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WHEAT RIDGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL’S
Furry Free Press
Noise Phobias in Dogs
In this issue…
Rhea Dodd, DVM, MA
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CSU)
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Does your dog quiver and shake when hearing a thunderstorm rolling in? Panic at the sound of fireworks? You
can learn to soothe fears through safe noise desensitization, creating a calming environment and using the latest
anti-anxiety medications and supplements.
•
Noise phobias in dogs are fearful responses, exaggerated
out of proportion to the inherent danger. After all, most
dogs have never been struck by lightning or had to navigate a mine field, but many dogs act as if they had. Fearful reactions range from pacing, panting, and may progress to separation anxiety, destructiveness and extreme
escape behaviors.
Proper treatment of these phobias is especially important,
because noise related fears do not generally resolve
spontaneously over time; in fact they almost always get
worse from year to year. You may have already discovered that your well-meaning attempts to console your
dog only result in heightened fear (because the attention
inadvertently reinforces panic). Fortunately, treatment is
available if you have seen signs of noise sensitivity in
your dog.
The main techniques used to change your dog’s perception of scary noises are desensitization and counterconditioning. Desensitization involves repeatedly exposing the dog to the fearful stimuli, or “trigger”, at such a
low intensity that they can still focus, play and relax. The
fear-inducing stimuli are then gradually increased in intensity over many sessions. At the same time, counterconditioning is used to associate the triggers with fun and
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Noise Phobias in Dogs ..................................... 1-2
Chronic Renal Disease in Cats ............................ 3
Meet Our Doctors............................................... 3
Noise Phobia Seminar ........................................ 4
games. What was formerly dreaded is now welcomed.
By changing the emotion we change the behavior.
Here are some tips to get you started. The goal is to teach
the dog that scary noises
“make” good things happen.
By rewarding your dog while
Well-meaning
exposing him to the trigger,
attempts to
he will learn that the scary
console your
noise leads to something
good.
dog only result
in heightened
Sound CDs are available from
Terry Ryan Sound Sensibilifear.
ties at www.hanaleipets.com.
These include thunderstorms, fireworks, cars and trucks,
household appliances, etc. First, be sure that the recording actually induces fear.
Next, identify your dog’s “million dollar” rewards. These
rewards need to be more engaging than the sound is fearinducing. Some favorites may include hotdogs, string
cheese, boiled chicken, or it might be a favorite ball or
Frisbee. Does your dog know any tricks, such as catch it,
find it, shake or roll over? If so, use these during the retraining session to keep your dog focused and engaged.
Be sure he is eager for the reward (your dog should be
hungry, and only given his favorite toy during storms or
continued on page 2
continued from page 1
training sessions). Other special treats your dog may love
are real fur or lambs wool toys. These are only to be used
with supervision (so that your dog does not eat them!)
and while listening to the fear-inducing recording.
Many dogs enjoy sniffing animal scents on their walks.
You can mimic this with hunters training lure scents,
such as rabbit or pheasant (www.cabelas.com) Use this
to increase attractiveness of a plush toy, or to mark a
scent trail in the yard, as you play the CD on a portable
device in the yard.
Use these highly motivating rewards and activities while
playing the recordings at a LOW volume in the background. The key is to never increase the volume higher
than they can enjoy themselves. If they inadvertently becomes anxious, simply lower the volume, and just continue cheerfully as if you are having the time of your life!
Always try to end on a positive note.
To create a calming environment, consider how sight,
sound, touch, smell, and taste can be used to create a pet
haven, allowing your pet to be happy, relaxed and responsive. Be as creative as possible to appeal to all his
senses.
SMELL: You might cook bacon during a storm; use aromatic treats (chicken, liver); use Dog Appeasement Pheromone, a collar that emits calming compounds.
TASTE: Use super special food treats to increase excitement.
SIGHT: Draw blinds or move dog to basement or inside
room (bathrooms with the fan going are a favored spot) to
limit sight of lightning. Premier Pet Products Calming Cap
may be used over the eyes if your dog tolerates wearing
it.
SOUND: Mask outdoor sounds during a storm with a
white noise machine or bathroom fan; use a sound
(squeaker, can opener) or words (“walk”, “treat”) that
your dog enjoys to evoke a happy response. Earplugs,
such as Mutt-Muffs, or even cotton balls in the ears (use
Vaseline to keep them in place) and/or tie a scarf over
and around the head, like a little babushka. It might look
silly, but many dogs find relief this way. Create a hideaway in a dark closet, bathroom or basement. You can
use a crate with the DOOR REMOVED. Cover the crate
with heavy blankets or nested cardboard boxes to muffle
sounds. Hide treats in the crate for your dog to randomly
find. Do some of the desensitization exercises here, and
allow this to become their “go-to” place when fear
strikes.
Spring 2012 • Furry Free Press • 2
TOUCH: During non-fearful times, use the word
“Mellow”, in association with a massage to elicit and reward a calm response. Then use the “Mellow” cue during
storms to reward calm behavior (do not use this if the dog
continues to panic, as this will only reinforce fearful behavior). A Thunder Shirt, or even a snug tight T-shirt
helps some dogs, as does rubbing the fur with an all natural fabric softener to decrease static electric build-up.
In addition to these technics, you can also incorporate
training into your everyday routine. Play the recording in
the background during each mealtime, or while your dog
relaxes with a stuffed Kong toy or food puzzle toys. If
your dog enjoys car rides, you can play the sound CDs in
the car. These previously fear-evoking sounds should become a “ho hum” part of daily life.
It is very important to continue desensitization yearround! Just because storm or fireworks season is over,
doesn’t mean you can ignore his noise sensitivity. Your
dog will enter next year’s season in a much better place if
you continue to practice.
Another powerful tool we can use to combat fear is to
improve brain chemistry, either through medication, nutrition or supplementation. In part because your dog will
be exposed to natural storms and fireworks while they
undergo retraining, these are often needed to help your
dog be in a calmer frame of mind. You might be surprised to learn that just as in people, veterinarians can
use modern anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications,
such as prozac and valium to help your dog cope with
stress. You still need to do the behavior modification sessions, but change is far easier to accomplish with the
help of medication. Most of these medications are very
safe, but your veterinarian will review possible side effects. Early intervention tends to produce better results—
keep in mind that most noise sensitivity intensifies with
time and may even become life-threatening if the dog
escapes or becomes self-destructive.
Some over-the-counter products you might consider for
mild noise phobias include:
• Composure by Vetri Science - with a calming milk
protein and amino acid.
• Omega 3 fatty acids; 1000 mg/50-75 lbs/day - to help
with learning
• Melatonin at 3 mg/medium-large dog - to calm a dog
• Switch to turkey-based diet - high in tryptophan, a
precursor to serotonin
These techniques will be reviewed in greater detail at our
upcoming Noise Phobia Seminar on Saturday, April 28
(please see back page for more information.)
Chronic Renal Disease in Cats
Shannon Jordan, DVM
Chronic renal disease is an all too common problem for many cats and is one of the leading causes of illness and death in older
cats. Chronic renal disease occurs because of long-standing, irreversible damage to the kidneys and causes an impaired ability to
filter and remove waste products from the blood. Chronic renal disease can occur in cats of any age, but it is most frequently
found in middle to old-aged cats. It becomes increasingly common with age, and it has been estimated that approximately one in
five cats over the age of 15 years has chronic renal disease. If your cat is eight years or older, it is recommended to have a physical exam done every six months and to run a blood test, a urinalysis, and to measure blood pressure once a year to screen for
early signs of renal disease.
In most cases of chronic renal disease, the exact cause of disease is unknown. Some well recognized causes of chronic renal disease include:
• Polycystic kidney disease - an inherited condition mainly seen in Persian and exotic cats where normal kidney tissue is gradually replaced by multiple fluid filled cysts
• Kidney tumors such as lymphoma
• Bacterial infection of the kidney (pyelonephritis)
• Toxic insult to the kidneys
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
Many of the clinical signs of chronic renal disease are vague and non-specific and are often due to accumulation of toxins in the
blood that should be filtered and removed from the body by the kidneys. Clinical signs in affected cats are a poor appetite,
weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, and depression. It is also very common to notice an increased thirst and increased volume of
urine production in cats with chronic renal disease. Other signs may include a poor coat, vomiting, bad-smelling breath, and
ulceration of the mouth. These signs tend to get worse over time.
There is no cure for chronic renal disease but management is possible and can provide your cat with a happy and active lifestyle.
The goal of management is to reduce the amount of waste products filtered through the kidneys. This is accomplished through a
combination of dietary modifications, medications, and hydration therapy (e.g. subcutaneous fluid administration). If your cat has
been diagnosed with chronic renal disease, a treatment plan will be formulated by your veterinarian specifically designed for
your cat.
Chronic renal disease in cats is progressive and terminal, but with early detection and some dedication, patience, and a lot of
love the condition may be managed effectively. The rate of progression of renal disease varies considerably between individual
cats. Appropriate support and treatment can increase the quality of life of your cat and can potentially slow the progression of
disease. Each cat is an individual and there can be no set life expectancy for a cat diagnosed with chronic renal disease and depends on response to treatment. The earlier the condition is detected, the easier it is to stabilize and maintain a good quality of
life for your cat.
Rhea Dodd, DVM, MA
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CSU)
Shannon M. Jordan, DVM
Dr. Rhea Dodd earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
from Colorado State University in 1992, and also holds a Master’s Degree in inter-species relationships from the University of
Colorado at Boulder. She became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture in 2001and in Veterinary Chiropractic in 2008.
Dr. Jordan was born and raised in Wadsworth, Ohio. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in biology from Ohio State University in June 2001, she attended veterinary school at Ohio
State and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in June
2006. She moved to Denver and accepted an internship at
Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. At the conclusion of her internship program, she was hired to stay on as a general practitioner
at the hospital.
She has been an adjunct to Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital for
many years, seeing patients on Fridays. Her scope of practice
focuses on behavior solutions and pain management
(acupuncture and chiropractic) in pets. Dr. Dodd lectures,
teaches and writes about pet behavior and pain management
topics. She has been featured on 9News, WB2, Channel 4, in
the Denver Post, and the Rocky Mountain News.
Dr. Jordan is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Colorado
Veterinary Medical Association and the Denver Area Veterinary
Medical Society.
3 • Furry Free Press • Spring 2012
Noise Phobia Seminar
Saturday, April 28 •10 AM - 12 Noon
Rhea Dodd, DVM, MA will be discussing ways to help your dog get through
thunderstorm and firework season. Learn how to calm your fearful dog, practice safe
noise desensitization, and discover the latest anti-anxiety medications.
Dr. Dodd will provide a complete treatment plan for your pet, along with useful handouts.
This event is for human guests only, no pets please.
Cost: $45
Seating is limited.
To RSVP, please call Melissa at 303-996-1364.
Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital Recognized at AAHA Annual Conference
We are honored to have been recognized as a finalist for
the American Animal Hospital Association’s Referral
Practice of the Year award. The goal of the award is to
recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of
accredited practice teams. “AAHA believes that the success of a veterinary practice depends on the entire team
working together to provide excellent care for pets and
their people,” said Mike Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP,
AAHA executive director and Chief Executive Officer.
“The practices selected as our finalists are staffed by high
-performing veterinary teams who demonstrate a passionate commitment to veterinary excellence.”
Accreditation is a voluntary commitment a hospital
makes to its clients and patients, and AAHA is the only
organization in the US and Canada that accredits companion animal hospitals based on standards that go
above and beyond state regulations. The AAHA Standards of Accreditation, viewed as the standard of veterinary excellence, contain more than 900 individual standards, divided into 18 major sections. These areas include
patient care and pain management, surgery, pharmacy,
Spring 2012 • Furry Free Press • 4
laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, cleanliness,
emergency services, dental care, diagnostic imaging, anesthesiology, and continuing education.
Only 15 percent of all small animal hospitals in the US
have achieved accreditation by the Association. To maintain accredited status, these must continue to be evaluated regularly by AAHA.