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Chosen Dog Subscription Boxes By Dr. Lisa

Dog Activities Articles - Page 2

One of the more popular new trends among dog owners is purchasing “subscription boxes” for their pets. These subscription boxes have been seen in other industries like cosmetics, self-care, and fashion. Dog subscription boxes include items like toys, treats, chews, grooming supplies, and other pooch-related gear. While most of the popular subscription brands are high quality, it can be hard to know which services provide the best products for the best value. Dr. Lisa, our in-house clinical consultant, is helping you by taking a closer at leading subscription boxes to help you figure out which box is right for you and your dog.

BarkBox: The gold standard of pet subscription boxes comes from BarkBox. Its colorful themed bundles are each filled with 2 innovative toys, 2 all-natural bags of treats, and a chew. These packages are custom-made to fit your dogs’ size and dietary restrictions to ensure safe and happy playtime. Beyond its bright packaging and fun toy designs, BarkBox has also created the most cost-efficient subscription box. For a 12-month subscription, each gift box will cost just $23. Highly rated by places such as USA Today, Cosmopolitan, and Good Morning America, this should be your go-to option.
Bark Super Chewer or Bullymake: If your pet is more sizeable or rougher on his/her toys, Dr. Lisa recommends looking at either Bark Super Chewer (a BarkBox spinoff) or Bullymake, a company devoted to making longer-lasting toys. Bark Super Chewer includes 2 tough toys, 2 bags of treats, and 2 chews at $45 for 1 month or as low as $30 for 12 months. Bullymake includes 2-3 tough toys and 3 bags of treats OR 4-5 tough toys only. It costs as much as $39 for 1 month and as low as $31 for 12 months.
PupBox: This subscription is geared for puppies. Puppies are another type of dog that requires specially designed toys. As they grow, their behaviors and physicals will change – certain toys will be more appropriate at certain ages. With 5-7 items per box including training guides, treats, chews, and accessories, this subscription service tracks your pup’s age and size to constantly provide appropriate supplies. A 1-month subscription costs $39 and a 12-month subscription costs $29. It probably makes more sense to order around a 6-month subscription, as most puppies experience the largest development in that time period.
Pupjoy: Yet another well-rated pet subscription box, Pupjoy has the best one-time price out of any of these products. At a flat rate of $30 per bundle, this choice is best for pet owners who are skeptical of subscription boxes or for people looking to give a cheaper pet-related gift. Additionally, shoppers who love their purchases can join the VIP (very important pup) club! With reduced prices, a rewards program, and a friend referral system, Pupjoy continues to sweeten the deal and lower fees.

All of these pet subscription boxes follow a few trends: they offer toys, treats, and accessories, they are more cost-effective with longer subscriptions, they have high customer satisfaction, they have been vetted by established organizations, and they offer dietary and size customizations. These facts and features all point to the fact that subscription boxes are the best and most innovative method of shopping for your pets… by letting a professional do it for you! Most importantly, pet subscription boxes are a fun new way to stay in touch with your dog. At the end of the day, that’s what they are all about – to remind us that we have an obligation to be responsible owners and to make our pets happy. Giving them toys and treats are great starting points for building a strong, continuous, and loving bond.

At Pet Butler, we understand what it means to want to provide the best possible care to your clients. That is why we have Dr. Lisa, our in-house clinical vet, to help us give you the best and right information for your pet. Also, when you hire Pet Butler, we remove all your pet’s waste from your yard everything – guaranteed. Learn more about the services we offer today!

Heatstroke and Dogs

Pet Safety Articles

With summer in full force and temperatures continuing to rise, responsible pet owners must once again monitor the climate’s effect on our pups. Covered in fur, our fuzzy little friends can’t sweat like us humans, and we often forget that their panting doesn’t always do enough to maintain a healthy body temperature – especially on long walks or during playtime outside. While generally not a problem, in certain scenarios and with certain types of dogs, overheating – also known as hyperthermia – can lead to heatstroke and some very deadly situations.

How Hot is Too Hot for a Dog?

Heatstroke, as described above, happens when dogs are unable to cool themselves properly, and usually occurs at internal temperatures around 106 degrees. Note, however, that anything above 103 degrees is considered abnormal or hyperthermic, and above 106 is considered lethal. Although those temperatures seem high, they are far from impossible and pose a very real threat to our puppies. If prolonged for enough time, heat can induce…

Unconsciousness
Extreme and random bleeding (due to reductions in coagulation)
Permanent brain damage
Potential organ failure

But don’t panic! There are a lot of ways to identify and reverse hyperthermia before it takes its toll.

Knowing the Signs of Dog Heatstroke

The first thing we need to do to stop heatstroke is to properly recognize when it’s happening. Besides the frightful symptoms already listed that could lead to a serious emergency, there are early stages of hyperthermia, such as…

Heavy panting
Excessive drooling
Lethargic or uncoordinated movement
Vomiting

Other less obvious signs include rapid chest expansions and discolored gums, which can range from a brighter red to a paler pink.

All these symptoms should serve as a red flag and you should take the following steps:

Discontinue whatever activities are taking place immediately.
Next, find a cool place either indoors or outside with shade, water (cool, not cold), and enough space to lay down.
Placing your dog near a fan is normally a good idea, and you should douse him/her with cool water (once again cool, not cold).
It’s important to let your dog lower its body temperature slowly; otherwise, it could go into shock.

Never use an ice bath in this process. Once your dog begins to behave naturally again, take them to the nearest and most available vet. Most of the time, your pooch will have recovered safely, but it’s best to let a professional make sure just in case. As always, the sooner the better.

Preventing Heatstroke in Your Dog

An even better way to treat heatstroke, though, is to avoid it entirely.

Don’t leave your pet in a car on a hot day, even with the windows cracked
Don’t leave your dog outside for extended periods of time
Don’t play too much when there’s high humidity.
Be careful with using muzzles in hot temperatures because they can limit airflow
Remember: just because you’re comfortable doesn’t mean your puppy is!

We have very different tolerances for the weather, and your pup can’t vocalize their discomfort.

Don’t Let Your Dog Overexert Itself

Even more dangerously, sometimes dogs ignore their own intuition – whether to make us happy or to just live in the moment. In the past, highly active breeds have been known to collapse due to the heat, since they can become so distracted in whatever they’re doing. It’s better to watch out for them instead of accidentally allowing overexertion; this applies to all furry friends, no matter how in-shape or healthy they are. Lastly, be ready to give your dog water and rest at all times. The more prepared we are as owners, the safer your dog will be.

Dogs at Higher-Risk to Heatstroke

As far as risk on the individual level, there are some characteristics prone to overheating:

Less able dogs, either young or old, have less developed constitutions
Dogs with dark, long, or thick coats have more insulation
Brachycephalic breeds – bulldogs, pugs, and other pups with wide skulls and short noses, have a harder time breathing
Obese, sick, or medicated dogs can respond more negatively to hot temperature
Finally, dogs that have already experienced hyperthermia have weakened thermoregulatory systems

If your pet applies to one or more of these categories, take extra precautions when bringing them outside and engaging with them. It’s important that they still exercise daily – just be a bit more careful.

Summer is perhaps the best time of year to spend with our happiest family members – parks are open, swimming is a blast, and being outside is always a treat. Everyone, including our dogs, should treasure this time and enjoy it while we can. But along with the fun, a little bit of caution is a good idea, too.

Inside the Mind of Dogs

Dog Behavior Articles

The first time our dogs sit, lay down, or roll over, many inevitable questions follow. How much more can they do? What else can they learn? How smart are dogs, and what really goes on inside those fuzzy little heads? Thankfully, the dog-world’s continued curiosity surrounding these ideas has led to a plethora of research and given rise to some remarkably interesting results.

How Do We Measure Dog Intelligence?

Before diving into this discussion, it’s important to clarify what “smart” really means. Truthfully, it’s difficult to formulate a specific definition. There are a variety of ways to evaluate our pets on how they perceive the world, and since many of these assessments often focus on a particular sense, certain tests might give some breeds an upper hand. An olfactory or auditory exam, for example, gives very positive results for hounds, whereas exams focusing on emotional receptiveness or social intuitiveness are less impressive. Therefore, depending on what qualities an owner is looking for, one breed might be “better” or “smarter,” than another.

What Makes a Dog Smart?

That said, general intelligence is an accepted idea by scientists studying our dogs’ brains; it is the collective determination of all the factors that make a dog “smart.” These factors range from cognizance about object permanence or knowing that objects continue to exist, despite a present disappearance, to realizing that time is linear and continuous.

Other notable qualities some dogs exhibit include the ability to read cues such as pointing fingers, the capability to express complex emotions like jealousy and playfulness, and the capacity for simple spatial awareness. And yes, many dogs can learn to observe their humans. While it’s questionable that they experience true empathy with their humans, they do understand our tone, our behavior, and our faces. They can detect when we are happy, sad, or mad, even though they do not necessarily process those feelings back. They do think about us, just in their own way. Of course, not all dogs develop these traits, nor are they all capable of such feats. But, with the help of researchers around the globe, as well as collegiate institutions and the Association for Psychological Science (APS), we know that our pets can understand a lot more than we previously assumed.

Dog Breeds Think Differently

With these attributes in mind, researchers have recognized some trends among dog breeds. According to leading dog psychologist Stanley Coren, the smartest dogs are…

Border Collies
Poodles
German Shepherds
Golden Retrievers
Doberman Pincers

These dogs are the Einsteins among the canine, and they thrive in more active environments because of it. In fact, breeds that are more energetic and social overall usually tend toward the smarter side of the spectrum, as they derive their brainpower from such a lifestyle.

Another characteristic often associated with dog intelligence is their size. It has been found that, while small dogs are no dummies, the larger breeds are more intellectually gifted. Professor Coren approves this claim, as only one small dog can be found in his top ten smartest dogs: the Papillon.

Exercising Your Dog’s Brain

Although these trends have been proved in more recent history, that isn’t to say your dog isn’t smart. Moreover, it does not mean your dog has to stay as a duller furry friend. The best exercises to assist brain growth are self-explanatory:

Teach them new tricks
Use hand gestures alongside commands
Give them challenges

There are plenty of puzzle-oriented dog toys out there which healthily stimulate brain activity. There are even food bowls designed in this fashion – use them!

Start Young

These teaching mechanisms are preferable at a younger age. Puppies, just like babies, respond to teaching better than older dogs, and this applies in everything from socializing and obedience to tricks and games. Keeping them active and social, especially when they are puppies, will raise them to be smart little guys.

There is still a lot to know about how man’s best friend comprehends the world, and science is on the cusp of more and more revelation. But for now, it is at least satisfying to know that they think about humans and do have some unique talents. It is also pleasing to know that they’re more intelligent than a lot of other animals! Dogs have been proclaimed again and again as one of the smartest species on the planet, and although we are perhaps a little biased in giving them high praise, they don’t deserve any less. Besides elephants, dolphins, primates, and a few other species, they are one of the most intelligent mammals to walk our earth.

Pets and Separation Anxiety

Dog Behavior Articles

Home-bound and with few distractions, demand for dogs has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 lock down, as families who once had obligations like school, sports, and full-time jobs, find themselves looking to adopt a furry friend. Among veterinarians, there is an overall sense of unease and concern that a wave of abandoned and maladjusted pooches will fill the shelters when restrictions are eased. “A dog is for life, not just for lock down,” is our new battle cry. Some rescues have instituted stricter screening measures for potential adopters, quizzing them on their ability to provide consistency, training, and cover the expense of raising a dog while emphasizing the huge and ongoing responsibility of pet ownership.

How the Stay-At-Home order effects a Pet’s Health

When consulted about adoption during the lock down, my main concerns are proper pet socialization, given restricted access to other people and dogs. Pets should still receive preventative care such as vaccinations, heartworm, flea, and tick medication. Some diseases pets can acquire such as rabies and leptospirosis are zoonotic, or transmissible to humans. We need to do everything in our power to maintain the good health of our animal and human family members. Finally, we need to prepare our pets for eventual return to normalcy and prevent separation anxiety, the fear and distress that occurs in dogs when their guardians leave.

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety is manifested as drooling, panting, barking, urinating, defecating, pacing, and destructive behaviors such as chewing on furniture either in anticipation of their owners leaving or shortly after their departure.
The loss of their primary caregiver, a change in routine, or change in residence can trigger separation anxiety.
Once developed in a pet, separation anxiety can be difficult to resolve and involves weeks to months of dedicated re-training, positive reinforcement, desensitization, and sometimes anti-anxiety medication if all other medical problems have been ruled out.

Preventing Pet Separation Anxiety

The best thing to do is prevent separation anxiety in the first place. While we shelter in place, this can be difficult, but not impossible, to achieve.

Safe Space Set Up – First, establish a safe place for your pet to stay in your absence. This should be your pet’s version of Disney World or the “Happiest Place on Earth”. Special toys, a Kong filled and frozen with peanut butter or cottage cheese, or a treat puzzle should be offered in your dog’s crate or when secure behind a baby gate.

Practicing Alone Time – Practice leaving your pet alone in their happy place for variable amounts of time, but never long enough that they start to exhibit anxious behaviors. Remember, we want the activity that the dog fears (packing a suitcase, jangling of car keys, back door closing, you leaving) to become associated with something positive or at least neutral.

Mix Up The Routine – If every time you leave it’s for an 8-hour work day, it’s no wonder your dog becomes anxious every time the car starts! The key is to mix up your routines and departure cues.

Make leaving and arriving home boring and unpredictable.
Put on your coat and shoes, then sit on the couch.
Pick up your keys, go out the back door instead of the front door, and just stand outside for five seconds before coming inside.
Once returning, ignore your pet or ask for a sit-stay until they are calm; don’t reinforce overly excitable, exuberant behavior with attention.
Work from a different room in the house without your pet present for variable stretches of time.
Don’t rush through the desensitization phase of training.
Be alert for signs of anxiety in your pet, either before you leave or on a video monitor.
Pacing, whining, yawning, trembling, and licking the lips are often the first signs of distress and you must take a step back in your training.
Wait until your pet is relaxed and not excitable before running another practice drill.

Exercise – Make sure your dog has enough physical and mental energy expended before you leave. A tired dog is usually a happy dog and an empty stomach makes the Kong toy that much more enjoyable! Over time, you can work your way up to a walk around the block or a short car ride without your pet. Remember to mix in shorter absences with the longer ones. Teaching a dog to enjoy time alone and independence is a marathon, not a sprint.

Socialize With The Whole Family – It’s also important to have your dog spend time with other family members, friends, and get comfortable in a dog daycare situation should you need to board your pet. Have others in the home walk and feed the dog as well as participate in training and grooming sessions to establish other bonds. You can do video chats with friends and provide treats when they hear a new voice. If possible, visit a boarding facility several times with your dog for positive meet and greets.

You can also employ the services of a trusted pet sitter like Pet Butler to break up your absences. Your dog may look forward to his crate if he knows another happy, engaged dog-lover is just a few hours away!

What to Know About Coronavirus & How it Affects Pets

Pet Health Articles

Author – Dr. Lisa McIntyre

Veterinarians are often overlooked by the general public as a resource when it comes to health crises, however, we are a critical component in the One Health movement and work in close collaboration with other authorities, such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case in point is the recent coronavirus outbreak.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a type of RNA virus with a “crown” of protein spikes around its envelope, which acts as a shield, ensuring the stability of the virus and its ability to cause infection.

A lot of what we know about the recent outbreak of the strain, dubbed 2019-nCoV/COVID-19 (or SARS-CoV-2), is based on information we know about other coronaviruses, including the strains that cause Feline Infectious Peritonitis, as well as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV in humans. (3)

How Does Coronavirus Spread?

Coughing, sneezing, and contact with aerosolized particles is the most likely way to acquire disease. (2)

Who is at Risk?

Humans and animals who have compromised immune systems due to age or existing disease are more susceptible to developing severe clinical signs resulting from infection with the COVID-19. Coronaviruses are most contagious when an individual is experiencing signs of the illness, such as coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. (2)

Can Animals Get This Recent Strain of Coronavirus?

No – Currently, there is no evidence to suggest, nor do veterinarians have reason to believe, dogs and cats can become infected by 2019-nCOV or act as a reservoir for humans. (3)

Pet owners should maintain good hygiene, washing their hands well after contacting pets.

A Recent Case to Know About

A dog belonging to a coronavirus-infected individual in Hong Kong recently tested weakly positive for COVID-19. Oral, rectal, and nasal swabs were taken from this dog; the coronavirus was detected but actual infection was not confirmed. Environmental contamination could have been the cause of the weakly positive test. There is no evidence to suggest that cats and dogs can host 2019-nCoV or act as a reservoir for humans. (4)

Can Animals Spread Coronavirus to Humans?

No – It doesn’t appear that 2019-nCoV “jumps species” readily or is zoonotic, though handling of animals while ill is discouraged. (3)

Individuals who have confirmed cases of 2019-nCOV should restrict contact with other mammals, including pets, until cleared of infection.

All pet owners should maintain good hygiene, washing their hands for 20 seconds or more after contacting pets or surfaces routinely handled by the public.

If You Have Pet Health Concerns

If there are any changes in the health condition of your pets, advice from veterinarians should be sought as soon as possible.

If you do suspect your pet has been in contact with an individual exposed to 2019-nCoV and has become ill, contact your veterinarian prior to bringing your pet to a public place such as a clinic. As with most novel diseases, new information is gathered daily and is subject to change. (3)

The History of Animals & Coronavirus

The Viruses

Coronaviruses belong to the family Coronaviridae. Alpha- and beta-coronaviruses usually infect mammals, while gamma and delta coronaviruses usually infect birds and fish. (3)
The genetic code of this recent strain resembles a coronavirus which infects the Horseshoe Bat, though currently the main route of new infections appears to close contact with other humans and their secretions. (3)

Veterinarians and Coronaviruses

Veterinarians have a long history of diagnosing and treating strains of coronavirus in domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and birds.
Our patients are often the literal “canaries in the coal mine”; our experience, in everything from sequencing to managing coronavirus outbreaks, is critical to minimizing the global impact of COVID-19.

Types of Canine Coronaviruses

CCoV (Gastrointestinal)

Canine enteric (gastrointestinal) coronavirus (CCoV) was first identified in 1971.
CCoV is found worldwide and generally causes a mild to severe, self-limiting diarrhea and anorexia in affected dogs.
It is rarely fatal and is spread via a fecal-oral route; some dogs shed the virus without exhibiting signs of illness.
Shedding of CCoV in the stool occurs most significantly 16 days post- infection and then intermittently thereafter.
Puppies 5-12 weeks are the most susceptible population, as maternal antibodies wane and prior to vaccination.
Dogs should be vaccinated for CCoV during their series of “puppy shots” and annually thereafter.
There is no treatment other than supporting the dog with fluids and good nursing care as well as treating any concurrent bacterial diseases such as Campylobacter or Clostridial infections.
CCoV vaccines are NOT protective against human respiratory variants of coronavirus, which will likely take 18 months or more to develop.

CRCoV (Respiratory)

CRCoV is an unrelated canine respiratory coronavirus discovered in 2003.
It is genetically most similar to a bovine (cow) coronavirus and the coronavirus that causes the common cold in humans.
It spreads via close contact among dogs exhibiting signs such as coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Along with several other pathogens including Bordetella Bronchiseptica and parainfluenza, it has been implicated in causing “kennel cough”.
There is no vaccine for this strain of coronavirus and respiratory signs are usually mild and resolve in 14 days.

When & Where did the Recent Outbreak Begin?

The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei province, China; reports suggest a seafood and animal market may have been ground-zero for the epidemic. (1)

How Do I Avoid Infection?

If possible, stay away from infected individuals or those with respiratory symptoms by a distance of at least 6 feet. (2)

Coronaviruses are not particularly hardy in the environment, meaning its particles do not survive on surfaces or in the air for long periods of time. This makes proper hygiene essential in controlling the spread of disease. (2)

How Can I Help Contain the Spread of Coronavirus?

Hand-washing with soap and water
Staying inside if you are ill
Disinfecting surfaces
Staying clear of symptomatic humans and animals
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Cooking all animal products

Unfortunately, anti-viral treatment and an effective human vaccine are not yet available.

Are Face Masks Helpful?

Face masks are helpful in containing the secretions expelled by infected individuals. However, the best face masks are a special respirator mask called a N95. It is not readily available and is not the same as a standard surgical mask which protects a sterile surgical field from fluids expelled by the surgeon. (3)

What is the Current Status of the Recent Coronavirus Outbreak?

Given the sensitivity of the changing data, the most up-to-date information and advice on human infection can be found on the WHO (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019) and the CDC websites.

The most up-to-date information related to animal health is available at https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-andrecommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/.

About the Author – Dr. Lisa McIntyre is a practicing veterinarian and business owner since 1999.