Tail Chasing

I’m sure everybody has seen dogs chasing their own tails, and all carrying the question of, why would a dog be chasing its tail? Well there are many answers to this question. Dogs may be chasing their own tail because of learning behaviors, medical problems or both. This may be a result of operant conditioning where behavior is being affected by its consequences. This is associated with stimulus and response. Since dogs are social animals the attention they receive from their owner is usually a positive reinforce causing increase in the frequency of the performed action. When dogs are only having little or no attention, the dog behavior turns into attention-seeking behavior, the dog becomes willing to do anything for the least bit of attention. Another cause is if a dog is bored and not getting enough exercise. A dog may have anxiety, and if a dog has had an extreme injury previously it may start to chase that region once becoming aware of it. These dogs seem to be neurologically normal. Severe tail chasing has been attributed to psycho-motor epilepsy, also may be described as seizure related problems. Many different peripheral or superficial conditions involving irritation, pain, or other sensations in the tail can trigger the tail chasing to occur. Tail chasing can be the start of compulsive disorders and needs to be stopped when happening.

Methods of stopping the Tail Chasing

Keep track of when the behavior occurs: frequency, duration, and intensity to report to your veterinarian. You don’t want to encourage the behavior in any way, instead ignore the behavior completely, don’t laugh or give any praise to the dog chasing its tail. Drug therapy may be needed in some cases, you want to have the veterinarian screen the animal to rule out all causes and provide proper treatment. Overall, the best solution is to give your dog the proper attention and exercise needed each day.

For more information on visit our webpage on Solving problem behavior

Trimming your dogs nails

Many of us aren’t sure the proper way to clip our dog’s nails and always just let the veterinarian or groomer do it. It’s time to learn how to clip and manage your dog’s nails yourself.

To start with, if your dog always on a hard surface, he/she will need little or no clipping because his nails will naturally be warn away from friction. On the other hand, if your dog is constantly on woodland tracks, grass, or sea sand then clipping becomes essential in grooming your dog. It’s very important to know the proper way to clip your dog’s nails. Failure in clipping properly can lead to excruciating pain in paws, and permanent damage, also malformation. Dogs can be reluctant in clipping nails and it’s important to start clipping their nails at a young age to let them get used to this process. If you are not comfortable with clipping your dogs nails yourself then take your dog to the veterinarian or groomer.

How to start the process

You want to first let your dogs become accustomed to touching the paw and nail area. Do this by stroking their paws and lightly pinching the nail, noticing how they react. Make sure to reward your dog for letting you and let them know when they are being good. After a lesson from the vet, lightly trim a couple nails a day. You want to make sure to trim as little as possible when starting out; you can easily trim off too much nail. Talk soothingly to your dog and make him feel comfortable and as enjoyable as possible. There are numerous types of clippers and trimmers to choose from, the guillotine is the easiest to use. You may want to use a small file or dremel tool for filing jagged edges after trimming nails, but this isn’t mandatory when trimming nails, especially if your dog can’t stand getting their nails trimmed. Your dog can be lying on a raised table or other surface while trimming, put a non-slip mat for the dog to sit or stand on so they can’t slip. You can also have somebody hold the dog while you clip the nails so it’s easier for them to be still. Make sure to read the instructions on whatever nail clipping tool you choose, and if its guillotine you must cut from underneath of your dogs claws and not upward, never clip upward. Position tool and wait for a moment when your dog is calm and not wiggling. Then squeeze firmly and the nail should pop right off.

What can happen if you don’t trim your dog’s nails?

Dogs experience pain when walking on overly long nails. Not trimming the nails can lead to broken nails, large amounts of bleeding and nail bed infection. Ingrown nails may also form which can break into the pads of dogs’ paws. Also check the paws for broken glass or thorns, if you’re taking the dog to the beach you want to wash their paws off if they are going into the water because of how sensitive dogs’ skin can be to salt water.

If bleeding occurs from cutting nails too short

If this happens you can wait for the bleeding to stop, which should take between five to seven minutes, but if this takes any longer you want to go see the vet. You can also keep a stick handy or styptic pen as part of your dogs grooming kit. This will stop the bleeding instantly when applying to your dogs nail. This doesn’t hurt the dog and you can retrieve it at a pet store or veterinarian.

Dog Health care – Taking your dogs temperature

You may think your dog is acting weird, or not being its usual self. Don’t wait and think it will just disappear, or it’s no big deal. One of the most simple things you can do to check to see if your dog is coming down with something is taking its temperature. Taking the temperature is a simple process many do not think of or know how to. Taking the temperature is the most accurate guide to knowing if your dog needs to see the veterinarian. You have to make sure you’re taking the temperature when the dog is calm and mellow, not when you just get done exercising or playing, your dog’s temperature may slightly rise if he/she is excited or nervous. Using a digital thermometer for rectal or ear is more preferable then using a glass thermometer. This is because it will not break compared to the slender glass thermometer. Never use the same thermometers on humans, make sure to label or keep separately. You will need water-soluble jelly or olive oil for use. If you’re using glass thermometer make sure to shake down mercury. Always make sure to sterilize and wipe the thermometer thoroughly before each use. You also want to try and empty dogs’ anal sacs before taking the temperature.

How to Take Temperature Rectally

• Have a second person holding dog while you insert and make sure to sterilize thermometer with alcohol or other sterilizing agent.
• Add a dab of petroleum jelly to tip to make insertion easier.
• Lift the tail of the dog while partner holds dog down.
• Angle so the bulb of the thermometer is against rectal wall.
• Talk calmly and make your dog feel comfortable while inserting the thermometer in rectum.
• Wait for beep if digital or two minutes if regular thermometer.
• Thermometer should read between 100.5 and 102.5 (if between these temperature appears on thermometer then your dog is likely not sick and not running a temperature.)
• If the temperature varies higher or lower by 1.5 degrees then you should go see veterinarian.

How to Take Temperature by ear

• Clean the thermometer or put new sheath on.
• Most ear thermometers are digital so turn it on, then insert thermometer in ear horizontally for best reading.
• Have somebody else hold the dog still and read the thermometer when it beeps.
• The thermometer should read between 100-103 degrees, call the vet if the temperature appears above or below this.

What the dogs’ temperature means

• 106F and above-This could mean heatstroke so you want to cool down immediately and go to veterinarian urgently.
• 105F-This is dangerous and see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
• 104F- This is a high fever and you should go to veterinarian within that day.
• 103F- Moderate fever and go see a veterinarian promptly.
• 99F-Not normal, go to your veterinarian the same day.
• 98F-Hypothermia, keep your dog warm and go to the veterinarian ASAP.

Resources: Pet-Temp Ear Thermometer

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