This is a quick post to beware of the brown salt or de-icer that the Parks Dept. puts down around parks and playgrounds — two small dogs I was walking stepped in it and they lifted their paw, screaming. They were not crying or whining, but screaming, - it was heartbreaking! I brushed it off their paws as fast as I could. This product causes burning and intense pain - please avoid it and/or use boots or salve to protect dogs’ paws. I put in a complaint to the NYC Parks Department, as well as the Mayor, about this product. Why would they put that down where many people walk dogs? There are non-toxic ice melters available that everyone should use. Imagine when this product gets washed down into the sewer and eventually goes into the waterways and rivers - what destruction and suffering it must cause to the aquatic creatures, such as fish, frogs and turtles, and the birds and mammals who drink from the river! Any cat, bird, squirrel, raccoon and other animal will also get burned.
WET FOOD: Preventing Deadly Feline Kidney and Urinary Disease with a Simple Cat Food Choice
I wanted to post important information about the health benefits of wet food in cats’ diet (this also applies to dogs). The post here is from Natural Cat Care, blog written by Liz Eastwood. Enjoy:
This post sums up vital information that cannot be repeated often enough. It’s an edited excerpt from the 45-page eBook that I give to subscribers for free.
In a cat longevity survey I did, at least 80% of the cats who lived for over twenty years had wet food as a regular part of their diet. (They ate it several times per week, though not always exclusively. Some had dry food in addition to wet food.)
Considering that most people still feed their cats dry food – and most vets are still in the habit of encouraging dry food – this high percentage of long-living cats eating wet food strikes me as significant.
Which opens up a question…
Why would wet food promote longevity?
I believe wet food, whether canned, homemade, or raw, is longevity-promoting because it helps prevent kidney problems (CRF), urinary tract disease (FLUTD), and diabetes.
These diseases are all too common in cats today and can be fatal or shorten a cat’s life.
Cats don’t eat anything dry in nature. Even the grass they chew has a lot of moisture in it. Plus, 75% of kidney function has to be lost before serious abnormalities even show up on blood tests. By the time you find out, a lot of damage is already done. But there’s a bright side to being aware of this. It means that, even if our cat is prone to kidney disease for a non-diet reason, it’s never too early for us to take measures to prolong the onset of the disease.
Compelling expert statements on how wet food helps prevent diseases
“Concentrating urine predisposes a cat to renal injury. The chronic, mild dehydration that cats experience when fed dry foods exclusively can cause increased stress on the kidneys, leading ultimately to decreased kidney function.” Elisa Katz, DVM CVA
“Cats eating commercial dry foods will consume approximately half the amount of water (in their diet and through drinking), compared with cats eating canned foods… In older cats that tend to produce urine with a lower concentration, an increase in water consumption becomes even more important to avoid dehydration and development of prerenal azotaemia” Zoran DL, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
“Contributing factors to the disease [chronic renal failure in cats], other than age, include genetics, environment and disease. I would also add diet to that list, as CRF is very often seen in cats that are fed only dry food.”
“The vast majority of kitties fed dry food diets live in a state of chronic mild dehydration. This puts significant stress on the kidneys and bladder, which contributes to the development of FLUTD and urethral obstruction.” Karen Becker, DVM
“When a cat consumes a wet, meat-based diet, the resulting urine has a natural acid pH and is more dilute than the urine of dry-food-fed cats. These conditions do not allow the formation of crystals and stones, and eliminate inflammation.” Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM
The pH effect of the diet has become suspect #1 in FLUTD. This is explained very well by Fran Syufy’s article, Cats’ Urine pH Factor.
And that’s not all…
I have to mention the diabetes prevention factor because wet food is almost always lower in carbohydrates than dry food.
“…my indoors only [feline] patients that eat only low carbohydrate foods do not become overweight, and virtually never become diabetic.” Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM
“…if a high-protein, low-carb diet can eliminate the need for insulin in cats with diabetes, it seems logical the same diet might prevent kitties…from developing the disease in the first place.” Karen Becker, DVM
CATS NEED COMPANIONSHIP TOO WHEN YOU GO OUT OF TOWN
Cats need companionship and a sense of security when their guardians go out of town, just like dogs do (that goes for birds, rabbits, hamsters and all other animals as well). Cats may seem aloof or that they like to be solitary, but they are just a little different than dogs are, don’t show their emotions as obviously. They can feel lonely, insecure, or even abandoned, if left alone for a few days. Some cats will become stressed and stress can cause illnesses over time. They have similar mentality of a toddler (and kittens like babies) so please make sure that it is not only safe in your home for cats, such as no open electrical outlets, or windows without screens, or dangerous things they can chew or swallow, but also that someone will come by and visit them and, of course, feed them, and clean their litter box.
Your cat(s) will be calm and happy when you return from your trip when you have a friend, relative, neighbor (must be trusted) visit the cat(s), instead of being stressed and anxious. My normal visits are one hour, but I often stay longer than an hour, and sometimes am asked to stay overnight. I have seen cats left alone for two days who were so unhappy about it; and I have seen the difference it made when i visited every day with a trio of cats rather than every other day. I no longer do every other day visits! Another thing to consider is if something happens to your cat when he/she is alone, there is nobody there to help him for two days. It could be a matter of life and death, such as a urinary blockage in a male cat! I know of a previous client who almost lost her cat in this way.
After feeding the cats and cleaning their litter box(es), many cats appreciate some interaction, such as playing, brushing, or even just talking to them and hanging out with them, keeping them company. Because they are alone perhaps 23 hours in the day when the sitter visits for an hour. Many people ask me to visit their cats for half an hour, or come by to feed Matilda and clean her box - no playtime? No time for anything else? That is not what I do, as a professional pet-sitter. Even shy cats who hide come out and want attention, if they don’t feel threatened by their pet-sitter.
Kittens especially will want to play and cuddle. Also with kittens under six months old, they should not be left alone for more than 5-6 hours. Kittens are very curious and mischievous, and can get into trouble in no time.
Cats are territorial, so they are content to stay in their own home, rather than go to another home, or be boarded at the vet. Next time you go away, consider hiring a professional pet-sitter to visit your cat (or parrot, or turtle, or gerbil) in your home, someone who takes their job seriously.
WHY A HARNESS WITH FRONT ATTACHMENT FOR LEASH IS BETTER THAN A COLLAR WHEN WALKING YOUR DOG
PROS & CONS OF COLLARS:
Collars are a comfortable and secure way to keep ID tags and licenses on the dog at all times. Some dogs may become experts at ducking out of their collars; broad-necked or small-headed dogs have a higher risk of escape. Most dogs do not seem to notice wearing a simple flat-buckle collar (It is recommended fitting collars with room for 2 fingers between), whether on-leash or off. Collars can be hard to fit properly to super tiny dogs. Collars come in a huge variety of types and materials; some kinds of dog collars serve specific needs, like for duckers or more safety. Collars are known to cause thyroid and/or trachea damage to dogs who pull. Some collars detach under generalized pressure, eliminating the risk of suffocation in an accident. It is possible for collars to get caught on objects during play or in a dog fight, and may injure or suffocate the dog wearing it; collars are also known to get caught in the jaws of other dogs during rough play.
HARNESSES:
Harnesses create less pull-stress on both the dog and human during leashed walks. Harnesses should still always be removed while the dog is inside, or playing with other dogs. Front-clip harnesses have shown to be most effective when training dogs not to pull on their leashes. Harnesses can chafe skin around a dogs’ elbows if worn excessively. Dog harnesses tend to come in a greater variety of sizes than collars; there may be better options for extra small or extra large dogs. Often harnesses are not adjusted to fit properly; if not fitted correctly, harnesses may cause the dog discomfort. In the event of a dog’s harness getting caught on something, the dog is safe from hanging. A harness that is improperly fitted may actually inhibit movement and alter the dog’s natural gait.
In a July 2015 blog post, Peter Dobias, DVM, notes the high rate of thyroid disease among large breeds of dogs who often pull strongly when on-leash. “It seems obvious that the collar actually pushes on the throat exactly in the area of the thyroid gland,” he says. He postulates that the trauma created by the pulling can inflame the thyroid, triggering an aggressive immune response when the body tries to remove the inflamed thyroid cells.
In January 2013 Dr. Jean Dodds addressed the issue via a reader-submitted question about collars and thyroid health. She said, based on the location at the front of the neck, the thyroid gland and neighboring salivary glands “can be easily injured by trauma and sudden pressure forces, like could occur from the slip ring and chain of a metal collar, and a metal prong or hard braided leather collar,” recommending harnesses or head halters for strong-pulling dogs.
Additionally, in 2011, Anders Hallgren studied the connection between problem behavior and back problems in dogs. In looking at 400 dogs, Hallgren found dogs who were strong pullers, or who were exposed to collar corrections, were most likely to display cervical injuries. In discussing the findings in his book Back Problems in Dogs: Underlying Causes for Behavior Problems, Hallgren notes, “The soft tissue at the front of the throat could also be injured, depending on how you handle the leash.”
Pulling on leash is problematic for many reasons. It’s likely uncomfortable for the dog (even when the desired forward motion trumps the discomfort); it’s uncomfortable for the human handling the dog; and it skews natural dog body language, potentially contributing to conflicts between dogs.
We’d say the additional potential for contributing to the development of thyroid disease, particularly in breeds known to be genetically predisposed, makes using a well-fitted front-clip harness a wise choice.
MORE ON WALKING DOGS SAFELY
To add to the previous blog I wrote on walking dogs safely, walks are also a good time to check on your dog’s/dogs’ urine and stool, especially senior dogs. If your dog is straining to urinate or urinating too much, it’s time to take him to the veterinarian - straining to urinate is an emergency! A blockage is fatal unless treated. Urinating often can be a urinary tract infection, which is painful and if left untreated can cause damage to the kidneys.
Diarrhea can be a sign that your dog ate something he shouldn’t have, or could be worms, or his diet needs to be adjusted. Constipation is common in dogs, and can be corrected by adding fiber to his diet, such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes, some spinach, cooked oats, and the like. Dogs are often not too picky, and will eat most things, unlike cats. Pumpkin in packets for dogs is available in pet supply stores or online, if canned pumpkin is too large.
If you fear your dog is ill and you can’t afford a high veterinary bill, there are low-cost and affordable veterinarians available. There are also charities and foundations who offer help to pet owners whose dogs have cancer or have been severely injured. Check this link from Mayor’s Alliance, if you need help: http://animalalliancenyc.org/needhelp/vetcare.htm
Remember to spay and neuter your pets! It’s important to prevent unwanted litters, (who can end up euthanized, or other pets are euthanized in shelters to make room for them) as well as preventing certain cancers that occur when a pet is unneutered, such as testicular cancer in males, mammary cancer in females. Female dogs and cats also can get pyometra, a uterine infection, which is deadly if not treated. Spaying and neutering also prevents pets from becoming lost when they have a desire to roam and search for a mate. Unneutered dogs are often attacked by other dogs - please be careful! There are low-cost options available.
WALKING DOGS SAFELY - A GOOD TIME FOR BONDING AND TRAINING
I just want to stress how important it is to be safety-minded when walking your dog. I practice safety measures, and advise for everyone who has a dog to do the same. In my first few years of walking dogs professionally, I experienced many different situations, which is why I took the Dogbiz (fka Dogtec) Dog Walking Academy class, to keep clients’ dogs in my care safe. I learned Pet First Aid (and CPR) for injuries that can happen on the walk , i.e. the dog steps on a splinter or pulls his nail off, causing copious bleeding.
But there are many other things that can happen, such as an unattended dog coming up behind you and you don’t know if it’s a dangerous dog; a dog on leash who is aggressive or is in heat and his owner is not controlling him; reckless drivers who drive too fast or who don’t yield to pedestrians; children approaching the dog; sharp chicken bones the dog can’t resist; poisonous mushrooms. You have to be alert and scanning ahead to see who is coming toward you, and looking on the ground as well - so it isn’t a good idea to be on the phone talking or texting or with earplugs in your ears, listening to music or whatever- it’s just not worth it. I see many, many people walking dogs while talking on or looking at their phones, I estimate 90%.
Walking your dog is also a good time to bond with your dog - dogs love walks and they like to share their enthusiasm with the one walking them. Did you ever notice how dogs look up to their guardians or dog-walkers when on walks? They love the fresh air and all the various smells they encounter - a dog’s nose possesses up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in ours. And the part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times greater than ours (there are varying scientific opinions on these numbers). Dogs also get exercise, stimulation (prevents boredom) and companionship on walks. You can enjoy the walk with your dog or your neighbor’s dog, your mother’s dog, also, and can bond with him/her that way.
Walks are also very good for training/managing dogs - an important command for dogs to learn is “come” (or recall). If you accidentally drop the leash, or something spooks the dog, and the dog starts to run, he should respond when you say “Come, Max”, especially when you have a special juicy treat for him to reward him when he does. Another good training/management thing to do on walks is for the dog to “sit” at red lights, and corners, waiting for traffic to clear so you can cross the street safely. Dogs don’t understand that the big metal car or truck can hurt or kill them if they come into contact with it, so it is your job to keep the dog safe in this way. (Dogs have the mentality of a 2 or 3 year old child). ”Leave it” is important to teach your dog not to pick up chicken bones (bones can be sharp as a needle and can puncture the dog’s intestines or get stuck in their throat!) or other garbage from the street; this command is also good for keeping the dog from chasing squirrels or raccoons or other animals (a snug-fitting harness is recommended).
So there is so much you can and should be doing when walking a dog that this is not the time to be on a cell phone. Another thing to be mindful of is using a leash when walking a dog. I see too many people walking their dogs with no leash - if something scares or distracts the dog or some irresistible smell passes his way, he/she may suddenly run away or cross the street when you aren’t paying attention. Things happen. I witnessed a Shibu Inu running across the Hutchinson Parkway and no person was near him. I saw him get hit by a speeding car and he was on his side in the road; I pulled him off the road and attempted to do CPR. A couple minutes later, his owner came running up, saying “that’s my dog” (he was far behind). He told me, ironically, that the dog is skittish and won’t poop on leash, so he was not on the leash and something spooked the poor dog. A skittish dog needs all the more to be secured on a leash with well-fitting harness, such as Easy Walk or Ruffwear.
Also, please microchip your pet in case he gets lost; you can also keep a contact number on his collar, but sometimes collars come off when a pet is lost. Microchips reunite many pets with their families.
COVID-19 and my services
I am still walking dogs, though some of my other clients have been staying at home. I wear a mask and meet the dogs in the vestibule where I can safely get them ready for their walk. I disinfect doorknobs and other surfaces I touch afterward. I have also visited a pair of cats at one client’s home, when they are away - so there is no close contact with the clients. Most of my pet-sitting clients have not contacted me for services during this pandemic, which has greatly affected by business. Update: I’ve been getting more requests as NYC reopens.
I hope to resume services with clients I have not seen in a long time in order to help your pets with my compassionate and responsible services. And I hope to get some new clients, as well. Thank you. And stay safe and healthy. Go vegan.
LEAVING A DOG ALONE ALL DAY
This is a very important subject to address. I wanted to include this article written by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian who is also a federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator at age 16 and acquired her permit to rehabilitate endangered species in 2002.
How much isolation a dog can and should endure are two different things. How much time does your dog spend home alone? Is your dog experiencing isolation distress?
Yes, I Do Realize Many Dog Guardians Work All Day Outside the Home
First let me say that I realize this is a hot button issue for many dog parents, and for good reason. Many people who adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue work outside the home, go to school or engage in other activities that take them away from their houses for several hours, several days a week.
By necessity, they must leave their dogs behind, but since they've given an abandoned or unwanted dog a loving home, they feel it's unfair to criticize them for leaving their pet alone for long stretches. I understand where these pet parents are coming from, and I agree that it's certainly better for a dog to be in a forever home than a shelter. I don't pretend to have all the answers to the problem of dogs left alone all day, but as a wellness veterinarian and animal advocate, I can't in good conscience just ignore the issue for fear of making someone angry or hurting their feelings.
My goal here is simply to help dog guardians see the home-alone situation through their pet's eyes, and hopefully offer some suggestions you may not have thought of as alternatives to leaving your canine family member at home alone all day. As dog trainer Nancy Tucker writes in her article:
"A lot of dogs might spend most of their waking hours home alone and seem to do just fine, but is it okay? Are they really fine? I sometimes wonder if, instead, this is something we say to ourselves to assuage our guilt, or to avoid taking a harder look at a cultural norm that could use an update."
Isolation Distress Versus Separation Anxiety
It's important to note that a dog's distress while she's home alone isn't necessarily a case of full-blown separation anxiety. Distress is a milder form of stress and anxiety, whereas dogs with separation anxiety can have the canine version of a panic attack when their preferred human isn't around. According to Pat Miller, another animal behavior expert who writes for Whole Dog Journal:
"The distinction between 'isolation' and 'separation' is equally important. Isolation distress means the dog doesn't want to be left alone — any ol' human will do for company, and sometimes even another dog will fill the bill. True separation distress or anxiety means the dog is hyper-bonded to one specific person, and continues to show stress behaviors if that person is absent, even if other humans or dogs are present."
Truth: '10 to 12 Hours Is Too Long for a Dog To Be Alone in a Single Stretch'
Not so long ago, no one gave a second thought to leaving a dog home alone for a day or two with a supply of kibble and plenty of water to drink. It just didn't occur to pet owners to wonder how their dog felt being left alone, whether indoors or outside. Fortunately, these days most people know better than to leave their dog alone for such a long stretch, but it's very common for dogs to be left home for eight or 10 or 12 hours, up to five or six days a week.
And depending on the owner's lifestyle, he or she may arrive home after 10 hours, give the dog a quick walk and dinner, and then go back out for the evening. (Of course, on the flip side, there are also dog parents who turn down social invitations to spend evenings and weekends with their pet.)
"Here's the thing," writes Tucker, "and I won't pull any punches: 10 to 12 hours is too long for a dog to be alone in a single stretch." I agree. Of course, as she goes on to say, there are plenty of people who argue they've always left their dogs, with no issues.
"What this means," says Tucker, "is that the dogs who appear to be fine have simply learned to cope with something that is entirely out of their control. Being left alone for long stretches of time is not a likely choice that they would make if it was up to them. They've adapted to our routines, but it's far from ideal for them."
Again, I have to agree. Tucker also writes:
"We count on our dogs to be there for us when we're ready to interact with them, but in between those moments, we expect them to do nothing and wait. It's a tall order, but lucky for us, most dogs adapt incredibly well to anything we ask them to."
Food for thought: How can we give our dogs more choices in their daily lives?
Truth: Dogs Need To Be Able to Relieve Themselves Every 4 to 6 Hours
There's no hard-and-fast rule for the maximum amount of time a dog can be left alone in a single stretch. Each dog is an individual, and some manage or cope better than others when left alone. Different breeds have different social needs: hounds are extremely social, but some “working” breeds and guard dogs are fine for 10-12 hours.
Obviously, potty breaks are a necessity. Most healthy adult dogs need three to five opportunities each day to pee and/or poop. Older dogs and those with certain conditions such as urinary incontinence need to go out more often. Generally speaking, dogs shouldn't go without a potty break for more than four or six hours. (Please note I'm only discussing adult dogs here, since it goes without saying that puppies — for a multitude of reasons — shouldn't be left alone.)
It's important to realize that while your dog can "hold it" for longer periods, he really shouldn't have to. Imagine how you would feel if you were dependent on someone else to give you permission to go to the bathroom, and often that person made you wait long past the point at which you became uncomfortable "holding it." Beyond four hours without a potty break, and certainly beyond six, most home-alone dogs become uncomfortable.
Beyond the potty break issue, the fact is that dogs are social creatures who need opportunities to interact with people several times a day, and many also benefit from interaction with other dogs as well.
Truth: 'A Crate Is No Place for a Dog to Spend an Entire Day'
Some dog parents resort to confining their pet to a crate while they're gone all day. This is often in response to damage the dog has done around the home when left alone to entertain himself. However, behavior issues created by isolation distress or plain old boredom are only made worse by crate confinement, and in addition, it increases the dog's stress level.
"A crate is no place for a dog to spend an entire day," writes Tucker. "If necessary, confinement in a small space should be temporary and for short periods of time, say, a couple of hours, tops."
Even if your dog is crate trained and loves to go in there to nap or avoid the vacuum cleaner, and even if she's confined to her crate at night in your bedroom as you sleep, it's a whole different ballgame locking her in there for the entire day while you're away. Tucker makes this very apt comparison:
"… I have a favorite chair in the living room where I sometimes like to curl up and take a nap. My choosing to spend time relaxed in a space without budging for sometimes an entire hour is a far cry from being physically confined to that chair, unable to leave it to stretch, eat, drink, relieve myself, or just plain do something else. It's time we rethink the use of crates and our dependence on them."
For the record, I'm a big advocate of crate training, however, like Tucker, I certainly don't believe in using one to confine a dog for long periods. But providing your dog with her very own cozy space and making it a pleasant place to be has a number of advantages for both of you. A crate can help not only with housetraining, but also car or plane travel, and overnight stays with friends, family or at a pet-friendly hotel.
Options to Consider if Your Dog Is Home Alone During the Day
I recognize that none of the following suggestions necessarily qualifies as a piece of cake to do. Finding alternatives to leaving your dog home alone will depend on your budget, your freedom to manage your time during the day, your family and social support system, and other factors.
See if your employer will let you work from home some or all of the time. Depending on the kind of work you do, you may be able to do it effectively from home. If so, ask your boss if he or she would be amenable. You'll never know if you don't ask!
See if you can bring your dog to work with you. Again, this depends on the kind of work you do, who you work for, and whether your employer might be open to having dogs in the workplace. (Obviously, if you work for yourself, you can give yourself permission!)
Come home for lunch. If your workplace is close enough, consider returning home at lunchtime to walk your dog and spend some time interacting with him.
Ask a stay-at-home family member or friend to dog-sit. Is there anyone in your family or circle of friends who likes dogs (including yours), is home a lot and would be willing to care for your dog a few days a week? Perhaps you can offer the person something they need in return, such as pet- or babysitting services.
Arrange for someone to stop by and walk your dog. This could be a friendly neighbor or anyone you know and trust who likes dogs and would be willing to give yours some attention a few days a week. You can also offer to pay a neighborhood teen to do it.
Hire a professional dog walker. There are a lot of dog walking services around these days, depending on where you live. If you decide to go this route, be sure to do your homework and find a reputable one.
Enroll your pet in doggy daycare. If your dog enjoys interacting and playing with other dogs, a “doggy daycare” once or twice a week can be a blessing. "Look for clean, well-designed locations with qualified staff who will manage interactions between the dogs and provide necessary rest periods," advises Tucker.
Why free-feeding is not healthy for your pet
Check out these links about free-feeding or "grazing", which is leaving food for your pet to eat all day long. Dry food alone is especially risky, as it can lead to all kinds of health problems, such as diabetes, urinary tract obstruction, obesity:
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-food-cats-graze-losing-weight-loss
https://www.petful.com/food/free-feeding-cats/ -- this includes a short video from Jackson Galaxy about free feeding.
Dogs and cats need to eat wet food; as it is so important for urinary tract health, as well as general health. Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM, says:
Feeding a water-rich diet of canned or homemade food is critical for urinary tract health.
Feeding dry (water-depleted) food contributes significantly to urinary tract diseases.
Here is her article about the subject:
https://catinfo.org/feline-urinary-tract-diseases/#Urethral_Obstruction_-_Opies_Story
Another vet agrees that wet food is essential:
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/09/struvite-stones.aspx
Our pets live such a short time- you might as well feed them a healthy diet and do all you can to give them a happy, healthy life with you.
NEW YEAR RATES & RECOMMENDED GROOMER
Due to increases in the cost of doing business, I needed to raise my rates accordingly. I try to be fair and reasonable. Thanks for your understanding.
On another subject, there is a groomer in Morris Park, Waggin' Tails, who appears to do a good, professional and compassionate job on dogs. I've seen her working, and she is gentle, careful and conscientious, with both hair cutting and clipping nails. I'm not sure if she does cats; she clipped my cat’s nails. Give her a try if you're looking for an experienced groomer.
SOFT STOOLS AND STRAINING ON WALKS
Often, dogs have soft stools or diarrhea, or they strain and are constipated. This problem can be helped or fixed by simply adding fiber to their diet, such as pumpkin, sweet potato, mashed celery (1/4 tsp. or more dependng on size of dog, good for cats also) or in changing the food they are eating (always make changes slowly). High quality foods are available in pet supply stores or online, rather than the local supermarket or grocery store, but homemade raw food is the best for your dog or cat.
I recommend the book, Dr. Richard Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats (the current book is more vegan-oriented than his older book) for healthy easy recipes you can learn to make in an hour or so. The book has lots of helpful, enlightening information as well. I have been using his recipes since 1998 with good results in my cats over the years - shiny, soft fur and bright eyes, and increased energy and health into old age. (Dr. Pitcairn and his co-author wife, Susan, have long been the trusted name in holistic veterinary care and continue to be at the forefront of natural pet health; he is founder of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.)
HOW LONG IS TOO LONG TO MAKE YOUR DOG GO WITHOUT RELIEVING HIMSELF/HERSELF?
This was taken from articles written by experts/certified dog trainers.
● Dogs can only be relied on to hold their urine or feces one hour for every month old they are, until 8 hours at 8 months old. And remember that sick or older dogs won’t be able to hold it as long as healthy young adult dogs.
● A two month old puppy can hold his bladder for up to 3 hours. Time increases an hour per month of age. At 6 months of age he will be able to hold his bladder for 7-8 hours (a work day). No dog of any age should be made to wait longer than 8 hours!
Different breeds have different social needs: hounds are extremely social, but some “working” breeds and guard dogs are fine for 10-12 hours.
● Dogs can go for 8 to 10 hours without urinating overnight, while sleeping. However, all dogs need to be taken out after a meal or a drink, upon waking up and after a period of play.
Health:
● Urinary frequency in dogs will vary due to factors such as age, sex, body size and overall health.
● Typically, smaller breeds and younger dogs will need to urinate more frequently than larger breeds and older dog.
● The average healthy dog will produce approximately 10 to 20 ml of urine for each pound of bodyweight per day.
● Ideally adult dogs should be allowed outside to relieve themselves at least 3-5 times a day.
If they can’t have a stool for long periods repeatedly, it can result in an impacted colon, requiring laxatives or even surgery to remove and repair the damage. A bladder infection, or cystitis, is an inflammation of the bladder due to bacterial or fungal infection. When your dog is forced to hold their urine for extended periods, it gives the urine time to build bacteria. Resulting infections can occur which will only cause your dog to need to urinate more frequently until treated properly. If this continues, kidney stones can form, and even cancer, or blockages, which can be fatal.
Give them an option if you spend long hours away from home- consider an indoor litter box or pads so they can relieve themselves at their own leisure. A doggy door to be let out into the enclosed yard is another option; asking a neighbor, relative or a dog walker to take out the dog are other options. This will help keep your dog from overwhelming his body or even secretly eliminating behind the couch.
Dogs show signs whenever they need to potty. Circling, pawing at the door, coming to get your attention are all signs. A dog relies on their owner to help them fulfill a happy day. Initially, a dog feels the need to urinate when their bladder is half-full. The body senses the swelling of the bladder and informs the dog that it’s ready to be relieved. A dog may start to show signs of needing to go before it is vital that they go. This is to give you adequate time to make arrangements to allow them to relieve themselves.
Remember that if they can’t eliminate in the proper area, they will do so wherever they feel most secure- such as behind furniture. This is mostly because they understand that what they’ve done isn’t according to the rules, but as far as their body is concerned, they needed to do what is only natural. Do keep in mind that if you have to go, it’s likely your dog has to go too. Consider if you had to hold in your bowel movements or urine for a long time. Wouldn’t you feel uncomfortable? Perhaps even in pain?
Every good dog owner understands the importance of letting their dog take care of nature’s call, but it’s just as important to understand why.
MANAGING A DOG WHO IS REACTIVE ON LEASH TO OTHER DOGS
When walking a dog who reacts, such as barking aggressively and/or lunging, when he/she sees, passes or hears another dog or dogs, positive associations can affect the dog's behavior. So when the dog begins to lunge or growl, pull out some good food such as pieces of cheese or treats he can't resist, tell him to sit, and give him some, each time this happens (you can be generous with the treats so the dog will remember). Soon the dog should begin to associate other dogs with pleasant things, the food or treats; the unwanted behavior will diminish, or at least become manageable. A dog's emotional associations can be manipulated; we can take good advantage of this. This is known as classical conditioning. Dogs are different than people in that dogs can't think about how they feel, they just feel it; humans can think about their feelings intellectually and control them. Dogs can't control their feelings; they just have a reaction. They may have had a bad experience with a dog, or have been undersocialized.
Preventing Fights
Dogs playing should take frequent breaks to prevent aggression; if you see a group of dogs chasing one dog, or a dog with his tail down, a dog being pinned by another dog for more than 5 seconds, a dog hiding or hovering near a human, these are red flag behaviors that call for human intervention to prevent escalation.
How to Prevent Pulling on Leash
Walking tips: Front-attachment harnesses, such as Easy Walk, and the head halter , Gentle Leader, are very good tools for dogs who pull on the leash. They are humane and make walking your dog easier and more enjoyable. When your dog starts to pull, a gentle tug of the leash turns their head toward you and in the direction you want to go. When the leash is attached to the front of harness, it also is easier on your dog’s body as it does not cause stress on the neck and spine, as well as the trachea when attached to a collar.
You can make your dog pay attention to you on a walk by using food rewards. Instead of “Max” or “Lassie” charging ahead and ignoring you, your dog will learn to sit on command and look back at you often, when you stop for obedience breaks with special food or dog treats.
