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Small Animal Newsletter
October 2014
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In this issue:
- Sandford Science Fair
- Please be careful with syringes
- Fireworks. Does your dog go crazy?
- Hayleys' Hints
- Sponsorship Register
- Medical Definitions
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Hi <<First Name>>
As you can see, we have stuck with the new newsletter format. The response to our survey was fantastic. Nobody hated us which was really reassuring!! It was almost unanimous that we stick with the new format, so if you were one of the people (or to be truthful, the ONE person!) that liked the old PDF format, sorry but you have been out-voted!
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Last month I helped judge the Sandford Science Fair, which promotes good science from school pupils around the area. Molly DeVries from Craighead did an interesting experiment called "Which one of these pets is the buggiest?" She compared the number of bacteria present on a number of different species, and her conclusion was that sheep were the cleanest! It was great to see the enthusiasm and inventiveness of our up and coming scientists.
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Please be careful with syringes!
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We had a call from Envirowaste a couple of weeks ago. They had found some syringes and needles we had prescribed to a client in a recycle bin. Recycled waste is sorted by hand so you can imagine the potential risk here.
If you have been dispensed drug in a syringe either return it to the clinic or place it in the RED bin.
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Fireworks. Does your dog go crazy?
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Adaptil is a product which works similarly to those room deodorizers that you plug in to make your house smell nice, except this product diffuses pheromones (PHEROMONATHERAPY describes the use of chemicals based on those derived from natural bodily secretions to modify the behaviour of animals.) that “mellow out” your dog.
We have these diffusers available now.
If you wish to use a diffuser, ensure you have plugged it in at least one week prior to Fireworks season.
For more details on pheromone diffusers please contact the clinic
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Another Option:Thunder Shirts
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ThunderShirt uses gentle hugging to calm your dog or cat. With its patented design, ThunderShirt’s gentle, constant pressure has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs and cats if they are anxious, fearful or overexcited. How does ThunderShirt work? Experts believe that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system, possibly by releasing a calming hormone like endorphins. Using pressure to relieve anxiety in people and animals has been a common practice for years. Contact any of our clinics for more information.
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Here are other suggestions:
- Don’t punish the dog when it is scared: it only confirms that there is something of which to be afraid.
- Don’t fuss or try to reassure the dog when it is scared, as this rewards the behaviour.
- Do ignore any fearful behaviour that occurs for no good reason.
- Do feed the dog a good meal rich in carbohydrate, with added Vitamin B6, mid to late afternoon (but do not do this if the dog is prone to diarrhoea when it is scared, or at other times). Vitamin B6 is present in brewer's yeast, eggs, chicken, carrots, fish, liver, kidneys, peas, wheat germ and walnuts.
- If necessary, don’t feed the dog at any other time of the day to ensure a good appetite.
- Do make sure the dog is kept in a safe and secure environment at all times, so that it does not bolt and escape if a sudden noise occurs.
- Do put some music on. It doesn’t have to be excessively loud, as long as there is a constant distracting beat to the music.
- Do try to move the dog at sunset into a blacked-out room that contains toys and other familiar objects (and preferably things for the owner to do as well, so the dog is not abandoned in the room). Blacking-out the room removes the potentially additional problems of flashing lights, which often precede the noise.
- Do not ignore the noises themselves and try to engage the pet in some form of active game.
- Do mention if you know of a dog that is not scared by the noises and which gets on with the problem dog, that keeping the two together during the evenings may help. Playing with the non-fearful dog may help to encourage the fearful dog that all is not so bad after all.
- Do consider making earplugs by taking a piece of cotton wool, dampening it and squeezing out any excess water. Roll it into a long thin cylinder and twist it into the dog’s ear so as to pack the canal. Care must be taken that the cylinder is not so thin that it goes deep into the ear canal or so fat that it can’t be secured. The plug should be secure and firm but not so tight that it irritates the dog. Remember to remove it later that day and don’t reuse the earplugs from one day to the next.
- Do remember that drugs may be useful to calm some dogs, but they need to be given so they take effect before any noise starts or panic sets in.
- Don’t just ignore the noise phobia problem just because it only happens once or twice a year. Instigate a desensitisation programme once the season is over.
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Here are other suggestions:
- Don’t punish the dog when it is scared: it only confirms that there is something of which to be afraid.
- Don’t fuss or try to reassure the dog when it is scared, as this rewards the behaviour.
- Do ignore any fearful behaviour that occurs for no good reason.
- Do feed the dog a good meal rich in carbohydrate, with added Vitamin B6, mid to late afternoon (but do not do this if the dog is prone to diarrhoea when it is scared, or at other times). Vitamin B6 is present in brewer's yeast, eggs, chicken, carrots, fish, liver, kidneys, peas, wheat germ and walnuts.
- If necessary, don’t feed the dog at any other time of the day to ensure a good appetite.
- Do make sure the dog is kept in a safe and secure environment at all times, so that it does not bolt and escape if a sudden noise occurs.
- Do put some music on. It doesn’t have to be excessively loud, as long as there is a constant distracting beat to the music.
- Do try to move the dog at sunset into a blacked-out room that contains toys and other familiar objects (and preferably things for the owner to do as well, so the dog is not abandoned in the room). Blacking-out the room removes the potentially additional problems of flashing lights, which often precede the noise.
- Do not ignore the noises themselves and try to engage the pet in some form of active game.
- Do mention if you know of a dog that is not scared by the noises and which gets on with the problem dog, that keeping the two together during the evenings may help. Playing with the non-fearful dog may help to encourage the fearful dog that all is not so bad after all.
- Do consider making earplugs by taking a piece of cotton wool, dampening it and squeezing out any excess water. Roll it into a long thin cylinder and twist it into the dog’s ear so as to pack the canal. Care must be taken that the cylinder is not so thin that it goes deep into the ear canal or so fat that it can’t be secured. The plug should be secure and firm but not so tight that it irritates the dog. Remember to remove it later that day and don’t reuse the earplugs from one day to the next.
- Do remember that drugs may be useful to calm some dogs, but they need to be given so they take effect before any noise starts or panic sets in.
- Don’t just ignore the noise phobia problem just because it only happens once or twice a year. Instigate a desensitisation programme once the season is over.
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Hayleys' Hints
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Maxilead. The multipurpose dog lead!
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This new Multilead is truly multipurpose!
- Control 2 dogs at the same time
- Use it to tether your dog
- Use as a long lead
- Use as a short lead
- Reflective
- Strong
- Available in 2 sizes
I am using one with my dogs and it is great!
Available now at the Highfield Clinic in Timaru.
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In the past month Aorangivets have sponsored the following causes:
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- SC Football Assn -11th Grade Green Team Tournament
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- Craighead School Magazine
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Aorangi Vetererinary Services frequently recieves requests for sponsorship from individuals, groups or organisations.
As Aorangi Veterinary Services is a community based company, we endeavor to support worthy causes in our area, and our criteria for sponsorship are simple.
When considering a sponsorship applications we look for:
- Requests that will directly benefit individuals, groups or organisations in our communities
- Requests that will enhance the profile of Aorangi Veterinary Services
If you think your application will fulfill these criteria, please complete the Sponsorship application form by following the link below.
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