The TCVM exam is quite different from what we're normally used to. While the individual experience might vary with different practitioners, most things should be the same.
The first thing Jasmine noticed as she walked in our TCVM vet's exam room was the lack of an exam table! Yay! A good reason to like the place! Instead, our TCVM vet has a little bed in the room, which Jasmine finds very comfortable.
Be prepared for your first TCVM exam
Expect the initial TCVM visit to last about an hour. A good deal of this time will be spent going over your dog's history and behavior. Yeah, a good reason to have a comfy bed for the dog! Jasmine thinks that it is a lovely idea.
History
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine pays detailed attention to your dog's history of medical issues, habits, quirks and preferences. They are all important clues your TCVM vet will include in the diagnosis, however trivial they might seem.
Does your dog prefer firm or soft surfaces? Does he seek cool or warm places to rest? Does he chase bunnies in his dreams? What symptoms did you notice in your dog and when do they most likely occur? All these things are relevant. The more observant you are about your dogs habits and behavior, the more helpful it will be to the diagnosis. You might want to jot down some notes before your visit.
With the large number of Jasmine's issue we are keeping a detailed chart that includes a number of details. Sometimes it is hard to rely on memory alone. Such a chart will also be a good indication of the progress your dog is making.
If you have any recent blood tests and x-rays, bring them with you also.
Observation
There is very little probing and prodding during the TCVM exam though a stethoscope does come into play. Another thing Jasmine truly appreciated – no thermometer!
Your TCVM vet will thoroughly observe your dog. He will watch your dog's behavior during the visit. In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine emotional response is linked to the condition of different organ systems. He will asses your dog's skin and coat, eyes, tongue, body shape and constitution, muscle tone, and gait.
Tongue diagnosis
This is quite fascinating. There is a whole science behind how different areas of the tongue are a reflection of the state of respective internal organs. The tongue shape, color, texture and coating provide an amazing amount of information. Just as the eyes are windows to the soul, the tongue seems to be a window to the body.
Sounds (auscultation)
Your TCVM vet will listen to the chest the same way you're familiar with. The force and character of the breathing are also taken into account. Sounds your dog makes when moving, such as grunts, groans or whines are considered as well.
Physical exam (palpation)
This is seemingly a more typical part of the exam. Your TCVM vet will feel the abdomen and limbs, evaluate your dog's pulse and test what are called diagnostic points.
The pulse diagnosis is also quite complex. There are as many as seventeen pulse qualities to be evaluated in TCVM exam! The diagnostic points are, simply put, acupuncture points used in diagnosis. Each of them corresponds to a respective internal organ. Sensitivity at particular points indicates problem in the corresponding organ.
If a sensitive point is touched, your dog might growl or snap. This is quite normal and your TCVM vet is ready for that.
Scent (olfaction)
This part I was really looking forward to seeing! But our vet was very subtle about it, probably after enough 'less educated' owners weirded out. What a disappointment!
The olfaction part of the TCVM exam consists of checking your dog's eyes, nose, mouth and ears for odors. This is also quite fascinating. Problems in different organs present with typical smells.
Dogs can often detect cancer or other disease, I'd have to assume mostly by smell. Infection smells like grapes, diabetes comes with fruity sweet smell … In this case the roles are reversed.
Summary
This is roughly what you can expect when taking your dog to a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine practitioner for your initial consultation. After the thorough exam, your TCVM vet will fit all the pieces of the puzzle together and come up with a treatment plan, which might include food therapy, massage, acupuncture and herbal therapy.
If you want to learn about the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine exam in detail, check out the Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs by Cheryl Schwartz, DVM.
Jana
The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Related articles:
When Modern Medicine Doesn't Have The Answer: TCVM
Four Paws, Five Directions: The Theory Behind The Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Healing You Dog With Food: More To Food Than Nutritional Value?
Acupuncture In Not Voodoo
Owner-to-owner things I've learned about dogs and dog health issues. Your dog's health is in your hands.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Four Paws, Five Directions: The Theory Behind The Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
The second reason I was attracted to the idea was the TCVM's global approach. Jasmine had so many things wrong with her, I had a hard time believing that they are all separate issues without a common thread.
I believe that my dogs deserve every bit of effort I might put into researching the best ways of taking care of their health.
The theory behind the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is going to be very alien to anybody brought up in western culture. It is completely different from what we are used to. But being around for over 3,500 years it has clearly withstood the test of time. Just because the terminology sounds odd, it doesn't mean that the reasoning behind it isn't sound.
Without modern technology to rely on, ancient physicians employed their senses and observation to diagnose and treat illness. Identifying the elements and seasons of nature, their interaction, and how it is reflected within the body, is the foundation of the TCVM diagnostic and treatment.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine views the body as an intricate system, where any imbalance in one area affects corresponding organs. Identifying and correcting the imbalance is the key to your dog's health. Is is really quite fascinating.
It is impossible to explain the TCVM principles in a short article. If you would like to learn about the theory behind the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, I recommend you read Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs by Cheryl Schwartz, DVM. This book was recommended to me when I was researching the TCVM approach, and it provided me with good understanding of what the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is all about.
It explains in plain language what the theory behind the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is and how it is reflected in the diagnostics and treatment.
Of course you don't need to understand it in order for your dog to benefit from it. Finding a practitioner and following through with the treatment does not require knowledge of the theory. Me, I like to understand things.
Dr. Cheryl Schwartz, DVM, CVT is a faculty member of the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Their website is where you can find a TCVM vet in your area.
Jana
The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Related Articles:
When Modern Medicine Doesn't Have The Answer: TCVM
What To Expect During A Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Exam
Healing You Dog With Food: More To Food Than Nutritional Value?
Acupuncture In Not Voodoo
Monday, April 26, 2010
When Modern Medicine Doesn't Have The Answer: TCVM
It is truly amazing what modern veterinary medicine can offer, whether it's in diagnostics or treatment. Ongoing research continuously brings forth awesome new breakthroughs, such as the stem cell regenerative therapy. I am fascinated by veterinary science.
I do find, however, that the constant pressure to present fast measurable results often leads to a short-sighted symptom-cure approach. The science isn't to be blamed alone though. In our fast-paced performance-driven society everybody wants quick and easy solutions to everything.
Unfortunately the formula cure the symptom – cure the disease isn't always true. What we perceive as a symptom is often your dog's body's attempt to deal with a systemic problem or imbalance, and treating the symptom without dealing with the underlying cause can be counter-productive at best.
I am not saying that modern veterinary medicine fails to recognize that. However, often the root of the problem lies deeper than the modern science will look.
Modern or traditional?
We never heard of TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) until recently when I was trying to research possible cause and best treatment for Jasmine's progressive panting/pacing episodes. I took the issue to a dog forum and that's where TCVM was brought to my attention. Motivated to find a solution for my precious Jasmine, and a curious person that I am, I decided to learn more about it.
After a battery of diagnostic tests, modern medicine offered two possible diagnoses for Jasmine's issues. It was believed that her episodes were either being caused by pain due to structural abnormalities in her neck (solution – long term pain medications), or by her irritable bowel syndrome (solution – steroids). Needless to say, we didn't much like either idea.
We brought up the idea of bringing in reinforcements from an alternative modality to our vet. He is really amazing and he puts the interest of his patients above all else. He was quite skeptical and voiced his concerns, however, he kept an open mind and agreed to go along with the idea.
The TCVM consultation did indeed offer what we were looking for – a diagnosis that comes with a treatment! While in Jasmine's case this is all still work in progress, I feel that by combining modern medicine with the TCVM we are finally getting somewhere.
TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine)
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine principles are based on theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which have developed over a period of over 3,500 years. You probably heard about acupuncture, well, this is where acupuncture comes from. These principles developed as a result of careful study and observation of the interactions within the body as well as the relationship to the outside environment. It is a completely different way of thinking, so brace yourself.
The TCVM looks at systematic imbalances as a root of disease and aims to work with the body by correcting these imbalances. While modern medicine is very effective treating trauma and acute conditions, TCVM offers invaluable help when dealing with chronic issues.
TCVM treatment is very safe and can be effective in treatment of arthritis, seizures and other systemic problems.
The main tools of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine are food and herbal therapies, and acupuncture. That by itself sounds better to me than drugs any day. Don't you think?
The Chi Institute
Before you dismiss the idea of TCVM, ponder this. These are licensed veterinarians who are integrating TCVM with the conventional veterinary medical care so their patients can benefit from advantages of both systems. They recognize the limitations of modern veterinary medicine and the benefit that the global approach the TCVM can offer. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine makes connections which modern medicine fails to see.
Does your dog frequently suffer from seemingly unrelated issues? Maybe they are all connected to a systemic imbalance. Is your dog on a number of drugs and showing little signs of improvement? Maybe it's time to think outside the box.
To be continued ….
Jana
The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Four Paws, Five Directions: The Theory Behind The Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
What To Expect During A Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Exam
Healing You Dog With Food: More To Food Than Nutritional Value?
Acupuncture In Not Voodoo
I do find, however, that the constant pressure to present fast measurable results often leads to a short-sighted symptom-cure approach. The science isn't to be blamed alone though. In our fast-paced performance-driven society everybody wants quick and easy solutions to everything.
Unfortunately the formula cure the symptom – cure the disease isn't always true. What we perceive as a symptom is often your dog's body's attempt to deal with a systemic problem or imbalance, and treating the symptom without dealing with the underlying cause can be counter-productive at best.
I am not saying that modern veterinary medicine fails to recognize that. However, often the root of the problem lies deeper than the modern science will look.
Modern or traditional?
We never heard of TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) until recently when I was trying to research possible cause and best treatment for Jasmine's progressive panting/pacing episodes. I took the issue to a dog forum and that's where TCVM was brought to my attention. Motivated to find a solution for my precious Jasmine, and a curious person that I am, I decided to learn more about it.
After a battery of diagnostic tests, modern medicine offered two possible diagnoses for Jasmine's issues. It was believed that her episodes were either being caused by pain due to structural abnormalities in her neck (solution – long term pain medications), or by her irritable bowel syndrome (solution – steroids). Needless to say, we didn't much like either idea.
We brought up the idea of bringing in reinforcements from an alternative modality to our vet. He is really amazing and he puts the interest of his patients above all else. He was quite skeptical and voiced his concerns, however, he kept an open mind and agreed to go along with the idea.
The TCVM consultation did indeed offer what we were looking for – a diagnosis that comes with a treatment! While in Jasmine's case this is all still work in progress, I feel that by combining modern medicine with the TCVM we are finally getting somewhere.
TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine)
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine principles are based on theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which have developed over a period of over 3,500 years. You probably heard about acupuncture, well, this is where acupuncture comes from. These principles developed as a result of careful study and observation of the interactions within the body as well as the relationship to the outside environment. It is a completely different way of thinking, so brace yourself.
The TCVM looks at systematic imbalances as a root of disease and aims to work with the body by correcting these imbalances. While modern medicine is very effective treating trauma and acute conditions, TCVM offers invaluable help when dealing with chronic issues.
TCVM treatment is very safe and can be effective in treatment of arthritis, seizures and other systemic problems.
The main tools of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine are food and herbal therapies, and acupuncture. That by itself sounds better to me than drugs any day. Don't you think?
The Chi Institute
Before you dismiss the idea of TCVM, ponder this. These are licensed veterinarians who are integrating TCVM with the conventional veterinary medical care so their patients can benefit from advantages of both systems. They recognize the limitations of modern veterinary medicine and the benefit that the global approach the TCVM can offer. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine makes connections which modern medicine fails to see.
Does your dog frequently suffer from seemingly unrelated issues? Maybe they are all connected to a systemic imbalance. Is your dog on a number of drugs and showing little signs of improvement? Maybe it's time to think outside the box.
To be continued ….
Jana
The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Four Paws, Five Directions: The Theory Behind The Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
What To Expect During A Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Exam
Healing You Dog With Food: More To Food Than Nutritional Value?
Acupuncture In Not Voodoo
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Know Your Dog's Enemies: Chocolate can kill your dog!
I really though that his topic been covered enough. But it seems that I was wrong. So here it is again.
There are a number of foods that we enjoy that can seriously harm or even kill our dogs. Chocolate is right at the top of the list of offenders. You would think that preventing your dog from eating chocolate should be easy enough. I'd certainly think so. And yet every day there is proof to the contrary!
Why is chocolate so dangerous?
Chocolate in fact contains two substances toxic to dogs. Theobromine and caffeine. The concentrations of theobromine however is what makes chocolate potentially lethal for your dog.
Theobromine
Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is a substance found in the cacao plant. It's a strong CNS (Central Nervous System) and cardiovascular stimulant with effects similar to caffeine. The concentrations vary depending on the type of chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it will be for your dog.
Dogs cannot metabolize theobromine effectively, and it can remain in their bloodstream up to 20 hours after ingestion. Symptoms of theobromine poisoning include
The severity of theobromine toxicity depends on the amount of chocolate ingested. There are some guidelines listing how much of which type of chocolate can be lethal in ratio to a dog's body weight.
But seriously, do you really want to play a guessing game when it concerns your dog's well being? Aren't there enough health risks over which we have substantially lesser control? Why add to it with something that is easily avoided?
Prevention is so simple!
Keep the chocolate out of your dog's reach! It might take a bit of diligence, but it is so simple. Don't leave chocolate lying around where your dog could get to it. We keep our chocolate in a top kitchen cupboard, take out what we're going to eat and eat it. That's all that is to it!
I know this is harder during holidays or parties. But a little extra effort can save your dog's life!
Jana
Chocolate Toxicity - What Makes Chocolate Toxic To Dogs?
The Pet Health Library: Chocolate Toxicity
Why chocolate poisons dogs and how to treat chocolate dog poisoning
Dog Health: Toxic Substances
Related articles:
Food For Thought: What's Good For Me Is Good For My Dog?
There are a number of foods that we enjoy that can seriously harm or even kill our dogs. Chocolate is right at the top of the list of offenders. You would think that preventing your dog from eating chocolate should be easy enough. I'd certainly think so. And yet every day there is proof to the contrary!
Why is chocolate so dangerous?
Chocolate in fact contains two substances toxic to dogs. Theobromine and caffeine. The concentrations of theobromine however is what makes chocolate potentially lethal for your dog.
Theobromine
Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is a substance found in the cacao plant. It's a strong CNS (Central Nervous System) and cardiovascular stimulant with effects similar to caffeine. The concentrations vary depending on the type of chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it will be for your dog.
Dogs cannot metabolize theobromine effectively, and it can remain in their bloodstream up to 20 hours after ingestion. Symptoms of theobromine poisoning include
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- excessive urination
- increased heart rate
- hyperactivity
- tremors
- hallucinations
- seizures
- heart attack
- internal bleeding
- death
The severity of theobromine toxicity depends on the amount of chocolate ingested. There are some guidelines listing how much of which type of chocolate can be lethal in ratio to a dog's body weight.
But seriously, do you really want to play a guessing game when it concerns your dog's well being? Aren't there enough health risks over which we have substantially lesser control? Why add to it with something that is easily avoided?
Prevention is so simple!
Keep the chocolate out of your dog's reach! It might take a bit of diligence, but it is so simple. Don't leave chocolate lying around where your dog could get to it. We keep our chocolate in a top kitchen cupboard, take out what we're going to eat and eat it. That's all that is to it!
I know this is harder during holidays or parties. But a little extra effort can save your dog's life!
Jana
Chocolate Toxicity - What Makes Chocolate Toxic To Dogs?
The Pet Health Library: Chocolate Toxicity
Why chocolate poisons dogs and how to treat chocolate dog poisoning
Dog Health: Toxic Substances
Related articles:
Food For Thought: What's Good For Me Is Good For My Dog?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Surviving The Post-Op: After Your Dog's ACL Surgery
You're probably all worried, I was too. Let me start with the good news. Based on my experience with Jasmine's bi-lateral ACL surgeries I truly believe that the post-op recovery is actually going to be much easier for your dog than it will be for you.
Dogs are survivors. They don't sulk or complain, they take what there is and make the best of it. They have an amazing ability to adapt and make things work. This is probably one of the times when the difference between a dog and a human attitude is the most profound.
The other good news is that from the moment of the surgery your dog is on his way to get well. That's what I kept telling Jasmine--and more importantly myself--when I was counting the days. You are one day closer to getting your life back. And then two …
It will make it easier on both you and your dog if you plan ahead and get some things ready before the surgery. Of course if you have a little dog some of the points below won't apply, because you can simply carry your dog around. However, large breed dogs are more likely to suffer an ACL injury.
After your dog comes home, you will have to restrict his movement. Prepare a comfortable and safe place for your dog, ideally somewhere near you.
He will not be allowed to use stairs. This means he will be restricted to the main floor for some time. Think how you're going to make this work so your dog is excluded from your life as little as possible. Good spirits are important for physical healing.
We dealt with that by moving all our activity to the main floor, and because our bedrooms are on the second floor, I slept with Jasmine in the kitchen. Clearly you don't have to go to the same extreme, but whatever you're going to do, have it figured out before hand.
Slippery surfaces can be a danger to your dog after the surgery. You can assist your dog when walking on them, or you can do what we did--buy some cheap carpets and rugs and cover the entire main floor. Problem solved.
Are there a couple of stairs on the way to his potty place? Again, you can assist your dog by supporting him with a towel (towel-walking) or, if you have the means, you can build a simple ramp. Jasmine didn't like the idea of towel-walking at all. She would either freeze or move awkwardly backwards – clearly not very helpful when trying to assist her up and down the steps. She did however love her ramp. We also covered it with an outdoor rug to make a safe non-slippery surface.
If getting a ramp, make sure it's comfortably wide and with a very mild incline for safety (which means it will need to be fairly long as well).
If you never tried towel-walking your dog before, you might want to try and see how he responds to it. Place a towel under his belly and support his weight when walking. There are also some cool products designed for this purpose. In any case, I think it's a good idea to have this figured out before hand also.
The post-op is going to be quite similar regardless of which surgery you choose for your dog. It will be a long journey. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is what will help you to get through it.
Prepare yourself for a visual shock. When your dog comes back home, his leg will be shaved, bruised and with a long incision. He might be quite spaced out from the surgery and from the meds. When Jasmine came home, her eyes looked quite bewildered. He will be using the leg very little or not at all.
Do your best to make him comfortable. Plenty of deep sleep is important for the healing process.
Have your vet explain the post-op rehabilitation to you in detail. You will probably get a printed sheet – read it and ask questions until you understand everything you need to do.
Keep an eye on the incision. Make sure it remains dry and clean, do not allow your dog to lick it. This can lead to infections and neither you or your dog need the additional trouble. The incision shouldn't be bleeding or oozing.
TIP: We found that Preparation H (yes, the hemorrhoid ointment) works wonders in promoting faster deep wound healing.
Passive Range of Motion exercise (PROM) is an important part of your dog's post-op program. It is a flexing and stretching exercise that promotes joint health, prevents contraction of the muscles and stimulates blood and lymphatic flow.
However, there is a good chance your dog won't like it at all. Have your veterinarian show you how to do the exercise properly. I recommend you consider muzzling your dog for the exercise (simple cloth muzzle works fine).
Don't use force. If the joint is too painful to do the exercise, consult your veterinarian about pain management.
Safety is the most important part of the post-op period. Do everything you can to prevent any mishaps. One bad slip or one bad jump of the couch can be disastrous.
Follow your dog's post-op schedule religiously. The better you do with that, the better and faster will your dog recover.
Figure out ways of entertaining your dog during his restricted exercise period. Try some clicker training. Get a lot of yummy chew toys. You can even try some dog companion videos, such as the ones by Stanley Coren.
It will feel like a lifetime. But that too shall pass.
Wishing your dog perfect recovery
Jana
Related articles:
Talk To Me About ACL Injuries
Preventing ACL Injuries In Dogs
ACL Injuries In Dogs: Xena's Story
ACL Injury Conservative Management: Sandy's Story
Don't Forget the Physical Therapy
ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?
Dogs are survivors. They don't sulk or complain, they take what there is and make the best of it. They have an amazing ability to adapt and make things work. This is probably one of the times when the difference between a dog and a human attitude is the most profound.
The other good news is that from the moment of the surgery your dog is on his way to get well. That's what I kept telling Jasmine--and more importantly myself--when I was counting the days. You are one day closer to getting your life back. And then two …
Prepare your home
It will make it easier on both you and your dog if you plan ahead and get some things ready before the surgery. Of course if you have a little dog some of the points below won't apply, because you can simply carry your dog around. However, large breed dogs are more likely to suffer an ACL injury.
After your dog comes home, you will have to restrict his movement. Prepare a comfortable and safe place for your dog, ideally somewhere near you.
He will not be allowed to use stairs. This means he will be restricted to the main floor for some time. Think how you're going to make this work so your dog is excluded from your life as little as possible. Good spirits are important for physical healing.
We dealt with that by moving all our activity to the main floor, and because our bedrooms are on the second floor, I slept with Jasmine in the kitchen. Clearly you don't have to go to the same extreme, but whatever you're going to do, have it figured out before hand.
Slippery surfaces can be a danger to your dog after the surgery. You can assist your dog when walking on them, or you can do what we did--buy some cheap carpets and rugs and cover the entire main floor. Problem solved.
Are there a couple of stairs on the way to his potty place? Again, you can assist your dog by supporting him with a towel (towel-walking) or, if you have the means, you can build a simple ramp. Jasmine didn't like the idea of towel-walking at all. She would either freeze or move awkwardly backwards – clearly not very helpful when trying to assist her up and down the steps. She did however love her ramp. We also covered it with an outdoor rug to make a safe non-slippery surface.
If getting a ramp, make sure it's comfortably wide and with a very mild incline for safety (which means it will need to be fairly long as well).
Prepare your dog
If you never tried towel-walking your dog before, you might want to try and see how he responds to it. Place a towel under his belly and support his weight when walking. There are also some cool products designed for this purpose. In any case, I think it's a good idea to have this figured out before hand also.
Prepare yourself
The post-op is going to be quite similar regardless of which surgery you choose for your dog. It will be a long journey. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is what will help you to get through it.
Prepare yourself for a visual shock. When your dog comes back home, his leg will be shaved, bruised and with a long incision. He might be quite spaced out from the surgery and from the meds. When Jasmine came home, her eyes looked quite bewildered. He will be using the leg very little or not at all.
Do your best to make him comfortable. Plenty of deep sleep is important for the healing process.
Have your vet explain the post-op rehabilitation to you in detail. You will probably get a printed sheet – read it and ask questions until you understand everything you need to do.
Taking care of the incision
Keep an eye on the incision. Make sure it remains dry and clean, do not allow your dog to lick it. This can lead to infections and neither you or your dog need the additional trouble. The incision shouldn't be bleeding or oozing.
TIP: We found that Preparation H (yes, the hemorrhoid ointment) works wonders in promoting faster deep wound healing.
The PROM is not a party
Passive Range of Motion exercise (PROM) is an important part of your dog's post-op program. It is a flexing and stretching exercise that promotes joint health, prevents contraction of the muscles and stimulates blood and lymphatic flow.
However, there is a good chance your dog won't like it at all. Have your veterinarian show you how to do the exercise properly. I recommend you consider muzzling your dog for the exercise (simple cloth muzzle works fine).
Don't use force. If the joint is too painful to do the exercise, consult your veterinarian about pain management.
Bringing it home
Safety is the most important part of the post-op period. Do everything you can to prevent any mishaps. One bad slip or one bad jump of the couch can be disastrous.
Follow your dog's post-op schedule religiously. The better you do with that, the better and faster will your dog recover.
Figure out ways of entertaining your dog during his restricted exercise period. Try some clicker training. Get a lot of yummy chew toys. You can even try some dog companion videos, such as the ones by Stanley Coren.
It will feel like a lifetime. But that too shall pass.
Wishing your dog perfect recovery
Jana
Related articles:
Talk To Me About ACL Injuries
Preventing ACL Injuries In Dogs
ACL Injuries In Dogs: Xena's Story
ACL Injury Conservative Management: Sandy's Story
Don't Forget the Physical Therapy
ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Outsmarting A Smart Dog
When asked whether they would prefer a smart dog, most people would say yes. All I have to say to that is, be careful what you wish for!
It has happened to us! Jasmine is an extremely smart dog. If she had thumbs she would have a job at Nasa by now.
Having a smart dog is great for many things. It took just one week to get Jasmine house-broken! Teaching her new things was a breeze!
She has always been very inquisitive. Always watching what everybody was doing, figuring out why they're doing it, and how she could benefit from that. If there is a way, she'll find it.
She knows how to play her cards just right to get what she wants, when she wants. As my husband says, she is smart enough to have trained a woman! Which would be me by the way. And I can tell you, she has trained me well!
Just recently she had a flare-up of allergies and one of the measures we were going to take was stopping her from munching on horse poop because there is a potential that some of the grasses might be causing the problem. This would normally be an easy enough task, but not when she's spending at least two days a week at friend's horse farm.
She got that quickly. She also quickly figured out that if caught, we will prevent her from eating it. The formula was simple: horse poop, plus biped watching, equals no horse poop for me.
She would be on her best behavior and wouldn't even attempt to come anywhere near it as long as she knew that somebody was watching. She would also be paying close attention to what everybody was doing and when they were distracted enough to make a break for it.
She would pick just the right moment and slowly walk off a few feet. Then she'd stop and look back to see if anybody noticed what she was doing. Then slowly move another few feet... until she was far enough to take a run for it.
The only result of all that was, that once she reached the pile, she would gobble down as much as she could before the biped could arrive. At the end she ended up eating substantially more than she would if we just let her do what she pleased.
Our vet suggested using a cage muzzle to put a stop to her horse poop snacking. As much as we didn't like the idea, we did consider it. But we are not going to bother. Why?
It would be just a question of a very short time before she'd figure out a method of getting the poop through. We have no illusion that the muzzle would have any effect other than making it an interesting new challenge.
As we were watching where the situation was going, the only conclusion was, that by trying to stop her from eating it was just making it that much more desirable.
So we decided to try reverse psychology. That is working the best so far. Not that she won't get into the poop and munch on some, but is seems to dramatically decrease her interest and the amount she actually eats.
Yes, we did consider things like a positive interrupter. But we've known Jasmine for almost 7 years now. I can just see what would happen with that. Should we try putting her horse poop munching on cue and gradually fade out the cue? I really think that it doesn't matter what we'd try. She can see through things like glass. I kid you not.
You can either win her cooperation, or lose.
When picking a second dog, so Jasmine would have a buddy, one of my criteria was – no more smart dogs! I want a dog smart enough to understand what I want from him, but not smart enough to figure out a way around it! Fortunately for us all, J.D. is just that.
Do you think you could outsmart Jasmine? You are welcome to try!
Jana
Related articles:
A Word on Training
The Easiest Thing I Ever Taught My dog
More Than Meets The Eye: Dog Language And Beyond
Having a smart dog is great. But when the dog is smarter than you, you have a problem.
It has happened to us! Jasmine is an extremely smart dog. If she had thumbs she would have a job at Nasa by now.
Having a smart dog is great for many things. It took just one week to get Jasmine house-broken! Teaching her new things was a breeze!
Unfortunately she was learning new things on her own as well...
She has always been very inquisitive. Always watching what everybody was doing, figuring out why they're doing it, and how she could benefit from that. If there is a way, she'll find it.
She knows what we're thinking before we even think it.
She knows how to play her cards just right to get what she wants, when she wants. As my husband says, she is smart enough to have trained a woman! Which would be me by the way. And I can tell you, she has trained me well!
Just recently she had a flare-up of allergies and one of the measures we were going to take was stopping her from munching on horse poop because there is a potential that some of the grasses might be causing the problem. This would normally be an easy enough task, but not when she's spending at least two days a week at friend's horse farm.
Explaining to her that we didn't want her to eat that was the easy part.
She got that quickly. She also quickly figured out that if caught, we will prevent her from eating it. The formula was simple: horse poop, plus biped watching, equals no horse poop for me.
She would be on her best behavior and wouldn't even attempt to come anywhere near it as long as she knew that somebody was watching. She would also be paying close attention to what everybody was doing and when they were distracted enough to make a break for it.
It was actually quite comical to watch her tactics.
She would pick just the right moment and slowly walk off a few feet. Then she'd stop and look back to see if anybody noticed what she was doing. Then slowly move another few feet... until she was far enough to take a run for it.
Of course by then somebody would notice and come running after her.
The only result of all that was, that once she reached the pile, she would gobble down as much as she could before the biped could arrive. At the end she ended up eating substantially more than she would if we just let her do what she pleased.
Our vet suggested using a cage muzzle to put a stop to her horse poop snacking. As much as we didn't like the idea, we did consider it. But we are not going to bother. Why?
Because there are holes in that muzzle!
It would be just a question of a very short time before she'd figure out a method of getting the poop through. We have no illusion that the muzzle would have any effect other than making it an interesting new challenge.
As we were watching where the situation was going, the only conclusion was, that by trying to stop her from eating it was just making it that much more desirable.
Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.
So we decided to try reverse psychology. That is working the best so far. Not that she won't get into the poop and munch on some, but is seems to dramatically decrease her interest and the amount she actually eats.
Yes, we did consider things like a positive interrupter. But we've known Jasmine for almost 7 years now. I can just see what would happen with that. Should we try putting her horse poop munching on cue and gradually fade out the cue? I really think that it doesn't matter what we'd try. She can see through things like glass. I kid you not.
So how do you outsmart a smart dog? You don't. Just forget it.
You can either win her cooperation, or lose.
When picking a second dog, so Jasmine would have a buddy, one of my criteria was – no more smart dogs! I want a dog smart enough to understand what I want from him, but not smart enough to figure out a way around it! Fortunately for us all, J.D. is just that.
Do you think you could outsmart Jasmine? You are welcome to try!
Jana
Related articles:
A Word on Training
The Easiest Thing I Ever Taught My dog
More Than Meets The Eye: Dog Language And Beyond
Saturday, April 17, 2010
ACL Injuries In Dogs: Xena's Story
Xena is a lovely 3 year old Shepherd/Boxer/Lab cross--very energetic and very stubborn. Well, she's a girl ;-)
Xena's mom found my blog after an unfortunate slip on ice caused a set-back in Xena's post-op recovery from her ACL surgery. She was very worried about her girl and afraid that their decision to go with an extracapsular repair was a bad one.
Our Jasmine had an extracapsular repair on both her knees and she is doing great. The post-op period is very sensitive and a mishap during that time can cause the repair to fail. While some of the newer surgeries, such as TPLO, are a little more forgiving, a trauma such as a slip on ice can bring a major set back as well.
Avoiding set-backs is as important as it is difficult.
Xena's mom agreed to share her story with us for those who might be going through this, as well as for those who were lucky enough not to have heard about ACL injuries at all. Recognizing the symptoms of an ACL injury, early diagnosis and treatment are important. Arthritis develops very quickly in an unstable joint, and then instead of one problem, you have two.
Here is Xena's story
As long as the knee remains stable, there is a good chance for a full recovery. Stability of the joint is extremely important. Because the stretch in the suture was minimal there is a good hope that it was just a minor set-back. I will update you on Xena's progress.
Let's keep Xena in our thoughts and wish her full recovery.
Update on Xena
May 10, 2010
Xena was showing good gradual progress in her post-op recovery She would still favor the leg when standing, but her gait was looking very good. She wasn't showing as much progress as Jasmine did, but Jasmine had her stem cell treatment together with both of her ACL surgeries and that made a huge difference.
Recently they had a big scare when Xena suddenly became substantially more lame. A thorough exam and new set of x-rays showed that her knee is indeed very stable and scar tissue well developed and the lameness was caused by a muscle injury. This is interesting, because we had exactly the same scare with Jasmine.
The fact that the knee is perfectly stable is the most important thing at this point. Only a little bit longer before Xena's post-op should be done!
Update on Xena
August 8th, 2010
Xena is doing very well. She can now run and walk with no sign of anything ever being wrong with her knee. She does favor her leg a bit after a long day, but it seems that it gets sore from arthritis that has developed, rather than the injury.
Very glad that Xena has her life back!
Jana
Do you have an ACL injury story to share? Do you have a comment or a question? Leave a comment.
Related articles:
Talk To Me About ACL Injuries
Preventing ACL Injuries In Dogs
ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?
ACL Injury Conservative Management: Sandy's Story
Surviving The Post-Op: After Your Dog's ACL Surgery
Xena's mom found my blog after an unfortunate slip on ice caused a set-back in Xena's post-op recovery from her ACL surgery. She was very worried about her girl and afraid that their decision to go with an extracapsular repair was a bad one.
Our Jasmine had an extracapsular repair on both her knees and she is doing great. The post-op period is very sensitive and a mishap during that time can cause the repair to fail. While some of the newer surgeries, such as TPLO, are a little more forgiving, a trauma such as a slip on ice can bring a major set back as well.
Avoiding set-backs is as important as it is difficult.
Xena's mom agreed to share her story with us for those who might be going through this, as well as for those who were lucky enough not to have heard about ACL injuries at all. Recognizing the symptoms of an ACL injury, early diagnosis and treatment are important. Arthritis develops very quickly in an unstable joint, and then instead of one problem, you have two.
Here is Xena's story
We figure that she first hurt her leg in August of 2009. She was playing with our neighbor's dog, and the next day we noticed she was lifting her leg a bit, reluctant to bear weight on it.
It seemed to have gone away so we didn't think much of it.
During the time between August and December, she would have moments of lifting her leg, while everything seemed fine the rest of the time.
Finally, in December of 2009, my son called me at work and told me that something was wrong with Xena. When trying to walk she would take a only a few steps and sit down, repeatedly.
We got worried so we immediately made an appointment with her vet for that night. The vet took an x-ray and informed us that Xena had ruptured a crucial ligament in her left knee.
Her vet told us that Xena will need a surgery and gave us two options. We could choose either an extracapsular repair or TPLO. We don't have a lot of money, so we decided to go with the extracapsular repair, which was about $1500 cheaper than the TPLO. The surgery was booked for January 7th 2010.
The day after her surgery we went to get her and she was very happy to see us and was acting as if nothing had ever happened to her. The vet explained how we were to lift her up if we needed to go up or down stairs, and told us that we needed to restrict her movement for at least 3 weeks—she had to be confined wherever we were, had to be on a leash to go to do her business and couldn't run or play at all. This was the hardest part.
She started putting some weight on her leg about 3 days after we brought her home—a little too soon for us—and we had a hard time keeping her occupied and keeping her still.
After the fist few weeks of her post-op there was really no change. After four weeks we took her back to the vet and he told us that she was doing ok, but should be putting more weight on the leg.
Five weeks after the surgery we were beginning to worry because she wasn't really bearing weight on her leg yet. She was lifting her leg when standing still and she was limping a lot when walking.
We were hoping that things would get much better by eighth week. Unfortunately, seven weeks after her surgery, we were taking her outside and she slipped on a bit of ice. She let out a whine and lifted her leg right away.
We called the vet and he told us to come right in. He took a new x-ray and he told us that she stretched her suture. We could either wait and see what happens, or repeat the surgery. Because the stretch was minor and the suture was still holding, he suggested to wait and see how things go.
Those were very hard times for us, worrying that Xena would have to go through the whole ordeal again.
Today we are at week twelve post surgery and Xena seems to be doing ok. She is still favoring the leg but when we take her for a walk it is as if she is a puppy again, even though by the end of the walk she seems a bit more sore and tired.
I am hopeful that after the six months of her post-op is over she will be the way she used to be, though I am worried that she might not. Only time will tell. I'm just hoping that her right leg will hold up, at least until her left one is healed.
As long as the knee remains stable, there is a good chance for a full recovery. Stability of the joint is extremely important. Because the stretch in the suture was minimal there is a good hope that it was just a minor set-back. I will update you on Xena's progress.
Let's keep Xena in our thoughts and wish her full recovery.
Update on Xena
May 10, 2010
Xena was showing good gradual progress in her post-op recovery She would still favor the leg when standing, but her gait was looking very good. She wasn't showing as much progress as Jasmine did, but Jasmine had her stem cell treatment together with both of her ACL surgeries and that made a huge difference.
Recently they had a big scare when Xena suddenly became substantially more lame. A thorough exam and new set of x-rays showed that her knee is indeed very stable and scar tissue well developed and the lameness was caused by a muscle injury. This is interesting, because we had exactly the same scare with Jasmine.
The fact that the knee is perfectly stable is the most important thing at this point. Only a little bit longer before Xena's post-op should be done!
Update on Xena
August 8th, 2010
Xena is doing very well. She can now run and walk with no sign of anything ever being wrong with her knee. She does favor her leg a bit after a long day, but it seems that it gets sore from arthritis that has developed, rather than the injury.
Very glad that Xena has her life back!
Jana
Do you have an ACL injury story to share? Do you have a comment or a question? Leave a comment.
Related articles:
Talk To Me About ACL Injuries
Preventing ACL Injuries In Dogs
ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?
ACL Injury Conservative Management: Sandy's Story
Surviving The Post-Op: After Your Dog's ACL Surgery
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Bitten In A Dog Park
I don't particularly like sensational headlines, but they do work in getting attention. Do I have yours?
Ever since Jasmine is able to enjoy her hikes again, I don't take J.D. to a dog park as often as I used to during Jasmine's post-op after her ACL surgeries. Today Jasmine had her underwater treadmill appointment which meant a visit to the dog park with J.D. It was a bit too warm, but he had fun anyway. However, I came home rather distraught.
J.D. was happy to find out that his girlfriend was there—a playful two year old female boxer. They always like to play a lot, so I end up hanging out with her master. Her master is a really nice old guy who walks his daughter's dog, because she wanted a high energy breed but doesn't have time to exercise it—familiar enough scenario. As our dogs are playing we walk and talk about dog related stuff. The boxer truly does have a huge amount of energy and he is with her in the park several hours every day, which makes him an abundant source of dog park news.
As he was giving me an account of the latest dog park incidents, he pulls up his sleeve: “I got bitten by a dog here the other day”. He surely did! His arm was all bruised with distinct marks of where the teeth made it into the flesh. I know the guy quite well by now, there was no way he brought this onto himself.
Apparently it happened in the entrance 'cage' when he was coming into the park. Another owner was there at the same time, giving his dog a peace of his mind for pulling on the leash. He forced his dog into a corner and put on quite a display of aggression and scare tactics. The stressed dog probably considered the proximity of the boxer an additional threat and attacked her. Her master, worried about his dog, tried to pull the aggressor of her. It didn't work out so good for him and he ended up with a nasty bite on his arm, while the other dog's owner just stood there doing nothing. At least that is how the story was related to me and I figure it was probably fairly close to what really happened.
The dog who bit him was a black lab mix. Not that it really matters, but I want to point out that it was neither a Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Shepherd or any other of the high risk breeds.
Supposedly this was the third time something like this has happened there recently.
What is the moral of the story? First of all – any dog can bite. It is important to be aware of that. Realizing that it is a possibility allows you to anticipate and prevent. Our dog's late best friend, coincidentally also a boxer, got attacked in another park twice, by a Golden Retriever of all things. It is not really the breed that matters. Though, of course, a bite by a Chihuahua would certainly leave a smaller scar.
Should you stop going to a dog park then? Well, it is one solution. But incidents can happen anywhere. Once Jasmine got attacked by two Hound brothers on our walk in the woods.
The boxer's master didn't stop going to the park. I won't. Dog parks are still a great place for dogs to play, socialize and have a good time. However, just as a bar fight is most likely to break out in a crowded bar, high concentration of dogs and owners of all kinds does create a risk. Keep that in mind!
An owner is responsible for their dog's action at all times! But we live in a real world where not everybody owns up to their responsibility. This is where knowing a thing of two about dog language, and even owner language, comes in handy. Learn to recognize risky situations before they escalate! Quite often just the owner's vibe is a good enough indication of potential trouble. Have your dog near you at all times. Pay close attention to what is happening around your dog. Avoid or remove you dog from highly charged or crowded situations.
You shouldn't touch an attacking dog. But let's face it, I wouldn't let my dog be molested either, as bad of an idea as that might be. However prevention is much safer and much more effective! Exercise due diligence and keep your dog and yourself safe!
Safe trails!
Jana
Related articles:
A Word On Dog Parks
A Word On Socialization
Ever since Jasmine is able to enjoy her hikes again, I don't take J.D. to a dog park as often as I used to during Jasmine's post-op after her ACL surgeries. Today Jasmine had her underwater treadmill appointment which meant a visit to the dog park with J.D. It was a bit too warm, but he had fun anyway. However, I came home rather distraught.
J.D. was happy to find out that his girlfriend was there—a playful two year old female boxer. They always like to play a lot, so I end up hanging out with her master. Her master is a really nice old guy who walks his daughter's dog, because she wanted a high energy breed but doesn't have time to exercise it—familiar enough scenario. As our dogs are playing we walk and talk about dog related stuff. The boxer truly does have a huge amount of energy and he is with her in the park several hours every day, which makes him an abundant source of dog park news.
As he was giving me an account of the latest dog park incidents, he pulls up his sleeve: “I got bitten by a dog here the other day”. He surely did! His arm was all bruised with distinct marks of where the teeth made it into the flesh. I know the guy quite well by now, there was no way he brought this onto himself.
Apparently it happened in the entrance 'cage' when he was coming into the park. Another owner was there at the same time, giving his dog a peace of his mind for pulling on the leash. He forced his dog into a corner and put on quite a display of aggression and scare tactics. The stressed dog probably considered the proximity of the boxer an additional threat and attacked her. Her master, worried about his dog, tried to pull the aggressor of her. It didn't work out so good for him and he ended up with a nasty bite on his arm, while the other dog's owner just stood there doing nothing. At least that is how the story was related to me and I figure it was probably fairly close to what really happened.
The dog who bit him was a black lab mix. Not that it really matters, but I want to point out that it was neither a Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Shepherd or any other of the high risk breeds.
Supposedly this was the third time something like this has happened there recently.
What is the moral of the story? First of all – any dog can bite. It is important to be aware of that. Realizing that it is a possibility allows you to anticipate and prevent. Our dog's late best friend, coincidentally also a boxer, got attacked in another park twice, by a Golden Retriever of all things. It is not really the breed that matters. Though, of course, a bite by a Chihuahua would certainly leave a smaller scar.
Should you stop going to a dog park then? Well, it is one solution. But incidents can happen anywhere. Once Jasmine got attacked by two Hound brothers on our walk in the woods.
The boxer's master didn't stop going to the park. I won't. Dog parks are still a great place for dogs to play, socialize and have a good time. However, just as a bar fight is most likely to break out in a crowded bar, high concentration of dogs and owners of all kinds does create a risk. Keep that in mind!
An owner is responsible for their dog's action at all times! But we live in a real world where not everybody owns up to their responsibility. This is where knowing a thing of two about dog language, and even owner language, comes in handy. Learn to recognize risky situations before they escalate! Quite often just the owner's vibe is a good enough indication of potential trouble. Have your dog near you at all times. Pay close attention to what is happening around your dog. Avoid or remove you dog from highly charged or crowded situations.
You shouldn't touch an attacking dog. But let's face it, I wouldn't let my dog be molested either, as bad of an idea as that might be. However prevention is much safer and much more effective! Exercise due diligence and keep your dog and yourself safe!
Safe trails!
Jana
Related articles:
A Word On Dog Parks
A Word On Socialization
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Dogs pant. They pant when they exercise, when they are hot, they pant when they are excited. Panting is your dog's way to cool their body. Because dogs don't sweat like we do the only effective way they can cool themselves is by panting. All dogs do that and it is perfectly normal.
So if panting is normal, why should you worry about it?
If your dog is panting more heavily than usual, or without an obvious reason, he might be in trouble! You share your life with your dog and nobody knows him better than you do. That's why it is so important for you to know when to start worrying. Excessive or unexplained panting can be a symptom of a serious health issue.
Obesity
Obesity is a common cause of excessive panting in dogs. An obese dog is more likely to over heat. Activity is also more exhausting for an overweight dog. Before you rejoice that you don't have anything to worry about, please note that obesity can lead to a number of health problems including heart and cardiovascular disorders, pancreatitis, joint disease, liver disease and other conditions. Please consider obesity a serious health risk and keep your dog slim!
Hyperthermia/Heatstroke
Heatstroke is another common cause of heavy panting. That doesn't make it any less dangerous! Heatstroke can cause catastrophic damage to your dog's body and can lead to brain damage and even death.
If your dog is panting heavily and you have a reason to suspect heatstroke, check for other signs. If your dog's gums and tongue are deep red, purple or blue with thick sticky saliva, move your dog to a cool place and spray him with cool (not cold) water or place wet rags or towels over him, particularly near the stomach and inside of legs. Do not immerse your dog in cold water! If your dog's temperature is over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) take your dog to a vet immediately.
Fever
A heatstroke is hyperthermia due to environmental causes. Fever is caused by your dog's immune response. Your dog might get a fever as a response to infection or other illness. Fever can be accompanied by loss of appetite, lethargy, changes in behavior and other signs. If your dog has a fever see a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause. As with heatstroke, temperature over 104 degrees Fahrenheit is an emergency and needs immediate medical attention.
Respiratory or cardiovascular disorders
There are a number or respiratory and cardiovascular disorders than can cause unexplained panting in your dog. If your dog is panting for no obvious reason, or continues to pant longer than ten minutes after exercise, talk to your veterinarian.
Pain
Your dog can be panting as a response to pain. If your dog is panting and salivating excessively, retching and has a distended abdomen, he might be suffering from bloat. Bloat is a life-threatening condition, take your dog to a vet immediately!
Other causes of pain can include pancreatitis or joint pain. Have your dog checked by a veterinarian to determine underlying cause.
Hormonal imbalances
Excessive panting can be a sign of some hormonal disorders, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. In these cases panting could be accompanied by other symptoms, such as weight gain, excessive drinking, coat changes, changes in appetite or behavioral changes.
Bottom Line
These are just some of the causes of excessive panting in dogs. If your dog is panting excessively, or without an obvious reason, take it seriously and consult your veterinarian. Excessive panting is an important symptom to keep in mind.
Jana
Panting in Dogs
Panting in Dogs – Is it Normal?
How to Determine When Dog Panting is a Bad Sign
Causes of Panting in Dogs
Excessive Panting in Dogs
Related Articles:
Know Your Dog's Enemies: Overweight
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- Versus Hyperthermia
A Word on Pain
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperthyroid
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperadrenocorticism
Did I miss something? Have a question? Leave a comment.
So if panting is normal, why should you worry about it?
If your dog is panting more heavily than usual, or without an obvious reason, he might be in trouble! You share your life with your dog and nobody knows him better than you do. That's why it is so important for you to know when to start worrying. Excessive or unexplained panting can be a symptom of a serious health issue.
Obesity
Obesity is a common cause of excessive panting in dogs. An obese dog is more likely to over heat. Activity is also more exhausting for an overweight dog. Before you rejoice that you don't have anything to worry about, please note that obesity can lead to a number of health problems including heart and cardiovascular disorders, pancreatitis, joint disease, liver disease and other conditions. Please consider obesity a serious health risk and keep your dog slim!
Hyperthermia/Heatstroke
Heatstroke is another common cause of heavy panting. That doesn't make it any less dangerous! Heatstroke can cause catastrophic damage to your dog's body and can lead to brain damage and even death.
If your dog is panting heavily and you have a reason to suspect heatstroke, check for other signs. If your dog's gums and tongue are deep red, purple or blue with thick sticky saliva, move your dog to a cool place and spray him with cool (not cold) water or place wet rags or towels over him, particularly near the stomach and inside of legs. Do not immerse your dog in cold water! If your dog's temperature is over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) take your dog to a vet immediately.
Fever
A heatstroke is hyperthermia due to environmental causes. Fever is caused by your dog's immune response. Your dog might get a fever as a response to infection or other illness. Fever can be accompanied by loss of appetite, lethargy, changes in behavior and other signs. If your dog has a fever see a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause. As with heatstroke, temperature over 104 degrees Fahrenheit is an emergency and needs immediate medical attention.
Respiratory or cardiovascular disorders
There are a number or respiratory and cardiovascular disorders than can cause unexplained panting in your dog. If your dog is panting for no obvious reason, or continues to pant longer than ten minutes after exercise, talk to your veterinarian.
Pain
Your dog can be panting as a response to pain. If your dog is panting and salivating excessively, retching and has a distended abdomen, he might be suffering from bloat. Bloat is a life-threatening condition, take your dog to a vet immediately!
Other causes of pain can include pancreatitis or joint pain. Have your dog checked by a veterinarian to determine underlying cause.
Hormonal imbalances
Excessive panting can be a sign of some hormonal disorders, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. In these cases panting could be accompanied by other symptoms, such as weight gain, excessive drinking, coat changes, changes in appetite or behavioral changes.
Bottom Line
These are just some of the causes of excessive panting in dogs. If your dog is panting excessively, or without an obvious reason, take it seriously and consult your veterinarian. Excessive panting is an important symptom to keep in mind.
Jana
Panting in Dogs
Panting in Dogs – Is it Normal?
How to Determine When Dog Panting is a Bad Sign
Causes of Panting in Dogs
Excessive Panting in Dogs
Related Articles:
Know Your Dog's Enemies: Overweight
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- Versus Hyperthermia
A Word on Pain
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperthyroid
Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperadrenocorticism
Did I miss something? Have a question? Leave a comment.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Book Review: Planet Dog: A Doglopedia
By Sandra and Harry Choron
If you're looking for a gift for your dog-loving friend, or a neat addition to your own dog book library, this one might be just the right one for you.
Planet Dog: A Doglopedia is loaded with fun dog related facts, tips, trivia and more. My husband bought it for me on one of our camping trips. I really enjoyed reading it and we had quite a few good laughs. It offers some valuable information, but I don't recommend you take most of it too seriously. What it will do though, is to brighten your day and that counts for points too.
Reading this book will find out what are 9 dog superstitions, 12 urban dog legends, how to say 'dog' in 132 languages, what are 66 great dog movies and 5 really bad dog movies, weird dog laws and much more.
Enjoy!
Jana
Thursday, April 8, 2010
A Praise To Our Dog House DVM
Jasmine was feeling really poorly last couple days. Our rush visit to her vet reminded me yet again how blessed we were to have found him.
I have already written a number of articles on the importance of finding a great vet for your dog. But I don't think I can say it enough. It can really make a world of a difference. I know, because we have experienced it.
About a year and a half ago, with all Jasmine's health issues piling up and no viable diagnosis in sight I said then that what we needed was a dog House (see the link if you don't know the show).
By a complicated set of events so it happened that we actually did find one. Finding him was like entering a whole different world.
Not only that he is very smart, but he really cares about his patients. Not only that he knows all there is to know, but he is always searching for new and better treatments. He puts in the time, the care and the effort it takes, and then some more. He had diagnosed problems that went by our previous vets for years. He takes symptoms seriously. He listens to what we have to say. He spends the time to answer all our questions and discuss things with us. He will not stop until he has done everything and anything possible to make his patients' lives better.
Time and time again we are amazed and humbled by him. I seriously doubt there is another. But if there is, you owe it to your dog to find him. If you don't know whether you have found one, trust me, you haven't. Because when you do, you KNOW.
Thank you and thank you again for being who you are, and putting up with us, our dear dog House DVM!
Jana
Related articles:
It's Your Dog's Health
Does Your Vet Listen To You?
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
Veterinary Drive-Thru: Coming Soon To A Veterinary Hospital Near You!
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire!
I have already written a number of articles on the importance of finding a great vet for your dog. But I don't think I can say it enough. It can really make a world of a difference. I know, because we have experienced it.
About a year and a half ago, with all Jasmine's health issues piling up and no viable diagnosis in sight I said then that what we needed was a dog House (see the link if you don't know the show).
By a complicated set of events so it happened that we actually did find one. Finding him was like entering a whole different world.
Not only that he is very smart, but he really cares about his patients. Not only that he knows all there is to know, but he is always searching for new and better treatments. He puts in the time, the care and the effort it takes, and then some more. He had diagnosed problems that went by our previous vets for years. He takes symptoms seriously. He listens to what we have to say. He spends the time to answer all our questions and discuss things with us. He will not stop until he has done everything and anything possible to make his patients' lives better.
Time and time again we are amazed and humbled by him. I seriously doubt there is another. But if there is, you owe it to your dog to find him. If you don't know whether you have found one, trust me, you haven't. Because when you do, you KNOW.
Thank you and thank you again for being who you are, and putting up with us, our dear dog House DVM!
Jana
Related articles:
It's Your Dog's Health
Does Your Vet Listen To You?
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
Veterinary Drive-Thru: Coming Soon To A Veterinary Hospital Near You!
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Know Your Dog's Enemies: When Bad Breath Can Kill!
Fortunately, lately there is an increased awareness of the importance of taking care of our dog's teeth. I am not going to get into a controversial debate on raw versus commercial food here, nor am I going to try to settle what is the best way to keep your dog's teeth healthy. Let's leave that for another time.
What I'm trying to get across here is the impact poor dental care can have on your dog's overall health. I want you to understand that the issue of dental disease goes far beyond ugly looking teeth and bad breath.
When bad breath can kill!
This is a fundamental issue that many people do not fully realize. If your dog:
What’s the killer in our midst?
Did you know that simple ordinary gum disease could actually kill your dog? You’ve probably heard about it as periodontitis and gingivitis or just experienced it as plain old bad breath. Looking at the list above you may even be surprised to know that much of it is due to your dog’s (poor) oral hygiene.
Today I want to tell you about why and how cleaning up your dog’s mouth can lead to an infinitely more healthy beastie and more vibrantly happy life. Hey that means improving your life too, by the way.
Firstly, let’s start with you and a few universal (dental) truths!
It’s incredible that some people and animals enter a risky and even life-threatening situation if their mouths are not kept clean. Hey, you may even already know that. But firstly I am going to explain – in very simple terms – why this is true, so you really understand the gravity of this seemingly benign problem.
I think it would be very safe to say that we’ve all had bruises, cuts and grazes on many parts of our bodies. The body’s systems are truly amazing. Any infection that occurs is fought. Your body is able to mount an attack on whatever the antigen or foreign body is. In time, splinters are sequestered and released from the skin, bruises dissipate, cuts heal and so on.
The mouth however is completely different. Here’s why
When you have that infection in your body your immune system mounts an attack. It helps get rid of the aggressor and voila, everything gets cleared away (unless there are extenuating circumstances!).
In fact, look at your fingers now. You have finger nails. That’s no surprise. Actually a lot of people liken fingernails to teeth. But they are completely different in nature. This is crucial to understanding the importance of oral hygiene and its key to holistic health.
Your fingernails are part of your skin. They are a different arrangement of skin tissue. They are contiguous or an integral part of your skin. If you get a cut near your cuticle it clears up easily without any help from you.
Your teeth and of course your dog’s teeth are THE ONLY PART OF YOUR BODY that is NOT contiguous or an integral part of the surface. In other words, your teeth are really treated more as a FOREIGN body in your mouth rather than part of the gums and oral tissues even they form a vital part of the whole oral system.
What does this have to do with oral hygiene?
This element and its impact is absolutely essential to understand. When you eat food plaque colonies are established and food matter settles in around your teeth in your mouth. To keep your mouth in tip-top shape you have to get rid of the food and the plaque. It doesn’t happen by itself. It needs your help. This is why MECHANICAL removal of plaque, debris and food particles is crucial to good dental health. If you don’t remove it then what happens next may really surprise you. Your body actually sets up an inflammatory response.
Because your teeth are NOT part of the gums but essentially a foreign body, in order to get rid of the problem your own body’s immune system has NO CHOICE but to set up an AUTO-IMMUNE response to the plaque and the food. It is TRYING valiantly to get rid of the gunk that’s forming in the mouth. It can’t do it without the mechanical removal so it does the only other thing it can.
So what happens?
The products of this auto-immune response actually starts to destroy the gingivae. This is the least severe form of periodontal disease called gingivitis. This is where you (or your dog) has bad breath and some bleeding at the gum margins. Ever noticed a little blood when you spit out after brushing, or even tasted a little blood when you eat something a little hard? Now, I bet you brush your teeth at least once a day! What about your dog?
If the contaminants stay in contact with the gums for a long time and they are not mechanically removed then the disease starts to progress even further. The disease moves from just the edges of the gums and so-called periodontal pockets are formed. This is where bone destruction starts to occur. The gums start to get more and more spongy, the teeth start to lose their attachment to the bone and the bone literally starts to dissolve.
This is called periodontitis and is essentially very bad news. It is the start of tooth loss problems. Now it’s impossible to get rid of all the contaminants without professional help. And you know how expensive going to the dentist – let alone your veterinarian – can be?
You simply can’t clean down into the pockets without specialized equipment. And when you’re talking about helping your dog, now you even need an anesthetic. It all mounts up and it’s simply not worth it.
What can you do?
Firstly you can take as much care of your dog’s teeth (within reason and ability) as you do of your own.
Today I just want to talk about the dental aspects of these disease states. I could enter that age-old controversial debate about raw versus commercial food here. But I will avoid that – for now! I will leave that for another article because it really is worth exploring.
Clearly it means that you have to have some systems in place to ensure you can MECHANICALLY REMOVE the plaque, tartar (calculus or hardened plaque deposits) and generally just keep the mouth clean.
Here’s what you can do:
Brush your dog’s teeth with a tooth brush! This is not an easy thing to do but the earlier in your dog’s life you start this the better. Start when they are a puppy.
Feeding your dog raw meaty bones is another way that is believed to help remove plaque from teeth. But there is controversy as to whether giving your dog raw bones to chew on is either effective or even a further health risk.
Bottom line!
It doesn't really matter how you keep your dog's teeth clean, as long as you do.
So there you have it:
I hope I have helped you understand that dental disease goes far beyond ugly looking teeth and bad breath.
Thanks to a real live dentist!
I want to thank my friend Gabrielle who has a previous incarnation as a dentist. We wrote this article together. Actually I met Gabrielle in another joint project. I designed her book on Hot Yoga. And it’s gorgeous (even if I do say so myself).
There may even be some hot or Bikram yoga lovers out there who are also dog lovers. So if that’s you, then you can find Gabrielle’s Hot Yoga website and get access to loads of free resources and even see ‘our’ baby (her manual) at www.hotyogadoctor.com.
Finally…
I want to finish up with a few definitions to help you understand more of the article:
Your dental glossary
Plaque
This is where it all starts. Dental plaque is a soft film of debris, mucus and bacteria that accumulates on the teeth. Plaque can be easily removed mechanically, either by brushing or chewing (on raw meaty bones). Fighting plaque can be considered to be the first line of attack for dealing with the risks of oral disease.
Tartar
If the plaque is not removed, it hardens and forms calculus, also known as tartar. Tartar is firmly attached to the teeth and can no longer be removed easily. The rough surface of tartar also encourages buildup of further plaque and it is a downward spiral from there.
Dental plaque and tartar cause inflammation of gum tissue, resulting in gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis
The accumulation of the bacterial plaque leads to gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums/gingiva. It is a treatable early stage of dental disease which presents with red and swollen gums that bleed easily.
Periodontitis/Periodontal Disease
When inflammation spreads to other teeth supporting tissues, it is referred to as periodontitis. Periodontitis results in bone loss, loose painful teeth and teeth loss. Once bone loss occurs, periodontal disease can be controlled, but not cured. It must have professional intervention. Remember this can be super-expensive.
Dental disease can be very painful for your dog. This alone should be a good enough reason to take care of your dog's dental health. To get a full understanding of how extreme pain and suffering dental disease can cause to your dog, check out page 2-4 of Pain and Pets: Consumer guide.
Jana
Pets Have Teeth, Too!
Natural Veterinary Dental Care
Periodontal Disease in Dogs
How to Prevent Periodontitis in Dogs
Canine Periodontal Disease Can Lead to Life-Threatening Infections
What I'm trying to get across here is the impact poor dental care can have on your dog's overall health. I want you to understand that the issue of dental disease goes far beyond ugly looking teeth and bad breath.
When bad breath can kill!
This is a fundamental issue that many people do not fully realize. If your dog:
- Has bad breath
- Drools excessively
- Has discolored teeth
- Has red, swollen gums that bleed easily
- Has loose, broken or missing teeth
- Seems to have a sensitive, painful mouth
- Is reluctant to eat or chew
- Is often pawing at the mouth
- Is aggressive or seems to be depressed
- Has an abnormal discharge from tooth, nose or eyes
- Has digestive upsets…
What’s the killer in our midst?
Did you know that simple ordinary gum disease could actually kill your dog? You’ve probably heard about it as periodontitis and gingivitis or just experienced it as plain old bad breath. Looking at the list above you may even be surprised to know that much of it is due to your dog’s (poor) oral hygiene.
Today I want to tell you about why and how cleaning up your dog’s mouth can lead to an infinitely more healthy beastie and more vibrantly happy life. Hey that means improving your life too, by the way.
Firstly, let’s start with you and a few universal (dental) truths!
It’s incredible that some people and animals enter a risky and even life-threatening situation if their mouths are not kept clean. Hey, you may even already know that. But firstly I am going to explain – in very simple terms – why this is true, so you really understand the gravity of this seemingly benign problem.
I think it would be very safe to say that we’ve all had bruises, cuts and grazes on many parts of our bodies. The body’s systems are truly amazing. Any infection that occurs is fought. Your body is able to mount an attack on whatever the antigen or foreign body is. In time, splinters are sequestered and released from the skin, bruises dissipate, cuts heal and so on.
The mouth however is completely different. Here’s why
When you have that infection in your body your immune system mounts an attack. It helps get rid of the aggressor and voila, everything gets cleared away (unless there are extenuating circumstances!).
In fact, look at your fingers now. You have finger nails. That’s no surprise. Actually a lot of people liken fingernails to teeth. But they are completely different in nature. This is crucial to understanding the importance of oral hygiene and its key to holistic health.
Your fingernails are part of your skin. They are a different arrangement of skin tissue. They are contiguous or an integral part of your skin. If you get a cut near your cuticle it clears up easily without any help from you.
Your teeth and of course your dog’s teeth are THE ONLY PART OF YOUR BODY that is NOT contiguous or an integral part of the surface. In other words, your teeth are really treated more as a FOREIGN body in your mouth rather than part of the gums and oral tissues even they form a vital part of the whole oral system.
What does this have to do with oral hygiene?
This element and its impact is absolutely essential to understand. When you eat food plaque colonies are established and food matter settles in around your teeth in your mouth. To keep your mouth in tip-top shape you have to get rid of the food and the plaque. It doesn’t happen by itself. It needs your help. This is why MECHANICAL removal of plaque, debris and food particles is crucial to good dental health. If you don’t remove it then what happens next may really surprise you. Your body actually sets up an inflammatory response.
Because your teeth are NOT part of the gums but essentially a foreign body, in order to get rid of the problem your own body’s immune system has NO CHOICE but to set up an AUTO-IMMUNE response to the plaque and the food. It is TRYING valiantly to get rid of the gunk that’s forming in the mouth. It can’t do it without the mechanical removal so it does the only other thing it can.
So what happens?
The products of this auto-immune response actually starts to destroy the gingivae. This is the least severe form of periodontal disease called gingivitis. This is where you (or your dog) has bad breath and some bleeding at the gum margins. Ever noticed a little blood when you spit out after brushing, or even tasted a little blood when you eat something a little hard? Now, I bet you brush your teeth at least once a day! What about your dog?
If the contaminants stay in contact with the gums for a long time and they are not mechanically removed then the disease starts to progress even further. The disease moves from just the edges of the gums and so-called periodontal pockets are formed. This is where bone destruction starts to occur. The gums start to get more and more spongy, the teeth start to lose their attachment to the bone and the bone literally starts to dissolve.
This is called periodontitis and is essentially very bad news. It is the start of tooth loss problems. Now it’s impossible to get rid of all the contaminants without professional help. And you know how expensive going to the dentist – let alone your veterinarian – can be?
You simply can’t clean down into the pockets without specialized equipment. And when you’re talking about helping your dog, now you even need an anesthetic. It all mounts up and it’s simply not worth it.
What can you do?
Firstly you can take as much care of your dog’s teeth (within reason and ability) as you do of your own.
Today I just want to talk about the dental aspects of these disease states. I could enter that age-old controversial debate about raw versus commercial food here. But I will avoid that – for now! I will leave that for another article because it really is worth exploring.
Clearly it means that you have to have some systems in place to ensure you can MECHANICALLY REMOVE the plaque, tartar (calculus or hardened plaque deposits) and generally just keep the mouth clean.
Here’s what you can do:
Brush your dog’s teeth with a tooth brush! This is not an easy thing to do but the earlier in your dog’s life you start this the better. Start when they are a puppy.
Feeding your dog raw meaty bones is another way that is believed to help remove plaque from teeth. But there is controversy as to whether giving your dog raw bones to chew on is either effective or even a further health risk.
Bottom line!
It doesn't really matter how you keep your dog's teeth clean, as long as you do.
So there you have it:
I hope I have helped you understand that dental disease goes far beyond ugly looking teeth and bad breath.
Thanks to a real live dentist!
I want to thank my friend Gabrielle who has a previous incarnation as a dentist. We wrote this article together. Actually I met Gabrielle in another joint project. I designed her book on Hot Yoga. And it’s gorgeous (even if I do say so myself).
There may even be some hot or Bikram yoga lovers out there who are also dog lovers. So if that’s you, then you can find Gabrielle’s Hot Yoga website and get access to loads of free resources and even see ‘our’ baby (her manual) at www.hotyogadoctor.com.
Finally…
I want to finish up with a few definitions to help you understand more of the article:
Your dental glossary
Plaque
This is where it all starts. Dental plaque is a soft film of debris, mucus and bacteria that accumulates on the teeth. Plaque can be easily removed mechanically, either by brushing or chewing (on raw meaty bones). Fighting plaque can be considered to be the first line of attack for dealing with the risks of oral disease.
Tartar
If the plaque is not removed, it hardens and forms calculus, also known as tartar. Tartar is firmly attached to the teeth and can no longer be removed easily. The rough surface of tartar also encourages buildup of further plaque and it is a downward spiral from there.
Dental plaque and tartar cause inflammation of gum tissue, resulting in gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis
The accumulation of the bacterial plaque leads to gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums/gingiva. It is a treatable early stage of dental disease which presents with red and swollen gums that bleed easily.
Periodontitis/Periodontal Disease
When inflammation spreads to other teeth supporting tissues, it is referred to as periodontitis. Periodontitis results in bone loss, loose painful teeth and teeth loss. Once bone loss occurs, periodontal disease can be controlled, but not cured. It must have professional intervention. Remember this can be super-expensive.
Dental disease can be very painful for your dog. This alone should be a good enough reason to take care of your dog's dental health. To get a full understanding of how extreme pain and suffering dental disease can cause to your dog, check out page 2-4 of Pain and Pets: Consumer guide.
Jana
Pets Have Teeth, Too!
Natural Veterinary Dental Care
Periodontal Disease in Dogs
How to Prevent Periodontitis in Dogs
Canine Periodontal Disease Can Lead to Life-Threatening Infections
Friday, April 2, 2010
More Than Meets The Eye: Dog Language And Beyond Part I
Ever since I got involved with dogs, learning to understand them has become my quest. Understanding your dog is crucial if you want to share a fulfilling life with him. Miscommunication can hurt any relationship. If you don't understand your dog and your dog doesn't understand you, your lives will be filled with frustration and disappointments.
It seems that the main focus today is on training our dogs. Certainly, training your dog is important.
The two fundamental questions in dog training are these:
What do I teach my dog?
How do I teach my dog?
What do I teach my dog?
Training your dog doesn't just mean teaching him tricks. Teaching your dog tricks is fun and it does have it's value. But it is important to go beyond that. What you need to teach your dog is what is his place in your pack, what are your expectations of him and what can he expect from you.
Your dog needs to have an understanding of what you want him to do in all situations of your daily lives. You need to figure out what it is and then explain this to your dog. Which brings us to the question:
How do I teach my dog?
The answer to this is a bit more complicated. Even though many dog training methods share similar principles, there seem to be as many opinions on how to train a dog as there are experts. I recommend doing what I did – check them out and pick the one that feels right to you.
Why isn't there just one way of training a dog which all experts could agree on? That is a good question. It would certainly make our lives easier. But if the experts couldn't disagree with one another, what would be the fun in that?
I think the real reason behind that is, though, that the interpretation of dogs' thinking vary from expert to expert. Here is a good example. Should you be the alpha dog or not? And what does being the alpha dog mean? Will your dog accept you as the alpha even though you're a different species? Watch the experts argue over that ...
What I find interesting is that in the olden days people never heard of these things and yet men and dogs seemed to get along much better. Why would that be? Does our way of living today put additional strain on our relationship with dogs? Do our expectations make less and less sense to our dogs?
Starting with the basics
There are some things all experts seem to agree on, so why not start with those. Starting with basic understanding of dogs' language will help you understand what your dog is saying. There are some very good books on dog language available, some of which I reviewed in my earlier posts. These should give you a solid foundation to build on.
What you're dog is saying and what he is feeling are very closely related. So you are now another step closer to understanding your dog.
This will also help you to communicate to your dog more clearly and you are off to a good start. This will make any teaching much easier.
Back in my old country, I went to take some English courses. Our teacher was from Canada. He didn't speak a word of Czech, and we didn't speak a word of English. How do you think our classes went? I can tell you, it was a quite a struggle to learn anything at all.
Learning from your dog
The same applies to learning dog language from your dog without a decent foundation. However, once you know some basics, you can learn a lot very quickly by observing your dog, other dogs, and their interactions. Watch how your dog interacts with you or other dogs with the 'dictionary' in your mind.
Understanding is the key
Here is a good example of what happens if you don't understand what your dog is saying. You come home from work and your dog is really excited to see you. He'll come running up and pee. You get upset that your supposedly house-trained dog peed in the house and you yell at him. And he pees some more. Now you're really angry that your dog is trying to spite you.
But your dog is not trying to spite you. What he's doing is submissive peeing. Do you think that getting angry with him is going to help you to teach him not to do that?
Understanding is the prerequisite to teaching.
You are not alone. Your dog wants to make your relationship work at least as much as you do. But if there is a language barrier between you, you won't get very far.
Learn to speak dog. You and your dog will both be happier for that.
Jana
Related Articles:
A Word on Training
Book Review: Tail Talk
Book Review: How To Speak Dog
Book Review: How Dogs Think
Book Review: The Other End Of The Leash
Book Review: On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
It seems that the main focus today is on training our dogs. Certainly, training your dog is important.
The two fundamental questions in dog training are these:
What do I teach my dog?
How do I teach my dog?
What do I teach my dog?
Training your dog doesn't just mean teaching him tricks. Teaching your dog tricks is fun and it does have it's value. But it is important to go beyond that. What you need to teach your dog is what is his place in your pack, what are your expectations of him and what can he expect from you.
Your dog needs to have an understanding of what you want him to do in all situations of your daily lives. You need to figure out what it is and then explain this to your dog. Which brings us to the question:
How do I teach my dog?
The answer to this is a bit more complicated. Even though many dog training methods share similar principles, there seem to be as many opinions on how to train a dog as there are experts. I recommend doing what I did – check them out and pick the one that feels right to you.
Why isn't there just one way of training a dog which all experts could agree on? That is a good question. It would certainly make our lives easier. But if the experts couldn't disagree with one another, what would be the fun in that?
I think the real reason behind that is, though, that the interpretation of dogs' thinking vary from expert to expert. Here is a good example. Should you be the alpha dog or not? And what does being the alpha dog mean? Will your dog accept you as the alpha even though you're a different species? Watch the experts argue over that ...
What I find interesting is that in the olden days people never heard of these things and yet men and dogs seemed to get along much better. Why would that be? Does our way of living today put additional strain on our relationship with dogs? Do our expectations make less and less sense to our dogs?
Starting with the basics
There are some things all experts seem to agree on, so why not start with those. Starting with basic understanding of dogs' language will help you understand what your dog is saying. There are some very good books on dog language available, some of which I reviewed in my earlier posts. These should give you a solid foundation to build on.
What you're dog is saying and what he is feeling are very closely related. So you are now another step closer to understanding your dog.
This will also help you to communicate to your dog more clearly and you are off to a good start. This will make any teaching much easier.
Back in my old country, I went to take some English courses. Our teacher was from Canada. He didn't speak a word of Czech, and we didn't speak a word of English. How do you think our classes went? I can tell you, it was a quite a struggle to learn anything at all.
Learning from your dog
The same applies to learning dog language from your dog without a decent foundation. However, once you know some basics, you can learn a lot very quickly by observing your dog, other dogs, and their interactions. Watch how your dog interacts with you or other dogs with the 'dictionary' in your mind.
Understanding is the key
Here is a good example of what happens if you don't understand what your dog is saying. You come home from work and your dog is really excited to see you. He'll come running up and pee. You get upset that your supposedly house-trained dog peed in the house and you yell at him. And he pees some more. Now you're really angry that your dog is trying to spite you.
But your dog is not trying to spite you. What he's doing is submissive peeing. Do you think that getting angry with him is going to help you to teach him not to do that?
Understanding is the prerequisite to teaching.
You are not alone. Your dog wants to make your relationship work at least as much as you do. But if there is a language barrier between you, you won't get very far.
Learn to speak dog. You and your dog will both be happier for that.
Jana
Related Articles:
A Word on Training
Book Review: Tail Talk
Book Review: How To Speak Dog
Book Review: How Dogs Think
Book Review: The Other End Of The Leash
Book Review: On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
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