Pets Care

Dog aggression can have various causes. The various kinds of aggression observed in dogs are categorized based on what causes it – fear aggression, dominance aggression, territorial aggression and others. Aggressive dog behavior can be induced by fear.

Fear is an emotion that we generally do not associate with dogs. However, it is a reality that some dogs can feel threatened or fearful due to certain specific objects, people or actions. If somebody, regardless of it being a human being or another animal, approaches a dog that is otherwise cringing in a corner with fear, the dog is likely to respond with aggression.

Such dog aggression can be understood in comparison with normal human behavior. Consider this – if you find yourself in a fearful condition and some one is approaching you without clarifying his intention, you are most likely to hit back in defense.

A dog cannot understand human language. In a fearful condition the dog is likely to misunderstand your gestures or body language. This can result in seemingly non-instigated aggression. While most dogs try to attack the source of fear, some resort to escape or show abnormal behaviors like increased fearful activity.

Dogs have evolved and learnt to adapt to life in a family. However, they do have emotions, fears and anger. Loud noises, a flying plane, firecrackers, bearded humans or for that matter, any strange object can induce fear in a dog.

Fear induced dog aggression commonly manifests when a dog is in an inextricable situation. It may also occur when a dog owner gives severe punishments to the pet, a prior fearful experience or unpredictable behavior by children in the family.

Maternal aggression and territorial aggression too form a part of fear aggression in dogs. A bitch, like a human mother, wants to protect her offspring. The only manner in which a bitch can protect her children is by being aggressive. It is important to understand that the fear emanates from inherent fear of harm.

Territorial aggression is different from fear aggression and occurs due to a dog’s natural tendency to protect his home ground. It is more related to dominance aggression. However, all dogs are not driven by this trait. Some poorly trained dogs may behave properly with other dogs when they are not in the vicinity of their own home.

However, the same dog may resort to aggression towards the same dogs if they approach their home. Such aggression is a manifestation of the fear that the dog has in relation to his domain. Also such aggression may surface only when the dog is on ‘home ground’.

To understand fearful aggression you should first understand the signs of fear in a dog. Some of the key indications of fearful aggression are a lowered head, tucked tail, flattened ears, panting, salivating, and avoidance of eye contact and sometimes even an attempt to escape.

It is advisable that you do not expose your dog to known fearful stimulus. This runs the danger of more extreme forms of dog aggression like dog biting. At the same time ignoring fearful behavior too is not the right thing to do. Consistent exposure to fear can triggers aggressive behavior in dogs.

Attempts should be made to remove the fear factor. Desensitizing your dog towards the object or person who causes fear is another technique that can be used.

If your cat has been diagnosed for diabetes, one of the major items that should be on your agenda during discussions with the veterinarian is that of home care. Make sure that you discuss monitoring diet and blood sugar levels at home along with how to store, handle and administer insulin. Another thing that you should understand are the various symptoms of diabetes in cats especially signs of hypoglycemia, low blood sugar.

Diabetes in cats can be managed for long periods with dietary management and oral medication without resorting to insulin. It is however, recommended that insulin be used first to control the sugar levels before an assessment is made about whether the condition can be managed only with home care and dietary modifications.

One of the primary modalities of monitoring a diabetic cat involves the aid of a blood glucose meter. Invest in a good quality device and learn how to use it. Some cats may prove to be too difficult to manage while trying to obtain a blood sample but perseverance always pays. You also need to know from the veterinarian about the normal range of blood sugar levels and the levels that require veterinarian intervention.

A blood glucose curve is a diagram of blood glucose levels during the day. You can learn to read the variations of the levels and understand whether it is being caused by an overdose or an under-dose of insulin. Levels of glucose in urine too can be monitored but these are not too reliable. However, monitoring urine sugar levels is better than not monitoring at all in cases where drawing blood from the cat is not possible.

While your cat is on insulin you should schedule and plan the mealtimes of your cat. Again, this depends upon the type of insulin the veterinarian has prescribed. Certain brands of insulin have prominent peak action times and the mealtimes have to be adjusted accordingly. If your cat is used to eat small quantities throughout the day, it is better to use slow-acting insulin rather than disturb the animal’s schedule. The end goal is to try to keep blood sugar levels in a comfortable range by timing insulin injection and diet intake.

Care has to be taken that the blood sugar level does not shoot up from low levels too fast. If the dose of insulin is to be increased by, say 0.5 units, then you must adhere to it rather than thinking that such a minor variation is not going to make any difference. Rapid increases can make the cat resistant to insulin.

Make sure that you are feeding a diet meant for diabetic cats. The diet should be low on carbohydrates and high on proteins. If at all carbohydrates are needed they should be the ones that have a low glycemic index.

If you are not monitoring blood sugar at home and also want to save on laboratory tests, it is advisable to keep a regular check on whether the cat is drinking, urinating and eating normally or not. If yes, then the insulin dosage should not be increased. However, this is fraught with dangers. If the blood sugar level crosses the ‘renal threshold’ diabetes in cats can lead to organ failure.

Any dog has time in its life when it doesn’t smell as fresh and clean as if it was just washed in a fresh, spring-fed lake. This is where essential oils can come to the rescue. Not only do they mask unpleasant odors but they offer some aromatherapy to the dog and household.

You can create a variety of different aromatic shampoos for your dog. All-natural aromatherapy grooming begins with the addition of essential oils to an all natural soap or shampoo base.

The following recipes all call for the essential oils to be added to 8 oz of an all natural shampoo base.

Spicy Deodorizing Shampoo

5 drops Cinnamon Leaf

5 drops Caraway

3 drops Black Pepper

3 drops Bay Lead

Woodsy Conditioning Shampoo

6 drops Atlas Cedarwood

4 drops Rosemary

2 drops Patchouli

3 drops Vetiver

Refreshing Citrus Shampoo

3 drops Sweet Orange

3 drops Lemon

3 drops Lime

3 drops Grapefruit

3 drops Mandarin

Delicate Floral Shampoo

4 drops Lavender

2 drops Ylang Ylang

4 drops Rose

6 drops Petitgrain

Fresh Herbal Shampoo

4 drops Sweet Basil

4 drops Lavender

4 drops Clary Sage

4 drops Coriander Seed

Make sure to watch the dog carefully to see how they react to the scent. If they seem uncomfortable, change the blend, or lessen the amount.

Adapted from Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to Use of Essential Oil and Hydrosols with Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell (Findhorn Press, 2004). http://www.care2.com/

Dog biting is something that is very likely if a dog is in an aggression mode. Aggressive dog behavior is clearly characterized by ominous or threatening behavior. It can lead to injury of other animals and even human beings, including family members.

There are various factors that influence aggression in dogs. Dog aggression can result from some underlying medical condition, inept handling, fear, anxiety or an inherent desire to dominate the pack. Dominance related aggression in dogs is actually the most common type of dog aggression in domesticated dogs. If dominance aggression surfaces, obedience training may be needed all over again.

It is difficult to identify dominance as the root cause of aggressive behavior since your dog may otherwise show signs of affection. However, it must be noted that given a chance he may assume leadership and try and dominate. This can result in an expression of displeasure even during normal actions like putting the collar on or petting him on his head.

As pack animals, dogs have an instinct to dominate. Since dogs were domesticated from wolves, they have retained pack mentality where survival depends upon leadership. . Leadership also determines who gets the best of what is available including mating rights.

Inept handling and training can trigger the dominance instinct in dogs. The animal does not have a sense of equality. The social structure of the pack is determined only by submission and dominance. Over time, a dog starts to treat the family as a part of the pack and tries to dominate.

This is mainly because the dog expects to be treated well if he can manage to dominate. The kindness of the handler and family is mistaken for subordination. In no time, the pet stops obeying commands and resists discipline, much to the annoyance of the owner.

As a dog owner if you do not take corrective measures and train your dog to establish that you are the leader of the ‘pack’, the dog is likely to assert his dominance over territory also. He may refuse to get up from the sofa or the bed or any other area that he has earmarked as his ‘own’ territory. Refusal to obey commands, snarling, snapping, and growling are common signs of dominant aggression.

Eventually, the dog may consider a hug as an effort by you or your family member as an effort to assume control and may snap or even bite. The stance that dogs normally use to assert dominance is showing readiness to lunge forward with an erect posture and ears turned in front.

Effective training and re-training in certain cases, is often able to chasten the dog to accept commands and shed aggressive behavior. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to aggressive behavior. A genetically predisposed dog may not cast off his aggression easily.

In difficult cases of dominant behavior training alone may not be enough. In such cases, castration is recommended. Training techniques should be used only after the dog has otherwise calmed down to some extent.

Out of the numerous liver functions, filtering of blood is perhaps one of the most important and crucial to the health of your dog. After the food has been digested in the intestines it is absorbed into the portal blood stream and carried to the liver. The liver works upon it to:

* Store some of the food for energy.
* Filter bacteria, chemicals, toxins and nutritional byproducts.
* Produce proteins and other substances necessary for life.

A liver shunt is a condition where the portal blood vessel, instead of carrying blood through the liver, carries it around it. In dogs with a liver shunt the unfiltered blood is carried into the body and toxins accumulate in the blood stream and kidneys, a condition that ultimately causes serious problems.

There are reasonable indications that suggest that liver shunt is a congenital liver disease in dogs and mostly the young puppy dies within weeks after birth. Some dogs do survive for years before some of the symptoms of liver disease in dogs like seizures, abnormal behaviors and serious illnesses become noticeable. In certain cases, however, liver shunt is acquired later in life due to insult to the organ due to a disease or injury.

A liver shunt cannot be established with routine blood and urine tests. When laboratory tests show an increase in either blood urea nitrogen or levels of liver enzymes like ALT and AST and the red blood cells appear smaller than normal, the veterinarian has to fall back upon advanced investigative procedures like ultrasound, CT scan, MRI or even exploratory surgery.

The best that dog owners can do to manage their dog with a liver shunt is through dietary modifications and medicines. The main focus of treatment is on curbing toxins that are produced in the intestines on processing of proteins by toxin producing bacteria. Most of the patients respond well to special diets that restrict protein intake. The usual recommendation for dog food is that of 25% to 29% protein content. This should be reduced to 18%, all the while ensuring that the dog is fed with high quality proteins sourced from milk and vegetables.

Lactulose, a synthetic sugar, also gives some positive results by changing the pH levels in the intestines. It makes it difficult for toxin producing bacteria to survive and also inhibits absorption of ammonia. Lactulose also helps in easy elimination but the dose has to be monitored to avoid side effects like diarrhea. Some dogs do not respond to a modified diet or lactulose and have to be treated with antibiotics to restrict the number of toxin producing bacteria.

Feline liver disease due to a liver shunt requires similar management but is less common. Statistically, only 50% of dogs experience a substantial increase in survival time after treatment. Dogs with a liver shunt are usually put to sleep usually within ten months of diagnosis and treatment either because the neurological signs become uncontrollable or progression of liver disease. Although older dogs have a better chance of responding to treatment, surgery provides the best chance of a healthy and comfortable life of the dog.

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Before understanding the treatment of liver disease in dogs, it is necessary to understand the functions that the liver performs in the body. The liver is the largest and among the most important organs in the body with an immense reserve capacity. Its multiple functions include:

* Regulation of the level of most of the chemicals in the body.
* Production of proteins for blood plasma.
* Conversion of waste products.
* Support in the regulation of fat distribution in the body.
* Production of bile for easy digestion.
* Regulation of amino acid levels.
* Storage of glycogen for later use as an energy source as per need of the body.
* Elimination of toxins from the blood.

Some of its functions are similar to those of other organs, which is one of the reasons that symptoms of liver disease in dogs resemble those caused by minor ailments of other organs.

Dietary modification is crucial for restoring liver functions. Liver cells have an incredible capacity of regeneration if the disease has not aggravated unreasonably. Adequate rest and a nutritional diet can aid in the process of regeneration of cells to a great extent.

Treatment of pet liver disease, including feline liver disease depends largely on the cause. Where the cause is known the first effort is to remove the underlying condition. Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections. Drugs that may be causing toxicity are removed. Fluids and electrolytes are administered intravenously to take care of dehydration caused by loss of appetite. Diuretics are used to help in urination to reduce fluid retention. If it is suspected that the immune system is involved, the veterinarian may seek the aid of corticosteroids.

If dogs are not vaccinated, Infectious Canine Hepatitis can occur at any age. Like all viral treatments hepatitis too is treated symptomatically, often involving administration of intravenous fluids. The liver plays an important role in blood clotting. Hepatitis can cause clotting problems and a loss of blood may result in the need for blood transfusion. Severe hepatitis may lead to a comatose condition, which necessitates giving glucose intravenously.

The liver also manages the level of copper in the body. Copper storage disease is mostly breed specific and common in some Terriers and Dobermans. Treatment is targeted at speeding up copper excretion and restricting further absorption of copper from the intestines. Penicillamine, a chelating agent, is given for helping in excretion and zinc for inhibiting absorption.

Perhaps the most dreaded of all liver diseases is malignant tumor in the organ. Liver cancer may be primary (originating from the liver itself) or secondary (cancer in another neighboring or distant area that spreads to the liver). Primary cancer involves surgical removal of the affected lobe and secondary cancers are treated with chemotherapy. Where more than one lobe is affected, surgery is ruled out.

Liver is a composite organ performing multiple actions at the same time, which makes it difficult to classify and understand liver disease. Liver diseases can be fatal despite the organ’s vast capability to continue to function under stress. The best method of preventing it is to be aware of your dog’s specific needs of diet and exercise right from the day you bring a pet home.

Cholangitis, and Hepatic Lipidosis, the two most common types of feline liver diseases, can lead to liver failure if they are not treated in time.

Cholangitis is an inflammation of the bile ducts and is associated with the feline leukemia virus as well as feline infectious peritonitis. The conventional treatment regime includes antibiotics, appetite stimulants, corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs.

Hepatic lipidosis, or Fatty Liver Disease is abnormal levels of certain fats that accumulate near the liver. It is an idiopathic disease (a disease whose exact cause is not known) that is mostly associated with loss of appetite and obesity. Stress, too is known to be one of the factors that leads to loss of appetite.

Cats usually find it difficult to adjust to a changed environment like shifting to a new home, arrival of a new kitten. They get stressed even when the owner is stressed. There are chances of Fatty Liver Disease occurring due to Cholangitis, inflammation of the pancreas as well as a hepatic tumor.

The exact diagnose a liver disease dogs and cats is through a biopsy. Cats with Fatty Liver Disease are an anesthetic risk and a sample is normally taken with the aid of a fine percutaneous or laparoscopic needle. Hepatic Lipidosis needs to be attended to immediately to avoid liver failure. Severe cases require hospitalization and critical care. Cat owners would rather prefer outpatient care but it requires perseverance and commitment to succeed as there are no specific home remedies that will cure the disease.

The first and foremost item on your agenda should be to modify the diet of your cat. Although the veterinarian is the right person to suggest the change, choose a high protein diet with high calorie intake sourced from non-protein sources. Consult your veterinarian also for the quantity and the frequency of feeding.

Symptoms of liver disease in cats and dogs are often difficult to pin point. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed late. Vomiting can prove to be a big problem if Fatty Liver Disease has progressed to later stages. It may require surgical insertion of stomach tubes for feeding and home care. Make food of gruel consistency and force it down the food through the tube. You may add some fish oil to the food. Start with small quantities every four hours and gradually increase the quantity and decrease the frequency.

Although 36 cc of food is enough to sustain life in the cat, it would require more than that to help in growing and healing. For administered fluids you may initially require the assistance of a veterinarian but if you try hard enough you can learn and do it yourself.

Prognosis of both the conditions is fair but only with persistent care and regular monitoring. Another home care that you may try is to give your undivided attention and love to the cat for a couple of hours every day. If the cat is refusing food due to stress of some sort, it will help in curing anorexia, considered to be the primary cause behind liver failure in cats.

Liver disease in dogs is a more common occurrence than feline liver disease. Liver has always been a mysterious organ, which performs more functions in maintaining life than any other organ in the body. Its large size with the capacity to continue work even when it is affected by disease makes it difficult to diagnose a liver disease. In addition, given the right support, liver cells can regenerate and bounce back to normal functioning.

One of the major functions of liver is to metabolize fats, carbohydrates and proteins. If the liver does not function properly, the nutrients cannot be metabolized effectively and harmful by-products cannot be broken down. This can greatly affect the detoxification process. For example:

* The bacteria in large intestines produce toxic ammonia while breaking down proteins for absorption in the blood stream.
* When the liver is unable to provide essential nutrients to the body, cells break down body tissue to cover up the loss. Ammonia is also produced during this process.
* Liver disease leads to an inability to detoxify toxins and they enter the blood and circulate throughout the body.
* In severe conditions contaminated blood reaches the brain and causes hepatic encephalopathy leading to fits, seizures, excess salivation and head pressing.

Symptoms of liver disease in dogs usually surface long after the disease has progressed as they are vague and mimic the symptoms of other common disorders. Once it is diagnosed, a liver disease requires a multi-pronged treatment approach. Diet plays an important role in providing support to medicines or supplements that the veterinarian may prescribe.

Blood vessels associated with the intestines supply most of the blood that the liver receives. The type of diet that you feed your dog is directly responsible for the type and amount of nutrients and toxins that the liver cells have to work on. The diet should ensure that all the below mentioned factors are taken into consideration.

* The requirement of the dog’s body.
* Need for nutrients that aid in the repair of damaged cells.
* Need to limit toxicity.
* Necessity to reduce the absorption of toxins from the bowel.

Low protein levels and high protein levels are equally bad for the body and there is a need to control and balance the protein that is ingested. Too much protein leads to a high level of ammonia production in the body during the metabolism process. If the protein level is too low, your dog’s body is likely to break down the body’s own tissues to replenish the shortfall. Proteins are also needed for repairing the damaged hepatocytes (liver cells). High quality proteins are the best for a dog that has a liver disease as they are easily digested and absorbed. The bacteria in the intestines get fewer proteins to breakdown meaning reduction in ammonia production.

A similar situation exists when it comes to carbohydrates and fats. A diseased liver is unable to process carbohydrates and at the same time the liver needs nutrients like glucose. Feeding the dog with complex carbohydrates like starch and fiber helps in inhibiting production. It also helps in the easy elimination of ammonia and other toxins.

Vitamin, mineral and zinc supplements help in detoxification process, support synthesis and protect the liver from copper accumulation. It is advisable to avoid commercial foods that contain preservatives and synthetic additives; however a veterinarian is the right person to suggest the right diet for a dog that has liver disease.

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