Spaying Your Dog

You recently brought home a wonderful female puppy, and now you need to bring her to a veterinarian for spay surgery. What will happen during the procedure? How long will your puppy be gone? And most importantly, will she feel pain?

We've enlisted several animal welfare organizations including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Veterinary Medical Association to answer all the questions you may have about this important procedure. For additional information, please talk to your veterinarian.


When should I spay my female dog?
Before her first heat cycle at 4 to 6 months of age, however dogs of any age can be surgically altered. Some veterinarians perform juvenile or early-age spay between 8 to 16 weeks of age.

What are the benefits of spaying my dog?
Helps prevent unwanted litters.
Decreases your dog's chance of developing mammary cancer, which is fatal in 50 percent of cases.
Eliminates the chances of other reproductive cancers and deadly uterine infections.
Eliminates messy heat cycles and associated negative behaviors such as yowling, anxiety and urination in unacceptable places.

What happens during the surgery?
Your veterinarian sedates your dog and puts her under general anesthesia.
The attending staff monitors your dog's breathing and heart rate.
The surgeon makes a small incision in your dog's belly area and removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.
The veterinarian closes the incision with surgical glue or sutures.

Is the surgery painful?
Your dog feels no pain while under general anesthesia during and immediately following the procedure.
Talk to your veterinarian about pain medication for post-operative discomfort.

Are there any risks associated with spay surgery?
While spay surgery can be considered major surgery because it involves entering the abdomen, veterinarians consider the procedure very safe and even routine.
Your veterinarian takes many precautions to ensure your dog's safety during the procedure.
Pre-anesthesia blood work assesses your dog's liver and kidney function because these organs break down and remove anesthesia from the body after surgery.

Is it expensive?
Many veterinarians offer spay services as part of a puppy vaccination package.
Some offer a spay day with reduced fees for those who demonstrate need.
Many shelters and humane organizations provide spay vouchers or other funding to those in need.

When can my dog come home?
Many vets will keep dogs for an overnight stay but some may go home the same day.
If you need to work and can't stay with your dog when she gets home, ask your veterinarian about an extended stay for observation.

How can I help my dog once she comes home?
Keep her quiet and restrict unnecessary activity.
Prevent excessive licking of the incision.
Monitor food and water intake according to your veterinarian's instructions.

What symptoms should prompt me to call my veterinarian?
A reopened incision.
Abnormal swelling of the incision area (some swelling is normal).
Dark red or purple discoloration.
Bloody or thick discharge from the incision.
Foul odors from the incision area, which could indicate an infection.
Continued lethargy or if your dog doesn't seem to get better after a few days.

When can my dog resume normal activity?
Most dogs are awake and alert soon after surgery.
Some will eat the same day as surgery.
Most resume normal activity within 3 days.

Spay surgery is an important part of responsible pet ownership, and an investment in your dogs long-term health. Have additional questions? Talk to your veterinarian today.

Neutering Your Male Dog

You recently brought home a wonderful male puppy, and now you need to bring him to a veterinarian for neuter surgery. What will happen during the procedure? How long will your puppy be gone? And most importantly, will he feel pain?

Several animal welfare organizations including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Veterinary Medical Associationto answer all the questions you may have about this important procedure. For additional information, please talk to your veterinarian.

When should I neuter my dog:
Between 4 and 6 months of age; however, veterinarians can alter an animal of any age.

Some shelters and veterinarians perform juvenile or early-age neuter at 8 to 16 weeks of age.

What are the benefits of neutering my dog?
Helps prevent unwanted litters
Decreases your dogs chance of developing testicular cancer, prostate disease and infections
Decreases your dogs chance of escaping while in search of a mate
Decreases the incidence of negative behaviors such howling, inappropriate urination, territoriality and aggression .

What happens during neuter surgery?
Your veterinarian sedates your dog and puts him under general anesthesia.
The attending staff monitors his breathing and heart rate.
The surgeon makes a small incision in the front (toward your dogs head) of the scrotum.
Each testicle is removed and the blood supply and vas deferens (spermatic cord) are tied off.
The veterinarian closes the incision with surgical glue or sutures.

Is the surgery painful?
Your dog feels no pain while under general anesthesia, during and immediately following the procedure.
Talk to your veterinarian about pain medication for post-operative discomfort.

Are there any risks associated with the surgery?
Neuter surgery is not invasive; however, some risk accompanies any procedure that involves anesthesia. Your veterinarian takes many precautions to ensure your dogs safety during the procedure. Pre-anesthesia blood work assesses your dogs liver and kidney function, because these organs break down and remove anesthesia from the body after surgery.

Is it expensive?
Many veterinarians offer neuter services as part of a puppy vaccination package.
Some offer a spay and neuter day, with reduced fees for those who demonstrate need.
Many shelters and humane organizations provide neuter vouchers or other funding to those in need.

When can my dog come home?
Most dogs go home the same day.
If you need to work and can't stay with your dog when he gets home, ask your veterinarian about an extended stay for observation.

How can I help my dog once he comes home?
Keep him quiet and restrict unnecessary activity for at least 1 day following the procedure.
Prevent excessive licking of the incision.
•Monitor food and water intake according to your veterinarians instructions.

What symptoms should prompt me to call my veterinarian?
A reopened incision
Abnormal swelling of the incision area (some swelling is normal)
Dark red or purple discoloration
Bloody or thick discharge from the incision
Foul odors from the incision area, which could indicate an infection
Continued lethargy, or if your dog doesn't seem to get better after a few days

When can my dog resume normal activity?
Most dogs are awake and alert soon after surgery.
Some will eat the same day as surgery.
Most resume normal activity the next day.
Neuter surgery is an important part of responsible pet ownership, and an investment in your dogs long-term health. Have additional questions? Talk to your veterinarian today.

DON'T Leave Your Dog In A Parked Car

It takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation. Most people don't realize how hot it can get in a parked car on a balmy day. On a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees -- and hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun!

Even when the outside air temperature is in the 60s, temperatures inside some vehicles can reach the danger zone on bright, sunny days. So many experts recommend not to leave pets in parked cars even for short periods.

Rolling down a window or parking in the shade doesn't guarantee protection, since temperatures can still climb into the danger zone. And if the window is rolled down sufficiently, the pet can escape. Also, if a passer-by claims he or she was bitten through the car window, the pet owner will be liable.

What about leaving the dog in the car with the air-conditioning running? Many people do this, but tragedy can strike -- and it has. For example, a police dog in Texas died after the air-conditioning in the patrol car shut down and began blowing hot air. The air system's compressor kicked off because the engine got too hot. Many cars, including modern models with computerized functions, are prone to the same problem. In North Carolina a couple lost two of their beloved dogs, and nearly lost their third dog, as result of a similar failure. They had left bowls of water and ice in the car, and the air-conditioning on, during their shopping trip of less than 30 minutes.

Try this experiment on a hot summer day. Drive your car to the mall. Park in the sun. Roll up the windows, turn off the air conditioner and see if you can sit there for ten minutes without sweating, finding it difficult to breathe or panicking. Use an interior thermometer and watch the temperature climb steadily. Now, think of your dog:

Animals are not able to sweat like humans do. Dogs cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke. Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal's body temperature to climb from a normal 102.5 to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death.

Precautions:

* Leave your dog at home on warm days.

* On trips with your pet, bring plenty of fresh drinking water and bowl.

* Don't let dogs ride loose in pick-up truck beds. The hot metal can burn a dog's paws, the sun and flying debris can hurt the dog, the dog can accidentally be thrown out of the truck if the brakes are suddenly applied, and the dog can jump out if scared or if he/she sees something interesting to chase. Instead, use a crate to create a safer space for the dog if you can't fit the dog inside the truck cab.

* Take the dog into the shade, an air conditioned area, or to the vet if you see signs of heat exhaustion, which include restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, dark tongue, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or lack of coordination. To lower body temperature gradually, give the animal water to drink, place a cold towel or ice pack on the head, neck and chest, and/or immerse the dog in cool (not cold) water. Call your veterinarian.

If you see a pet in a vehicle on a hot day, take immediate action:

* Note the car make, model, color and tag number, then go to the nearest stores and ask the managers to page the owner.

* Call the police, which usually can respond much faster than can animal control departments. The police have the capability to enter the vehicle and rescue the pet.

It is against the law in most jurisdictions to leave a pet unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the animal.

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Digging

Has your dog turned your lawn into a moonscape, with craters everywhere? If so, your dog isn't doing this out of spite or a desire to destroy your landscaping. More likely he’s seeking entertainment, attention, comfort, escape, prey, or protection.

To address this problem, you first need to learn why your dog digs—and then figure out how to stop it.

Seeking entertainment
Dogs may dig to entertain themselves when they learn that roots and soil "play back." Your dog may be digging for entertainment if:

He's left alone in the yard for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction with his human family.
His environment is relatively barren—with no playmates or toys.
He's a puppy or adolescent (under 3 years old) and doesn't have other outlets for his energy.
He's a terrier or other breed that was bred to dig.
He's a particularly active type who needs a job to be happy (such as a herding or sporting breed). He's recently seen you "playing" in the dirt (gardening or working in the yard).

Recommendations :
Expand your dog's world and increase his people time in the following ways:
Walk your dog at least twice daily. Insufficient exercise is a leading cause of problem behaviors.
Redirect your dog's energy by teaching him to fetch a ball or flying disk and playing with him as often as possible. (A tired dog is a good dog.)
Teach your dog a few commands or tricks. Practice these every day for 5 to 10 minutes.
Take a training class with your dog and practice daily what you've learned.
Keep interesting toys in the yard to keep your dog busy when you're not around. Kong®-type toys filled with treats or busy-box dog toys work especially well. Rotate the toys to keep things interesting.

For dedicated diggers, provide an acceptable area for their excavation activity:
Choose an area of the yard where it's okay for your dog to dig, and cover the area with loose soil or sand. Or use a child-size sandbox.
If you catch your dog digging in an unacceptable area, interrupt the behavior with a loud noise and say, "No dig." Then immediately take him to the designated digging area. When he digs in the approved spot, reward him with praise.
Make the unacceptable digging spots unattractive (at least temporarily) by placing rocks or chicken wire into the dirt.
Make the acceptable area attractive by burying safe items (such as toys) for him to discover.

Seeking prey
Dogs often dig in an effort to catch burrowing animals or insects that live in your yard. This may be the case if:
The digging is in a specific area instead of at the boundaries of the yard.
The digging is at the roots of trees or shrubs.
The digging is in a "path" layout.

Recommendations:
Solve the prey problem by:
Searching for signs of burrowing animals, then use safe, humane methods to make your yard unattractive to them.
Don't resort to methods that could be toxic or dangerous to your pets or other animals.
Seeking comfort or protection
In hot weather, dogs may dig holes to lie in the cool dirt. They may also dig to provide themselves with shelter from cold, wind, or rain or to find water. Your dog may be digging for comfort or protection if:

The holes are near foundations of buildings, large shade trees, or a water source.
Your dog doesn't have a shelter or his shelter is exposed to the hot sun or cold winds.
Your dog is lying in the holes he digs.

Recommendations:
Provide your dog with the comfort or protection he seeks:
Follow our tips for providing your dog with a comfortable doghouse that affords protection from wind and sun.
Your dog may still prefer a hole in the ground, in which case you can try providing an "approved digging area" as described above. Make sure the allowed digging area is in a spot that's protected from the elements.
Provide plenty of fresh water in a bowl that can't be tipped over.

Seeking attention
Any behavior can become attention-getting behavior if the dog learns that he receives attention for engaging in it. Remember, even punishment is attention. Your dog may be looking for attention if:
He digs in your presence.
He has limited opportunities for interaction with you.

Recommendations:
Provide your dog with the attention he deserves.
Ignore the attention-seeking behavior and give your pooch lots of praise for "good dog" behavior. Make sure your dog has sufficient time with you on a daily basis. Walks, games of fetch, and basic training are all good ways to interact with your dog.

Seeking escape
Dogs may try to escape to get to something, to get somewhere, or to get away from something. Your dog may be digging to escape if:
He digs along the fence line.
He digs under the fence.

Recommendations:
Figure out why your dog is trying to escape, and remove those incentives. Make sure his environment is a safe, appealing place for a dog.
To keep your dog in your yard:
Bury chicken wire at the base of the fence. Be sure to roll the sharp edges away from your yard.
Place large rocks, partially buried, along the bottom of the fence line.
Bury the bottom of the fence 1 to 2 feet below the surface.
Lay chain link fencing on the ground (anchored to the bottom of the fence) to make it uncomfortable for your dog to walk near the fence.
Work on modifying his behavior to stop his escape efforts.

What doesn't work
Regardless of the reason your dog is digging, don't:
Punish your dog after the fact. This won't address the cause of the behavior, and it will worsen any digging that's motivated by fear or anxiety.
Stake out your dog near a hole he's dug or fill the hole with water. These techniques address neither the cause of the behavior nor the act of digging.

Next steps
If you've tried the recommended strategies and you still can't solve your dog's digging problem, keep him indoors with you and supervise him during bathroom breaks in the yard. You may also want to consult a behavior professional for additional help.





Article originally posted November 4, 2009 on the Humane Society of the United States web site. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/digging.html

Teaching Dogs the "Come" Command

Coming when called is not only a behavior issue, it's also a safety issue.

If your dog slips out the front door and races down across the yard, you must be able to get him to stop and come back before he runs into the street.

Don't tell your dog to "come" if you don't think he'll comply. It's better to go and get him than to say "come" repeatedly. Practice the "come" command until you are sure your dog will respond immediately the first time you call.

Method 1: Back Up and Recall
You can practice this method in the house or while out on a walk with your dog.

Put your dog on a leash.
Hold the other end of the leash, say "come" once, and quickly move backward.
Keep moving backward until your dog gets all the way to you.
When your dog catches up to you, say "Yes!"
Give your dog a treat.

Tip
The Back Up and Recall is a good way to teach your dog not to pull on his leash when you take a walk.

Each time he starts to pull, say "come," and move backward until your dog gets to you. Say "Yes!" and reward him with a treat.

You may spend much of your first few walks going backward, but it won't take long for your dog to learn that he must pay attention to where you are going instead of choosing his own path and speed.

Method 2: Long Line
You can also practice "come" outside using a long (20-foot) training leash. The long leash makes it easy to catch your dog if he gets distracted and wants to wander around the yard. You will need the help of another person.

Attach the long training leash to your dog's collar.
Your assistant should stand behind your dog and hold him by lacing her hands across his chest.
Get your dog's attention by holding a treat in front of his nose and talking to him in an excited voice.
Run away a few feet then call your dog to "come." Encourage him by clapping your hands or making noises but don't repeat the "come" command.
When your dog runs to you, say "Yes!"
Give him a treat.
As he gets better at "come," run farther away before you call him.

Tip
As your dog learns "come," practice inside (a leash isn't necessary) by having your assistant distract or hold your dog while you go out of the room. Call your dog to "come." When he finds you, say "Yes!" and give him a treat. Over time you can make this game more difficult, by moving to more distant rooms of the house before you call "come."



Article originally posted February 2, 2010 on the Humane Society of the United States web site.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/teaching_come_command.html