Animals Unfolded

Lorrie Shaw   The personalities of the dogs that is get to meet and work with every day never cease to amaze me. They certainly vary, and observing those canines that are in multiple-pet families is really interesting. When meeting with a family for the first time, one thing that I am keenly observant of is how naturally attentive a dog is to their people. This gives me a lot to go on as I'm getting to know my prospective charge. If the property has a fence, I suggest heading outdoors to play off leash. In doing so, it helps me understand what sort of things will garner attentiveness toward me, especially if they don't offer it easily. As a caregiver, much of what I do is all about relationship building, and from that, everything else follows: trust, bonding -- and an environment of cooperation. The latter is vital, as the single most important aspect of my job is to keep a pet safe. If their attention is on me when a situation arises that may cause their safety to be c...

Swapping lightweight coats for heavier ones and pulling out hats and gloves as the winter weather arrives makes some people really happy. Staying warm and dry while spending time outdoors is a priority, but so is being safe.  As bipeds, it's also a challenge trying to walk on snow and ice covered areas, and the risk of injury from a fall increases greatly this time of year. If you’re walking a dog, your risk of a slip and fall in winter conditions is even higher. For myself, there is one foundational tool in staying safe this time of year: the proper footwear. Nothing beats a good pair of boots to keep your feet protected from the elements, and a pair of ice cleats   give extra traction in winter weather. From wet sidewalks to snow-covered trails to icy country roads in rapid-fire succession, you can do so with more confidence because of what's on your feet. But footwear is only one part of the equation. I often see people struggling with their dogs, trying to get ...

Cats are not known for being terribly excited about traveling in a car for any distance. Most find it to be a scary thing, but a percentage of our feline friends actually experience motion sickness from riding in a vehicle. The latter can complicate the already daunting prospect of going to the vet. No one wants their pet to feel queasy or vomit, nor does anyone want to clean up a mess. One clinician seems to have stumbled on a way that just might help mitigate the incidence of car sickness in cats. Tom Morganti, DVM recently posted his unexpected findings on the 'Idea Exchange' section of the veterinary website DVM360. The vet, who practices in Avon, Conn., indicated that one of his patients, a senior feline, had an ongoing problem: they vomited each time that they rode in a vehicle. On one occasion, the cat required minor surgery and was sent home after the procedure wearing an Elizabethan collar (or E-collar, as you've probably heard it referred to). For the v...

The other day, I ran across an article written by David Valdes Greenwood that piqued my interest, and for a lot of reasons. The topic was resonant: the interaction between children and dogs. As someone who lives and works with canines everyday, I know that teaching children about how to mindfully share life with dogs is likely the most important legacy that we can leave. Dogs and kids -- they go together, there's no doubt. But because of their young age and lack of experience, children need positive exposure, supervision and lots of help from mindful adults in gaining the finesse to co-exist with four-footed friends safely and happily. Greenwood mused about a potential outcome from his 8 year-old daughter's interactions with the family's 2 year-old miniature Schnauzer in a way that was nothing short of alarming. The child was closely interacting with the dog, rubbing his tummy, then at one point playing with his muzzle in a way that caused him to display displeasu...

When it comes to holidays, Thanksgiving offers a bit of all things that we really love: a little time off from work, more time with family and friends — and especially food! Pets are a part of the equation for many families, and, although the idea of having more people around the house can seem like a boon for pets, the extra hustle and bustle, upset routine and the table scraps that inevitably find their way to a pet's tummy can prove to be a bit more than some pets can handle. Pet health emergencies and behavioral problems tend to increase during the holidays. With some mindfulness, the next few days and weeks can be more enjoyable and safe for everyone, whether they are on two feet or four. Stay on track Just like most of us, pets thrive on routine. There is something to be said for maintaining your pets' regular meal and exercise schedule. In doing so, you’ll encourage good behavior and keep them feeling good. We all need to be alone, sometimes When company come...

There are plenty of jokes made that men tend to be better navigators and that by and large, they need not ask for directions. New findings indicate that skill may not be one that is shared amongst the male members of all species, however. Two researchers from Duke University and the authors of The Genius of Dogs, Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods, discussed the findings in the book. What was discovered is interesting to say the least. Hare, an Associate Professor and Woods, a Research Scientist in Evolutionary Anthropology, note that data seems to indicate that female dogs seem to possess more advantageous navigational skills than their male counterparts. This is especially intriguing as it can offer us crucial insight into how canines see the world. Data was gathered from the website created by Hare and Woods, Dognition.com, and used a game to test possible differences in the way that dogs navigate. To play the game, treats were hid under two bowls, and the dogs were taught t...

Just a couple of weeks ago, our family was faced with what we knew would likely be the inevitable: having to make the decision to contact our beloved 13-year-old Labrador's home-visiting veterinarian to come to the house and intervene, as a diagnosis of cancer over the summer had made things much too difficult for him to manage.  Because of Bruiser's prognosis, in-home hospice and euthanasia was very much a part of the initial dialogue with his vet, Dr. Cathy Theisen , who proved to be a great source of guidance and support throughout his illness. We knew that being at home would be best to allow him to transition more peacefully, though we had to stay open to the idea that there was the off-chance that things may become unexpectedly difficult and taking him to an emergency facility may have been a mindful thing to do.  That final decision did not come easily, of course. It was made after a lot of dialogue, listening, looking clearly. The point of diagnosis to dea...

As one who works with and writes about animals every day — along with those in the fields of veterinary medicine, animal behavior, ethology and dog training – being accused of anthropomorphism is a regular occurrence. I don’t think that it necessarily bothers any of us, and if anything, propels us to work more on behalf of creating a better life for animals. An opinion piece that was published in the New York Times’ online edition over the weekend echoed much of what I’ve written over the past few years: animals – in this case dogs – have emotional needs that deserve more care and consideration. Last year, I wrote about a study that the author of the piece , Gregory Berns and his colleagues conducted by way of using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner to get a glimpse into the canine brain. In the NYT piece, titled, ‘ Dogs Are People, Too ’, Berns expands on the findings of the study and proposes that the way we view dogs needs to change. The study yielded in...

So many times over a cat's life, they'll need to make a trip in a vehicle to various places, often the vet's office. It's safest and easiest to transport them in a cat carrier, but for so many felines, the mere sight of the contraption can trigger a sense of angst, and getting them into it can be a struggle. The key to making it as easy as possible is to, first, start them as young as possible, and to always create a positive association with the carrier as possible. There are some easy ways to create that association, and once you achieve that, transporting them in a mindful way is important, too. Positive associations are crucial with every pet, but especially cats. To do this with a carrier, introduce it by the simple act of leaving it out in an area of the house that they find favorable, with the carrier door open so that they can explore it at will. Placing a comfortable blanket, a towel or — depending on the size of the carrier, a cat bed — inside can b...

Being a caretaker of other people's pets: It's great fun, but there's also a very serious side to it. I spend a lot of time observing the animals I am responsible for. As I've seen over the years, anything can happen; a sudden or even subtle change in eating habits, elimination or behavior can tell me volumes. This is true for any animal, and that includes exotic birds. I have a handful of them as clients — all different species — and though they share many similarities, it's up to me to hone in on any changes that I see and convey that to their humans. Knowing all of them quite well, it's not difficult for me to pick up on things. Each bird could not be more different. They have diets that differ a little — which has a bearing on what I look for — and as far as their personalities go, those all vary, too. Though each of my clients are experienced bird owners, I realize that other folks may not be and may have a hard time picking up on those subtleties...

Many of my pet sitting clients are felines, and that is very telling. Cats, by and large, do better in their own environment in their human's absence, as opposed to being boarded. That's not surprising: Cats, though personable and connected to their family, are often more centered around their environment as opposed to their people. Over the years, I've seen some cats that are unwaveringly friendly — almost dog-like — and that can be due in part to natural characteristics of their breed, or simply part of who they are. Some, I find, may prefer to have their basic needs met, a little lap or play time, a quick ear scratch and not much else. Others are uncompromisingly aloof, and will go out of their way to make themselves scarce. A small percentage of those cats will become aggressive should they be approached, so I always take care to be respectful of their personal space, for their own well-being, and mine. If you've ever had an encounter with an aggressive c...

It's no secret that dog treats work great to help me accomplish a lot of things in my day, like getting a reluctant dog to cooperate, or curbing their barking, or to divert the attention of a dog who has a hard time handling himself around other canines (or people) while out in public. Like you, perhaps, I also use treats to reward desired behavior from my clients and my own dogs. I'm always looking for an opportunity to do that. Because I hand out so many treats in a given day, then also means that there are more opportunities for my fingers to get nipped. Much to the chagrin of many clients when they have the opportunity to see their pet interacting with me, they are reminded of their pooch's habit of snatching treats from bare fingers with great enthusiasm. The wince that I see on their face as their pet gazes at my hand as it comes out of my treat pocket is telling, but a sense of relief washes over when nothing unfavorable happens. That's only so because I...

One chilly pre-dawn morning this past year, I quietly padded past the dog bed where I can usually find Gretchen either lightly snoozing, as she appeared to be that day or already sitting up, looking around quietly. She's always been easy to rouse, either by my simply walking by or with a quiet whisper asking if she'd like to go outside. That morning, nothing. My heart sank, as at 12, I was all too aware then that my time with her is limited. I tried again, and nothing. I reached down and softly touched her shoulder, and she woke up with a start. What I should have realized was that she couldn't hear me, but I dismissed it as her being sound asleep. Gretchen failed to hear me again later that day as I called to her later as I was cutting up an apple to eat, as she will always come to beg for a piece. I called to her, then puzzled, I observed her as I loudly clapped my hands, then whistled. Not even a look in my direction. She had seemed to have lost her hearin...

People have a hard time understanding my disdain for retractable leashes . It's certainly understandable, considering how much the pet product industry has lauded them in an effort to sell. In theory, they certainly do have attractive qualities: they allow a dog to remain tethered to its person while being able to get some distance so that the dog can try to find just the right spot to relieve itself, or while snooping around in a safe proximity to its human in an open area, like a field or a beach. Another aspect of these leashes is that they come with a trigger lock that can be easily pushed with the thumb, to keep a pet from moving any further away from you, should the need arise (and if they're used correctly). The use of retractable leashes have increased in the past few years, and it's understandable on the part of the dog owner. In a world full of leash laws, they appear to make everyone involved happy: the animal can stay safely tethered to its human while ha...

The medical use of marijuana in humans has been a vigorously-discussed topic in recent years, and along with that, a conversation about using pot to help ease the discomfort associated with illness in pets has emerged. Flickr photo by chrismatos In fact, earlier this year one veterinary doctor, Doug Kramer, DVM made his case to have a clinical trial established on the efficacy of the use of medical marijuana in pets, primarily in the area of pain management. He acknowledged that medicinal pot could be of use in issues associated with end-of-life care, pain management and mitigating the debilitating side effects of some very useful drugs, including those used to treat cancer. But because there's been a lack of much-needed research, those possibilities aren't being pursued. The area of pain management is in dire need of more research, and Kramer notes that there are some pet owners who are seeking alternatives in helping their pets be more comfortable, and they're e...

"... she is not overly happy about being in a crate when we are not home, at night and being on a leash even in the house with the strict directions of no playing, no running, no jumping and no stairs." This is an excerpt from a recent email from a client, and a scenario is not all that uncommon in my line of work. Through the years, I've been able to help many of my canine (and feline) charges navigate through those first few days and weeks after a surgical procedure or injury, as resting the affected area is crucial in healing. Having two large breed dogs myself, I've been through this a few times too. Sure, when a pet has had an injury that requires some time off its feet and it is under doctor's orders to be on restricted activity, it can put a damper on things for a while. That said, I always remember that I'm not only there to take care of the pet's needs — but for fun as well. I've found that shifting the focus from what activities ...

Flickr photo by johnnyjet We expect a lot from our pets when it comes to living in our very human world -- at times too much. When that happens, we often see instances of misbehavior, especially in dogs . In some cases, it's clear that the misbehavior stems from being asked for more than they are able to deliver because of limitations due to their age, that they've lacked the opportunity to develop good skills or that we expect the wrong things. Mostly, it's because of us. So often we communicate in a way that's unclear with other humans; ambiguously, perhaps in a hurried manner, so it's no surprise that we behave in the same way with dogs. I was chided about sharing my disdain for the popular trend of pet shaming — snapping photos of pets after their respective displays of unruly behavior and posting them online. Yes, I know that to some degree, it's done very tongue-in-cheek, and I'm not a complete wet blanket. There are times when you just ne...

According to a press release from the Food and Drug Administration dated Aug. 30, one type of dog food is being recalled by the company that produced it, Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) . The potential health risk centers around salmonella — the most common catalyst behind pet food recalls. Purina One Beyond Our White Meat Chicken and Whole Barley Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food produced in a single production run was shipped to retailers in the United States. Only 3.5-pound bags are affected. The product bears a "Best By" date of OCT 2014, a production code of 31071083 and a UPC Code of 17800 12679. No other pet food formulas were reported to be affected. There are more than 2,000 strains of salmonella . Very young and very old pets are most susceptible to the bacteria and suffer the effects most profoundly. The most common symptoms associated with salmonella are vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Companion animals presenting with symptoms are treated with IV...

Flickr photo by hehaden For the estimated 80 million domestic cats that are kept as house pets, there are as many roaming free. Those numbers shouldn't be surprising, considering the rate at which felines are able to reproduce.  I've previously written about the overpopulation issue with cats and dogs, and getting these numbers in check has been the focus of many. Spay and neuter programs and protocols are helping to make progress. First, understand that from a biological standpoint, we are in a battle with pets. Reproductive success drives evolution, pure and simple. It's the strongest biological factor in any species. Biology has a way of taking over, jumping any hurdle that is put in its path and compensating. The pets themselves have no control over their biological drives, and therefore can't curb their behavior when it comes reproducing. Feral cat colonies are a supreme example of biology's stronghold. Comprised of a clowder of free-roaming ...