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Some Tips to Prevent Dog Bites

August 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Practically daily, a article about a dog bite victim is viewed on the nightly tv news. City and state governments struggle with the way to implement aggressive dog laws. Wouldn’t it be less complicated if we could learn how to avoid dog bites entirely?
09938242845237255 Some Tips to Prevent Dog Bitesplay Some Tips to Prevent Dog Bites
According to the Centers for Disease Control almost five million dog bites are reported every single year and additional than 800,000 of those bites needed medical care. Estimates from insurance companies and hospitals range as high as $250 million dollars spent annually for the treatment of dog bites. Provided that the bulk of puppies are euthanized due to behavior concerns, this is definitely an issue that not only impacts humans, but can, really obviously, impact puppies in an extremely adverse way.

When you study by way of the Bureau of Labor Statistics internet site, you may well be inclined to feel that doing work with pets can be an extremely harmful proposition. Through a six year study, a lot more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses were described involving puppies or cats and 8 of those events had been fatal. An incredible reality nevertheless is veterinarians and veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% from the total, in spite of their apparent closeness with their patients. What advice can this profession educate us about preventing these injuries as well as related costs?

Based on Dr. Kersti Seksel, a noted animal behaviorist and veterinarian from Australia, dogs will generally provide a number of warning signals just before attempting to bite. “It is important to look at the whole dog, its body language as well as its facial expression,” says Dr. Seksel. “A dog may growl, bark menacingly, lift its lips and grimace. The body is often tense, the hackles along the back and neck may be raised indicating a heightened state of arousal, and the tail may be slowly wagging.”

Because of the substantial numbers of dogs seen on a day-to-day basis, veterinary personnel members have learned to monitor a dog’s body language, preparing for virtually any possible aggressive movement. And even though this is important information to learn, Dr. Seksel cautions everyone to bear in mind that a lot of of these signals might be subtle and you can find situations when a dog may not give the typical signals. A pertinent illustration may well be the dog who has been previously punished for growling. As Pavlov and other behaviorists have shown, puppies will learn avoidance if negative stimuli are used soon after certain behaviors. Thus, a dog owner who reprimands his puppy for growling might be unknowingly eliminating the dog’s only outward expression of emotion or displeasure.

Veterinary experts suggest that all puppies undergo an initial “puppy training class” and socialization exercises. Just like youngsters, some puppies will instantly take to their new friends and some will take a little longer to overcome their shyness. Unless the puppy is going to be utilized for police or military work, no puppy really should receive positive reinforcement for any sort of aggressive behavior. Owners should seek out veterinary assistance when considering purchasing a breed of puppy they may be unfamiliar with or in the event the description from the breed talks about “extreme loyalty”, “intolerant of children”, or “prefers single owner household”.

Lastly, an important element of avoiding puppy bites is the education of our little ones. The large majority of puppy bites happen in children 4-9 years of age as well as a larger percentage takes place in young boys. Teaching your young children some with the subsequent suggestions could assist to stop a painful lesson and possibly even save his or her life. When faced with an unknown puppy, or a puppy whose behavior seems to be odd, Dr. Seksel recommends the following:

# don’t approach the dog

# look at your feet or even the ground – don’t make eye contact with the dog

# stand very still – don’t run when the dog comes toward you

# continue to keep silent- you should never shout or yell at the dog

# you should never attempt pat any dog on the head

Children need to be taught to under no circumstances run up on a dog, especially one who’s eating and that not every pet dog could be as friendly as their own pet. Instructing a child to check with the pet dog owner if it is fine to approach the dog and then if it can be ok to pet him can help to avoid a lot of of the common errors made by dog bite victims.

As dog owners, we love our pets and want the really best for them. Animal shelters and humane societies would like to see the number of puppies euthanized for behavior issues decrease and our society, like a whole, has a strong wish to see a reduction in the quantity of puppy bites every year. Using the recommendations of veterinary behaviorists and other animal specialists could be the very first excellent action to reaching these goals.

Should you are having problems with your dog and aggression, please see your veterinarian immediately.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leptospirosis is Still a Problem for Dogs and People

August 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Centers for Disease Control eliminated Leptospirosis from the “reportable human diseases” list, there is, however, still significant concern about this zoonotic disease. Our pets are at risk of lepto as well, however, many owners are afraid to vaccinate for the illness. What’s the true story and just how can we continue to keep our pets and families safe?

Mary Fleming always followed the advice of her veterinarian when it came to her miniature poodle, Mitsie. Regular examinations, heartworm preventive and even a good diet helped keep Mitsie active and healthy. Thinking that Mitsie was safe, Mary did not opt for a Leptospirosis vaccine for her dog. Unfortunately, Mitsie got very sick not long after visiting her city’s dog park and needed intensive care and hospitalization. Thankfully, her veterinarian was there to help her recover and explain how moist soil or puddles at the park actually put Mitsie at risk!

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease- a disease that can be passed between animals and people. It is spread by spirochete (spiral-shaped) bacteria in the urine of infected rodents, wildlife, and pets. There are more than 200 different strains of lepto and certain strains appear to prefer certain hosts, like dogs, pigs, raccoons or even rats.

The leptospira organisms enter the body through mucous membranes or through abrasions on the skin. People and animals can become infected from direct exposure to infected urine, but also through contaminated environment, such as water or damp soil.

People and pets are also exposed to Lepto while camping or participating in outdoor recreational activities. Drinking or swimming in water that is infected with Lepto is the most common exposure, but wet soil can be contaminated as well. And, as Mitsie’s case illustrates, a city environment will not always provide protection against this serious disease.

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The signs of Leptospirosis can mimic many other diseases and illnesses. The first signs in dogs are often depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, and generalized pain. Affected dogs may also drink water and urinate excessively and have swollen, red, and painful eyes. Because these signs are common to other diseases and non-specific, owners may try to treat their pets at home for such problems as an upset stomach or arthritis.

This “wait and see” response delays proper diagnosis and treatment for the dog, as well as increasing the owner’s exposure to the disease. If caught early, treatment is usually effective and the survival rate is good. However, time is of the essence. A mere three or four day delay can lead to irreversible kidney failure.

Vaccines are available but many pet owners, like Mary above, have either experienced or heard about adverse reactions associated with these vaccines. In the past, Leptospirosis vaccines were generally created using the whole bacterial organism. In many cases, when a whole bacterium is used, the likelihood of a “vaccine reaction” increases. Thankfully, newer vaccines have been developed that reduce this possibility by using specific Leptospirosis proteins instead of the whole organism.

A study reviewing vaccine reactions in more than one million dogs vaccinated found that reactions occur about 13 times for every 10,000 vaccines given. More importantly, the lepto vaccine was no more likely to cause a reaction than any other vaccine.

So, if the vaccine appears to be safe and the disease deadly, shouldn’t all dog owners vaccinate their pets?

Unfortunately, that question is difficult to fully answer. Because there are so many Leptospirosis strains, no one vaccine will cover every possible exposure a pet might have. At present, vaccines are available that protect against four of the common strains infecting dogs. In addition, the vaccine will prevent clinical disease, but may not stop the pet from shedding bacteria in his urine. This makes the pet a threat to other animals, especially those who are not vaccinated. And, as mentioned above, humans are at risk as well.

Worldwide, Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease. Cases occur routinely in tropical countries, but increases have been seen in Europe and North America as well. Floods and hurricanes are instrumental in spreading this illness and coordinated efforts to rescue and re-home pets from these disasters might actually transplant lepto into new areas.

Protecting your pet from Leptospirosis is a complex situation. Use your veterinarian as a resource to help assess your pet’s risk factors as well as the benefits and hazards of vaccination. Other important steps that might minimize your pet’s exposure to this disease include removing animal pests, such as rodents and draining areas of standing water.

Filed Under: Dog Health, pet health Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Teach your Kids How to Avoid Dog Bites

June 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Almost every day, a story about a dog bite victim is seen on the evening news. City and state governments struggle with how to enforce aggressive dog laws. Wouldn’t it be easier if we could learn to avoid dog bites altogether?istock 000005742607xsmall 300x200 Teach your Kids How to Avoid Dog Bites

According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 5 million dog bites are reported every year and more than 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. Estimates from insurance companies and hospitals range as high as $250 million dollars spent annually on the treatment of dog bites. Given that the majority of dogs are euthanized due to behavior issues, this is an issue that not only affects humans, but can, quite obviously, affect dogs in an extremely negative way.

If you read through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, you might be inclined to believe that working with pets is also a very dangerous proposition. During a six year study, more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses were reported involving dogs or cats and 8 of those occurrences were fatal. An amazing fact though is veterinarians and veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% of the total, despite their obvious closeness with their patients. What secrets can this profession teach us about avoiding these injuries and the associated costs?

According to Dr. Kersti Seksel, a noted animal behaviorist and veterinarian from Australia, dogs will often provide numerous warning signs before attempting to bite. “It is important to look at the whole dog, its body language as well as its facial expression,” says Dr. Seksel. “A dog may growl, bark menacingly, lift its lips and grimace. The body is often tense, the hackles along the back and neck may be raised indicating a heightened state of arousal, and the tail may be slowly wagging.”

Due to the large numbers of dogs seen on a daily basis, veterinary staff members have learned to monitor a dog’s body language, preparing for any potential aggressive movement. And while this is important information to learn, Dr. Seksel cautions everyone to remember that many of these signs can be subtle and there are occasions when a dog may not give the usual signs. A pertinent example might be the dog who has been previously punished for growling. As Pavlov and other behaviorists have shown, dogs will learn avoidance if negative stimuli are applied after certain behaviors. Thus, a dog owner who reprimands his dog for growling may be unknowingly removing the dog’s only outward expression of emotion or displeasure.
dobbites Teach your Kids How to Avoid Dog Bitesplay Teach your Kids How to Avoid Dog Bites
Veterinary experts recommend that all puppies undergo an initial “puppy training class” and socialization exercises. Just like kids, some puppies will immediately take to their new friends and some will take a little longer to overcome their shyness. Unless the dog is going to be used for police or military work, no puppy should receive positive reinforcement for any sort of aggressive behavior. Owners should seek veterinary advice when contemplating buying a breed of dog they are unfamiliar with or if the description of the breed discusses “extreme loyalty”, “intolerant of children”, or “prefers single owner household”.

Finally, an important part of avoiding dog bites is the education of our children. The vast majority of dog bites occur in children 4-9 years of age and a larger percentage occurs in young boys. Teaching your children some of the following guidelines could help to avoid a painful lesson and potentially even save his or her life. When faced with an unknown dog, or a dog whose behavior seems to be odd, Dr. Seksel recommends the following:

  • do not approach the dog
  • look at your feet or the ground – do not make eye contact with the dog
  • stand still – do not run if the dog approaches
  • keep quiet- do not scream or yell at the dog
  • do not attempt pat any dog on the head

Children should be taught to never run up on a dog, especially one who is eating and that not every dog may be as friendly as their own pet. Teaching a child to ask the dog owner if it is OK to approach the dog and then if it is OK to pet him can help to avoid many of the common mistakes made by dog bite victims.

As dog owners, we love our pets and want the very best for them. Animal shelters and humane societies would like to see the number of dogs euthanized for behavior issues decrease and our society, as a whole, has a strong desire to see a lessening in the number of dog bites each year. Following the recommendations of veterinary behaviorists and other animal experts can be the first great step to achieving these goals.

If you are having difficulty with your dog and aggression, please see your veterinarian immediately.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Avoiding Dog Bites

July 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Almost every day, a story about a dog bite victim is seen on the evening news. City and state governments struggle with how to enforce aggressive dog laws. Wouldn’t it be easier if we could learn to avoid dog bites altogether?
3849178487434983 Avoiding Dog Bitesplay Avoiding Dog Bites
According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 5 million dog bites are reported every year and more than 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. Estimates from insurance companies and hospitals range as high as $250 million dollars spent annually on the treatment of dog bites. Given that the majority of dogs are euthanized due to behavior issues, this is an issue that not only affects humans, but can, quite obviously, affect dogs in an extremely negative way.

If you read through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, you might be inclined to believe that working with pets is also a very dangerous proposition. During a six year study, more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses were reported involving dogs or cats and 8 of those occurrences were fatal. An amazing fact though is veterinarians and veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% of the total, despite their obvious closeness with their patients. What secrets can this profession teach us about avoiding these injuries and the associated costs?

iStock 000005742607XSmall 150x150 Avoiding Dog Bites

According to Dr. Kersti Seksel, a noted animal behaviorist and veterinarian from Australia, dogs will often provide numerous warning signs before attempting to bite. “It is important to look at the whole dog, its body language as well as its facial expression,” says Dr. Seksel. “A dog may growl, bark menacingly, lift its lips and grimace. The body is often tense, the hackles along the back and neck may be raised indicating a heightened state of arousal, and the tail may be slowly wagging.”

Due to the large numbers of dogs seen on a daily basis, veterinary staff members have learned to monitor a dog’s body language, preparing for any potential aggressive movement. And while this is important information to learn, Dr. Seksel cautions everyone to remember that many of these signs can be subtle and there are occasions when a dog may not give the usual signs. A pertinent example might be the dog who has been previously punished for growling. As Pavlov and other behaviorists have shown, dogs will learn avoidance if negative stimuli are applied after certain behaviors. Thus, a dog owner who reprimands his dog for growling may be unknowingly removing the dog’s only outward expression of emotion or displeasure.

Veterinary experts recommend that all puppies undergo an initial “puppy training class” and socialization exercises. Just like kids, some puppies will immediately take to their new friends and some will take a little longer to overcome their shyness. Unless the dog is going to be used for police or military work, no puppy should receive positive reinforcement for any sort of aggressive behavior. Owners should seek veterinary advice when contemplating buying a breed of dog they are unfamiliar with or if the description of the breed discusses “extreme loyalty”, “intolerant of children”, or “prefers single owner household”.

Finally, an important part of avoiding dog bites is the education of our children. The vast majority of dog bites occur in children 4-9 years of age and a larger percentage occurs in young boys. Teaching your children some of the following guidelines could help to avoid a painful lesson and potentially even save his or her life. When faced with an unknown dog, or a dog whose behavior seems to be odd, Dr. Seksel recommends the following:

  • do not approach the dog
  • look at your feet or the ground – do not make eye contact with the dog
  • stand still – do not run if the dog approaches
  • keep quiet- do not scream or yell at the dog
  • do not attempt pat any dog on the headChildren should be taught to never run up on a dog, especially one who is feeding and that not every dog may be as friendly as their own pet. Teaching a child to ask the dog owner if it is ok to approach the dog and then if it is ok to pet him can help to avoid many of the common mistakes made by dog bite victims.As dog owners, we love our pets and want the very best for them. Animal shelters and humane societies would like to see the number of dogs euthanized for behavior issues decrease and our society, as a whole, has a strong desire to see a lessening in the number of dog bites each year. Following the recommendations of veterinary behaviorists and other animal experts can be the first great step to achieving these goals.
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    Filed Under: pet health Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,