Visit from Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman

The following article “Ask Dr. Dodman" by Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman was digitally published by the Center for Canine Behavior Studies,  Inc.  

Dr. Dodman continues to offer his incredible knowledge, insight, and expertise in order to help us take better care of our animals. Because of Dr. Dodman’s devoted and diligent determination to help, he has given permission for this information to be used in our blog. His amazing ability to work with our deaf dog, Hogan, created the perfection prescription for our pup to become calmer, less anxious during separation, and more successful in sharing the message of hope. From this success, the book, Hogan’s Hope, was written.

As Dr. Dodman wrote about Hogan’s Hope: A Deaf Hero’s Inspirational Quest for Love Acceptance—”Sit, Read, Enjoy!”

QUESTION:

My German shepherd dog is quite an anxious girl, do you recommend any natural calming products in particular that could take the edge off so she can focus more on the training. I am trying to do to help her? Thank you. I’m in the UK.

ANSWER:

Many German shepherds do have an anxious trait.  I have reported that several times in various books I have written. To lessen this anxiousness, it is best to ensure that she gets tons of off-leash exercise on a daily basis, a lowish protein diet (not a performance ration!) and that you teach her to trust you and respond to certain action words or phrases. “Sit” or “Down” will keep her from getting into trouble by focusing her mind on obeying you rather than worrying. “Wait,” “Leave it,” or “Come Here” are also useful commands. Being a German shepherd, she should have her thyroid hormone level checked as hypothyroidism is relatively common in the breed. Even low-normal thyroid levels can increase anxiety. Hormone replacement therapy can reduce anxiety in such cases (check with your vet). Natural calming products – like certain amino acids (tryptophan, L-theanine) or herbal products (chamomile) may help. I don’t know the legal situation regarding CBD in the UK but if that was available, it, too, may help. It is advisable to check with your vet before giving such medications because you will need help with the dosing – not to mention possible drug interactions - and it may be a legal requirement anyway. 

-Dr Nicholas H. Dodman

QUESTION: Does your dog make noises when sleeping and look like they are running in their sleep?

ANSWER:  

1465 dog owners responded to this question with a yes or a no answer. The yes answers (n=1169 or 80% of dogs) of were often accompanied by a description of their dog’s antics while sleeping. Most of these answers were along the lines of “he makes noises while sleeping [whimper/whine/bark] but does not run in his sleep.” Some dogs twitched their facial muscles while others twitched their feet. One or two owners noticed changes in breathing pattern, as I have seen in my own dog Rusty. One observant owner noticed that her dog appears to be running and exhibiting rapid eye movement with his eyes closed during periods of his sleep. Here’s the scoop. We and our dogs dream during rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep). During this time – the sleep of the body (with brain activity surging; consolidating memories) – the large anti-gravity muscles of the body are temporarily paralyzed. So, unless we (or our dogs) have a sleep disorder, like REM sleep disorder or REM behavior disorder (RBD), we are not going anywhere. However, fine control muscles, such as one that control eyeball movement facial muscles, digits, and voice are not paralyzed and can still move – demonstrating the essence of the dream. A dog dreaming of chasing a squirrel may make barky, whimpery sounds, may show jerky movements of his feet, and may or may not twitch or wrinkle up his nose. But as our fun questions shows, not many dogs have this level of expression during sleep. In most, it seems, the paralyzing mechanism works well. Only in those dogs who can fight through the paralysis to make abbreviated intention movements do we see running. The vocal mechanisms however, appear less sensitive to the paralysis allowing a decent percentage of dogs to whimper or whine during sleep even if they do not demonstrate any obvious movements.

Dehydration in our Dogs

The following information has been created by the American Kennel Club. During the holidays, our attention is often focused on the preparation for the holiday activities. However, we must keep a watchful eye on what our precious pets drink and eat.

What Is Dehydration?

Most of us know that dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it's taking in. When we get really thirsty, especially after a long, hot day or a tough workout, we can tell our bodies are dehydrated. Our mouths are dry. We crave water. Some of us get headaches, and many of us, unfortunately, grow irritable.

Dehydration, however, can have more serious effects on our bodies than simply making us unpleasant to be around.

All mammals rely on water to keep their bodies functioning, and dogs are no exception. Water plays a huge role in your dog's body. The short list of water's functions includes lubricating joints, helping regulate body temperature, transporting nutrients, flushing waste, and more. The long list could fill a medical textbook.

Normally, water is lost and gained throughout the day. Panting, breathing, urinating, defecating, and evaporation through the paws all contribute to normal water loss, which your dog compensates for by eating and drinking.

When your dog's body passes the point where normal activities can make up for the water loss, fluid shifts out of your dog's body cells to help the body quench its thirst. This results in a loss of electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride, and potassium. Since these electrolytes are important for muscle function, not to mention many other body processes, your dog's body starts to suffer. In serious cases, dehydration can even lead to kidney and other organ failure, and death.

Symptoms of Dehydration in Dogs

So how can you tell if your dog is dehydrated?

Knowing the symptoms of dehydration in humans is something we take for granted when diagnosing ourselves, but most owners do not know the signs of dehydration in dogs.

 This is unfortunate, since knowing the signs of dehydration can help you catch a serious medical condition before it gets out of control.

Here are some of the common symptoms to get you started:

• Loss of appetite

• Reduced energy levels and/or lethargy

• Panting

• Sunken, dry-looking eyes

• Dry nose and gums

• Loss of skin elasticity

Some of these are obvious to the naked eye, but others, like skin elasticity, require a simple test.

To test for dehydration in dogs, gently pinch their skin between your thumb and forefinger. In well-hydrated dogs, the skin will spring back to its original position. The skin of dehydrated dogs, on the other hand, will take longer to fall back into place.

It is a good idea to test your dog's skin when you are sure your dog is well hydrated, so that you have a base for what normal skin elasticity for your dog feels like. This is especially important for owners of wrinkly breeds, such as Bulldogs or Neapolitan Mastiffs, because their wrinkly skin might be misleading.

You can also test your dog's gums for dehydration. Dogs' gums are normally nice and moist, and in some cases, positively slimy. Dry, tacky-feeling gums, on the other hand, are a symptom of dehydration. If you've ever experienced a dry mouth as a side effect of a medication, then you have an idea of what this feels like.

As you are feeling your dog's gums, you can also test for capillary refill time. Press your finger gently against your dog's gums, and then remove your finger. In hydrated dogs, the area where you pressed will appear white for a second, and then return to its normal pink color almost immediately. In dehydrated dogs, the capillary refill time takes much longer.

Causes of Dehydration in Dogs

Dehydration can be caused by lack of water, but it is often a symptom of an underlying cause.

The first thing you should do if you suspect your pet is dehydrated is check to make sure he's had access to plenty of fresh, clean water all day. Sometimes, our pets' water bowls run dry, despite our best intentions, and this can be problematic on particularly hot days. In a vicious cycle, dehydrated dogs can lose their appetites, which causes them to eat less, and therefore eliminates the water content they would normally get from their food, too.

1) If your dog is not eating, or vomiting with or without diarrhea, suspect your dog is dehydrated and seek veterinary attention.

Dehydration is a common symptom associated with serious diseases, such as kidney disease, heat stroke, cancer, diabetes, and any disease that causes vomiting, diarrhea, or fever.

Your dog's body loses water and electrolytes when he is sick, due to fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and other processes. This is why veterinarians often give sick pets fluids to keep them hydrated while they recover.

Very young dogs, senior dogs, nursing mothers, and toy dog breeds may be at an increased risk of dehydration, so be sure you know the signs of dehydration in dogs if your dog falls into one of these categories.

Treating Dehydration in Dogs

It might seem like offering your dog a bowl of water is enough to restore her water balance, but this only applies to very mild cases of dehydration.

2) If your dog is dehydrated for a medical reason, like diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, or heat stroke, you need to take her to the veterinarian. These are considered veterinarian emergencies. Dehydration makes it harder for your pet to recover, increasing her risks of suffering damaging or possibly fatal consequences.

Water is not the only thing dehydrated dogs lose. Those electrolytes also need to be replaced, and water alone will not get the job done. Your veterinarian may recommend giving your dog fluids to help balance her systems, and you may need to return to your veterinarian's office a few times for more fluids while your dog recovers.

Dehydration is often a symptom of a larger problem, so in addition to fluids, your veterinarian will want to diagnose and treat the underlying condition. This process will depend on your dog's other symptoms, and could involve anything from blood work and radiographs to surgery.

Preventing Dehydration in Dogs

The best way that you can prevent dehydration in your dog is to provide him with a constant supply of fresh, clean water. Like people, some dogs drink more than others, so you may need to take extra care to make sure picky drinkers get enough water. Your veterinarian can offer you advice about how best to ensure your dog consumes enough fluids, based on his age and condition.

We can't always prevent our dogs from getting sick, beyond keeping them up-to-date on their vaccines, and providing them with a healthy diet and exercise. But knowing the signs of dehydration can help us catch it before it becomes dangerous. Dehydration can also serve as a warning sign that something else is going on with your dog, helping to catch dangerous diseases and conditions before they get out-of-hand.

For more information about the signs of dehydration in dogs, or if you suspect that your dog might be dehydrated, contact your veterinarian.