Dog Sickness Blog

Most of my posts so far have been about how to diagnose and cure dog sickness.  This one is going to be just a little different.  Today we’re going to discuss how to stop dog barking.

You see, I live with my family in a very close neighborhood.  The houses are all close by.  Sort of like talking to Tim the Toolman’s neighbor.

This close proximity means we hear alot of noise.

Late last night I heard bark, bark, bark, bark…  It just wouldn’t stop.  Finally I got up and wrote this simple guide on how to stop dog barking.

I have sent this to my neighbor.  Feel free to send it to whomever you know.

Why do dogs bark?

Barking is one of the most common complaints of dog owners and their neighbors!  But barking is natural. It can serve as a territorial warning signal to other dogs and pack members. Dogs may vocalize when separated from their pack or family members. Barking also occurs during times of indecision, anxiety, or frustration. Medical problems can also contribute to vocalization, especially in the older dog.

How can barking problems be prevented?

Socialization and habituation: Get puppies used to as many new people, animals, situations and noises as possible. This will minimize the amount or intensity of alarm barking. Barking should only be allowed to alert owners and then be controlled and stopped before the dog becomes agitated and out of control. Owner control, training and leadership are essential.

How can I stop my dog barking when I leave?

Effective crate training techniques when your dog is first obtained, should decrease the dog’s anxiety when it is left alone in its crate. Your dog should gradually be taught to spend longer periods of time away from you. Obtaining two dogs may provide company for each other and may reduce distress vocalization and departure anxiety. If your dog has been barking when you leave for some time, he may be suffering from separation anxiety and you should consult your veterinarian for treatment options.

My dog constantly barks. What does she want?

Attention getting barking can be problematic and is often reinforced by owners giving in to their dog’s demands. Allowing a barking dog indoors, or feeding, patting, praising, playing with, giving a toy, or even just going to a barking dog to try and quiet it down, are just a few examples of how an owner may unknowingly reinforce barking. Never reward barking with any type of attention, even occasionally.

How can I train my dog to be ‘quiet’?

Training the dog to a ;quiet’ command is an invaluable aid for controlling undesirable barking. You must find an effective means of quieting the dog, which should be preceded with a command such as ‘quiet’. Just loudly telling your pet to ‘be quiet’, will probably not be understood, especially if silence does not follow the verbal command. In fact, yelling may just add to the noise and anxiety, thereby encouraging your dog to bark more.

One of the most practical techniques for teaching a dog to cease barking on command, is to first, be able to command the dog to begin barking on cue. Use a stimulus that will cause the dog to bark and pair it with a ‘bark’ command. Numerous repetitions allow the dog to associate the word ‘bark’ or ’speak’ with the action. Dogs that bark on command can then be taught to turn off the barking by removing the cue or stimulus, and giving a ‘hush’ or ‘quiet’ command just before the barking subsides. As soon as your dog is quiet, give a favored treat or reward.

It can be difficult or impractical to teach a dog to be ‘quiet’ on command if the barking cannot be predicted or ‘turned on’ or if it is too intense.

Another method to teach a “quiet” command is to wait until your dog is barking, say to a doorbell and while he is barking place a very tasty food treat by his nose. Most dogs will stop barking to sniff the treat. At the same time you must say the word you will use for quiet, such as ’silent’, ‘hush’ etc. When the dog is quiet (as they will be because dogs cannot sniff and bark at the same time) you can praise him, say ‘good, quiet’ and give the treat. Again, as with all new tasks, numerous repetitions are necessary for lasting learning.

Alternately, distraction or remote punishment devices (see below) can be used to disrupt the barking. One of the most effective means of interrupting barking and ensuring quiet is a remote leash and head halter. A pull on the leash disrupts the dog and closes the mouth, which should also coincide with a verbal command such as ‘quiet’ or ‘hush’. Quiet behavior can then be reinforced first by releasing and then giving a reinforcer such as praise or food if the dog remains quiet. Soon the dog should associate the closed mouth and the word prompt with the absence of noise and begin to stop barking when given the verbal prompt alone.

What are my chances of correcting my dog’s barking problem?

Chances are good for most barking problems. But the household situation in which the dog resides may make it extremely difficult to correct completely. Even a small amount of barking could disturb a sleeping baby, or upset neighbors, (particularly in apartments or townhouses). When trying to resolve barking problems, the motivation for the barking behavior is an important component. Some stimuli are so strong that it will be difficult to stop the barking behavior. You need sufficient time to implement the correction training.

This is the end of Part 1 of “Stop Dog Barking - A Simple Guide”.  Next time, we’ll look at the steps you need to take to get your dog to stop barking for good.

Its Your Pet - Learn How to Heal Them At Home!

Author: Dr Andrew Jones

Dr Jones offers a Free Course showing you more safe, natural, and effective ways to heal your dog at home.

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We’ve talked quite a bit about dog sickness in prior posts, but nothing about dog arthritis. Dog arthritis (often misspelled, dog arthritus) is a major problem among older dogs, especially big dogs. And quite often the condition goes undiagnosed.

Here’s a good example of that.

One night my phone rang about 1:30 AM.

An injured dog dragged himself into the “human” emergency department at our local hospital. They suspected he got hit by a car.

They called me in as he was in need of veterinary care, and none of the staff could tend to him as they were too busy.

He had no form of identification.

I originally examined him at the “human” hospital.

He was an older Lab cross, who was already severely arthritic, and could not stand on his right rear foot. I took him with me.

X-rays at my practice, the “animal” hospital, showed no fractures, but did show severe arthritis. Dog arthritis looked to be the real culprit here and not a car accident.

I gave him some pain medication, a big comfy bed, and monitored him for any signs of internal bleeding or other internal injuries.

He responded well to the pain meds and soon went to sleep.

I suspect that whoever his owners are, they had never given him anything for his arthritis. Dogs should be given one of the following holistic treatments, even if you suspect arthritis.

Arthritis is in the cartilage - Glucosamine Hydrochloride is the most important supplement to add to your dog’s diet. The dose is ¼ of a 500mg tablet once daily per 10 lbs of body weight. It helps to rebuild the cartilage and delay further cartilage breakdown. It can come in a variety of combinations. An effective one I have used is called K-9 MX.

Keep them moving - Moving the joints produces joint fluid. This lubricates the joints which leads to less pain. If your pet is at first reluctant to move, manually flex the sore joint for 5 minutes. Gradually increase daily exercise.

Fatty Acids - Omega 3 fatty acids are critical for every arthritic pet. A great source for your dog is ground flax. You can add 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food.

As for the old dog, he recovered and is doing well. I know he would have had a much happier life if his owners would have treated his arthritis. Dog health care includes watching for any signs of arthritis. If you see any, start supplementing right away.

Its Your Pet - Learn How to Heal Them At Home!

Author: Dr Andrew Jones

Dr Jones offers a Free Course showing you more safe, natural, and effective ways to heal your dog at home.

Technorati Tags: Arthritis Dog, dog arthritis, Dog Arthritus, dog sickness

Usually when we talk about dog sickness, we’re talking about the dog being sick. But the following video takes a little different view of dog sickness. It’s about how dogs (and cats) can be used to help people with their sickness.

It’s a great video and after seeing it, I just had to share it with you. Enjoy.

Next time I’ll share another article about how to heal your dog’s sickness.

Its Your Pet - Learn How to Heal Them At Home!

Tim

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When your dog’s condition moves beyond dog sickness and into the realm of dog emergency, you need to be prepared.

One of the most common types of dog emergency is caused by your pet swallowing some sort of toxin. Most dog owners think that it will never happen to their pet. Well think again. It happens all the time. Dogs often eat things they’re not supposed to, and sometimes those things just happen to be toxic.

That’s when it turns into a real dog emergency, and that’s when you must know what to do!

Here are a few very common toxins that you should know how to handle.

Common Household Poisons

Toxin: Bleach, Drain Cleaners, Laundry Detergent, Petroleum Products (oil, gas, paint).

Common Signs: Vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, and seizures

Action Plan: DO NOT Induce Vomiting. Give bread soaked in vegetable oil. The oil helps coat the lining of the stomach and slows absorption. Get them to drink as much water or milk as possible.

Toxin: Antifreeze.

Common Signs: Acting drunk, excessive panting, excessive drinking and urinating, progresses to depression as kidney failure sets in.

Action Plan: Induce vomiting, give activated charcoal, and take to the Veterinarian right away - must be treated in first 6-8 hours after ingestion.

Toxin: Chocolate

Common Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, hyperactivity, seizures

Action Plan: Induce vomiting, give activated charcoal, and take to the Veterinarian if you see signs of depression or if there’s any seizure activity.
Bakers chocolate is most toxic, the toxic dose is 2 baking squares for a 10lb dog.- Chocolate bars have little chocolate and are seldom toxic.

Every dog owner should know how to deal with dog sickness, and have a basic understanding of pet first aid and what to do in the event of a dog emergency. It may one day save your pet’s life.

Its Your Pet - Learn How to Heal Them At Home!

Author: Dr Andrew Jones

Dr Jones offers a Free Course showing you more safe, natural, and effective ways to heal your dog at home.

How about when we move from dog sickness to a dog emergency?

It’s got to be every pet owner’s nightmare… a Choking Dog.

You are on an enjoyable stroll while your dog frolics with his buddies at the dog walk. Max races to beat Shorty to the ball, but when he gets there, Max inhales the ball.

He gasps for air. While he’s struggling to breathe, you run over to him, then he drops.

What would you do? How do you deal with a choking dog? Many of us know how to deal with dog sickness, but when it comes to a choking dog, we don’t have a clue.

I would suspect you may be thinking, just reach inside his mouth and pull the ball out.

Simple, but not so easy.

First, it’s difficult to get your hand deep to the back of the throat, especially in a small dog. Second, I have seen many balls wedged so far back in the throat, that nobody could use their hand to remove them.

The clock is ticking, you’ve got to act FAST. So Now What?

You could pick your dog up, carry him to your car, and rush to the nearest Vet, but you’d need to go fast. You’ve only got about 2 minutes when your dog is choking, then it’s too late.

What would you do with a choking person? The Heimlich.

How about with a Choking Dog? The same exact thing, the Heimlich.

Here’s how. You hold him upside down, with his head pointing down and his spine against you. You give repeated sharp thrusts to the abdomen. You lay him down and sweep the throat again for the ball. You repeat this until the ball comes out.

Every pet owner should know basic CPR, how to handle a choking dog, and how to deal with dog sickness. It’s easy to learn, and it literally may Save Your Pet’s Life.

Its Your Pet - Learn How to Heal Them At Home!

Author: Dr Andrew Jones

Dr Jones offers a Free Course showing you more safe, natural, and effective ways to heal your dog at home.

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