43 minute read
Depressed or stressed Pets
Stressed pets can show destructive behaviour
We all pay a great deal of attention to the physical welfare of our pets but we often forget that pets can suffer from mental health issues too. Experts suggest that up to one third of dogs and one quarter of cats suffer from anxiety and post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in the UK. Mary Lloyd tells us more Spotting The Signs Stress can exhibit itself in many forms of • Sudden aggression • Depression & lack of interest in surround • Hyperawareness of surroundings pet behaviour:
• Peeing or defaecating in the house • Howling, barking, whining and miawoeing constantly • Destructive behaviour • Tucked tail • Ears back • Panting • Clinging
Likely Causes
There are a wide variety of causes for emotional disorders:
• Fear of thunder, fireworks, men, car rides, boredom, loneliness & separation • Previous abandonement or loss of owner • Physical or emotional abuse
Spot the sign: Howling could be a form of stress
• Accidents • Fights with other dogs or cats
Treatments
There are no simple remedies. Treatment requires understanding, love and re-assurance. The first challenge is to identify the source of the problem which is often easier said than done. Once the cause is identified, the pet can be de-sensitised by gradual exposure to the source of the problem until the pet recognises that it does not pose a threat to its wellbeing. It is important not to reward the behaviour with kisses or treats because that suggests that the behaviour is justified. Instead, ignore and distract by calmly handling the pet and encouraging it to do other things such as play, go for a walk or embark on some training exercise. If you do not over-react, the pet will quickly realise that he or she’s fears are not justified and they can begin to adopt normal behaviours associated with the trust in the fact that if you are not anxious then neither should they be. Encourage your pet to by going for a walk
n If the cause is separation anxiety of course, the key is to adopt a companion pet or another carer if you are otherwise occupied. Thankfully, anxiety in pets is as treateable as it is in humans and just like humans, love and understanding can lead to the happy ever after! For further help or advice, please do not hesitate to call the Bio-Life Helpline on01608 686626 or visit the website www.biolife-international.co.uk
Ann Bolland’s beloved cat Missy
Antifreeze warning for owners after agonising death of muchloved cat
An owner whose cat died from suspected antifreeze poisoning has joined Cats Protection’s campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of the product to cats.
Eighteen-month-old Missy is thought to have swallowed antifreeze near her home in Skipton, North Yorkshire, before becoming severely unwell.
Her distraught owner Ann Bolland said: “I realised something was wrong when Missy seemed a bit subdued one morning, and within the hour I could see she was going downhill. I got her to the vets quickly but it was too late, her body had begun shutting down. She was disorientated, her organs were failing and the vet said all the signs were pointing to antifreeze poisoning. “Within a few hours, she had to be put to sleep. Her deterioration in such a short time was absolutely horrific to witness – she had been a healthy, energetic and lively cat, and suddenly she was gone.
“The day before had been a bright, sunny February day with a heavy frost forecast, so I think she had somehow come across it when someone was topping up their car with antifreeze. I had no idea of the risks to cats of antifreeze and I would urge anyone using it to be extremely vigilant that there are no cats around. Losing Missy in such a traumatic way has had a huge effect on me, I’m a huge animal lover and have always owned pets, but I’m not sure I can bring myself to have another.”
Cats Protection, the UK’s largest cat charity, is campaigning for better labelling of the product and has urged owners to be vigilant if their cats have access to garages or sheds where it may be stored.
Madison Rogers, the charity’s Senior Advocacy & Government Relations Officer, said: “Antifreeze contains a substance which is particularly harmful to cats and can prove fatal if ingested, as it seems was tragically the case for Missy.
“It only takes a spillage on the driveway or a cat walking through a puddle and then grooming its fur for the poison to be ingested. This quickly affects a cat’s kidneys, with damage sometimes so severe that the cat may not survive.
“This summer, we’d urge owners to make sure any stores of antifreeze in sheds or garages are securely kept away from cats. And anyone doing checks on their vehicle should be mindful of how dangerous antifreeze can be for cats, so it is important to wipe up spillages immediately and not leave bottles on the driveway unattended.
“Many motorists are completely unaware of how dangerous antifreeze can be, and we’d like to see better labelling on products. Such a simple measure could help prevent the deaths of many cats and save their owners the ordeal of seeing their beloved cat suffer.”
This year Cats Protection’s advocacy work is being supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Stephanie Kerr from the charities team at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “As a cat owner myself, I’m very pleased that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting Cat Protection’s advocacy work on these issues. None of us want a pet or any other animal to become ill or suffer when it can be easily avoided by raising awareness of the dangers of common household products."
n To find out more about the dangers of antifreeze, please visit https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/poisoning
Raven reunited! Lost cat finds his way back home after more than 10 months on the run
For some cats that get lost or go missing, a happy ending in which they are reunited with their loving and worried owner is indeed possible - the chances of which are made infinitely stronger if the cat has an up to date microchip.
For four-year-old Raven, who originally went missing back at the start of 2020, the fact that his owner had included both her address, phone number and email on his chip was his saving grace –as despite her moving house during the pandemic, we still managed to bring the two of them back together after 10 long months apart.
● Raven’s owner had originally looked all over for him, and was heartbroken when he didn’t return a few months after wandering off. ● Despite missing him and desperately wanting him back, she had no choice but to move house a couple of weeks later, resigning herself to never seeing poor Raven again. ● Raven, however, had struck lucky and found a lovely family who were feeding him a stray, so wasn’t in any kind of pain or distress and was being well looked after!
After a while, Raven’s finders decided to go through the process of adopting him officially, and brought him into Mayhew as a stray intended to have him checked over and registered to them if they passed our initial assessment.
As with all animals who come into our clinic, we searched for a microchip and to our surprise found that Raven actually had an up to date one. We tried sending a letter, text and email to the details on file, and despite the letter obviously never arriving with the original owner, she did receive the email and replied to us shortly afterwards in surprise and delight.
Although Raven’s feeders were obviously disappointed that they would no longer be taking Raven home with them, they were thrilled for him and his original owner who came in to pick him up as soon as she could. Whilst Raven was with us we’d given him a full health assessment and neutered him, and
Four year old Raven
cleaned up a few old scabs on his head and ears that he’d picked up during his time straying.
When Raven’s owner first saw him, she couldn’t believe her eyes that he was really there, and Raven was equally delighted to be reunited with a familiar face!
Although Raven has now settled back into his new house, we expect to see many more cats just like him who sadly will never get to see their loving owners again. Cats like Graham, whose story we shared last month and who are not microchipped, rely on voluntary neighbourhood posters and word of mouth if they are discovered all alone, and often this is not sufficient enough to be able to track down their original family.
It’s also incredibly important that multiple methods of contact are included on a microchip, so that if owners like Raven’s move or get a new phone or lose access to their email account, they can still be reached by one of the other methods.
We are thrilled to hear that a recent government consultation into compulsory cat microchipping has now moved to the next stage, with Justice Secretary Robert Buckland having set up a new taskforce to look into the practicalities of making microchipping cats a legal obligation, just like it currently is for dogs, to help prevent pet theft. Mayhew fed advice and thoughts into the original consultation, and we will be watching closely for any updates over the next few months.
n To find out more about Mayhew’s services, including rescue and rehoming, please visit our website www.themayhew.org
You can also read more about our on site Vet Clinic and the services we offer, including microchipping, https://themayhew.org/community-vet-clinic/microchipping - though please note we are currently running at a significantly reduced capacity due to the ongoing pandemic, and are not currently open to the public.
20 Reasons Why Collies Don’t Use Computers
By Ben Wilkes
20. Can’t stick their heads out of Windows 95
19. Come by command not available on all platforms
18. Hard to read the monitor with your head cocked to one Side
17. Too difficult to “mark” every website visited
16. Can’t help attacking the screen when they hear “You’ve got mail”
15. Fire hydrant icon simply frustrating
14. Involuntary tail wagging is dead giveaway they’re browsing www.pethouse.com instead of working
13. Keep bruising noses trying to catch that MPEG frisbee
12. Not at all fooled by bouncing ball screen saver
11. Still trying to come up with an “emoticon” that signifies tail wagging 9. Three words; carpal, paw syndrome
8. Because collies aren’t GEEKS! Now, sheep on the other hand
7. Barking in next cube keeps activating YOUR voice recognition software
6. SmellU-SmellMe still in beta test
5. SIT and STAY were hard enough, GREP and
AWK are out of the question!
4. Saliva coated mouse becomes difficult to manoeuvre
3. Annoyed by lack of newsgroup, alt.pictures.master’s.leg.
2. Bum sniffing more direct and less deceiving than online chat rooms
And the Number 1 Reason Collies Don’t Use Computers……..
1. TrO{gODsA[M,Bn hYaQr41Dc TgYPirE WeIjTyH P;AzWqs,.8
Where have all the Dogs gone?
Covid 19 has caused many problems and not just for humans but the animal world is suffering too. As a breed rescue we normally take in about 200 Labradors per year but since the pandemic their popularity has escalated beyond measure. We received over 2000 enquiries for dogs of all ages and in the end, we simply had to close our books to registrations. As a result the Trust has had to rethink its policies and we now have a completely new way of working. During the pandemic we have taken in less than 20 dogs for rehoming. The majority have had serious problems of one kind or another and have incurred the Trust in many hours of hard work doing rehabilitation and generally sorting them out before they have gone on to their new forever homes.
Puppy farmers and some unscrupulous breeders have cashed in big time for these dogs. A Labrador puppy went up from £850 to over £3000 in the space of weeks. Unbelievably, people so desperate for Labradors fuelled the trade by paying these exorbitant prices. All sorts of yarns were spun by the vendors in order to secure a quick sale, pocket the cash and disappear off the face of the earth, only to emerge with a new identity and different address.
The Kennel Club breed standard shows that there are 3 colours of Labrador Black, Yellow and Chocolate – any other colour is not recognised. Now we have sellers advertising Champagne, Charcoal, Fox Red, Grey, Silver and all of them attracting even higher premiums. Unsuspecting buyers flocked to purchase these colours as they were advertised as rare. The power of on-line sales knows no bounds.
Owners are now returning to work and the phone calls are coming in asking for help, not to rehome the dog necessarily but wanting endless advice on trying to put right mistakes. This week, a 14 week old puppy that bites and is aggressive. I can hear it in the background barking hysterically, the owner admits the dog is being caged most of the time as each time it is free it does the wall of death round the house. I give what advice I can but I fear that it falls on deaf ears, I suspect the dog will have been sold on as it cost them megabucks.
I fear the worst for many dogs as so many will be in a situation that they are not used to i.e. being left for long periods of time whilst owners are back at work. Many owners wanting help are telling the same story to us, the dog is aggressive to other dogs, wrecking the house when left, barking constantly. All these things can be sorted but people are not turning to rescue to rehome the dogs. They are being sold on time and again with the problems escalating. We have come to a situation where the dog is like a used car, once it goes wrong then you sell it on carefully avoiding the truth as to why. And so it goes on like a treadmill with the result that there are some very screwed up, unhappy and in some cases dangerous dogs out there.
For heavens sake if you find yourself in this situation then think of the dog first and go to your breed rescue, they know and understand their breed better than anyone.
n To find out more visit Labrador Lifeline Trust www.labrador-lifeline.com info@labrador-lifeline.com
Keep your pet safe in the car
Plans of foreign holidays will once again be shelved for millions of Brits this spring and summer, and now households planning ‘staycations’ have been advised on how to keep their four-legged family members safe on road trips.
The motoring experts at
LeaseCar.uk have compiled their advice for travelling with pets, with the top priority being to keep them safe.
The Highway Code states that dogs or other animals must be suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you or themselves if you stop quickly. Failure to do this could result in a fine and penalty points.
The experts are urging owners to use suitable restraints including harnesses for dogs, pet guards for larger, active dogs and cages or carriers for smaller animals.
Other tips featured in the guide cover preparing your animal for the journey, advice for during the trip and what to do when you finally arrive.
Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “Travelling with your pet can be stressful, especially if they become anxious or suffer from motion sickness.
“So, we’ve compiled some tips to help make the journey as easy as possible for both your animal and you.
“Preparing them ahead of the trip with a long walk and a light meal will get you off to a good start.
“Once the journey is underway, it’s important to make sure your pet is safe, and you adhere to the guidance set out in the Highway Code. Also remember to have plenty of stops, keep water in the car with your pet and make sure they don’t overheat.
“And when you finally reach your destination, take them on a good, long walk.”
Before you start your journey
1. Go for a walk Take your pet for a long walk before you head off on your travels to burn off excess energy. They’re more likely to spend the journey relaxing if they’re worn out.
2. Feeding Feed your pet two hours before travel –they travel better on an empty stomach and it reduces the risk of travel sickness. Also make sure there’s water in the car in a spill proof bowl.
On the journey
3. Keeping your pet safe Make sure you stick to the rules in the Highway Code and keep your pet safe by using restraints. Harnesses are great for dogs. For larger, more active dogs, try a pet guard which can turn the boot into a dedicated pet area. For smaller pets, consider investing in a carrier, crate or cage. especially if you’re travelling a long way. And remember to keep your pet on a lead when you take them out of the car.
5. Window Shades Invest in some window shades to help keep the car cool and block out direct sunlight. This will make the journey more comfortable for your pet.
6. Keep your pet relaxed Journeys can be stressful to pet, so try and make them as happy and relaxed as possible. This could be as simple as their favourite toy or a blanket from home.
7. Cooling down Don’t let your pet hang out of the window to cool down. Not only is this illegal, they could injure themselves. Instead turn on the air conditioning and open windows furthest from your animal.
8. Breakdown If you breakdown while travelling with your pet, don’t let them out unless it safe to do so and make sure you keep them on a lead.
When you arrive
9. Let them free As soon as you arrive and it’s safe, give your pet a chance to stretch their legs and run around.
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Can you give any of these lovely pets a place in your home and your heart?
Availabe to adopt from RSPCA The Danaher Animal Home www.danaheranimalhome.org.uk
Jess
A sweet, adorable little dog who needs a confident owner as she is deaf. Her other senses are heightened so will need visual training. He loves to play and is full of energy, so isn’t coping in kennels. He has a very high prey drive so needs a home with no small animals or cats. Rambo is our big friendly giant. He would benefit from a home with a large garden due to his breeds needs.
Reggie Rambo Ezra
A friendly girl who would benefit from a home with a large garden due to her breed needs. She just enjoy people’s company and affection.
Nancy
A very timid girl who needs lots of love and affection to come out of herself. Once she has gained your trust she will show you how friendly and adorable she is.
Pandy
Our confident, friendly boy. He is looking for a girlfriend as he enjoys other bunny company as well as humans.
Availabe to adopt from Blue Cross www.bluecross.org.uk Availabe to adopt from Dogs Trust www.dogstrust.org.uk
Lyla Pickle Spud
Lyla is 7 mths and needs a new owner around for the majority of the day to help build up her time left alone. Pickle is 3 mths As he is deaf there may be some restrictions in my life, but with the right training and support I could be such fun for someone. Spud is 1. Some would describe me as a bit of a 'Jack the Lad' as I'm independent , inquisitive and excitable.
Albert Alby Betty Boop
Albert is a smart little chap, and when given the calm environment that he requires he thrives in human company.
A wonderful 4 year old boy who is full of fun and energy. He is always on the go and would be best suited to a family that enjoys going out exploring.
Betty Boop is 2 and will need to be the only pet in the home and she will require her own fully secure private garden.
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Brits go barking mad for dog friendly staycations
• Over half of UK dog owners plan to take their pet on a staycation this year • A quarter of dog owners took on their pet during Covid • Two thirds of pet owners anxious about taking their dog on holiday
With some restrictions still in place for overseas travel 51% of dog owners plan to take their pet on a staycation this year. With a quarter of UK dog owners taking on their new pet during the pandemic, Blue Cross is offering advice to owners who may be taking their dog away from home for the first time. For many pets they may find themselves for the first time in a totally different environment. They may have never seen the sea before or had much experience around livestock. The charity recommends owners plan ahead to ensure everyone enjoys a holiday that is happy, not a horror.
Kerry Taylor, Education Manager at Blue Cross said: “There are a few key things to consider before you go, during the journey and when you arrive. For example, find out where the nearest vet is located and check our first aid advice, just in case. Make sure your dog is microchipped, which they should be by law, and your mobile phone number is on their dog tag. Pack everything your dog will need and to make sure they are comfortable being in a strange place, especially if it’s their first time.”
Two thirds of dog owners confess they are nervous about taking their dog on holiday, with 40% of owners saying they fear their dog might get stolen or go missing. However, shockingly over a third of owners say they don’t have a contact number on their dog’s tag.
A third of owners also worry their pet will overheat in the sun yet over a quarter think it is ok to leave the dog in the car with the windows open when making a quick stop.
Kerry continued: “New dog owners in particular need to plan ahead and do some research before setting off. Never leave your dog alone in a car, on hot days, even just for a couple of minutes, as it can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. Make sure you take regular water and wee stops if it’s a long drive and get them used to public transport before setting off on a long train journey to make sure they will cope.”
Dog meets a horse for the first time
Glamping with dogs
• Make sure flea and worm treatment is up to date • Pack their food, treats and a chew to help them relax • If they might take a dip in the sea, or other water, take a towel and brush
Despite half of the owners claiming their dog always comes back when called Blue Cross animal behaviourist urge caution before letting dogs off the lead while on holiday as some dogs may behave differently somewhere they are unfamiliar with compared to their daily visit to the local park.
It is also vital for dogs to be kept on a short lead when around livestock and kept on lead if there is any doubt whatsoever.
Blue Cross #petholiday checklist:
• Make sure your mobile number is on their dog tag • Check contact details of nearest vet and pack a doggy first aid kit –just in case • Pack their blanket or bed • Always have clean water for the journey and while away • Pack their favourite toys in case of rainy days • Pack any medicines they need n For more staycation with pets advice visit www.bluecross.org.uk/petholiday
Blue Cross is a charity and relies on donations from animal lovers to continue its vital work helping sick, injured, homeless and abandoned pets. Visit the website to make a donation, find out more about the charity’s work and to see pets currently looking for loving homes.
End of life, we know it will happen
As much as we would prefer to ignore the trauma of an end-of-life situation, we know it will be something we will go through. I wouldn’t recommend that this becomes a regular subject of conversation but some thought and some planning is always a sensible and strangely comforting thing to do.
Maybe you will discuss whether to let your pet die naturally at home or taking them to the vet’s clinic for a planned euthanasia? The decisions you make will be personal and based on the health of your pet and their quality of life. My German Shepherd does not like visiting the vet, (luckily she has not had to do it often) but when she does, the anxiety is obvious and distressing, she looses hair becomes nervous and generally stressed. In an on-line survey arranged by Cloud 9 Vets over 90% of respondents would prefer to organise a home euthanasia. This means avoiding potential pain and risk for clinic anxiety, in other words a peaceful, controlled and stressless passing in the safe environment of your own home.
Dos and don’ts
When this discussion becomes unavoidable, do:
• Talk to your vet practice in good time: there is no advantage pushing things to the last minute.
Sadly we have too often seen a situation that the owner appears to be in control of, suddenly turn into a crises, when the situation controls you, it may turn into an emergency, when the peaceful
and gentle goodbye becomes a rush to avoid pain and distress. • Discuss pet euthanasia with family or friends: this is a major decision, get everyone on the same page before making that final decision. • Run through a quality of life assessment, do it several times if necessary. • Consider the environment, being at home will reduce stress.
However:
• Don’t be scared of making that call or booking that appointment, when you are facing the inevitable
it is comforting to talk to experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate people, who can help and support you. • Don’t push things too far, in an end of life situation remember the sentiment that “a week too early is so much better than a day too late”. • Don’t blame yourself, considering euthanasia is something you do as an act of love for your pet, to save them from pain and distress. • Don’t let other people make the decision for you, you know your pet best. • Don’t forget about aftercare, do you want to bury at home? Or perhaps organise an individual cremation with the ashes returned in an urn?
Time is always a factor
When it is time, you will likely know as an owner, after all you know your pet better than anyone else. They often send us subtle signals, maybe they are hiding away, maybe they just look at you in ”that” way, asking for some help if their quality of life is not what they or you would want it to be. Don’t feel guilty, those who contemplate putting their elderly or sick pet to sleep do it through love, nothing else. Make sure you say a proper goodbye before the vet’s appointment, there will also be time after you meet the vet, but you may want those few private moments, before the vet arrives.
A gentle-euthanasia needs time, do not be rushed, make sure you can go through the process carefully and calmly, without being hurried or too focused on the clock. Be clear with the vet, how much, or little do you want to know about the process? Make sure you get the closeness and compassion you and your pet need. Even in times of Corona this should still be possible, ask before, because it is too late afterwards.
All of these decisions are personal. Should I order an individual or communal cremation, a burial at home? There is not a “right” decision, just a decision, that is right for you and your family.
We don’t talk about end-of-life do we? Well we just did! And planning what to do, in good time, makes the process, gentle and dignified, making sure that you celebrate the wonderful life of your pet rather than just mourn their passing.
One of our vets, Charlotte recently said to me, “putting a pet to sleep is such an emotional and sad time but if you plan that process with respect and dignity, their passing can actually be something very special and very loving”.
n Amber Synnott, Amber is co-founder, Director and Practice Manager at Cloud 9 Vets visit cloud9vets.co.uk
Photo image: ©Adobe Stock stock.adobe.com
Introducing Dog Centred Care –Recognising the dog’s emotional experience
I recently gave a presentation at the Victoria Stillwell Dog Behaviour Conference. During the talk I introduced the phrase ‘Dog Centred Care’ . To show what that meant I asked the delegates to consider two types of behaviour: ‘The behaviour we do ourselves and the behaviour we judge in others. ’ Have a good think about that! When we break it down like this, we can easily see the difference between the often-two-dimensional ways we judge behaviour in others, compared with the complexities and nuances we experience behind our own behaviour.
By Andrew Hale
Let’s start with the behaviour we judge in others. As a species we are very judgemental of behaviour. There are many
Andrew and his dogs reasons for this and I will not delve too deeply into those here, but when considering a dog centred care approach we must start by recognising how our own judgements, expectations and language of behaviour may stop up us from offering the support the dog needs. We need to remember the norm is still to see behaviour simply on a continuum of good to bad and it is very easy to define a behaviour based on our own agenda and outlook. This, in turn, can lead to a focus on just wanting to change or control that behaviour without thinking about what the dog might have been communicating through it in the first place. Whilst judgement of behaviour is, of course, important when we consider safety and its effect on others, we must also remember that the animals (or indeed humans!) emotional experience might be quite different to any determination made externally as to its desirability.
Unlike the way we judge the behaviour of others, when it comes to consider our own behaviour, we know it is really rather complicated - right!? We know of all the many factors that affect us, that feed into our own emotional experience and then on to what drives our behaviour. We also know what it feels like to have our behaviour judged, scrutinised and challenged by those who have no idea of our emotional experience. We can
think back to examples from school, or maybe in the workplace or even within our own family or social network. There is nothing worse than having people just arbitrarily make assumptions and create expectations that may have no resemblance to our own needs, and that are just based on what they find appropriate etc. If we think to a time where we were put under pressure to act in a certain way, without the ability to express emotional need or to behave in a way we felt more comfortable, we can easily identify with what that control and coercion feels like.
Within dog training we have become really good at being able to create, change and challenge behaviour in dogs. The focus (and arguments) have often ended up being over what methods or tools are best, what approaches get the best ‘results’ and how to get them the fastest. Much of this is based on the foundation of the human having decided what is appropriate, what is allowed, what is expected and what those ‘results’ look like. Indeed the long discredited dominance model was built on those projections- a model that sadly still sits large in the zeitgeist. Even as we have tried to move away from that model and shifted towards using rewards, we have not been so quick to move away from the human ego and its focus on getting behaviours we want and expect.
So, here is the rub. Behind the dog’s behaviour there will be an emotional experience, and often real genuine emotional need. If we just seek to change behaviour in an arbitrary and unilateral manner, we risk just getting behaviours we find more appropriate, but that offers little internal value to the dog or indeed relief for their emotional need. The mantra that is often used is ‘Reinforce the good, ignore the bad’ but we can now see the possible problems with this. Those ‘bad’ behaviours may well be communicating real need and the seeking of relief. By ignoring those what is the dog really learning – is it learning to stop that behaviour as it won’t be reinforced or more fundamentally that help doesn’t come? And those ‘good’ behaviours - are we supporting behaviours that have any use or internal value to the dog, or are they based purely on our expectations of what ‘we’ want because we have judged them as good?
So, the real consideration must be to stay mindful about the role our own judgements play in deciding the appropriateness of behaviour, and to try to ensure if we are going to create or support a behaviour that it is has some use to the dog as well as for us.
This is the essence of a Dog Centred Care approach. It invites us to try and put our own judgements and expectations into some alignment with the dog’s emotional experience and their communication of their emotional need.
I have reached out to others in the dog behaviour community who are also asking some of these questions and created a FB group where I can share all our work. If you would like to read more articles and watch some great chats join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogcc or go to my website www.dogcc.org and join the mailing list to hear of courses on the emotional experience of dogs that are coming soon.
Andrew Hale is a Certified Animal Behaviourist and behavioural consultant for Pet Remedy
How to tackle pets’ separation anxiety while managing your home’s ‘carbon pawprint’
• E.ON teams up with expert vet and TV presenter, Dr Scott Miller, to reveal the sustainable ways pet owners can help minimise their home’s ‘carbon pawprint’1 • New research2 reveals that over half (64%) of Brits leave various appliances on to keep their pet calm and comfortable when left alone • Almost half (49%) of pet owners are unaware of the impact their pets’ energy use has on their own carbon footprint • Line of Duty, EastEnders and Planet Earth are the top TV shows left on to keep pets company
With a sharp rise in the number of pets over the past 12 months3, it’s little surprise that our ownership of pets may have had an adverse impact on our energy use, creating pets’ own ‘carbon pawprints’.
With lockdown now easing and Brits slowly heading back to normality, new research from E.ON with 2,000 pet owners2 has found more than half (56%) have adopted various habits to help keep their pets calm and comfortable2. Many of these habits can increase households’ carbon emissions – something which almost half (49%) of pet owners surveyed are unaware of2 .
For those who are slowly heading back into the workplace, over a third (39%) of British pet owners said they’re concerned with how this may affect their pampered pet. Six in ten (64%) put devices on when they leave their pet on their own, including the TV (43%) and radio (44%)2. When asked why they leave devices on for their pets, more than half (58%) said it’s to keep their pet company2 .
When choosing which TV shows to leave on, Line of Duty (12%), EastEnders (12%) and Planet Earth (17%) were among pet owners’ favourites. Other popular shows included Blue Planet (17%), Coronation Street (12%) and This Morning (11%)2 .
Separate research by E.ON4 with 2,000 pet owners found that almost two fifths (37%) of pet owners confirmed if they knew the extent of their energy use when caring for their pet, they’d try new ways to decrease it and become more sustainable, including: • Installing smart lighting (56%) • Using energy efficient appliances, including TV and
Radio (55%) • Using energy efficient light bulbs (54%) • Choosing a supplier which provides 100% renewable electricity (52%)
Expert Vet and TV presenter, Dr Scott Miller
• Monitoring energy use via a smart meter (50%) • Installing a smart thermostat (47%) • Upgrading to an energy efficient boiler (47%) • Installing solar panels and or battery storage (45%)
heart of all we do at E.ON; we provide all of our customers’ homes with 100% renewable electricity6 and a range of smart home solutions.
“With many people being unaware of the impact owning a pet can have on their carbon footprint, we’re keen to help encourage pet owners to think more broadly about how they can make sustainable changes in the home. Whether that’s through effective monitoring of energy use with a smart meter, energy efficient appliances, or installing a new and efficient boiler, we believe in a smart, personalised and sustainable energy future for our customers.”
To help pet owners across the country care for their pet more sustainably, E.ON has teamed up with expert vet and TV presenter, Dr Scott Miller, to provide his top five tips:
1. Keep it cool – Stress and anxiety can lead to an increase in your pets’ body temperature, something which is exacerbated by a warm house. Try to keep things a little cooler when leaving your pet alone to help reduce stress levels.
And make sure that you have an energy efficient boiler for those colder days when you do need the heating on – you’ll save both energy and spend less on your heating bills while still keeping your pet comfortable. E.ON’s tado° smart thermostat is another great way to manage your home’s temperature when you’re not there. It not only monitors the weather forecast for you, but also allows you to control your heating from your phone.
2. Turn on the TV – Outside sounds and strange noises can worsen separation anxiety, so use gentle background noise, such as a radio or TV to muffle these and reduce any negative reactions to them. While this is an energy-consuming way of soothing your pet, you can cut down how much power you use simply by turning down the TV screen brightness5 .
Keep an eye on your energy use with a smart meter to help make sure you’re only using the energy you need to when keeping your pet calm and comfortable. And ensure you’re with an energy supplier that provides 100% renewable electricity6, like E.ON.
3. Enrich their environment – From toys to interactive food gadgets, there are so many great ways to entertain your pet when you leave the house. Encouraging your pet to ‘work’ for their food, stimulating their problem-solving abilities and engaging them in a task are all great ways to focus your dog or cat on something positive rather than the negative feelings of your departure.
4. To light or not to light – Many owners like to keep a light on for their pampered pets, something which can use up a lot of energy over time. But many pet owners might not be aware that dogs are naturally nocturnal and can see better in the dark than you can. 5. Practice makes perfect – If your pet is suffering with the common issue of separation anxiety as lockdown eases, you must try to keep some separation from them even when you’re in the house together.
Have an area for them to relax on their own, use stairgates and slowly increase the time you spend out of the house away from them in short increments, using toys and treats to divert their attention from your departure.
Pet cameras can be a useful tool to help gauge the level of your pet’s anxiety, and always consider the help of a local specialist pet behaviourist who can help understand, support and manage separation anxiety in your furry friends.
The research revealed dog owners’ top habits to help keep their pooches calm and comfortable2: • Leaving lots of toys out to play with (64%) • Leaving the lights on (48%) • Leaving the radio on (44%) • Leaving the TV on (43%) • Playing music (36%) • Giving them a dog bone (35%) • Monitoring their pet via camera (19%) • Leaving on other pet related devices e.g. pet diffuser (19%) • Walkie Talkies to communicate with their pet (12%)
With the recent rise in pet theft7 and many new pet parents leaving their pet for the first time, half (50%) of British pet owners admit they’re concerned about how they can keep their pet safe once they’re back in the workplace2. To help address this, pet owners have installed a pet camera, CCTV and additional security alarms – all of which can add to a household’s energy use.
E.ON offers smart meters, efficient boilers and solar and battery technology which can all help people better manage their home energy use, and even generate their own. To find out more about 100% renewable electricity from E.ON6 and other sustainable solutions, visit www.eonenergy.com
1. Carbon Pawprint - the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community – in this case, pets. 2. Survey of 2,000 respondents carried out on behalf of E.ON by
FlyResearch in April 2021. 3. Source: BBC News 4. Survey of 2,000 respondents carried out on behalf of E.ON by
FlyResearch in May 2021. 5. Source: Energy Saving Trust 6. Electricity backed by 100% renewable sources. E.ON's renewable generation assets, agreements with UK wind generators and the purchase of renewable electricity certificates. The electricity supplied to your home comes from the National Grid and DNOs. eonenergy.com/renewable 7. Source: The Guardian
Help homeless horse Heather find her happy ending
A ten-year-old piebald cob called Heather has been looking for a home for over 500 days and Blue Cross in Rolleston is calling out to find her happy ending where she will live as a non-ridden companion.
Heather arrived at Blue Cross through the RSPCA in June 2017 and despite being rehomed several times before, she was returned to the Rolleston centre in September 2019 and been waiting for a new home ever since.
Heather previously had wounds in her heels and the backs of her knees from having mites. Because she was sore she had learnt to kick, bite and strike to stop people from handling her legs. Since being back at the centre she has had a lot of training with her legs and happily she is now good to be examined by the farrier and allow the team to put oil and cream on her heels and the backs of her knees to prevent her getting sores.
Verity Anderton-Johnson, Rehoming Co-ordinator at Blue Cross in Rolleston said: “Heather is a sweet mare but needs a competent and consistent handler to build her confidence up. Heather has been a travel companion while in our care and was great. She was really chilled when the other horse left the trailer and travelled back alone fine. We hope we can soon find her happy forever home.”
Her new borrowers will need to keep Heather on a poor quality grazing and she benefits from having a daily gut supplement. At times where grass is growing rapidly (spring) she would benefit from turnout on a non-grazing area such as a woodchip or school and time away from grazing until the grass has settled to help hew lose some weight.
n To find out more about Heather and other horses needing a new home, or to make a donation towards their care, visit www.bluecross.org.uk
We are delighted to support the Animal Charities featured in this Magazine
Tel: 01952 245330 www.dogmatic.org.uk
A solution for every horse that suffers as a result of Sweet Itch
The Boett® Veterinary Blanket
The blanket provides a totally effective barrier against insect attack and prevents the typical symptoms of this allergy.
The Boett® Veterinary Hood
The Boett Hood is made from the same tough breathable fabric as the Boett Blanket, the eyes are protected with a mesh that has excellent visibility. Bio-Plus capsules for horses
These improve general health, reduced stress, stronger immune systems and resistance to disease.
National Sweet Itch Centre
Advice Line: 01352 840333 / 01352 771718 / 07825 152490
