Rain or Shine: 10 Ways to Engage Your Dog

Indoors By: Dogster

Dogs need exercise, regardless of the weather. In snow or rain, they still need mental and physical stimulation. That said, there are certainly some days where the weather may be too hot, too cold, or the precipitation too blinding to exercise your dog as you might otherwise like. On these days, it's helpful to have on hand a variety of ideas for ways you can provide your dog with boredom relief in the comfort of your own home. Here are a few ideas you may find helpful!

1. Food Dispensing Toys - Food dispensing toys are invaluable boredom busters. In the last few years the food dispensing toy market has greatly expanded and there are lots of new and exciting products available. Check out our selection of food dispensing toys: Tux, Canine Genius, Treat Stix, Orbo, Kibble Nibble, and Tug-a-Jugs.

2. Kibble Hunt - If you place your dog's kibble in a food bowl, chances are the bowl is empty within 15 seconds and the dog gazes up at you upon finishing as if to say, "Is that it?" You can put that food to work for you by making your dog hunt for it with his nose. Instead of dumping the food in his bowl, consider crating him while you hide small piles of food in the house then release him to "kibble hunt." Initially, make the piles very easy to find. As your dog gets better at this game, practice hiding the food in more difficult spots.

3. Tug and Fetch - Tug and fetch are classic dog games that do not require a lot of room. Hallways tend to be great for fetch games, and tug can be played virtually anywhere. Some great tug and fetch toys are Bumi, Hurley, Huck, Sqwuggies, Double Tug, and balls in general.

4. Recall/Stay game - Put dog in a sit/stay, walk away a short distance & call them just as you start to run away. When they catch you they get a reward. If the dog breaks the stay, no treat or reward & the dog has to start all over again.

5. Learning Games - British trainer Kay Laurence has a fantastic book available called "Learning Games." This fantastic book is chock full of ideas for how to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated while improving his behavior. For more fun ideas from Kay, check out her youtube channel.

6. Have a Doggie Play Date! - If your dog has a favorite playmate or friend, consider scheduling a rainy day play date. Before your dog's pal arrives, be sure to puppy proof and pick up all breakables and valuables. As you know, dog play can get quite rowdy!

7. Go on a Socialization Outing - If you are unable to take your dog for a walk, consider taking him for a ride and doing a "fun visit" at the vet's office where he just goes to hang out and get some treats and scratches just for being a great dog. This will provide the added benefit of teaching him that vet visits can be a lot of fun!

8. Play Hide and Seek! - Hide and seek is a great way to exercise your dog's mind and body and recall skills. Each family member should stock up on great treats. Family members will take turns hiding throughout the house, calling the dog to them, and rewarding her generously when she arrives. When her treats are finished, say "all done!" which is the cue for the next family member to call him.

9. Nosework - Canine nosework is a great new sport that can be done in your house. All you need to start are some boxes and some great treats! For more information on canine nosework, visit http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/getting-started-nose-work.

10. Blow Bubbles! – Dogs love trying to pop them. If you want you can tell the dog to “wait” give a release command and then let them go for it. When they’ve popped them all, ask the dog to come sit by your side and start all over again. Stand on a chair to get maximum bubble-height. Check out our IncrediBubbles, they are peach flavor!

Now you have lots of ideas, and the next time it starts raining, you can start training!

By Erica Cargill, CVT and Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC

Spring is just around the corner! Plant bulbs are just as excited to break through the ground to add some color to our yards as we are to see some greenery! That said, we need to be aware of the potential dangers spring plants can be for our pets. Here is a list of some of the most common spring plants and their toxicities, so you know how to pet-proof your garden and keep your pet safe!

To learn more on lawn safety, read Dogadillo’s Summer Safety article.

Tulips and hyacinth

Tulips contain allergenic lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is very concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower), so make sure your dog isn’t digging up the bulbs in the garden. When the plant parts or bulbs are chewed or ingested, it can result in tissue irritation to the mouth and esophagus. Typical signs include profuse drooling, vomiting or even diarrhea, depending on the amount consumed. There’s no specific antidote, but with supportive care from the veterinarian (including rinsing the mouth, anti-vomiting medication and possibly subcutaneous fluids), animals do quite well. With large ingestions of the bulb, more severe symptoms such as an increase in heart rate and changes in respiration can be seen, and should be treated by a veterinarian. These more severe signs are seen in our overzealous, chowhound Labradors.

Daffodils

These flowers contain lycorine, an alkaloid with strong emetic properties (something that triggers vomiting). Ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and even possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Crystals are found in the outer layer of the bulbs, similar to hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary drooling. Daffodil ingestions can result in more severe symptoms, so if an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive care.

Lilies

There are dangerous and benign lilies out there, and it’s important to know the difference. Peace, Peruvian, and calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx and esophagus—this results in minor drooling. The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies, and these include tiger, day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese show lilies—all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as the pollen or two to three petals or leaves) can result in severe kidney failure. If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more effectively we can treat the poisoning. Decontamination (like inducing vomiting and giving binders like activated charcoal) are imperative in the early toxic stage, while aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, kidney function monitoring tests and supportive care can greatly improve the prognosis.

Crocus

There are two crocus plants: one that blooms in the spring (crocus species) and the other in the autumn (Colchicum autumnale). The spring plants are more common and are part of the Iridaceae family. These ingestions can cause general gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and diarrhea. These should not be mistaken for autumn crocus, part of the Liliaceae family, which contain colchicine. The autumn crocus, also known as meadow saffron, is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage and respiratory failure. If you’re not sure what plant it is, bring your pet to their veterinarian immediately for care. Signs may be seen immediately but can be delayed for days.

Lily of the valley

The Convallaria majalis plant contains cardiac glycosides which will cause symptoms similar to digitalis (foxglove) ingestion. These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias and possibly seizures. Pets with any known exposure to this plant should be examined and evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.

In addition…fertilizers

As we gardeners work on our rose gardens, be aware of those fertilizers. While most are not very toxic (resulting in minor gastrointestinal irritation when consumed), some fertilizers can be fatal without treatment. Here are a few ingredients to be aware of so you know what toxins and symptoms to watch out for.

Blood meal

This is dried, ground and flash-frozen blood and contains 12% nitrogen. While it’s a great organic fertilizer, if ingested, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. More importantly, it can result in severe pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. Some types of blood meal are also fortified with iron, resulting in iron toxicity, so make sure to know what’s in your bag of blood!

Bone Meal

This is made up of defatted, dried and flash-frozen animal bones that are ground to a powder. This “bone” is also what makes it so palatable to your dog, so make sure to keep your pet from digging in it and ingesting the soil. While this also makes a great organic fertilizer, it can become a problem when consumed in large amounts as the bone meal forms a large cement-like bowling ball foreign body in the stomach—which can cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract—resulting in possible surgery to remove it!

Rose and plant fertilizers

Some of these fertilizers contain disulfoton or other types of organophosphates (OP). As little as 1 teaspoon of 1% disulfoton can kill a 55 lb dog, so be careful! Organophosphates, while less commonly used, can result in severe symptoms, including SLUD signs (which abbreviate for salivation, lacrimation, urination and defecation), seizures, difficulty breathing, hyperthermia, etc. In some cases, it can be fatal!

Cocoa Mulch

The ingredient in chocolate, Theobromine that causes it to be toxic to dogs is found in more than just candy. Cocoa Mulch is made from cocoa bean shells and contains potentially toxic quantities of Theobromine. Pet owners should not use cocoa bean mulch in their yards, it smells like chocolate to the dogs and they may try to eat it.

Pesticides/Insecticides

Most pesticides or insecticides (typically those that come in a spray can) are basic irritants to the pet and are usually not a huge concern unless a pet’s symptoms become persistent. Some may contain an organophosphate which can be life-threatening when consumed in large quantities. It is always best to speak to a trained medical professional if there are any questions.

Iron

This is commonly added to fertilizers, and can result in iron toxicity (from ingestion of elemental iron). This is different from “total” iron ingestion, and can be confusing to differentiate. When in doubt, have a medical professional at Pet Poison Helpline assist you with finding out if the amount ingested was toxic or not. Large ingestions can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea and potential cardiac and liver effects.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on the household toxins (both inside the house and out in the garden!)—that way, you make sure how to pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep all gardening or yard products in labeled, tightly-sealed containers out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt, please feel free to call Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680^* with any questions or concerns if you’re worried that your pet could have inadvertently gotten into anything!

^*There is a one-time per-incident fee of $35. The $35 fee is billed by Pet Poison Helpline. PPH is not affiliated with VPI.

To learn more on lawn safety, read Dogadillo’s Summer Safety article.

References:

• Lieske CL: Spring-blooming bulbs: A year round problem. Veterinary Medicine 580-588; 2002.
• Burrows GE, Tyrl RJ: Toxic plants of North America. Iowa State Press. Ames, IA. 2001. Pp. 773-776, 778-780.
• Poppenga R H: Toxic household, Garden and Ornamental Plants. Western Veterinary Conference; 2002.

Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical care specialist and the Associate Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet and It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live In It.

Canine influenza (Dog Flu) is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs caused by a novel influenza virus that is believed to have occurred in racing greyhounds in 2004.  The virus is a mutated form of the Equine (horse) flu.  Many specialized veterinarians believe the virus mutated due to over and improper use of the vaccine developed for the equine virus.  This is one of the few viruses that have "jumped" species, going from equine to canine.  At present there is no evidence to show that dogs can infect humans.

The dog days of summer are approaching and you can tell by the sparkle in Fido’s eyes that he can’t wait to get outdoors to run, swim, hike, and enjoy all the other great outdoor activities. Before you grab Fido’s leash and head outdoors there are a few safety tips regarding the summer heat for you to think about while you two are having fun in the sun.

Our dogs depend on us to put food in their bowls. And, more often than not, we are putting in too much! A leading veterinarian has been accessing the weight on hundreds of dogs of a variety of breeds over the past year at seminars all over the country. His report indicates that by conservative estimate about 50% of the dogs seen were overweight and about one half of those were actually obese. These were not couch potato dogs. These were dogs whose owners expect them to jump in obedience, to run over rough ground in retrieving tests, and to perform in agility. Unfortunately, we are seeing the sad results in an increase in ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (often both legs), severe degenerative arthritis in dogs in their prime, degenerative disk disease, and many more conditions that are caused by, or exacerbated by, excess weight.