Lucky for me, Karma could care less. However, my previous dog, Dugan, was terrified. I remember the exact day it started, too. It was July 3 and a neighbor was shooting off fireworks for his son’s birthday. Unfortunately they were practically in the backyard so the noises were up close.

This is when Dugan would sit on my head. Yup. Since fireworks work best in the dark, we were already tucked in for the night and he decided the safest place was by my head. Poor baby literally didn’t know what to do.

Ah, but Dugan was really smart – in this case, too smart. He transferred his fear of fireworks to thunder. And then figured out that lightening preceded thunder so he became afraid of that as well, even if there was no clap to follow. The ultimate transference happened when we moved to San Francisco right outside a (electric) bus stop. If you’ve ever been to SanFran you know that the busses “zap” and create mini “lightening.” Now I had a dog afraid of electric busses.

Today I would do what I do best and throw money at the problem. My friends at AgileDogs Rock!! sell a great new product called “Thundershirts” that the dog wears like a type of dog coat. It works by gently applying pressure and creating a “squeezing” effect which is scientifically proven to calm animals and people. (Think Temple Grandin and her squeeze shoots)

Other ways to help

• Keep you dog physically away from the fireworks or thunder as much as possible. A quiet place in the house, a safe corner, a favorite bed in just the perfect spot can all help to reduce anxiety.
• Turn on the lights, turn up some soothing music and create other distractions. Try playing games or doing other activities the dog enjoys.
• Incorporate Bach Flower Remedies which have formulas for specific situations like this.
• Be sure your pet is wearing ID in case he decides to make a run for it.

What about Dugan? Well since he was such a smarty-pants, he eventually figured out that “bus lightening” didn’t mean that thunder would follow. As a matter of fact, that micro-climate rarely has thunderstorms so he came to decouple the lightening from the thunder. Once that happened, he sort of just let the thunder go. Of course, he was 12 at the time!

Yet so often we put our pets’ needs ahead of our own. Truth is, there are ways to save and your pooch will never be the wiser!

Coupons | look for coupons, discount codes and free samples everywhere – online, magazines, stores, facebook, twitter and in the mail. Also, with a little effort you can often find free samples of your favorite products.

Bulk Up | Whenever you can buy in volume or buy packages. Some places offer deals for buying quantity and some service providers (like groomers) offer packages which will offer savings.

Shop Smarter | Look around for deals. Chances are you have gotten into habits about where you shop when in fact, there may be a better deal out there is another store or online.

Join Up | Loyalty programs reward repeat purchases so check to see if the brands you buy or the stores you frequent have such benefits.

Time It Right | Pay attention to when the sales occur. Join mailing lists to find out about sales at your favorite stores or of preferred brands.

Ignore the Calendar | Your dog doesn’t know that it’s not cool to play with a Santa toy in April so look for items post-holiday – they will be on sale.

Share | Often what you’re eating for dinner is a great treat for your pooch. Treats don’t have to be dog cookies, they can be blueberries or apples – anything healthy. Just don’t create a beggar – be sure to feed “people” food away from where you eat and certainly not while you’re eating it.

Tell Your Friends | Get in the habit of telling friends about the deals you find. Pretty soon they will be telling you about deals, too!

Most importantly, remember that it all adds up. Just $15 pays for a night at a great campground! I’m sure your dog wouldn’t mind playing with Santa if he knew he could be in the woods!!

My very favorite reason to build this type of engagement with your pup is just that – engagement! Working together builds that all-important bond while increasing confidence in both of you!

Here are several ways you can amp-up your exercise regime. Hopefully it will give you even more ideas:

Active commands | “Pushups” or “Puppy Pushups” are a great example of combining physical movement with thinking and general control. Have your dog begin in a “sit” then ask for a “down” then have him push up back into a sit. You’re conditioning muscles and mind while creating a great distraction behavior to use next time you’re waiting in the vet’s office.

Aerobics | Maybe not Jane Fonda style, but your pup needs to get his cardio on regularly. Just like you, your dog’s body gets used to the usual lap around the neighborhood and it can cease to be much of a workout over time. Vary the lengths, speed and intensity regularly.

Fun in the rain | Well not in the rain but while the weather is yucky bring a little agility indoors. Jumping through a hula-hoop started close to the ground can be another way to combine physical and mental challenges. Just watch the breakables and do not do this on bare, slippery floors!

Tag, you’re it! | Want to strengthen those recalls and improve cardio? Work distance recalls and increase the speed at which your dog returns to you. Leave the dog in a sit/down/stay position and go out only as far as you think your dog can be successful. Call your dog (or whatever your recall command is). Only when he starts to come and get closer do you turn and run, increasing distance and speed over time. Reward the dog only when they run to you, not by you! You’ll get faster and more consistent recalls and get those hearts beating (both of you!).

Get into the box | One of the best “shaping” exercises you can do – indoors, too – is interacting with a plain ol’ cardboard box. With the top of the box open, reward your dog for stepping in it – front feet, back feet, all feet. Then flip the box over and have him put his front paw(s) on it, then back feet then (depending on the size of your latest UPS delivery) all feet. The idea is to reward the dog for interacting with objects on his own. Not until they reliably do a behavior do you start to name it. The hardest part is not luring them, but letting them offer up behaviors in an attempt to earn the treat. Now if Karma even sees a box he will start offering me behaviors with it.

I work a bunch of these things into our daily lives. Often I will “announce” one of these ultra-short sessions with the question, “Do you want a chance to earn?” Guess what the answer is?

If your dog is showing the first signs of heat exhaustion, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, the first thing you must do is remove him from the confining area. Nine times out of ten, heat exhaustion occurs while the dog is confined, whether it is in a car, crate, or doghouse.

Take the dog to shade, and soak him with cool water. Do NOT use extremely cold or iced water. This will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from escaping.

You can apply ice packs to the areas underneath his front legs, and to the groin area for rapid blood cooling. Give your dog enough water to wet his mouth and throat, but do NOT allow your dog to drink copious amounts!

Take your dog’s temperature, this is done anally to get the most accurate reading.

Prepare your dog for transport to the nearest emergency animal clinic.

Do NOT cover your dog, even with a cold towel. This will prevent the heat from escaping.

Do NOT place him back in his crate, but keep him with you, with windows down and air conditioning on high, to allow evaporation which will aid in the cooling process.

Yes, there is also a danger that dog can become too cold. Monitor the temperatures and stop the cooling process as soon as your dog’s temperature reads normally again.

Continue on the vet’s, your dog is not saved yet!

This fabulous poster was sponsored by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and was reprinted from the Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th ed., 1998. The poster is available for purchase and the information is also available online.

The following is simply a list of the plants, but the poster also provides information on habit/distribution, affected animals, important characteristics, toxic principles and effects and treatment.

• Agave Americana: aka Century Plant, American aloe
• Aglaonema modestrum: aka Chinese evergreen, Painted drop tongue
• Agrostemma githago: aka Corn cockle
• Allium cepa, A canadense: aka Onion (cultivated & wild)
• Aloe barbadensis: aka Barbados aloe, Curacao aloe
• Apocynum: aka Dogbanes
• Asclepias: aka Milkweeds
• Brunfelsia pauciflora var floribunda: aka Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, Lady of the night
• Caladium: aka Fancy leaf caladium, Angel wings
• Cannabis sativa: aka Mary Jane, Marijuana, Grass, Pot (you know the slang!)
• Capsicum annuum: aka Cherry pepper, Chili pepper, Ornamental pepper, Capsicum
• Cestrum diurnum, C nocturnum: aka Day-blooming Jessamine & Night-blooming Jessamine, respectively
• Chlorophytum: aka Spider plant, St. Bernards’s lily, Airplane plant
• Cicuta: aka Water hemlock
• Colchium autumnale lilaceae: aka Autumn crocus, Crocus, Fall crocus, Meadow saffron, Wonder bulb
• Conium maculatum: aka Poison hemlock
• Convallaria majalis: aka Lily-of-the-valley, Conval lily, Mayflower
• Crotalaria: aka Rattlebox
• Cyclamen: aka Snowbread, Shooting Star
• Datura stamonium: aka Jimson weed, Thorn apple
• Daubentonia punicea: aka Rattlebox, Purple sesbane
• Dieffenbachia: aka Dumbcane
• Digitalis purpurea: aka Foxglove
• Dracaena: aka Dragon tree
• Euphorbia pulcherrima: aka Poinsettia, Christmas flower, Christmas star
• Gelsemium sepervirens: aka Yellow jessamine, Evening trumpet flower, Carolina jessamine
• Hyacinthus: aka Hyacinths
• Ilex aquifolium: aka English holly, European holly
• Kalanchoe: aka Air plant, Cathedral bells
• Kalmia: aka Laurel, Ivybush, Lambkill
• Lilium longi florm: aka Easter lily, Trumpet lily
• Nerium oleander: aka Oleander
• Persea Americana: aka Avocado pear, Alligator pear
• Philodendron
• Phoradendron flavescens: aka Mistletoe
• Ricinus commusis: aka Castor bean
• Rhododendron: aka Azalea
• Sansevieria: aka Snake plant, Mother-in-law’s tongue
• Schefflera: aka Umbrella Tree
• Sesbania: vesicara: aka Bladderpod, Rattlebox, Sesbane, Coffeebean
• Solanum pseudocapsicum: aka Jerusalem cherry
• Solanum: aka Nightshades, Jerusalem cherry, Potato, Horse nettle, Buffalo Bur
• Sorghum vulgare: aka Sudan grass, Kafir, Durra, Milo, Broomcorn, Schrock
• Taxus: aka Yew
• Xanthium: aka Cocklebur
• Zamia pumila: aka Coontie, Florida arrowroot, Seminole bread, Cycad

This is the third and final blog in our “beating the heat

There are ways you can prevent heat stroke from happening in the first place.

• NEVER leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day, regardless of whether the windows are open. Even if the weather outside is not extremely hot, the inside of the car acts like an oven – temperatures can rise to dangerously high levels in a matter of minutes.
• Avoid vigorous exercise on warm days. When outside, opt for shady areas.
• Keep fresh cool water available at all times.
• Certain types of dogs are more sensitive to heat – especially obese dogs and brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, like Pugs and Bulldogs. Use extreme caution when these dogs are exposed to heat.

Some dogs can recover fully from heat stroke if it is caught early enough. Others suffer permanent organ damage and require lifelong treatment. Sadly, many dogs do not survive heat stroke. Prevention is the key to keeping your dog safe during warmer weather.

This is a continuation of our three-part

If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is suffering from heat stoke, you must take immediate action.

1. First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away.

2. Begin cooling your dog by placing cool, wet rags or washcloths on the body – especially the foot pads and around the head.

3. DO NOT use ice or very cold water! Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict, preventing the body’s core from cooling and actually causing the internal temperature to further rise. In addition, over-cooling can cause hypothermia, introducing a host of new problems. When the body temperature reaches 103°, stop cooling.

4. Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog’s mouth.

5. Call or visit your vet right away – even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary (and further testing may be recommended).

Tip: recruit others to help you – ask someone to call the vet while others help you cool your dog.

And I realized that sometimes you just can’t write something any better than someone else already has done. In this case, thanks to About.com and Jenna Stregowski, RVT for helping us understand avoid heat problems!

To make this blog-friendly, I have broken this article into sections. Please forward to your friends and remember that the safety of our dogs is more important than our desire for a long walk or day in the sun!!!

What is Hyperthermia?

Hyperthermia is a term describing an elevation in body temperature. This increase typically occurs as a response to a trigger, such as inflammation in the body or a hot environment. When a dog is exposed to high temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. Heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Once the signs of heat stroke are detected, there is precious little time before serious damage – or even death – can occur.

Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans – they release heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. Once the dog’s temperature reaches 106°, damage to the body’s cellular system and organs may become irreversible. Unfortunately, too many dogs succumb to heat stroke when it could have been avoided. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke and prevent it from happening to your dog.

Signs of Heat Stroke

The following signs may indicate heat stroke in a dog:

• Increased rectal temperature (over 104° requires action, over 106° is a dire emergency)
• Vigorous panting
• Dark red gums
• Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
• Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
• Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
• Thick saliva
• Dizziness or disorientation

For this reason, he believes that some symptoms (seizures was the example he used) are wrongly assigned to Lyme when it just so happens more comprehensive blood work was done when the dog presented with issues. In other words, you may only find out when something else is going on and then wrongly connect the two issues.

All that sounded logical and still does. So then I asked, “What do we do?” And this is where the opinions vary wildly.

He said that he doesn’t typically treat dogs that aren’t symptomatic. He also said that he doesn’t suggest the vaccine because he didn’t think it did enough (I don’t know which one was available at that time). We also discussed the fact that since Karma is so furry the odds of me finding a tick on him aren’t good so we switched him to separate products for heartworm prevention and flea and tick prevention. (After my own research, I chose K9 Advantix for flea and tick.)

Not being a vet myself I went along with it but continued to ask questions over the last two years. When you hang out at dog trials on weekends you soon amass quite the collection of Lyme and tick horror stories!

And that’s where my friend, Dr. Joellen Gregory, DVM, comes in. Joellen breeds Otterhounds (see photo!) and competes with her dogs in multiple activities including agility which is how we met. I took advantage of the waiting time at a trail to bend her ear about her opinions about Lyme.

Turns out she has a much different view and so Karma has an appointment with her at the Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hosipital on Monday. Stay tuned! I intend to write about this journey in case it is helpful to anyone else out there.

I shower Karma with all kinds of things – belly rubs, toys, treats, playtime and more. But one thing I am mindful of is food. As our faithful readers know, Karma is an active boy and earns lots of treats when we are training. But obesity in dogs is a HUGE (no pun intended!) problem and we all have to be careful of over-showering our pups with too much food.

Pets encounter many of the same problems humans do when they are overweight – osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and cancer – all of which shortens their lifespan (which is already too short!).

So how can you tell if you dog is packing on the pounds? First, take a trip to the vet and pay attention to the scale. Ask your vet about Fido’s weight and really listen to the answer. You should be able to easily feel ribs when you run your hands along his sides. When looking at your dog from above, he should have a discernible waist.

If your dog could stand to lose a few, here are some things to keep in mind:

Read the label of your dog food. Again. | Make sure they are eating a quality food free of by-products, corn and other fillers. Also check the calorie count as most “recommendations” in the instructions are geared to selling more food, not maintaining optimum weight.

Be honest about the amount of snacks and treats your dog gets. | When training, Karma gets all kinds of healthy treats, but that means he gets a little less breakfast and dinner as I’m looking at his total calories for the day. Be sure to educate everyone in the home!

Rethink your rewards. | Karma is very toy-motivated so sometimes a game of tug is the only reward he needs. Other times we use apples, blueberries or other healthy choices to mark good behavior.

Get moving. | It’s really not that different for dogs than it is for people: eat less, move more. Unless your dog has a physical issue, your dog needs to be walking and playing and running.

Like people, like dogs. | Dogs need variety in their workouts just like humans do or their bodies can “plateau,” or get used to the exercise. If you only ever walk your dog around the neighborhood for 20 minutes in the morning, consider mixing in some more active cardio to raise their heart rate; add some strength training like having them wear a pack or working in a bunch of hills; do a super-long walk once a week to build stamina … you get the idea.