|
|
ARTICLES |
|
ANIMAL CPR
At the request of several users, we have translated the 3-fold brochure, published in Acrobat (pdf) format (click here) as a simple web page. As in the printed version, please do not modify the contents if you make a copy; but feel free to give links/printouts to anyone... |
Been on holiday with your dog? Go to a swish doggy retreat? Camping? Caravanning? Whatever kind of holiday you had, did you enjoy it? Did your dog/s enjoy it? Did your fellow holiday makers enjoy your dog's company? NO? Shame! Wonder why? Was it because
Whilst we go away on holiday to rest/have fun, eat/sleep/walk our legs down to the knees (and the dog's!) it is still a priority that we control our dogs as much as if we were on home ground. Much as we enjoy window shopping, what is our dog doing whilst we gaze? Snuffling in someone else's shopping bag for a tasty salad sandwich or a bun? Pinching the ice cream cone from the kiddie in the push chair whose parents are also window gazing? Dangling on the end of a long loose lead in an attempt to trip up pedestrians gazing upwards at the historic facades of the shops? Please, please, please! THINK DOG! What would you do if a kid waved an ice lolly under your nose, or if you were partial to a "99"? Slurp it down of course! Don't blame the dog. On holiday the environment changes for you and your dog. So;
Your dog relies on you for his health, well being and reputation. Don't let him down! Marjorie Field, Castleford Now check out the PADS links page for useful contacts including
|
|
FEARS-ANXIETY-PANIC by Nancy Korman Sometimes, our animal friends will become very frightened. There are many causes that may bring this on. A dog could be chasing your cat, or a trip in the car could bring on panting and nervousness. Many dogs especially are terrified when they hear loud noises like fireworks, thunder or gunshots. An animal’s response can vary greatly to their fear. You must be very careful around scared animals, whatever the cause. They occasionally get so frightened they will snap and bite, even at those they know well who are trying to help them. If your pet is very frightened, try to get them to a safe, dimly lit place where there is no noise and no other animals or people. If you know what the cause is, and can remove it from their sight or hearing, do so immediately. A few minutes of rest in a quiet place will help them begin to feel better. Do not attempt to give by mouth any of the remedies listed below while your animal is still extremely agitated. Flower essences can be rubbed into the ears if need be, and homeopathic remedies can be dissolved in a liquid your friend will drink and placed near them. If dissolved in water, you may also rub this on their ears if they are approachable The first thing to reach for when faced with any sort of fear or fright is the flower essence combination, Rescue Remedy. A few drops in the mouth or on the ears given every few minutes, usually works wonders in calming a frightened animal. And if the trauma that has caused your pet to be fearful is upsetting you also, take a dose every time you give one to the animal. You’ll both feel better for it! Other flower essences you may want to try include: penstemon – trauma, for inner strength mimulus – nervousness, jittery, shy, timid, fear of car rides poison oak – fear aggression aspen – vague fears, unconscious fears cherry plum – extreme stress, trapped feeling garlic – nervous fear red clover – hysteria, good for cats snapdragon – aggressive when fearful, biting impatiens – nervous behaviors filaree – anxiety with obsessive tendencies rock rose - complete terror These can be mixed, up to 5 essences in a small dropper bottle with spring water. Put 4 drops of each applicable essence in the bottle, fill with water, and shake gently. Administer 4 drops in the mouth or rub on the ears, as needed. It may take several doses within a few minutes of each other initially, and then only a couple of times a day thereafter. You can also put this mixture in a spray bottle and mist the room. This is much safer when dealing with very upset animals. There are also many homeopathic remedies that work very well to calm a fearful animal. But these remedies must be matched carefully to the symptoms you observe. The first to be used in cases of shock or extreme terror is Aconitum napellus (acon). It is given for deep fear, panic, terror where the animal is agitated and moving about, breathing may be difficult. It is used for true shock where the animal is almost hysterical and restless. Natrum muriaticum (nat mur) is a good choice for vomiting brought on by fear. A choice for an animal this is scared and drools and pants is Cocculus indicus (cocc). Phosphorus (phos) is good for fear of noises, if they are also agitated, but refuse to be left alone, clingy. Arsenicum album (ars) animals also don't want to be left alone, but are very thirsty, and eventually will be tuckered out from the fear. If they are listless and quiet but still very frightened, trembling, maybe having bowel problems try Gelsemium sempervirens (gels). It will probably be very difficult to give the pills of these remedies to your animal directly when they are fearful, so dissolving the remedy in a bit of water is the best way to go. Then that water can be squirted into the animal’s mouth or just left in a dish for them to drink. Rubbing the water into their outer ear may also be helpful. Give the remedy every 15 minutes for several doses until improvement is seen and then stop. Remedy strengths of below 30C are recommended. A combination homeopathic remedy available in health food stores called Calms Forte is also very effective for many animals, particularly for insomnia due to minor anxiety. Also for lower levels of anxiety, many herbs can be helpful. These can be made into an infusion and given in food or as a tea if the animal will drink it. Chamomile is very relaxing and peppermint will help with anxiety induced nausea. Various forms of conditioning can be very helpful in training your animal friends not to be afraid. For instance, getting a dog to not be terrified by thunder involves playing a thunder recording very quietly for a few minutes while playing or petting the animal. Give them a treat when they are calm. And don’t reward anxious behavior. Over a couple of weeks, the volume is increased very gradually until at a loud volume, the noise no longer upsets the animal. This sort of behavior modification can be used for all sorts of fears. Car ride fears can be overcome by having the animal sit in the car in the driveway for a few minutes, leading up to short drives, over many weeks. A little bit at a time is key to this technique. If your pet feels any discomfort, go slower with the distance travelled. And make sure that they get to go to fun places in the car – not always the vet office! Just like us, our animal companions feel stress and fear at times. With a little understanding from us and some simple treatments, we can easily make them much more comfortable. And then we can enjoy their wonderful company again. http://www.critterhaven.org - please visit the site for more interesting articles |
|
HOW DOGS THINK A non-verbal link to Canine Communication Have you ever seen a device or a program designed to correct a dog behavior problem that explained how smart dogs are and how they think? Most plans or gadgets enable owners, literally, to declare war on their hapless pets. Little or no concern is afforded to what the dogs happen to think about them. In fact, the implication is that dogs don't think at all ... either they just react to external stimuli like robots , or respond according to genetically controlled "drives." Dogs are rarely credited with the ability to solve a problem mentally; to analyze a situation; imagine ways to manipulate or control it, then take a pre-planned course of action toward a goal that was preconceived in the dog's mind. In short, the dog is considered a real dummy, then treated like a dummy. But this concept is not correct. Dogs are smart. They can, and usually do, think rings around their owners. And they can do it because most owners have never learned how to think like a dog. Understanding Non-Verbal Thinking We all wonder now and then what our dog is thinking. If we wonder aloud, perhaps when mealtime is approaching and the dog is looking expectantly at us, we might say something like, "I'll bet Tippy's thinking, 'When is my dinner going to be ready?' " In all likelihood, Tippy isn't originating any thoughts about 'when dinner will be ready.' It is more likely Tippy is imagining (or 'imaging' in his mind) the words and movements you usually say and perform before getting his dinner; something like, "You want dinner, Tippy?" All that tail wagging and those pleading eyes are aimed at stimulating you to say it. But, an inability to originate thoughts in a spoken language does not make dogs unintelligent. Even people don't actively think in a spoken language unless they actively 'speak' it. For instance, during a short vacation to Japan, if you don't already speak the language, you'll probably pick up the meaning of a few words. After a few natives look at you in the morning and say "Ohio," you may eventually learn that they're not curious about where you're from, but are wishing you a "Good Morning." Still, you won't think in Japanese unless you live there a few months and actively speak it. Even a pet Akita will never learn to speak or think in the native lingo because their voice boxes, tongues and lips cannot formulate the sounds of Japanese ... or English, or French, etc, etc. The limit of our dog's language-learning is the meaning of the sounds of certain words. Luckily, dogs are quick to learn the sounds that are important to them. With this in mind, when Tippy is prodding us about serving dinner, we'd be wise to discard ideas about complete sentences being originated and thought about, and replace them with the non-language concept of mental images. To illustrate this further; when most Tippys are asking for dinner they actually look from their owners toward the place where it is served, generally the kitchen. Evidence of Imagery Some very convincing research suggests that dogs think in sensory impressions; visual, sound and odor images, etc. This is not to say that they sit around on quiet days experiencing videos inside their brains. However, they likely share our ability to form and experience in their minds certain images, odors and sounds. The scientific basis for this idea came from Russia and was published in the US in 1973. A scientist name VS.. Rusinov1 was studying the electrophysiology of the brain and had several dogs wired with brain wave equipment and radio transmitters. When the dogs were brought into the lab from the kennels for experimental conditioning tests, the electroencephalograph machine was turned on to record their brain wave patterns. This was done at the same time each day, five days a week. One weekend, purely by accident, Rusinov brought a group of visitors into the lab and turned on the EEG machine. Lo, the dog that was normally schedule for tests during the week at that time was sending wave forms nearly identical to his regular working patterns! When the testing time passed, the dogs' brain waves soon returned to their normal 'at rest' forms. I never found any mention by Rusinov as to whether the dogs out in the kennel were actually performing their conditioned laboratory behaviorisms. Chances are they were not, but one thing is almost sure; compared to human experience in similar types of studies, the dogs were apparently experiencing them mentally2,3. The late Polish scientist, Jerzi Konorski,3 taught dogs to salivate and expect food in their trays when a light flickered. This was done regularly every few minutes. However, after a few trials, the dogs started salivating and looking at the trays as if the food were actually there, even though the light had not flickered. Konorski ventured that the dogs were hallucinating about both the stimulus (the light) and the reward for salivating (the food). One thing is sure: Something was going on in the dogs' minds that made them behave as if they were happening. Some Human Examples Before going on with dogs, let us consider some facets of our own 'mind's eye,' as suggested by Konorski. Imagine we have a date to meet a loved one at a busy restaurant. We get there on time and sit at a table near the door. Fifteen minutes go by, but no friend arrives. We begin to wonder if they are coming at all. We start watching people approach the door. Pretty soon, people with similar features almost cause us to call out to them. The more concerned and anxious we become, the more apt we are to mistake strangers for our friend. When he or she finally arrives, the pleasure and relief we feel is often mixed with mild displeasure. We are ambivalent ... we have mixed emotions about meeting them in the future. Almost everyone has mental imagery. Often, just the thought of a loved one conjures up their image. This can apply to sounds, as well. Think about your favorite musical piece and your can often hear it in your 'mind's ear.' These are positive images. They are emotionally pleasant. At the other end of the scale, recalling a terrifying experience can not only create its images, but sometime even make us shudder. This is an example of negative, emotionally unpleasant images. Back To Dogs So it is with our dogs. When we are late getting home, or if they over-miss us because we spoil them with attention and petting every time they demand it, they very likely worry in images, too. They may well recall images of us and our activities, such as fluffing the pillows on the sofa, putting away record albums, handling magazines and books, putting on shoes just before leaving, sitting in a favorite armchair, etc. As a result of this, they often engage in activities which involve them with these images: Pillows wind up on the floor, albums or magazines are moved or chewed, a chair seat gets dug up, shoes are brought out of the closet. If they can't have us there, they try to interact with things that symbolize us. If dogs really do store up and recall images of us and life's other objects and experiences, it follows that we might use this to our mutual benefit. But since most owners do not understand how dogs think, this imagery is where the seeds of most behavior problems are sown. Dogs receive and recall conflicting images of owners and many important experiences. The Puppy's Dilemma Consider the new puppy whose owners come home at regular times and join in an ecstatically joyful greeting ceremony. This imagery is quickly ingrained, and the pup begins to anticipate the experience, just Konorski's dogs hallucinated about the flickering light and the food tray. However, as will happen in even the most well regulated household, one day the owner is late. The puppy begins experiencing the images of his tardy owners ... starts fretting, pacing. Well primed energies, ready for the greeting ceremony, demand an outlet as the adrenaline starts pumping. What's going on in its mind's eye or ear? It probably imagines hearing footsteps, perhaps even sees the door open... which doesn't happen. But it should. This introduces conflict between what it wants and expects and what is really happening. Conflict creates frustration. Frustration produces anxiety, which triggers an even greater adrenaline rush. The pup searches for something real to satisfy its desire to 'experience' the owner ... a magazine or book it saw the owner reading recently. It is rich with the owner's scent. If it cannot have the owner there, it can at least have their genuine odor or taste. So it sniffs, tastes, maybe even swallows parts of the article. Naturally, this does not fully substitute for the whole owner, so the puppy's social appetite is not really satisfied. Finally, here comes the owner. The puppy innocently launches into its joyous, semi-hysterical ritual. The owner starts to join in, but spies the pulverized magazine or book. What's this? Naturally, if not wisely, the owner angrily grabs the pup, drags it to the demolished object and scolds it, or slaps it's snout or rump, or both. The pet's single-track mind is riveted on the owner. It yips, rolls over, or struggles vainly to escape. Punishment concluded, the owner angrily picks up the remnants of the article and storms to the trash basket. Psychic Trauma The net result of this is a totally confused pup with a conflicting set of images of its owner. This sort of shock to the nervous system is called psychic trauma in both animals and humans. A conflict has been instilled between the positive image of the owner (happy Dr. Jekyll) and the negative (Mr. Homecoming Hyde). This creates frustration and anxiety about homecomings, growing in severity if the scenario is repeated a few times. (It is interesting that in many cases, owners tell us that the pup was fine for a day or so after the first punishment. This may equate to the human experience of repression, in which memory of the traumatic experience is suppressed, creating a sort of 'backwards amnesia.') Even when this occurs, since the punishment was not associated with the act of chewing up something, the puppy seeks out another article, perhaps a shoe, and the cycle is repeated until the total relationship between owner and dog is tainted with emotional ambivalence. Mixed feelings are eating away at the positive qualities of their relationship. Negative emotional impressions may start to dominate it. At about this stage, many owners conclude that the punishment may not have been severe enough. That's why the correction was not permanent. So they intensify it. The relationship erodes further as weeks go by. Enough of this cascading negative effect and the owner is ready take drastic action. The dog, now hyper-sensitive to its owner's mood change, feels something is wrong. This often is reflected by new problems, such as submissive wetting when the owner comes home or approaches the dog at other times; off-schedule bowel movements or urination occur, etc. Many pets act insecure, currying more favor when the owner is home, and hence, missing the owner even more acutely when left alone. Frustration and anxiety build, while the isolation-related, tension-relieving behavior mounts. The unwitting owner, who originally may have thought the dog is 'getting even' for being left alone, begins to consider it incorrigible. HELP! This is when outside help is often sought. A book is purchased. The veterinarian, breeder, pet shop, a trainer or behaviorist may be consulted. If lucky, the owner gets advice that brings genuine insight into pet/owner relationships and dog behavior. But, more likely, they find traditional quick fixes and the dog winds up in a desensitization program; gets dosed with anxiety relieving drugs or barbiturates; is stuck in a cramped crate or cage all day, or banned to the yard or garage, or has its mouth stuffed with chewed debris and taped shut for hours. Since none of these approaches deal with the causes, the 'thinking dog' and the total relationship with its owners and the environment, success is rare. The majority of these formerly precious pets find themselves rejected ... relegated to the local pound for five to seven days, where the odds are 3-to-2 they'll suffer society's 'ultimate solution'. But things don't have to be so grim, if the owners learn some 'dog think.' Applying Positive Imagery To Solve 'Separation Anxiety' Dogs that misbehave when they are left alone are said to be suffering from separation anxiety. The term is a neat buzz-phrase; almost everybody uses it. It sounds professional. The trouble is, as a transplant from human psychiatry, it really doesn't convey much useful information. However, the term is here, so we'll use it in its broadest sense, which is; "a troubled feeling when left alone or apart from a certain person or persons." This allows us to recommend a remedial behavioral program that deals with the realities of the dog's total relationships. First, however, we must be sure that the dog's veterinarian has ruled out the many physical/medical causes for anxiety, such as thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism, pre-diabetes, encephalitis, allergies, hyperkinesis, etc. etc. The Program Dogs that are unduly upset when left alone usually enjoy their owner's attention and petting whenever they ask for (or demand it) when the people are at home. To apply the imagery concept to this relationship, we could say the dog 'sees itself' as directing, or leading the owner. When it wants some petting, it nudges or otherwise stimulates the owner, and the owner complies. The dog wants out, whines at the door or at the owner, and the door gets opened. Mealtime approaches, dog whines and prances, and dinner gets served. When the owner goes from room to room, the dog is either ahead, leading them, or close behind. This is the reality of their relationship, at least in the dog's mind. But, when the owner leaves, against the dog's wishes, the pet is predictably upset, and problem behavior occurs. This can involve barking, chewing, pacing, self-mutilation, off-schedule bowel movements, urination around the house, etc. The leadership problem can be turned about by presenting a different reality to the dog; one in which the dog is pleasantly, but firmly and consistently told to perform some simple act, such as 'sit' whenever it attempts to gain attention or affection, or whenever the owner wants to give the dog some attention. All 'sits', or whatever command is used ('down' is a good one for highly bossy dogs) are praised happily as 3 to 5 seconds of petting is awarded; then the dog is cheerfully released with an "OK" or "Free." (Free is a good release because OK is too common a word.) If a really bossy dog refuses to obey, and many do when they realize their relationship is being turned around, simply ignore the situation, turn away and go on about some other activity, ignoring the dog. Some dogs have refused to respond for as long as four days before coming to terms with a follower relationship. However long it takes, after a few days the dog's image of itself seems to evolve from one of giving direction to taking it with compliance prior to being petted, getting dinner, going out the door, getting on the couch, etc. In moving around the house, whenever the dog forges ahead, simply about-turn and go the other way. This must be repeated until the dog walks patiently behind or, better yet, doesn't even follow. It is also helpful, but not vital, to practice down-stays of increasing length during several evenings a week. Images of Hyper-Emotionality Most 'home alone' problem dogs get extremely emotional when their owners get home; some even get excitable when regular departure times approach. To supplant these emotionally over-stimulating images, sit quietly for about five minutes before leaving, in the area where the dog will be left. No eye contact or speaking is allowed. Then, get up and go without looking at or speaking to the pet. At homecoming, enter quietly and ignore the dog until it quiets down completely. Then it is greeted happily, but briefly, away from the door of arrival. This subdued routine soon replaces the dog's highly emotional mental images of returns and departures with calmness and serenity. Here's the tough part for most all dog owners: When coming home the place is a mess! Pillows have been chewed, or the chair is tattered again, or a pile of poop graces the doorway, or some other problem is evident. If we keep in mind that the dog has in the past suffered from conflicting images at homecoming, it is imperative that no emotion, or even attention, should be directed at the remnants of the problem; such as chewed up magazines, shoes, defecation, etc. Instead, after five minutes of ignoring the dog, it should be greeted away from the scene of the misbehavior, and then pleasantly taken outdoors or to another room and left alone while the mess is cleaned up. This avoids creating new (or reinforcing old) conflicting images of emotional reactions to, or interactions with, the debris, defecation, etc. I have always called this 'the secret clean-up'. It has worked wonders as part of programs ranging from digging in the yard to housetraining puppies. Just why it is such an effective adjunct to correction programs remains to be satisfactorily explained. In the meantime, we'll have to say that the lack of an image of the owner and the mess is more beneficial to correction than is the image. The Big Picture So, there it is. Dogs think in images and we can mold and change their behavior in hundreds of ways if we will think as they do. For instance, on the negative side, a set up whereby a car screeches to a stop, horn blaring, just as a dog starts toward the street from the sidewalk, then praising its retreat, is a valuable exercise in negative imagery. However, it must be repeated until the dog avoids the street when cars are not present, as well. Teaching the 'panic' command to come needs the dog's name followed by a code word, a sound image that is exclusive to coming when it is absolutely necessary, and praise words or a vocal rhythm that is unique to that command, coupled with fast hand-clapping while taking a crouched position. These combined, positive images can create a dog that will dependably respond to your code word and come to your praise. It is especially important to teach this command when the dog is out of sight, as well.
|
CLASSICAL AND CLINICAL HOMEOPATHY
Copyright 2002 : Lita Radford |
ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR ASSOCIATED WITH COMMON MEDICAL DISORDERS
|
ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR ASSOCIATED WITH COMMON MEDICAL DISORDERS Almost every illness affecting animals causes a change in normal behavior patterns. In fact, many diseases go unnoticed until an animal shows behavior changes. Loss of appetite, decreased activity, decreased grooming, withdrawal from social interaction and hiding are common signs of illness in pets. Changes in feeding behavior, including increased or decreased appetite and a change in food preference, should prompt veterinary attention. While a behavioral change may be the only obvious sign of an underlying illness, not every behavioral disorder is associated with a medical problem. It is often necessary to investigate the possibility of a hidden physical disorder before a behavioral problem can be clearly diagnosed and treated. Irritable aggression may be the first indication of an underlying medical disorder or may accompany a recognized illness. A sudden change in a pet's temperament should be reported to your veterinarian. If your dog or cat suddenly resents having its ears touched, for example, the discomfort may be caused by an ear infection. A gradual temperament change should also be brought to your veterinarian's attention, particularly if this is accompanied by physical changes. For example, in cats, progressive agitation and irritability combined with weight loss despite an increased appetite may indicate an overly active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An aging dog may become uncomfortable and irritable during damp, cold weather because of arthritis pain. Some of the more common medical disorders that can cause behavioral changes are discussed below. This list is by no means complete, nor is it intended to be used for at-home diagnosis. Many diseases have the same signs and cause similar behavioral changes that must be distinguished by a veterinarian or a veterinary behavior consultant. Itchiness and Hair Loss Skin inflammation can cause itchiness and irritation. External parasites (fleas, ticks or mites) and internal parasites (roundworms or tapeworms) can cause skin eruptions. Allergies to pollen and dust, certain types of food or direct contact with an irritant can result in skin discomfort. Metabolic diseases, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, can result in hair loss and skin problems. Dermatitis can also be caused or complicated by infection from bacterial, viral or fungal agents. Excessive scratching and self-grooming may stem from anxiety or frustration. A pet may lick or chew at itself, damaging hair and irritating the skin. It may even pull out its hair, creating baldness. This behavior leads to skin inflammation, which causes the pet to scratch, sometimes long after the initial emotional upheaval has been resolved. Self-mutilation can recur in times of emotional or physical stress. Anal Sac Infection The anal sacs are 2 small scent-producing pouches on either side of the anus. These are normally emptied with every bowel movement, but they can become inflamed and infected. "Scooting," or dragging the anal area against the ground, can be a sign of anal sac infection. In addition to scooting, your pet may exhibit tail-chasing, excessive grooming and self-mutilation of body parts near the hindquarters. Dental or Oral Disease Pain and discomfort associated with problems in the mouth, including the teeth, gums and tongue, may be signalled by behavioral changes. Abnormal tongue, chewing or swallowing movements and salivation may indicate oral disease. The pet may develop a sudden change in food preference. A pet may begin to refuse dry food or chunk-style meals, preferring moist food of a smoother consistency. Excessive Thirst Excessive thirst, or polydipsia, often accompanies disease of the kidneys, urinary tract or digestive system and hormonal imbalances. Excessive drinking may also be stimulated by emotional stress. Hyperthyroidism Abnormally high production of thyroid hormones is a relatively common problem, especially in cats. Confirmed by blood test, it often causes restlessness, vocalization, agitation and weight loss despite excessive appetite. Some affected cats can become aggressive. Seizures Seizures may originate in the brain itself or may be associated with diseases elsewhere in the body, such as the heart, kidneys and liver. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), as seen in diabetes, can lead to seizures. Seizures may be very subtle, almost imperceptible, such as an eye twitch or a leg jerk, and may go unnoticed. Seizure activity can also result in unusual behavior. For example, a pet may suddenly begin "shadow chasing" and "fly catching." Jaw snapping, tongue rolling or a simple momentary blank stare may indicate minor seizures. Aggressive behavior may be triggered by a seizure. The animal may show uninhibited rage or only growling or barking, sometimes with a dazed appearance. Aggressive seizures can result in self-mutilation, as seen in some tail-chasing dogs. Not every episode of unexplained or bizarre behavior is provoked by seizures. Physical examination and a complete behavioral history are necessary for your veterinarian to make an accurate diagnosis. Behavioral (or physical) abnormalities related to seizures may respond to medical treatment. Ear Infections Head-shaking may be a sign of an ear infection. A pet may display its discomfort by suddenly shying away from you or by growling when you pet its head or touch the painful ear. (This is also seen in dominant dogs without an ear infection.) Infections of the inner ear and neurologic disturbances, such as vestibular disease in old animals, may cause circling and incoordination. Inappropriate Urination or Defecation Inappropriate elimination may be a sign of a medical or behavioral problem. When abnormal stools are voided in undesirable locations, an almost endless list of infectious or inflammatory bowel disease may require investigation. Inappropriate urination may be a sign of a urinary tract infection or hormonal imbalance. Neuromuscular diseases can affect the control of anal or bladder sphincters. Seizure activity can also be accompanied by involuntary voiding of urine and stool. This should not be confused with other forms of inappropriate elimination. Inappropriate elimination can also be an expression of territorial anxiety, inadequate exercise, a regression in house-training, and attention-seeking behavior. |
|
PET VACCINE MYTHS
by Catherine O'Driscoll Myth No. 1 Vaccines protect our dogs against disease, helping to ensure they live long, healthy, happy lives. Wrong! Vaccines only sometimes protect our dogs against disease (if at all). Scientific studies into human vaccines have shown that just as many vaccinated people, and sometimes more vaccinated people, contract diseases as do unvaccinated people. A study conducted by Canine Health Concern during 1997, involving 2,700 dogs, showed that 68.2% of dogs in the survey with parvovirus contracted it within three months of being vaccinated. Similarly, 55.6% of dogs with distemper contracted it within three months of vaccination; 63.6% contracted hepatitis within three months of vaccination; 50% contracted parainfluenza within three months of vaccination; and every single dog with leptospirosis contracted it within that three month timeframe. So vaccines represent - at best - only a 50/50 chance of protection. But if you doubt the validity of the CHC survey, ask around. It won't take long to find people whose dogs contracted these diseases shortly after being vaccinated. In a parvo vaccine trial conducted by Dr Ronald D Schultz, head of pathobiology at Wisconsin University, three out of six parvo vaccine brands totally failed to give protection; two gave only partial protection; and only one was shown to be effective. Myth No. 2. Vaccines have eradicated epidemics. Wrong! Vaccine manufacturers like to claim this. But research shows that vaccines are generally introduced after the disease has died out: diseases die out after 67% of a population has been exposed to it. The smallpox vaccine is often quoted as having eradicated smallpox. In fact, scientists stopped using it when they finally admitted that it was causing too many side-effects. Only then did the disease die out. There are strong arguments to suggest that vaccines keep diseases in the eco-system. For example, the only cause of polio in the USA today is the vaccine itself. (You can get polio if you change the nappy of a baby who has recently been vaccinated against polio.) Vaccines also shed into the environment, so a vaccinated or unvaccinated dog or cat can contract a disease from the urine and faeces of a vaccinated dog or cat. Myth No. 3. Vaccines are extremely safe. Wrong! No-one can legitimately claim that vaccines are safe - because no-one has conducted the necessary research to make that claim. There are no long-term studies to show the long-term effects of vaccines on humans, let alone dogs. Myth No. 4. Only a tiny minority of genetically-susceptible dogs will suffer adverse reactions to vaccines. Wrong! Whilst some dogs will have genetic weaknesses that make vaccines more dangerous to them, there are many other factors which can put your dog at risk. Vaccine manufacturers warn, in their data sheets, that the following factors can render vaccines harmful (they use the phrase, "immunocompetence may be compromised" ):
And if no-one is recording the adverse effects of vaccines effectively, then how can anyone say only a 'tiny minority' have adverse reactions? In the UK, vets are asked (not compelled) to report adverse reactions if they suspect an adverse vaccine reaction. If a dog falls down having an epileptic fit within half an hour, ten days, or a month of vaccination, the vet very often fails to suspect a link - even though vaccines are known to cause epilepsy, and the human Vaccine Damage Compensation Unit has paid up to Ł30,000 to parents whose children were made epileptic by vaccines. Even if the vet does suspect a link, there is no law to make him report the suspected reaction. Many vets are too busy to complete the necessary paperwork. The same applies to other diseases which many scientists contend are vaccine-related - such as skin disease, arthritis, cancer, encephalitis, etc.
Myth No. 5. "I am a vet, and I have only seen one vaccine reaction in 20 years' of practice." Wrong! you only think you have seen one vaccine reaction in twenty years of practice! Vets have been trained to look for an immediate reaction - where the dog is allergic to the vaccine (this allergy is the basis for the genetic link claim). In the event of an allergic reaction - sometimes called anaphylaxis or a hypersensitivity reaction - the vet is advised to inject adrenalin into the animal to save his life. Because vaccine components can remain in the system for long periods of time, and because most of these disease take time to show themselves, causal link is rarely established. Unless, that is, scientists take the time (despite fears that their funding might be withdrawn by the pharmaceutical industry) to study the facts. Research papers published by eminent scientists show that the following diseases can be caused by vaccines: Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
The Salk Polio Vaccine
Genetic defects
Leukaemia
Parvovirus
Arthritis
Allergies
Epilepsy
Myth No. 6. Vaccine manufacturers have to undergo stringent procedures and tests to ensure safety. Wrong! OK, partly true . . . vaccine manufacturers have to go through safety procedures and tests, but to claim that these tests are stringent is highly subjective. How, then, did SV40 get through; how did the avian virus get into the MMR vaccine; how did parvovirus slip through the net; and how did AIDS suddenly arrive from nowhere? In actual fact, no-one is permitted (in the UK at least) to test the viral component of a veterinary vaccine except a vaccine manufacturer. They are the only ones with a license to do it. This means that if you suspect a vaccine killed your puppy, you have to take the vaccine company's word for it if they say it didn't. There's no-one to go to if you want an independent check. Myth No. 7. It's better to risk a vaccine reaction than subject my dog to these deadly killer diseases. Wrong! Firstly, very few of the classic canine diseases are deadly. Parvovirus is only generally deadly to puppies and, as maternal antibody can be present for as many as 22 weeks, and as maternal antibody cancels out the vaccine, vaccinated puppies are unlikely to be protected from parvovirus. Adult dogs rarely die from parvovirus. Distemper kills only half of affected dogs. Indeed, dogs most susceptible to disease are those who are fed poor quality processed foods (and don't imagine that price equals quality). A dog fed a natural diet, containing 'real' food, is most able to combat any viral challenges. Also, please be aware that there is an alternative to a highly risky vaccine - this is discussed later. Clinical signs of hepatitis and parainfluenza range from mild and invisible to death (the flu rarely kills; hepatitis can be caused by a range of factors, including poor diet, and the vaccine doesn't protect against all of the other dangers). Secondly, no-one knows how common these diseases are. No-one records their existence. Leptospirosis, for example, is extremely rare (apart from which, leptospirosis is a range of over a hundred bacterins; the chances of the strain in the needle matching the strain in the field are remote; and the vaccine only confers protection for between three and six months, leaving vaccinated dogs 'unprotected' for up to nine months anyway). Vaccines have also been known to cause the diseases they were designed to prevent. This happens when a vaccine is injected into an animal with a suppressed immune system (caused by genetic factors, poor diet, stress, existing illness, etc.); or when the vaccine manufacturer fails to render the viral component of the vaccine harmless in the lab. In the latter instance, the vaccine is withdrawn after it has killed 'more dogs than normally expected' (in the words of one vaccine manufacturer as it withdrew its vaccine). Canine Health Concern's vaccine survey indicated that at least one in every hundred dogs is damaged by vaccines. As no-one has any statistics to suggest otherwise, it should be up to vets and vaccine manufacturers to prove vaccines are safe - and not the other way round. We whose dogs have died or suffered chronic debilitating diseases shouldn't have to take their word for it when the vaccine manufacturers deny responsibility. Our concerns should be taken seriously, and not strenuously denied in the face of overwhelming evidence. Myth No. 8. The homoeopathic vaccine alternative is unproven. Wrong! Existing research and experience shows that the homoeopathic nosode is as protective - but probably more protective - than vaccines. Whereas the medical and veterinary 'professions' receive huge sums of money from international multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical conglomerates, please note that homoeopaths do not. Rather, vets who trust the less expensive homoeopathic alternative suffer serious financial loss by refusing to sell highly lucrative annual boosters. A growing number of dog lovers are beginning to choose the homoeopathic alternative to vaccines. Some have been using the nosode for up to twenty years, and claim that they have never had a problem. Myth No. 9. You should vaccinate your dog every year. Wrong! If you hear nothing else, if you can accept nothing else, please know that annual vaccination is not necessary. Please do not subject your dogs to the vaccine risk year after year until they drop. Once immunity to a virus exists, it persists for the lifetime of the host. In the case of leptospirosis (a bacterial disease), I have already explained that the vaccine is virtually useless and therefore not worth the risk. One American veterinary vaccine manufacturer has made a public announcement, saying that it no longer recommends annual vaccination. Several American veterinary colleges have announced the same, in reaction to consumer pressure and fears over adverse reactions. One veterinary college said that annual vaccination has no scientific basis, and we might as well have chosen 'every full moon' to stick the needle in. And please be aware that a vaccine administered to a puppy, when his immune system is immature, is probably the most harmful jab of all, capable of wreaking havoc - havoc that you might not be able to detect immediately. Myth No. 10 My doctor/vet knows best. Wrong! Doctors and vets are trained in a very specific healing discipline. They know a little about pharmaceuticals, and some of them know about surgery. But they rely upon the pharmaceutical industry to tell them which drugs to use in which circumstances. When a conventionally trained scientist tells you that homoeopathy doesn't work, you may as well ask your butcher whether electricity works - the fact is, conventional vets rarely have any knowledge of homoeopathy to base their opinions on. Homoeopaths do not claim to be able to reverse all vaccine damage, and conventional vets - not even recognising vaccine damage - have little success. Once you've administered the needle, you can never change your mind. Please STUDY THE FACTS, don't live to regret it.
The facts contained in this article are substantiated in the book, 'What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines'. It is available for Ł16.45 including post and packaging from Abbeywood Publishing, c/o Longnor SPO, Longnor, Derbyshire SK17 OJJ.
Prices for overseas buyers:
For less than the price of one vaccine jab, you can save yourself years' of expense and heartache, and your innocent animal friend the agony of vaccine damage. Canine Health Concern fulfils three functions:
For details of membership, please write to the above address, enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Canine Health Concern is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to the health and wellbeing of dogs, and to the peace of mind of their 'owners'. CHC membership. Ł12 a year for the UK, Ł16
overseas. Send cheque to Longnor http://www.asr-svcs.dircon.co.uk/
This information is produced and distributed by Canine Health Concern, c/o Longnor SPO, Longnor, Derbyshire SK17 OJD. Telephone 01298 84737. |
MAKING THE MOST OF A VISIT TO THE VET
Sometimes you just know it isn’t going to be your day! The alarm
clock fails to go off, husband is late for an important meeting at the
office, the toast gets so burnt that the smoke alarm goes off and the
kids suddenly announce that they need a clean football kit and they told
you thousands of times. Finally, when they are all out of the
house and peace reigns at last the dog picks a well-chosen moment and
the newest carpet and is violently sick. So what should you have done? Firstly, a couple of drops of Bach Rescue Remedy (for you) is always
a good start!
Obviously you may add or ignore some of these but they are a starting point and the more detailed, relevant information you can give the more helpful it will be for the vet. It is useful to keep a notebook listing all your dog’s ailments, visits to the vet, medication and so on. Then you may want to ask the vet.
Briefly, note down the answers – how often do you come out of the vet and have instant amnesia?! If you are asked to make a follow-up appointment, make sure you note
any changes in your dog’s condition and when they occurred. Make a
summary of the vet’s diagnosis and treatment in your notebook – you
may not see that vet next time. by Judi, call advice operator
|
WHAT IS CANINE HEALTH CONCERN?
|
WHAT IS CANINE HEALTH CONCERN?
The Canine Health Concern is an independent survey that seeks to discover how we can help our dogs to live long, healthy, lives. It is organised by dog lovers for dogs. It was started by John Watt and Catherine O'Driscoll after their beloved Oliver, a four-year-old Golden Retriever, died suddenly and mysteriously, then his sister Prudence died of leukaemia. Many people will understand the devastation people feel when their friend dies - John and Catherine were heartbroken They started asking why? Why do nearly a quarter of all dogs die of cancer, rising to 46% of those over the age of ten? Why do so many dogs suffer from hot spots and allergies and arthritis and fits and thyroid problems and heart problems and leukaemia and diabetes and . . . . what is happening to our dogs? Do you remember when dogs used to die of old age? Why is it always the special dogs that die so young? Why is it always the dog who has been loved and cared for; who was always taken to the vet; who received the best care money could buy? Why? What is happening?
The experts disagree
Why do we need an independent survey organised by dog lovers for dogs? Why not leave it to the experts? Because the experts disagree with one-another! and because the there are no proper follow up procedures to ensure compliance with standards etc. A fact that has been recently admitted by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate! Diet Ian Billinghurst, an Australian vet and author, believes adamantly that commercial pet food can take five years off the average dog's life. He believes that many of the problems our dogs face in the modern world - infertility, periodontal disease, arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc. - are a direct result of inadequate feeding. But ask your vet what he thinks - he's probably selling selected processed pet foods. see Give your dog a bone You could also check out: Alfred Plechner, an American vet and author, believes that processed pet food, plus in-breeding of pedigree dogs, is causing an "epidemic of death and disease". He bases his theory upon years of practice as a vet. But he is rarely listened to by his fellow Vets. Vaccinations If you love your dog, and listen to your vet's advice, your dog is vaccinated annually. Why do we need to vaccinate dogs every year? Why do children only get vaccinated once or twice? Does your dog get sick and have diarrhoea after he's vaccinated? But dare you ignore your vet's advice? If you love your dog, what do you do? Already, over two thousand four hundred dogs have taken part in the Canine Health Census. Many of their owners are telling us that their dog started limping three days after their booster shot, and the limping turned out to be arthritis. Others are saying that their dog developed colitis or had fits after their annual vaccination. Is there a connection, or is it just coincidence? Other dog owners have told us that they never revaccinate their dogs, and they say that the dogs are living to 15 or 16 years of age, with rarely a need to visit the vet.
By sharing your experience, you could help dogs in the future. You could help us to settle many of the debates once and for all.
Pollution Do you live in a town or city, or do you live in the country? Our city-dwelling Concern participants often tell us that their dog is affected by petrol fumes, with post-mortem results to prove it! Country-dwellers have recounted tales of their dog being deluged with crop spray. They wonder whether this is why their dog later died of cancer, or aborted a litter. By adding your dog to the information pool, we might be able to discover how dangerous agricultural chemicals, or vehicle emissions, really are. We might, together, do something to make the world a safer place for our pets, and for our children. At the very least, we might educate ourselves to think twice before using certain chemicals. Chemicals Already, we know that certain commonly-used chemicals can cause cancer and leukaemia - in dogs and humans. Certain garden chemicals have been directly linked to cancer in dogs. The same chemicals, used in agriculture, are thought to increase the incidence of cancer in farmers. Some dog owners have been able to stop their dog having epileptic its, simply by changing from a plastic food or water bowl to a metal or ceramic bowl. Others, notably the Oregon Greyhound Rescue, say that thyroid problems have been cured by filtering the dogs' water. consider flea collars: did you know that many flea collars contain carbaryl? Do you know what carbaryl has been shown to do to animals in laboratories? It causes cancer, mutates cells, and causes birth defects. How safe is it for your dog to wear a flea collar around his neck for up to four months? And why do the manufacturers tell us to stop our children touching the collar? And the flea sprays - read the instructions. Are you told not to breathe in whilst spraying your dog? Can you tell your dog not to breathe? And what's in all the flea killing shampoos? One of them, at least, contains a chemical that has been shown to cause cancer if taken in through the skin! The manufacturers say they're safe if we use them correctly - but are they? You can help us to find out. And is there a safer way? For example, Alfred Plechner tells us that a dog fed a natural diet with mineral supplements is virtually flea proof. Have you experience to share in this light? Drugs You take your dog to the vet with a skin infection. Your vet gives your dog a steroid injection. The skin infection clears up. Later, you discover your dog has kidney disease. Is there a clear connection between the steroid injection and your dog's diseased kidneys? You don't know. But we do know that steroids are known to damage kidneys. We also know, from the drug manufacturers' own data sheets, that steroids can cause liver damage, brittle bones, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, an inability to deal with stress, and damage to the immune system. But, again, we have a dilemma. If your dog has a skin infection, you need to do something about it. You need to help your dog to get better. Many participants of the Concern have been telling us that they used herbs and homoeopathy, as well as diet, to cure their dog. By sharing knowledge, dog owners may be able to find a safer way. Quite a few Concern participants have questioned the 'family planning' injection. They wonder whether hormones might have something to do with their dog's early demise. Jean Dodds says that hormonal imbalances are connected to diseases of the immune system. Ian Billinghurst says that hormonal imbalances arise from faulty diet . . . Again, by comparing notes on a large scale, WE CAN DISCOVER HOW TO CARE FOR OUR DOGS BETTER. Did you know that a misalliance injection - to stop your bitch having puppies - has a one-in-a-hundred chance of causing bone marrow failure? Death? How safe are other drugs? Do we dog owners understand the risks, or do we abdicate responsibility for our dogs' lives? Every dog owner's problem. Your dog looks at you with love and trust in her eyes. It's time we dog owners stopped handing that trust over to strangers. Did you know that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate - which is the UK's 'official watchdog' for drugs used on animals, is financed through the payment of fees from industry? Did you know that industry employees sit upon 'expert' panels at the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food? Not your problem? You don't live in the U.K.!? Sorry but the situation is worse in the United States & Canada. Ask Ann Martin in Canada. Her e-mail address is - jmartin@gtn.net. The problems are common throughout the world in different guises. Furthermore the VMD has no mathematical standards to universally apply to all product applications - its up to what the applicant can negotiate! Did you know that your vet may have been educated in nutrition by employees of pet food companies, or that he is continuously 'educated' about drugs by sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies?
Isn't that a bit cynical? Maybe. Maybe not. We know that there are plenty of consumer organisations to protect the interests of human consumers. But there's nothing to protect our pets. We have, for many years, assumed that manufacturers have our dogs' best interests at heart. Have we been too trusting? Maybe we should trust everyone who sells products into the multi-billion pet industry? see Pedigree Chum Rask alias Dentabone But if that is the case - why are our dogs dying? Caveat emptor! Similarly, if one vet is telling you that you must vaccinate your dog, and another is saying it's dangerous, who do you go with? Perhaps, as some experts have pointed out, we should blame the breeders? But surely it's not as simple as that? Remember the Thalidomide drug? Remember that it caused birth defects in children whose mothers had taken the drug? Do you know what is happening now? The children who were born deformed and without limbs as a result of the Thalidomide drug are having their own children, and many of their children are being born deformed and without limbs - so the drug has gone into genetic memory. So what causes genetic defects in the first place? Natural? Is it natural to expect dogs to be born with inherent defects? And how can breeders prevent this happening? One of the Concern panel of experts, Dr. Ian Macadam, believes that we can breed cancer out of our dogs. But, again, he is rarely listened-to by his peers. Dog owners, who must sit with their dogs as they die, can have a voice by taking part in the Concern. Concern funding Although the Concern organisers have been offered sponsorship by companies selling into the pet industry, we have declined their offers. We believe it is vital that we remain independent. By taking part in the Health Concern - by Subscribing or donating Ł12 towards costs ( or similar foreign currency equivalents) and filling in detailed questionnaires about your dogs - you are taking an important step. The psychiatrist M Scott Peck defines love as, 'giving your attention to aid your beloved in their growth'. You are actively demonstrating your love for your dog and all dogs when you take part in the Concern. In return for your donation, you will receive the findings free. We must stress that the organisers - John Watt and Catherine O'Driscoll - are not making any money from this research. Indeed, they have supported the Concern to the tune of several thousand pounds. Similarly, none of the experts on the Concern team is being paid for his or her time . We expect the costs to be as high as Ł90,000 - and we rely upon your support, for the sake of our dogs. Finally, if you are an old age pensioner or unemployed, and cannot afford Ł5 or $11 etc., then please take part anyway. Most importantly, we need your knowledge and experience. If you write to us, or if you send off for questionnaires (please state how many questionnaires you would like), you can do one small thing to help: please enclose a large stamped self-addressed envelope. Expert support Our Concern Team of Experts includes: Christopher Day MA, Vet.MB, MRCVS, Vet.FF.Hom; Richard Allport B Vet Med, Vet MF Hom, MAPMC, MRCVS; Ian Billinghurst BVSc, BSc. Agr, Dip.Ed; Alfred Plechner DVM; Jean Dodds DVM; Jane Fraser MRCVS, B.Vet.Med; Scott Snellgrove BVSc, Tom Lonsdale MRCVS; Sheila Bailey and Sheila Hamilton-Andrews, MSc, canine behaviourists; Ed Dorosz DVM, BSA; and John Watt MSc. We also have the support of many breed and rescue clubs from around the world.
|
CONFESSIONS OF AN IGNORANT BREEDER
|
CONFESSIONS OF AN IGNORANT BREEDER by Joya Bocock
SO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE FUN TO HAVE PUPPIES ? Our boxer, Lupe, was just turning two when my husband brought up the idea of breeding her. I was just beginning to learn a thing or two about the ins and outs of raising dogs, having just gotten on the internet a few months before, and at first I resisted the idea, but then I gave in thinking maybe this is something I might be good at (being a breeder) and could maybe go into. Ignorance is bliss, but it doesn’t last. So, with my limited knowledge, and feeling like I knew it all, I started preparing Lupe for her mating. I got all her shots up to date (ah…the things I have learned since then), we found her a good-looking mate and voila! she was ready! I knew what days were right for breeding, being all-knowing, you understand, about breeding. And sure enough, within the month, we knew she was expecting. Her pregnancy went well, and the due date arrived, and although it was a little nerve wracking, she delivered just fine. Breeding was a cinch! Within a week of having her puppies, Lupe started having a discharge. She got very skinny and I was quite worried about her, but got her back into shape with the old Satin Balls recipe. Her puppies seemed to be thriving….the vet said the infection was venereal passed on by the male. Mistake number two…. number one was breeding her in the first place. We could not do anything about the disease because she was still nursing so would have to wait to treat it. Three and a half weeks went by and I started one feeding of gruel a day. One morning I awoke to a crying pup with a distended stomach. I called the vet and he came and gave the pup an enema, saying it was too soon to feed them. I forget what else he did, but he assured me all would be well and left. Three hours later I had a dead puppy. I insisted on an autopsy, because with my "vast" textbook knowledge, I thought it might be herpes, in which case all the pups would probably die. The vet did the autopsy, found red spots on the kidneys and agreed that it probably was herpes. Thank God he was wrong…if it had been, the whole litter would have died, but the rest of the puppies thrived. Lupe had to have twice-daily injections for two weeks.Now, I knew it was very important to find good homes for the puppies…I Now, I knew it was very important to find good homes for the puppies…I was in love with them, but tired of all the poop and the feedings and they were almost eight weeks old, so time to leave the nest. I wanted to keep the male, Spike, but he was huge and I did not have room for another big dog. He was such a cutie. But I digress. The vet called and said he had a friend who wanted three puppies. The man came over and I inquired as to why he wanted three puppies. He said one was for his mother, and one for his sister and Spike would be his. I warned him about breeding siblings and he assured me that this was not going to happen. He came and visited several times and I went to his house once and checked it out. All seemed to be on the up and up. I had done my duty or so I thought. This was close to Christmas. Well, he took the three puppies and about two weeks later I saw an ad in the paper with this man’s phone number. The ad said that he had all sorts of breeds of puppies (including boxers) for gifts for Christmas. This was my first experience with a puppy broker. He now has a thriving business. I wanted to buy the dogs back, but he was asking twice what I had sold them for and I just couldn’t do it. I was heartbroken and guilty about what I had done. Who knows what happened to these puppies. Daisy, the littlest female, stayed with me till she was five months old. I had to give her to my husband’s best friend because he had given me Lupe and the deal was he would get a puppy in return. He had her grandfather. He promised me that when she came into heat the first time, she would come stay with me so she would not get pregnant (people here do not spay their dogs, unfortunately) . Well, the other day, he sheepishly told me that Daisy, who just turned one in September, had had six puppies, two died, and that he did not realize she was pregnant. One of the puppies is a boxer (the grandfather’s) and the others are who knows what. So Daisy is getting supreme care, isn’t she? See-- the thing about breeding is that you are responsible for all these little lives. Just because they leave your home and go on to other homes does not absolve you of that. I will never do this again because I can never be sure that one of my pups is not abandoned, mistreated or worse. I did not even mention the other part of breeding---being sure that you are passing on a healthy line---because I didn’t know about that in those days. I have no idea if they have some defects that will show up later on down the line. And that, too, is irresponsible. So if you want another puppy, just like "Fido", get it from a responsible breeder and neuter/spay it….leave the breeding to the experts. Joya Bocock Copyright © 1997/2002. All rights reserved. All graphics Copyright © Critter Chat |
|
DEAF PUPPIES – DEAF DOGS MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION REGARDING DEAF DOGS by Leslie L. Judkins ~ Research Chairperson for the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund
Things That Go Bump In The Night Webster's Dictionary defines a myth as "a fictitious story, or unscientific account, theory or belief." Many negative warnings and stories surrounding deaf dogs have a myth-like quality. Handed down from person to person, they are dutifully recited each time the subject of the deaf dog is raised. Here are some examples: "Deaf dogs are fearful. They'll bite you when you try to wake them up!" "A deaf dog will get hit by a car because he can't hear it coming." "The deaf dog will bite your toddler." Many deaf dog horror stories are relayed by people who heard the story from someone else, and have never owned, or worked, with a deaf dog. You'll hear things like, "My friends' neighbor owned a deaf dog, and she told me that....." Or, "There was this person who owned a deaf dog and...." I've talked with knowledgeable breeders and rescue people, who are adamant that deaf dogs must be killed based on just this type of second-hand account. These well-intentioned people are completely convinced that they are right, based on second-hand stories they have heard from someone else. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not telling you that all deaf dogs make wonderful pets. Let's face it, some dogs - hearing and deaf - just don't have the right stuff. I don't know about you, but I want a dog I can hang out with, a dog I can trust with the kids. A sweet, fun pooch who will be part of my family. Personally, I’d rather have a deaf dog with a great temperament, than a hearing dog with a border-line disposition. So let's look at some of the myths, and misinformation, you'll hear about deaf dogs. I’ll share the myth, and then my rebuttal to it. My rebuttal information is obtained from the following sources:
Ready? Good, 'cause here comes Myth #1. The "Startled-Aggressive Dog" Myth Deprived of the ability to hear, the deaf dog spends each day jumping out of his skin, startled by everything that crosses its path. If you walk up behind a deaf dog, it startles. If you touch it when it's not looking at you, it startles. If you wake it when it's sleeping, it startles. Over time, these constantly startled dogs develop fearful and aggressive personalities. They will bite when startled, or attack for no reason. Perhaps no other myth has caused more damage than this one. The apparent logic of this myth is what makes it so seductive. It seems to make sense, and is therefore seldom questioned. This myth assumes that "being startled" is a permanent condition, that the deaf dog is perpetually startled, and that he will always respond by becoming fearful and aggressive. But the actual experience of deaf dog owners tells a different story. Although deaf dogs adapt to their hearing loss, yes, of course, they can still be startled. So can a hearing dog. So can you, for that matter. A deaf dog can be startled if he doesn't know you are near him, and you touch him. Or if a strong vibration wakes him from sleep. Deaf dog owners I've talked to tell me that their dogs' startle response ranges from a "YIKES!" response, where the dog may jump, to a "huh?" response, where the dog simply turns and looks. I have had similar experiences with my own dogs. If my Pointer is sleeping next to the coffee table, and I set a drinking glass on the table, the vibration from the glass startles him awake. He lifts his head, looks around, and usually goes back to sleep. Please note, that he does not wake up and attack me because he was startled. There are those who would have you believe that waking a deaf dog is as dangerous as entering shark infested waters. True, when a deaf dog is asleep, he is deeply sound asleep. But that doesn't mean he'll wake up looking to hurt someone. There are times when a deaf dog may be startled awake, like the incident I described above. A few deaf dog owners have told me that their dog may be momentarily disoriented when awakened. This lasts for a few seconds, and doesn't have any lasting negative effect on the dog. The vast majority of deaf dog owners I've talked to, tell me that when they wake up their dog, the dog is--are you ready---SLEEPY. When I awaken my dogs, they simply open their eyes, look at me, and wag their tails. Most deaf dog owners report similar experiences. One Grandfather, and owner of a deaf hound named "Tracker," told me that "the only fear I have when my Grandkids wake Tracker, is that they'll drowned in slobber from being licked to death!" Just as you can teach a dog to sit, you can easily teach a deaf dog to wake in response to a gentle touch. I've taught both my dogs to wake up when I gently place my hand on their back. Here's how I did it. I started by first placing my hand in front of the sleeping dog's nose, allowing him to smell that I am near. Some deaf dogs will wake up as soon as they smell their owners. Mine don't, but I firmly believe that somewhere back in their subconscious mind, a little flag goes up that says "Mom's near," and it prepares them to begin to wake up. Next, I lightly touch the dog on the shoulder or back. I pretend that I am trying to touch only 1 or 2 hairs with my fingertips. Then I increase the pressure of the touch by gently stroking the dog with two fingertips, then with my entire hand. Most deaf dogs will awaken during some part of this exercise. When they open their eyes and see me, I smile and maybe even give them a treat. I let them lick me if they are awake enough to want to give me a kiss. It only takes a few weeks of this procedure for the deaf dog to learn to wake up when gently touched. Similar exercises can be used to desensitized a deaf dog to the startle effect of being touched unexpectedly. One deaf dog owner I spoke with calls this "working on sneaking up behaviors." This is done by walking up behind the dog when he isn't looking. Touch the dog, then immediately pop a treat into the dog's mouth when he turns around. The dog quickly associates good things (i.e., the treat) with being touched unexpectedly, and learns to respond happily. This exercise would not be possible if all deaf dogs responded to unexpected touch by biting their owners! Not all deaf dogs require this type of conditioning. Some are confident, out-going, and don't startle easily. But these exercises may be especially helpful for more sensitive dogs. In addition to these exercises, deaf dog owners do take special measures to alert the deaf dog to their presence before walking up to, or unexpectedly touching him. Many will wave their hands in the air, flip a light switch on and off, lightly blow on the back of the dog, or toss a ball near the dog to attract it's attention. Or they simply wait until the dog turns toward them. The care that owners exercise in waking, or walking up behind a deaf dog, is not born from a fear of being attacked or bitten. Rather, it is an act of compassion which acknowledges the special needs of the dog. I don't expect that my deaf dogs will never be startled, so I do my best to condition them to respond in a positive manner to unexpected events. The end result is a well-adjusted, happy dog. The "More-Likely-To-Be-Hit-By-A-Car" Myth A deaf dog is 'more likely' to be hit by a car, and killed, than a hearing dog. The owner of a hearing dog, upon seeing his dog wander into the path of an on-coming car, can immediately yell 'Fido, Come!' Whereupon Fido turns around and comes to his owner, and is spare the certainty of 'vehicular death.' Because a deaf dog cannot hear his owner's command, or the approaching car, he will most certainly wander into the car's path and be killed. To believe this myth, you must first believe that the majority of dog owners allow their dogs to roam, unsupervised, without a leash. While this may be true for the dog living on a 20-acre farm, it is certainly not true for the city-dwelling/suburban dog. In fact, most cities have leash laws prohibiting such activity. We'd also have to believe that hearing dogs are not at risk, and are seldom hit by cars. That the hearing dog has an advantage because it can hear the approaching car, and easily move out of its way. But dogs are not born knowing that the sound of an approaching car, or honking horn, is synonymous with pain and possible death. Or perhaps, hearing dogs are only hit by cars when their owners aren't close enough to issue the life-saving 'Fido, Come!' command. But, does Fido ALWAYS come when he's called? Are all dead dogs at the roadside deaf? Have you ever know someone who's dog was killed by a car? To appreciate how often dogs are hit by cars, call your local veterinary clinic, and ask how often they treat dogs who have met such a fate. I've heard vets in large cities state they treat one dog a week that has been hit by a car. Are all these dogs deaf? It's reasonable to assume that ANY dog wandering off leash, in close proximity to cars, is at risk. Even the best trained hearing dog may refuse to come if he's chasing a cat or a squirrel. It is a cardinal rule of deaf dog ownership to NEVER allow the dog to roam off leash. A small percentage of deaf dog owners who live in unpopulated areas, do allow their dogs off leash at certain times. But they are the exception. Most deaf dog owners simply never take the chance. And this attitude isn't limited to deaf dog owners. I've spoken with many hearing dog owners who tell me that they never allow their dogs off leash. They don't want to take a chance that "something might happen," i.e., that their dog will run away or get hit by a car. Here's something else to chew on. The last two deaf dogs that I fostered were both picked up as strays, running loose on the streets. And yes, both these dogs were totally deaf. Somehow they survived. A loose deaf dog does not always equal a DEAD deaf dog. But what if you drop the leash on your daily walk, or your dog squeezes through an open door? Good questions. First, let's remember that not every dog will "head for the hills" the minute he is free. My deaf Boxer won't leave my side, but my deaf Pointer--well, that's another story. I've taught my dogs two important things: 1) don't bolt if the leash is dropped, and 2) wait by the door until I say you can go through it. I didn't make these exercises up. I learned them from dog training books, written by reputable trainers, for hearing dogs. Any dog will benefit from being taught these two things. During your daily walks, you can teach your dog not to run if the leash is loose and dragging. While walking your dog, let go of everything except the handle of the leash. Let the rest of the leash go slack and drag on the ground. If the dog tries to bolt, he receives a correction when he reaches the end of the leash. Practice, practice, practice. Eventually, your dog will pay no attention if the leash goes slack and drags on the ground, and he won't bolt should you accidentally drop the leash. A deaf dog can also be easily trained to sit and wait before being release to walk through a door. You can teach this at any threshold in you home. With you dog on it's leash beside you, walk to the door you've chosen. Stop abruptly as you reach the threshold, and sign "WAIT" to your dog. For this hand signal, I use an upright palm with my fingers spread out. Sign this in front of the dog's face. If the dog bolts, pull him back and again sign "WAIT." Repeat this as often as necessary until the dog pauses. Once the dog is waiting, sign "OK," and step through the doorway. Be sure you cross the threshold ahead of your dog. Another way to practice this is to make your dog sit, and wait to be released until AFTER you have opened a door. You can practice this when letting your dog out into the backyard. I make my dogs sit, and wait, while I open the front door to get the mail, before going into the yard, before going out the front door for a walk, and before entering/exiting the car. The 'Time Bomb' Myth Even if your dog currently shows no signs of aggressive behavior, he may suddenly become aggressive when he reaches 3 years of age. The deaf dog is an accident waiting to happen. It's unclear how this myth evolved, but evolve it did. It is ludicrous to believe that your loving family pet will suddenly become aggressive on its third birthday. A quick look at canine development also suggests that this theory is inaccurate. All dogs go through an 'adolescent period' which can start as early as 5 months (in small breeds), and last as long as 3 years (in larger breeds). Canine adolescence is marked by such behavior as refusing to perform previously learned commands, forgetting housebreaking, excessive chewing, and generally being a bit of a brat. Most dogs are through the worst of their adolescence by 2 years of age, but some dogs will remain in this phase for an additional year. A dog that is 3 years of age (and older), has generally outgrown most of the annoying habits of the adolescent, and is usually a joy to live with! On a personal note, I can add that my deaf Boxer turned 3 years old on February 25, 1998. There hasn't been any change in her behavior since her birthday.
Next month's article will continue to discuss additional deaf dog myths.
The family figured that a deaf dog couldn’t be trained to hunt, and if he couldn't hunt why keep him? Summer had ended, and the boy was heading back to school. Mom was pregnant, and the new baby was expected any day. The decision was made: if they couldn't find a new home for the pup by the time the new baby arrived, they would take him behind the barn and shoot him. The story grabbed me. It stuck in my mind and wouldn't let go. There I was in California, thinking about this pup in Washington, and worrying. And thinking. Mostly what I was thinking is, "How will I ever convince my husband to let me bring another dog into the house?" I told my husband the story about the pup in Washington. I said that we could save his life, and find a good home for him. We didn't have to keep him. I told him that we were uniquely qualified to help because we already owned a deaf dog. He looked at me and said, "I wish to God you'd stay off the Internet!" I waited a few days to allow someone else to step forward, and adopt the pup. No one did. Finally, I sent an email message saying "tell me about the Pointer." I talked with his owners, who told me that the pup’s name was Hank. He was 10 months old, loved people, and was good with other dogs. I'd never even seen an English Pointer before, except in books, but I did my best to learn about the breed. I visited English Pointer web pages, and joined a Pointer email list (well really, there's no point in being connected to the Internet if you aren't going to use it.) I went to the library and checked out books on "How to Train Your Gun Dog," because they were the only books that talked about Pointers. Slowly, I began to learn that an English Pointer was a pretty neat dog. But how was I going to get this neat dog to California? Well, the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund has this thing called the Travel Fund. Money in the Travel Fund is used to pay for the cost of flying deaf dogs to their new homes; so that the cost of flying your pup from Washington to California won't cause your husband to scream, "WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT!!" Well, maybe that's not exactly what it's for, but you get the idea. So, Hank the Pointer flew to California, and we met him at the airport. When the cargo handlers brought the crate to our truck, we got our first good look at Hank. It was a cold, windy evening. Poor Hank was sitting in the back of his crate, shaking from cold and fear. He was filthy and underweight, looking more like a skeleton with hair than a dog. He had an open sore the size of a half-dollar on his front leg. He was much bigger than I expected. We put the crate in our truck, and headed for home. We arrived at home, and I'd be lying if I said that I was looking forward to opening that crate. What if the hairy skeleton tried to rip my face off? I told my family to stand back alittle, and opened the crate door. The pup moved forward and into my open hands. The instant I touched him, I knew he was a gentle dog. I could feel his gentle, sweet nature radiate through the palms of my hands, up my arms, and into my heart. He gazed at me with his beautiful amber eyes. There was something dignified and noble about him. I looked past the dirt, and saw what this pup was capable of becoming. I said to my husband, "The name 'Hank' doesn't fit this dog." We had already decided that we liked the name Connor, and somehow, it just seemed right. So Hank became Connor, right there in my driveway. We went through all the normal "new dog" chaos. I gave Connor a bath, some food, and introduced him to the other dogs. He seemed intent on committing ungentlemenly acts with the Boxer, so I decided he'd be neutered sooner, rather than later. Connor started obedience school. He met the neighbors. He developed a special bond with my husband, no doubt stemming from the fact that they’re the only two guys in the house. As fate would have it, there was this bird hunter named Mark who worked with my husband. Mark was interested in Connor. "Wait until he finishes obedience school," my husband told him, "that way he'll be trained." Time passed, and we were reaching the end of our 7 week training course. As I was cooking dinner one night, I asked my husband if Mark was still interested in Connor. I wasn’t prepared for his response. "I talked to Mark today." my husband said, "I told him that Connor is a great dog, and we're keeping him." And so we did. Today, he looks nothing like that scared pup we brought home from the airport. He gained weight from a good diet, and rippling muscles from playing with our Boxer. The sore healed up, and today you can barely see the scar. He's a gorgeous dog, and people are drawn to him. They just have to touch his ears. One ear is solid brown, with a few white spots on the tip. The other is white with small brown spots. And does he ever love kids! Connor goes soft and mushy all over every time he sees a kid. He’s gentle and sweet, even with the smallest of children. Of course, his favorite kid is my daughter, Marissa. They play frisbee, tag, and roll in the grass. At a recent pet fair, I looked up to see Connor racing full speed across the grass. Marissa ran behind him, hanging on to his leash, and yelling "AAAAHHHH" as they tore by. Connor loves Marissa’s smelly socks, and will roll on her feet when she takes her shoes off. At night, he sleeps in her bedroom. Connor is also a high energy goofball. He springs through the living room, looking like an antelope bouncing across the plain. He likes the softness of towels, and will rub his face back and forth across the towels hanging in the bathroom. When he gets real excited, he runs through the house yodeling a hound-like "AwOOOOO" sound. If you sit on the floor, he'll come sit in your lap. His tail never stops wagging. I can always find Connor by looking for his tail, which sticks up like a whip antenna on a dune buggy. He spends his days playing, bouncing, cuddling, and living up to being a Pointer. He points at birds in the backyard. He points at butterflies. He points at houseflies. But being the polite dog that he is, he never points at people. That would be rude. Contact Leslie here: ljudkinds@ix.netcom.comArticles written exclusively for Critter Chat All-Animal Newsletter, Copyright Leslie L. Judkins © 1998 Please feel free to link to us.
Copyright © 1997/2002. All rights reserved. All graphics Copyright © Critter Chat Re-printed by courtesy of: http://www.critterhaven.org/critterchat/ |
This is my story of my best friend, Benny, and everything I did to help him. I have two 8-year-old lab/springer mix dogs, Benny and Bruiser. My husband, Dave, and I got these dogs from a friend. Their mother is a female lab who always got out of the yard by jumping the fence. The owner of this dog was frustrated by this. His solution was to put a choker chain around her neck and restrain her in the yard. He left to do an errand and was gone 20 minutes. When he came back, his dog tried to jump the fence; unfortunately, she hung herself and died. Bruiser, Benny’s littermate, is a calm dog who’s happy to sleep and eat. Benny, on the other hand, is a different story.
A brief history of his early years - Benny was very sick the first year with throwing up and diarrhea. We took him to see Dr. Piccone of Audubon Veterinary Associates who suggested we leave him overnight for observation. Everything turned out alright and we brought him home the next day. One day, Dave was mowing the lawn and Benny wanted to go outside to see him. His brother taunted Benny and said "where’s daddy – go get him." Benny jumped through our jowlosy window (a window that opens toward the street and cranks to open from the inside). He broke three windowpanes with not a scratch on him. Soon after, he broke three more windowpanes (again, brother teasing him from inside). Both dogs never liked to be caged. During their first year, they were caged while we were at work, then let free the rest of the time. When they got bigger, they no longer could stay together in just one cage. We tied two cages together so the doors were open and they could go back and forth to visit each other.
I don’t know how they did it, but they always managed to get out of the cage. At the time, I thought Bruiser pushed up on the cage, allowing Benny to squeeze through first then Bruiser would muscle his way out…still not sure. The cages always looked untouched – moved yes, but no damage. We got a fence for our backyard, but Benny got out either by digging underneath or squeezing himself under the fence. We would make repairs, put extra dirt in the holes, and also tie wrapped pipe along the bottom of the fence. He would put his nose in between the tie wraps to see which one was loose and would squeeze between that or between pipe and the ground. Absolutely amazing, his nickname became the escape artist!
The starting of a trend – On approximately July 4, 1994, Dave and I went to his boss Mike’s house to celebrate the fireworks. Benny panicked at the noise and opened our sliding glass door and ran away. Benny was long gone. He followed a little girl home from the fireworks and ended up in a shelter. He proceeded for the next few years getting progressively more destructive. He did such things as: scratching holes in the sliding glass door screen to get back in the house from being outside, scratching and leaving marks in front window screen from barking at other dogs/kids or whatever, then progressed to panicking when seeing us outside, knocking down curtains, and finally he lost it after a rabies vaccine on March 7, 2000.
Sometime late March, a severe thunderstorm occurred. Benny opened the door to the basement, somehow knocked out our large screen to our aluminum side door, bent it several times, had put nail marks through the aluminum part, and jumped out the door. Whenever he would get out, he would lay snuggling with his bother, Bruiser, in our front yard waiting for us to come home. Also, during the next few months, he tried to get out of the front door resulting in claw marks near the lock and on the molding all the way down to the floor. The glass doorknob was knocked to floor in pieces with the metal circle crushed like a closed fist. He jumped out a window in the playroom on May 19. While both dogs were locked in the living room, Dave came in to get Nicole’s car seat. I believe Benny panicked and jumped through the window. We thought a cage would keep him safe, but I had forgotten the pattern when they were young of not liking to be caged. Dave thought they would not get out if he drilled holes in the tray of the cage and put tie wraps around the hole and metal bar. I was gone only a few hours, and he used his teeth and nails to rip the bars apart and managed to squeeze his body between the door and the tray that pulls out. This ordeal left him with cuts on the top of his nose. One was pretty deep and required an antibiotic. Benny already had a swollen beaten up face from the window. I was so afraid to leave him alone.
My husband suggested taking him to the pound. I thought this was my only choice. I called everyday to check on him. Finally, the fourth day, I asked to speak to the manager of the shelter. I explained Benny’s situation about escaping and damaging the house. She recommended the University of Penn’s behavioral clinic. Luckily, I was able to get an appointment the next day. On June 6, I picked him up. My two-year-old daughter, Nicole, and I bathed him; and she hand fed both Benny and Bruiser to welcome him home. University of Penn and the Behavioral Clinic – I filled out a 24-page questionnaire the night of June 5. My sister, Cathy, who works nights, picked the paperwork up from my house and faxed it back to them the same night. I sat in a room with Dr. Reich, Jenny the behavioral modification specialist, and 5 fourth-year vet students. After 5 hours of intensive questioning, they diagnosed him with separation anxiety and noise/thunderstorm phobia with fear component. He was put on clomicalm, diazepam, and amitryptyline. I started to run Benny 3 to 4 times a week every morning for 45 minutes. I would get up at 5 a.m., go for our run, and finish with lead exercises the Univ. of Penn taught me. Lead exercises consisted of starting in a safe room (for Benny it was no outside doors or first floor), then I would say "Benny sit", give treat, and move 5 steps back repeat "Benny stay, obey? Treat good boy." I did this until he would sit for 30 minutes and be comfortable with me leaving a room or leaving the house and coming back in to him still sitting in same position. He used to dart out front door, but because of the training I did, he was glued to my side and would look at me for the next command. I was able to easily open the door and he would not dart out. When I did go outside and invite him, he would be at my side and would not run away from me. This was huge progress. He also did not get out of the fence when I would walk down the block. On a funny note, when I would train Benny, my daughter, Nicole, would train Bruiser. We did this side-by-side. He was doing much better. He would only get out of the house during rain or thunderstorms. In July or August, I contacted a behaviorist named Sarah Atlas. She suggested I contact a homeopathic vet, Dr. Dym. She said she would retrain him as soon as Benny is off all of his medications. In the meantime, I called Univ. of Penn to ask them to help me reduce his medications. Something happened to Benny during the decrease of medication. He would become very aggressive and attack Bruiser during their eating times. Normally, I leave a bowl full of food out for them all day. I separated food bowls; one dog was in the dining room and the other dog in the kitchen. I did this twice a day for 3 months. The Deterioration of Benny – Dr. Dym –10/4 - This was Benny’s first appointment with Dr. Dym. He said Benny had vaccine damage from the rabies vaccine that was given to him on March 7, 2000. I contacted Sam from the behavioral group that I have been a member since May 2000. I asked for feedback and additional help. She gave me information on vitamins and detoxing that brought Benny into better health. Benny’s aggression towards Bruiser unfortunately became worse. I contacted Dr. Dym who set up an intake exam phone consultation. We spent an hour on the phone discussing Benny. My husband works many hours and happened to work on this particular Saturday. During this intake exam, he did not let me finish my thoughts, would interrupt me during Benny’s history, and was impatient with me. I really felt he needed to hear everything I had to say to truly help. I still probed and continued to ask several questions despite his arrogance. Dr. Dym had no patience for my daughter, who was not cooperating with me, when I was talking to him. He asked if there was anyone in the house who could watch Nicole so that we could talk. He also said that he squeezed this appointment in for me today because of the urgency and that he had limited hours on Saturdays. I was not pleased. He had no understanding for someone who was obviously an emotional wreck and pregnant on top of it all. The outcome: he recommended stopping all Benny’s medications immediately. I had him reduced to ˝ tablet of Amitryptyline (25mg) every morning (3rd day) and clomicalm 80 mg 2x a day (did not reduce this yet). I inquired about side effects and mentioned that the doctors at the Univ. of Penn suggested slowly tapering him off all medications. He got back to me later and said he found no evidence of clomicalm being an addictive medication and that reduced dosage of the Amitryptyline was okay since it was only the third day. He recommended 3 remedies. He put them outside the office in a metal container. I was told to give Benny 10 mg phosphorus at 8 p.m. on that Saturday evening. He also gave me two additional remedies called mercurous and lysine to be used at a later date if necessary. I spoke to him about the vitamins and detoxing Sam had recommended. His reaction shocked me. He seemed quite annoyed and said to only follow his advice. I thought this was a little strange. She clearly knows homeopathic remedies much better than Dr. Dym does. I found Benny to be a different dog during the two-week period of her detoxing and vitamin suggestions. He seemed alert, eyes clear, bright, and very happy. I was thrilled and thought my Benny was back! I gave Benny this treatment as suggested at 8 p.m. Saturday, 10/21. Dr. Dym said not to leave him alone for the next few days in case of any adverse reaction such as diarrhea, vomiting, or more aggression towards Bruiser. Benny’s initial signs were nervousness and panting. Sam and I thought it sounded odd about Dr. Dym’s suggestion not to leave Benny alone. She explained using a homeopathic remedy would bring out the best in the dog and heal him. Dr. Dym mentioned it might be the wrong remedy if he had any adverse reactions. Sunday 10/22 – Dr. Dym called to check on Benny. I heard his 2-year-old son in the background giving him a hard time and I sarcastically said, "Oh you have kids, so you do understand." His response was yes, he understood, but had no patience for it. I noticed Benny’s itching and licking became worse. He was still showing signs of aggression towards Bruiser. Benny snapped at Bruiser twice on his ear. Bruiser’s reacted with his head down and non-confrontational. Monday 10/23 – I went to work. Benny got out of the house. Dave came home to check on him and put them both back in house. My Dad came over at 2:30 p.m. to check on the dogs and found they were still in the house. Benny is begging for Dave’s attention and approval from him. Benny current state: still scratching, scabs all over his back from prior scratching, still seem a bit nervous, and appetite decreased today and yesterday. Tuesday 10/24 – Worked ˝ day and arrived home at 1:45. I was only gone from the house for 6 hours. I opened the front door to a very bloody house. My first thought was that Benny attacked Bruiser. I yelled at him to lay down. He did so with a heavy sigh, as if to say "do you understand my frustration now? Please let me go." I did not realize he said this at the time. After replaying this day and that evening, I am sure I heard this and cried. I turned to Bruiser, who was not bleeding but seemed scared. I put Zack, a baby I watch on my days off, down in the swing to examine the house. To my horror, I discovered Benny broke through one pane of a two-pane glass window in the front room. The window was completely blood soaked from the lock down to the floor. There were bloody footprints throughout the house. The door to Nicole’s playroom was closed so tightly that Benny was unable to get out. This was his usual location. He also used his bloody claws to open the small door to our linen closet, tore towels out of the closet, there were chunks of shelving missing, blood everywhere in the hallway, the rug was dug up from trying to escape and get to the closed door. I followed the bloody footprints throughout the house. The living room, dining room, sliding glass doors, kitchen, stairs, windows in our bedroom, and hallway were all smeared with blood. I immediately called Dr. Dym’s office. They told me to come over right away. I was crying from Benny’s obvious distress and the fact that Dr. Dym’s remedy did not work. I spoke to several of the girls in his office and asked how much longer am I supposed to deal with this? I also questioned Dr. Dym’s judgement. Judy, one of the staff, held Zack for me while Nicole and I went into the examining room with Dr. Dym. Upon examination he had no internal injuries. I asked why the drastic change. He was doing fine until we stopped medications suddenly and put him on the phosphorus remedy. He explained that the remedy might have been too strong and that he would contact Dr. Pitcarin and ask about giving Benny another remedy called mercurous. The next day at 1 p.m., I was told to give him the mercurous. He gave me one thing on 10/21 and another on 10/24, but he wanted me to use the remedy that was given to me at his office on 10/24. My comments in my journal on this day were: "He is suffering so much! I cannot leave him alone anymore. I don’t understand!" This is when I realized Benny told me of his frustration and to let him go. Wednesday, 10/25 – Benny had his tail down most of the day. I still saw fear, confusion, and his eyes were still nervous. I can’t stop crying. I want to help him and don’t know how anymore. Thursday, 10/26 – Benny seems unusually calm, sadness in his eyes, and limping on his right leg from ripping some of the pads underneath his two front paws. I bandaged his right front paw and put calendula cream on it about every 4 hours. He later favored the left leg and I bandaged this one the rest of the day. Dave said that he seems like he is moping around. Friday, 10/27 – Had to work. I took Benny to the vet hospital for the day. He is still glued to me with his eyes following me everywhere. I explained to Dr. Dym that Benny does not like to be in a cage and will hurt himself. Even after I warned them, he bloodied his already raw left paw and scratched his nose trying to get out of the cage they put him in. I put cream on his paw and bandaged it. My mother-in-law was unable to watch Nicole in the evening, so Dave and I brought her to our bowling league. Dr. Dym said he was willing to work with me and said he would bring our dog back home with him for safety. Benny growled at the staff when they were trying to give him water. He finally calmed down after they put rescue remedy in his bowl of water and orally in his mouth. Dr. Dym changed his mind and decided he had a lot of work he could catch up with and stayed in the office (ironic isn’t it?). I honestly thought Benny would be lying beside him. I was wrong. Benny was in a bigger cage in the back of the office (called a dog run with cement on the floor of a very large cage with a fence type of opening) while Dr. Dym worked in the receptionist area in the front of the office. He was unable to hear if Benny required any medical attention or help. I went to pick Benny up and discussed this situation further with Dr. Dym. He showed me paperwork to explain what symptoms each of the remedies would cure. To me, it seemed this situation was over his head and he was showing me the paperwork as a backup to why he chose the remedies. Saturday, 10/28 – I shaved Benny today. Kept dogs outside for awhile. I scheduled a company for carpet cleaning. Benny is still calm, seems depressed to me. He started coughing, gagging, and spitting up a little. I called Dr. Dym and he said that this is all part of the healing process. I am still crying and feel helpless. Sunday, 10/29 – Benny is still calm, too calm – moping around and seems so depressed. Someone has been home since the incident on 10/24. I have not left him alone. I feel trapped. I went to the pet store to get bones/treats to retrain Benny. I left open our sliding glass door to the outside so that he could go in and out of the house. He still jumped through Nicole’s playroom window that had plastic on it. Monday, 10/30 – I did two errands that took me about an hour. Benny jumped through the plastic in Nicole’s playroom again. I left the sliding glass door open once again, but he must not have known. I found both dogs in the front yard together laying down waiting for us. I went to the Oaklyn parade where kids dress up in Halloween costumes and go up to the stage to be judged. Nicole was a Dallas Cowboy’s cheerleader. I chained Benny outside, and he somehow got out and was in the front yard alone. He even managed to wiggle out of his collar. Dave came home from work later and found him waiting for one of us to come home. He did not hurt himself, thank God! Tuesday, 10/31 – I was training Benny using behavior modification I learned from Univ. of Penn. I went trick-or-treating with my family and left both dogs outside. They did not get out of the yard for over 2 hours. My sisters made comments that Benny seems withdrawn, weird, depressed, and calm. Wednesday, 11/1 – I called Sarah Atlas, the behaviorist I’ve been working with since the beginning. She hesitated after hearing about the incident on 10/24 and said she feels he is suffering and suggested euthanasia. I was extremely upset. I said I did not expect to hear that from her at all. I was crying. She said that there has been so much stress on me, the new baby, the house, and to give myself a break. She said I have gone above and beyond everything possible to try and help Benny. After a long conversation about the life he is leading and what Benny and I had been through together, she said it sounded like he has had enough and there really wasn’t much more we could do for him. If I decide to make this decision, she said to spend an afternoon with him, go to the park, do all of his favorite things, give him lots of hugs and let him go and that it really is the best thing for Benny. Sarah said he has a severe panic attack every time I leave the house. What kind of a life is this for him? Not happy one, that’s for sure! I contacted several people that I trust to help me with this very difficult decision. Dr. Piccone, Benny’s original vet of 7 ˝ years, also agreed that there wasn’t much more that could be done. He did suggest that we could put him back on all of the medications again, but I just didn’t feel it was fair to my best friend. He said that I have gone above and beyond what any dog owner has done for their pet. I responded that I did all of this because I love him. I called my neighbor Colleen. We were both crying and agreed that Benny is suffering. It was mentioned again about how horrible his panic attacks are when one of us are not home. I called Judy from Dr. Dym’s office. She said, "how much longer are you going to put up with this? He continues to destroy your house and despite all of your efforts, he is just not getting any better." She agreed with Sarah and felt that Benny is truly suffering and that I need to let him go. I then spoke to my husband, Dave, who suggested we give him to a farm. I was afraid he would be abused by someone else and know that he needed extra love because of his delicate condition. I then sent an e-mail to Sam. I explained in detail what was going to happen. As I was writing the information down. I thought, "dear God, am I doing the right thing?" I looked over at Benny and saw the truth. I saw sadness in his eyes, sunken cheeks, and a small frail body. Why haven’t I seen this before? I took the afternoon off. I asked Darlene, Zack’s mom, if she could still watch Nicole so that I could spend the rest of the day with Benny. Both Benny and I went to the park. We played, I cried, hugged him, told him how much I love him, and how special he is to me. I told him that I know he is suffering and asked him "am I doing what’s best for you?" The answer was "yes, I don’t feel well." Dave came home and took him to our vet Dr. Piccone to have him euthanized. This was the hardest decision that I have ever made in my life. I honestly feel that I gave Benny 8 wonderful loving years. His last year was even more focused on helping him to get better by working with the Univ. of Penn behavioral staff, Samantha from the Canine Care Group, Sarah, and doing a lot of research. Benny and crossing over the bridge – The pain is still so unbearable at times, yet I am starting to feel a sense of relief. I now wake up in the morning knowing Benny is happy and pain-free. I feel safe that I can leave my home and not be scared of what I may come home to; whether it is damage to our house, wandering our neighborhood, or further injuring his body. My best friend that I took care of for so long was in pain when he was left alone. Bruiser was always at the house with Benny, but it did not seem to help Benny with the severity of the panic attacks. Benny needed human companionship. I realize it may sound strange, but Benny told me to stop his pain, that he was suffering, and he withdrew from us. Still, he slept on the bed between my husband and I snuggling up so close and near to my chest as if to protect and comfort him. He was always the type of dog that needed extra attention and was so lovable. I miss him dearly. It’s been over a month now and I still think of him daily. I still have my doubts sometimes – maybe always will – but I knew Benny the best and in my heart I know he was in trouble and wanted to be at peace. I love you Benny! I will meet you on Rainbow Bridge and will never leave you again! You have taught me so much and have enriched my life far more than I ever thought possible. I will always think of you with a smile and know that you are happy and pain-free. I wish you well, my friend. Thank you for comforting me when I needed it, snuggling with me, talking to me with your eyes (looking on top of the refrigerator and asking "can I have just one more bone"), and making me stronger. I knew you needed me, so I got up early in the morning to go to the park with you and we ran and played together, and I tried every training method that I knew to help you. I love you with all my heart! Special thanks to the University of Penn, Dr. Reich and Jenny for making incredible progress with Benny. Samantha for the introduction to homeopathic vets, remedies, EFT, advising along the way, and for being at my side whenever I needed her no matter what time day or night (UK is 6 hours ahead of the U.S.). She phoned me on the night Benny was euthanized. We spoke for hours crying, laughing, and sharing memories, including one about her beloved horse Ali. She nurtured and cared for Ali who was so important to her as well. Ali told her he wanted to go to Rainbow Bridge after suffering for over 15 years. She has become very special in my life. She is the list owner of the behavioral group of which I feel I have found many caring people. They, too, have their share of behavioral problems with their own dogs but don’t hesitate to offer advice or suggestions. I would also like to thank Sarah Atlas with her knowledge and experience. She helped me to see when to let go. My sister, Cathy, who supported me through all of my troubles during this time and is one of the few people who truly understood how special Benny is to me and why I went to such lengths to help him. Last but not least, my husband, Dave, and my daughter, Nicole. They stood by me and helped in anyway they could. My 2-year-old daughter, Nicole, for her help during the countless times I would train Benny. She would stand next to me and train Bruiser as well. During this painful loss she asked, "If I take you to see Benny in heaven, will you be happy and not cry anymore?" Children are so beautiful. I hope I have not left anyone out, there have been so many people who have helped me during this time. Thank you all for everything! |
Owner Trained Guide Dog - It Can Be Done
|
Owner Trained Guide Dog - It Can Be Done
A PIECE OF MY MIND Do Guide Dog owners really exist? A
CASE HISTORY
By Aine Wellard INTRODUCTION Veterinary
surgeons, like most other people, have their attitudes (including their
prejudices) moulded by society long before they embark upon their
professional training. Within the existing curriculum, veterinary
medicine is dominated by the 'biomedical' model of care. Therefore,
psycho-social issues tend to be ignored. With little or no formal
training, veterinary surgeons are expected to understand how their own
personal beliefs, anxieties and fears can affect their attitude toward
clients, and behaviour with them. Veterinary surgeons must also devise
their own coping strategies for situations which often require highly
developed interpersonal skills (Engel 1977; Buckman 1984; Tubridy and
Wellard 1991 ). The
following case history demonstrates the destructive power of
professional and client roles; illustrates the restrictions that role
expectations can place on communication; highlights some misplaced
stereotypic attitudes about guide dogs; and provides bona
fide evidence to support the conviction that veterinary surgeons
should receive training in the behavioural sciences. "Before
making the decision to terminate life, all reasonable alternatives
should be considered and carefully evaluated" (Stewart 1989). Such
advice is also relevant when a veterinary surgeon is making a decision
to terminate an established relationship while the animal is still
alive, as illustrated in
this case history of forced rehoming. Forced
re-homing refers to a
situation in which a person who is emotionally bonded to an animal can
no longer keep it. This is usually due to a change in circumstances: for
example, long term hospitalisation or moving into sheltered housing,
with a 'no animals' ruling. The
forced re-homing of a much loved pet has a power for devastation
potentially greater than that of euthanasia, because the animal is still
alive yet out of its owner's reach. My
guide dog Sherry was a yellow In
her tenth year, my veterinary surgeon, who offered no valid explanation
that I could understand, decided that I was no longer a suitable owner
for Sherry. The person nominated by him to be Sherry's new owner was a
friend of mine. In order to convince me that Sherry should live with
this friend, he embarked upon a series of lectures. To ensure that I had
no way of escaping from them, each lecture was eloquently delivered when
I took Sherry for her annual vaccinations! I
was confused. Suddenly, without fully understanding why, I was being
ordered to put the past behind me, sever the bond that existed between
me and my dog and, just as if she was a sack of old rubbish, I was
expected to give her away and immediately adjust to a life without her;
just as if she had never existed! For the final three years of Sherry's
life I felt as if she was owned by a cooperative. Sherry
died on On
that occasion, my veterinary surgeon demonstrated great sensitivity and
has demonstrated sensitivity on many other occasions. This makes feeling
hurt about what happened over two years ago in relation to re-homing
Sherry all the more difficult to reconcile. I
wrote the above account one afternoon in 1990, because two years after
my dog had died, the reasons for my lack of suitability as a responsible
owner of my own guide dog still evaded me. I still felt very angry with
my veterinary surgeon and angry with myself for feeling angry. I also
thought that when I had it on paper the cause of the problem would
become clear to me. But, in effect, only one thing became clear: that
something was still hurting. I found myself in tears several times when
originally writing the above text. I showed what I had written to a
friend who was a social worker. After reading the text through, she came up with three key words to explain my feelings: Invalidation, Choice and Functional. I felt physically relieved. Through the use of these three simple terms she had given me a clear indication that what I had written had been understood. I took her advice and sent a copy of the above account to my veterinary surgeon and made an appointment to discuss it with him. I am very glad that I did. We
discovered that, in the main, the whole episode had been a classic case
of communication breakdown. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS There
had been fault on both sides and a lot of fear on both sides. I had
thought that the suggestion to re-home Sherry, ostensibly on the grounds
of her being ten years old, had been irrational. I discovered that my
veterinary surgeon had been motivated by a fear of litigation, in
relation to 'a breach of the duty of care'. He believed that had I been
'run over by a bus', he might have been held responsible and sued. I
would like to pose the question, at this point, by whom he would have
been sued and on what legal basis? As a response to this seemingly
irrational behaviour I had developed a fear of taking my dog to the
surgery. I was afraid she would be taken away from me; he appeared to be
unaware of my fear and doubtless thought that my attitudes and behaviour
were irrational. A situation had arisen in which my veterinary surgeon
became defensive whenever I questioned his judgement. I became defensive
whenever he suggested that I should re-home my dog. We no longer talked
to each other, instead we talked at each other and hardly communicated
at all. I
believe that it would be useful to explain the source and consequences
of our communication breakdown, as I perceive them. The three 'key'
words, used by my friend, proved to be the key to what had gone wrong. Invalidation: This is
a situation in which little or no acknowledgement is given to a person's
thoughts, feelings or behaviour and a person feels as if she or he is
worth very little. My
veterinary surgeon had not consulted me about whether or not I should
give away my dog. Consequently, I felt as if I was being totally
ignored, (i.e., invalidated). I had also been guided by very mixed and
powerful emotions. I was jealous of my dog’s potential new owner. I
felt guilty about feeling jealous, paranoid about what people were
saying behind my back. I was also very angry with the veterinary
surgeon. It seemed to me that my feelings had not been acknowledged by
him. Choice:
I had a feeling that I had no
choice as to whether or not Sherry remained with me. My veterinary
surgeon had not explained to me his reasons for wanting to evict Sherry
from her home. I thought that it must be because he believed that I was
incapable of looking after her. On the other hand, I had not asked him
for his reasons. I felt trapped and powerless. As a client I had fallen
into the trap of allowing him to 'set the agenda'. This meant that if he
did not offer to discuss an issue then it remained unresolved. I acted
out the role of the 'model' client and (like all good and compliant
clients) I had let the veterinary surgeon decide what was important. In
addition, he had role-played the 'model' veterinary surgeon in that he
did not express his own fears and anxieties. Neither
of us had done anything wrong. We had just played our roles so well that
our 'role expectations' got in the way and we could not communicate with
each other. Functional: It
seemed to me that as far as the veterinary surgeon was concerned a guide
dog had a purely functional role as a mobility aid. Once this role was
redundant the dog had no further use. In
fact, he did explain later that a guide dog should be re-homed when it
is no longer working. "This is because if another guide dog comes
into the home the presence of a retired guide dog would make things
difficult". Evidence refuting this assumption has recently been
published. In a study of the relationships that exist between guide dog
owners and their dogs, Jill Nicholson (1992) notes that problems rarely
arise when the old dog has its role taken over by the new dog. When
problems do arise, they are relatively short lived. CONCLUSION The
termination of a relationship between an emotionally bonded owner and
animal can precipitate intense feelings of loss both when an animal has
died and when it is still living. In this respect this case history
highlights an interesting paradox. My veterinary surgeon had handled
Sherry's euthanasia with great sensitivity. He demonstrated an awareness
and understanding of the strength of attachment I had to her. When
considering the option of euthanasia he had taken into account both the
desires of the owner and the needs of the animal. Yet, with regard to
the re-homing of Sherry, the desires of the pet owner were excluded. It
was the needs of the animal and the desires of the veterinary surgeon
that formed the criteria for decision-making. Both situations involved a
'break' in the emotional bond; both could precipitate a grief reaction;
both situations involved the same owner and the same dog. Nevertheless,
both situations received very different approaches from the same
veterinary surgeon. I do not know the reasons why this should have
happened. But possibly it was related to the development of personal
attitudes and beliefs. These are known to be heavily influenced by the
society in which we grow up. It
is my belief that, to some extent, my veterinary surgeon had fallen
victim to a popular misconception (which I have frequently encountered:
that the blind are helpless but for their marvellous guide dogs 'and
certainly can't be trusted to cross roads safely without them'. My
veterinary surgeon would appear to have, unintentionally, 'projected'
his own fears and anxieties about the consequences of blindness (i.e.,
his perception of my vulnerability) on to me. His problem then became my
problem and was treated as such. It seems that Sherry had fallen victim
to another misguided belief that 'guide dogs are public property'. As a
consequence, she was perceived as 'public responsibility. In turn, I was
no longer considered to be eligible for the
rights that other veterinary clients take for granted; in
particular, the right to keep my dog. One thing is clear to me: any dog
I have in the future will be my companion and the property of nobody.
This is an experience which I never wish to repeat. Perhaps
I should point out one underlying feature that has not been overtly
stated. At no stage of this affair did I consider taking my custom to
another veterinary surgeon. Retrospectively, if I had possessed the
knowledge that I have now, I may have sought a second opinion but I did
not consider at any stage terminating the professional relationship. It
is said that trust is the foundation stone for all good relationships; I
wonder if the foundation stone had already been laid here, as this
relationship had weathered quite a severe storm - a storm which,
perhaps, could have been avoided. I have written here only one side of
the story. I have not told of the sarcasm, cynicism and poisoned arrows
that the veterinary surgeon had to endure because of my pent-up anger. Please
note: Since writing this article in 1993, I have had two more guide
dogs. Both have been “rescue” dogs that have been privately trained REFERENCES BUCKMAN,
R. (1984) Breaking bad news: why is it still so difficult? British
Medical Journal 288, 1957-1960. ENGEL,
W.L. (1977)The need for a new medical model: a challenge for
biomedicine. Science 196 (4286), 129-136. NICHOLSON,
J. (1992) The end of a partnership: a study of the reactions of guide
dog owners to the end of a working partnership with their guide dog. Technical Review (4). STEWART,
M.F. (1989) The dilemma: when to kill or not to kill companion animals.
In: Proceedings of British Small
Animal Veterinary association animalWelfare Foundation pp 1-15. TUBRIDY,
]. and WELLARD, A. (1991) A survey of small animal veterinary surgeons
in |
|
SUMMER
PROBLEMS TICKS
AND FLEAS (and Sweet Itch) A
few ideas for handling these problems: Fleas: As
told to me by Lita Radford of Pets4Homeopathy; rub normal salt into the
animal’s skin. This deprives the flea of oxygen and the rubbing in of
salt cuts them up so they are no longer a problem. Fleas
have a habit of hiding in longer fur and on warmer areas of a dog so
look carefully at base of tail, around the neck, base of ears, inside
tops of limbs. If
the dog is infested I have personally suggested the use of a cupful of
washing up liquid to which you add about 2mls of Eucalyptus Oil. Wash
the dog in this and rinse. Then wash again only this time, leave the
mixture on for about 5 minutes if you can. Rinse with water, then do a
final rinse in Vinegar which you leave on. Take
the dog out of the bath and pop it on a light coloured sheet or bed
sheet and comb the through thoroughly, you should see dead fleas
dropping off as you rinse it and also as you comb it. Make
up a spray of 50/50 Apple Cider Vinegar and water and use that as a
daily spray. Some
people have suggested that using just washing up liquid and a Flea Comb
is good enough for flea removal and as there are many ideas on how to
treat, we have just given a few that have been tried and tested and hope
they work for you. I
would suggest keeping a bottle of Flea/Bug bite remedy on hand to give
orally 3 times a day if the fleas have irritated the dog and it is
showing some allergic reaction. Some
people suggest the oral use of Brewers Yeast or Kelp. I would be wary on
both and make sure your dog is not allergic to Brewers Yeast as it can
cause digestive/skin problems; with the Kelp, as this can affect the
Thyroid I would check with your vet on this and only use it if the
dog’s Thyroid is 100%. Basically both give off a pretty disgusting
taste if a flea does bite, the idea being obviously, that this makes the
dog unpalatable to the fleas. Ticks: I
would use Neem Oil Shampoo and a Neem Oil spray, both of which are
freely available on the internet but make it the best quality pure oil
you can get. Spray the dog before you go out on a walk. If
you dog does have a Tick on it, the use of Lavender Essential Oil can
help. Literally drown the Tick with it and it dies. If
your dog should be bitten by a Tick, use the Infection Remedy and Ledum
30c homeopathic remedy to offer some protection from the bite. The use
of the Trauma & Wound remedy is handy to give if you are out on a
walk. Make
sure the dog is given a good homeopathic parasite treatment (available
from us. See our Remedy page) regularly and if the need arises you can
get a remedy off www.pets4homeopathy.com a K9 Ear Cleaner
for yeasty ears or for mites. As this is a Gentian Violet/Colloid Silver
mix, having used it on my own dog, I would suggest that you use
Petroleum Jelly on the ear flap so it does not dry or stain, and put it
on the dog outside as this mixture does stain. Some
useful combination remedies to have on hand are:
As
it is often possible for changes in weather to introduce parasites,
bugs, pollutants etc. you may also consider keeping your animal
homeopathically wormed on a regular basis; to have either Liver Detox or
normal Detox on hand for removal of toxins; Tremplex for animals who
shiver/shake and use this also with Acute Trauma Rescue/Anxiety Remedy. Be
vigilant and check your animal over well when grooming, make it a daily
thing so you can spot problems before they become serious issues.
Keeping a small but well chosen set of Combination Remedies on hand can
often be the difference between a minor mishap and a major problem
particularly if you are not able to get to a vet in a hurry. In
warm weather remember to watch swimming and drinking water being too
cold; your animal getting sunstroke or heatstroke and keep water and
perhaps a home made electrolyte mixture on hand (see our Remedy Page for
instructions on how to make this). Also,
feet. For horses I always make sure that the soles and walls of the feet
are wet then oil so this keeps in moisture and helps prevent cracking. For
Dogs, putting some soothing cream onto the Pads, like Calendula,
Camomile or Hypercal (all made by Nelsons) after walks and making sure
that you do not walk the dog on hot pavements or rocky/stony ground to
prevent sore pads. Colloid Silver is cheap and very helpful to stop
minor bleeding from cut nails which can break off as we all know. Sweet
Itch: If
you notice your horse rubbing its mane or tail, wash with an
anti-dandruff type shampoo, or Neem Oil Shampoo. This usually relieves
the irritation and stops the horse from continuing to rub but it may
need to be repeated. There is a Neem Oil Cream you can buy which I have
used to rub into the affected areas and find this works very well. It is
a little more convenient then the bathing also.
I
start this treatment in March, repeat in August, and again the following
March and have never had to repeat it. However, it is possible that your
horse may start to rub but if you catch it early enough with the Neem
Oil Cream or Shampoo which you use as often as needed, giving a further
round of homeopathic remedies should not be required. Horseflies:
Not
entirely holistic but works very well. Look after your animal in the same sensible manner you would look after yourself or your child and you should have a happy and carefree summer! Copyright 2005: © Animal
Holistic Health 2002 |
Please report any dead links to the webmaster
© Animal Holistic Health 2002
The email message
jumped across my screen: "DEAF ENGLISH POINTER NEEDS A HOME."
Naturally, I opened it. It seemed there was a puppy in Washington, who
had been purchased as a gift for a 12 year old boy. He was to be the
boy's best buddy, his hunting companion. They would spend their days
trudging through the fields looking for birds. It was just so wonderful,
until the boy realized that his puppy was deaf. The pretty picture faded
to black.
