Doggone Allergy Season

 

Allergy season is a familiar term that some of us may be more familiar with than others.  But Allergy season doesn’t just affect us humans; it affects our four-legged family members as well. 

Like humans, there are many things that your dog can develop an allergy to.  Not only do trees, grass, weeds, pollen, dander and dust cause allergic reactions, but other things such as dust mites, mold, fleas and flea saliva, feathers, prescription drugs, cigarette smoke, food ingredients, perfumes, cleaning products, fabrics, rubber, and plastic materials can cause allergic reactions as well. 

When a dog is exposed to a potential allergen, such as pollen, his immune system develops antibodies to the pollen (though you never see this initial process).  The next time he is exposed to pollen his antibodies go into hyper-drive, as a defense mechanism, and tell the immune system to release histamines.  Histamines have many functions in the body, including the opening of capillaries and contracting of muscles, both of which contribute to intense itching.       

You notice the allergic reaction once your dog begins showing symptoms, the first usually being scratching.  Common symptoms of an allergic reaction include scratching, licking the paws, rubbing the face, red or irritated skin, watery eyes, and sneezing.  Scratching and excessive licking are the most damaging symptoms because they can lead to bigger problems such as inflammation, welts, sores, infections, excessive shedding, and hair loss.

Things you can do to prevent seasonal allergies

Though you can’t completely safe guard your dog from being exposed to allergens, there are a few things you can do to help prevent an allergic reaction:

·         Wiping or washing your dog’s paws and legs (and under carriage on shorter breeds) each time he comes in from outside.   

·         Keeping the house clean and dust free.  Vacuum your carpets, furniture, and rugs regularly.  Keep the dog bedding clean and dust free as well. 

·         “Shampooing your dog can help relieve the itch temporarily and help remove scales, scabs, some parasites, bacteria, and other potential causes of itching.” –Doctors Foster and Smith.com

·         Using sprays and shampoos containing naturally soothing ingredients like aloe and oatmeal can help calm irritated skin.

·         Keeping your dog on a regular flea medication program.

·         Keeping the yard clear of debris, dead plants, and other things that attract dust and vermin carrying parasites.

·         Adding fatty acid supplements (such as fish oil) to your dog’s diet might relieve his itchy skin.  Adding this supplement can also avoid the confusion between an allergic reaction and just plain dry skin.

If your dog is having an allergic reaction, an antihistamine, such as Benadryl (or Children’s Benadryl for smaller dogs), can be given to your dog to help alleviate the symptoms.  However, Benadryl may not work for all dogs.  And because an allergic reaction can easily get out of hand and become a much bigger problem, you should seek advice from your vet first.   As previously mentioned, allergies can be caused by a number of culprits, but if you do your best to keep a clean environment in and around your home, you and your dog can enjoy Spring rather than avoid it. 

No Foolin' about Preventing Animal Abuse

If you saw animal cruelty happening in your neighborhood would you know what to do? Animal abuse is a common occurance in California. The state ranks in the top 6 highest number of cases in 15 (of 21) different abuse categories listed by pet-abuse.com. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), an organization that investigates animal abuse day in and day out, works mostly off of tips from the public.

The article "No Foolin' about Animal Cruelty", posted earlier this week, included a list of signs to look for to tell if an animal is being abused (through neglect or physical force). But now that you know what to look for, do you know how to stop it and prevent it from happening again?

5 Ways to Prevent Animal Abuse

1. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood – Being aware will make you more likely to notice sudden changes in an animal’s appearance, behavior, or regular habits.

Elle Hernandez of Riverside shares her friends expereince- "My friend moved to Arizona, where summer days reach 90 degrees by 9am. The next door neighbors had a Rottweiler that would bark at her dogs through the fence every day. The neighbors told my friend they were moving and did so overnight. A few days after they moved my friend started hearing barking coming from inside the house. Come to find, the neighbors had abandoned the dog, locked her inside the house with a bucket of water and a bag of food on the floor, and never said a word about it. No cracked window, no dog door for her to be able to potty outside; she was trapped inside the hot and empty house for days. I am happy to report that my friend rescued this Rottweiler before it was too late and found her a new home." And it was possible because she was aware of the neighborhood dogs and kept an eye/ear out for sudden changes.

2. Make the Call – Most animal abuse investigations start with a phone call from a concerned neighbor. “It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU – that’s why it’s so important to keep your eyes and ears open.” - ASPCA.com

• First, know who to call!

To report abuse in Riverside and unincorporated areas of Corona:

Riverside County Animal Services: 951-358-7387

To report abuse in the city of Corona:
Corona Animal Control: 951-736-2309
To report abuse in San Bernardino:
Animal Care & Control: 1- 800-472-5609
To report abuse in Orange County:
OC Animal Care: (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) 714-935-6848 and
(5 p.m. – 8 a.m.) 714-935-7158
To report abuse in Los Angeles County:
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (spcaLA):

1-800-540-SPCA (7722)

Or report abuse online:
www.pet-abuse.com

• Second, provide as much information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. It helps to first write down the type of cruelty you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

In other words, Who, What, When, Where

3. Set a good example for others – Be a responsible pet owner and always show your dog the love and care they deserve by ensuring their safety inside and outside of the house. Remember, you don’t have to physically intimidate your dog to get them to behave. Its mental dominance they respect, in a calm and assertive leader and that doesn’t require physical force. If you need help learning to discipline or train your dog without using physical force contact a qualified trainer who can help you learn techniques like Cesar Millan practices.

And most importantly, teach your kids how to treat animals with kindness and respect as well. Everything you do sends a message, and you never know what little eyes may be watching.
“Children who abuse animals are more likely to commit crimes as adults, but there are many factors that play into why children abuse animals, these can include witnessing violence or abuse in the home or community where the animal becomes a scapegoat for what the child is feeling”, said Steve Steinberg Mental Health Services Manager for the County of Riverside.

4. Support your local shelter or animal rescue – It’s a great way to make a difference and give an animal a second chance at a good life. You can show your support by becoming a foster parent, volunteering your time, or donating (needed supplies, food, money, etc.). Every little bit helps, and every little bit makes a big difference in the life of an animal.          

    5.  Get involved – You can get involved by fighting for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state, and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.

“We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.” – G.T. Angell

No Foolin’ about Animal Cruelty

 

April always starts off with a light-hearted tone, thanks to April Fool’s Day on the 1^st. But there is nothing light-heated about animal abuse and April is Animal Cruelty Awareness month. 

According to pet-abuse.com there are around 1,000 reported cases of animal abuse in the United States each year.   In their 2010 report, listing 21 different abuse categories, California was listed in 15 of those categories; 4 of which California was listed in the top 6 highest number of cases and 8 of which California was listed in the top 2 highest number of cases.  These categories include: beating, burning- caustic substance, choking/strangulation/suffocation, fighting, hanging, hoarding, kicking/stomping, and mutilation/torture. The statistics also show that dogs are the number one victims in these crimes, with cases three times the number of cases involving cats (which are the second most abused animal reported).

These statistics aren’t meant to depress you or upset you (though they can easily do both), they are meant to inform you and make you aware so that one day you might make a difference to an animal. 

 

You may have read about or heard of the organization named ASPCA before. Because they are a strong authority in the pet community it’s kind of hard to miss them; but do you know who they are and what they do exactly? ASPCA stands for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ASPCA was the first humane organization in the western hemisphere and they“work to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws, and share resources with shelters nationwide.”- ASPCA website.  The ASPCA investigates animal abuse day in and day out, but they work mostly off of tips from the public.  In other words, it all starts with you educating yourself on what to look out for. 

 

Courtesy of the ASPCA and our own local animal services, here is a list of signs and symptoms of animal abuse that you should look for in your neighborhood:

·         Tick or flea infestations (conditions left untreated can lead to death)

·         Wounds on the body

·         Patches of missing fur

·         Extremely thin, starving animals

·         Limping

·         An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal

·         Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food or water, often chained in the yard

·         Dogs who have been hit by a car, or show signs listed above, and have not been taken to a vet

·         Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions

·         Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners

·         Animal hoarding

·         Any person, maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, wounds, or kills a living animal

·         Any person overrides, overloads, overworks, torments, or deprives an animal of necessary food, water, or shelter

·         Any person intentionally, for amusement or gain, fights any animal against another animal

·         Any person permits an animal to go without veterinary care for an injury

 

Check back later this week for ways to stop and prevent animal abuse.

A Dog-Friendly Easter

 How do you celebrate Easter?  Do you have a big family gathering?  Do you go to a large community Easter egg hunt?  Do you go to church or prepare a special meal?  However you choose to celebrate, memories of Easters past may have a very special place in your heart, and you most likely want to share those joyous traditions with others.  And whether those others include children or not, there is no reason you can’t enjoy those traditions with your dog.   

The Dog-Friendly Easter Egg Basket

Do you remember coming out of your room and discovering an Easter egg basket?  It was like Halloween and Christmas combined.   An Easter egg basket for your dog doesn’t have to be big and it certainly should not have candy or chocolate in it.  Instead, it should have dog treats, kibble, and dog toys.  Don’t have extra money for treats or new toys? That’s fine. Throw some dog food in a baggie or buy just one small can of wet dog food and he’ll think it’s a treat.  And never underestimate the power of your dog’s favorite toy.  Just throw his favorite toy in the basket and he will be more than happy to see it.

If you want to splurge, you might consider going to the local dog bakery to pick up some gourmet dog cookies, or even some cake.  These bakeries also have a snack bar of treats to choose from where you can decide how much you want to buy of each treat.  Check out Jackboy Bakery (which has many convenient locations throughout the Inland Empire and Orange County) or even your local Petco. 

The Dog-Friendly Easter Egg Hunt

The Easter egg hunt is always highly anticipated by children.  How many eggs will I find? What will be in them?  You can have this same anticipation with you pup by creating a dog-friendly Easter egg hunt.

1.     Get fillable plastic eggs and place 1 smelly treat in each (the eggs should be appropriate for your dog’s size).  The treats can be small bits of hot dog, cheese, or any other smelly treat safe for dog consumption.  Keep the treats bite-size because each dog will likely find 6 – 10 eggs, and you don’t want them to get sick. 

2.     Have your dog wait somewhere while you hide the eggs around the house or in the yard. Keep the hiding places very simple to ensure your dog can find them with very little help.

3.     Release the hound then watch him sniff and work open eggs for his prize.  It’s ok to guide him in the right direction sometimes, especially if your dog wasn’t bred for his tracking abilities.

The Dog-Friendly Easter Brunch

While there are a few restaurants that specifically cater to dogs, like the Lazy Dog Café, most restaurants with an outdoor eating area will allow dogs. If you have a restaurant in mind already you should check out their website or call first to make sure you can bring your pooch along. Dog-friendly restaurants like the Lazy Dog Café expect you to bring your dog so he can try their dog-friendly menu. But before you make plans to take your dog to brunch you should consider your dog’s temperament around large crowds of people, other dogs, and food. Sunday brunch is a busy time and Easter brunch will be that much busier. And of course, there is no reason to ruin a perfectly pleasant day so be sure your dog can handle such an atmosphere without being overwhelmed.

 While your dog may not create nostalgic memories around Easter like you have, he will definitely get excited and have a good time with you.  So, however you choose to celebrate Easter, have a wonderful and safe celebration.  And remember to keep all candy, especially chocolate, out of reach of the pets.  

Spring Training for Your Pup

Does your dog know the difference between his toy and your shoe?  Not only is destructive chewing a hazard to your property, it’s a hazard to your dog’s health as well.

Puppies are terrible about chewing.  Like babies and toddlers they feel the need to discover the world with their mouth.  Throw that on top of teething and you don’t own any furniture that hasn’t been chewed.  If you fail to curb this bad habit while he or she is still a puppy then you will end up with a destructive chewing adult dog that can do more damage.  It’s very important to teach your pup the difference between what can be chewed (his toys) and what things are off limits (everything else). 

Teach your dog to know his toys from yours

1.       Grab a handful of items. This handful should be a mix of things around the house with a few dog toys.  It can be toys (kid toys and dog toys), chew sticks, bones, shoes, clothes, books, remote control, etc.  Just be sure to include the items that you specifically DO NOT want your dog to chew on.

2.       Place the items randomly in a circle.  Have your pup wait patiently while you do this.

3.       Once the items are set, allow your pup to go check out the items and encourage him to bring one back to you.  Use a command like “Get your toy”, even if he doesn’t understand the command yet.  You want him to associate that word ‘toy’ with his things.

4.       When he picks up a dog item, praise him in a happy tone and reward him with a treat if you choose (praise may be enough of a reward).

5.       When he picks up an item that is off limits, use a very stern “NO” then quickly remove the off-limits item and replace it with a dog item. Once he has the dog item give lots of praise.  If a dog doesn’t want to let go of an off-limits item then you can use a shaker or something to quickly distract him while you take the item away.

6.       Continue this exercise for 10-15 minutes.  Any longer and your pup will lose interest and easily become distracted (which is true for any training exercise).

Practice this circle at least once a week until your pup no longer bothers to pick up forbidden items. 

And remember, correcting a dog when chewing an off-limit item should only been done when you catch your dog in the act.  No matter how guilty a dog may seem to act after you find your favorite shoes destroyed, he is really just reacting to your anger without understanding why he is in trouble.  Instead, when you catch him chewing on a forbidden item quickly remove it and replace it with a dog item then praise him. 

If your dog continues to chew on items that have your scent, try sticking one of his toys in your laundry hamper for a week, so your scent will be on his toy.  Or try rubbing a yummy scent, like chicken broth, on one of his toys instead. 

While this training exercise won’t work with furniture exactly, you can try other tactics to curb that habit.  For one, you should ensure your pup has plenty of teething toys for him to chew on.  You should also be sure to give your dog plenty of exercise to safeguard against chewing out of boredom.  And lastly, you can try spraying the furniture with bitter spray.  If you are consistent and none of these tactics work, you may just have to wait for your puppy to grow out of the teething phase.  But if your dog is destroying your house and it’s creating unnecessary stress in your home then it’s time to contact a professional trainer to help you reclaim your home.     

St. Patty’s Day with the Pups

Have big Irish plans for St. Patrick’s Day this Sunday?  Since you may be a little indulgent with Irish traditions on March 17^th, why not do something guilt-free with your dog the day before? 

This Saturday, March 16^th, the 21^st Annual ‘Walk with the Animals’ will take place at Fairmount Park in Riverside.  This family-friendly event is hosted by the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (formerly the Riverside Humane Society) and put on each year in an effort to raise money to help care for the thousands of homeless animals they take in each year.  This event will leave you feeling good by walking for your health and raising much needed funds for a local animal shelter.

Participants are encouraged to bring their dog(s) to join in the 1.3 mile walk around the park as well as family and friends of all ages to enjoy the activities and entertainment afterward. 

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. along with a delicious pancake breakfast.  The walk begins at 9:00 a.m. and will be led by Grand Marshals Mayor Rusty Bailey and his dog Zoe (a former Pet Adoption Center resident).  After the walk, participants are welcome to enjoy activities such as ‘Kiss the Blarney Dog’ – Kissing Booth, Doggie Costume Contest, as well as exhibits, boutiques, baked goodies for sales (human and canine), and local rescue groups to check out.  Low cost vaccinations and microchipping will be available as well, if your pup is behind on his vaccinations or you have been waiting for a more affordable chance to get him microchipped.  

Whether you can or cannot participate in the walk this Saturday, you can help raise funds or give a donation through firstgiving.com.  Check out the Mary S. Roberts Pet AdoptionCenter website for more information, ways to donate, or to see dogs and cats available for adoption.

The smallest amount of green can make a difference this St. Patrick’s Day, so give what you can to help support your community and its homeless pets.

 

A Whale of an Event this Weekend

Have you ever wondered what makes Dana Point so special?  Probably not, but the Californian Gray Whale seems to be rather fond of the area.  And after this weekend, you and your pup may be fond of the cozy beach town too.   

California Gray Whales migrate each year from Alaska to Mexico to give birth or mate, making their 5,000 mile journey the longest mammal migration.  From December to March 40 – 50 whales pass by Dana Point every day.  Experts believe that Dana Point’s location (halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego) and its 200ft cliffs that jut out into the sea serve as a navigational landmark for the whales.  And California Gray Whales aren’t the only sea mammals coasting by; Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Blue Whales, and even Killer Whales have been seen too.

The Festival of Whales began 42 years ago in the coastal community of Dana Point.  As an important part of the community, the festival has continued to this day with ocean-themed events and activities keeping an emphasis on education and environmental responsibility. 

This whale of an event is jam-packed with things to do for two consecutive weekends, celebrating the roundtrip voyage of the whales.  The first weekend, March 2^nd -3^rd, will feature art lessons, live music, an art show, a parade, a street fare, marine mammal lessons, seashore family hikes, sailing ride, a stand-up paddling clinic, whale watching, a movie in the park, pancake breakfast, sand sculpting competition, clam chowder cook-off, rubber ducky derby, a free fishing clinic and trip for kids, and so much more!

While the second weekend, March 9^th – 10^th, will offer most of the same activities as the first weekend it is the weekend of the 10k and 5k Grunion Run/walk.  This marathon (which also has a 1k run/walk for kids) is not to be confused with the actual yearly grunion run, but just a fun name to go with the theme of the weekend.  Along with a classic car display, beach clean-up, a Polynesian connection, and Captain Dave’s carnival, the weekend is sure to be a great one for the whole family.

For a complete weekend schedule, directions, and any other information you may like to know about this event, check out the Festival of Whales website.  This event is family and dog-friendly, so no need to leave anyone at home this time.  All day parking is $8 and there is a free shuttle back and forth to the event site.  The address to map for this event is 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, Ca 92629.

So now that you have something to do this weekend, grab your dog, some extra water, and sun block and head to the beach for some fun in the sun.