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Pet Anxiety
Summer heat, road trips, and backyard BBQs are starting to preoccupy your calendar, but have you thought about your four-legged companion? Loud noises and traveling are two common causes of anxiety in our pets. According to the Humane Society, our furry best friends are often afraid of thunder and other loud noises, like fireworks, and can develop even if your dog has had no traumatic experiences with the associated noise. Often, dogs or cats act out this anxiety through destruction or trying to escape however, these reactions can potentially harm your dog.
In the upcoming summer months as thunderstorms, firework shows, and traveling become more frequent, the Humane Society recommends doing these 3 things for your pup.
Create a safe place – observe where your dog likes to go when frightened, allow him to have access to that place when he is experiencing anxiety. This provides a safe place for your pet to escape.
Distract your dog – Encourage your pup to participate in an activity that will take her mind away from the cause of her anxiety. This will prevent her from behaving fearfully.
Behavior Modification – these techniques need to be implemented gradually, teaching your pup how to respond in non-fearful ways to the cause of her anxiety. However, you need to be careful if you choose to use behavior modification. If carried out improperly you could make the situation or fear much worse.
If you find yourself on the road or away from home, these 3 options above may not be your best choice. Here at Furry Travelers, we have a wide variety of products to ease your pet in a stressful situation.
SAVE 20% This month on the following calming aids!
Use Coupon Code CALM20 at checkout.
1. Rescue Remedy for Pets – This solution has an instant calming effect for any pet experiencing a stressful situation. It can be used in times of anxiety or a trip to the vet.
2. Thunder Treats – This treat was created to calm a pet, slowly releasing ingredients over time. These treats include two well-known calming ingredients; lavender and chamomile.
3. Total Pet Health Calming Chews – Developed by veterinarians, the chewable tablets are designed to calm upset or stressed dogs and cats. The tablets contain a balance of human-grade vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
4. PetzLife @Ease Calming Aid – Easily applied or mixed in with food or treats, this 100% natural calming remedy is uniquely formulated with L-Theanine. The stress and anxiety reliever should be taken 30 minutes before a stress-inducing event.
5. Thundershirt – The patent-pending design is a pressure wrap applying constant but gentle pressure on a dog's torso. 85% of dogs who wear the Thundershirt show significant improvement in anxiety symptoms. (Available for cats too!)
Mark these products on the must-have list for your four-legged companion when they could potentially experience a stress-inducing event!
For more information on Fear of Thunder and other loud noises please visit: humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/fear_thunder_loud_noises.html
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Are you getting prepared for Halloween? Keep in mind that this holiday can be very stressful for your dogs and cats! The scary costumes, new activity around your neighborhood, frequent doorbell rings, being left home alone for trick-or-treating and more all cause extreme fear and anxiety in our dogs and cats.
Thankfully, ThunderShirt provides a safe, effective and simple solution for anxiety-ridden pets. With its patented design, the ThunderShirt's gentle, constant pressure has a dramatic calming effect that has already helped hundreds of thousands of dogs with anxiety problems. The product is also used and recommended by thousands of vets and trainers worldwide. Anxiety experts believe that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system and may release calming hormones like endorphins or oxytocins. Now is the time to get your pet a ThunderShirt, so that they keep calm this Halloween!
Check out the ThunderShirt here: http://www.furrytravelers.com/m7/3095--thundershirt.html
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Leash Luggage is a convenient way to take the important stuff with you on walks with your furry friend.
Designed to fit onto any type of lease with Velcro straps, Leash Luggage has a compartment for bags (you can use rolled bags or recycle your plastic grocery bags) and a separate compartment for your own things (driver's license, hotel card, money, etc.). It also comes with a special key holder.
I use Leash Luggage all the time. I especially like it when I travel because I can put my car keys and room card in the second compartment for easy access. It is lightweight, easy to add bags to, and keeps me organized without lugging around my purse.
For more information, see www.FurryTravelers.com/m7_view_item.html?m7:item=3114
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It's the holiday season and chances are you will be taking your dog for a car ride.
We assume all dogs love to go for rides in the car, but there are many that become very anxious while traveling. Whatever the cause may be, there are some steps you can take to ease your furry friend's stress.
If your have have an older dog, try sitting in the car with the engine off for a short period of time. Reward with a treat. When this is no longer challenging, sit in the car with the engine on and reward with a treat. The next step is a quick car ride and then hopefully you will soon have a nice, calm Furry Traveler.
If these steps don't work, there are all-natural stress relievers such as Rescue Remedy for Pets you can try. These work by gently calming your dog's nerves. You can administer directly or put a few drops in the water bowl.
If your dog is used to a crate, traveling in the crate can be comforting as well as safe. Put a familiar blanket or toy in the crate and secure it from sliding around while you drive.
Make sure you bring plenty of water to keep your pet properly hydrated.
Of course, NEVER leave your pet in an unattended vehicle.
You can find some great travel items at www.furrytravelers.com/11.html!
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Pet Safety Accessories
Pet safety products to aid in keeping your pet safe while on the go. Pet accessories include first aid kits, safety harnesses, booster seats, lighted collars, collar blinker lights, dog life jackets and more.
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The following information was taken from the FDA Veterinarian Newsletter
With the summer months rapidly approaching, vacation season will soon be here. We all need a little time away from the monotony of an everyday routine, so as you get ready to retreat, it's important to know how to care for your four-legged friends traveling with you. Most of us travel by car or plane, but each option brings certain drawbacks for pets.
Car Travel
Car travel is usually less stressful on pets because it allows Freckles and Champ to be close to you, so you can monitor their well-being and come to their aid when needed. If you choose to drive to your destination, here are a few helpful hints to make the trip more enjoyable.
Motion sickness: It's common for pets to experience motion sickness while traveling in a car. To help avoid an upset stomach, don't feed your pet a large meal before travel. Cracking a window to allow fresh air to circulate through your vehicle also helps. If Champ is prone to motion sickness or if Freckles' sensitive stomach acts up again, you may want to put them in the front seat next to you. Riding up front helps because less motion is felt in the front of the vehicle.
Bathroom breaks: While Champ may snooze for the majority of the trip, it's still important to give him frequent bathroom breaks. Traffic is unpredictable, so if it has been more than a couple of hours, stop and give your dog a chance to relieve himself and stretch his legs.
Sedatives: While sedatives may make your pet seem less stressed during car trips, these medications also have a tendency to dull the senses and lessen your pet's ability to react to the environment, which can be dangerous in an emergency. When traveling by car or by plane, avoid giving your pet any type of sedative. If you think Champ or Freckles really needs a sedative to travel, talk to your pet's veterinarian before your trip.
Air Travel
For people, flying is often quicker and easier than driving, but flying can be a more stressful experience for your pet. If you decide to travel by air, it's important to keep a few things in mind.
Cargo travel: While you're snacking, reading, and sleeping in relative comfort up in economy seating, Champ is usually traveling in the cargo area below, subjected to temperature fluctuations and loud noises. A cat or small dog may be allowed to travel in the plane's cabin, as long as the pet is kept in a crate and the crate fits underneath the seat. Check with specific airlines for more information about cabin travel for your pet.
Check on your pet: Make sure to tell the plane's Captain or flight attendant that you have a pet on board. If the flight staff knows about Champ in cargo, they are better able to check on him for you, especially if an unusual situation occurs, such as an unscheduled landing, extended taxi time, or long layover.
Walk your dog: If you and Champ have a connecting flight, try to walk him before that connecting flight departs. Many airports provide dog parks just outside the terminal. A bathroom break and a short walk will help Champ relax and stay calm during the remainder of his journey.
Crate your pet: During flights, most pets are housed in pet crates provided by their owners. It's important to prepare your pet's crate with safety in mind. Pet crates should provide ample space for your pet to move around and should also meet the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA).
When your pet is crated, remember to include:
A bowl of dry food;
A bowl or other container of frozen water that will melt over the course of the trip, giving your pet constant access to cold water;
Appropriate bedding, such as a soft towel or blanket, or shredded newspaper or wood chips if the traveling pet is a hamster, gerbil, or guinea pig; and
A label on the outside of the crate that is clearly marked with your pet's name and your contact information. You should include both your home contact information and your destination contact information.
Be Prepared: If you plan to stay in a hotel while traveling, contact the hotel ahead of time to make sure it is pet friendly.
Before your trip, research veterinary hospitals in the city or town of your destination in case of a pet emergency during the vacation.
Hawaii and Abroad: Traveling outside the continental United States with your pet requires advanced planning. For international travel, contact the appropriate country's embassy or consulate at least 4 weeks before your trip. Different countries may require different documentation for your pet's entry. The state of Hawaii also has entry requirements for arriving pets.
For more information about traveling with your pets, please check the following Web sites:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/
http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/TravelingPets.html
http://www.avma.org/animal_health/travelingwithpet-faq.asp
http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/traveling/traveling_brochure.asp
http://www.avma.org/services/vprc/travel.asp
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Cat Travel Accessories
Furry Travelers now carries travel products for your cat! Find cat carriers, cat harnesses, calming products for cats, cat toys, and more!
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The 4th of July can be a nightmare for some pets. Launching fireworks and loud parties often terrify our pets. Since there's no escaping celebration of the 4th of July, we suggest that you prepare early, and find a remedy that works best towards your pet's anxiety. The Rescue Remedy can be used for an immediate calming effect in any stressful situation, or when your pet needs help overcoming a variety of emotional or behavioral problems. We want to help ensure that your pets 4th of July goes smoothly, and we believe that Rescue Remedy can truly help. Click here for a closer look at how Rescue Remedy works: http://www.furrytravelers.com/m7/3145--rescue-remedy-for-pets.html
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Source: Adapted from the ASPCA
Is chewing a destructive behavior? Here's the simplest answer: Only if he's chewing on the wrong thing. So give him something that's okay to chew.
Puppy chewing is an important part of the teething process. As adults, dogs often chew for fun, or to relieve boredom. Chewing or tearing things up (like paper) can also be a displacement behavior, a way to release pent-up energy or stress.
Redirecting destructive chewing
Puppy- and dog-proof your house. As with any type of behavior you wish to change, one of the most important things to do is manage the environment. We are all familiar with "puppy proofing" our houses - we learn to put shoes in the closet, and put pups in the crate when we are not actively supervising them. But we often forget that many adult dogs need the same type of management to keep them out of trouble.
Give him a chew toy instead. If your dog attempts to chew on an inappropriate item while in your presence, simply interrupt the behavior and re-direct him to an appropriate chew toy. It can be helpful to have a stuffed Kong toy in a Ziploc bag in your freezer - so you can quickly produce it when needed. Many pups have certain times of day when they are more likely to chew, so you can head this behavior off at the pass if you choose this time of day to give the dog an approved chewie.
Use bad-tasting repellants and sprays. You can keep puppies and adult dogs away from some items by using impersonal correction, preferably where the "environment" does the correcting. For example, spray items with Bitter Apple spray or Boundary dog repellant, or use a Scat Mat at the edge of a countertop, to stop counter surfers. This type of training operates on the same principle as a child touching a hot stove - if something is particularly unpleasant, most likely the child or the dog will make the decision not to repeat that behavior.
Give him plenty of exercise. Exercise is vitally important for dogs prone to inappropriate chewing or other destructive behaviors. A tired pup will be less likely to get into things. Exercise also produces endorphins, which have a calming effect. In fact, it is these endorphins that are stimulated by chewing, so if your dog is not getting enough exercise, he may unconsciously be seeking to replace needed endorphins by releasing pent-up energy through chewing.
Make sure it's not separation anxiety. Occasionally chewing or tearing things up is a symptom of a more serious problem, such as separation anxiety. If you suspect separation anxiety, the first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
Be gentle! A few training books are still on the market that advocate inhumane methods for stopping destructive behaviors, such as putting duct tape around a pet's mouth or physically hitting a dog. Needless to say, there is no excuse for such corrections. Not only are they extremely unfair, they're ineffective. The use of proper management (for instance, cratung a dog when he is not under your direct supervision), along with proper exercise, takes care of 99 percent of destructive behavior problems.
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Spring is here! And you know what that means! That's right, time to clean out all the stuff that's piled up this past year! Even your pooches' stuff! We know how messy it can get when your pup commonly accompanies you in the car. Throwing around toys, treats, and accessories is a common habit, and it's time to organize! The Auto Seat Pet Organizer, fits conveniently on the back of your seat. It contains pockets for: grooming sprays / shampoos, insect repellent, a leash, seat belt harness, first aid kit, treats, toys, extra storage, pet documents, towel holder, and more. This organizer is just what you need this spring cleaning season! http://www.furrytravelers.com/m7/30547--auto-seat-pet-organizer.html
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