it helps reduce stress and anxiety.

10. Let Your Pup Decide

Whether it’s a hike, belly-rub or some playtime, you know best what your dog enjoys the most. Spend some quality time together, then head to the nearest Starbucks and treat your pup to a Puppuccino! 🙂

I don’t take most of these “National” holidays too seriously, but sometimes they can be a helpful reminder for us. Feel free to skip National Whiners Day and National Have a Bad Day Day, but do at least one thing this month to promote the benefits of pets and spend some quality time with your dog or cat. How do you plan on celebrating National Pet Month?

Using Corrections With Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

May 2, 201637 Comments

Using Corrections With Positive Reinforcement Dog Training In the world of positive reinforcement (reward-based) dog training, the term “correction” almost seems like a bad word. For many people, it conjures up images of old school trainers that use aversive, physical methods and tools to train and control their dogs. As a matter of fact, many dog training facilities that only use positive reinforcement (+R) techniques never mention anything about giving corrections because it’s often perceived as politically incorrect. But does that mean using any corrections with positive reinforcement training is taboo?

I’m a big believer in positive, reward-based training because it works so well when training dogs on desirable behaviors we want our dogs to repeat. But how do we deal with those undesirable behaviors we want to stop, like when a dog snatches a doughnut off the kitchen counter or grabs tissues out of the bathroom trash can? In those situations, certain types of corrections might be necessary.

A correction is something you do to stop unwanted behavior, but that doesn’t mean it has to be physical. I always cringe when I see someone hitting or alpha rolling their dog and forceful jerking or leash pops can cause some dogs to become leash aggressive. Those types of corrections can also break down the bond of trust between you and your pup. The type of corrections I use with Haley are subtle signals that let her know that I want her to stop whatever she’s doing. Here are some examples.

Using Corrections with Positive Reinforcement

Verbal “Uh-Ah” – This serves the same purpose as saying “No” but it’s more specific and only used with Haley so she doesn’t get confused when she hears “no” in other conversations.
Finger Snap – I snap my fingers to get Haley’s attention which makes her stop whatever she’s doing and look to me for direction.
Body Blocking – Physically stepping in front of Haley and blocking her from moving towards something she wants also makes her stop, sit and look at me for permission or direction.

All three of these corrections are non-physical techniques that can be used to stop a behavior without being threatening or undermining the bond of trust you have with your dog. They are technically corrections, but they’re not delivered with anger and they have nothing to do with trying to be dominant or an alpha dog over your pack. They’re more about getting your dog’s attention than anything else.

I often think of the parallels between raising kids and raising dogs. I think it would be impossible to raise well-adjusted kids if you only doled out rewards. Both kids and dogs need occasional discipline and corrections. Mothering dogs instinctually demonstrate this with their puppies long before they arrive in our homes.

Whether you believe in using corrections with positive reinforcement training or not, it’s always important to remember that every dog is different and there’s no one size fits all method of training. The best trainers consider the breed, personality, history and temperament of the individual dog and strive to be as close to the positive end of the training spectrum as possible.

To learn more about the science behind positive and negative reinforcement and punishment, check out this video on operant conditioning.

Also visit Victoria Stilwell’s website to learn more about positive reinforcement training techniques!

What are your thoughts about using corrections along with positive reinforcement dog training? Using Corrections with Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

A Dog’s Tongue

April 20, 201640 Comments

A Dog's Tongue

Sweet, smiling, tasting, thirsty, tired, sneaky, yuk, yum, lick, kiss!
The purpose and personality of a dog’s tongue.

Sweet kisses from a butterfly

Smiling at the stone-faced guy

Tasting a turkey foot at the store

Thirsty tongue drinks some more

Tired and hot, it stretches out flat

Sneaky, it swipes a kiss from the cat

Yuk, I’ve got a mouth full of sand

Yum, a treat when I learn a command

Licking my nose, it’s covered with snow

Kiss your grandma before you go!

When browsing through all of the pictures of Haley over the years, it’s always her kooky tongue pictures that make me laugh the most. Sometimes it seems like a dog’s tongue has a life of its own. Even though it’s one of my favorite features about Haley, she didn’t feel quite the same way about the human-like, gummy tongues we had around Halloween time last year. ?

What’s your favorite feature about your dog? A Dog's Tongue

12 Self-Help Tips for Dogs with Allergies

April 13, 201648 Comments

12 Self-Help Tips for Dogs With Allergies It’s surprising how many dog owners think that excessive licking and scratching is normal for dogs, but more often than not, allergies are the cause of all that itching and discomfort. In last week’s post, I talked about the drug Apoquel and how it’s helped Haley with her allergies, but there are also practical and natural ways to treat allergies before resorting to using a prescription drug. Find out below if your pup might be suffering from allergies, then check out the self-help section for tips for dogs with allergies.

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Has Allergies?

Allergies can start at any age with the classic symptoms of itching, scratching, licking, rubbing and rolling. Does your dog have any of the symptoms below?

Ears– Scratching the ears, warm or red ears and recurring ear infections
Paws – Licking, biting or chewing the paws and red stained fur
Belly or Genitals – Excessive licking, hair loss and red stained skin
Face – Rubbing the face and chin, red eyes, discharge from eyes or nose and sneezing
Skin – Scratching of armpits, redness or hot spots, hair loss, red stained skin, thickened or greasy skin and unpleasant odor.
Tail/Rear End – Biting, licking and butt scooting
Digestive System – Gas, vomiting and diarrhea

*Secondary yeast or bacterial infections can also be present due to excessive scratching.

What’s Causing My Dog’s Allergic Reaction?

These are the four main types of allergies in dogs, with atopy and flea allergies being the most common.

Atopy or Inhalant Allergy – These environmental allergens are inhaled through the nose. Common allergens are pollen, trees, grass, weeds, dust, dust mites, mold, dander, feathers and household inhalants (cigarette smoke, perfume, cleaners, etc.)
Flea Allergy – Many dogs are allergic to fleas and it’s actually the flea saliva that causes the reaction.
Food Allergy – Dogs can be allergic to certain foods or proteins in food. Some vets and nutritionists believe food allergies may be caused by feeding your dog the same food for months or years.
Contact Allergy – These are allergies caused by direct contact with your dog’s skin. Common contact allergies are various drugs, cleaning or grooming products, fabrics, plastic and rubber.

It can be difficult to uncover the exact cause of a dog’s allergy, but here are a few clues that might help. Normally, if the digestive system is involved (gas, vomiting or diarrhea), look at food sources first. If your dog’s biting around his tail end, check for fleas first. If your dog only has symptoms during part of the year, it could be a type of seasonal pollen. For year-round itching and scratching, it’s probably something inside the house, like dust or dust mites. Your vet can help you narrow down the offending allergens through intradermal skin tests and other diagnostics.

For most dogs with allergies, the goal is to keep them under the threshold of scratching or licking excessively or feeling miserable. These tips may help manage your dog’s symptoms and keep him under the threshold.

12 Self-Help Tips for Dogs With Allergies

1. Control Fleas

Since fleas are a common allergen for dogs, make sure to check your dog regularly with a flea comb to make sure they’re flea free and treat any infestation quickly if you find any of the nasty critters.

2. Clean Your Dog’s Bedding

Vacuum your dog’s bedding or wash it in hot water with a natural detergent once a week to control dust and kill dust mites. Also, consider removing any stuffed toys or wash them weekly along with the bedding.

3. Keep a Clean House

Vacuum regularly and try to eliminate as much dust as possible in household furnishings. If you’re considering ripping up your dust-filled carpet and installing hardwood floors, this is a great reason to forge ahead!

4. Clear the Air

Contaminants in the air can cause allergy and respiratory problems for you and your dog. Hey, if you’re a smoker, here’s another good reason to quit. Choose HEPA or allergy-type furnace filters and be sure to change them on a regular basis. In the summer, run the air conditioner instead of opening windows on days when the pollen count is high.

5. Use Natural Cleaning Products

Ditch those harsh chemical cleaners for natural versions, like vinegar or lemon-based products.

6. Wipe Down Your Dog

You’ll want to limit the amount of time your dog’s outdoors when the pollen count is high or if the lawn has been freshly mowed. When your dog comes back inside, wipe down his coat and paws with a wet cloth to remove any allergens and to prevent them from being tracked around the house. You could also have your dog wear booties while outside.

7. Give Regular Baths

Yep, your dog’s probably not going to like this one, but weekly, cool water baths with a soothing shampoo can help ease itching and heal your pup’s skin. Natural, anti-itch sprays or gels can also be very effective in soothing skin issues. I’ve heard both positive and negative opinions about using oatmeal-based products. Oatmeal is soothing but I’ve also heard it can contribute to yeast growth on the skin. Check with your vet for a recommendation that’s best for your dog.

8. Toss the Plastic Bowls

Plastic has tiny cracks that can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Even if your dog doesn’t has issues with facial hot spots or rashes, it’s better to ditch the plastic versions for glass, stainless steel or ceramic bowls. No matter what type of bowls you use, be sure to wash them regularly.

9. Try Epsom Salt Soaks

To soothe your dog’s paws, dissolve some Epsom Salt in warm water and soak his paws for 5-10 minutes. Just be sure not to let him drink the water.

10. Evaluate Your Dog’s Diet

If you think your dog may be allergic to food, talk to your vet about starting an elimination diet to try to narrow down the source of the allergy. Also, many holistic vets and nutritionists believe a raw diet or at least a diet made from fresh, human grade food is key to successfully treating allergies, so it’s worth investigating that option as well.

11. Supplement with Supplements

Talk to your vet about adding supplements such as Omega 3 fatty acids, biotin or probiotics to your dog’s diet to help boost his immune system.

12. Use an Antihistamine

Most dogs get relief from an antihistamine like Benadryl or a natural antihistamine-like supplement like Quercetin. Check with your vet for a recommendation and the correct dosage.

Dog Standing on Stump I’ve tried most of these self-help strategies for Haley and they’ve worked pretty well in the past, but as some dogs get older, their allergy symptoms get worse and they may need medications or alternative treatments. That’s where we are with Haley and Apoquel right now, but I’m constantly evaluating new ways to manage her allergies.

So many people and dogs suffer with allergies. Maybe one day soon, researchers will discover the key to fixing this immune system response and allergy symptoms will be a thing of the past. Until then, if you have any tips for dogs with allergies, share them with us and leave a comment below!

12 Self-Help Tips for Dogs With Allergies

Is Apoquel Safe for Dogs With Allergies?

April 6, 2016173 Comments

Is Apoquel Safe for Dogs? It’s springtime and for many people and their dogs, it means the return of allergy season. Haley’s had allergies issues throughout her life but her symptoms have gotten worse now that she’s older and our usual method of treatment (Benadryl and self help strategies) no longer keep the itching, licking and scratching under control. After reading rave reviews about the drug Apoquel and talking with my vet, I decided to start Haley on the drug about five months ago.

Haley’s had amazing results on Apoquel, so as I was researching this post and preparing to write my own rave review, I came across a few websites that question the drug’s safety and long term effectiveness. Judging by the overwhelming demand for the drug, it definitely appears to be effective and Zoetis, the manufacturer, seems to be stepping up production now to help meet the demand. But is Apoquel safe for dogs? Before I get into that, let me explain what it is and how it works.

What is Apoquel?

Apoquel (oclacitinib maleateis) is a prescription drug used to treat pruritus (itchy skin) associated with allergic or atopic dermatitis. It works on all common sources of allergens (flea, inhaled, food and contact) within 4 hours and lasts for 24 hours. It can be used for short-term flare ups or long-term treatment. It can also be used with many other medications such as antibiotics, NSAIDs, vaccinations, parasiticides and allergen immunotherapy. Apoquel also has anti-inflammatory properties and doesn’t compromise diagnostic testing if your vet is trying to determine the underlying cause of your dog’s itching.

How Does it Work?

In simple terms, Apoquel is an immunomodulatory drug which means it modifies the immune system. Here’s an explanation from Zoetis about how it works, “Apoquel works at itch neurons within the skin, preventing the transmission of the itch signal to the brain and the subsequent scratching behavior and also helps decrease inflammation and redness of the skin.” For a more technical explanation about how it inhibits the function of various cytokines and related JAK1 or JAK3 enzyme activity, please read more on their website. Apoquel claims to have a minimal negative impact on immune function with side effects listed as mild (vomiting and diarrhea) and similar to those taking the placebo.

Some Dogs Should Not Take Apoquel

The Zoetis website states, “Dogs less than 12 months of age and dogs with serious infections should not take Apoquel. It can increase the chances of developing serious infections, and may cause existing parasitic skin infections or pre-existing cancers to get worse. It has not been tested in dogs receiving some medications including some commonly used to treat skin conditions such as corticosteroids and cyclosporines. Do not use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs. Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea.”

Haley’s Experience with Apoquel

Before I started Haley on Apoquel, she was miserable. She would spend a good deal of time scratching her ears, licking her paws and belly, rubbing her face and chin on the carpet and looking at me with those red, itchy eyes. She was able to get immediate relief from Apoquel. All of her allergy symptoms disappeared; no more itching and scratching, her eyes are no longer red and itchy, her belly rash caused by constant licking cleared up and she’s a much happier dog. She hasn’t had any negative side effects from being on Apoquel.

Red itchy eyes before Apoquel

Clear eyes after Apoquel

Is Apoquel Safe for Dogs?

Many dogs have experienced amazing results on Apoquel with dramatically improved quality of lives while their owners have praised its effectiveness and lack of side effects. On the other hand, there are also a few websites with numerous comments about dogs that developed various medical issues after being on the drug or that the drug had lost its effectiveness over time.

The problem with some of the reported negative side effects is, it’s difficult to tell if the drug actually caused the medical issue or if it would have cropped up anyway, regardless of whether the dog was taking the drug. Since Apoquel is a relatively new drug, the only way to determine if there’s a correlation between the two is to study the results over a long period of time. However, this statement about Apoquel from their website raised some concern with me. “It can increase the chances of developing serious infections, and may cause existing parasitic skin infections or pre-existing cancers to get worse.” If a dog has an early (but yet undiagnosed) form of cancer, it’s possible the cancer could get worse while taking the drug.

When evaluating the safety of any drug, also keep these two things in mind. First, understand that all dogs are different. Just as certain people have different reactions to drugs, dogs can also experience a wide range of reactions to medications. Second, no matter what drug you research on the internet, you’re going to find some people talking about adverse reactions they had with their dogs.

Dog Sniffing Tulip So, is Apoquel safe for your dog? I would suggest doing your own research, then talk to your vet and be sure to discuss any questions you might have about the drug. Educating yourself about the benefits and risks will help you make the best decision for your dog. For dogs that suffer with severe allergy symptoms, the benefits are impressive and the improvement in their quality of life is probably well worth the risk, especially considering Apoquel works just as well as steroids but without the negative side effects. For dogs with mild allergy symptoms, check out my post, 12 Self-Help Tips for Dogs with Allergies, before resorting to using a prescription drug.

What’s my decision about Apoquel for Haley? I’m going to continue using the drug when Haley’s symptoms are severe, but I’m also going to be looking into some alternative treatments and dietary changes as well. In next week’s post, I’ll offer some practical and natural methods to help ease your dog’s allergy symptoms.

Does your dog suffer with allergies? Have you tried Apoquel or any other prescription medications? Is Apoquel Safe for Dogs?

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