*Updated for NOVEMBER, 2007* 

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Pain Management for Our Canine Companions

Controlling your dog's pain is essential to his overall well-being. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drugs commonly used to control pain and inflammation in dogs. NSAIDs help many dogs lead more comfortable lives.

What are NSAIDs?

NSAIDs help to control signs of arthritis, including inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. Inflammation—the body's response to irritation or injury—is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of prostaglandins, chemicals produced by the body that cause inflammation. Some NSAIDs may also be used to control the pain and inflammation following surgery.

Your veterinarian may prescribe an NSAID to treat the pain of osteoarthritis in your dog or to control pain following a surgical procedure.

Veterinary NSAIDs approved for use in dogs include the following: Etogesic (etodolac): Rimadyl (carprofen): Metacam (meloxicam); Deramaxx (deracoxib); Previcox (firocoxib); Zubrin (tepoxalin); and Novox (carprofen).

In the United States, there are no veterinary NSAIDs approved for oral use in cats.

NSAIDs offer pain relief and improved quality of life to many dogs. However, before giving an NSAID, or any drug, you should first talk to your veterinarian. You should discuss what the NSAID is being prescribed for, how much to give, how long to give it, and possible side effects.  You will also need to know what to avoid while your dog is taking an NSAID and what tests are needed before giving an NSAID to your dog.  Your veterinarian will be able to inform you how often should your dog be re-examined.  It is important you inform your pet’s medical team of your dog's previous medical history and any previous drug reactions as well as all medications and products your dog currently receives.

Important factors to take into consideration before or while you are giving your dod NSAIDs include never giving aspirin or corticosteroids along with an NSAID to your dog.  NSAIDs should be approached cautiously in dogs with kidney, liver, heart and intestinal problems, and never ever give your dog an NSAID unless directed by your veterinarian.  Don't assume an NSAID for one dog is safe to give to another dog. Always consult your veterinarian before using any medication in your pet.  Only give the NSAID as prescribed by your veterinarian. Do not increase the dose, the frequency, or the length of time you use the drug unless first discussing this with your veterinarian.

 Most NSAID-side effects are mild, but some can be serious. Common side effects seen with the use of NSAIDs in dogs may affect the kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract and may include not eating or eating less, lethargy, depression, changes in behavior,

Vomiting, diarrhea, black tarry-colored stool, yellowing of gums, skin, or the whites of the eyes, change in drinking, or changes in skin (scabs, redness, or scratching). When giving your best friend an NSAID, remember these signs: behavior changes, eating less, skin redness, scabs, tarry stool, or diarrhea or vomiting.

 If you suspect a possible side effect to an NSAID, STOP giving the drug to your dog and call your veterinarian immediately!

Courtesy of the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA)  More information on NSAIDs available on their website, www.avma.org

Handling Separation

Anxiety In Horses

Tess and Knee High are a comfort to each other when their other buddies

go out for a ride. photo by Mike White of Pittsfield, NH

by Sarah Wynne Jackson 

Horses are herd animals, and as a result, feel safer and more comfortable

when in the company of other horses. But there are many times riders want or

need to take a horse out by himself, perhaps on a trail ride. Many horses

have acclimated enough to our world that they take it in stride when

separated from their companions. But others panic, causing a dangerous

situation. Such a horse might whinny loudly, spin to try to return to his

friends, buck, or rear.

If you find yourself in this situation, do what you need to do to keep from

getting hurt. Dismounting and leading your horse is perfectly acceptable

under the circumstances. People can get too hung up on the idea that they

must ride their way through every bad scenario. If his behavior is such that

you don‚t have control, you are safer leading the horse instead of staying

mounted. Take care, though, that you know how to safely handle your horse

from the ground and that you are the dominant partner in your relationship

with him, which we‚ll explain a little later.

When your horse throws a fit like this, make sure not to inadvertently

reinforce the behavior. If you allow yourself to become nervous, your horse

sees this as reinforcement that he should be worried about being alone. If

you punish him or lose your temper, you are connecting this bad experience

with more discomfort, which will make his fear even worse next time. If you

shorten the ride, your horse may see this as a reward for his poor behavior.

Instead, take him to a place he is comfortable and ride there. If the

quality of the workout diminishes, continue until the horse is again tuned

into you. Then be sure to stop on a good note, when he is obedient to you in

a relaxed manner, not because you‚ve forced obedience. That may mean asking

for only very simple exercises.

If your horse refuses to willingly leave other horses, it‚s important to

deal with the issue. It may be tempting to keep your horse in his comfort

zone so this doesn‚t happen, but the situation will only get worse. But if

you aren‚t an advanced rider who understands horse behavior, we highly

recommend that you enlist the help of someone experienced to assist you in

retraining your horse.

To overcome the problems associated with separation anxiety, we first need

to understand the real reasons for this behavior. A horse that refuses to

leave his buddies is feeling insecure, afraid, and has a low level of

confidence in you. When you take the time to form a better bond with your

horse so he respects and takes confidence in your leadership, he will go

with you anywhere.

Regardless of your horse‚s age, you will have to begin at the beginning,

which means treating him like a "baby" for the time being. Start out with

only those situations he‚s comfortable with. If he‚s okay when you ride in

the ring alone, feel free to do that, but if he freaks out when you try to

take him out on the trail, ask a friend to ride with you, preferably on an

older, quiet horse who can act as a „babysitter.‰ As your horse gains

confidence over a number of rides, the babysitter can be progressively

farther away and eventually eliminated.

One possible cause for this behavior is that the horse does not yet accept

the rider as the dominant member of your partnership. Many horses go along

willingly for their riders as long as everything is a comfortable

environment, but as soon as the situation becomes unnerving, the horse is

not willing to place complete confidence in his rider.

Theoretically, a horse should form a surrogate bond with his rider that

normally he would form with other horses in his herd. Watch other riders

interact with their horses: you will see some people are obviously the more

dominant member of the horse-person team, and you will see other pairs where

it is clear the horse has the upper hand.

As prey animals, horses have a very strong sense of self-preservation. Their

instincts are to run quickly from any threat and to stay within the security

of the herd. With good training and positive experiences behind him and a

confident rider sitting on top, a mature horse will follow directions

instead of instinct to a large extent. But we have to realize that the

flight and herd instincts are just below the surface. It's our

responsibility to build the trust that keeps instinct in check and the horse

manageable.

Trust between people or between people and animals is built on a history of

positive interaction. In order to trust someone, we have to believe they

will respond consistently and appropriately in a given situation and that

they will follow through with what they say. The same goes for horses. To

build trust, we must respond appropriately and consistently to their

behavior (or anticipated behavior) and once started on a course of action,

follow through.

To form a better bond with your horse, work on establishing his respect for

your body language by developing on-the-ground skills, such as leading

quietly and standing still while you groom and tack him. Longeing and

round-pen exercises also develop the partnership you are seeking with your

horse.

Depending on your horse's personality, you may need to be more decisive or

stern when you give him a command so he learns to listen and respond to you.

Or you may need to approach what you want him to do more quietly and

patiently ˆ but still firmly ˆ if he frightens easily. The input of a

skilled trainer who can personally observe your interactions can be helpful.

This problem shouldn‚t prohibit you from showing your horse or taking him on

organized trail rides, but it will take a great deal of patience, training

and confidence on your part to overcome separation anxiety. Wait until your

horse is confident and listening well to you at home before attempting to

take him to a new environment.

Think of Your Pet's Safety During the Upcoming Holidays

It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving! Family and friends gathered together to eat more food than any one human should consume. Naturally you’ll want to include your pets in the festivities and give them a little of this or a little of that but before you do, consider this. Many of the foods we eat with great enthusiasm are unhealthy and even harmful to our four-legged family members. Most dog owners know the dangers of giving chocolate to dogs. Chocolate contains Theo bromine, which is toxic to dogs depending on the quantity of chocolate and the size of the dog. A single Hershey’s kiss will do little harm to a medium size dog but a tea-cup poodle is a different story. If you have guests coming to dinner who are not familiar with your animals or what they are allowed to eat, inform them of the rules when they arrive and allow them time with the pet to become acquainted. Signs to look for if you think your pet may have ingested chocolate are irritability, increased heart rate, increased urination, muscle tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and hyperactive activity  Also know that potato skins, gravy and onions (raw or cooked) can be toxic to your pet. Those festive bowls of mixed nuts should also have warning signs on them for our pets. The shells can breakup and get lodged in their throats. Immediate veterinary care will be necessary to treat any complications from accidental ingestion of any of these items.

 According to animal expert, Diana L. Guerrero. "There can be deadly consequences for animals during the holidays. Holiday threats to animals can include seasonal decorations, ornamental lighting, ingestion of inappropriate or toxic items, excessive consumption of rich foods or harmful food, candle flames, and many other hazards."

Guerrero is an animal behaviorist who writes columns on wild animal behavior, training, and animal etiquette. She is contributing editor to Resources for Crisis Management in Zoos and Other Animal Care Facilities and is the author of the holiday favorite, What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality: Inspiring Lessons of Wild and Tame Creatures.

Before you sit down to feast, Guerrero suggests you take away temptation-from both guests and pets. " If you feed pets before the guests arrive you reduce the temptation for begging and stealing. You can also use a pet gate or play pen to house the pet nearby, but provide a safety barrier."

One of the easiest ways to avoid trouble is to make sure your guests know the pet rules and discourage them from feeding critters scraps from the table. Guerrero said, "The best approach is to make sure any animal is occupied with a chewy or playmates in another room. Once the table is cleared, make sure pets cannot get to scraps or bones."

Guerrero said the biggest hazards to pets on Thanksgiving include rich, fatty foods (turkey skins, gravy, etc,) can contribute to pancreatitis. This inflammation of the digestive gland is painful and can be serious--requiring emergency veterinary assistance.

Cooked bones can splinter and cause tears or obstruction in a pet's digestive tract, and baking strings, if ingested, can create trouble if ingested by your pet.  Onions in holiday stuffing can lead to canine anemia if consumed by your dog, and grapes and raisin toxins can cause kidney failure in pets.  Ingesting chocolate can kill your pet, and caffeine and alcohol are also toxic for pets, so keep all goodies out of reach!

"Preventative safety measures are the best strategies," states Guerrero, "Keep leftover food out of reach and in tightly closed containers. Make sure garbage cans are secure to keep critters so they are safe from e-coli and unable to chew on leftover tinfoil."

The animal behaviorist suggests that pet households plan on providing appropriate chew toys or food occupation devices for pets during holiday activities. "The Kong Company produces a goodie dispenser that keeps dogs occupied. They also have some great bird and cat toys that provide similar activity. Most pet stores carry these products. The investment and preparation can insure that you have a happy and healthy holiday."

Even so, it never hurts to keep your emergency vet clinic or veterinary hospital number handy. You never know when you will encounter a disaster due to a delinquent guest or persistent pet.

When dinner is over and before sleep sets in, don’t forget to clean up and secure all food waste in a sealed container. Dogs have the best sense of smell in the world and will go out of their way for the bones or scraps if they are not properly disposed of. You will feel compelled to give them a treat, with their adoring eyes begging you to drop something, but remember,  the best treat you can give them is a safe and healthy holiday. Their usual fare served along with the family and love is all they need.

Photo courtesey of www.GarnetChaney.com. Info from AnimalShelter.org, and Arkanimals.com

 

Polly Want a Trainer?

by Chris Beuoy

Want a pet that is intelligent and eager to please? That bonds with its owner? That offers a very rewarding relationship--and lives up to 80 years? Parrots, which are in many ways like dogs, provide their owners with tremendous joys. Bird owners must realize, however, that like dogs parrots need obedience training and hours of attention each day.
"In the wild, young parrots often live several years with their parents, learning to be a good citizen of the flock," says Dr. Kenneth Welle, adjunct professor of veterinary clinical medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. "For domestically raised birds, owners are essentially the parents and need to set limits and teach what is socially acceptable to prevent behavior problems."
Dr. Welle, a certified avian specialist, is often called upon to resolve problems such as
screaming, feather picking, biting, and dominance. The first step is to rule out possible
medical causes for the behavior. Then he looks at factors such as where the bird is kept in
the house and how people interact with it. Usually the problem lies in something
inappropriate about the bird's environment or socialization.
A bird that screams could be acting up to get its owner's attention or it could be calling its
flock because it is lonely and nervous. Owners may inadvertently contribute to the
squawking by giving the bird a treat to quiet it, thus rewarding the behavior. Feather picking also could result from loneliness or it could be due to a medical problem, inadequate diet, boredom, or, in rare cases, sexual frustration.
Proper training and daily attention are two keys to a happy parrot. Dr. Welle leads basic
bird obedience classes for his clients to develop skills such as putting the owner's hand over the bird's head, handling the wings and beak, and mastering the commands "step up" and "step down" from the owner's hand. These skills make routine care of the bird easier on both parties, build mutual trust and confidence, and help establish that the owner is in
charge of the bird--not the other way around.
Dr. Welle advises keeping the bird in front of and slightly lower than your face. "Never
allow the bird on you shoulder," he says. "That is a high-control position and could lead to dominance in the bird." In addition, the bird should be caged and not allowed to fly around the house when no one is home to supervise it.
Eye contact and tone of voice can convey the owner's authority over the bird. Parrots are
perhaps even more attuned to slight inflections in the human voice than dogs are, and they also react to people's body language. A dirty look or stern word from across the room can effectively chastise a parrot and make it stop an unwanted behavior.
Most parrots bond closely to their favorite person and seek social approval and rewards,
such as being petted. But they will also be very quick to notice and take advantage if the
owner appears hesitant or fearful of the bird.
Contributing to many behavior problems in birds is the stress of being ignored and alone.
"Some people get a bird as an ornament. Birds are not low-maintenance pets," says Dr.
Welle. "Parrots are extremely social animals. It is inhumane to put a bird in a cage and give it no social contact." Plan to give your bird at least an hour of your time twice a day.
"Most birds get social time with 'the flock' just by being out of the cage and on a perch in
the same room with people. You could take a portable perch around with you as you go
from room to room," says Dr. Welle. "You also need to give them something to do--a toy
to play with or something to gnaw on."
Some birds need even more attention. Cockatoos, which like being touched and require
interaction all day, are best cared for by people who are retired or who can take the bird to work with them, says Dr. Welle. Parakeets, on the other hand, are less likely to have
behavior problems. It's especially stressful on the bird to have attention lavished on it when you first get it and later to be ignored after you lose interest.
Dr. Welle, a bird owner himself, feels that birds and dogs are equally rewarding as pets.
"Owners should keep in mind, however, that birds are still pretty close to the wild state,"
Dr. Welle points out. "Unlike dogs, they haven't been domesticated and selectively bred for thousands of years." Though it takes time and persistence to train your bird, it's worth it, especially since they are likely to be with you your entire life, given birds' longevity.
If you have additional questions about parrots and their behavior, ask your veterinarian or
seek out a certified avian specialist.

Chris Beuoy is an Information Specialist for the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.  Article provided courtesy of UMass Extension office, www.umassextention.org.