Tag: First Batch

Dogs moan to show they are content—or disappointed, so context is important when trying to figure out why your dog is moaning. If he’s happily snuggling next to you, it’s likely a contented moan. If you’re rebuffing his attempts to play, he’s probably disappointed. Whining and moaning can also occur when a dog with separation anxiety is left alone.

It’s A Form Of Communication 

Since dogs can’t say “I’m so glad you’re here,” or “I’m so disappointed you won’t take me for a walk!” moaning is a way that they express their feelings. Usually, moaning is no cause for concern, but there are some cases in which action may need to be taken such as:

You Suspect Separation Anxiety 

Does your dog moan or whine when you’re gone? That could be a sign of separation anxiety, which can be mild, moderate, or severe. No matter the level of your dog’s anxiety, you should talk to a vet or animal behaviorist. Separation anxiety won’t go away without intervention, and it often gets worse over time. The sooner you start working on ways to help your dog overcome his anxiety the better.

My Dog Moans When Trying To Get Comfortable On A Bed 

Most of the time dogs suffer in silence. That’s why diseases are sometimes quite advanced before they are detected. Sometimes, however, their discomfort does lead to vocalization. If your dog moans when getting comfortable in their bed, it could be due to fluid buildup in the abdomen. To test this, try rubbing your dog’s belly. If he seems to be in pain at your touch, make a visit to your vet a priority.

Whether your dog’s moaning is a sign of contentedness or disappointment, it’s usually no cause for concern. Just pay close attention to context, and contact your vet if you suspect there may be a problem. 

It would be highly unusual for a dog to eat himself to death, but some dogs will certainly overeat if given the chance. Free feeding is a common practice among pet owners, and it may work for some dogs who will stop eating when satisfied. Other dogs, however, will continue to eat until they make themselves sick. Fatalities from gorging are extremely rare. That being said, bloat is a serious condition that can be caused by eating too much too quickly and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Problems With Overeating

While your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating can certainly shorten his life and lead to a myriad of medical conditions including:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Arthritis 

As is the case with humans, ensuring your dog eats a proper balanced diet is important to his good health. If your dog tends to overeat, then free feeding is not the way to go. Instead, you’ll want to put out measured amounts of food two or three times a day.

Why Do Some Dogs Overeat?

Like humans, some dogs tend to eat until satisfied while others overeat anytime they have the chance. There is no one simple answer as to why some dogs overeat, but potential causes include:

• Boredom
• Anxiety
• Former food deprivation
• Hormone imbalances 

No matter the reason, curbing your pet’s overeating is important in order to help him maintain optimal health. Free feeding may be convenient, but if your dog doesn’t know when to stop, then it’s detrimental to his health.

Even though your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating could lead to serious health consequences. If you’re not sure how much or how often your pet should be eating, talk to your vet for advice specific to your dog. 

 

Some reasons your dog may be peeing everywhere include medical conditions, improper training, fear, or infrequent walks. If the pet is a puppy or a dog that is new to your home, you’ll need to exercise some patience as some dogs take longer to train than others. If a housebroken pet has started peeing everywhere, you’ll need to try to pinpoint a reason.

Common Reasons For Inappropriate Urination 

Once your dog is properly housebroken, he shouldn’t start urinating in the house unless there is an underlying reason. These may include:

Medical Conditions

This is a common cause of a trained dog to start peeing throughout the house. Medical conditions that can cause this behavior include urinary tract infections, kidney issues, bladder stones, diabetes, and certain injuries. In many cases, dogs will show no other symptoms, so you should make a vet appointment as soon as you notice that the dog is urinating in the house.

Submission

This is most common in puppies, but it can occur at any age. If someone startles the dog, reaches for, or scolds the dog, he may urinate out of fear or to show his submission.

Marking

You can recognize marking as it tends to be very small amounts of urine in certain places. Spaying or neutering can help, and the earlier you fix your pet, the less likely they are to mark.

Infrequent Walks

An easy-to-fix issue is that your dog simply isn’t being let out enough. If you’re gone for 8+ hours a day, your dog may not always be able to hold it until you return home. If putting in a doggy door is not a feasible solution, consider hiring a dog walker to stop by each day.
Until you can figure out and address the reason, you’ll want to be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate the odor left behind by the urine. If you don’t, the dog will be attracted to urinate in that spot again—as may other of your household pets.

The good news is that the behavior can usually be successfully addressed either by the owner, the vet, or, in some cases, an animal behaviorist. 

There are many reasons your dog may cry at night including loneliness, anxiety, pain, and alerting you to noises he hears outside. Since there are so many possible reasons for the crying, it can be difficult to pinpoint the reason without looking at context and then working to eliminate each potential cause. The good news is that, more often than not, it’s no cause for alarm when your dog cries at night.

Ruling Out A Medical Issue 

Anytime there is any notable change in your dog’s behavior, a visit to the vet is warranted. Since dogs can’t tell you when they feel sick, you have to rely on other cues to know when something is wrong.

If your dog has typically been pretty settled at bedtime but suddenly has started crying at night, it’s a good idea to schedule a vet visit to rule out a medical issue. Also note that some dogs begin crying at night as they age even in the absence of a medical problem.

Dealing With A Crying Dog 

Once the vet gives your dog a clean bill of health, you’ll have to decide how to deal with the crying. It sounds unkind, but don’t run to comfort the dog every time he cries or he’ll quickly learn that crying in the middle of the night equals attention.

Instead, keep these tips in mind:

• Puppies in a new home will cry. It’s to be expected. Once they settle in and realize they are safe, it will stop on its own.
• It’s possible that the crying stems from a lack of exercise. Try giving your dog an extra walk or two during the day.
• Limit food and water as it gets close to bedtime.
• Try playing soft music or the television to calm your pet.
• If the crying only occurs when you’re out of the room, it’s possible your dog has separation anxiety. Make note of any other behavior that seems off, and mention this to your vet.
• While you may have the urge to run to your pet anytime he cries at night, doing so only sets you up for the crying to continue indefinitely. Instead, try the tips above. If none work, talk to an animal behaviorist for advice tailored to your pet. 

If your dog is whining, there likely is a reason—even if you’re having a hard time figuring out what that reason is. Puppies and dogs use whining as a form of communication, so the whining could be because he’s trying to alert you to something, he’s hurt or sick, or to let you know he wants something. In most cases, whining isn’t an issue, but if it’s excessive, you may need the help of an animal trainer to curb the behavior.

Is Your Dog Sick? 

One thing that is important to rule out is a medical condition. Sometimes it’s easy to tell when the whining is due to pain, but other times it’s not. If it started suddenly and occurs at random times, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your vet to make sure nothing is medically wrong.

Is Your Dog Alerting You? 

If your dog is whining and running to the same spot or staring out the window, it’s likely that he’s trying to alert you to something. This could be anything from a stranger in the yard to a stray plastic bag stuck in a bush, but it’s always a good idea to check things out. Once your dog sees that you’ve given the all clear, he’ll likely stop whining. Be sure to praise him, so that he’ll know that alerting you to potential danger is the right thing to do.

Is Your Dog Looking For Attention? 

Some dogs will whine for extra food, more treats, or additional playtime. While you want to supply your dog’s needs, you also want to be careful not to teach your dog that whining = getting what you want.

If your dog whines to get certain things, only supply that thing once the whining has stopped. This will reward silence rather than whining.

Whining rarely happens for no reason, so try to pinpoint the cause so you can stop the behavior. 

Common reasons for your dog peeing a lot include diabetes, urinary tract infections, and aging. Certain medical conditions can be treated, which will often alleviate the frequent urination. Other causes, however, such as aging, may not be resolved. The first order of business when you notice frequent urination, or any other change in your pet’s bathroom habits, should be a visit to your vet for a thorough exam. 

Is Frequent Urination Dangerous? 

On its own, frequent urination isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it could be, as mentioned above, the sign of a potentially serious medical condition. Your vet will know exactly what to screen for, so you’ll be able to quickly find out if a particular medical problem is causing the condition.

If it is, treatment may be able to help with the issue. Some conditions may require simple treatment, such as a round of antibiotics for a UTI. Others, such as diabetes, may require ongoing medication and other treatment.

What If The Problem Can’t Be Corrected? 

Many pet owners live with aging dogs and those who suffer incontinence for various reasons. This alone isn’t necessarily impacting the dog’s quality of life, and it’s a pretty easy situation to handle. Solutions could be as simple as installing a doggy door so your pet can go out whenever he needs or just taking him on more frequent walks.

Another option that works for busy pet owners is to purchase belly bands for male dogs and diapers for female dogs. Both reusable and disposal belly bands and diapers are available. While it may take a little getting used to, this is a simple way to deal with living with an incontinent pooch. 

In most cases, an aggressive dog can be rehabilitated. Even when the aggression stems from long-term abuse, there is still hope with the right treatment.

First Steps in Rehabilitating an Aggressive Dog  

If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog, be hopeful—but don’t ignore the problem. Aggression isn’t going to go away on its own. You need to actively deal with the issue and find the right help from your vet or a skilled, experienced animal behaviorist.

The first thing you need to do is find professional help, and let them guide things from there. Look for someone who specializes in working with aggressive dogs. A general dog trainer may not have the skills to handle the needs of an aggressive dog.

Note that if the behavior came on suddenly, it’s likely a medical issue. In that case the aggression will likely cease once the medical problem is addressed.

Until you can get help, keep your dog away from the situations that trigger the aggression. Also, isolate your dogs from other people, children, and other pets. The last thing you want is for your dog to attack or bite someone. Protecting your dog from situations in which that could happen is the responsible thing to do.

Be patient with your dog, follow the advice and guidance of the animal behaviorist, and give your dog every chance at the happy, healthy life he deserves.