Udayana Vet Clinic

Udayana Vet Clinic merupakan tempat untuk melayani kebutuhan tentang hewan peliharaan. Pelayanan yang disediakan meliputi grooming, penitipan, vaksinasi dan pengobatan.
Udayana Vet Clinic berlokasi di Kabupaten Badung selatan tepatnya di Nuansa Udayana I/11a Taman Griya Jimbaran Badung Bali.

Dog Behavior Problems

Having a pet is as much of a responsibility as it is a joy. Pets are animals that are dependent for everything on their owners. Some pets have greater needs whereas some have higher needs. Man's best friend, the dog, is also one such creature. If the owners do not look after the dog properly, and do not cater to the dog's needs, the dog may show what are known as dog behavior problems

Dog behavior problems occur due to many reasons. The most common of these dog behavior problems are whining, picking up fights with other dogs, excessive barking and in extreme cases, biting. There are a number of reasons behind these dog behavior problems, depending on the breed and needs of the dog. One of the most common reasons of dog behavior problems is separation from their family at a ver small age. The mother is the best teacher for her child, and the dog loses this training if he's taken away from the family.

Aggressive behavior is also a serious dog behavior problem. Dogs with a behavior problem sometime have a aggressive behavior. These dogs can either have fear aggression, domination aggression, or territorial or overprotective aggression. Dogs with fear aggression will be easily frightened and be nervous at all times of the day. Dogs with fear aggression respond to anything with a paranoia. For example, a ringing doorbell will be a sure sign of impending doom for them.

Dogs with domination aggression will be unpredictable and very dangerous. These dogs will either bully any one, one particular person or even other dogs. Other dogs also have a territorial aggression and are overprotective of their areas. These dogs pose a risk to anyone entering their territory. Other symptoms of dog behavior problem show are whining, excessive barking, picking up fights, biting and relieving themselves indoors. There are a number of reasons behind these dog behavior problems. Most of them are simple reasons and can be solved simply if the owner spends some time with the dogs. A dog with a behaviorial problem may simply be treated inhumanely by the owner. The dog may be experiencing hours of being locked up in the home all alone, or may not be taken out by its owner at all.

Dog behavior is a serious issue and may cause serious repercussions to the owner as well as the pet. Though dog behavior problems may just seem to minor irritants for a while, truth is that extreme cases of dog actions due to dog behavior problems have also resulted in death. Dog behavior problems should not be ignored. Dog owners should reprimand dogs whenever they display symptoms of dog behavior problems. One can also go through disciplinary training, so that the dog is trained properly. Dogs are known to be man's best friend. Therefore, needless to say, dogs need companionship. Boredom is another big cause of behavior problems in dogs. If a dog is bored, he may commit actions that are destructive in the eyes of others, like digging up a garden or even barking incessantly at people they recognize.

One another solution to dog behavior problems is exercise. Exercise is the mainstay in any pet's life. A good brisk walk with their owner in the evenings does a lot to buoy a dog's spirits. Along with exercise, the owners should also take the dogs out for a jog or play a zestful game like fetch with their pets. This is a good way of making the dog use up all their pent up energy. Dogs should also be given a number of toys to keep them busy. Dogs are generally busybodies and keeping them bored will cause them to have dog behavioral problems.

Pemilihan Ketua Cabang PDHI Bali

Kabar dari Pemilihan Ketua Cabang PDHI Bali. 

Mohon hanya menggunakan daftar terlampir sebagai Daftar Resmi Pemilih. Untuk mengakomodasi mereka yang sudah mempunyai KTA, yang karena sesuatu atau lain hal namanya tidak tercantum dalam daftar, diperkenankan untuk memilih dengan menunjukkan kepada panitia dengan mencantumkan Nama dan Nomor KTA pada daftar hadir dan validasi.

Appearance of Kintamani Dog

Appearance

Common fur colors include white, beige, and black. Now officially recognized as a separate canine breed, the Kintamani looks something like a mix between the Samoyed and a solid white Malamute. Breeders often confine the dogs to cold dark caves near the Kintamani volcano, insisting it an essential step in developing the thick white coat of Bali's only official breed.

The typical physical appearances of Kintamani and Bali street dogs. The withers height of the female Kintamani dog is 40–50 cm, 45–55 cm for the male. The stature of the Bali street dog is similar. The desired physical traits of the Kintamani dog include erect ears, forwardly curved tail held at the midline, medium to longhaired coat, almond-shaped brown eyes, and black skin pigment. The most desired coat color is white with apricot-tipped ears. However, other coat colors, such as black, are accepted. Bali street dogs come in many colors and coat patterns, and they are almost always shorthaired and straight to curve tailed. Both still whelp in burrows dug into the earth, a feral dog trait. However, the Bali street dog cannot be reliably tamed, even when taken as a puppy. In contrast, the Kintamani dog is gentle around people, yet retains enough assertive behavior to render it a noteworthy (but not vicious) watchdog.

Kintamani Dogs

The Kintamani is a dog breed native to the Indonesian island of Bali. The Kintamani dog is an evolving breed indigenous to the Kintamani region of Bali. Kintamani dogs cohabitate with feral Bali street dogs, although folklore has the breed originating 600 years ago from a Chinese Chow Chow. The physical and personality characteristics of the Kintamani dog make it a popular pet for the Balinese, and efforts are currently under way to have the dog accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale as a recognized breed. To study the genetic background of the Kintamani dog, 31 highly polymorphic short tandem repeat markers were analyzed in Kintamani dogs, Bali street dogs, Australian dingoes, and nine American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized breeds of Asian or European origin. The Kintamani dog was identical to the Bali street dog at all but three loci. The Bali street dog and Kintamani dog were most closely aligned with the Australian dingo and distantly related to AKC recognized breeds of Asian but not European origin. Therefore, the Kintamani dog has evolved from Balinese feral dogs with little loss of genetic diversity.

Kintamani Dogs have a distinctive form and character which sets them apart from the average village dog. Whilst they live much the same kind of life as an average village dog, Kintamani dogs have longer hair and dig holes in which to nest their young. Some even live in small caves among the boulders around Kintamani. Nowadays, these good-looking dogs are increasingly sought after as pets. They have a broad face, a flat forehead and flat cheeks. In this way, they resemble the Chinese mountain dog, the Chow Chow, to which recent genetic studies have confirmed; the Kintamani Dog is distantly related.

Dog Behavior Tip Sheets

Your dog provides you with love and companionship, but chances are he also provides you with some unpleasant surprises from time to time—a mess on the carpet or a slobbery pair of slippers, for example. While dogs seem to offer their people love and friendship almost immediately, learning how to live by the rules of a human household does not always come so easily.

Maybe your puppy hasn't grasped the concept of housetraining quite yet, or perhaps your dog doesn't understand why jumping the fence isn't an approved activity. Whatever "issues" you or your pet may have, we have information that can help you address them. Our tip sheets are designed to empower pet caregivers to solve the problems that threaten their relationships with their companion animals.

Solving your dog's behavior problems may take a renewed commitment on your part, but it can be done. And it's worth it. After all, research shows that most dogs and cats are relinquished to animal shelters—or otherwise given up—because of common behavior problems their families didn't know how to solve.

Don't let challenges threaten the bonds you have with your faithful canine companion. With some effort and patience, and the advice on these tip sheets, you can address problem behaviors and keep your dog where he or she belongs—with you.

Anjing Di Dalam Anjing

Kasus ini terjadi di Inggris. Kejadiannya terjadai pada anjing jenis spaniel bernama Alfie menelan boneka anak anjing. Pemilik anjing tersebut, Joanne Dutton, dan putrinya, Madeline (7), tak menyangka setelah melihat sebuah boneka anak anjing di dalam tubuh Alfie melalui gambar sinar-X yang mengungkap penyebab penyakit hewan peliharaannya itu.

"Anjing jantan ini belakangan menolak makan atau minum dan jatuh sakit," kata Joanne. "Tak seperti biasanya, Alfie tampak murung. Oleh karenanya, kami membawanya ke dokter hewan," tutur pemilik anjing yang menetap di Wilmslow, Cheshire, ini.

"Ternyata sakit yang dialami anjing ini di sekitar perutnya berasal dari boneka anjing Madeline. Alfie menyusup masuk ke kamar Madeline dan mengambil boneka itu dari rak boneka sebelum menelannya," ungkap Joanne.

"Hasil gambar sinar-X jelas menunjukkan apa yang telah ditelannya dan benda yang ada di dalam tubuhnya itu berhasil dikeluarkan beberapa jam seusai dilangsungkan operasi," kata dokter hewan Mark Allington. "Alfie saat ini telah normal dan mulai kembali aktif berlarian," ujar Joanne mengakui kesembuhan hewan peliharaannya itu (Sumber : Kompas)

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN GERIATRIC DOGS

Pet owners are able to take advantage of better preventive care, medical care and premium nutrition. The result is increased longevity and a larger population of elderly dogs. For owners, the bond with their pets grows stronger and more special the longer it lasts. This increases the importance of the geriatric pet’s health, quality of life and behavior. We need to help owners anticipate behavior changes associated with old age and provide help as problems arise. To accomplish this, good communication with our clients is very important. Although many owners recognize problems associated with old age in their dogs, most do not bring them to the attention of the family veterinarian. By asking pertinent questions during geriatric health exams and providing the necessary assistance, veterinarians can help preserve and strengthen the bond between the owner and pet.

Aging and Lifespan

We are learning more and more about the aging process in humans and animals. While the ultimate answers remain elusive, there are many theories. According to cumulative damage theories ionizing irradiation of genetic material or free radical damage to subcellular organelles underlies the aging process.1 Theories concentrating on waste product accumulation suggest that substances such as lipofuscin and advanced glycosylation compounds influence the aging process.1 The effects of immunologic events have also been suspected. It has been suggested that acquired cellular changes might result in antigenic stimuli and prolonged antigen-antibody reactions, or that decreased immune surveillance and the emergence of forbidden clones promote the aging process.1

We know that longevity is in part determined by genetic influences. Studies on human monozygotic twins support genetic influence in determining lifespan.1 It’s well known that small breeds of dogs outlive their larger counterparts. Environmental influences also play a roll. Medical care, nutrition, housing and stress are other important factors influencing longevity. Physical insults such as trauma, infection and toxins can all have a deleterious effect on lifespan.

Physical and Physiological Changes in the Older Dog

Older dogs have decreased total body water, decreased cell mass, an increase in body fat and a tendency towards obesity. They have decreased capacity to compensate for changes in acid-base balance and hydration . Renal function decreases along with a decease in the weight, number of nephrons, perfusion and concentrating ability of the kidneys. Cell-mediated and humoral immunity systems are less effective. A decline in respiratory and cardiac efficiency along with decreased cerebral blood vessel elasticity takes place.2 It’s possible that these changes may have a deleterious effect on cerebral O2 levels. In the oral cavity, gum recession, loss of alveolar bone and loss of teeth occur. Geriatric dogs have a decrease in gray and white matter volume in the central nervous system.3 This is accompanied by a deterioration of special senses, thickening of meninges and changes at the organelle and biochemical levels. Extremes in heat or cold are tolerated less well.

Changes in the senses are obvious in most geriatric dogs. Degeneration of peripheral acoustic structures such as cochlear ossicles, hair cells, ganglia and blood vessels, results in a decrease of high frequency hearing, as well as a general loss in hearing.4 The retina loses rods and cones and the and the lens tends to lose elasticity and clarity, resulting in loss of eyesight.2 Taste discrimination decreases along with the degeneration of taste papillae.1,25 The sense of smell lasts longest in dogs.

Older dogs are less active, show less interest in the environment and have diminished interest in food. They also have decreased alertness, exhibit less social interaction, are slower to obey, and learn more slowly.2 These changes likely reflect failing senses, decreased function and efficiency of the central nervous system, as well as decreased physical health and well being.

EFFECTS/CHANGES DUE TO AGING24
METABOLIC EFFECTS OF AGING	BEHAVIORAL IMPLICATIONS
Decreased metabolic rate - increased obesity Thermoregulation capacity reduced Decreased immune competence Increase in autoimmune diseases Less sensitive to thirst - tissue dehydration Decreased ability to metabolize, or excrete drugs Increase in metabolic disorders affecting nervous system-hypothyroid, hypoglycemia (insulinoma), hepatic disorders, hyperlipidemia (Schnauzers) Decrease REM sleep, intermittent sleep	Decreased activity; obesity may affect locomotion, elimination, and other systems May affect any organ system Decreased tolerance of temperature changes, seeks warmth, avoids cold Constipation - stool housesoiling Caution with all forms of drug therapy! Pacing - seizures - restlessness - decreased mental alertness - geriatric onset behavior changes - Increased waking, appearance of restlessness
GASTROINTESTINAL
Increase in dental disease - can increase incidence of disease of other internal organs Decreased nutrient absorption Decreased colonic motility Liver function decreases	Pain - Increased irritability - Aggression? Nutritional effects on behavior? - Changes in stool consistency leading to housesoiling? Hepatic encephalopathy & associated behavior
RESPIRATORY
Decreased respiratory capacity, reduced efficiency Decreased oxygen at the cellular level	Hypoxemia: Nocturnal confusion?, signs of senility? Decreased ability to do work
URINARY
Decreased renal function-decreased blood flow	Polyuria - decreased control. Housesoiling Behavior changes associated with uremia
Anemia due to erythropoietin decrease and uremia- hypertension -	CNS hypoxia? - confusion - restlessness
Prostatic hypertrophy	Pollakiuria/incontinence
Incontinence due to urethral incompetence, urinary tract infections and conditions leading to polyuria /polydypsia	Housesoiling due to decreased control or incontinence
ENDOCRINE
Decreased hormone production by thyroid, testis, ovary, and pituitary - may also be overproduction due to functional tumors (see below)	Decreased activity level - increased irritability or aggression - Decreased tolerance to cold
Testicular tumors (60% of older dogs): Sertoli cell-estrogen increase/androgen decrease Interstitial cell tumors - increased androgens	Medical/behavioral effects of increased estrogens Medical/behavioral effects of testosterone increase
Prostatic hypertrophy	Pollakiuria/Incontinence
Dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis	Polyuria/ polydypsia/ panting/ polyphagia/ increased restlessness / housesoiling?
MUSCULOSKELETAL
Loss of bone and muscle mass	Weakness - decreased mobility - housesoiling?
Neuromuscular function deteriorates	Decreased mobility/activity - Incontinence - Housesoiling?
Cartilage degenerates/arthritis	Increased pain/irritability
CARDIOVASCULAR AND HEMATOLOGIC
Heart disease in 33% of dogs over 13 years old	Decreased exercise tolerance
Tissue and cellular anoxia leading to dysfunction or deterioration of other organs	Brain hypoxia leading to signs of senility?
Propensity toward anemia	Brain hypoxia - signs of senility?
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Increasing hypoxia due to anemia, cardiovascular disease, respiratory deterioration	Senility?, Cognitive decline? Effects on memory and previous learning
Tumor formation - primary or secondary	Cerebral: Abnormal sleep, change in eating, loss of housetraining, aggression, docility, visual deficits, circling, weakness Cerebellar: ataxia, tremor, head tilt, circling Brain stem: state of consciousness, cranial nerve deficits
Neurotransmitter changes: Increase in MAOB - decrease in dopamine Decrease in cholinergic system, decrease serotonin	Cognitive dysfunction, tremors?, pituitary dependent Cushing’s syndrome? Depression, sleep, and neuromuscular disorders
Cell numbers decrease: Neurons of the locus ceruleus and substantia nigra most affected Thickening of meninges	Reduced reaction to stimuli Irritable when disturbed, slow to obey commands, problems with orientation and learned behavior
Amyloidosis - Lipofuscinosis - gliosis - meningial fibrosis - Alzheimer like pathology	Cognitive decline? Senility? - Urinary incontinence, disorientation - alteration of sleep-wake cycles - geriatric onset behavioral problems Decreased performance in recognition/memory
SPECIAL SENSES
Decreased sight, smell, hearing	Hypersensitive to stimuli with less affected senses (e.g. sensitive to noise if blind) - Less responsive and alert to stimuli with affected senses Increased irritability? - Increased fear ? Changes in sleep-wake cycle - aggression - decreased appetite Increased vocalization

Behavior Problems of the Geriatric Dog

Geriatric dogs exhibit many of the same behavior problems that we see in younger dogs. The major difference is that the senior age group has an increased incidence of cognitive and anxiety related disorders. Older dogs are more likely to have problems with thunderstorm phobias, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety disorders, panic attacks and cognitive dysfunction. It is likely that a number of the common behavior problems seen in older dogs result from degenerative, geriatric changes.5

Behavior problems may be primary problems or may occur as signs of underlying medical problems. Older pets have a relatively high frequency of medical problems and this makes the medical workup for a geriatric dog very important. This should include a thorough physical exam, neurological evaluation, serum chemistries, CBC, thyroid evaluation and urinalysis. Once medical problems have been taken into consideration and ruled out or corrected, attention may be given to treating the behavior problems. Therapy for many of the behavior problems exhibited by geriatric pets is basically the same as treatment of similar problems occurring in younger dogs. But there are some special considerations when working with geriatric patients. Learning and behavior modification may be slowed due to degenerative CNS changes. Pharmacologic choices may be narrowed due to underlying organic disease. There may also be some physical constraints on what the pet can be taught to do depending on its general state health.

Cognitive Dysfunction

Some dogs exhibit rather severe signs of mental deterioration as they grow older. These may include problems with recognizing familiar places or people, spatial disorientation and confusion. Loss of learned behaviors is common, a common sign of which is housesoiling. There may be problems with the sleep-wake cycle, inappropriate or excessive vocalization, and nonproductive, repetitive behaviors such as licking, circling or pacing. Signs of apathy, irritability, decreased awareness of the environment, and a reduction in social interaction with family members are common. In the absence of other disease processes, these changes are representative of cognitive dysfunction. This syndrome involves the loss of intellectual and integrative functions of the brain.19,23 In humans, severe cognitive dysfunction or dementia can result from cerebral hypoxia due to vascular disease or neurodegenerative lesions such as with Alzheimer’s disease.20 In dogs, hypothyroidism, chronic epilepsy, encephalitis, tumors and other structural diseases have been suggested to cause these types of severe behavior changes.3 Dogs with cognitive dysfunction appear to have underlying pathological CNS changes including amyloidosis, meningeal fibrosis and accumulation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates.21 These are some of the same changes seen in Alzheimer’s patients.21 Physiologically, these changes are thought to be associated with decreases in activity of the cholinergic or dopaminergic neurotransmitter system and increases in levels of monoamine oxidase.3

As the pet gets older, preventive measures such as providing a consistent, moderate amount of mental stimulation and exercise may help. Owners should review obedience commands and tricks with the pet as well as frequently engaging it in simple games of fetch, “find the biscuit,” round robin, etc. Treatment for cognitive dysfunction has traditionally been palliative involving changes in management, controlling the pet’s environment and nursing care. Anipryl® a (selegiline hydrochloride) is a selective monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor which shows great promise in alleviating signs of cognitive dysfunction in elderly dogs.22 While the exact mode of action of Anipryl® has not been demonstrated, suggested modalities include enhanced dopaminergic cell function, decreased dopamine catabolism by monoamine oxidase B inhibition, and reduction as well as increased removal of toxic free radical production. It also appears to be neuroprotective with apparent positive effects in decreasing programmed cell death of injured neurons and promotion of resynthesis of nerve growth factors.26

Miscellaneous Anxiety Disorders

There are some senior dogs that begin showing anxiety disorders of unknown origin. They may manifest signs of generalized anxiety or have actual panic attacks. Dogs with generalized anxiety problems may exhibit persistent, anxious vocalizing, trembling and hiding. They frequently seek the owner’s attention, act nervous and are easily startled. A variety of medical problems can contribute to this type of behavior, so a good medical work up is very important. With time the behaviors may also develop a conditioned component, since attention from the owner may serve as a reinforcement. Although the pathophysiology of these disorders is poorly understood at this time, there may be physiologic problems in the brain involving changes in neurotransmitter activity and receptor sensitivity.

A more intense manifestation of anxiety disorder in the older pet occurs in the form of panic attacks. Dogs with this condition may have acute episodes of intense anxiety involving severe panting, shaking and trembling. Rapid heart rate, respiratory rate and mydriasis are typically seen. The pet may suddenly run through the home in a frantic manner or seek a hiding area. The episodes usually occur in the evening or during the night. Psychomotor seizures may be an explanation for this behavior, or it may be an intense form of generalized anxiety disorder.

Treatment involves counseling the owner to avoid reinforcing the behaviors, increased physical and mental stimulation and medication. I have used benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and clorazepate successfully. Anipryl® might also be helpful since it has been used with reported success in Europe for anxiety problems such as separation anxiety. Phenobarbital may help the pet with panic attacks if the underlying problem is a seizure disorder.

Housesoiling Problems

The geriatric pet usually requires more frequent access to the outdoors. This may result from a decrease in bladder capacity due to obesity, reduced elasticity or prostatic enlargement. Medical problems seen in older pets that cause polyuria will increase the need to void more frequently. The frequency of defecation may increase when the overweight pet is changed to a diet that is high in fiber. If the owners are unable to change their schedule to accommodate the pet’s needs, a doggie door or paper training may be necessary.

Any problem that makes it difficult for the pet to get outdoors, such as weakness, muscular atrophy and arthritis, can lead to housesoiling. If it’s painful for the pet to get up or down stairs to eliminate, it may choose to avoid the discomfort and eliminate indoors. Medication to control pain, carpet runners on stairs for traction and control of obesity should help. Intolerance to adverse weather may also cause the pet to choose to eliminate indoors. This may be seen in hypothyroid patients during cold weather.

Treatment for housesoiling involves accompanying the pet outdoors as often as possible so that elimination in a desired location may be reinforced, consistent supervision/confinement, and a regular feeding schedule.7 Punishment should be avoided since it will likely make the problem worse or create other problems, such as social avoidance or fear aggression. However, it must be discussed with owners since harsh or delayed punishment is often used in an attempt to correct housesoiling.8 A sharp noise given during the act to interrupt the behavior is the only interactive correction that is acceptable.

Social Problems with Other Dogs in the Home

There are two types of social problems that might occur as the dog ages. The first occurs with the addition of a puppy to the home, and the second involves hierarchy problems with other adult dogs in the home.

Young puppies are full of energy and engage in assertive play involving chasing, attacking and biting. If the older dog is strong enough and has had adequate intracanine socialization, it will usually control the exuberant pup with threats and inhibited bites. If the pet is weak, passive or fearful it may withdraw and hide. Some dogs will become exceptionally anxious about having an active, young pup in the home. This may lead to housesoiling, excessive vocalizing, destructive problems and anorexia. If an older dog appears to be overwhelmed by a young puppy, the two should be separated whenever the owner is not around to supervise. Before allowing the pup and older dog to interact, the owner should provide enough exercise or play to fatigue the puppy. This will help ensure desirable interactions. All gentle play should be rewarded. The noise of a squeak toy may help distract the pup from engaging in play attacks. A long lead on the pup can be used for control and to apply a light correction. Attaching a head halter, such as the Gentle Leader® b will give the owner even more control. Occasionally, a timely squirt from a water gun or a toy tossed near the puppy will prevent or stop rough play.

Problems between adult dogs can occur between dogs who have lived together for years when the older, dominant dog becomes weaker and less assertive. The older dog may be challenged by a younger, confident dog in competitive or social situations. Problem situations may include soliciting attention from the owner, greeting visitors, exhibiting territorial displays, and guarding food or toys. The owners may make the situation worse by trying to protect and maintain the older pet’s dominant position. Theoretically, the owner might consider supporting a dominant roll for the younger pet by allowing it to have what it wants such as receiving treats and attention first from the owner, giving it access to desired sleeping areas, etc. But, in reality, it is very difficult for most owners to force the older dog to defer to a younger pet who has been a member of the family for a shorter period of time. A better solution is for the owners to reaffirm the family’s dominant roll in respect to both dogs. Obedience commands should be taught or reviewed. Both dogs should then be taught that the owners have complete control over anything that the pets desire. The owner can do this by requiring a response to a command before either pet receives anything (food, treats, play, a walk outdoors, and, especially, social attention). Whenever the dogs start to approach the owner, a guest, doorway, food bowl, etc., they should both be commanded to stay and, then, released, one at a time. The order in which the pets are released or receive attention, should vary each time. Establishing a strong dominant roll for the owners tends to reduce aggressive tension between the pets. In some cases, muzzles or head halters may be necessary for control and safety.

Aggressive Behavior

Pain can lower the threshold for aggressive behavior, so all pets with aggression problems should be carefully screened for signs of pain. Look for signs of arthritis, dental disease and otitis. Sensory deficits can also contribute to aggressive behavior. Fearful pets usually learn to avoid interactions that make them nervous by simply moving away from people that approach. When the pet loses its hearing or sight, it is more likely to be startled and display defensive or fearful aggression. Avoidance is usually the best way to handle this type of problem. Visitors should always be advised about approaching the pet with sensory deficits. In some cases it may be prudent to simply confine the pet to a safe, quiet area when visitors are in the home.

Although, cerebral vascular disorders are frequently blamed for apparent sudden onset of aggression, they are quite rare in the dog. A good medical and behavioral workup will usually uncover more common etiologies such as pain-elicited aggression, fear aggression or dominance aggression. The importance of ruling out and treating painful problems cannot be stressed enough. Failure to treat these will likely prevent successful resolution of the aggression problem. The treatment for fear aggression involves desensitization and counterconditioning.9,10,11 The owners of dominant dogs need to establish a dominant role for themselves in respect to their pet. This involves obedience training, control of resources, counterconditioning and desensitization exercises.12,13,14

Environmental and Social Stress

The elderly pet has a more difficult time dealing with stress. Stressful situation have the potential for triggering anorexia, destructive behaviors, excessive vocalization, housesoiling, displacement behaviors and stereotypical behavior. Changes in the owner’s schedule or in the amount of time the owner spends with the pet can be very unsettling. In Chapman and Voith’s study of older dogs referred for behavior problems,6 separation anxiety was the most common cause of destructive behavior and excessive vocalization. The majority of dogs over ten years of age that I have seen for destructive behavior have had separation anxiety as the underlying etiology. Treatment for separation anxiety has been described15,16,17 and involves changing the way the owner interacts with the pet so that it is not always getting attention on demand, gradually accustoming the pet to absences by the owner and, in some cases, prescribing anxiolytic medication such as tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and selegiline. It is helpful to reward play with toys when the owner is present and to provide food-laced toys at departure.18 Taste-aversive sprays can be used on objects around the house to teach the pet to avoid them.

Long trips and boarding should probably be limited or carefully thought out. If major changes in the pet’s life are anticipated, some care should be taken to gradually introduce the pet to these. If sudden, major changes are unavoidable and the pet responds very anxiously, anxiolytic medication may be helpful.

How Dogs Think

Have you ever seen a device or a program designed to correct a dog behavior problem that explained how smart dogs are and how they think? Most plans or gadgets enable owners, literally, to declare war on their hapless pets. Little or no concern is afforded to what the dogs happen to think about them. In fact, the implication is that dogs don't think at all ... either they just react to external stimuli like robots , or respond according to genetically controlled "drives." Dogs are rarely credited with the ability to solve a problem mentally; to analyze a situation; imagine ways to manipulate or control it, then take a pre-planned course of action toward a goal that was preconceived in the dog's mind. In short, the dog is considered a real dummy, then treated like a dummy. But this concept is not correct. Dogs are smart. They can, and usually do, think rings around their owners. And they can do it because most owners have never learned how to think like a dog.

Understanding Non-verbal thinking

We all wonder now and then what our dog is thinking. If we wonder aloud, perhaps when mealtime is approaching and the dog is looking expectantly at us, we might say something like, "I'll bet Tippy's thinking, 'When is my dinner going to be ready?' " In all likelihood, Tippy isn't originating any thoughts about 'when dinner will be ready.' It is more likely Tippy is imagining (or 'imaging' in his mind) the words and movements you usually say and perform before getting his dinner; something like, "You want dinner, Tippy?" All that tail wagging and those pleading eyes are aimed at stimulating you to say it.

But, an inability to originate thoughts in a spoken language does not make dogs unintelligent. Even people don't actively think in a spoken language unless they actively 'speak' it. For instance, during a short vacation to Japan, if you don't already speak the language, you'll probably pick up the meaning of a few words. After a few natives look at you in the morning and say "Ohio," you may eventually learn that they're not curious about where you're from, but are wishing you a "Good Morning." Still, you won't think in Japanese unless you live there a few months and actively speak it. Even a pet Akita will never learn to speak or think in the native lingo because their voice boxes, tongues and lips cannot formulate the sounds of Japanese ... or English, or French, etc, etc. The limit of our dog's language-learning is the meaning of the sounds of certain words. Luckily, dogs are quick to learn the sounds that are important to them.

With this in mind, when Tippy is prodding us about serving dinner, we'd be wise to discard ideas about complete sentences being originated and thought about, and replace them with the non-language concept of mental images. To illustrate this further; when most Tippys are asking for dinner they actually look from their owners toward the place where it is served, generally the kitchen.

Evidence of Imagery

Some very convincing research suggests that dogs think in sensory impressions; visual, sound and odor images, etc. This is not to say that they sit around on quiet days experiencing videos inside their brains. However, they likely share our ability to form and experience in their minds certain images, odors and sounds. The scientific basis for this idea came from Russia and was published in the US in 1973. A scientist name VS.. Rusinov¹ was studying the electrophysiology of the brain and had several dogs wired with brain wave equipment and radio transmitters. When the dogs were brought into the lab from the kennels for experimental conditioning tests, the electroencephalograph machine was turned on to record their brain wave patterns. This was done at the same time each day, five days a week. One weekend, purely by accident, Rusinov brought a group of visitors into the lab and turned on the EEG machine. Lo, the dog that was normally schedule for tests during the week at that time was sending wave forms nearly identical to his regular working patterns! When the testing time passed, the dogs' brain waves soon returned to their normal 'at rest' forms. I never found any mention by Rusinov as to whether the dogs out in the kennel were actually performing their conditioned laboratory behaviorisms. Chances are they were not, but one thing is almost sure; compared to human experience in similar types of studies, the dogs were apparently experiencing them mentally^2,3.

The late Polish scientist, Jerzi Konorski,³ taught dogs to salivate and expect food in their trays when a light flickered. This was done regularly every few minutes. However, after a few trials, the dogs started salivating and looking at the trays as if the food were actually there, even though the light had not flickered. Konorski ventured that the dogs were hallucinating about both the stimulus (the light) and the reward for salivating (the food). One thing is sure: Something was going on in the dogs' minds that made them behave as if they were happening.

Some Human Examples

Before going on with dogs, let us consider some facets of our own 'mind's eye,' as suggested by Konorski. Imagine we have a date to meet a loved one at a busy restaurant. We get there on time and sit at a table near the door. Fifteen minutes go by, but no friend arrives. We begin to wonder if they are coming at all. We start watching people approach the door. Pretty soon, people with similar features almost cause us to call out to them. The more concerned and anxious we become, the more apt we are to mistake strangers for our friend. When he or she finally arrives, the pleasure and relief we feel is often mixed with mild displeasure. We are ambivalent ... we have mixed emotions about meeting them in the future.

Almost everyone has mental imagery. Often, just the thought of a loved one conjures up their image. This can apply to sounds, as well. Think about your favorite musical piece and your can often hear it in your 'mind's ear.' These are positive images. They are emotionally pleasant. At the other end of the scale, recalling a terrifying experience can not only create its images, but sometime even make us shudder. This is an example of negative, emotionally unpleasant images.

Back To Dogs

So it is with our dogs. When we are late getting home, or if they over-miss us because we spoil them with attention and petting every time they demand it, they very likely worry in images, too. They may well recall images of us and our activities, such as fluffing the pillows on the sofa, putting away record albums, handling magazines and books, putting on shoes just before leaving, sitting in a favorite armchair, etc. As a result of this, they often engage in activities which involve them with these images: Pillows wind up on the floor, albums or magazines are moved or chewed, a chair seat gets dug up, shoes are brought out of the closet. If they can't have us there, they try to interact with things that symbolize us.

If dogs really do store up and recall images of us and life's other objects and experiences, it follows that we might use this to our mutual benefit. But since most owners do not understand how dogs think, this imagery is where the seeds of most behavior problems are sown. Dogs receive and recall conflicting images of owners and many important experiences.

The Puppy's Dilemma

Consider the new puppy whose owners come home at regular times and join in an ecstatically joyful greeting ceremony. This imagery is quickly ingrained, and the pup begins to anticipate the experience, just Konorski's dogs hallucinated about the flickering light and the food tray. However, as will happen in even the most well regulated household, one day the owner is late. The puppy begins experiencing the images of his tardy owners ... starts fretting, pacing. Well primed energies, ready for the greeting ceremony, demand an outlet as the adrenaline starts pumping.

What's going on in its mind's eye or ear? It probably imagines hearing footsteps, perhaps even sees the door open... which doesn't happen. But it should. This introduces conflict between what it wants and expects and what is really happening. Conflict creates frustration. Frustration produces anxiety, which triggers an even greater adrenaline rush. The pup searches for something real to satisfy its desire to 'experience' the owner ... a magazine or book it saw the owner reading recently. It is rich with the owner's scent. If it cannot have the owner there, it can at least have their genuine odor or taste. So it sniffs, tastes, maybe even swallows parts of the article. Naturally, this does not fully substitute for the whole owner, so the puppy's social appetite is not really satisfied.

Finally, here comes the owner. The puppy innocently launches into its joyous, semi-hysterical ritual. The owner starts to join in, but spies the pulverized magazine or book. What's this? Naturally, if not wisely, the owner angrily grabs the pup, drags it to the demolished object and scolds it, or slaps it's snout or rump, or both. The pet's single-track mind is riveted on the owner. It yips, rolls over, or struggles vainly to escape. Punishment concluded, the owner angrily picks up the remnants of the article and storms to the trash basket.

Psychic Trauma

The net result of this is a totally confused pup with a conflicting set of images of its owner. This sort of shock to the nervous system is called psychic trauma in both animals and humans. A conflict has been instilled between the positive image of the owner (happy Dr. Jekyll) and the negative (Mr. Homecoming Hyde). This creates frustration and anxiety about homecomings, growing in severity if the scenario is repeated a few times. (It is interesting that in many cases, owners tell us that the pup was fine for a day or so after the first punishment. This may equate to the human experience of repression, in which memory of the traumatic experience is suppressed, creating a sort of 'backwards amnesia.') Even when this occurs, since the punishment was not associated with the act of chewing up something, the puppy seeks out another article, perhaps a shoe, and the cycle is repeated until the total relationship between owner and dog is tainted with emotional ambivalence. Mixed feelings are eating away at the positive qualities of their relationship. Negative emotional impressions may start to dominate it.

At about this stage, many owners conclude that the punishment may not have been severe enough. That's why the correction was not permanent. So they intensify it. The relationship erodes further as weeks go by. Enough of this cascading negative effect and the owner is ready take drastic action. The dog, now hyper-sensitive to its owner's mood change, feels something is wrong. This often is reflected by new problems, such as submissive wetting when the owner comes home or approaches the dog at other times; off-schedule bowel movements or urination occur, etc.

Many pets act insecure, currying more favor when the owner is home, and hence, missing the owner even more acutely when left alone. Frustration and anxiety build, while the isolation-related, tension-relieving behavior mounts. The unwitting owner, who originally may have thought the dog is 'getting even' for being left alone, begins to consider it incorrigible.

Help

This is when outside help is often sought. A book is purchased. The veterinarian, breeder, pet shop, a trainer or behaviorist may be consulted. If lucky, the owner gets advice that brings genuine insight into pet/owner relationships and dog behavior. But, more likely, they find traditional quick fixes and the dog winds up in a desensitization program; gets dosed with anxiety relieving drugs or barbiturates; is stuck in a cramped crate or cage all day, or banned to the yard or garage, or has its mouth stuffed with chewed debris and taped shut for hours. Since none of these approaches deal with the causes, the 'thinking dog' and the total relationship with its owners and the environment, success is rare. The majority of these formerly precious pets find themselves rejected ... relegated to the local pound for five to seven days, where the odds are 3-to-2 they'll suffer society's 'ultimate solution'. But things don't have to be so grim, if the owners learn some 'dog think.'

Apply

Dogs that misbehave when they are left alone are said to be suffering from separation anxiety. The term is a neat buzz-phrase; almost everybody uses it. It sounds professional. The trouble is, as a transplant from human psychiatry, it really doesn't convey much useful information. However, the term is here, so we'll use it in its broadest sense, which is; "a troubled feeling when left alone or apart from a certain person or persons." This allows us to recommend a remedial behavioral program that deals with the realities of the dog's total relationships. First, however, we must be sure that the dog's veterinarian has ruled out the many physical/medical causes for anxiety, such as thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism, pre-diabetes, encephalitis, allergies, hyperkinesis, etc. etc.

The Program

Dogs that are unduly upset when left alone usually enjoy their owner's attention and petting whenever they ask for (or demand it) when the people are at home. To apply the imagery concept to this relationship, we could say the dog 'sees itself' as directing, or leading the owner. When it wants some petting, it nudges or otherwise stimulates the owner, and the owner complies. The dog wants out, whines at the door or at the owner, and the door gets opened. Mealtime approaches, dog whines and prances, and dinner gets served. When the owner goes from room to room, the dog is either ahead, leading them, or close behind. This is the reality of their relationship, at least in the dog's mind. But, when the owner leaves, against the dog's wishes, the pet is predictably upset, and problem behavior occurs. This can involve barking, chewing, pacing, self-mutilation, off-schedule bowel movements, urination around the house, etc.

The leadership problem can be turned about by presenting a different reality to the dog; one in which the dog is pleasantly, but firmly and consistently told to perform some simple act, such as 'sit' whenever it attempts to gain attention or affection, or whenever the owner wants to give the dog some attention. All 'sits', or whatever command is used ('down' is a good one for highly bossy dogs) are praised happily as 3 to 5 seconds of petting is awarded; then the dog is cheerfully released with an "OK" or "Free." (Free is a good release because OK is too common a word.)

If a really bossy dog refuses to obey, and many do when they realize their relationship is being turned around, simply ignore the situation, turn away and go on about some other activity, ignoring the dog. Some dogs have refused to respond for as long as four days before coming to terms with a follower relationship. However long it takes, after a few days the dog's image of itself seems to evolve from one of giving direction to taking it with compliance prior to being petted, getting dinner, going out the door, getting on the couch, etc.

In moving around the house, whenever the dog forges ahead, simply about-turn and go the other way. This must be repeated until the dog walks patiently behind or, better yet, doesn't even follow. It is also helpful, but not vital, to practice down-stays of increasing length during several evenings a week.

Emotionality

Most 'home alone' problem dogs get extremely emotional when their owners get home; some even get excitable when regular departure times approach. To supplant these emotionally over-stimulating images, sit quietly for about five minutes before leaving, in the area where the dog will be left. No eye contact or speaking is allowed. Then, get up and go without looking at or speaking to the pet.

At homecoming, enter quietly and ignore the dog until it quiets down completely. Then it is greeted happily, but briefly, away from the door of arrival. This subdued routine soon replaces the dog's highly emotional mental images of returns and departures with calmness and serenity.

Here's the tough part for most all dog owners: When coming home the place is a mess! Pillows have been chewed, or the chair is tattered again, or a pile of poop graces the doorway, or some other problem is evident. If we keep in mind that the dog has in the past suffered from conflicting images at homecoming, it is imperative that no emotion, or even attention, should be directed at the remnants of the problem; such as chewed up magazines, shoes, defecation, etc. Instead, after five minutes of ignoring the dog, it should be greeted away from the scene of the misbehavior, and then pleasantly taken outdoors or to another room and left alone while the mess is cleaned up. This avoids creating new (or reinforcing old) conflicting images of emotional reactions to, or interactions with, the debris, defecation, etc.

I have always called this 'the secret clean-up'. It has worked wonders as part of programs ranging from digging in the yard to housetraining puppies. Just why it is such an effective adjunct to correction programs remains to be satisfactorily explained. In the meantime, we'll have to say that the lack of an image of the owner and the mess is more beneficial to correction than is the image.

The Big Picture

So, there it is. Dogs think in images and we can mold and change their behavior in hundreds of ways if we will think as they do. For instance, on the negative side, a set up whereby a car screeches to a stop, horn blaring, just as a dog starts toward the street from the sidewalk, then praising its retreat, is a valuable exercise in negative imagery. However, it must be repeated until the dog avoids the street when cars are not present, as well.

Teaching the 'panic' command to come needs the dog's name followed by a code word, a sound image that is exclusive to coming when it is absolutely necessary, and praise words or a vocal rhythm that is unique to that command, coupled with fast hand-clapping while taking a crouched position. These combined, positive images can create a dog that will dependably respond to your code word and come to your praise. It is especially important to teach this command when the dog is out of sight, as well.