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Do we train our puppy or does the puppy train us?

When people adopt a new puppy, teaching her to do her business outside and not in the home is a big priority. And we call it “Puppy Training” but it should really be called “Owner Training” because a new owner has so much to learn. Here is a step by step guide that may make this process easier.

First of all, you need to get a crate for your new pup and it should not be too large.  The puppy should be in it when you are not around, so when you are sleeping, or when you go out. She will be reluctant to soil her crate/bedroom, especially if it is adequately small. This is the first step of teaching her to control bladder and bowels.

The second step, starting from first thing in the morning until the last minute before bedtime, is for you to take her out on a leash, every hour. And you must wait outside with her until she  ‘goes’, so you can praise her profusely.  This is time-consuming and quite boring. You have to watch her like a hawk because her time peeing at this stage may only take 3 seconds.  If you are checking your phone and miss that important 3 second event, you will have missed a chance to praise her, and you will be stuck outside for much longer. Not only is this stage time consuming and boring, but it also can be quite embarrassing when your neighbours hear your effusive praise.  But this is a crucial part of puppy training. She has no clue that going inside is a no-no and going outside is the right way to do it.  The only way she will figure it out is through praise from you. And for some puppies, you may have to use treats as well.  Puppies want to please their owners, so she will slowly learn that it makes you really happy when she does something outside.

The next part is really owner training.  You must become very astute at reading her subtle signals that she may have to go.  Maybe she looks at the door, maybe she sniffs the floor, maybe she starts to turn in a circle. You will become an expert in watching for those special signs so you can swoop her outside to prevent an accident. If you are having accidents in the house frequently, it means you are not watching her cues closely enough and you are not taking her outside often enough.  Often owners must keep a leash on their puppy at this stage to keep her close to them all the time in the home.

What to do about mistakes?  You should not punish her when you come across an accident.  If you catch her in the act, pick her up immediately and take her outside.  But no punishment.  Then clean the spot thoroughly where she went with a good quality cleaner/deodorizer. You do not want her sniffing there in a few days and thinking this is a good spot to go because she can smell she went there before.

If you adopt an adult dog who is not well house trained, all these steps can be used to teach her to go outside.  With lots of patience, love, praise, and more patience, every puppy can be trained to go outside and not in your home.

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Arthritis in Dogs

What is arthritis in dogs?

Arthritis is a medical term that means inflammation of the joints. There are several types, but the most common one is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis doesn’t just affect people, it shows up in our beloved dogs too! Dogs can be affected by arthritis in any joint, but the most common areas affected are knees, hips, elbows, and the back. You might notice that your dog is reluctant to stand up, or she may run slower than before. She may not enjoy the active games that she used to. She might not be able to jump in the car like she used to. If the arthritis in your dog is severe enough, your pet may develop a limp. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, make an appointment on our contact page or give us a call.

How is arthritis in dogs diagnosed?

First, the professional team at Thorndale Animal Hospital will start with an assessment of the sore area. Radiographs of the affected areas may be taken, because radiographs are important to confirm the diagnosis. They also provide a snapshot of your pets current condition, so improvements or changes can be assessed. There is no cure for arthritis in dogs, but there are many ways your expert vet can help slow down, or even improve your pets arthritis.  Some changes that we advise to try are nutrition changes, supplements, lifestyle changes, and certain medications.

What is the treatment for arthritis?

A combination approach is best, this is where different types of treatments work together to help ease discomfort.

Some medications are used to ease arthritis symptoms in dogs. Joint protectants like Cartophen help repair damaged cartilage in the join. This type of medicine might be administered as an injection once a week, for 4 weeks. A maintenance injection every 1 to 2 months is typical.

Librela is another injectable medication that is given once a month. It is a monoclonal antibody, which means it helps by interrupting the pain signals in the joints’ nerves. We cannot turn back time, but all these treatments can make her much more comfortable.

Anti-inflammatory medications like Metacam work similar to Advil, and can be given daily in a tasty liquid form.

Diet for dogs with arthritis:

Here at Thorndale Animal Hospital, we recommend a diet called Joint Diet (JD). It contains good amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, and other antioxidants. These help to reduce pain and inflammation. Joint Diet also aids in maintaining a healthy weight. Although it is not always easy to do, one of the most important ways to help your dogs arthritis is to reduce your furry companion’s weight. A lighter dog puts less pressure on their joints.

If your dog won’t tolerate JD, then we recommend omega 3 supplements.

Please feel free to come in and get a nutritional consultation with one of our technicians, Ashley or Jessica.

Exercise for dogs with arthritis:

Exercise is important! Except, it should be gentle and limited for a dog with arthritis. We recommend 2 or 3 walks a day for 10 – 20 minutes max.  It is important to keep the joints moving, but too much exercise can cause pain to flare.

How to try to prevent arthritis?

Prevention is the best medicine! This can start when you first get your puppy. Excessive exercise can damage a puppies young growing cartilage. Wait until they are fully grown at about 1 year of age before they get large amounts of exercise.  Once they are year of age, weight management is the next most important step. Our vets can determine the optimum weight of your pet on their annual checkup. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Maintaining a healthy weight as your dog ages is important. The more years the joints are exposed to the extra weight, the higher the chance your dog may experience arthritis.

 In summary, to prevent arthritis:

When your dog is young or a puppy, provide moderate (but not too much) exercise and plenty of food.

In adult and older dogs, provide lots of exercise and a moderate amount of food.

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Relieve Your Dog’s Ear Discomfort: Expert Vet Care & Allergy Solutions for Ear Infections

A photograph of a dog holding one ear up. Dog ear infections, perhaps?

Dog ear infections are a very common plight of pet owners. Most of the time, the underlying cause is allergy. When we human have allergies, we get sniffly and sneezy with runny eyes, but in dogs, allergies can show up first as itchy ears. This can range from firstly a mildly itchy ear with a little discharge, after that can get severely red and inflamed ears with lots of wax and debris.  Bacteria and yeast can increase in the ear and make the ear infection worse. Infected ears are very painful and unpleasant for your dog which means they need to be treated right away.

The first step is for us to gently check the ear and clean it out. At this time, Dr. Kathleen will check to ensure there are no other problems such as ear mites, polyps, or tumours. If the ear infection looks severe or complicated, we will recommend doing cytology. This is where a swab is taken from the ear debris and examined under the microscope to look for yeast or bacteria.

The next step is to start treatment with  carefully chosen medication to go into the ear. We may also send you home with ear cleaner. Cleaning the ear is very important because it lessens the amount of debris and increases the effectiveness of the medication. For dogs that tend to have ear problems it is a good idea to clean their ears after swimming. For some dogs, routine ear cleaning once or twice a week is an excellent way to prevent recurrences of ear infections.

Is your dog scratching his ear?

The final step is to try and find out what your dog is allergic to. Sometimes it can be something in their food. The most common food allergies are proteins. Frequent/severe ear infections may signal a food allergy. We recommend trying special hypoallergenic diets.  We have several in stock. Dr Kathleen, or our technicians, can help you choose one. Allergies usually at the same times of year can be pollen, plants, or mold spores. If you use ear cleaner regularly at this time of year can help reduce the chance of an ear infection developing. If it is year-round, it could be an allergic reaction to allergens in the house such as dust, house mites or indoor molds.

Dog ear infections are common, and above all unpleasant.  We will help you make your dog more comfortable by treating and preventing them together.

Contact us today to get your animal companion some relief!

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Cat Peeing outside Litterbox: Causes and How to Stop It

Photograph up close of a white long haired cat licking a human hand.

If you see your male cat straining repeatedly in or outside the litterbox to pass urine, and nothing, or not much urine comes out, he could have a bladder tube obstruction. This is a serious life threatening emergency. Call us right away.

What to do if your cat passes urine outside of the litterbox?

Cats passing urine outside the litterbox is an issue that many cat owners face. This behavior can be frustrating and concerning. However, it’s essential to recognize that there are many different underlying reasons behind this behavior. With the right approach, it can be addressed effectively. Some of these reasons are very serious, so it is important to get this problem diagnosed properly. Let’s explore some of the reasons this may happen and provide practical solutions to help resolve the issue.

Steps to solve:

The first step is to figure out which cat is doing the out of box urination.  If you only have one cat the problem is easily solved. Most urinating-out-of-the-box problems (UOOTB) happen in multiple cat households.  The more cats you have, the more likely you will have this problem. 

The next step is to determine if your cat is urinating or spraying. Spraying is a normal cat behaviour. Typically in unneutered male cats over 1 year of age, but it can happen in all cats. The purpose is to mark their territory. There are 2 ways to differentiate  spraying from UOOTB. The first is to evaluate where the urine is.  If it is several inches above the ground on a vertical surface , it is probably spraying.  If it a puddle on a horizontal surface, it is probably UOOTB.

The second method to tell these two problems apart is to see the cat “in the act.” If the cat is spraying, they will back up to a vertical surface, lift their tail up tall and proud, and wiggle their tail as a small amount of urine may be sprayed out. Remember, spraying is normal cat behaviour to mark their territory, and 100% of intact (unneutered male) cats over 1 year of age will do this. So if you have any unneutered cats in your house, get them neutered! If your cat is already fixed, then the spraying kitty will need some medication. Some changes in your cats lifestyle may help, such as letting them outside.

Alternatively, if you watch your kitty and they squat down somewhere in your home, with their rear end low to the ground, and some liquid passes out,  then this is urinating-out-of-the-box.  This can be a complex problem that takes some work to solve.

REASONS FOR UOOTB

  1. Medical Conditions: Cats may urinate outside the litterbox due to medical conditions such as imminent bladder obstruction, Diabetes Mellitus, kidney insufficiency, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or feline lower urinary tract disease. It is crucial to rule out any underlying health issues, so call us if you suspect your cat is urinating outside the box.
  2. Litterbox Issues: Cats have preferences when it comes to their litterbox. They may avoid using it if they find it dirty, if the litter is uncomfortable on their paws, or if it is located in an inconvenient or stressful area. Some cats develop a preference for urinating in certain places such as laundry baskets, sparts bags, and children’s school bags.
  3. Stress and Anxiety: Cats are emotionally sensitive, and they can react to changes in their environment or routine with stress and anxiety. Factors such as new additions to the family, moving to a new home, or the presence of other animals can trigger inappropriate urination. If you have one cat bullying another (and this is a common problem) your urinating  cat may need some time separated from other cats to solve this problem. We also have medications that help with this problem. 

How to deal with a cat urinating out of the box

  1. The first step is to call us to arrange an appointment to look for any underlying medical conditions. We will conduct a thorough examination and examine the urine. If the urine is normal, then it is more likely that we are dealing with an emotional/ stress/aversion/ preference issue.  If the urine is abnormal, then more testing will determine the necessary treatment.
  2. Provide an Ideal Litterbox Environment: Ensure that you have an adequate number of litterboxes in your home, with the general rule being one box per cat plus one extra. Place the,itterboxes in quiet, easily accessible areas and keep them clean by scooping daily and performing regular deep cleanings. Experiment with different types of litter to find the one your cat prefers.
  3. Reduce Stressors: Minimize any potential stressors in your cat’s environment. Maintain a consistent routine, provide hiding spots and vertical spaces, and offer interactive toys and regular playtime to keep your cat mentally and physically stimulated.  
  4. Use Positive Reinforcement: When your cat uses the litterbox appropriately, reward them with praise, treats, or playtime. Positive reinforcement encourages our desired behavior to continue using the litterbox.

Urinating out of the box is a serious problem with many causes. We can resolve it together by understanding the underlying reasons and taking appropriate steps to address them. Make an appointment with us today. We can help in this process.