Admin

Male and Female Dog Physical Differences

by

 

Let’s face it: with certain dogs, it’s quite difficult to tell a female dog and a male dog apart. Unless the dog is wearing a distinctive blue or pink collar that says “boy” or “girl” all over it, in many cases, you may need to take a quick and discreet peak down there just to “verify” or you may simply use the easy way out and ask the owner directly. However, in certain dog breeds the physical differences between male and females are more noticeable, so much so, that even in their breed standards, female dogs are often described as appearing  more “feminine” compared to the male dog counterparts.

Physical Differences Between Male and Female Dogs

The condition where there are differences between two sexes within a species, that go beyond the appearance of their sexual organs, is known as “sexual dimorphism.” Size, color, markings are often the most distinguishing secondary sexual features. Sexual dimorphism is often seen in birds (think difference between male peacock and female), insects and plants, while in dogs, it seems to be more prevalent in certain dog breeds compared to others.

According to veterinarian Dr. Bonnie V. G Beaver, physical differences between male and female dogs starts when dogs are still in the womb. Male dogs are exposed to a testosterone surge which generates male characteristics, therefore puppies not exposed to this surge will be females. Sexually dimorphic differences are quite subtle in young puppies but tend to become more noticeable after the onset of puberty. After all, doesn’t that happens in humans well? How many times are baby boys and baby girls confused for one another?  So next, let’s take a look at four common physical differences between male and female dogs.

1) What a Big Dog You Are!dog rottweiler

In most dog breeds where sexual dimorphism is present, size (sexual size dimorphism) is the most striking distinguishing feature between male and female dogs. There’s an interesting phenomenon worth mentioning that’s called”Rensch’s Rule” which was named after Bernard Rensch, who first described it in 1950. Basically, according to the rule, when the male is larger within a dog breed, the female is respectively smaller. This difference is more prevalent in the larger breeds while in the smaller breeds, there appears to be less variability.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

There are several examples of sexual size dimorphism in dogs. For instance, the American Kennel Club Rottweiler breed standard states that male dogs are more massive throughout, have a larger frame and a heavier bone structure.  Male Rottweilers are expected to reach 24 to 27 inches at the withers. Females on the other hand, are described as being distinctly feminine and reaching 22 to 25 inches at the withers. In a study, smaller dog breeds like Chihuahuas, Prague ratters, papillons and miniature spitz showed less significant differences in shoulder height. And of course, with height comes weight, so male dogs are often weighing more than females.

german2) What a Big Head You Have!

Other than size, the shape of the head is often a distinguishing factor when it comes to physical differences between male dogs and female dogs. Male dogs of certain breeds may have a blockier head, while females have smaller heads with more delicate, refined features. For example, in the German shepherd dog breed, the head is expected to be more masculine looking in males while in females it’s expected to be more feminine.

3) What a Long Back You Have!

There are several dog breeds in which females are distinguished from their male counterparts due to the way their back appears. Female dogs are sometimes expected to have longer backs in certain breed standards.  There is a chance that this is something that is expected in female dogs considering that longer bodies in females may give the impression of these dogs being able to better carry puppies, explains Caroline Coile in the book “The Chihuahua Handbook.”

4) What a Nice Coat You Have!

In many birds, males often have a more strikingly appearing plumage showing more distinct colors compared to females. Just think about turkeys: male turkeys are significantly bigger and their plumage is more impressive.  In dogs, male dogs sometimes have a more luxurious coat that is more evident in long-haired breeds. For example, in the Belgian Tervuren, males are described as having long and abundant hair around their neck, while females rarely have a coat that is as long and ornamented as the male.

idea tipDid you know? Dogs show more physical diversity than any other species and this is attributed to the fact that they were selectively bred and therefore underwent strong artificial selection.

 

german shepherd10 Dog Breeds with Significant Sexual Dimorphism

As mentioned, some dog breeds are more prone to show secondary sexual features compared to others. This is just a small list of the many dog breeds with males and females generally showing differences. Of course, there are many more! Years of elective breeding and adherence to breed standards has made these differences more pronounced.

Rottweiler: Male Rottweilers are more massive, have heavier bone structure and a larger frame, while females are distinctly feminine, but without any weakness of substance or structure.

Bernese Mountain Dog: The American Kennel Club standard reports males appearing masculine, while female dogs are distinctly feminine.

German shepherd: According to American Kennel Club standard, secondary sexual characteristics between male and female German shepherd dogs are strongly marked. The male head is distinctly masculine, and that female is distinctly feminine.

Shiba Inu: According to breed standard, male dogs and female dogs are distinctly different with male dogs appearing more masculine without coarseness, and females appearing more feminine but without showing any weakness of structure.

English Setter: Male English setters are described by the American Kennel Club standard as being decidedly masculine but without coarseness. Female dogs, on the other hand, are decidedly feminine but without over-refinement.

Norrbottenspets: According to AKC breed standard, sexual dimorphism is clearly apparent in Norrbottenspet and  a distinguishing factor is the structure of the head. Also, when it comes to proportions, male dogs are slightly rectangular while female dogs are a little longer.

Samoyed: According to standard, male Samoyed dogs are masculine in appearance while female dogs are feminine, slightly longer in back, but shouldn’t show weakness of structure.

Belgian Tervuren: the standard describes the male dog as appearing unquestionably masculine; while the female should have a distinctly feminine look. Female specimens should be judged equally with the male.

Mastiff: according to standard, male mastiff dogs are more massive while females are smaller but still having a proportionally powerful structure.

Belgian Malinois: The male in this dog breed has a more impressive appearance while females have a distinctly feminine look.

 

 

References:

 

  • Frynta D, Baudyšová J, Hradcová P, Faltusová K, Kratochvíl L (2012) Allometry of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Domestic Dog. PLoS ONE 7(9): e46125. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046125
  • Canine Behavior: Insights and Answers, By Bonnie V. G. Beaver, Saunders; 2 edition (January 5, 2009)
  • The Chihuahua Handbook, By D. Caroline Coile, Barron’s Educational Series; 2nd ed. edition (April 1, 2010)

Photo Credits:

Dr. Manfred Herrmann Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (ADRK)

 

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Beware of Acepromazine Side Effects for Dog Fear

by

 

As summer is in full swing, the chances for rain and thunderstorms significantly increase, causing many fearful dogs to shake, hide and panic as they seek a safe retreat around the house from the booming thunder. It’s very tempting to seek out some remedy or medication to help these dogs out, but sometimes things may not go as planned. Acepromazine is a central nervous system depressant that is sometimes prescribed by veterinarians to help dogs better cope with fearful situations such as grooming visits, vet visits and anxiety associated with exposure to loud noises such as thunder and fireworks. As much as Acepromazine may seem effective, there are chances that this same drug meant to help your dog, will actually make things worse.

dog pillsHow Acepromazine Works

Also known as Promace, and often referred to as “Ace,” acepromazine maleate is a sedative that is frequently used in veterinary medicine for its sedative and antiemetic (effective in reducing nausea and vomiting as seen in motion sickness in dogs) effects. This drug is classified as a phenothiazine neuroleptic drug, which, according to veterinarian Dawn Ruben, simply means that it works by changing the chemicals in a dog’s brain so to change behavior accordingly. As a sedative, Acepromazine works by depressing the dog’s central nervous system; however, the exact dynamics remain unknown. There’s belief that it works by blocking the receptors (theD2 receptors) of dopamine , a neurotransmitter released by the brain that helps regulate movement, focus and attention and emotional responses. By blocking dopamine, Acepromazine should therefore help dogs suffering from fear and anxiety.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

“Acepromazine works by depressing the central nervous system. The exact mechanism of action of acepromazine is unknown. It is thought to block receptors of dopamine in the brain, a chemical used for cell-to-cell communication.”~ Dr. Dawn Ruben

The Problems With Acedog acepromazine

As a sedative, and central nervous system depressor, Acepromazine may at a first glance seem like a good option for anxious and fearful dogs. Indeed, still as of today, Acepromazine remains one of a veterinarian’s preferred go-to tranquilizer; however, there are some problems with its use that more and more veterinarians and board-certified veterinary behaviorist are raising awareness about. So what’s the problem with this drug? There are actually several.

A “Misleading” Effect

At a first glance, Acepromazine may make a dog or cat  look as if he’s handling the fear well, when in reality, he just can’t show the signs or do anything about it, explains Jason Nicholas, graduate of The Royal Veterinary College in London, England and Chief Medical Officer of Preventive Vet. If we put ourselves in our dog’s shoes (or better, paws)  it’s as if we’re being aware of a fearful situation but because of the drug’s dissociative effects it doesn’t make any logical sense. As Karen Overall claims “it scrambles perceptions.” Phenothiazines such as acepromazine are sedatives but they really do not reduce anxiety, explains Gary Landsberg, board-certified vet working for North Toronto Veterinary Behaviour Specialty Clinic. Marsha Reich, another board-certified veterinarian claims “I do not use acepromazine for thunderstorms because it is not an anxiolytic– a dog is less responsive to the storm, but is just as anxious about it.”

“Acepromazine does little to nothing to help mitigate the fear and anxiety that these suffering pets experience from fireworks and thunderstorms. What it does do though, and do well, is make them unable to move and/or exhibit any of the other outward signs of their fear and anxiety. Ace is kind of like a “chemical straightjacket” in these instances.” ~Jason Nicholas

AIREDALE TERRIERIncreased Noise Sensitivity

Another problem with the use of Acepromazine for dogs who suffer from fear of noises like thunder and fireworks is the fact that it seems to increase sensitivity to noises. Talk about giving something to make dogs feel better, and instead making things much worse! Veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Karen Overall in the video below explains how dropping a hemostat on a metal table will cause an animal treated with Ace to jump despite being sound asleep.

So what happens when a dog is  in a situation where there is raised awareness of the frightening stimulus, but it doesn’t make any sense and nothing can be done about it as its motor skills are impaired? It makes the situation much worse, which leads to the dog’s fear increasing, the owner reaching out for more Ace, and the dog being put in a vicious cycle of negative associations while the animal is in a state of lowered arousal and lowered behavioral response and appears ataxic (lacking voluntary coordination of muscle movement).

Risk for Paradoxical Excitement/Aggressiondog paradoxical effect

Another possible “side effect” from a behavior standpoint, involves what is known as a “paradoxical” effect. Paradoxical effect simply means that the drug would cause an effect that is opposite to the one it would normally be expected. When working for the vet, I remember seeing this word the first time in a chart. The dog was given Ace, and the owner reported that his dog instead of acting calm, was acting restless and even aggressive at times. The vet recommended the owner not give this drug again. Veterinarian Dawn Ruben warns that dogs taking this drug should be handled gently and not left alone with children due to the risk of paradoxical effects.

” I wish this medication would be placed at the far back of a top shelf and used only exceptionally…If what you need is sedation – acepromazine can be an acceptable adjuvant, but it makes most of my really fearful and really reactive patients worse, so all sorts of other drug combos can work better and do less harm than is done by the routine use of acepromazine.. ~Karen Overall

warning caution Did you know? Brachycephalic dog breeds (those with short noses and flat faces) are more prone to develop complications from the use of Acepromazine and its use can be problematic in dogs with the MDR1 gene mutation.

A Vet’s Perspective

So if Ace has such negative effects why would vets prescribe it in the first place? It ‘s likely because Acepromazine has been used for many years so it’s tried and true and vets have been comfortable with using it. “For some reason, switching from ace to something else––even while all the research tells us it’s safer––is a stressful process for all practitioners. Knowing the ins and outs of how our favorite drug works means more safety in the short run…even though we know better choices are available when it comes to achieving a quiet animal,” explains veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly. There’s also the price factor, as it’quite cheap compared to other drugs and clients like that. Not to mention that it’s common practice for Western medicine to suppress symptoms instead of trying to address the underlying cause. Restless dog? Give Ace. Dog won’t hold still for grooming? Ace comes to the rescue. Ace stops dogs in their tracks and we like that.  Dr. Khuly finally adds “Sedating pets without regard for what they may experience is the height of human hubris. Especially when there’s a better way. ”

Alternate Options to Acepromazineidea tip

So what should dog owners do if they wish to avoid these undesirable “side effects?” It’s not a bad idea to ask the vet for alternatives or better consult with a veterinary behaviorist. Alprazolam (Xanax) for instance is an anti-anxiety medication that unlike Acepromazine, doesn’t sedate the dog, explains veterinarian Dr. Betsy Brevitz in the book “Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy.” Anti-anxiety medications work best when used a long a program of force-free behavior modification. Jean Donaldson in the book “Oh Behave!: Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker” mentions Valium (diazepam) as a better choice to Acepromazine for fear of storms.

“Acepromazine makes dogs staggery, sluggish, bleary-eyed and generally out-of-it: not what we desire in modern behavioral therapy.”~Nicholas H. Dodman

Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary or behavioral advice. If your dog is sick or has behavioral problems, please consult with your vet or veterinary behaviorist.

 

References:

  • VSPA Veterinary Specialty Practice Alliance, Treating Thunderstorm Phobia, retrieved from the web on June 23, 2016
  • DVM360, Storm Phobias, by Karen Overall, retrieved from the web on June 23, 2016
  • Pet Place, Acepromazine, Promace for Dogs and Cats, by Dawn Ruben, retrieved from the web on June 23, 2016
  • Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy & Active Paperback – April 1, 2004, by Betsy Brevitz, Workman Publishing Company; 1 edition (April 1, 2004)
  • The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman’s 7 Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your BestFriend Paperback – June 24, 2009 by Nicholas H. Dodman BVMS, Mariner Books; 1 edition (June 24, 2009)
  • Oh Behave!: Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker, ny Jean Donaldson, Dogwise Publishing (April 1, 2008)

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Dog Word of The Day: Generalization

by

 

We often hear conflicting information about the word “generalization” when it applies to dogs. We are often told that “dogs don’t generalize well”, but then, there are instances when generalization takes place quite quickly as many owners of fearful dogs can attest. Today, we’ll therefore be taking a closer look into dog generalization, the meaning of the word, how it happens and the process it entails. We will also be taking a peak at some examples of generalization taking place in dog training and dog behavior as it can happen in specific contexts.

generalizing behaviorWhat is Generalization? 

Generalization is often defined as “taking something specific and applying it more broadly.”We often use generalization in our linguistic world to cover make broad statements. For example, if we say “customers are always right” we are making a broad statement clumps customers together as having something in common (being always right.) To go more in depth on the subject, we can see generalization occur in the history of words (etymology).  According Richard Nordquist, a Grammar & Composition Expert, the English word dog, comes from the earlier word dogge, which was originally used to depict a powerful breed of dog that originated in England. Today, the word dog has evolved though and generalized as an umbrella term used to include all of our domesticated canine companions.

To give a more technical explanation we can say that generalization occurs when a new stimulus/setting/situation that has similar characteristics to a previous stimulus/setting/situation comes to trigger the same response. So if Mary listens to the radio one day and falls in love with a specific heavy metal song made by a specific band, she may then later on find out that she likes other heavy metal bands so starts listening to more and more heavy metal songs and even starts attending concerts. In this case, her passion has generalized from one song, to other songs made by different bands that share similar features with the original band/song she first fell in love with.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Stimulus generalization occurs when a response is “provoked not only by the object or event that originally provoked it, but also by objects or events that are similar to the original stimulus.” Karen Overall

Generalization in Dog Training: Settingssit

When applied to dog training, generalization can be defined as the process where, the settings in which a dog initially responds to, start to increase so that the dog starts responding to more and more different settings. We often talk about generalization when a dog who was initially trained to sit in a quiet room, starts then sitting in rooms with more distractions, then starts sitting in the yard, and then on walks, at the park etc. Since we have (hopefully!) helped the dog progress by training in more and more distracting environments through gradual exposure, and have rewarded each time the dog responded, the dog succeeds despite the increase in challenge.

We can therefore pat ourselves on the back and claim that the behavior of sitting has successfully generalized to other settings other than the one in which the dog was originally trained. We have therefore taken something that was initially trained in a specific setting  (sit in a quiet room) and expanded it to encompass various settings (sit in the yard, sit in the park, sit on walks). When people say “dog’s don’t generalize well” they often refer to the fact that with potty training, it’s often hard to train a puppy to use a pee pad at home and then go potty outdoors on a totally different surface or the fact that it’s hard to train a dog to sit in a quiet room and then ask the dog to sit on walks.  However, this is not the dog’s fault! This tends to occur when people fail to use high-value treats (the more distracting the environment, the higher value the treats) and don’t take time to make sure the sitting behavior in quiet settings is fluent enough before moving to training in more and more distracting areas. Slow and steady wins the race!

Did you know? Generalization, strictly speaking is not really something somebody does (the dog doesn’t really “generalize”) but it rather refers to a process. So it would be more correct to say “the dog’s behavior of sitting in the park is sign that generalization has occurred.”

spinningGeneralization in Dog Training: Prompts

Another example of generalization is seen when we are in the process of increasing criteria and we start training our dog so that he learns to respond to more  and more subtle forms of our prompts that share similar features with the original version. For example, if we have trained a dog to spin in a circle by bending down and moving our arm and pointed finger in an imaginary circle that the dog must follow, at some point we might want to make the signal less significant. So we work on making the hand gesture gradually less and less evident by bending down less, then making the circle less and less wide, up until we reach a point where the dog responds just to a mere small imaginary circle drawn with a finger.

Since we have gradually made the hand gesture less and less significant and we have rewarded the dog for responding to these more subtle gestures, we have helped the dog succeed. We can therefore pat ourselves on the back and claim that the behavior of responding to our initial prompt has successfully generalized to other prompts. We have therefore taken our initial pronounced prompt (bending down and moving our arm and pointed finger in an imaginary circle) gradually morphed it so that dog responds to incrementally more and more subtle prompts (circle carried out while bending less, less wide circle.) and at the end, we may have finally decided to make the small imaginary circle drawn with a finger the new permanent cue.

Tip: the more similar the new prompt is to its previous version, the higher the chances for the dog to succeed.

Generalization in Dog Behavior: Feardog fear

Generalization can also occur in dog behavior and we often see examples of this with fears. When people say “dogs’ don’t generalize well” owners of fearful dogs may disagree when they notice how quickly a dog’s fear can generalize and spread like a wild fire! We can see an example of this phenomenon in people. Let’s say a young boy is attacked by a black dog. At some point, the child may acquire fear of black dogs, and then later, fear of all dogs (despite coat color) even though the initial negative encounter encompassed a single black dog. Generalization in this case occurs because of shared features (having four legs and a tail) with the original dog who attacked him.

In dogs, we can see something similar occur. A dog may one day get traumatized by an unusually loud crack of thunder. Soon, the dog comes to react fearfully to the noise of gunshots, then firecrackers, and then other similar loud noises such as a person closing a car door or person clapping hands. Or in another example, a dog who becomes reactive one day towards a man in uniform coming to read the meter, may in the future start becoming reactive towards other people wearing uniforms such as the Fedex and UPS guys.  It’s therefore important tackling fearful behaviors at their early onset before generalization occurs and things get more complicated to treat.

“The more similar the original and subsequent stimuli, the more similar and intense the response.”~ Karen Overall

warning cautionDid you know? According to James O’ Heare, President of The Companion Animal Sciences Institute,  sometimes a dog’s fear generalizes so much that at a certain point you may have a hard time identifying the original stimulus that caused the fear to occur in the first place!

 

little albert generalizationA Look Back

One of the most popular examples of stimulus generalization affecting fear comes from the famous  Little Albert experiment conducted by behaviorist John B. Watson and Rosalie Raynor. What happened in this study? A child around 9 months known as Albert was exposed to various stimuli including a white rat, a monkey, a rabbit and masks and his reactions to these stimuli was observed. Albert showed no signs of fear towards these stimuli whatsoever.

At some point though, Watson decided to make a loud noise by hitting a metal pipe with a hammer the moment Little Albert was shown a white rat. This caused Little Albert to cry. After several repetitions of pairing the rat with the sound, Albert starts to cry at the mere sight of the rat. This was a classical example of associative learning where Albert learned to associate the sight of the rat with the loud noise so much so that just seeing the rat resulted in a crying spell. The experiment though didn’t end here… After further experiments, Watson noticed how Albert’s fear wasn’t just limited to the white rat, but soon began generalizing to a wide variety of similar white objects such as Raynor’s fur coat and Watson’s Santa Claus beard! This phenomenon was therefore called stimulus generalization.

“Generalization is often an adaptive function that allows an organism to rapidly respond to novel stimuli that are related in some way to a previously learned stimuli.”Joseph E. Dunsmoor, Stephen R. Mitroff and, Kevin S. LaBar

References:

  • Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats, By Karen Overall, Mosby; 1 Pap/DVD edition (July 9, 2013)
  • Watson JB, Rayner R (1920) Conditioned emotional reactions. J Exp Psychol 3:1–14
  • Generalization of conditioned fear along a dimension of increasing fear intensity, Joseph E. Dunsmoor, Stephen R. Mitroff, Kevin S. LaBar, Learn. Mem. 2009. 16: 460-469
  • James O’ Heare, The Dog Aggression Handbook, Dogpsych Publishing; 0003- edition (December 1, 2007)

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

The Difference Between Fear and Anxiety in Dogs

by

 

Fear and anxiety are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are actually words that have a different meaning when it comes to dogs and people is general. While both can generate similar physiological responses, a closer look reveals that the dynamics are a tad bit different and may occur in different contexts. For example, Bella is a 5-year old Weimaraner that, the moment she notices her owner is putting on her shoes, she starts pacing and whining because she predicts her owner may be leaving soon  Today’s trivia question therefore concerns the main differences between fear and anxiety, so the question is:

Is Bella, in the exact circumstance described above, likely showing signs of fear or  anxiety, or perhaps, neither of them?

A   Fear

B  Anxiety

C  Neither

The Correct Answer is: Drum roll please….

drum

 

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

 

The correct answer is B, anxiety.

dog anxietyAnxiety

Anxiety in dogs and people takes place in anticipation of a future event. Have you ever found yourself unable to sleep at the idea of a job interview or, if you dread flying, the thought of a future flight? Well, dogs can feel this way too, only their anxiety may develop closer in time with the event, once they detect stimuli suggesting what’s coming next. Perhaps the most classical example of this is observed in dogs suffering from separation anxiety. These dogs are often hypervigilant and readily recognize subtle pre-departure cues before the owner even actually leaves the house. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety will therefore start pacing, panting and whining at the mere sight of their owners putting on their makeup or changing their clothes. These cues therefore generate an increasing anxious state as these dogs anticipate their owner’s departure.

In the same fashion, dogs who dread thunderstorms may start getting anxious as they sense the first signs of an impending storm. These dogs may therefore start building up increasing levels of anxiety at the mere detection of increasing winds, darkening skies and even changes in barometric pressure. Owners of these anxious dogs often report that they no longer need to watch weather reports as their dogs have become quite reliable in detecting “rain-with-a-chance- of-thunderstorms” forecasts!

“Anxiety can be defined as the apprehensive anticipation of a threat.”~Jon Bowen (BVetMed.), Sarah Heath

scared dog fight or flightWhat’s The Function of Anxiety?

Anxiety may seem like a useless state, especially when it’s exhibited in anticipation of harmless events. Sure, for those anxious flyers out there, there are tiny chances that an airplane may plunge into the sea and crash, but statistics tell us that we’re more likely to get injured or killed on our car ride to the airport, yet the curious fact is that we use our cars every day without giving it a second thought! Whether it affects humans or dogs, anxiety though has a precise function: to prepare us in the eventuality of threats. The body will therefore produce a similar biological response as seen in actual fear. The heart rate and respiratory rate may increase and we may have trouble sleeping as our body becomes more alert as if to to fight or escape a threat.

Anxiety may seems like a waste of energy when it presents itself  in anticipation of irrational fears, but under the right circumstances, anxiety may be helpful. Those folks who are anxious prior to an exam may find that their anxiety (when not too overwhelming!) makes them perform better. Back to dogs, anxiety may also turn out helpful (adaptive) some times. Imagine a dog who wanders in the country and gets attacked by a black bear in front of a farm. The anxiety felt the next few days when walking nearby the farm may help him stay safe and avoid the area, or, should he still manage to make an unfortunate encounter, his alert state would hopefully help make a swift retreat. This state of anxiety despite the possible absence of a direct danger may therefore turn out helpful (adaptive) keeping him safe in the eventuality of  another encounter.

“Anxiety is more of a future-focused emotion. Your body is putting you on alert for some possible future dangerous situation.”~Alexander L. Chapman PhD, RPsych, Kim L. Gratz PhD, Matthew T. Tull, PhD

Fearscared dog

Fear is the state of apprehension associated with a particular stimulus or event. Unlike anxiety, it’s likely to take place the moment the fearful stimulus is presented or the moment the scary event unfolds. Fear is therefore a more in-the-moment response you may experience when an off-leash dog starts barking at you and chasing you or when a stranger starts knocking at your door in the middle of the night. In dogs, fear may be felt when they hear a sudden startling noise or when a bigger dog approaches them and gives signs of wanting to fight.

When confronted with a fearful stimulus or event, the fearful reaction may vary between one animal and another based on individual factors and circumstances. Some dogs may decide to escape (flight), while other may choose to defend themselves (fight).

In addition, some others may just become paralyzed by fear and hope for the best (freeze) or engage in out-of-context behaviors (fiddle about) as a coping strategy.

“While a certain amount of anxiety or fear may be adaptive in some situations, an animal that experiences fear or anxiety frequently, especially if unable to safely escape from fear-inducing stimuli, will begin to suffer from stress and its effects.”~ Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVB

gazelleWhat is the Function of Fear?

Fear is important for an animal’s survival, without it, entire species would be wiped-out from the face of earth. Imagine the catastrophic consequences if gazelle would have no fear of lions, cheetahs and crocodiles! Fear is therefore an adaptive response that’s meant to aid an animal’s safety and survival. The heightened state of awareness associated with fear and its amplified startle response can make a difference between life and death.

Adaptive fear can be exhibited through direct exposure with a stimulus that an animal has an natural fear of, as in the case of gazelle running away from a lion or crocodile or moving away from a rampant fire. The fear is also adaptive when animals react fearfully to exposure to a stimulus that has been associated with another stimulus they have a natural fear of. For example, gazelle that run away from the the noise of roaring (denoting presence of lions) or water moving (denoting presence of crocodiles) or the sight and smell of smoke (denoting presence of fire) are escaping despite not directly encountering the fearful stimulus.

“Fear is an adaptive emotional response to a specific event or situation that threatens to produce injury. The elicitation of fear activates animals physiologically and behaviorally for immediate emergency action appropriate to a situation. “~Steven Lindsay

A Roller Coaster Ride of Emotionsrollar coaster

As seen, fear is depicted as the onset of an emotional response geared towards the presence of a specific threatening stimulus or event. It takes place the moment the apprehension-eliciting stimulus or situation presents. On the other hand, anxiety is a state of  anticipatory apprehension and vigilance exhibited in the eventuality of a possible threatening event (there is no certainty that the owner will leave the house when he changes clothes or that a thunderstorm will pop up when the sky darkens but the dog develops anticipatory anxiety regardless). The threat is therefore not really present in the immediate present time, but anticipated. Fear is present tense, anxiety is future-based.

*Note: A word of clarification is warranted though when looking at these definitions: things can get a bit fuzzy when we say that gazelle show fear when they are exposed to the smell of smoke as this doesn’t fit the definition of fear being exhibited in the presence of a specific threatening stimulus, as the fire (the specif threat) is not directly seen by the gazelle.

To sum things up, a good way to think about the difference between anxiety and fear is to imagine being on a roller coaster ride. If you’re like me, all sort of scary, paralyzing anticipatory thoughts may cross your mind before before being strapped in such as: “What if I am not properly strapped in well and fall out? Or, “What if I feel like throwing up?” Then, as I get off the ride, well, alive and with my lunch still in my stomach, I feel like kissing the ground and think to myself “Phew! So glad it’s all over! The below quote  from the book “The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anxiety” therefore offers a great explanation that’s surely worth of remembering when thinking about the difference between anxiety and fear in dogs.

“Anxiety is what you experience as you get strapped into your seat and make it towards the first gigantic hill. Your anxiety may increase, peaking as you reach the top of the hill and experience that slight pause right before you drop. Fear is what you experience as you rush down that hill.”~Alexander L. Chapman PhD, RPsych, Kim L. Gratz PhD, Matthew T. Tull, PhD.

idea tipFood for thought: Curse of blessing? Anxiety depends on the ability to anticipate. While this ability is present to a certain extent in animals ( mostly, as a response to anticipatory cues that are close to the actual fearful event) it’s highly refined in humans who have demonstrated a great ability to dig into past events and project in the future like no other other creature can. We can put this ability to work in productive ways making our lives better, but we can as easily turn it into something negative, worrying  ourselves excessively over things, explains Joseph Ledoux , Professor of Science and Neural Science.

Human Versus Animal Anxiety

References:

  • Behaviour Problems in Small Animals: Practical Advice for the Veterinary Team, By Jon Bowen (BVetMed.), Sarah Heath, Saunders Ltd.; 1 edition (6 Sept. 2001)
  • The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anxiety: Breaking Free …By Alexander Chapman, Kim Gratz, Matthew Tull, New Harbinger Publications; Workbook edition (November 3, 2011)
  • Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Etiology and Assessment of By Steve Lindsay, Iowa State University Press; 1st edition (2001)
  • The New York Times, Searching the Brain for the Roots of Fear, retrieved from the web on June 21st, 2016
  • DVM360, The physiologic effects of fear, retrieved from the web on June 21st, 2016

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

I am Your Dog’s Hypothalamus

by

 

Among the many structures that are part of a dog’s brain, the hypothalamus deserves a place of honor. This is a tiny structure carrying out many important roles. Responsible for many nervous system and metabolic processes, life without a well-functioning hypothalamus would equate to a total disaster, surely leading to the wipe-out of an entire species. So today we will be discovering more about a dog’s hypothalamus, the many roles this structure plays in a dog’s life and the negative consequences when things go wrong. So let’s have the dog’s hypothalamus directly tell us his/her story!

pictureIntroducing the Dog’s Hypothalamus

Hello, it’s your dog’s hypothalamus talking! As you already know, I am a tiny structure that resides in your dog’s brain. but don’t underestimate my size! My name derives from my location, the word “hypo” is the Greek word for “under” while the word “thalamus” refers to “the part of the brain where a nerve emerges.” I am therefore called this way because I am located just below the thalamus, the dog’s relay center for sensory and motor pathways in the brain. I play an important role in connecting the dog’s nervous system with the endocrine system and do many, many things. Following is a rundown of the many tasks I am proud to accomplish!

 

I am a Gaugefence 5

I am responsible for maintaining homeostasis, a state of balance or equilibrium in your dog’s body despite changes that are often outside of your dog’s control. It is thanks to me therefore that your dog is able to survive and engage in normal day-to-day activities. Here is a a brief rundown of some of my important tasks:

  • I works as a thermostat, making sure your dog’s body temperature is maintained at a a constant level. This is known as “thermoregulation” For example, when I detect a fever and its associated rise in temperature, I will send commands so to (hopefully!) be able to lower it down to its normal levels. In the same way, should I detect cold, I will get your dog to shiver so his temperature can be brought back up. 
  • I make sure your dog’s blood glucose levels stay within normal levels and I regulate your dog’s appetite. According to Pet Education, when glucose levels are high, as seen after a meal, insulin is released and glucose is therefore allowed to access the cells within me. This increase in glucose therefore decreases the sensation of hunger. However, after a while, once blood glucose levels drop, since the cells within me have less glucose available, I will trigger a sensation of hunger so that I am replenished with glucose again.
  • I ensure your dog’s blood pressure stays within a normal level. By the way, normal in dogs is considered  Systolic 140, Diastolic 75 mm Hg.
  • I monitor your dog’s body water content and electrolyte balance triggering thirst so your dog drinks and replenishes those fluids  as needed.
  • I  regulate your dog’s sleep, keeping an eye on those wake-sleep cycles and circadian rhythms.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

martingalesI am a Working Partner

You’ll often find me working on controlling hormones that are released by the pituitary gland, also known as the ‘master endocrine gland’ of your dog’s body. You see, the pituitary gland and I are close friends connected by a slender stalk. Upon receiving a signal from the nervous system, I secrete special neurohormones which are responsible for stopping or starting the production of pituitary hormones (releasing or inhibiting factors).  Several of these hormones play a role in maintaining homeostasis as discussed above. The hormones include the following:

  • Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH,) also known as vasopressin: a hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland that causes the kidneys to conserve water by concentrating urine and reducing its volume. Basically, an osmoreceptor, a smart sensory receptor that’s primarily present in me, detects changes in the dog’s blood level of dilution. If the blood is too concentrated or diluted, a signal is sent to the me so that I can increase or decrease vasopressin (ADH) in an effort to return the dog’s blood concentration to normal.
  • Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH):  a hormone that tells the dog’s anterior pituitary gland to trigger the adrenal glands to release corticosteroids, as a response to physiologic, psychologic or emotional stress (the “fight or flight” response.)
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): a hormone that tells the anterior pituitary to release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These are hormones that work as a team to ensure the dog’s ovaries and testes work normally.
  • Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH): a hormone that causes the release of thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH), responsible for releasing thyroid hormones.
  • Oxytocin:  a hormone that is known to help release breast milk and that stimulates contractions of the muscles of the uterus during birth.
  • Prolactin-releasing hormone (PRH) a hormone that tells the anterior pituitary to induce the production of breast milk courtesy of prolactin.
  • Prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH)a hormone that  inhibits prolactin, and thereby, inhibits milk production.
  • Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH): a hormone that tells the anterior pituitary to release growth hormones.
  •  Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH,) also known as somatostatin,: a hormone that tells the anterior pituitary to inhibit growth hormones.

idea tipDid you know? Darcy F. Morey, in the book “Dogs: Domestication and the Development of a Social Bond” explains how the hypothalamus was a structure that sustained significant changes in the neurochemical features of domesticated foxes in Belyaev’s famous farm fox experiment.

When Things Go Wrongdog denn

When I secrete insufficient amounts of corticotropin- releasing hormone (CRH) it can trigger secondary hypoadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease). Basically,  here’s what happens. I  secretes corticotropin-releasing hormone, CRH, which acts on the pituitary gland, triggering it to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. The cortisol then returns to the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland which regulate the production of CRH and ACTH. Now, sometimes adrenal glands are affected by tumors which cause them to release excessive cortisol. The more cortisol the adrenal glands secrete, the less CRH and ACTH  are secreted, which, you named it, leads to problems.

Even though it’s possible for thyroid problems to arise due to a dysfunction taking place anywhere in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, according to Merck Veterinary Manual the chances for this happening are fortunately quite low considering that over 95 percent of clinical cases of hypothyroidism derives from destruction of the thyroid gland, a condition known as primary hypothyroidism.

I also play a role in the onset of diabetes. Remember how I explained how I cause a sense of hunger when my cells are not receiving glucose? Well, in diabetes, despite the production of glucose, my cells are unable to receive any glucose so they keep informing the body that it is hungry and needs food! So affected dog will eat more, but since the glucose doesn’t ever get to reach my cells, it will build up in the bloodstream, and sometimes at dangerous levels!

idea tipDid you know? In a study by Denis Burdakov, Simon M Luckman, and Alexei Verkhratsky the authors explain that the brain risks becoming irreversibly damaged when it’s deprived of glucose, even if just for a few minutes! The incredible importance of having adequate concentrations of glucose is likely why the brain itself  has evolved to becoming the main means for monitoring and responding to changes in glucose, rather than relying on other peripheral organs like the liver!
Last but not least, in certain circumstances, I can become damaged such as in the case of a car accident, a surgery gone wrong, degeneration due to old age or the presence of a tumor (usually detectable via MRI). When this happens, the symptoms you notice will vary based on the part of me that’s damaged. As you can imagine, since I carry out so many tasks the health repercussions can be many!

The Bottom Line

As seen, I am quite an important structure! Actually, I think I play the most important role in the dog’s endocrine system. By telling the pituitary gland to release certain hormones, I make sure that all the internal processes of your dog’s body are working normally as they should. Hey, here’s an interesting final fact for you: I am an area of the brain that has well-documented differences between males and females. Just thought this is another interesting fact you may be interesting in that makes me even more unique!

Yours truly,
Your dog’s hypothalamusDog Pawprint

References:

  • Dogs: Domestication and the Development of a Social Bond, By Darcy F. Morey, Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (April 12, 2010)
  • Introduction to Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, By Victoria Aspinall, Melanie Cappello, Butterworth-Heinemann; 2 edition (May 4, 2009)
  • Pet Education, Diabetes Mellitus in Cats: Causes & Characteristics, retrieved from the web on June 20th, 2016
  • Long Beach Animal Hospital, Cushing’s, (Hyperadrenocorticism), retrieved from the web on June 20th, 2016

Photo Credits:

Wiki Vet, Canine Brain Cross Section Courtesy of BioMed Image Archive, Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivatives 3.0 License.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Scolding A Guilty Looking Dog After the Fact

by

 

It’s a typical scene many dog owners are familiar with: they come home from work only to find a mess of chewed up pillows around the house, so they angrily look at their dog, recognize a guilty look on his face and therefore decide to reprimand their dog telling him in an authoritative tone of voice what a bad boy he is. The dog, ears back, and tail  tucked between the legs, walks away from the room with his head low in search of a safe place to retreat until his owner calms down. As much as this scene sounds familiar and appears to make sense, there’s something seriously amiss about it: the poor dog has likely no clue what he’s being punished for!

guilty faceThat “Guilty Look” in Dogs

“How can my dog have no clue about what he’s being punished for when there’s undeniable proof all around him and  there’s the word “guilty” written all across his face?” dog owners may ask.

If you have seen that “guilty look” before, rest assured you’re in good company. According to Scientific American, 74 percent of dog owners have a strong belief that their dogs experience guilt.

But first things first, let’s take a closer look at the “guilty face.”At a first glance, we may assume the dog knows he did something wrong because, the moment we notice the mess, our dog flattens his ears, tucks his tail under, lowers his body, or perhaps lifts a paw and avoids eye contact, behaviors we associate with guilt.

However, this is just our interpretation, a mere assumption that insinuates in our minds because as humans we may have behaved in a similar fashion in similar circumstances. The below reasoning is indeed quite common among many dog owners.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

““I behave in a particular way when I feel guilty; my dog behaves in a similar way in equivalent circumstances; I know intuitively that my behaviour is motivated by guilt; therefore the behaviour I see in my dog is also accompanied by feelings of guilt” ~Bradshaw and Casey, 2007

Can Dogs Feel Guilt?dog pride

In reality though, things are quite different when we step away from out anthropomorphic views, which means ascribing human traits to animals, and that often includes our canine companions.

First off, we know that dogs are capable of feeling several basic emotions such as joy, fear, anger, disgust, and likely, also love.

However, according to Stanley Coren, current research at this time seems to suggest that dogs are not capable of feeling more complex emotions such as guilt, pride and shame.

Turns out, these emotions “require a level of self-awareness that has been difficult to demonstrate even in chimpanzees” explain Bradshaw and Casey.

What Studies Say

There are several studies that have paved the path towards a better understanding of what’s behind that “guilty look” in dogs. Vollmer, back in 1977, conducted a study that suggested that a dog’s guilty behavior was simply a conditioned response elicited by the presence of the owner and a notable stimulus. In the study owners were asked to shred a paper, leave, and then come back home. Upon their return, dogs were found to show “guilt-like” behaviors despite the fact they did nothing wrong!

Another study conducted by Horowitz in 2009 revealed that the “guilty look” occurs as a dog’s response to owner cues, rather than an appreciation of a misdeed. Indeed, the “guilty look” tended to pop out  much more when the owner scolded the dog and it was displayed with more intensity when the dog did not engage in any “transgression.“ 

A later study by J. Hecht, Á. Miklósi, M. Gásci in 2012, revealed that when dogs exhibited guilty behaviors upon greeting their owners, this wasn’t necessarily a reliable indicator of whether or not a dog engaged in a misdeed. And finally, a study conducted in 2015, by Ljerka Ostojić, Mladenka Tkalčić, Nicola S. Clayton, also showed further potential evidence that a dog’s “guilty look”  doesn’t necessarily correspond with a dog’s knowledge of a misdeed.

dog guiltyIf Not Guilt Then What?

So if my dog isn’t feeling guilt, why is acting as if he was? What’s likely happening in this scenario is that, our dogs, as some studies have demonstrated, are simply responding to our anger and frustration, and what we interpret as a “guilty look,” are just these dogs’ way to manifest an appeasement/fear response.

Dogs are very sensitive to our bodily cues and can easily sense when we’re feeling upset about something so they may respond accordingly, using their body language (what we interpret as the guilty look) in hopes of calming us down and hopefully avoid punishment.

But what about dogs who look guilty even before even being scolded? Another possibility is that dogs are reacting to things in their environment that have been associated in the past with the owner delivering punishment, explains Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) Stephanie Hedges in the book “Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians.”

The guilty look therefore becomes a learned, ritualized behavior that has been associated with certain environmental cues and punishment and that’s therefore used in hopes of avoiding it.

So the presence of a shredded paper on the floor could become a predictor of a potential upcoming scolding. “Evidence + Owner = Trouble” says primatologist Frans de Waal, in the book “Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals.” And according to the quote by de Waal below, that appeasing look seems to actually work to avoid it!

“In a questionnaire with study participants, I found that nearly 60% of owners surveyed reported that the dog’s “guilty look” led them to scold their dog less.”~Frans de Waal

A Matter of Bad Timingdog guilty look

So now that we know what’s truly going on with that guilty face, it’s time to understand why your dog has no clue of what he’s being scolded for.

Unless you caught your dog in the act, you aren’t punishing your dog for his misbehavior, but whatever he’s doing at the moment you punish him, explains dog trainer and behavior consultant Jolanta Benal.

So when you scold your dog upon opening the door saying “Hey! You managed to chew all the pillows, you bad, bad boy!” your dog will perceive he’s being punished for looking at you or walking towards the door to greet you or anything else he’s doing at the moment.

On top of that, since he most likely has no recollection of carrying out the forbidden act carried out several minutes or hours prior, you’ll come across as an unpredictable being who sometimes comes home in a good mood  and other times not, which can be very confusing to a dog and stressful too.

So no wonder why he’ll be showing more and more appeasing behaviors the moment you open that door! You can almost hear these dogs say something in the terms of “Will my owner be happy or upset? When in doubt, better be safe and show some appeasement!”

The next question though is, how can the dog not recall carrying out the forbidden act done a couple of hours ago, but then he seems to have no trouble remembering the punishment you delivered triggering appeasement behaviors for your future homecomings? There’s likely a good explanation coming from a recent study focusing on an animal’s abilities on recollecting past events.

The study found that animals tend to have specialized memory systems that are hardwired to store “biologically relevant information” that’s related to their own survival, comfort and safety. So while your dog may not be able to recall playing fetch yesterday or chewing up your shoes hours ago, he’ll have a better time remembering where he buried his bone or any scary past events such as that painful jab at the vet or your angered face upon coming back home and finding the remote in pieces.

DOG SUCCESSSo What to Do Instead?

First off, it’s important to avoid engaging in  harmful anthropomorphic beliefs as it can lead to misinterpretations and even the onset of behavior problems. “Such beliefs appear to contribute to the development of behavioural disorders in pets, for example, clinical experience suggests that the application of punishment by owners who attribute ‘guilt’ to their animals may unwittingly lead to compromised welfare” warn Bradshaw and Casey.

So what should dog owners do when they find their expensive shoes all chewed up or the couch throws and pillows reduced into a zillion pieces? A good place to start is to take a deep breath and count to 10, and seriously evaluate what measures can be taken to keep these items out of reach and prevent future occurrences.

Simply take a step back and evaluate what you can do to prevent your dog from making future mistakes, suggests Jolanta Benal. And while you are at it,  take time to also evaluate what may have triggered the destructive behavior in the first place.

Maybe Rover is teething and needs more appropriate chew toys? Perhaps  he needs more exercise and mental stimulation? Can stress be a trigger? For sure, those scoldings won’t teach your dog anything as Julie Hecht explains clearly in the quote below!

“Sadly, scolding dogs after the fact most often doesn’t decrease future bad behavior. If anything, the ‘guilty look’ could just become more exaggerated over time as your confused companion develops an anxious cycle of destruction and appeasement.” ~Julie Hecht

References:

  • Bradshaw, JWS; Casey, RA, Anthropomorphism and anthropocentrism as influences in the quality of life of companion animals, : Animal Welfare, Volume 16, Supplement 1, May 2007, pp. 149-154(6)
  • Vollmer, P., 1977. Do mischievous dogs reveal their guilt? Vet. Med. Small Anim. Clin. 72, 1002–1005
  • Horowitz, A. Disambiguating the guilty look: salient prompts to a familiar dog behaviour. Behav. Process. 2009;81:447–452.
  • J. Hecht, Á. Miklósi, M. Gásci, Behavioral assessment and owner perceptions of behaviors associated with guilt in dog, Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 139 (2012), pp. 134–142
  • Ljerka Ostojić, Mladenka Tkalčić, Nicola S. Clayton, Are owners’ reports of their dogs’ ‘guilty look’ influenced by the dogs’ action and evidence of the misdeed? Behavioural Processes, Volume 111, February 2015, Pages 97–100
  • Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians, by Stephanie Hedges, CABI Publishing; 1 edition (11 July 2014)
  • Scientific American, The Guilty Looking Companion, retrieved from the web on June 19th, 2016
  • Lind J, Enquist M, Ghirlanda S, Animal memory: A review of delayed matching-to-sample data, Behav Processes. 2015 Aug;117:52-8. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.11.019. Epub 2014 Dec 9.
  • The Huffington Post, Sorry, But Your Dog Can’t Remember That Fun Game Of Fetch, retrieved from the web on June 19th, 2016.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Surprise, These Dog Breeds Are Likely to Sink Rather Than Swim

by

 

Dog owners may sometimes take a dog’s ability to swim for granted, only to get an abrupt wake-up call when they find their dog struggling in the water, risking to sink like a stone rather than staying buoyant as expected. Sure, when dogs are introduced to a body of water the very first time, they may have an instinct to “doggy paddle” but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the canine version of mermaids who will safely swim and stay afloat for any determined period of time! Turns out though, that more than a matter of ability or willpower, it’s sometimes a matter of conformation when it comes to certain dog breeds who are more likely to sink rather than float.

dogs that swim wellFloating Mermaid or Sinking Stone?

What makes a dog an efficient swimmer while another can barely stay afloat? It’s often a combination of various factors, but conformation plays a big role. Several dog breeds were selectively bred to work in the water so they boast traits that helped them excel in their water-related tasks. Labrador retrievers, Chesapeake bay retrievers, Portuguese water dogs, Newfoundlands and poodles are examples of dogs that generally make excellent swimmers. These dogs are agile, and often showcase distinctive traits such as webbed feet , strong legs, water-repellent coats and thick tails that works as rudders, allowing them to efficiently swim in the water. However, just because a dog was selectively bred for work in the water in their past, doesn’t necessarily mean he will come to instinctively love water and know how to swim when introduced to water the very first time. Just like people, dogs come with individual variances even with a breed.

On the other hand, there are many dog breeds who were not selectively bred for work in the water, but who do manage to swim if the need arises. These dogs may need a little assistance, but once they get a hang of being in the water and swimming, they seem to to manage. And then, we have dog breeds, which, due their conformation may be prone to serious challenges when it comes to staying afloat, and if they really must go for a boat ride, they better have a flotation device to help keep them from drowning. Hey, pass that life jacket for Rover would you?

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

A Matter of Conformation

What makes certain dog breeds sink rather than float? As mentioned, it’s often a matter of conformation. While several dog breeds have been selectively bred for working in the water, selective breeding has also yielded certain types of dogs that have been shaped for other purposes and this has contributed to the loss of the “tools” necessary for making good swimmers. Generally, dogs that have large, heavy chests in relation to their hindquarters and short noses are going to have problems, explains veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker in an article for Vet Street.  Following are some dog breeds that have a reputation for making poor swimmers.

dog breeds that can't swimDog Breeds That Make Poor Swimmers

Following is a list of dog breeds that are likely to make poor swimmers and tend to have the buoyancy of cinder blocks. While we are aware that there may be sometimes exceptions to the rule with certain breeds, the general consensus seems to be that it’s best to practice caution with these fellows as some may get easily tired after a little paddling which can generate panic and lead to circumstances that can cause potential drowning. If you have a pool, your best bet is to fence it off, so to protect these fellows. Some dog owners though provide these dogs with a life jacket so these pooches can get to enjoy supervised time in the water with their owners.

  • Basset Hounds. These dogs struggle in the water because of their short legs and overall low, heavy structure.  Indeed, basset hounds have such dense bones, they’ll drop like a stone in water, claims Animal Planet. The breed standard set by the American Kennel Club describes basset hounds as being heavier in bone, size considered, than any other breed of dog. According to Dog Time,  two thirds of the basset’s weight is distributed in the front of this dog’s body, a trait that predisposes these dogs to drowning.
  • Bulldogs. This breed has a reputation for not being able to swim, so much so that some bulldog breeders refuse to sell their puppies to families who have pools, explains Susan M. Ewing in the book “Bulldogs For Dummies” The problem with these dogs is that they have a limited range of motion in their shoulders and their big, heavy chests make lifting their front paws high for the purpose of paddling quite difficult. On top of that, they tend to have breathing difficulties, and once in the water, they may struggle to lift their heads high enough so to avoid water going up their nose, explains Susan deGozzaldi in the book “The Olympic Bulldog.“
  •  Pugs.  There are pugs who can manage to swim (somewhat!) while others will simply sink like rocks. Best to assume the latter though and not take the risk of exposing these dogs to a scary experience in the water that can leave long-lasting emotional scars. Fact is, swimming for pugs can be quite a strenuous activity. Their heavy, barrel-shaped bodies makes swimming quite a challenge, so even though pugs may enjoy time in the water, swimming should be limited  to a few brief minutes to prevent exhaustion, explains Linda Whitwam in the book “The Complete Pug Handbook: The Essential Guide For New & Prospective Pug Owners.” On top of their heavy body shapes, pugs also have short faces, which makes them prone to fatigue easily.
  • Dachshunds. Dachshunds also fall in the “iffy”category when it comes to swimming. With their long backs, short legs and short necks (that may be a challenge to keep above the water,) these dogs are not really built for the task. Sure there are some doxies who have taken a liking to swimming and brief swimming sessions are sometimes suggested by vets as a helpful non-weight bearing activity for dachshunds suffering from spinal injuries, but extra caution is always needed to keep these fellows safe.
  • Toy breeds. While many toy breeds can swim decently, it should be pointed out that they are prone to easily chill, so owners should keep an eye on small dog’s vital signs and watch for shivering, point out M. Christine Zink and Janet B. Van Dyke, in the book “Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.”

Did you know? When it comes to swimming styles in dogs, a study conducted by Frank Fish, biologist at Pennsylvania’s West Chester University, found that dogs despite dogs coming in vastly different sizes and showing substantial variations in gait, when it comes to swimming, they tend to share a universal swimming stroke that is more akin to a run than a trot.

Watch this Dog’s Swimming Stroke

 

References:

  • Vet Street, Can all dogs swim?, retrieved from the web on June 18th, 2016
  • Dogs’ Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Man’s Best Friend, By J. A. Wines,  Michael O’Mara; 1 edition (April 1, 2014)
  • Bulldogs For Dummies, By Susan M. Ewing, For Dummies; 1 edition (January 4, 2006)
  • The Olympic Bulldog, By Susan deGozzaldi, Xlibris (6 Feb. 2013)
  • The Complete Pug Handbook: The Essential Guide For New & Prospective Pug Owners, By Linda Whitwam, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 29, 2015)
  • Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, by M. Christine Zink, Janet B. Van Dyke, Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (April 22, 2013)
  • F.E. Fish and N.K. Dinenno. The ‘dog paddle’: stereotypic swimming gait pattern in different dog breeds. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, January 5, 2014.)
  • Science News, Dog-paddle science debunks notion of underwater trot, retrieved from the web on June 18th, 2016
  • Inside Science, Scientists Dive Into The Mystery Of The Dog Paddle,  retrieved from the web on June 18th, 2016

 

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Four Ways Dogs Cool Down in the Heat

by

With the dog days of summer around the corner, discovering how dogs cool down in the heat is important so to raise awareness about the risks of heatstroke in dogs. Hyperthermia (high temperature) takes place when the dog’s internal temperature reaches abnormally high levels which can quickly kill a dog if measures to cool the dog down aren’t taken promptly. One of the most common heat-related killers of dogs is being left in a car where temperatures can easily skyrocket in a matter of minutes, but there are other risks too such as exercising in exceedingly hot, humid weather. Dogs who are old, obese, have short noses or thick coats or dogs who suffer from underlying heart disease, respiratory disorders  or neurological conditions are more likely to suffer heat stroke as these conditions decrease their ability to cool down. Knowledge is ultimately power when it comes to understanding how dogs cool down in the summer heat.

how dogs cool down in the heatA Matter of Homeostasis

Our bodies and the bodies of our dogs are designed in such a way as to efficiently maintain an ideal internal core temperature. For sake of comparison,we can compare this ability to the function of a thermostat with a gauge that ensures the interior temperature of a home stays at a constant level.

Just like a thermostat, the internal temperature of our dog’s body is constantly monitored, but instead of a gauge, the anterior hypothalamus (the dog’s official thermo-regulatory center) helps maintain the body temperature within a certain range.

Should the dog’s temperature drop, measures take place so that the dog is warmed up, and should the temperature rise, measures take place so that the dog is cooled down.

The ability of  the body to take measures so to return to its ideal internal core temperature is known as “thermoregulation” while the maintenance of the internal temperature is known as “homeostasis.”

A dog’s body therefore maintains itself in a state of homeostasis when it’s kept within its normal temperature range of 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. An increase of the dog’s internal temperature can be due to the presence of a fever (pyrogenic hyperthermia) or exposure to external heat (non-pyrogenic hyperthermia) as seen when dogs are exposed to hot environments.

Four Ways Dogs Cool Down 

Fortunately, dogs can cool down in several ways when it’s hot outside. We mostly think dogs cool down by panting, but they actually can also cool down in other ways. Acknowledging these other ways dogs can cool down can help dog owners and trainers better understand signs of problems, the importance of prompt treatment and how to prevent dogs from overheating in the first place.

dog panting Cooling Down Through Evaporation

When we think of a dog that feels hot, we often think of a dog that is actively panting so to cool down. With the mouth open, long tongue hanging down and loud, rapid breathing, the dog uses evaporation as his main way of quickly cooling down.

Dogs, like other animals covered by fur have limited ability to sweat, (they have only a few sweat glands on their feet but these are mostly meant to increase friction and enhance grip) so panting remains their primary method to cool down by increasing the evaporation of water across the moist surfaces of their mouth and tongue.

Since blood flows through the mouth and tongue, once the blood cools down, it reaches the rest of the dog’s body and thus, lowers the dog’s core temperature.

While panting can be effective when surrounding temperatures reach 89.6 degrees, it becomes much less efficient when there are high levels of humidity (consider that at humidity levels greater than 80 percent, panting is no longer efficient).

Did you know? According to Dukes’ Physiology of Domestic Animals, when dogs pant, their breathing increases to about 200 to 400 breaths per minute. That’s a whole lot considering that normal breathing rate in dogs is 30 to 40 breaths per minute!

cool surfaces for dogsCooling Down Through Conduction

Conduction takes place when heat is transferred from one object to another.

In this case, the dog seeks out contact with a cool surface. Rover didn’t have to take a special class to learn what’s best for him when you find him lying down flat, in the Superman position, on a cool tiled floor during those dog days of summer.

Since most dogs have sparsely distributed hairs on their tummies, direct tummy contact is a fast way to effectively cool down.

Here’s a summer tip if you want to make your dog extra happy: provide him access to a tiled area such as the bathroom or kitchen, or if your dog loves the outdoors, let him dig a cool spot under the shade to sleep in.

Cooling Down Through Convection dog airflow

Convection involves contact with air movement to help speed up loss of heat. When Rover sticks his head out of the car window on a hot summer day, he may be doing more than satisfying his senses.

Chances are, he enjoys the sensation of air flowing through his coat and deep inside he instinctively knows that’s another good way to cool down from the summer heat.

Dogs also seem to know that strategically placing themselves in front a fan or AC or lying down besides the door, grants them access to some cool cross breezes that can feel refreshing.

These strategies ultimately helps the dog transfer the heat from his body to the air.

In the next paragraphs, we will see how convection along with evaporation is one of the best ways to cool down dogs in a case of hyperthermia.

dog radiating heatCooling Down Through Radiation

Finally, dogs can cool down through radiation which takes place when the dog’s body heat dissipates into the environment.

Basically, courtesy of blood circulation, the dog’s blood vessels will dilate so the excess heat is carried away from the interior of the body towards the exterior surface causing an elevation of the dog’s skin temperature.

This way, the hot blood is brought closer to the surface radiating the dog’s internal body heat into the environment.

While this can technically be an effective means of thermoregulation, problems start when the surrounding environment reaches the same temperature as the body, preventing the dog from cooling down.

” More than 70% of the total body heat loss in dogs is dissipated through radiation and convection from body surfaces. As the environmental temperature increases, approaching body temperature, evaporation, primarily through panting, becomes more important in maintaining normothermia.”~ Dr. Yaron Bruchim

dog pain goes away at the vetImportance of First Aid 

As seen, even though the dog’s body will take steps to prevent heat stroke, sometimes things don’t go as they should.

Dogs suffering from heat stroke will breathe rapidly, show pin-point bleeding on the skin (petechiae), blood in their vomit and/or stools, thick saliva, red or pale gums, and show signs of  shock, disorientation or seizures.

Knowing what to do if you suspect heat stroke in your dog is of paramount importance as treatment should be initiated as early as making that phone call to the vet to tell him you’re on your way.

According to a study carried out by Drobatz KJ and Macintire DK, the prognosis was significantly better when dogs were actively cooled down before arriving at the hospital. These dogs had a lower mortality rate (19%) compared to dogs that weren’t cooled prior to arrival (49%). According to Today’s Veterinary Practice, an effective cooling method combines evaporative and convective cooling and entails applying cool or tepid water (avoid ice) to the dog’s skin while directing a fan towards the dog.

According to Vet Learn Compendium  after applying cool water, while driving towards the hospital, evaporation can be attained by opening the windows or using the car’s AC. Cooling efforts on route to the vet should be stopped once the dog’s body temperature reaches 103.5°F to 104°F (have a helper check it every 5 minutes) so to avoid rebound hypothermia. 

An Ounce of Preventionhot dog heatstroke

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the saying goes. Heat stroke can be prevented by taking a few safety precautions when the dog days of summer are in full swing. Here are few tips to prevent heat stroke in dogs:

  • Ensure that outdoor dogs have always access to shade and drinking water
  • Avoid exercising dogs on hot, humid days.
  • Pick the cooler periods of the day for walks and training such as early morning or late evening.
  • Leaving dogs alone in closed vehicles is like putting them in an oven and leaving them to bake.
  • If you recently moved to a warmer climate, give your dog up to 2 months to acclimate.
  • If your dog has been panting a lot, remember to provide fresh water to help him compensate for the evaporation.
  • Consider that dogs prone to stress or who get hyped-up easily tend to overheat more quickly compared to calmer dogs.
  • Avoid plastic crates that restrict air-flow.
  • See your vet even though your dog seems to be recovering from hyperthermia. There are serious complications that may set in even if your dog seems to be feeling better.

Disclaimer: this article is not intended to be used a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you suspect your dog has heat stroke, consult with your vet at once and follow his recommendations.

References:

  • Epstein, Y. and Roberts, W.O.: The pathophysiology of Heat stroke: An integrative view on the final common pathway. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports. 21: 742-748, 2011. 4.
  • Reiniker, A. and Mann, F.M.: Understanding and treating heat stroke. Vet. Med. 4: 344-355, 2002.
  • Flournoy, S.W., Wohl, J.S. and Macintire, D.K.: Heatstroke in dogs: pathophysiology and predisposing factors. Comp. Cont. Educ. Pract. Vet. 25: 410-418, 2003.
  • Canine Heatstroke Bruchim, Y. Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
  • Dukes’ Physiology of Domestic Animals, 12th Edition 12th Edition, by William O. Reece,  Comstock Publishing Associates; 12 edition (July 29, 2004)
  • Drobatz KJ, Macintire DK. Heat-induced illness in dogs: 42 cases (1976-1993). JAVMA 1996; 209(11):1894-1899.
  • Today’s Veterinary Practice, Today’s Technician: Heatstroke in Dogs, retrieved from the web on June 17th, 2016

Curbing A Dog’s Oral Fixation

by

 

Just like humans, dogs can develop an oral fixation which means that they are stuck with an obsession of engaging in behaviors involving oral stimulation that persists past puppy hood. However, unlike humans, dogs won’t be stuck smoking, biting their nails or drinking alcoholic drinks. When dogs develop an oral fixation, it often entails chewing and licking inappropriately, a behavior that can often have annoying repercussions that can negatively affect the human-animal companion bond.

puppy oral fixationNormal Puppy Stage

Puppies, just like human children, go through an oral fixation stage during which they are very prone to mouthing objects. This is a normal part of a puppy’s development as the puppy explores and investigates his surrounding environment with his mouth. During this time, puppies are often attracted to eating feces, which can become a problem if this normal curiosity is addressed incorrectly.

It’s best to encourage the puppy’s oral investigation towards appropriate items such as chew toys and food dispensing puzzles. If you punish the puppy or give him excessive attention when he engages in the poop-eating behavior, there are chances that the behavior will be reinforced, warns Donna Spector, a board-certified veterinarian specializing in  Internal Medicine.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Stuck in a Phasepuppy suckling blanket

As mentioned, certain happenings throughout a dog’s life can cause a dog’s oral fixation to persist past puppy hood. According to Stephanie Hedges, Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), frustration may derive when natural reflexes aren’t allowed to take place. For instance, puppies who are prevented from suckling naturally may develop abnormalities such as oral fixations in adult life. Compulsive licking and sucking can therefore happen when puppies are weaned too early or in puppies who are orphaned and bottle fed at an early age.

On top of that, consider genetics, Golden retrievers are very oral dogs by nature considering that they have a retrieving heritage. “From pups to senior,  most goldens love to have something in their mouths,” observes Nona Kilgore Bauer in her book “The Golden Retriever.” Doberman pinschers are notorious for having a history of blanket and flank sucking that may originate from an insatiable suckling drive. Flank and blanket sucking behaviors tend to occur prior to sexual maturity and they seem to precipitated by anxiety or stress. Soon, the behavior puts roots and starts taking place even in the absence of obvious stressors, explains Dr. Nicholoas Dodman, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

Before Things Get Out of Handpuppy oral fixation

When a behavior shows signs of starting to get out of hand, it’s important to nip it in the bud before it puts roots and becomes established. If you therefore notice that your  dog suckles, mouths, licks, chews or performs any other behavior more often than normal, it’s in your dog’s best interest to get help right away. Following are some tips for puppies or dogs who have just started manifesting signs of oral fixation:

  • Start with a medical check up. A new interest in sucking, mouthing and chewing behavior may stem from a medical problem. A dental problem, gastro-intestinal upset, neurological disorder or pain due to a joint or spinal problem, may cause a renewed interest in mouthing stuff. Pica, the eating of non-edible items such as dirt, rocks or underwear,  can also be caused by underlying medical conditions.
  • On top of going through a stage during which puppies mouth to explore, around 4 months of age puppies are teething and they may seek, out things to chew to get relief. It’s important to provide puppies with acceptable, age appropriate chewing items during this time, explains veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker in the book “Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual: Hundreds of Secrets, Surprises, and Solutions for Raising a Happy, Healthy Dog.” A wet rag that is twisted and then frozen, can provide a soothing “chew toy” for teething pups. Another option is to fill a Kong with peanut butter and chilling it.
  • Provide active dogs with more exercise, training and mental stimulation. Boredom may trigger the onset of undesired behaviors and these may include the development of an oral fixation. Providing an enriched environment with chew toys and interactive feeders is a must with such dogs.
  • Don’t dismiss the effects of stress too! A stressed dog may seek out mouthing and chewing inappropriate items as a way to relieve tension. DAP (Dog Appeasement Pheromone) diffusers, collars or spray bottles can turn helpful in relieving stress, explains veterinarian Jennifer L. Scott.
  • Redirect inappropriate mouthing behaviors to alternate activities and use counter-conditioning techniques with the aid of a professional.
  • Breeders should avoid weaning puppies too early. Should a puppy be weaned or lose his mother very early, he may start suckling objects feel as he seeks comfort, just like a thumb-sucking child.
  • It’s important to redirect displaced, self-calming nursing behaviors directed towards inappropriate objects to more acceptable ones such as puzzle toys stuffed with tempting doggie treats.  Alternate behaviors, other than the inappropriate suckling, should be rewarded with treats and praise.
  • Moderate to severe cases may require the intervention of a dog behavior professional to institute behavior modification, possibly accompanied by prescription medications.

 

References:

  • Creature Comforts, Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? by Dr. Donna Spector, retrieved from the web on June 16th, 2016
  • Reader’s Digest, Ask the Expert: Dog’s Oral Fixation Dangerous? retrieved from the web on June 16th, 2016
  • Golden Retriever, by Nona Kilgore Bauer, Hispano Europea Editorial; 3 edizione (13 novembre 2006)
  • Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual: Hundreds of Secrets, Surprises, and Solutions for Raising a Happy, Healthy Dog Hardcover – Marty Becker (Author), Gina Spadafori,  Grand Central Life & Style (April 15, 2011)
  • Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians, by Stephanie Hedges, CABI Publishing; 1 edition (11 July 2014)

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Dog Word of the Day: Nystagmus

by

 

Today’s dog word of the day is “nystagmus” a neurological term that dog owners may stumble upon when their vet refers to their dog’s abnormal eye movement. This is a condition that can occur in humans as well and can be quite alarming to witness as it is often accompanied by other concerning symptoms. Nystagmus is often seen in senior dogs, but it can occasionally occur in younger dogs as well. This article as any other of our other article tackling health topics, is not meant to be used as substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog is experiencing signs of nystagmus, please see your vet.

What’s Going On?dog side eye movement

Nystagmus entails involuntary (not under the dog’s control) eye movements also known as “dancing eyes.” These eye movements are mostly side-to-side with up and down eye movements being less common. What causes these abnormal eye movements in dogs? It’s mostly a matter of something going on with the dog’s vestibular system. The vestibular system includes parts of the dog’s inner ear and brain responsible for processing sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. It also helps coordinate eye movement with head movement. In a healthy dog, when the dog turns his head to right, the eyes move to the left, and when the dog turns his head to the left, the eyes move to the right. This is known as the vestibular-ocular reflex.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]

Problems start when the eyes are darting back and forth occur despite the head being  motionless. When this happens, it’s therefore often indicative of a problem with the dog’s vestibular system. The eye movements aren’t always obviously noticeable, therefore, in some cases, dog owners will need to keep their dog’s head completely still and look at the eyes to notice it.

dog with drunk like gait

Causes of Nystagmus

What can cause abnormal eye movements in dogs?  Since the dog’s inner ear is related to the dog’s vestibular system, any disease or injury involving it such as an ear infection involving the inner ear could lead to symptoms such as nystagmus along with balance and neurological symptoms (staggering, drunk-like gait, tilted head, falling over). Another common cause of nystagmus in older dogs is vestibular disease also known as  “Geriatric Canine Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome.” Other possible causes of eyes darting back and forth may include head traumas, cancers affecting the dog’s brain or inner ear, low thyroid levels and acute inflammation of the brain.

Did you know? Dogs with nystagmus may tilt or turn their head so that they can see more clearly.

A dog with nystagmus

 [otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]