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What causes stress in dogs, the signs and how to provide relief

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What causes stress in dogs, the signs and how to provide relief

What causes stress in dogs, how to recognize the signs and how to provide relief

You’re undoubtedly all too familiar with the ways in which you respond when under stress. You’ll probably be able to recognize when your closest friends or family members are experiencing anxiety, as well. But what are the telltale indicators of a stressed-out canine companion?

As their pet parent, you are your dog’s most powerful ally in the fight against stress, so it is critical that you understand how to recognize when they are upset and how to help them relax.

Learn everything you need to know about canine stress, including how to recognize it, identify it, and alleviate it.

Stress in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors.

There are a variety of reasons why your dog may be stressed. According to the American Kennel Club, the three most common causes of anxiety in dogs are: separation anxiety, separation fear, and separation anxiety.

Confusion and memory loss are common side effects of growing older.

apprehension (of loud noises, new environments, large or strange objects and big groups of people)

Separation

Additionally, according to new research, your own mental well-being and stress levels may have an impact on your dog’s stress levels. Several studies, including one published in Scientific Reports, have found that “dogs, to a significant extent, replicate the stress level of their owners.”

Dogs can be stressed out by a variety of real-life situations.

The following are some of the more typical scenarios that might cause a dog to get stressed, as well as resources to assist you in guiding your dog through each of them.

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Noises that are too loud:

Dogs have extremely sensitive hearing, which means that a loud noise to you will only be amplified in their ears.

Moving or rehoming a dog:

Moving residences, rehoming a dog following the death of a loved one, or even bringing a dog home for the first time after adoption can cause any dog to become apprehensive in unfamiliar surroundings.

What you may see as a dog behaving out (e.g., peeing or vomiting up in the house) may simply be a dog who is concerned about their new home.

 

Leaving Your Dog at Home: What to Expect

For a variety of reasons, such as a new job, returning to work after the birth of a child, a day excursion out to go shopping, and so on, you may have to leave your dog alone for extended periods of time.

However, a dog that is accustomed to having company at home may exhibit signs of separation anxiety. Here are some pointers to keep in mind when leaving your dog at home for the first time.

Introducing Your Dog to New People: What to Expect.

However, despite the traditional adage that “dogs are man’s best friend,” not every dog is comfortable with being introduced to every human.

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Your dog may require some adjustment time when meeting new individuals, whether as a result of previous owner cruelty or as a result of being territorial.

The best course of action is to take it slowly and without exerting too much power. Allow your dog plenty of time and space to become acclimated to the new person in his or her life.

What to Look for in a Stressed-Out Dog

According to the American Kennel Club, there are a variety of ways in which your dog may express his or her stress, including the following:

  • Using destructive methods to destroy stuff in your home
  • Despite the fact that you are housebroken, you are peeing or pooping inside (incontinence)
  • Aggression that appears out of nowhere
  • Behaviors that are repeated over and over
  • Pacing or restlessness are common symptoms of depression.
  • Dog Panting

 

However, it is crucial to remember that many of these behaviours could easily be mistaken for lapses in performance during training or accidents.

As a first step in determining whether your dog’s behaviour is stress-related, think about your dog’s individual personality and situation, as well as your own emotional condition.

If the problem persists, consult your veterinarian for advice.

If the problem is caused by stress, criticizing your pet will only make the situation worse and will make it more difficult to resolve the problem.

How to Assist Your Dog in Relaxing

Several measures can be taken to help avoid your dog’s anxiety and to assist an already stressed-out dog. These include:

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Feed them nutritious meals and provide them with plenty of physical activity:

High-quality nutrition and plenty of physical activity are essential for your dog’s mental well-being.

Take care to ensure that your canine partner receives plenty of exercise and fun and that you provide them with the appropriate amount of high-quality food.

Training that is consistent:

When you teach your dog properly, you provide a platform for communication between you and your pet, as well as expectations that you can meet, removing uncertainty for a nervous dog.

Avoid putting kids in stressful circumstances by doing the following:

Some dogs will never be able to cope with some situations because they are too overwhelming for them.

As an example, if you are aware that your dog is sensitive to loud noises, avoid taking them someplace where loud music will be playing and keep music at a comfortable volume in your home.

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You will be able to assist your dog in maintaining its composure in this manner.

If you can’t avoid the circumstance, do everything you can to make it as comfortable as possible. It depends on the situation, but simple things like giving them their favourite toy or an old hoodie that still smells like you can go a long way toward reducing your dog’s stress levels.

Self-care should be practised:

The scientific community has spoken: your mental health has an impact on your dog’s mental health.

Take steps to ensure that you are able to manage the stressors in your own life so that you can be totally there for your best animal companion.

It’s true – dogs can become anxious and agitated! But, fortunately, there are a variety of things you can do to help your pooch.

When you pay close attention to your dog’s behaviour, you will be able to spot the indications and reasons of his stress and assist him in relaxing.

 

Fact-Finding:

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Dogs

Keeping Pet Food Safe and Dry: 5 Tips to Know 

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Keeping Pet Food Safe and Dry: 5 Tips to Know 

Keeping Pet Food Safe and Dry

 

When it comes to the quality and freshness of your cat and dog food, where you keep it can make a major impact. Hill’s dry and canned cat and dog food can be stored in a variety of ways, but here are some of the most often asked questions and best practices.

 

What is the best way to keep dry food for my cat or dog?

 

It is recommended that the pet food from Science Diet, Healthy Advantage, and Prescription Diet be stored in a cold, dry place under 100°F (38°C). This is to avoid rancidity caused by vitamin degradation and fat oxidation.

When a pet food is kept in its original bag, which acts as a fat barrier, it will keep its finest flavour. The normal depreciation or destruction of vitamins can be accelerated if they are kept at temperatures above 120°F (48°C) for more than 48 hours.

In the garage, is it safe to keep the canned food for my cat or dog?

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It’s nоt а gооd ideа tо keeр yоur рet’s fооd in аn unаttended lосаtiоn, suсh а gаrаge оr the bасkyаrd.

 

Fоr dry саt аnd dоg fооd

Stоre the fооd in а сооl аnd dry envirоnment. It is best tо stоre the bаg оff the flооr tо reduсe роtentiаl infestаtiоn.

 

Fоr саnned саt аnd dоg fооd

Рriоr tо орening, stоre саns in а рlасe where the temрerаture is between 50-100°F. Dо nоt freeze саnned саt оr dоg fооd аs it саn сhаnge the texture аnd tаste оf the fооd.

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Should I use a plastic storage container for my cat or dog’s food?

Dry food can be transferred from one bag to another container by many pet owners.

Keeping dry pet food in a variety of plastic containers (trash cans, zip-top bags, garbage or kitchen bags, rubber or plastic containers) can impart an unpleasant odour and flavour to the food, according to research conducted by packaging engineers at Hill’s® Pet Nutrition.

It is not possible to prevent fat from accumulating on the outside of Zip-to-close bags, garbage bags, and other types of bags.

Clean metal containers (such as small metal tins or garbage cans) are appropriate storage options. When using a storage container, keep your food in its original bag within the container to create an optimal location for storage.

How do I keep my pet’s food in an airtight container?

The store opened cans of Science Diet, Healthy Advantage or Prescription Diet pet food in the refrigerator to retain moisture, decrease air exposure, and reduce odour transmission.

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Using a plastic pet food cover that fits the top of the can is the best method to store opened cans of cat or dog food.

While plastic lids are available, plastic wrap can also be used to protect the contents from the elements. Moisture is well-sealed by zip-to-close bags, but oxygen and odours are not.

Occasionally, my pet refuses to eat all of the food I give it. Once it’s in the bowl, how long is the dry food good for my cat or dog? Upon opening, how long are the cans still good for?

 

For the dry cat and dog food

If the bowl is kept in a cool, dry, out of direct sunlight, and not subject to contamination by insects and vermin area, you can leave dry food in your cat’s or dog’s bowl indefinitely. We, however, recommend that you wash and refill your pet’s food bowl every day.

 

Food for canned cats and dogs

Your pet’s mouth should be cleared of any moist or canned food that has not been eaten within four hours of the ambient temperature being above 50 degrees.

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For a maximum of 5-7 days, opened tins should be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40-45°F. Any cat or dog food that is left over beyond that point should be disposed of.

 

How can I determine if a can or bag of cat or dog food that hasn’t been opened is still good?

 

For the dry food of cats and dogs

To the right of the 4 or 5-digit SKU number, at the bottom of the bag, is the dаtecоde on our plastic bags. Dаtесоdes will be located on the top of medium and large bags, generally on the front flap.

Dog food is best consumed before the month of April in 2010, according to this example. The unopened bag of pet food should be disposed of after April 1, 2010.

 

Food made from canned cats and dogs

The “best before” date stamped on the bottom of all canned goods is what we mean when we say “please”.

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The following illustration shows that this tin of pet food is at its freshest if opened no later than December 31, 2010. In other words, after December 1st, 2010, all unopened cans of pet food must be thrown away!

Hill's best before

Your pet’s well-being depends not only on what you feed him but also on where you keep his or her cat food and dog food. Keep these guidelines in mind when storing your pet’s food.

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Dogs

5 Things You Need to Know before You Get A Dog

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5 Things You Need to Know before You Get A Dog

It sounds funny to think that a little Chihuahua would be able to stop a thief. If you think about it, other than yapping and possibly causing lots of harm with their sharp little teeth, any criminal could easily pick up the Chihuahua and the dog’s effort to stop crimes would be in vain.

However, Carly, a Chihuahua from St. Johns, Canada became a hero when her yapping alerted her owners of a man that was trying to steal her fur sibling, a Newfoundland named Silas.

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Brave Chihuahua on the lookout

The pet owners let her dog’s out around 8:00 p.m. and a minute later Carly started barking nonstop. Dooling went out to investigate and saw a man dragging her Newfoundland down her driveway.

I said: “Excuse me, what are you doing?” he told me hes taking his dog and I said, “No, you’re not”

Without hesitating, the woman self-described as short walked up to the man and punched him on the face, then took her dog back home with her.

The man had come prepared with his own leash and had hooked up the leash to Silas’s leash. There was no way that I was going to be able to wrestle the dog out of his hands so the only thing I could think was just punch him, said Dooling.

After hitting the man, the criminal ran off down the street. It’s an inconvenience or a nuisance, you could say, when she does bark, but she’s my guard dog. Some people have big Dobermans. I have a Chihuahua.

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Carly the Chihuahua

As for her dogs, Dooling said Silas was subdued for much of the night and next day after the near-theft, while Carly the Chihuahua was on high alert, barking at anything that passed by the windows.

We have been reading posts on social media regarding people stating that there have been attempts to steal dogs from backyards. At this time we would like to remind everybody that any suspicious activity *needs* to be phoned in to us so patrol division can be dispatched and investigate.

Additionally, if you see that a friend has something posted on their Facebook of this nature please encourage them to call.

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The mysterious pooch was discovered by a journalist and their news crew who were in the Bang Rakam District of Thailand reporting on drought conditions. The news crew revealed that they spotted the dog after it ran out of a house near to where they were filming. They then turned the camera on the adorable animal and shot a short video clip which was uploaded to Thai news site Matichon on November 12.

Never underestimate the power of a yappy Chihuahua

A daring dachshund proved herself a rare breed of heroine after she saved two boys from a savage bear attack. The super sausage dog raced into action after spotting two boys being ravaged by a massive black bear in Russia.

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Bear attacks boys in Russia

The giant animal attacked the youngsters soon after they emerged from their village shop. “He caught up with Stas first. The bear threw him to the ground, began to trample him, bite him, he grabbed his head, then shoulder and back. I watched – and ran at the bear. I didn’t think about myself or what would happen. I just wanted to save my friend.”

“Nikita ran and saved me. He hit the bear’s head with a stone.”

At this point the bear, which now had a sore head, turned on Nikita, gnawing and clawing him, leaving Stas wounded and frightened. At this moment a little dachshund called Tosya arrived on the scene and barked furiously at the bear. Now the beast left Nikita and chased the darting dog into the forest.

Tosya diverted the bear well away from the village, before losing the wild animal and returning safely home. According to one report, the dog , hailed as a heroine, was rewarded with cake.

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Bear cub alerts tourists

Both children were rushed to hospital, with Stas suffering scratches, bites and bruises, while Nikita had more serious wounds, with deep cuts on his hands, and bites on his legs.

Nikita’s mother Maria Nikonova says: “It was a shock. I couldn’t believe that bears can attack children in the middle of the village. It was terrible to look at all these lacerations, his torn clothes all covered in blood.”

Hunters tracked and shot the bear, which had earlier left a village couple marooned in their house as it laid waste to their garden. A bear cub created absolute havoc by running inside a coffee shop. The clip shows the bear cub running around the coffee shop and attempting to jump on tables.

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Laughter can be heard on the clip, and everyone was quickly moved out of the way of the bear and it ran out of the shop again. It is thought that the cub might have been lost and disorientated or separated from its mother.

The smell of food, coffee and pastries may also have attracted the bear to explore inside. Hilariously, the shop advertises itself as a place where tourists can get close to nature – in this case, far closer than anyone would expect.

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What is the reason for my dog chasing after its tail? 3 Facts to know

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What is the reason for my dog chasing after its tail? 3 Facts to know

What is the reason for my dog chasing after its tail?

 

The chances of witnessing a dog chasing its tail are fairly good, whether you’re out in the park or right in your living room, in real life or on television, in person or animated, are pretty good.

Occasionally, it’s just a few exuberant loops in response to a seemingly exciting incident; other times, it can look more like an endless tornado as the dog chases their tail in circles over and over again until they discover a new distraction.

It’s likely that you, as a dog parent, are curious about your dog’s unusual behaviour, and you’re probably wondering why your dog is chasing their tail in particular.

Is it because they’re bored, or is it to burn up extra energy, or is it just for kicks and giggles? Is it possible for dogs to become dizzy while following their tail?

No longer will you be perplexed! Our discussion today will focus on four common reasons why your dog may be so intrigued by its tail.

1. Anxiety and boredom

What is the reason behind your dog chasing after its tail? More than likely, they are asking for attention, or they are simply trying to burn off excess energy since they are deficient in mental stimulation. This is true for a large number of dogs, particularly younger canines and puppies. These dogs frequently discover that running in circles is a lot of fun!

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For pups who may not yet perceive their tail as an extension of their body, it can even be a source of amusement for them. Because they notice a fuzzy object in their peripheral vision, they believe it to be another animal worth pursuing

. According to Wag!, running in circles does not appear to cause dogs to become dizzy in the same way that it does in people, so they may keep going for quite a time.

2. A medical condition that requires treatment

The fact that your dog chases their tail on occasion is very normal and understandable. However, if this pattern of conduct persists, it may indicate the presence of a more serious problem.

Dr. Steve Weinberg, a veterinarian for the American Kennel Club, stated in an interview with the organization that “It is possible that obsessive pursuing is caused by a brain disorder that is similar to seizure-like activity.

Other possible reasons include a sore location where a tail was docked, an illness, or even cancer in the animal.”

Tail chasing in dogs, according to some experts, may even be an indication of mental disorder in the animal.

Constant tail chasing is considered a hallmark of canine compulsive behaviour, according to a story in The Guardian.

In the absence of intervention, this behaviour may progress to the point of being self-destructive, with the result that dogs damage their tails.

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If you suspect your dog is obsessively chasing its tail, you should contact your veterinarian.

3. Dog Genetics 

There may be a link between excessive tail chasing and elevated levels of blood and cholesterol, according to research published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

The tail-chasing dogs seen by the researchers had considerably greater levels of total cholesterol, as well as high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, than the control dogs, according to the results of the study.

There is still more research to be done on the genetic relationship, but this was an exciting discovery nonetheless.

Always keep in mind that there are a plethora of reasons why your dog is running after their tail. Keeping an eye on this behaviour may be necessary if you and your partner are receiving lots of exercise and playtime together outside, but you still see this pattern of behavior.

If you notice your dog chasing their tail in an obsessive, constant manner, you may want to take them to the vet to make sure there’s nothing wrong with them.

4. Parasites, Fleas or Ticks.

The likelihood of a dog “chasing” their tail in an attempt to chew on an irritating spot on their tail increases if the dog has an itchy tail caused by parasites such as fleas or ticks.

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While dogs are more likely to sit down and try to contort their bodies in order to reach the itching region, they may initially try chasing their tails to relieve themselves of the irritation.

If you find your dog attempting to chew on its tail, you should check for symptoms of parasites and contact your veterinarian to have it examined by a professional.

 

What breeds of dogs are prone to tail chasing and why do they do it?

The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that there is evidence that certain breeds of dogs, such as German shepherds, Bull terriers, and Anatolian sheepdogs, have a higher likelihood of chasing their tails.

Also, there are some hints that it is prevalent in terrier breeds such as the West Highland white terrier and the Jack Russell terrier, although there isn’t enough statistical data to support that.

Putting a Stop to This Behavior

If your dog is chasing its tail, it appears to be harmless and can provide hours of amusement for both you and your dog, it is necessary to keep an eye on him.

However, even if they do not have any of the characteristics described above, there is the possibility that they will catch their tail — particularly in younger dogs who are not as “tail-aware.”

When a dog’s tail is injured, there are numerous tiny bones that might be fractured or broken.

Additionally, if your dog perceives their tail as prey, he or she may be tempted to gnaw on it, which may result in a bite on its own tail. As a result, if you detect that they are on the verge of grabbing their tail, you may want to try preventing this habit in order to prevent them from injuring themselves.

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Fact-Finding:

Thanks for reading and have a great day! What is the reason for my dog chasing after its tail?

Please post your thoughts in the comments section if you have any. Please feel free to share!

 

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