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Greetings and welcome to the Fall edition of the Happy Tails Dog Spa™ newsletter. We had a great summer splashing in the pools and enjoying the sunshine and we look forward to the cool breezes of the fall. We hope you enjoy our newsletter, please feel free to forward it to your friends.
If you or anyone you know is interesting in opening your own Happy Tails Dog Spa™ we are now offering franchises. For more information please contact us via email.
It seems hard to believe that an hour visit to the veterinary office, a day at the groomer's or a short stay at the boarding facility can result in a week of coughing episodes. What's going on? Your have a healthy dog, and your vaccinations are current. Why did your dog get kennel-cough when you, the pet owner, have done everything you're supposed to do to protect your pet from infection? Understanding kennel-cough is the key to its management.
The two operative words with kennel-cough are complex and management. Kennel-cough is not a respiratory infection caused by one particular disease-causing entity but rather a respiratory disease that may be caused by several different viruses, bacteria, fungi and mycoplasm organisms. Sometimes these infectious agents work in conjunction with another. Effective vaccines are available and important to minimize and control infection by a few of the viruses and one of the bacterial causes. However, vaccines are not available for all causes and may not be effective under all circumstances.
So, the message is, "Wherever dogs congregate to enjoy each other's company, share their unique social habits and forget to cover their mouths while coughing, there will be dogs that suffer the effects of kennel-cough and pet owners will experience the angst of waking to disturbing coughs in the middle of the night." This is an unfortunate fact of life, but there are things you can do to help lessen your dog's chances of contracting an infection.
If your dog is going to be around other dogs, keep his or her vaccines up-to-date. This may include a twice- yearly veterinary visit for the Bordetella vaccine (check with your veterinarian). Secondly, pick a boarding facility that is clean, well staffed and where there is an obvious management effort to minimize the spread of respiratory infection. If you board at an animal hospital, make sure there are physically and environmentally separate facilities for boarders away from hospital patients. And lastly, remember that most cases of respiratory infections are self-limiting and need only minimal or no treatment, not unlike the colds children acquire from being around their schoolmates.
Article contributed by Kim Schiller
DVM Diplomate
American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Colvin Run Veterinary Clinic, PLC
Even though dogs are highly social animals they can learn to handle being alone for moderate periods of time. Some dogs develop a behavioral issue called Separation Anxiety which can manifest itself in various forms depending on the dog: urination and defecation, destruction of windows and door frames (ingress and egress), vocalization (barking) or self- mutilation, whenever the dog is left alone, even for a short time.
For dogs that have a tendency to get Separation Anxiety it is often triggered by either a high contrast situation - months of the owner home all day, followed by sudden eight-hour absences - or some sort of life change - rehoming, a stay at a boarding kennel, a death of a key family member or major change in routine.
Separation Anxiety is both preventable and responds well to treatment. The treatment approach depends on whether the case is mild or severe. If your dog has Separation Anxiety the first step is recognizing that dogs with this problem are not misbehaving out of boredom, spite or for fun. Dogs with this problem should never be punished when the owner comes home and finds the "offense". Also, crating a dog with this issue to stop the problem, (such as destruction), particularly a dog that has not been crated in the past, will usually worsen the Separation Anxiety. This article deals with the preventative aspect of Separation Anxiety and dogs with mild Separation Anxiety.
The best time to fix a problem is before it starts. In preventing Separation Anxiety, realize that puppies and newly adopted dogs are at a higher risk to develop Separation Anxiety if they are smothered with constant attention their first few days at home. You need to teach your dog to be alone - while you are there, so your dog will know what to expect and how to act when you are gone. It is better to leave for brief periods often so your dog learns that departures are no big deal and predict easy, tolerable lengths of absence: "whenever you leave you come back!"
Give your dog both physical exercise and mental work to do. Not only does problem solving increase confidence and independence, it is mentally fatiguing and so increases the likelihood that your dog will rest quietly when he is left alone. Also try stuffing all or part of his food into a Twist-N-Treat toy or a Kong toy. The more activities and toys are incorporated into his life, the less he will depend on human social contact as sole stimulation. Soften the blow of your departure by providing extremely enticing stuffed toys for him to unpack, such as the Twist-N-Treat toy or Kong.
If your dog has mild Separation Anxiety, you will need to reduce the contrast between you being home and being gone. You do not want your dog to feel the world is "wonderful" only when you are there. Stop your dog from following you around the house (use baby gates if necessary) and do short 5 to 10 seconds down stays (if your dog can do them) so you can walk out of the room and back. Do many brief (1 to 30 seconds) absences on departures or arrivals. Make sure you are low keyed, with no fan fare. Also continue to increase the amount of physical exercise and mental stimulation your dog receives so he will learn to appropriately entertain himself without human social contact.
This article does not deal with severe cases of Separation Anxiety. The informal interventions above will usually not help with severe cases. What is needed is a formal systematic desensitization program to change your dog's involuntary emotional reaction to departure. This program has a high success rate; however, it is a huge amount of work for the dog's owner. If interested in setting up such a program you can contact C&C PALS at 703-876-0284 or visit our web site www.positiveK9training.com.
Article contributed by Carole Peeler
Owner C&C PALS Dog Training
Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young. We've got our whole
lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out
lightbulb?
Border Collie: Just one. And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.
German Shepherd: I'll guard the lightbulb while you decide. Back off!
Dachshund: I can't reach the stupid light!
Toy Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border collie's ear and he'll do it. By
the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
Rottweiler: Go Ahead! Make me!
Shi-tzu: Puh-leeze, dah-ling. Leave it for the servants.
Lab: Oh, me, ME!!! Pleeeeeeze let ME change the bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh?
Huh? Can I?
Malamute: Let the Border collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.
Newfoundland: I'm with the malamute, after my nap that is!
Jack Russell Terrier: I can reach it! I just KNOW I can reach it! Another
twenty jumps, and it's mine, ALL mine!!
Mastiff: Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Is there a ball involved?
Weimeraner: If Mommy can help, I can definitely do it!
Terrier: Outta my way, someone get me a ladder!
Great Dane: I can help, just stand on my back!
Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?
Pointer: I see it, there it is, rrrrriiiiiiight there.
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Send your friend to Happy Tails and once they attend a day of daycare or boarding you'll receive a $25.00 gift certificate!
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Dear Griffin,
With the recent addition to your family, I thought you might be able to help us, as
we are about to have a baby! We would like to know how we should prepare our first
"baby," Rusty, who is a very pampered Shih Tzu. We want to make sure that he knows
we still love him, and that he is comfortable with all the new sounds and smells.
The Halston Family
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Dear Halstons,
Congratulations! This is a very exciting time for your family, and there are a
number of things you can do to help Rusty get ready for his new brother or sister.
Before my "brother" arrived, my Mom helped me prepare for my new role as a big
brother in a number of ways. She played baby sounds such as gurgling, cooing, and
crying for me so I could get used to it. She played it at different times during
the day and always talked to me and gave me a treat. I learned that these noises
were a good thing. My Mom and Dad also set-up his nursery ahead of time and let me
give everything a good sniff down, and I was also allowed to go in the room any time
I wanted.
The big day arrived, and my Dad came home first to tell me all about him. He also
brought one of the blankets that had been wrapped around the baby. I was able to
sniff it all I wanted. A few days later, my Mom came home and petted me and talked
to me until I was relaxed. (I hadn't seen her in 4 days!) Then, they brought in
the baby! He was really cute, and smelled new. From the moment he got home, I
wanted to be involved in everything they did with him. I followed my Mom and Dad
all around the house, and often stayed next to the bassinet when he was sleeping. I
just couldn't get enough of him! My Mom was a little worried that I would feel left
out, so she made sure to spend time with me, petting me, and giving me lots of
attention. I was also able to sniff him as much as I wanted. Unfortunately, what I
really wanted to do was lick his face, but I am still not allowed to do that! One
of the things that my Mom and Dad never did, was scold me around the baby. I was
told to get down a few times, and "no licking," but for the most part, they helped
me understand that having a baby around is really great. Of course, our baby is now
eight months old, and is starting to grab my ears, but that is for another column!
Good Luck!
Griffin
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Newly expanded to a little over 1100 square feet, the Lounge is a great place for our doggy visitors to play and rest. The room features 3 futons for snuggling or napping, a large open area for playing with friends, and there's even a television for those who miss the comforts of home.
See more in our Lounge photo gallery
Presenting Doggy-Grams!
There is a new feature available on the Happy Tails Dog Spa™ website - Doggy-Grams! Choose any photo from our photo gallery to send to your friends and loved ones via email. You can even choose your colors and a matching stamp. The photo gallery is updated regularly, so be sure to stop by often!
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