Ask Pachoo!

      Dear Pachoo,

I am petrified of loud noises, like thunder and fireworks.    Is there anything I can do to calm my nerves when I hear them? 

From Tommy in Wake Forest

Dear Riley,

You’re not alone! This is very common among the canine community.  It’s not breed specific and varies in intensity from dog to dog.  My brother, Prince, who’s a border collie, gets all stressed out during storms.  Needless to say, the 4th of July is his least favorite time of year.  My sister and I don’t mind so much.  Prince gets all quiet and his ears stick straight up.  His eyes get all big, and he becomes very alert and sensitive.  Sometimes he barks at the noises, as if that’s going to help.   Usually, he runs upstairs to the bedroom, his favorite place in the house, and waits out the storm/noises.   We have a lot of friends who don’t handle it as well as he does.  For some, their anxiety can put their safety and health (emotional as well as physical) at risk. For you and them, I have these tips:

1.  Find a nice cozy spot where you feel safest and ride out the storms, like Prince.   

Some of our friends hide in closets, bathrooms/bathtubs, or under beds.

2.  Don’t go to your Mom or Dad for reassurance and comfort.  They’re going to worry

about you and stress you out even more.  Otherwise, they’ll give you the wrong kind of attention, trying to comfort you.  Instead, it will confuse you and validate your fears.

3.  Ask your Mom or Dad to buy you a Thundershirt.  These fashionable sweaters   

have worked for a lot of our friends at All Breed Care.  They are super soft, yet tight   

and snug.  Wearing one can help take the edge off.  You can find them at your local

pet store, like Gourmutt’s Bakery.  You can also find them online.  They really work!

4.  Try to keep your mind busy with other stuff, like go get some treats, or ask your    

other pack members to play your favorite game with you.  Keeping your mind active

and distracted can help a lot.

5. Sometimes, you can take over the counter medication like “Rescue Remedy” or 

Calm Down.” They don’t always work and really all they do is make you drowsy. If

you like a good buzz on, and you are not a belligerent drunk, I recommend you try it.

6.  Ask your vet for prescription medication or other medical suggestions that can help

with those difficult times.  Be careful with these, however.  You don’t want to end up on “Animal Interventions” or “Crack Dog Hoarders.”

Ask your Mom and Dad to read this article.

Good Luck and hope you have a safe 4^th of July!

Sincerely,

Fenway "Pachoo" Hodjat, K9phd

ABC Advice Columnist

Newbie News by Erin Weiss

Pet Quirks!

One of my new favorite things about my job is learning the quirky behaviors of all the animals I visit.  They are what make our pets unique and entertaining, and I know every pet owner can list one or more silly little things their furry friends do every single day without fail.  I am accustomed to my own dog’s quirks – from her favorite spots to nap to the funny ‘talking’ sounds she makes when she’s frustrated with us, and everyone in my family can predict when they’re coming.

             As a dog walker, visiting someone else's pets opens up a whole new hilarious world of quirks to be learned and laughed at.  I’m sure every Pack Leader with All Breed Care would agree, and could rattle off some silly things they witness with their clients every day.  I have Belle the lab who sits in the middle of the road whenever she feels tired, Sophie who stops abruptly every walk to roll around in something smelly, Lav the Shar-Pei who runs around in circles and growls excitedly when you walk up the stairs, and his sister Oste who likes to walk backwards when she’s sick of the direction I’m leading her.

            Cats have their share of quirks too, as I’m sure any cat owner can attest. Here is a video I found of a cat who barks like a dog – that is, until he gets caught and resumes meowing. 

If your pet has any quirky behaviors you’d like to share, leave a comment!

Newbie News by Erin Weiss

Pet First Aid & CPR Seminar

When I was first asked if I would like to attend a pet first aid and CPR seminar, I have to admit my first reaction was to laugh.  I could not imagine a scenario where I would need to perform CPR on a dog and when I pictured it, well, it looked a little silly.  After giving it some more thought I realized that as a dog walker and pet sitter, emergency situations can and do arise and I need to be prepared for when they do.  

The seminar took place on a Sunday afternoon with Dr. Brian Lapham, a veterinarian with Southpoint Animal Hospital.  I recognized most of the attendees as fellow Pack Leaders of All Breed Care, all eager to learn and stay ahead of the game with useful pet-related information.  Dr. Lapham dove right in with an excellent presentation on general first aid, including topics such as heat stroke, seizures, snake bites, and burns.  I was surprised and a little ashamed that I hadn’t even considered the possibility of dealing with a heat stroke or a snake bite; these are very real problems that can occur at any time while walking someone’s dog, and I would need to know how to handle them.

Pack Leader Patty Jones learning how to find a heartbeat

The second part of the workshop focused entirely on pet CPR.  The first thing we learned was the “ABC’s” – Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.  Using a rubber dog (specifically designed for CPR practice), Dr. Lapham demonstrated the best way to check for a breath by watching the chest rise and fall, and listening/feeling with your hand.  He also showed us how to do to “Mouth-to-Snout resuscitation” by breathing into the animal’s nose.  We learned how and where to check for a heartbeat by finding the Femoral and Apical Pulse, as well as the proper location and technique for doing the compressions.  The rubber dog proved to be an excellent tool for hands-on instruction, and those of us who were new to the workshop were given an opportunity to practice the whole process!  I am happy to report that each of us was able to successfully resuscitate the rubber dog.

 

            Dr. Lapham closed the seminar with a review of his favorite first-aid kit supplies, and a diagram depicting proper tick removal (this came in handy sooner than I expected when I found one on myself yesterday!).  I have always carried a simple first aid kit in my car, but now I can add things to it (such as tick removers) that I would never have thought of before.  We learned how to make and secure a muzzle, including tips for approaching the dog if it appears hostile. 

Dr. Lapham demonstrating how to muzzle a dog

            Attending the workshop has made me a more confident pet care provider.  I now have the safety knowledge and skills necessary to provide first aid in the event of an injury.  In a true emergency situation, I will always remember to remain calm, be aware of my surroundings, and call for help. Whether you attend a workshop or simply browse a pet first-aid website, I believe every pet owner should take the time to familiarize themselves with this information. I’m so glad that I did.

ASK PACHOO

Fenway "Pachoo" Hodjat, K9phd
ABC Advice Columnist

Dear Pachoo,

My mom and dad say that I’m not getting enough exercise. What kind of exercises do you recommend I try?   

From Oliver in North Raleigh

Dear Oliver,

Find a nice comfy spot in the house and enjoy a snoozie doozie!  That’s what I would do.  My sister Pumpkin, who is a boxer, enjoys sunbathing.  Neither of those options is considered exercise though.  My brother Prince, who’s a border collie, loves to chase birds, rabbits and squirrels.  Sometimes, my dad takes us out and throws a ball for us.  The most fun thing my mom and dad do with us is taking us for a walk.  Sometimes our friend Laurie comes over and takes us on walks too.  Sometimes my brother and sister go for runs with my mom and dad, but I can’t keep up, so I stay home and watch the house.  Prince and Pumpkin always come back huffing and puffing after going for a run.  They say it helps relax them.  I’ve never had a problem relaxing, but to each his/her own, I guess.  Our vet tells us that running is the best form of exercise for a dog.   He tells my dad that there are a lot of benefits of running with a dog (see his article, Born to Run).  Sometimes moms and dads don’t have enough time to take us for walks or runs.  They have to take care of human responsibilities, so they hire my dad, Laurie, and other really cool friends from All Breed Care to help.  I’ve met them all, and I can tell you that they are all super awesome walking/running buddies. Go grab your leash and ask your mom or dad to take you for a walk or run.  If they’re busy, ask them to call my dad.

Sincerely,

Fenway “Pachoo” Hodjat, K9phd
ABC Advice Columnist