Hello and welcome to our October email newsletter!

A warning to pet owners in the Albany area that we have treated our first SNAKEBITE case for the year.  Please remember to be diligent with keeping your yard clear of anything that may provide a refuge or habitat for snakes, and be careful when walking your dog in areas where snakes may be present.

This month's edition is all about BEHAVIOUR!  Vets across Australia are reporting a steady increase in consultations about behavioural issues with household pets.  Maybe this is due to the extended lock-downs across the country resulting in people being at home with their pets more than usual, or maybe we are just becoming more aware that mental health issues affect our pets too.  Pet Behaviour is an ever-improving field, so if you feel your pet is suffering from anxiety or stress which is resulting in unwanted behaviours, there are many ways in which we can help.  

Even if your pup isn’t destined to be a “social butterfly”, it’s important that every dog is well socialised at a young age.

What is socialisation?

Socialisation involves giving your pup positive experiences with other dogs, animals, people, situations and environments that they may encounter in the future.

The peak socialisation period in puppies occurs from 3 weeks to 16 weeks old – this is the period of your pup’s life where they’re most adaptable to new experiences.

Why is socialisation so important?

If your pup is positively exposed to new people, animals and places, they’re less likely to be fearful or anxious in these situations in the future. This is great for their future “mental health”, as they’ll be more likely to have a positive, calm attitude to new experiences!

A well-socialised dog is also less likely to show undesirable behaviours, such as fearful aggression or reactivity.

How can I safely socialise my pup before their puppy vaccinations are completed?

Until your pup has completed their puppy vaccination course, they are at risk of diseases such as parvovirus, the particles of which can remain infectious on the ground for months after an infected dog sheds them.

The best ways to safely socialise your pup prior to full vaccination are:

• Having them attend a reputable well-run puppy preschool.  Mira Mar Vets runs a fantastic and fun socialisation-based Puppy Preschool.  Please give the clinic a call on 98415422 for more information.
• Inviting friendly, gentle, vaccinated adult dogs over for supervised play
• Bringing your pup out for walks or to cafes (held in your arms, in a bag or sitting on a blanket)

Ensure your pup is exposed gently and gradually to any new experience, with lots of treats for positive reinforcement. Ease back if they seem worried or overwhelmed.

Remember, the more friendly and adaptable your dog ends up being, the more fun experiences they’ll be able to join you for long-term. It’s a win-win!

Unfortunately, it’s not just people who can suffer from poor mental health – our feline friends can also be negatively impacted by chronic stress.

What can cause chronic stress in cats?

Chronic stress in cats may have a number of causes, some of which can seem inconsequential to us but be very upsetting to them! Common stressors involve:

• Household changes, e.g. the introduction of a new puppy or incompatible cat
• Environmental changes, e.g. renovations or building work
• Tension in their household involving either humans or other cats
• Insufficient provisions for their natural needs, e.g. an indoor cat not being supplied with suitable and regularly cleaned litter facilities.

What are the symptoms of chronic stress in cats?

Because cats are not pack animals, they may actively hide their stress to avoid appearing “vulnerable”, or demonstrate their stress in passive ways. This means that a stressed cat may simply show a decreased appetite, hide more or be less active.

Chronically stressed cats may also show symptoms, such as over-grooming (leading to bald, irritated areas of skin) or inappropriate toileting.

Why is chronic stress in cats bad?

Unfortunately, chronic stress can negatively affect the immune system of affected cats, and can predispose them to certain health issues, such as:

• Feline idiopathic cystitis - painful urinary tract inflammation without infection
• Recurrent “cat flu” signs
• Gastrointestinal upset symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if your cat already has a gut sensitivity
• Obesity and increased risk of diabetes

If your cat shows any changes in behaviour or activity, it’s best to book them in for a consultation with us for further assessment. If we identify a behavioural component to your cat’s issue, we can advise on suitable environmental changes and possible medical treatment to sensitively soothe their stress!

With a pressured global focus to reduce the mass carbon footprints made by humans, we must also ask, what about the prints of our smaller, four-legged friends?

As it turns out, even though they’re smaller, cuter and full of joy, it doesn’t exclude them from being contributors to the global crisis of climate change.

With Australia’s estimated 5.1m dogs, excrement alone piles up to the weight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, every month! Not only is that a lot of poop, but it’s usually packaged up in plastic bags, which can take up to 450 years to decompose. That means that the first plastic poop bag to be invented is still sitting in landfill!

When poop is added to general waste landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas. Earth already produces natural greenhouse gases to benefit its systems, but from human intervention, the demands of population and the extreme supply of agriculture, these emitted gases have exceeded what our planet can cope with. This causes the gases to become trapped in our atmosphere, forcing the planet to overheat - commonly known as climate change.

So, what can you do to be a sustainable pet owner and reduce your pet’s environmental paw print? Biodegradable bags are a great start, but the doo-doo still releases methane if put into general waste, so an absolute eco-friendly alternative is composting! If you have a backyard, you can use your pet’s droppings to care for your garden. Some councils even encourage flushing your pet’s poop down the toilet, but be sure to check with your local council first, as each council has a different preference.  The recent FOGO implementation within the City of Albany allows pet droppings and compostable kitty litter to be placed in the FOGO bin for regular composting.

For cats, there are eco-friendly litter options as well, such as wood shavings or recycled paper. And it doesn’t stop there! There are plenty of other ways to help your pet be a green do-gooder.

If you’re thinking about getting your pet a toy, consider opting for toys made of materials, such as sustainably-sourced rope, jute or hemp, rather than plastic. Not only are these materials biodegradable, they’re often more durable!

Other big contributors to climate change are the emissions released from transporting your pet’s food from its manufacturing site to your home. A simple way around this is to find a pet food with ingredients sourced more locally (but ensure before purchasing that it is indeed a complete and balanced diet). A few brands even make their pet food packaging recyclable!

Where possible, avoid toxic grooming products. It’s been confirmed that products containing sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or synthetic fragrances negatively affect marine life by toxifying the water. Instead, opt for organic and non-toxic grooming products.

With a few small but good-minded changes, together we can mitigate our environmental impacts to contribute to a healthier, happier planet with happier, healthier pets.

Learn more about the environmental harm of pet waste here, and the options to be a greener pet owner from Vox, The Bark and UBC News.

Jack the donkey
Image source: the ABC

Donkey, the goat guardian

On a Queensland farm live Jack and Jill, two donkeys part of an inspiring plan for a farm stay specially built for families with disabilities. When a female goat on the farm was giving birth to twins, Jack the donkey took a personal interest in the baby goats. Funnily enough, donkeys can be rather territorial, so when observing the birth of the twins, Jack took on a fatherly-like fondness. By putting his nose to the kids, they formed an instant bond. Jack’s guardianship followed on from that day, with Mrs Bowers, the Queensland farm owner, reporting that “every chance he got, if the kids were nowhere near mum, he would go and stand with them, walk around with them [and] spend time watching them.” Alongside this happy family of goats and donkeys live small dexter cattle, pigs, chickens and peacocks - which will make the Bowers’ farm stay the ultimate animal-friendly family getaway once it’s ready for take-off.

Read more about Jack the donkey and the Bowers’ inspiring farm stay plans on the ABC.

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Giving disabled Ukrainian pets a “wheel” chance

Vadym Yegorov, a loving owner of two dogs, Lada and Boston, was put in a dire predicament when he was informed he would need to put his furry friends down after both dogs were hit by cars. Mr Yegorov believed that there must be another way. To their rescue came Frakishtak, a Ukrainian company that specialises in equipment for disabled animals. Both Lada and Boston had small custom-built wheelchairs that were able to take off all of the pressure on their backs. The wheelchairs gave the dogs a second chance, giving them control over their bodies and internal organs. “Dogs like that they can live a normal life, like others," said Mr Yegorov. From this journey, Mr Yegorov and his wife Olga have taken on other abandoned, injured and disabled pets, bringing the total in their care up to 40. The company that made it all possible has sold more than 2,500 devices for disabled pets since it was founded in 2011, conscientiously crafting their assistance products for the specific requirements of each individual furry friend in need.

Read more about Lada and Boston’s wheelchair success from the ABC.

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Climate change forcing wildlife to adapt physically

As the earth’s climate warms, animals are having to physically transform body parts to survive. This physical change, known as ‘shape-shifting’, is resulting in beaks, legs, ears and other body parts adapting in brand-new ways to help animals keep cool. Researcher from Deakin University, Sara Ryding, urged that although people might interpret this as animals evolving effectively with climate change, “the climate change we've experienced so far is already pushing animals to evolve like this, and we don't know if they'll be able to keep up as the climate crisis worsens.” Globally, the earth has warmed 1.1C since humanisation, but in Australia, warming has reached a shocking 1.4C. Australian species that have already seen changes include the red-rumped parrot and the gang-gang cockatoo. Around the globe, New Zealand house sparrows, American dark-eyed juncos and Galapagos finches have seen increased beak sizes, while great roundleaf bats in China have increased in wing size and North American masked shrews have grown longer tails and legs. Even a change in the ear length of wood mice and rabbit species has been noted. The university researcher suggested that “prominent appendages such as ears are predicted to increase, [meaning] we might end up with a live-action Dumbo in the not-so-distant future,” but sadly, our animals’ abilities “to increase the size of things like their beaks is only going to go so far."

Read more about the ecological effects of climate change from the ABC.

Like us, our pets have different personalities and behavioural quirks! Animal behaviour is influenced by a combination of genetics, early socialisation, and ongoing physical or mental experiences.

Unfortunately, if a pet inherits a more anxious or highly-strung personality, or has traumatic or stressful experiences (especially at a very young age), they can develop issues such as anxiety, compulsive or obsessive behaviours, or aggressive behaviours.

When might my pet’s behaviour be considered a problem?

A common indicator that a certain behaviour has become a problem is if it prevents your pet and/or you from undertaking or enjoying certain “normal” activities. Owners of very anxious or aggressive pets may have trouble:

• Taking their pet out
• Medicating their pet
• Grooming their pet
• Having visitors to the house
• Leaving their pet alone

Owners should also seek help if their pet is at risk of hurting themselves or others whilst performing the problem behaviour. This can occur in cases of:

• Storm phobia or separation anxiety, where the pet may injure themselves while attempting to escape
• Aggressive behaviours, e.g. the pet inappropriately guards objects or territory
• Obsessive behaviours, e.g. tail chasing, where the pet may bite their own tail to the point of causing damage

What should I do if my pet is showing concerning behaviours?

If your pet is showing worrying behaviours, it’s best to book them with us for a behavioural assessment, where we can take a full history and ideally examine your pet to rule out any medical causes of the issue (e.g. chronic pain).

Depending on your pet’s particular issue, we may recommend a combination of:

• Home environment alterations
• Working with a recommended trainer
• Starting behaviour-modifying medications
• Referring your pet to a veterinary behaviouralist

With appropriate, consistent treatment, we should be able to improve the mental health of your pet – resulting in better quality of life all round!

Did you know that, as well as being generally delightful, spending quality time with your pet is associated with scientifically-proven physical and mental health benefits?

The simple companionship of a pet can be a great source of mental support and comfort, and can help to reduce feelings of loneliness - especially important in these times!

Having an animal buddy can also promote greater social interaction, whether by facilitating introductions with your neighbours, or encouraging “micro-interactions” with members of your local community whilst out on walks. In fact, a 2017 Australian study found that over 60% of dog owners got to know their neighbours through their pets!

Not surprisingly, when you bring pet cuddles into the equation, things get even better! Calmly interacting with your pet can promote the release of “happy” hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin, which can help us to feel relaxed and calm. Additionally, quality pet interactions can also reduce cortisol – the stress hormone. Whilst a degree of cortisol release is normal, chronically elevated cortisol is associated with:

• Reduced immunity
• Elevated blood glucose
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased anxiety
• Weight gain
• Poor gut health

Studies have shown that spending time with companion animals can particularly help those with chronic mental health conditions, helping to promote feelings of calmness and clarity in people with anxiety, children on the autism spectrum and people suffering from dementia.

Lastly, dogs in particular have been shown to promote low-stress, increased physical activity. As well as being a great way to have fun and relax, “walkies” with your dog can aid weight loss, and potentially lower your risk of heart disease via lowering blood pressure, serum triglycerides (unhealthy fats in the blood) and cholesterol levels!

With this in mind, our team are happy to supply the following prescription:

• Medication: Pet cuddles x 100
• Instructions: Administer generously for health benefits and joy!

Does your dog enjoy meeting and interacting with other dogs? If so, they’d probably love regular play sessions with some like-minded canine friends!

If you have a local dog-friendly park or beach, and your pet is sociable and trained for reliable recall, you and your dog can try heading down for some on-leash meet-and-greets or free play with other dogs.

As a general rule, if your dog is very high energy, it’s sensible to take them for a walk before letting them loose at the dog park, so they don’t arrive too over-excited and rowdy (which can be overwhelming and irritating for quieter pets). It’s also important to watch the body language of both dogs, to ensure that play is being mutually enjoyed – our helpful team can provide further advice on this if you’re unsure.

Some owners however, are uncomfortable with the potential “free for all” nature of public off-leash areas. Unfortunately, injuries may occur in situations where one or both dogs are poorly socialised, untrained, unfriendly or mismatched in temperament (e.g. overly boisterous and rough).

If you’d like your dog to have social interactions with other pets, but don’t have any nearby off-leash facilities (or feel these wouldn’t be suitable for your pet), you can consider an alternative such as:

• A reputable doggy daycare or dog walking service, where pets are behaviourally assessed by certified trainers/behaviourists and “matched” with suitable buddies
• Meeting a pet-owning friend and their dog for an outdoors walk
• A formal "social" activity for your dog, such as obedience training, agility or flyball, where your pet might just make a new dog-friend to hang out with regularly!

Giving your dog regular exercise and appropriate social opportunities will help to keep them happy, well-balanced and physically healthy. As an added bonus, they’ll also come home tuckered out and ready for some quiet cuddles!

This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It should not be relied on as the basis for whether you do or don't do anything. 

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