Up to 80% of dogs and cats are affected by anxiety, with many owners able to successfully recognize signs of anxiety in their pets. Common signs of anxiety can include:

- Hyper-arousal- being unable to settle down/ always on watch
- Barking/growling/biting people/other dogs
- Hiding from visitors
- Hiding or trying to escape during thunder storms
- Destroying the house or trying to escape when left alone
- For our feline friends- anxiety is often expressed in inappropriate urination (going outside of the litter tray), spraying, hiding or anti-social behaviour, and aggression.

However even when pet parents are concerned about their pets anxiety, many are hesitant to put their animals on anxiety medication.
Some common myths about anxiety medication include:

“My pets personality will change”
o Being anxious is not a personality trait; anyone who has experienced anxiety would recognize that they would like relief from those feelings.
o The medication plan is personalized to the individual patient, and just like in humans we need to find the right drug at the right dose for your pet and their individual needs- we want you and your pet to be happy.

“I just need to train them better” or “They’re just being naughty”
o Anxiety is a medical condition, and just as diabetic patients needs insulin, or an epileptic animal needs anti-seizure medication- many animals require anxiety medication to have an improved quality of life, as well as a longer life-span.
o Sometimes having an anxious pet can be frustrating, or even feel overwhelming. In these times remember that your pet is not giving you a hard time- they are having a hard time.

“It’s unhealthy to be on long-term/regular medication”
o Chronic anxiety and stress is proven to shorten our pet’s lifespan, as well as negatively impair their quality of life.
o Depending on the individual patient medication may only be required for situational/occasional use, or may be required daily and long-term.
o Anxiety medications are typically really well tolerated, and any negative side effects are usually only present in the first two weeks of treatment.
 Minor side effects can include sleepiness, reduced appetite, dry-mouth and constipation
 Serious side effects are thankfully rare, and can include seizures, or an increase in aggressive behaviours.

“It’s my fault- I’ve given them anxiety”
o Our pets behaviour is made up of 3 parts:

1. Genetics,
2. Learning and experience,
3. Environmental factors.

 Anxiety is very common, and it is highly likely your pet was born genetically predisposed to mental health disorders- it is not your fault.
o With anxiety management and behavioural modification we can help you to ensure you are meeting your pets needs to give them the best quality of life.

Are anxiety medications a quick fix?
Whilst anxiety medications may be a crucial part in helping your pet, unfortunately behaviour management is not quite this simple. At Gawler Animal Hospital our veterinary team works hand-in-hand with our Training and Behaviour Team to achieve optimal results; relying on the 4 M’s of behaviour:

- Management
- Modification
- Medication
- Monitoring

To use the 4 M’s effectively we manage our pets through a step-by-step process:

1. Initial consultation with a veterinarian

- A health check is performed to ensure there is not a physical problem that could be resulting in a behaviour change/unwanted behaviour.
- Medication may be discussed; however depending on the situation we may not start any treatment until the patient has had an initial consultation with our Behaviour And Training Team.

2. Initial consultation with our Behaviour And Training Team

- This is an in-depth consultation that can be performed in the clinic or at your home, in which our training team will explore what the problems are, and how we can manage it.
- Our Behaviour And Training Team will work with the veterinarian to decide if medication is necessary, with mild cases often manageable without medication, or with only situational/occasional treatment.
- We can start recommending Management strategies to set your pet up for success, such as:
o Identifying and reducing triggers
o Stopping any punishments or negative interactions
o Setting up a routine
o Creating a safe space
o Adding enrichment activities
o Learning relaxation exercises
- We may also start a Modification plan, in which we aim to change your pet’s emotional response to something they perceive as a threat.
o Our Behaviour And Training Team use Positive Reinforcement to help change the way your pet thinks, in a kind manor backed by scientific evidence.
o For some animals, a modification plan may not be able to be started straight away as it is very challenging for stressed animals to learn. For these patients we may find it beneficial to start on anxiety medication before starting a modification plan.

3. Medication

- If the owner, veterinarian, and Behaviour And Training Team agree that medication will be beneficial to the patients quality of life, our vets will dispense medication for your pet.
- We will discuss with you any possible side effects, and if you have any questions or concerns our team are happy to chat with you.
- If long-term medication is dispensed an effect may not be evident immediately, and can take up to 6 weeks to become effective

4. Monitoring

- A re-check with our Behaviour And Training Team 6 weeks after the initial assessment helps us to track how you and your pet are going.
- If medication was dispensed we can assess how effective it has been, if any side effects have been noted, and if the dose is appropriate.
- If medication has not been dispensed we can assess how effective our management and modification plan has been, and ensure we do not feel medication should be added to our treatment plan.
- After 6 weeks hopefully you have noticed an improvement in your pets anxiety, however changing the way our pets think and react to the world does take time. How often your pet will need to see the Behaviour And Training Team will depend on the individual, with some owners only needing to reach out if a challenge arises in the future, and others requiring more assistance with the management and modification steps. Our veterinarians will perform a health check on our patients on medication every 6 months to ensure they are managing well on the medication, and modifications are not required.

Managing pets anxiety requires a collaborative effort between the veterinarian, the Behaviour And Training Team, and most importantly the owner- to ensure a happier and longer life for our pets. Together we can make a positive change in these pets lives!

Dr. Olivia Bury

Did you know that breeds such as dachshunds, corgis and basset hounds get their characteristic ‘sausage’ body shape from a developmental condition called chondrodystrophy? Their silhouette may be iconic, but unfortunately, these dogs have a much higher risk of spinal disease over their lifetimes. So, let’s take a lengthy look at what can be done to help support the health of these sausage-shaped pets.

Have you heard of chondrodystrophy?

Chondrodystrophy is a condition that causes abnormal cartilage development. Breeds affected by chondrodystrophy will have long bodies and short legs. The legs often also have some degree of bowing, and sometimes a misalignment of bones in the elbow joints too.

How does chondrodystrophy lead to spinal problems?

Dogs with chondrodystrophy are highly prone to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). 

IVDD is a disease that affects the spinal column, involving deterioration in the cushion-like discs that sit between individual bones of the spine. In chondrodysplastic dogs, one or several of these intervertebral discs can harden over time and then suddenly pop out, causing compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves. This can lead to severe pain and sometimes difficulty walking or toileting.

In some cases, IVDD can be managed with pain relief and a period of strict cage confinement but in more severe cases, the pet may require emergency surgery to relieve pressure on their spinal cord.

How can we support chondrodysplastic dogs?

If you have a chondrodysplastic dog, one of the most effective protective measures is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regime, to keep them in a slim, fit body condition that reduces strain on their joints. There is no current evidence that discouraging these breeds from jumping up and down will actually prevent IVDD, but you can consider pet ramps if your pet has any diagnosed spinal or joint issues to help reduce flare-ups.

We also advise considering pet insurance before obtaining a chondrodysplastic pet, in case they require advanced spinal imaging or specialist surgery at any point in their life.

Ask our knowledgeable veterinary team for more information on supporting your dog’s joint health.

If you’ve ever heard a veterinarian talk about a ‘brachycephalic’ animal, you might have wondered if they were talking about somebody’s pet dinosaur! In fact, this term refers to flatter-faced breeds such as bulldogs and pugs. These extremely popular breeds make wonderful companions, generally being playful and good-natured. But if you choose to welcome one of these cheery dogs into your family, it’s important to be aware of their potential health problems, and understand what proper healthcare for these special breeds can actually involve – practically and financially.

Noses

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (or ‘BOAS’) refers to the airway problems that frequently affect dogs with flatter faces, including narrow nostrils, excessive folds of tissue in the throat, and narrow windpipes.

These issues create increased airflow resistance, making it much harder for brachycephalic breeds to breathe, or to cope in hot weather. These issues generally worsen over time, meaning that energetic younger dogs who “seemed fine” during their early years may develop significant (and irreversible) breathing problems by middle age.

Our vets advise airway assessment (under sedation or anaesthetic) for all brachycephalic pets by 12-14 months old. Based on your pet’s airway condition, corrective surgery may or may not be required.

Spines

Unfortunately, there appears to be an increasing issue with some brachycephalic dogs being born with deformed vertebrae (spinal column bones), which can cause progressive spinal issues.

In severe cases of spinal deformation, specialist surgery is the only treatment option, however, a good outcome cannot be guaranteed. It’s therefore important to chat with your breeder when selecting a pup, to ensure that they screen their breeding stock for such problems.

Skin folds and tails

Brachycephalic breeds usually have skin folds around their noses, and may also have “corkscrew” tails (fused, curled tails) embedded into a skin fold near their bottom. These folds, particularly those around the bottom, often develop secondary irritation and infection and can be a real source of discomfort for your dog.

We recommend regular cleaning and drying of any skin folds. However, dogs with moderate-to-severe corkscrew tails often require surgery for long-term comfort.

If you are expecting the pitter-patter of brachycephalic pup paws into your household, our vets strongly advise considering the option of pet insurance (commencing as soon as your pup arrives to ensure the best coverage).

For more information on brachycephalic health care, ask our vets!

Seabird rescue saved by generous philanthropist

In the bushlands of Lanesborough, on the Sunshine Coast, identical twins Paula and Bridget Powers, known as The Twinnies, are renowned for their tireless rescue and rehabilitation of local seabirds. Once mentored by the Irwin family while working at the Australia Zoo, they're now wildlife icons in their own right, helping more than 25,000 seabirds since they opened their rescue centre 23 years ago. However, when their landlord decided to list the property for sale at an asking price well above what Paula and Bridget could afford, it seemed that the Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue was itself in need of rescue. “I heard about the dilemma for these wonderful women," said philanthropist Dr Peter Sterwood, a longtime fan of the Twinnies wildlife work. Dr Sterwood stepped forward to buy the property, ensuring the future of Paula and Bridget's operation. “I heard they’d been stressed because the place was going to be sold out from under them… I knew I could help. These women are the bird healers of this area. They’ve been doing it for decades, they do it well!” said Dr Sterwood. “We’re still pinching ourselves. They should call him Saint Peter!” said Paula and Bridget (the women are known for speaking in unison). And as for their hopes for the newly-secured future of their rescue centre? “We hope we get the younger generation coming through who have the passion [that] we have”.

Read about how Dr Sterwood saved the Twinnies rescue centre from closure on ABC News and A Current Affair.

Photo: ABC News
 

Trippy toads and hallucinating hounds!

Yet another reason to be wary of the cane toad: bizarre accounts have been circulating amongst vets, biologists, and concerned dog owners in cane toad-affected regions of Australia recently. There’s a pattern emerging of family pets catching and licking cane toads for (we assume) recreational purposes! Some go to great lengths to wilfully indulge in a hit of the milky venomous secretion released by cane toads through a gland on their back. “Some dogs sniff them out. So the toad will be hidden, the dog can't see them, and they'll actively go hunting for them. The others will see them and chase them,” said animal pathologist and toxicologist Rachel Allavena from the University of Queensland. Yes, you read that right: these dogs literally ‘chase the high’ around their garden. "[We] assume they must enjoy it because there are some dogs that get 'addicted' to it," said professor Lin Schwarzkopf, a biologist and amphibian expert from James Cook University. "A friend of mine who's a vet was saying that there are dogs that people have locked up in chain-link enclosures and they've reached out a paw through the fence to get the toads," Professor Schwarzkopf added. It might be amusing to imagine a pooch on a psychedelic adventure, but it’s crucial that pet owners remember toad venom is lethal in strong doses and is commonly known to kill dogs that consume too much. So while it’s known to contain hallucinogenic chemical compounds, wilful ingestion is a dangerous habit to be discouraged at all costs.

Learn more about the dangerous new trend among fur(kids) on ABC News.

Scam-alert: protect yourself against fake puppy adoption swindlers:

Buyer beware: the Companion Animal Network (CAN) recently released a warning to the public regarding a spike in animal adoption scams targeting would-be pet owners on Facebook. “Sadly there is a rise in scam pet rescue groups targeting people who want to adopt from a shelter or rescue. Scammers are impersonating real animal shelters and rescue groups, or posing as people who want to rehome an animal,” said Australia CAN’s CEO Trish Ennis. 78-year-old Sydney resident Christine Jenkins was a recent victim of a pet adoption scam, she lost the $2,500 she paid to adopt ‘Milo’, a cavoodle that does not actually exist. “I didn’t know about pet scams and felt so stupid for not being more aware. I was in love with this dog and all reason went out of the window,” said Christine. So how can potential adoptive pet owners spot the warning signs of a scam operation? Puppy Scam Awareness Australia warns that scam organisations typically run private Facebook pages and groups, use terms like ‘rehoming’ or ‘adoption’, and feature pictures of young, purebred puppies exclusively. Whereas legitimate animal shelters run public pages, describe themselves as ‘rescue’ groups, do not use the terms ‘rehoming’ and ‘adoption’, and provide contact details such as a website, phone, email and business address. Prospective pet owners are encouraged to cross-check the background of nonprofit and charity organisations, genuine charities can be verified online at www.acnc.gov.au. Legitimate rescue services will also feature a mixture of animals varying in age and breed, including cross-breeds. Those looking to adopt are also encouraged to always speak with a service on the phone beforehand and to expect legitimate rescue services to be available to answer questions related to an animal, while also asking their own questions to determine if they will be able to provide a suitable home for the animal. It's common practice to organise a meet and greet with the animal and undertake a trial adoption where possible before finalising the adoption. Rescue organisations must provide veterinary paperwork regarding microchipping, vaccination, desexing, and overall health.

For more information on how to spot a puppy scam, visit the Companion Animal Network Australia website.

There are three common traits that all labradors tend to share:

1. Being very friendly
2. Specialising in the “wag walk” (where their wagging tails may actually help to propel them forward)
3. Liking food. A lot.

Sometimes, however, our labrador friends are guilty of making terrible food choices. These poor food choices can be classed into three main categories:

1. Simple dietary indiscretion - a.k.a ‘sneaky snacks’

This involves a dog stealing and eating food items that simply don’t agree with their gut, such as fatty table scraps from the garbage, or items that we would not even consider food, such as the faeces of other animals!

This can lead to symptoms such as nausea, lethargy, tummy pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

2. Toxins

The most common toxins ingested by nosey labradors tend to be human medications (e.g. ibuprofen) or household chemicals (e.g rat bait), which can lead to potentially life-threatening illness.

In some cases, spoiled foods can also contain bacteria or toxins that can cause “garbage toxicity”, involving tummy upset and sometimes other symptoms such as muscle tremors.

3. Foreign bodies

Unfortunately, labradors are known for eating things that aren’t actually food at all! Quite commonly, via surgery or the induction of vomiting, our vets retrieve foreign bodies such as socks, meat netting, toys, or personal sanitary items from naughty labradors.

Obstruction of the intestine with a foreign bodies usually causes persistent vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and mental fatigue.

Treatment and prevention

If your pet vomits more than a few times, appears lethargic, or is having profuse or blood-tinged diarrhoea, it’s recommended to consult our team for advice. Depending on your pet’s condition, we may recommend supportive care such as anti-nausea treatments and intravenous fluids, and sometimes abdominal imaging such as x-rays.

However, if you suspect that your pet has eaten a toxin, we’d advise urgently contacting our team or the Animal Poisons Helpline for further advice.

Lastly, if your pet is a persistent perpetrator of poor food choices, have a chat with our team about how we can kindly help to redirect their problematic behaviour away from labra-dabra-don'ts toward labra-dabra-do’s!

Planning a trip to the Arctic anytime soon? Make sure you pay a visit to Svalbard, Norway, where you’ll find 300 of the fluffiest and friendliest sled dogs this close to the North Pole! In fact, the town of Svalbard is close enough to the North Pole to experience permanent darkness throughout winter – but that doesn’t stop the family-owned and operated attraction ‘Green Dog Svalbard’, based just six miles outside the town.

Conducting sledding expeditions throughout winter, these dogs with their incredibly thick coats are largely undeterred by a -20 degree day. A mix of husky and Greenland dogs, highly sociable and energetic, these resident sled-pullers have been taking tourists to visit ice caves and snowfields since 2011.

But due to unseasonally warm weather, Greendog owners Karina Bernlow and Martin Munck have had to cancel multiple sledding expeditions in recent years to minimise the risk of their animals overheating in the warmer weather. Yes, it’s not the arctic cold, but global warming that presents the strongest threat to the Green Dog dogs.

“Because of reduced sea ice, much of the arctic is now warming four times faster than the rest of the globe,” said ice scientist Jason Box of the Danish Meteorological Society.

While she has witnessed first-hand the gradual shrinking of the archipelago and its ice caves, Ms Bernlow remains pragmatic and optimistic. Through the Green Dog website she maintains a blog, which features day-in-the-life experiences of the dogs and workers at the attraction, including ‘where-are-they-now’ stories about retired sled dogs and their adoptive homes around Europe.

“A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful people who have provided the most stunning images to our website. You understand the art of showing Svalbard that we live and work in – and the Svalbard that we love so much – in a way that goes straight into the heart. You illustrate both the beauty and the magnificent … and at the same time how infinitely fragile the Arctic is. Let’s protect it with more environmentally friendly tourism!” reads one post. “What we can do is teach our children to take care of the planet.”

Learn more about the plight of Svalbard’s sled dogs on ABC News. 

Photo: AP Photo - Daniel Cole

When we think of modern-day working dogs, we tend to think of breeds like kelpies, cattle dogs and collies rounding up sheep and other livestock. However, other traditional working breeds such as certain gundogs, hounds, terriers and the arctic breeds can also have excess energy to burn!

Unfortunately, if these very active dogs are not given a sufficient outlet for their energy, they may develop problematic behaviours, for example, reactive behaviour on walks such as lunging or growling, destructive chewing, digging tendencies, or excessive barking.

If your dog has a surplus of energy to burn, read on for our top tips on how to help keep them busy.

1. Daily physical exercise

Very active dogs require adequate daily exercise. Depending on their size, this may necessitate 45-90 minutes of brisk walking a day.

However, high-intensity activities such as swimming, agility training, or ball-chasing can be a great way of efficiently tiring out very active dogs, provided they don’t have any special medical needs which would make certain activities unsafe (e.g. joint instability). If you’re unsure about your dog’s general health, book them in for a thorough check-up with one of our vets.

2. Social opportunities

If your pet is sociable with other dogs, a regular activity such as doggy daycare is a great way of tiring them out physically and mentally. Safe inter-dog interactions and play, plus a whole lot of interesting new smells will make for one tired pet on the way home!

3. Home environmental enrichment

Even if your dog is hanging out at home, there is a huge array of environmental enrichment activities you can keep them busy with. Depending on your dog’s preferences, you could consider:

• Setting up a sandpit for them to dig treats out of
• A home-made enrichment box
• Scattering treats around the garden for them to sniff out
• Interactive puzzle toys
• Snuffle mats
• Lick mats
• Long-lasting dental chews or Kongs stuffed with pet-friendly foods such as peanut butter

For more tips on helping your hectic hound to become a calm, contented canine, ask our knowledgeable team!

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. 

All content © PetPack 2022