Animals Unfolded

Dog bite: those words have an emotional resonance, don't they? If you've ever been bitten by a dog, you don't forget it. It usually happens so fast that it leaves you stunned. May 17-23, 2015 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and with the holiday weekend upon us which is sure to include interacting with family pets, it seems important to talk about keeping dogs happy and everyone safe. The following statistics speak clearly: According to one study, half of children between 4 and 18 years old reported having been bitten by a dog.  The vast majority of victims were bitten by a dog that they knew, not a stray dog roaming the streets, contrary to popular belief. Children and seniors   are most likely to be bitten.  Dog bites are highly preventable, and it comes down to humans (both kids and adults) understanding what facilitates them and how to best deal with a dog who bites. These incidents happen in all sorts of scenarios. The tr...

Dogs are intelligent. They've demonstrated that their mental abilities are on par with that of a 2-3 year old child, but in one area, dogs leap ahead: their ability to pick up on when they are being misled. Canines have lived alongside of us for a period of time that would make it seem unlikely that they wouldn't be able to figure out many things about our behavior, but some concepts are quite complex, for example, untruthfulness. A research team from Kyoto University wanted to delve into whether or not dogs could recognize that behavior (or how long it would take to do so). The researchers, led by Akiko Takoka, decided to keep things simple, and the payoff was surprisingly telling.  A pair of experiments were done in a study titled,  " Do dogs follow behavioral cues from an unreliable human? ", with the results appearing in an October 2014 issue of Animal Cognition. In the first experiment, 24 dogs were used, and it worked in three phases.  (I...

Dogs love to chew. They need to. It's satisfying, and can mitigate anxiety. Indulging this healthy behavior is usually not a problem nor something that we give a lot of thought to since there are so many products on the market that are safe for supervised chew time or when our favorite pups are alone.  Of course, we need to take some things into consideration, including how powerful of a chewer a dog is or what their preferences are.  Traditional choices Beef rawhides are the ultimate in chewing pleasure for dogs, there's no doubt. They're tough, long-lasting and provide they kind of satisfying mouthfeel that dogs crave. They do get a bad rap for their indigestibility and the potential hazard for choking, but honestly I've found that with my own dogs and charges whose owners supply them, they are quite safe so long as chew time is supervised carefully. I simply take the rawhide away when they show evidence of being dangerous.  Bully sticks, tracheas, b...

With the warmer weather making its way to much of the country faster than you think, it brings uninvited guests with it. Those who share life with birds can relate to the increase in indoor pests with the weather changes, but one culprit is at the heart of attracting insects: our feathered friend's penchant for not only enjoying their fresh food — which often includes vegetables, fruits and eggs — but flinging it about enthusiastically as they dine.  Getting things cleaned up after chow time is certainly helpful in preventing an infestation, though doing so isn't always possible, as birds aren't always in the mood to eat right away when they're given a meal.  The good news is that getting things under control can be a lot easier — and safer — than one might think. Birds are a sensitive species, and when it comes to any product, chemical or ingredient that is effective in keeping pests at bay, being choosy is essential. Fortunately, there are some safe altern...

I spend much of my day bent over or crouched down to wipe the wet or muddy paws of any number of dogs, or to check them for ticks or burrs after an outdoor adventure. Minor injuries aren't that uncommon either, so tending to those is a necessity.  I need to exercise caution, as having my face eye-level with a dog's — their teeth, more specifically — could land me in a dangerous situation.  It's not that the dogs that I'm with each day aren't behaviorally sound. Touching a pet can reveal a sensitive or painful area, or might startle them. I've previously written about how I stay safe while performing tasks like checking for ticks or having a look at why a pooch has a sudden limp, and the tips that I offer are equally valuable for pet owners too.  Lately, my 15-year-old St. Bernard/Shepherd mix, Gretchen, has needed a little more consideration than in recent months, as her arthritis makes her more apprehensive about being touched. Naturally, I pick my...

Conflict and social tension amongst family cats is a problem that is all too common and can upend a household, leading pet owners to do whatever they have to do to keep the peace. Manifested by behaviors like  passive blocking, staring, minor skirmishes or exchanges that escalate into fighting, it can at times  necessitate the need for cats to spend time in separate parts of the house.  “Cats are the number one pet: there are 81.7 million owned cats versus 72 million owned dogs. More cats are relinquished to shelters and disharmony between pets is a common reason for relinquishment," says  Theresa DePorter, a veterinary behaviorist at Oakland Veterinary Referral Service (OVRS) based in Bloomfield Hills. Last year, DePorter lead a study t o see if a synthetic pheromone diffuser from  Ceva Animal Health  would be effective in decreasing aggression amongst household cats. Pheromones are chemical signals produced naturally by an animal — in this case, c...

There are countless ways that we can help the pets in our midst live better, even if they have special needs.  I've shared life hacks for aiding dogs in their mobility , and in creating an elevated feeding platform for them to make it easier to eat.  Cats can use a little help when it comes to having success in the litter box department, and as I've illustrated , not all litter boxes are created equal. Dependent on a feline's size, age and how able-bodied they are, a shift in size or slope can make all of the difference and keep both of you happy.  Another species isn't so different. Though most bunnies do fine learning to use a traditional litter tray made to fit in the corner of their enclosure, they can also benefit from a bit of consideration as they age or have mobility issues at other stages of life. In this case, thinking outside the box a little bit might just do the trick.  A feeding tray, like one designed by  Marchioro, is a viab...