Canine Head Shaking

 Head shaking in dogs is normal as long as it is infrequent. Dogs will naturally shake their heads to get something out of their ear (like a seed or bug) and usually, it is quite effective. BUT, if your dog starts to shake their head more frequently and it is persistent for more than a day and repeatedly, it is time to take your dog to the vet. 

Frequent head shaking can be caused by:

• Bacterial & Yeast infections
• Allergies
• Water in the ears
• A foreign object in the ear canal
• Inflammatory diseases
• Neurological disorders

If you notice your dog shaking their head repeatedly for more than a day, it is time to visit the vet. Continued head shaking can lead to ruptured blood vessels within a dog's ear flap (aural hematoma) which requires surgery. 

Canine Shedding

Most dogs shed, though there are some dogs that don't (Click here for a list of dogs that don't shed). Some dogs shed more than others. Some shed on a daily basis all year long, and some shed seasonally in the spring and fall. If you have a dog that sheds all year long, I feel for you, I really do. But, when should you start worrying that your dog's shedding problem is beyond the normal scope and is an actual health problem?

When you start to notice this:

Any of the above problems could be linked to an underlying health problem that will need to be addressed by a veterinarian. It could be anything: allergies, hormones, a dietary deficiency (or over abundance), stress or a skin condition like mites and ringworm. It's important for your veterinarian to properly diagnose what is causing your dog to abnormally shed in order for the right treatment to be administered.

If you dog has normal shedding that is driving you absolutely nuts-o, here is one thing you can do:

• Brush your dog daily with an undercoat rake. Most shedding is of the dog's undercoat with a little bit of actual fur. Take your dog outside and have some quality time of brushing out that undercoat. You couches, car and clothing will thank you.

Other than that, you can try some healthy coat vitamins and adjust your dog's food to something that is high quality. Fur is a common side effect of having animal love!

How To Tell If Your Dog Is Depressed

Dogs can suffer from depression, just like humans. But, dogs do not speak human. They speak dog and sometimes it's hard for us humans to figure out what they are saying. Here are 10 signs that your dog might be depressed. Please keep in mind that just because your dog may be exhibiting one of these signs, it does not necessarily mean they are depressed. A lot of these signs could also mean they are injured or sick. Bottom line, it's best to know your dog's personal language. Pay attention to how they communicate on a day to day basis in order to understand when your dog is acting out of the ordinary.

1. Change in Behavior: This is the most basic sign. Is your dog acting out of the ordinary? Have they lost interest in things that used to excite them? Example: Walks, favorite food, no longer greeting you at the door. The first thing to do is check out the environment. Have you had a new life change (new baby, a big move, ect..)? Sometimes, a dog will sense your own mood and act accordingly. It may be time to do your own self-reflection on whether you are in fact sad or stressed out. This could be causing your dog to feel the same way. Remember, that dogs are pack animals and if their leader is feeling sad or stressed, you canine will feel the same way. Though, they won't know why. They just know something is wrong with their leader.
2. Sleeping Pattern Changes: Usually a dog's sleeping patterns will fall in line with their human companion's. If you are noticing that you dog is particularly lethargic, they may be sad about something. BUT, they could also be sick or injured. Again, first check the environment for major changes. Next, take them to the vet to be reassured they are not sick. 
3. Pacing: Pacing is a repetitive, back and forth frantic walk in a path. If you dog is pacing, it could mean a myriad of emotions: boredom, frustration, agitation or they could be excited about something fun that is about to happen! Pacing can also mean illness or injury. An injured or sick dog may pace because they cannot get in a comfortable resting position. They are basically trying to wear themselves out to rest. Again, know your dog's normal day to day routine and language and check the environment for any new change.
4. Body Language: This is again assuming you know your dog's individual language. Some dogs are naturally timid and shy. Other dogs are more confident and boisterous. Some common body language signs that your dog is feeling sad are the eyes and the "passive stance". Generally, if a dog is avoiding eye contact, something is wrong. It does not necessarily mean that the eye contact has to be with you. It could mean that when you throw their favorite toy across the room, they refuse to look at it. Another common sign is a passive stance: walking or standing with their tail between their legs and head low. Sadness does not necessarily mean they are depressed. It could be just a temporary fleeting feeling they are feeling at that particular moment. 
5. Eating Habits: Has your dog's eating habits changed? Like humans, a dog can suddenly start eating more or less when they are depressed. Ideally, your dog should have scheduled feeding times. This allows you better monitor their health and notice any eating changes. Keep in mind, they may just be bored with their food and it's time for a switch up. If your dog is more of a free range feeder, you will need to weigh them on a regular basis to make sure they are not gaining or losing weight too quickly.
6. Aggression: This is more of a serious one. If your dog is showing signs of aggression, please take them to the vet to make sure they are not ill or injured. Period. 
7. Excessive Licking: (especially the paws!) Some dogs will exhibit and obsessive compulsion to lick themselves when something is bothering them. You must first check to make sure that they are not injured, have a skin irritation or allergy. If not, it could be an emotional response. 
8. Destructive Behavior: First, I must clarify. If you have a puppy, it's going to be destructive and it's your job to teach them boundaries. But, if you have a dog that was once calm and collective suddenly chewing up things, chances are something is wrong. They could be bored, mad, frustrated or depressed. First make sure that they are getting adequate mental and physical exercise. Next, check for major changes in the environment. It could be something as "silly" as a new smell in the house! If all of this has been addressed, you may need to seek a vet. 
9. Excessive Shedding: When I say "excessive shedding", I'm not talking about the day to day shedding of your dog. Dog's shed. Period. What you will be looking for is thin, bald spots of hair missing on your dog. If this is happening, please take your dog to the vet. Chances are, it's a health issue. But, it could also be an emotional reaction. 
10. Avoidance or Hiding: If your dog seems to be hiding in a corner or avoiding you or other family members, something is wrong. Again, it could be a major environmental change, it could be weather (like a thunderstorm) or it could be health related and need a vet's diagnosis.

Bottom line, the best way to tell if something is wrong with your dog is to pay attention to them everyday. Get to know your dog: What your dog likes, dislikes and how they communicate. If you do notice something is "out of the ordinary" with your dog, don't panic. First, assess the environment and try to decide if it is indeed emotional or if it's physical. Always consult your veterinarian, because even emotional issues may sometimes need a doctor's care. 💗

Canine Food Obsession

One thing you can always assume about a dog is that there is a 99.99999% chance they will never turn down food. True, there are some dogs that are a little more mature about mealtime than your average gobbler. And, some will walk away from a bowl when they are genuinely full. But, there are some dogs that are completely obsessed with food and act like they are starving to death all the time. If you have a food obsessed dog, the first thing you must do is take them to the vet to rule out a serious medical condition. Here are some of the physical reasons your dog may seem obsessed with food:

• Aging
• Bacterial overgrowth in the intestines
• Cushing's disease
• Diabetes
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficency
• Hyperthyroidism
• Reaction to medication
• Inappropriate diet

Once you have ruled out a medical condition, you may start to deduce that your dog's food obsession is psychologically based. There is a theory that dog's are opportunistic eaters with a hereditary trait from their wolf ancestors. Hardwired in their DNA is a feast or famine trigger from their hunting lineage. Hunting wise: when food is present, a dog will feast because there may be a time when food will be scarce. This isn't the case anymore with most dogs. The hunt is over-- Humans provide food on a daily basis, multiple times a day. But, that doesn't necessarily mean their hardwired genetics has changed. Evolution takes a long time. But, this theory has not been scientifically proven. It's just a theory and there are other psychological reasons your dog may be food obsessed:

•  A change in the environment- Has a family member moved out (aka: a member of the pack is missing)? Have you added a family member? Maybe you have moved? Maybe your dog isn't mentally or physically exercised adequately? If the answer is "yes", then you may have a stress eater on your hands. Find ways to reduce the stress in your dog's life and return to normalcy.
  
• Multiple dogs in the household- Is there a dog with food aggression? Is there a bully in the pack? Remember, you should be the pack leader and institute calm discipline within your pack.
• Learned Behavior: You may have accidentally trained your dog to be food obsessed through using too much food for positive behavior reinforcement. 😶
• Memories of Food Scarcity: This happens with rescue dogs that have been on the streets or abused. My first dog was a rescue dog that was food obsessed and eventually became obese (from my lack of knowledge on what to do). We had to put this dog on a diet, which caused the food obsession to become worse, which eventually became a huge behavior mess. That being said, there are things you can do to help your dog with food obsession! Read below--

What to do with a food obsessed canine family member:
The first thing you must do is establish a feeding ritual and schedule and stick to it. Your dog must realize that there are only specific times of the day when feeding time occurs. The feeding bowl must be taken away as soon as your dog has walked away from it and they must wait until the next feeding for food. Use treats only for training. Your dog must "work" for their treats (sit, stay, fancy trick, ect...) If your dog is a gobbler, you can purchase a special feeding bowl that is designed to slow down the eating chaos. OR, you can go with a cheaper route of putting a tennis ball in their bowl.

All in all, the bottom line is that food obsession could be psychological or medical. Both reasons are unhealthy for a canine and can end up causing obesity. Obesity is definitely a medical condition that limits the lifespan of your canine and causes more medical conditions to surface. It's best to not ignore your dog's obsession and deal with it as soon as possible.