Subscribe to our email newsletter:         Sounds of the Season Help Your Pets Cope with Sounds of the Season Create a refuge from thunder and fireworks. Did your summer start with a bang? Thunderstorms are common this time of year and fireworks are booming across the country now, too. So much loud noise can leave your pets feeling a little anxious. Even rain on the roof or bright flashes of lightning can put a sensitive dog or cat on edge. A good way to help calm your pets' nerves is to stay calm yourself. Getting angry or frustrated can feed your pets' anxiety. Also try providing a safe place for your pets to seek refuge. Many pets find a feeling of protection under a bed or behind a chair. Helping Your Dog Cope with Loud Thunder and Fireworks Fear of loud noises, especially thunder and fireworks, is a common phobia in dogs. It’s usually displayed by hiding, whining, barking, pawing or even urination. Trying to help your dog cope with loud noises is important because the anxiety usually gets progressively more pronounced with age. A dog suffering from a fear of thunderstorms may begin to display anxious behavior before the thunder begins. Rain on the roof of the house, bright flashes of light or even the drop in air pressure before a storm may be enough to trigger anxiety. It is important not to punish your dog for being anxious, but equally important not to cuddle too much. Punishing your dog will just create more fear and anxiety because thunder will then be associated with both fear and punishment. Cuddling or comforting your dog too much isn’t a good idea because it teaches your dog that anxious behavior is appropriate. Instead, first provide your dog with a safe place to seek refuge. Dog crates, under a bed or under a chair are common hiding places for a dog. Your dog chooses these places because she feels protected and the noise of thunder or fireworks is muffled. If your dog has not already picked out a place, provide one. Try leaving a few treats in a safe place to encourage your dog to go there. Try desensitizing your dog to loud noises so the sound becomes normal. This is usually done by playing recorded thunder at a low volume and in short intervals while you monitor your dog’s behavior. Try to distract your dog while the noise is present by playing fetch or engaging in some sort of enjoyable activity. If your dog is too frightened to participate, you need to turn down the intensity of your thunder stimulus and try again later. This process is long and requires patience, but in the end your dog will be much more comfortable during a storm. For help with further treating your dog’s anxiety, seek advice from your veterinarian. Helping Your Cat Cope with Loud Thunder and Fireworks It’s not uncommon for a cat to be afraid of loud noises, especially thunder and fireworks. They usually display by hiding. A cat suffering from a substantial fear of loud noises may begin to display anxious behavior before the thunder begins. Rain on the roof of the house, bright flashes of light or even the drop in air pressure before a storm may be enough to trigger anxiety. It is important to know what to do when the situation occurs: Staying calm will help your cat feel safe. You might even try to play with your cat to distract from the noise of thunder of fireworks. Make sure your cat has a safe place to seek refuge. Cats typically will run under a bed or under a chair to escape loud noises. Your cat chooses these places because she feels protected and the noise of thunder or fireworks is muffled. If your cat has not already picked out a place, provide one. Try leaving a few kibbles of a favorite cat food in safe place to encourage your cat to go there. Try desensitizing your cat to loud noises so the sound becomes normal. This is usually done by playing recorded thunder at a low volume and in short intervals while you monitor your cat’s behavior. This process is long and requires patience, but in the end your cat will be much more comfortable during a storm or near a fireworks display. Spring Has Sprung !! Spring Concerns for Pets Spring is almost here, and your pets have spring fever as much as you do. We have some specific concerns when it comes to the care of your pet during the months that transition from winter into spring. As the snow melts, your pet will have access to all of the new plant growth in your yard, as well as all of the moldy debris left from last fall that has been buried for months by the snow. Many of these plants are toxic to pets - in particular lilies and other bulbous plants, which can cause acute kidney failure and death. The mold that is now exposed can also cause a life threatening condition known as mold toxicity. The signs of toxin ingestion include, but are not limited to: shaking, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, inability to move, inability to swallow. The sooner your pet is seen and treated by a veterinarian when they exhibit these conditions, the greater chances for a successful recovery. Don’t forget that as the weather warms up, your pets will once again need flea and tick prevention. Fleas have not been a traditional pest for those of us in the Northwest, however, we see more each year as the climate becomes warmer. Consequently, protecting your pet becomes more important. We prefer the efficacy of the topical product FRONTLINE PLUS, which is available over the counter at the clinic. This product is applied once month to your pet and is waterproof once dry. Finally, remember to get your animals spayed or neutered to prevent roaming and pet overpopulation. We can place a microchip in your pet at any time that will provide a permanent form of identification should your pet become lost or stolen. These microchips provide peace of mind and are available at a nominal fee. More News >>> February is National Pet Dental Health Month !!! Cold Weather Tips Holiday Precautions HEALTH ALERT - Toxic Algae Bloom Toxic Algae Bloom in Local Lake Salmonella Risk Prompts Pet Food Recall Possible Contamination of Mars Petcare Products Could Pose Risk to People and Pets September is Dental Month !! What's Bugging Your Pet? Flea and Tick Information Toxocara Concerns IN THE NEWS !! Our patient!! Our client !! Our Clinic!! Tavi Has His Smile Back Shetland sheepdog's owner's dentist saves canine's tooth with root canal, filling We appreciate your business! Latah Creek Animal Hospital 4241 S. Cheney-Spokane Road Suite E Spokane, WA 99224 509-462-7387 Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 6:00PM Saturday Closed Sunday Closed To subscribe to our email list, send a message to: latahvetnews-subscribe@latahvetnews.com To remove your address from the list, just send a message to: latahvetnews-unsubscribe@latahvetnews.com Admin | Email | Stats