Pet Assisted Therapy
After we adopted our first dog Casey, I found an article on pet therapy and was amazed at the work pets do in schools, hospitals and long-term care facilities. The origins of pet facilitated therapy go back to the 18th century at a York retreat where the patients cared for small animals and learned self-control by caring for creatures weaker than themselves. Florence Nightingale observed that small animals were excellent companions for the chronically ill and thought caged birds would benefit someone confined for a long period. Finally, Boris Levinson discovered the benefits of pet therapy accidentally when a boy and his mother arrived an hour early for an appointment and the boy started interacting with Levinson’s dog. The boy had been nonverbal in previous sessions, yet he responded to the dog and Levinson started exploring the benefits of the human-animal bond.
So how does it work and how do you know if your pet has what it takes to work in pet therapy? First, a dog needs to pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test and that consists of ten areas of testing. The dog must be friendly, remain calm when approaching a stranger or another dog, and remain that way as the handler addresses the stranger. The dog must walk on a loose lead, come when called, heel and follow the owner’s lead and be able to walk in a crowd and not react to loud noises. The pet must allow a stranger to brush it and touch his paws and ears. Finally, the dog should remain calm when a friendly stranger stays with the dog for three minutes, out of the owner’s sight.
All of these areas are ones the dog will potentially encounter as a pet therapy dog. I was involved in pet therapy programs for many years in a middle school and the dog encounter erratic behavior from students at times, fire drills, and students passing in the halls between classes.
Check out the Delta Society or Therapy Dog’s International for more information on becoming a pet therapy team. I am writing about dogs, however cats, birds, fish and small animals can be a part of a pet therapy team.
Contact me if you are interested on a bibliography of articles and books on the topic of pet therapy. I did a thesis on the benefits of pet therapy in a variety of settings and have articles and a bibliography on hand.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
I was walking my two dogs Buddy and Molly last week when some people approached us and wanted to pet them. I told them not to approach Molly and explained that she is unpredictable, but Buddy was okay. They continued to approach Molly and I had to tell them to stop. When we first adopted Molly, she was fearful when people approached us on walks and she hid behind me until they passed and she cowered when anyone tried to pet her. She fears some men, but with a lot of work we are working through her issues, gaining confidence, and trust in people. While we are working on this, we do not let people pet Molly during a walk.
Many people do not know how to approach a strange dog or look at the dog’s body language and understand what the dog is trying to tell them. This is National Dog Bite Prevention week and according to Center for Disease Control dog bites affects more than 4 1/2 million and most of the victims are children. If the people we encountered had really looked at Molly, they would have seen that she was apprehensive when they approached. She was backing away and her tail was between her legs.
When approaching a dog one should always ask the owner first, then approach from the front so the dog can see you and do not make direct eye contact, which the dog may be perceive as a threat. Let the dog sniff you and do not pet the dog from above on the top of his head because he cannot see your hand. Pet him under his chin and watch his body language to see if he is comfortable. It best not to approach a dog that is tied up and you should not try to take a dog’s food or toys.
Children should be taught not to disturb a dog when it is eating, sleeping, or playing with toys and should always be supervised by an adult. Children should ask an owner if they might approach and pet the dog. I have been around dogs most of my life and I respect them and in turn I have never been in unsafe situation. We will continue to walk Molly and work on building her confidence and it makes my day when someone asks to approach the dogs in a safe manner.
I was walking my two dogs Buddy and Molly last week when some people approached us and wanted to pet them. I told them not to approach Molly and explained that she is unpredictable, but Buddy was okay. They continued to approach Molly and I had to tell them to stop. When we first adopted Molly, she was fearful when people approached us on walks and she hid behind me until they passed and she cowered when anyone tried to pet her. She fears some men, but with a lot of work we are working through her issues, gaining confidence, and trust in people. While we are working on this, we do not let people pet Molly during a walk.
Many people do not know how to approach a strange dog or look at the dog’s body language and understand what the dog is trying to tell them. This is National Dog Bite Prevention week and according to Center for Disease Control dog bites affects more than 4 1/2 million and most of the victims are children. If the people we encountered had really looked at Molly, they would have seen that she was apprehensive when they approached. She was backing away and her tail was between her legs.
When approaching a dog one should always ask the owner first, then approach from the front so the dog can see you and do not make direct eye contact, which the dog may be perceive as a threat. Let the dog sniff you and do not pet the dog from above on the top of his head because he cannot see your hand. Pet him under his chin and watch his body language to see if he is comfortable. It best not to approach a dog that is tied up and you should not try to take a dog’s food or toys.
Children should be taught not to disturb a dog when it is eating, sleeping, or playing with toys and should always be supervised by an adult. Children should ask an owner if they might approach and pet the dog. I have been around dogs most of my life and I respect them and in turn I have never been in unsafe situation. We will continue to walk Molly and work on building her confidence and it makes my day when someone asks to approach the dogs in a safe manner.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Sunscreen for Pets
May is National Skin Cancer Awareness month, which got me thinking about our dogs and the amount of time they spend outdoors. Our dogs spend a lot of time outdoors during the warmer months we usually take our walks during times when the sun is at its hottest. I have been researching the use of sunscreen on pets that spend a lot of time outdoors and the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Pets that are prone to sunburn and skin cancer are those with light colored noses, pets with thin or short fur, or with missing fur in the groin area, inside legs and abdomen. Collies and other breeds of dogs with no pigment in their noses can develop nasal solar dermatitis, which is caused by hypersensitivity to the sun. Cats with white ears are susceptible to burning the tips and edge of their ears. Sunburn in pets can appear as red skin and can exasperate or irritate existing skin conditions.
The two most important tips to prevent sunburn are to provide sun block and shade. When the pet is outside, they should always have access to a shaded area and water to lower the risk of sunstroke and sunburn. Shading can come from leaving a pet in an area with a shelter, trees or you may purchase a sunblock top to put over pet’s area.
To protect your pet, you may also apply sunscreen on susceptible areas. There are some specifically created for pets, but you may also use a baby sunscreen as an option. Most human sunscreens have ingestion warnings because the ingredients may be toxic to a child or pet that ingests them. If your pet is likely to lick the sunscreen, look for pet specific products. The sunscreen should be fragrance free and should be applied liberally and should be reapplied every 4 – 6 hours.
Sunscreen should fragrance free, contain UV (A & B) barriers. Apply it liberally to the bridge of the nose, ear tips, around the lips, the belly, and the groin area, especially if you cat or dog likes to bask in the sun belly up. Keep in mind though that some protective ingredients like Octyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate may be toxic to cats.
Just to be safe, we will discuss this with our vet to see what she recommends because we want to protect them, but we also want to choose something safe.
www.outofthedoghousect.com
Pets that are prone to sunburn and skin cancer are those with light colored noses, pets with thin or short fur, or with missing fur in the groin area, inside legs and abdomen. Collies and other breeds of dogs with no pigment in their noses can develop nasal solar dermatitis, which is caused by hypersensitivity to the sun. Cats with white ears are susceptible to burning the tips and edge of their ears. Sunburn in pets can appear as red skin and can exasperate or irritate existing skin conditions.
The two most important tips to prevent sunburn are to provide sun block and shade. When the pet is outside, they should always have access to a shaded area and water to lower the risk of sunstroke and sunburn. Shading can come from leaving a pet in an area with a shelter, trees or you may purchase a sunblock top to put over pet’s area.
To protect your pet, you may also apply sunscreen on susceptible areas. There are some specifically created for pets, but you may also use a baby sunscreen as an option. Most human sunscreens have ingestion warnings because the ingredients may be toxic to a child or pet that ingests them. If your pet is likely to lick the sunscreen, look for pet specific products. The sunscreen should be fragrance free and should be applied liberally and should be reapplied every 4 – 6 hours.
Sunscreen should fragrance free, contain UV (A & B) barriers. Apply it liberally to the bridge of the nose, ear tips, around the lips, the belly, and the groin area, especially if you cat or dog likes to bask in the sun belly up. Keep in mind though that some protective ingredients like Octyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate may be toxic to cats.
Just to be safe, we will discuss this with our vet to see what she recommends because we want to protect them, but we also want to choose something safe.
www.outofthedoghousect.com
Monday, May 3, 2010
Obesity in Pets
Last week we took Abby, our 16-month-old cat to the vet for her yearly checkup and we discussed Abby’s weight. Our cats Abby and Sammy were fed “free choice” which means food was always available to them but it is the biggest single factor contributing to feline obesity. Sammy is an ideal weight, but Abby is clearly overweight. We decided to monitor Abby’s food intake and the vet told us how much each cat should be eating to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It has been a bit of an adjustment for them not having food available at all times, but it is in their best interest to keep their weight within a healthy range. Overweight pets are at a higher risk for health problems like heart disease, respiratory ailments, weak joints and other problems. It is just as dangerous for a pet to be carrying extra weight as it is for a person.
To reduce the overweight or obese pet’s weight, a program of diet and exercise should be introduced. It is important to visit a veterinarian as the doctor can determine whether the pet’s weight problem is simply due to high caloric intake or some other medical concern like diabetes. The vet can also give you the best suggestions about diet and exercise. Many brands of pet food on the market are specially balanced to help pets lose weight.
We decided to keep Abby and Sammy on the same food as before, but they will be given a specific amount three times a day. The vet suggested twice a day, but I am a softy and decided to offer it one additional time. Our cats do not receive treats so that is not a problem for us, but with other families, it should be a family decision as to what the pets eat and when and everyone should be on board. Feeding a cat or dog extra treats or table scraps will not be doing the pet any favors.
For dogs, exercise is an important component of the weight loss program. A dog that does not get enough exercise may gain weight and most dogs love to exercise by nature. The overweight pet may be reluctant at first, but gradually increasing the playtime or walks will help the dog adapt to the new program. With Abby and Sammy, we are playing with them more and bought a few new toys to encourage activity.
People do not get to their ideal weight overnight when dieting and neither will a pet. Remember that they did not put on those extra pounds all at once and they will not come off that way either. It may take between ten and twelve months to reach their ideal weight goal, depending upon how much extra weight must be lost.
To reduce the overweight or obese pet’s weight, a program of diet and exercise should be introduced. It is important to visit a veterinarian as the doctor can determine whether the pet’s weight problem is simply due to high caloric intake or some other medical concern like diabetes. The vet can also give you the best suggestions about diet and exercise. Many brands of pet food on the market are specially balanced to help pets lose weight.
We decided to keep Abby and Sammy on the same food as before, but they will be given a specific amount three times a day. The vet suggested twice a day, but I am a softy and decided to offer it one additional time. Our cats do not receive treats so that is not a problem for us, but with other families, it should be a family decision as to what the pets eat and when and everyone should be on board. Feeding a cat or dog extra treats or table scraps will not be doing the pet any favors.
For dogs, exercise is an important component of the weight loss program. A dog that does not get enough exercise may gain weight and most dogs love to exercise by nature. The overweight pet may be reluctant at first, but gradually increasing the playtime or walks will help the dog adapt to the new program. With Abby and Sammy, we are playing with them more and bought a few new toys to encourage activity.
People do not get to their ideal weight overnight when dieting and neither will a pet. Remember that they did not put on those extra pounds all at once and they will not come off that way either. It may take between ten and twelve months to reach their ideal weight goal, depending upon how much extra weight must be lost.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Our Experience with Kennel Cough
Every year when our dogs go for their annual examination they get the vaccine for kennel cough. We were under the assumption that after receiving the vaccine, they would be protected from the virus, but learned this isn’t always the case. Last October we took Buddy and Molly to a dog park a couple times, and one night we came home to find Buddy coughing and retching. At first we thought he will ill, but he was eating fine and was very energetic and we learned he had kennel cough. We took him to the vet and Buddy was put on a course of antibiotics and was back to his old self within a day. Molly was exposed to the same conditions as Buddy, but she never developed the cough.
About a month later, we went back to the dog park on two occasions and Buddy developed kennel cough again, which surprised the vet and we treated it and decided that we would only let him socialize with other dogs in situations where dogs are immunized for kennel cough and that has worked for us.
Kennel cough is a form of bronchitis which affects the trachea and while we requested the vaccination each year, we didn’t know much about it. Since then we’ve learned that kennel cough is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that dogs can contract but it is not serious in most cases, and often resolves itself after a week or two. We learned that it is a general consensus of the veterinary community that in order to cause the illness, an animal must be virtually bombarded by multiple versions of these pathogens at one time. Dogs that spend a lot of time with other dogs are most at risk. I guess Buddy is very susceptible because he didn’t have much contact with other dogs.
The primary symptom of kennel cough is a dry hacking cough which is sometimes accompanied with retching. Coughing spells will often result in the dog coughing up a white and foamy discharge. Some dogs will also develop conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids. Nasal discharge may also be present. In a mild case, the dog will still have his or her appetite and be alert and active. As stated above, the disease is rarely serious and almost never life-threatening. Still, if you have seen any of these symptoms or have reason to believe that your dog has or has been exposed to kennel cough, you should consult your vet immediately for a diagnosis and treatment.
The best prevention is to not expose your dog to other dogs, especially puppies and to have them vaccinated. Buddy and Molly did receive vaccinations each year because they do socialize with other dogs routinely. Kennel cough can be caused by so many different pathogens and dogs are not immune despite having the vaccination. We also learned that our dogs shouldn’t be allowed to use shared toys, food and water bowls and they should be in a well ventilated areas. Since we’ve taken a few simple precautions, Buddy is socializing with other dogs and hasn’t been sick for a few months.
About a month later, we went back to the dog park on two occasions and Buddy developed kennel cough again, which surprised the vet and we treated it and decided that we would only let him socialize with other dogs in situations where dogs are immunized for kennel cough and that has worked for us.
Kennel cough is a form of bronchitis which affects the trachea and while we requested the vaccination each year, we didn’t know much about it. Since then we’ve learned that kennel cough is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that dogs can contract but it is not serious in most cases, and often resolves itself after a week or two. We learned that it is a general consensus of the veterinary community that in order to cause the illness, an animal must be virtually bombarded by multiple versions of these pathogens at one time. Dogs that spend a lot of time with other dogs are most at risk. I guess Buddy is very susceptible because he didn’t have much contact with other dogs.
The primary symptom of kennel cough is a dry hacking cough which is sometimes accompanied with retching. Coughing spells will often result in the dog coughing up a white and foamy discharge. Some dogs will also develop conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids. Nasal discharge may also be present. In a mild case, the dog will still have his or her appetite and be alert and active. As stated above, the disease is rarely serious and almost never life-threatening. Still, if you have seen any of these symptoms or have reason to believe that your dog has or has been exposed to kennel cough, you should consult your vet immediately for a diagnosis and treatment.
The best prevention is to not expose your dog to other dogs, especially puppies and to have them vaccinated. Buddy and Molly did receive vaccinations each year because they do socialize with other dogs routinely. Kennel cough can be caused by so many different pathogens and dogs are not immune despite having the vaccination. We also learned that our dogs shouldn’t be allowed to use shared toys, food and water bowls and they should be in a well ventilated areas. Since we’ve taken a few simple precautions, Buddy is socializing with other dogs and hasn’t been sick for a few months.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Nothing in Life is Free
Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) Approach To Training A Dog
Training a dog is one of the things that scares new dog owners the most. All dogs get trained, whether their owner goes through a formal training process or not. Scary as this process is for the owner, it is even scarier for the dog.
Dogs are pack animals. They need to have a place in a pack and they learn correct behavior from their pack. When you bring a dog into your home, from the dog’s perspective it has joined a new pack. What are the rules going to be? Who is in charge? What are the expectations?
Instilling these expectations can be a positive, cooperative experience or a coercive one. For years, many dog trainers and owners relied on punishing a dog for doing the “wrong” thing, but the dog often didn’t realize what action it was being punished for.
If the owner trains the dog based on respect and trust, the dog will respond much better. The owner provides positive reinforcement methods through praising desired behaviors and ignores undesirable behaviors. In this way, the dog learns the rules of his new pack.
The dog also learns another very important thing: who is the alpha dog of the pack. In a pack environment, the alpha controls access to resources and rewards. In the Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) Approach, it is the owner that provides these resources and rewards. This teaches the dog the rules and boundaries of its new pack.
This is not a quick-fix training course or temporary method of curbing behaviors. It is rather a way of living with your dog and making its instincts work for you instead of against you.
In this approach, when the dogs seeks attention, it must work for that reward. For example get food, you may tell it to sit and make the dog wait until it sits before being fed. This teaches it both pack hierarchy and the “sit” command. Every interaction with the dog can be used in this way to teach commands. Lying down before a ball is thrown, doing a sit-stay before being put on a leash, or any other time the dog must work for what it wants is a teaching moment.
The NILIF approach provides a sense of security for the dog and reduces stress levels. Both dominant and submissive dogs benefit from knowing their place in the pack hierarchy. The dominant dogs learn that the things they want – treats, playtime, attention – come from doing what the alpha wants – sitting, staying, heeling. The submissive dogs learn that they have a strong pack leader and can be more self-assured.
The benefits for both owner and dog of this approach are actually the same: less stress. By knowing its place in a pack, the dog doesn’t have to fight the owner. By not having the fight the dog, the owner can enjoy the benefits of canine companionship much more.
Training a dog is one of the things that scares new dog owners the most. All dogs get trained, whether their owner goes through a formal training process or not. Scary as this process is for the owner, it is even scarier for the dog.
Dogs are pack animals. They need to have a place in a pack and they learn correct behavior from their pack. When you bring a dog into your home, from the dog’s perspective it has joined a new pack. What are the rules going to be? Who is in charge? What are the expectations?
Instilling these expectations can be a positive, cooperative experience or a coercive one. For years, many dog trainers and owners relied on punishing a dog for doing the “wrong” thing, but the dog often didn’t realize what action it was being punished for.
If the owner trains the dog based on respect and trust, the dog will respond much better. The owner provides positive reinforcement methods through praising desired behaviors and ignores undesirable behaviors. In this way, the dog learns the rules of his new pack.
The dog also learns another very important thing: who is the alpha dog of the pack. In a pack environment, the alpha controls access to resources and rewards. In the Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) Approach, it is the owner that provides these resources and rewards. This teaches the dog the rules and boundaries of its new pack.
This is not a quick-fix training course or temporary method of curbing behaviors. It is rather a way of living with your dog and making its instincts work for you instead of against you.
In this approach, when the dogs seeks attention, it must work for that reward. For example get food, you may tell it to sit and make the dog wait until it sits before being fed. This teaches it both pack hierarchy and the “sit” command. Every interaction with the dog can be used in this way to teach commands. Lying down before a ball is thrown, doing a sit-stay before being put on a leash, or any other time the dog must work for what it wants is a teaching moment.
The NILIF approach provides a sense of security for the dog and reduces stress levels. Both dominant and submissive dogs benefit from knowing their place in the pack hierarchy. The dominant dogs learn that the things they want – treats, playtime, attention – come from doing what the alpha wants – sitting, staying, heeling. The submissive dogs learn that they have a strong pack leader and can be more self-assured.
The benefits for both owner and dog of this approach are actually the same: less stress. By knowing its place in a pack, the dog doesn’t have to fight the owner. By not having the fight the dog, the owner can enjoy the benefits of canine companionship much more.
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