Got Skunk?


A home remedy for removing skunk odor from dogs. 
This is much more effective than tomato juice.

Mix together the following:
1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid soap

Soak the dog with water and then work the solution into a thick lather on the dog.  Leave lather on for 3 - 5 minutes and then rinse off.  
(Make certain you don't get any solution in the dog's eyes.) 
Do not try to store the mixture in a closed container.

Separation Anxiety

The shelter receives many calls related to a pet's unacceptable or disruptive behaviors. Separation Anxiety is a common reaction of pets, especially dogs, when left alone for long periods of time. Owners are plagued by the disruptive behaviors that result from separation anxiety and will often want to surrender the pet to us.
Being alone is an unnatural condition for a dog. Boredom and loneliness could lead to destructive behavior. For those of you who own a dog that shows disruptive behavior when left alone, you can turn the behavior around with effort and understanding. It may be difficult to break ingrained behavioral patterns in both the dog and yourself, but it is possible.
For those of you who may be contemplating acquiring a dog who will be left alone on a regular basis, we ask that you consider two things:
1. What are your motives in adopting a dog?
2. Are you willing to put in the time and
effort required to meet the dog's needs?
Honest answers to these question may save you and the dog much grief and aggravation.
In itself, leaving your dog alone may not constitute inhumane treatment of the animal. It does, however, border on inhumane when the owner is not willing to minimize the stress experienced by the dog and share responsibility for the dog's misbehavior.
Please feel free to contact the shelter if you have questions regarding animal behavior. We have an extensive file of literature available-at no charge.

A Full House
LIVING PEACEABLY WITH CATS AND DOGS

I'm not sure where the phrase "fighting like cats and dogs" comes from, but in the majority of homes I am acquainted with, dogs and cats share living quarters quite amicably. In fact, it is often more difficult to introduce a second male cat or a second female dog to a
household than it is a member of the other species.

There are exceptions, of course. Socializing stray cats that border on feral presents a serious health risk to resident dogs, even friendly ones. Dogs with strong prey drive (the desire to catch, shake, and kill) can put the family cat in considerable danger.

Do Fence Them In
To make a successful inter-species introduction in the average
household, one needs little more than a dog who understands a few rudimentary commands and a sturdy baby gate. A canine who has learned to respond to basics such as "leave it," "down," and "come"
can most likely be controlled around a new cat while indoors.

Outdoors is another matter completely. Many otherwise cat-friendly dogs view outdoor cats as prey to be chased down and dispatched—a strong case for keeping cats indoors (particularly when the dog is out in the yard) and dogs on a leash when out for a walk!

If the resident dog lacks basic manners or is the newcomer, a
four-foot house leash and buckle collar can give the caretaker control
over the situation. If he shows the slightest interest in chasing the cat, growl "Leave it" at him and reward him when he looks away from
the cat. When the dog rushes past in a raucous game of "catch the cat," step on the end of the leash. As the dog brakes and turns to look at you, utter your sit or down command. Don't forget to reward the dog when he complies.

The baby gate is crucial in providing the cat with a dogfree sanctuary. A nervous feline can hop the gate to find a safe haven, and the food bowl placed behind it will be untouched by canine slobber. First, you may have to teach the dog to respect the gate—or invest in an extratall one.

What's the Scoop?
Placing the litter box behind the gate will ensure that cat feces stay right where the cat leaves them. You may be thinking, "Ugh, how tasteless!" but the dog's response is more likely to be, "Yum! How tasty!" Anticipate this eventuality and prepare for it.

In some situations, a gate will not be a viable solution. If this is the case in your home, creative thinking will play a crucial role in household management. Is your bathtub tall and your dog small? If so, then a litter box at one end and a food dish at the other will adequately meet your cat's needs.

A covered litter box prevents thievery in some cases, but beware! More than one dog has managed to lodge its head in the box and run hither and yon trying to break free.  In one household, the cat was
actually in the litter box when the dog got the cover stuck on his
head. Could a case of lapsed litter box visits be far behind?

If you own your home, there are more viable options open to you.
Some folks cut cat-size openings in closet doors or bathroom vanities as a good way to keep Bowser out of the cat box and keep the box itself out of public view.

Separate Tables
As for alternative feeding stations, countertops and wide window sills
can provide out-of-reach dining spots for felines. Remember, cat
foods and dog foods are not interchangeable. Much research has
gone into developing specialized canine and feline diets. Keeping them out of each other's bowls is crucial.

With a little forethought, a home occupied by dogs and cats is a living example of the Peaceable Kingdom. Thoughtful management can guarantee that a full house is always a winner.

Jacque Lynn Schultz, CPDT
ASPCA Companion Animal Programs Adviser
National Shelter Outreach

Mine!
RESOLVING FOOD AGGRESSION

Does your sudden appearance in the kitchen at your dog's mealtime elicit a glare and a growl? Does a gift of rawhide or marrow bone send your usually mild-mannered canine diving under the nearest
coffee table while snarling, "Grrr, mine!"? If these scenarios sound familiar to you, your dog is suffering from canine possession aggression (CPA), also known as food or object guarding.

The Trouble with Kibbles
In most cases of CPA, the dog no longer views you as the provider of good things, but rather as the scoundrel who might relieve him or her of hard-earned treasures such as meals, treats, chew toys, or, in some instances, forbidden objects such as shoes and gloves. If you remove these items as a punishment when he growls, it will only serve to further convince your dog that his suspicions about you were right all along.

Make a Date with Your Dog—for Dinner
How often have you heard people say, "Leave the dog alone while he eats"? Although it probably makes sense to keep toddlers away from Shep at mealtime, a dog can get an inflated sense of himself if left alone while he eats from puppyhood on. After all, in a dog or wolf pack, the alpha or top dog gets to eat his fill first, uninterrupted.
Instead, family members should be present while the dog  eats—starting when he or she is a puppy. From time to time, it is a wise idea to approach the bowl and add a little something extra—some scrambled egg, a brokenup biscuit, a bite of turkey hotdog, or some string cheese.

Bowling Him Over
If you have an older dog who has already perfected his "Cujo Eats" imitation and it isn't safe to approach his bowl, a different strategy is needed.

Step One is to do away with his food bowl entirely for a week or two. Shep will be dining out of your hand, just a few kibbles at a time.

Step Two marks the return of the food bowl, but it should remain empty until the handler passes by and drops a few kibbles in it. After those are eaten up, drop small handfuls into your dog's bowl at intervals of one to three minutes until the whole meal has been consumed.

By now your dog should be practically begging you to approach his bowl.

In Step Three, put a semi-filled bowl on the floor and, as you pass by, drop in a few betterthan-kibbles tidbits. On your next pass by the bowl, add the remaining kibbles.

Step Four is to put a full food bowl on the floor as your dog holds a sit and stay. Release him with a cheery "okay." Then, once or twice a week, call your dog away from his bowl during mealtime and reward him with a tasty tidbit for coming to you. Using your sit-and-stay,
wait, and take-it commands with the dog will make it absolutely clear to Shep who owns the kitchen and the tasty morsels in it.

Each of these steps should be undertaken for 10 to 14 days at each meal before going to the next step. While you are grappling with a food guarding problem, your dog should wear a leash at mealtimes as a safety measure, but don't use it to control your dog unless you are in jeopardy of being hurt. Since guarding behaviors seldom happen in a vacuum and can often signal other problems in the dog-and-handler relationship, a basic obedience course is highly recommended to underscore handler leadership to the dog.

Finally, if you experience any backsliding, return to Step One. If you do not succeed or your dog is severely aggressive around all food products and paraphernalia, hire a certified dog trainer or applied
animal behaviorist to help bring this conflict to resolution.

Jacque Lynn Schultz, CPDT
ASPCA Companion Animal Programs Adviser
National Shelter Outreach

Cocoa Bean Mulch Poses Threat To Pets

As people begin to tend to their gardens this spring, some will consider using cocoa bean mulch as a fertilizer.  Made from spent cocoa beans used in chocolate production, the mulch is organic, deters slugs and snails, and gives off an appealing chocolate scent.  However, it also attracts dogs, who can be poisoned by eating the mulch.
Cocoa beans contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine, and dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals.  Low doses can cause mild gastrointestinal upset; higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures and even death.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center recommends pet owners avoid using this mulch around unsupervised dogs, and dogs with indiscriminate eating habits.

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Hold the Onions!

Did you know that onions are not good for dogs? Onions cause toxicity by oxidizing hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
As a result, the dog may become anemic. If a large amount of onions are consumed at one time, the dog may develop sudden anemia several days later. 1/4 cup of onions can make a 20 lb dog sick. If a dog eats a small amount every day for many days, it may gradually develop anemia over weeks to months. While onion toxicity is not common, it's something to keep in mind next time your dog is begging for your onion rings!

 

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Icemelts

Most pets become exposed when they groom the compounds off their feet and fur. Salivation and mild gastrointestinal signs often ensue. Most problems can be prevented by wiping a pet's feet with a damp towel or bathing a pet soon after it has walked or rolled in areas with ice melt. Using sand or cat litter to help with traction in icy spots is a safe option. If pets must walk over ice melt compounds, paws can be pretreated with a thin layer of nonstick cooking spray to prevent adherence of the compounds. Booties can also help if pets tolerate them.

Antifreeze

Ethylene glycol is found most commonly in greenish colored antifreeze chemicals used in motor vehicles, but it is also in rust removers, film processing solutions, and some solvents. Because of its sweet taste, even a small radiator leak of fluid can attract animals. A single lick can be deadly! Keep advised chemicals well sealed and out of reach. If ingestion is suspected, prompt veterinary intervention increases the chances of a favorable outcome.

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Holiday Hazzards

The winter holidays present special safety concerns for pets. There are handouts available with information on the following:
·Poisonous plants
Christmas cactus, mistletoe, holly (contrary to popular belief, poinsettia plants are not very poisonous to pets, but ingestion of the plants may cause mild gastrointestinal upset).
·Dangerous decorations
Tinsel, string, ribbon, tree lights, breakable ornaments, metal ornament hooks, artificial snow.
·Toxic treats
Chocolate, bread dough, liquid potpourri, alcohol, avocado, coffee, garlic, grapes, raisins, hops, macadamia nuts, moldy or spoiled food, onions, salt.
·Gifts with hidden hazards
Toxic treats, batteries