On Sunday, we had a very traumatic experience at my house.  One of my boarders attacked another dog and wouldn’t let go.  In my five years of boarding dogs, I’ve never seen a dog fight that vicious and last that long.  Let me tell you, it was very freighting.   The two dogs in question were a Yellow Lab and an American Bulldog – both females.

Cocoa Bean the American Bulldog

Guess which one was the aggressor?  The Yellow Lab.  Bailey was an otherwise sweet,  obedient lab that according to her owner has never showed aggression before.  For some reason, she didn’t like Cocoa Bean.

Needless to say, this incident was very traumatic for me and my family and of course the owners of both dogs.  It’s not easy to learn that your dog attacked a dog and it’s difficult to see your dog with puncture wounds and abrasions.  Don’t worry, I took her to the vet and she is doing just fine.

This incident drives home the point that it isn’t the breed, but how the dogs relate to each other.   Who knows why Cocoa Bean brought out this behavior in Bailey.  We all love our dogs like they were part of the family, but we must always remember that they are animals with animal instincts.

Usually when there’s a scuffle between two dogs, I can break it up with vocal commands or squirting water in their face, but this time was different.  I tried everything to get the dog off, but nothing helped, so I have to admit, I was at a loss.

So, I thought I’d do some research and find out what I could have done in this situation and pass that information along to you.

How to break up a dog fight

Of course it’s always best to avoid them getting into a fight in the first place.  Their body language plays a big part in deciphering their behavior.

According to Cherie Langlois, here’s some clues to know when a fight might break out:

“A hard, unwavering, targeted stare.
Dominance posturing, such as mounting.
Stiff body movements.
Extreme body language: the tail held stiffly up or down, lips pulled tight against the teeth”.

I can say from experience that Bailey did exhibit this kind of behavior.  I’ve seen this behavior before and nothing ever came from it.  One piece of advice –  please don’t antagonize the dogs – STAY CALM and try to diffuse the situation calmly.  They’re already on a trigger hair at this point and you don’t want to make it worse.  If a fight does break out, please do not try to pull them apart by their collars.  Don’t put your hands anywhere near their mouths.  You will most likely get bit yourself!

If they are already fighting, you can try:

Bailey the Yellow Lab

Spraying water in their faces

Some has said that Citronella Spray helps.  It’s a safer alternative to Pepper Spray.

Cattle Prods and Shock Collars, however this can put them in more of a fight mode and try to attack the prod or think that the other dog is hurting them and want to fight more.  You can condition them to the collars and prods, but not in the middle of a fight.  Work with them beforehand.

The most effective and safe way to stop a fight requires  two people:  Leerburg Training explains it this way,  “Each person grabs the back feet of one of the dogs. The dogs back feet are then picked up like a wheelbarrow. With the legs up, both dogs are then pulled apart.

Once the dog fight is broken up and the dogs pulled apart , it is critical that the people do not release the dogs or the dog fight will begin again. The two people need to start turning in a circle, or slowly swinging the dogs in a circle while they back away from the other dog. This stops the dog from curling and coming back and biting the person holding their legs.

By circling the dog has to sidestep with its front feet or it will fall on its chin. As long as you slowly continue to back and circle, the dog cannot do any damage to you. To insure that the fight will not begin all over again when you release the dogs, one of the dogs needs to be dragged into an enclosure (i.e. a kennel, the garage, another room) before the dog is released. If you do not do this, the dogs will often charge back and start fighting again or if you release the dog to quickly the dog will turn and attack the person who had his feet.”

Do you have effective ways of breaking up a dog fight?  I’d love to hear your stories.

Every year before my dog Nikki went deaf, she would freak out when the fireworks started popping on the 4th of July.  She’d shake, whimper and pant.  It sounds like a 1950’s dance, but to her, it was no dance or laughing matter.  Dogs can become extremely stressed and frightened when the fireworks start and may exhibit strange behaviors.   My brother in laws dog used to go into the garage and hide under the truck and just whimper until it was over.

Taking precautions can go a long way to help  calm your pets.  Here’s a few tips to help make the 4th of July a safe, fun day for you and your pets.

If at all possible, stay at home. Make them comfy with their favorite dog bed or blanket with plenty of water preferably in the quietest room in the house.  I’m fortunate to live in an area where they still allow us to buy fireworks.  Our neighborhood goes out to our cul-de-sac to light the fireworks which is great because I can go in and check on the dogs to make sure they’re OK.

If you can’t stay home, put them in their crate with a nice bone to chew on or favorite treat.  If you don’t use a crate, keep them inside the home and close the doggie door.  Dogs, when frightened, will chew through anything to escape.  If you have to leave them outside, make sure your fences and gates are secure and there’s no possibility of escape.  In the case that they do escape, please have their  microchip information updated and they have their collar on with all identification.

Put on classical music or a CD especially made to calm dogs.  Animal Music Therapy CD’s are designed to relieve animal stress.

Try alternative holistic remedies such as our natural Spot Organics Chill Essential Oil that’s specifically made to calm dogs in all kinds of situations.  Also, the Lettuce Flower Essences from Spirit in Nature can be used as a calming effect.

Leave the radio or TV on.  If they fireworks are far away, the sound will help to drown out the noise.

Do you have any remedies that have helped to calm your pet when the fireworks start?  I’d love to hear your stories.

Wishing you all a safe, fun 4th of July celebration!

Yesterday I did my first telephone interview with Marilyn Tokach.  She’s an animal communicator and dog Trainer.  Marilyn has  been all around this country training other people how to communicate with their animals.  She comes with over 20+ years of experience and is very active with animal related issues and rescue shelters.

I’m always fascinated by alternative ways of doing things and believe that’s it’s all possible.  You need to keep an open mind and use your own intuitive powers to hone in on the messages you may be getting from your animals.

Marilyn can not only help with dogs, but with all your animals.  She also becomes another layer for Veterinarians and helps them put the pieces together for a more clear diagnosis.  She does not diagnose diseases herself and always recommends that you listen to the advice of your Veterinarian.

Helping with end of life issues is a very popular request from pet owners.  I just went through that last August and I wish I would have known about her then.  It would have made the transition so much easier.  As you will hear, Marilyn can also speak to your animals spirit after they are gone.  I think I’m going to take her up on that.  My dog was very special to me and I’d love to hear what she has to say.

So, if your having behavior problems, health problems or just want to know what your pet is thinking, please take a listen and hear how she got started communicating with animals and how she knows what they are feeling.

You can find Marilyn’s website at Pure-Spirit and from there, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening.  You can listen to my interview with Marilyn Tokach here.

I recently did a dog walk with Ty a sweet Border Collie/Queensland healer, and realized that the weather was changing.  I was sweating and could really feel the heat.  That reminded me of when I lived in Mesa, Arizona and had to walk my dog Nikki before 6:30 am or after it got dark due to the excessive heat.  It could be over 90 degrees by 7:00 am!  I’m glad I’m back in California.

Sweet Ty

It’s getting to be that time when we have to rearrange our walking schedule so we don’t over heat our dogs and cause them to have heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

What is Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia)?

Heat stroke is when a dogs body temperature is severely elevated over 104 degrees.  This usually occurs in the Spring and Summer months when the temperature is warmer and your dog isn’t used to the weather yet.  This condition can be fatal, so please take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible if they exhibit any of the follow symptoms.

What are the symptoms of Heat Stroke?

• Body Temperature is over 104 degrees

• Your pet collapses

• They are acting like they’re depressed or in a stupor

• They have bloody diarrhea or are vomiting

• Their capillary refill time is to quick.  When you press your finger on your pets gums they will turn white.  Take your finger off the gum and they should turn pink again.  This should take 1 to 2 seconds. If less than 1 second or over 3 seconds, it is deemed an emergency.

• Difficulty breathing or panting

• Increased Heart Rate – Puppies 1 year and younger should have a heat beat of 120-160 beats per minute – Small dogs, 30 pounds or less should have a heartbeat of 100-140 beats per minute and larger dogs, more than 30 pounds should have a heartbeat of 60-100 BPM.

• Increased Respiratory Rate – Normal breathing rates should be between 10 to 30 breaths per minute.  When panting heavily, it could go up to 200 breaths per minute.

• Check their gums and inner eyelids.  If they are redder than usual, or if you see blue, pale, yellow, dark red, white or brown, it’s an emergency.

• Heavy Salivation

Thanks Buddy, the water feels good!

What can you do?

• Take your dog’s temperature  – should be under 104 degrees

• Spray your dog with a garden hose for a minute or two, but make sure you run it for a while so that you’re not spraying him with hot water.  Take his temperature again.

• Soak towels in cool water and apply them to his head, neck, feet, chest and abdomen.

• Run 70% isopropyl alcohol on his paws, however do not use more than one pint as it might be toxic if they lick their paws and ingest the alcohol.

• Turn on a fan and let the breeze flow over your dog.

• Take your dog to the nearest veterinarian even if you get your dogs temperature down.  The effects can lead to sever medical conditions such as kidney failure and neurological problems to name a couple.

Other Tips for keeping your dog cool in the Summer months

• Make sure you have plenty of fresh water on hand.  Dogs can only get rid of heat by panting and through the pads of their feet as they do not have sweat glands.

• Never leave your dog in a car even with the windows cracked.  In Summer months, the car can reach temperature of over 120 degrees and can be fatal to dogs and people alike.

• Short snouted dogs such as Bulldogs, Boxers and Pugs can get heat stroke at much lower temperatures.  Always walk them in the early morning or later at night.
  

  Man, it's hot out here!

• Make sure your dog gets acclimated to warmer weather.  Running and exercise that you used to do in the Winter may not be a good idea with higher temperatures.

• Make sure your dog has ample shade and/or shelter if left outside with plenty of water.

• If appropriate, shave thick coated dogs in the Summer months.

• Dogs with a history of seizures, upper airway, heart or lung disease may be more susceptible to heat stroke.

• Consider getting dog booties if you have to walk on concrete.

• Don’t forget your sunscreen for dogs.  They can burn just like people do especially if they have short coats with exposed skin.

Dogs, fun and Summer go hand in hand, but adding a little caution into the mix is a can’t hurt.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Smart Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting Service

Spring is here and the flowers are blooming and the plants are coming to life.  Are you enjoying it or are your eyes watering and you’re sneezing?  Yes, allergy season is upon us.  Luckily, I only get mild symptoms, but for some, it’s a miserable time.

How about your pets – do they get allergies?  Of course they do.  Grasses, insects, molds and weeds to name a few can lead your pet to scratch, bite and sometimes cause open sores on their bodies.

When my  late dog Nikki was little, she used to scratch all the time and get hot spots.  I was a new dog owner and would literally follow her around to see where she was scratching and spray some medicine on it.  It got to the point that she would stop scratching when she saw me coming or would go out of site to scratch!  I was very annoying .  Around 4 years of age, she grew out of it and didn’t have any more problems with the hot spots.

My little Nikki in her later years

The most common types of allergies in dogs are Food, Contact, Inhalant , Bacterial, and Flea Allergies.

Food Allergy

Pet food has come a long way to removing ingredients that pets can be allergic to such as corn, wheat and grains.  It is believed that if they are introduced to these too early of an age they may always be allergic to it.  Mold is sometime inherited with grains because they are stored for long periods of time in grain silos.  The symptoms from food allergies usually manifest themselves as digestive problems or skin problems.

To treat food allergies, you have to start by eliminating the food they’re eating and give them a chicken and rice diets (or whatever your vet recommends).  Vets can also prescribe hypoallergenic packaged dog food.  Slowly, one by one start adding in other foods.  Starting your pet out in life with  a nutrient rich, holistic pet food may be your best defense to food allergies.

Contact Allergy

Contact Allergies are the least common type of allergies.  This is usually caused by a chemical such as  flea products, disinfectants and even types of bedding such as beds filled with cedar.  To treat  a contact allergy is to remove the substance that’s causing it.  However, if it’s not readily apparent what the substance is, you might have to do some detective work.

Flea - A face only a mother could love

Inhalant Allergy

Inhalant Allergies are triggered by the things we get allergies from, pollen from trees, grasses and weeds, mold, mildew and dust mites.  Instead of getting a runny nose and sneezing, dogs manifest their symptoms through their skin.  This can cause itching, scratching, shaking their heads or rubbing their ears or muzzle and licking.  Depending on what they are allergic to, symptoms could last for a few weeks for seasonal allergies or longer.

To find out what is causing the allergy, your pet can go through testing by injecting possible allergens, or do a blood test and send it to a lab so they determine what your pet is allergic to.

Treatments for Inhalant allergies  are:

Anti-Inflammatory therapy using steroids/cortisone.  This will block the allergic reaction in most cases.

Flea Free Shampoo

Shampoo Therapy: Shampooing frequently with a hypo allergic or natural dog shampoo made for this reason can help considerably.  Antigens can be absorbed through the skin and it is thought that frequent shampooing can lessen the absorption and also quickly relieve the itching by removing surface antigens.

Hypo sensitization is basically allergy shots.  By giving your pet small amounts of the antigen, it’s hoped that weekly shots can retrain the body’s immune system to become desensitized and lessening the effects of the allergy substance.

Flea Allergy

By far flea allergies are the most common type.  To most dogs fleas are just a pain in the rump, but for some, it can cause intense itching and cause them to scratch until they have an open sore.  This in turn can cause other secondary infections.  If your dog in severely allergic by the fleas saliva, it’s best to remove all fleas.  Easier said than done.  There are several spot on medications you can purchase such as Frontline, however spot on flea medication has come under some scrutiny in the past months.  There are natural flea shampoos,  and Diatomaceous Earth.   In some cases steroids can be prescribed.

Bacterial Allergy

Staph bacteria is common in dogs.  For some it’s not a problem, but if their immune system is comprised, it can become a severe problem and invade the deeper layers of the skin.  This infection is called pyoderma.  The symptoms are hair loss, raised circular lesions, flaky skin.  This staph infection can occur as a secondary infection from the scratching and itching from other allergic reactions.

The treatment is usually antibiotics, topical and oral medications.  Providing a natural, holistic pet food can bolster the immune system so that a staph infection can’t escalate.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting Service

Waggy’s Holistic Pet Food