Weathering Summer Storm Season With Your Furry Family Members

Here in the Krebs' household, storm season is no fun.

We have had two dogs with thunderstorm anxiety - our first greyhound Condor and now our Maddox. 

We shared our lives with Condor for nearly six years, before losing her to bone cancer in 2009.  Condor knew a thunderstorm was coming over an hour before it began.  I believe she was picking up on either a change in barometric pressure or static electricity.  It could be perfectly sunny out and her anxiety would begin - panting, whining, pacing and trembling.  Through the years, Condor's storm phobia lessened.  She never liked them, but they became much less stressful to her as years passed.

Condor, our first of 7 rescued greyhounds

Maddox has been a very different experience.  When he joined our family in 2009, he didn't seem to have thunderstorm anxiety the first few times we had storms.  But then came New Year's Eve fireworks, and then the 4th of July holiday and summer storms of 2010, and it was a sound phobia snowball rolling downhill.  Pretty soon, he didn't have to hear thunder to become anxious.  Hard rain was enough, and then seeing the trees blow in the wind sufficed.  Then loud vehicles and motorcycles driving by would frighten him.  He trembles so violently that we can feel the floor vibrate in the room he's standing in.  He flushes pink from head to toe as his blood pressure sky rockets, and his heart rate goes through the roof.  It is a very frightening experience for all of us.

Maddox, enjoying a beautiful fall day in our yard

We tried many different natural approaches to helping him with his anxiety, but ultimately found that we had to address it with the help of our veterinarian and anti-anxiety medications.  Hopefully his phobias will lessen as time passes.

Dogs with storm anxiety respond physiologically.  A study showed that a dog's cortisol level - a stress hormone - can increase 200% on average.

If your dog has thunderstorm anxiety or sound phobias, here are some things to try -

• Give them a 'safe place' to hide.  This could be a closet, a bathroom or a room in the basement.  A room without windows is ideal - this helps with sound insulation as well as preventing your dog from seeing lightning.
• Play music or the television more loudly than normal to help drown out storm sounds. Running a fan might help too.
• Give your dog a special chew treat (such as a bully stick or an elk antler) or toy, or play a game that he enjoys, to help distract him.
• Try an anti-anxiety garment such as the Thundershirt or the Anxiety Wrap.  The acupressure provided by these garments can ease a dog's fear during high stress times, including storms, travel and introduction to new people or places.
• Homeopathic remedies work for some dogs.  This may include herbal solutions like Rescue Remedy for Pets by Bach Flower Remedies, nutritional supplements or aromatherapy.  Please speak with your veterinarian before trying any of these, or consider seeing a holistic veterinarian for your pets' care.
• Consider anti-anxiety drug therapy with the assistance of your veterinarian.  This approach is a process, as it has been for us with Maddox.  Learning your pets' triggers, using behavior modification, and having an ongoing dialog with your vet about the efficacy of treatment are keys to success.

If you have pets that experience storm phobia, or other types of anxiety, please let me know what your approach has been and what things have helped!

Summer storms are part of life, but hopefully pet parents and the veterinary community will continue to find effective ways to make it easier for Maddox and others like him to weather them.

Georgia on my mind...

Which of course brings Ray Charles to mind.  Good stuff, huh?

Georgia is on my mind because today through the end of the week, we have a very high chance of thunderstorms.  I'm glad for the rain, but along with it comes the possibility of severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, high winds and lightning.

John and I moved to Acworth from Orlando, Florida in 2006.  We were glad to get out of hurricane central, especially having experienced a direct hit from Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. We rode out the storm in our master bedroom closet - 'we' being John, our Rottweiler Katie, our first greyhound Condor, our cat Ernie and me.  We were very fortunate, because we were woefully unprepared.  Just a few weeks later, another hurricane was forecast to affect our area as well, and it sent us packing.  We drove two cars through the night to John's parents' home in the Panhandle, and stayed there - with all of our furkids - for a week until the risk was over. 

Hurricanes are of little to no threat to us here in north Georgia, but tornadoes are.  We've had a few close calls at home that have sent us scurrying to the basement with all of our animals in tow - Flex, Taylor, Maddox and Chipmunk (our four greyhounds) and Coleman The Cat.  I've had one close call as a pet sitter, during which I spent some time in a client's basement bathtub with two cocker spaniels.  I chuckle now thinking about it, but it wasn't very funny at the time.

We should all have a disaster preparedness plan that includes our animal companions.

Hurricane Katrina led to the passage of the PETS Act of 2006, which requires states seeking FEMA assistance to accommodate pets and service animals in their plans for evacuating residents facing disasters.  That was certainly a step in the right direction, but the protection of our animal family members is ultimately up to us.

You should have -

• a plan in place for transporting your pets if evacuation is necessary.  For us, that means we will take both of our vehicles to accommodate our four dogs and cat.
• an idea of where to go and stay.  Perhaps that means friends' or family members' residences located outside of the affected area.  It could also mean staying at pet-friendly lodging.
• copies of your pets' vaccination records and information for their care, including medications, diet and health history.  These documents should be stored in a waterproof container and kept in a easily accessed area.
• leashes and collars *with ID* in a readily available location in your home.  Hopefully, all of your furry family members wear collars with ID at all times.
• at least a one-week supply of food, water and medications.
• a pet first aid kit.
• knowledge of your area and familiarity with emergency resources.

Looking at this list tells me I have some work to do, and it may do the same for you.  

Here's to a safe and uneventful storm season for all of us, and to having the peace of mind that comes with proper planning.

Don't Let Summer be a Bummer!

Guess what today is?  It's the first day of summer.  And Independence Day is just two weeks away!

So I thought I'd post some reminders about keeping your pets safe and healthy in the summer heat and during the 4th of July holiday.

First and foremost, please do not leave your pets in the car!  The interior of a vehicle can heat up very quickly and can far exceed the outdoor temperature.  Just last week, a young labrador mix died after being left in a car for two hours at a Canadian shopping center, and the young couple who caused his death have been charged with animal cruelty.  At this time of year, it is best to leave your companions at home. 

Avoid walking your dogs in the heat of the day.  Hot asphalt can burn paws and cause the body temperature to rise rapidly.  Hot summer sun can also cause heat stroke, as well as sun burn, particularly in pets with light coats and skin.

Know the signs of overheating and dehydration.  Heavy panting, disorientation, collapse, vomiting and diarrhea are some of them.  If you suspect your pet is overheated, rush them to veterinary care immediately.  Call the office while en route, so they can be prepared to act quickly when you arrive.  Time is of the essence in successful treatment.

The following are some other hazards to your pets that warm weather brings:

• Toxic chemicals found in pesticides, fertilizer, insect and rodent baits, and flea and tick products
• Cocoa mulch
• Animal toxins - toads, venomous spiders and snakes, and scorpions
• Citronella candles
• Potentially poisonous plants and mushrooms
• Swimming pool treatments
• Blue-green algae in lakes, ponds and streams
• AND fireworks!

And of course, that last item brings us to the 4th of July.  This is a tough holiday for two of our greyhounds, Maddox and Chipmunk.  They both have noise phobias, and the sound of fireworks tops the list.

This is not an uncommon issue for dogs, and sadly it makes July 5th the busiest day of the year for many animal shelters.  Please be sensitive to your pets' needs and take proper precautions for keeping your companions safe.

Wishing you and all of your family members a fun summer season!

Beware of ProHeart 6

ProHeart 6 is an injection for dogs that prevents heartworm for 6 months.  Its primary ingredient is moxidectin.  This product was originally approved by the FDA in 2001.  Nearly 6,000 adverse reactions were reported in dogs following the administration of the drug over a three-year period, and sadly over 600 dogs died.  It was recalled by the manufacturer at the FDA's request in 2004.

The first time I heard of ProHeart 6 was when my vet recommended it for my Rottweiler Katie in Orlando, Florida in 2002.  Unfortunately, I was not informed of possible adverse reactions, and I allowed her to be injected with the drug.

Within an hour of the administration after we returned home, Katie was lethargic, began vomiting and was unsteady on her feet.  I called the vet and was told to bring her back immediately.  She was treated for the reaction and fortunately was okay.  It was later that year that I began hearing about ever-increasing safety concerns about ProHeart 6.

Surprisingly, the FDA announced the ‘limited reintroduction’ of ProHeart 6 in June 2008. 

But get this...

1.  Proheart 6 is the first veterinary drug to be marketed under a risk minimization and restricted distribution program. 

2.  The drug can only be administered by veterinarians who take a course and are certified by the manufacturer.  

3.  It should not be administered within one month of vaccinations. 

4.  It must be used ‘with caution’ in dogs who have had allergic conditions, and should not be given to dogs that are sick, underweight or debilitated. 

5.  An owner must be advised of the risks of ProHeart 6 AND sign a consent form prior to its administration. 

I don’t know about you, but that sure seems to me like a whole lot of CYA by both the FDA and Pfizer Animal Health.

I found this video in which a veterinarian expresses his concerns and recommendation regarding ProHeart 6.

I appreciate Dr. Pinney’s candor, and hope that his conservative approach to this drug is echoed throughout the veterinary community.

My personal recommendation is to stick with heartworm preventatives for your dogs that have been on the market for many years and are widely considered safer.  Most dogs happily chow down their monthly heartworm preventative like a treat, and the amount of time that takes each month (15 seconds?) is a lot less time than having to take your dog to the vet every six months for an injection.

Please share this information with your dog-loving friends, family and co-workers!  Already, new concerns are being raised about this questionable drug.  Hopefully the ‘reintroduction’ of ProHeart 6 won’t cause the suffering and pain in dogs and their humans that it did when it was first put on the market.

Homemade Dog Treats

In response to a request for recipes for other types of dog treats, I thought I'd share two that I found out there on the web, and one that I have in a recipe book for dogs - The Good Treats Cookbook for Dogs by Barbara Burg.

Many of the dog treat recipes out there use whole wheat flour.  I try to avoid wheat as much as possible in what I feed our dogs.  Wheat is one of what I call the 'three nasties' for pets - wheat, corn and soy.  I don't think any of our dogs have allergies to these three ingredients, but I avoid them nonetheless.

Here's a link on substituting wheat flour with other types of flour - http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-214051.html.  Personally I would favor rye flour, barley flour, millet flour or rice flour.  I'm not sure how much the substitution of wheat flour with any of those would affect the consistency of many of the dog treat recipes out there, so that would be something you'd have to try.

Here's a soft treat using rice flour and rolled oats:

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
1/2 cup finely grated carrot
2 eggs
3 tbsp molasses

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, stir together the rice flour, rolled oats and cinnamon.
In a small bowl, combine the applesauce, grated carrot, eggs and molasses.
Make a well in the medium bowl's ingredients and pour in the applesauce mixture.
Mix thoroughly until well combined.
Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
Drop teaspoon-sized clusters on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
These treats will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. They will be good in the freezer for 4 months. The yield is approximately 70 teaspoon sized treats. You can make them larger for a larger breed dog, just be sure to bake them an additional 5-10 minutes.


Here's a peanut butter biscuit recipe that doesn't specify the type of flour to use:

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbs. peanut butter
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 Tbs. chicken broth*
1 egg white
1 tsp baking powder

Instructions:

Mix flour and milk until lumpy and then add peanut butter and broth.
Add parmesan cheese to the mixture followed by egg white. Mix well until it has the consistency of pancake batter. Add baking powder.
Place on greased cooke cheet, making 2 inch drops. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving.

* A note about broth - if you use store-bought broth, I'd recommend low-sodium, organic broth.  Preferably, it is easy to make your own!


And here's Ms. Burg's recipe for Carob Chip Cookies:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup whole rolled oats
2 cups rye flour
1 cup all-natural peanut butter
1 cup milk
1/4 cup unsweetened carob chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine oats and flour. 
In another bowl, combine peanut butter and milk.
Add peanut butter mixture to dry mixture and blend well.  Fold in carob chips.
On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough and roll out to 1/4" thickness.
Use cookie cutters to cut into shapes, repeating rolling and cutting until all dough is used.
Place biscuits on lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.
Cool on rack and store in a sealed container.

I hope your dogs love their home made treats.  Happy baking!

So, about that chicken jerky...

In my first post, I mentioned that renewed concerns about chicken jerky from China causing illness in dogs was one of the things that motivated me to make good on my long-time intent to create a Family Friend Pet Sitting blog.

This topic has been in the news as recently as May 23, 2012, and I saw a warning being circulated on Facebook about it again this afternoon.

Here's what Snopes.com has to say about it: UNDETERMINED.

Here's what I say about it: DON'T RISK IT!

Here's what the Krebs greyhounds say about it: WE WANT OUR CHICKEN JERKY!

So, we decided to start making our dog treats at home.  I did some research on the internet about making homemade chicken jerky for dogs.  I learned you can use your conventional oven, or you can use a food dehydrator.

We purchased a Nesco food dehydrator on Amazon for around $60 about a month ago.  We have successfully made several batches of jerky using chicken breast, turkey breast, very lean beef steak and beef liver.  All of it has been given 16 enthusiastic paws up!

Here's what I've learned so far -

1.  Select very lean meat.  Meats with higher fat content takes longer to dry, and jerky made with fattier meats can spoil if not refrigerated.

2.  Consider buying organic meats for your dogs.  Yes, it's more expensive.  It's also healthier, and hopefully the animals were treated more humanely on the farm they were raised on.

3.  The thinner you slice the meat, the quicker it will dry.  Slicing the meat while still partially frozen allows you to slice it more thinly.  Be sure to use a very sharp knife!

4.  We start our dehydrator before going to bed and 8 hours later - voila!  Fresh, healthy dog treats we feel good about giving to our dogs.  Peace of mind is priceless!

5.  Some people use seasonings or marinades on the meat prior to making the jerky.  I personally follow the KISS method - it saves me time, and I don't have to be concerned about sodium, etc.  Dogs don't need meat to be enhanced - it's MEAT!

6. Beef liver REALLY STINKS. I've never been squeamish about meat before, but handling raw beef liver and preparing it for the dehydrator had me gagging. It stinks when it's raw, it feels horrible, and it stinks while it's dehydrating!   For that batch, the dehydrator did its overnight shift in the garage. Phew!

Finally, you can make homemade biscuits and cookies for your dogs using a dehydrator too.  We haven't tried that yet, but I'll let you know The Krebs Crew Review when we do!

Welcome to the FFPS Blog

Creating a blog has been something I've been wanting to do for my pet sitting clients for quite a while. In today's digital world, we get inundated daily with bits and pieces of news and information from the internet, social media like Facebook, and other forms of communication with friends, family and co-workers.

The recent news about chicken jerky from China and the Diamond Pet Foods Salmonella outbreak and recall renewed my interest in taking FFPS into the blogosphere, in an effort to create a 'one-stop shop' for pet news and information.

I routinely get questions from my clients about nutrition, vaccinations, training and health concerns. As both a professional pet sitter and as a pet parent I strive to stay informed from a variety of resources, and I look forward to sharing that information with you here.   

I'd also like to share some of my personal experiences with animals at home and at work, and would love to have you do the same with me.  Please give me feedback on what you see, and what you want to see, on this blog!

If you'd like to have future blog posts delivered directly to your e-mail, please enter your e-mail address in the field at the bottom left-hand corner of the page and click 'Submit'.  You'll receive a confirmation e-mail to complete the request.

It is a privilege to care for your companion animals, and Family Friend Pet Sitting is a success because of you.

Thank you so much for your continued support and patronage.