Northland Pet Lodge
Got Anxiety?
Does your pet suffer from anxiety from fireworks, storms, travel, or separation? There are products available to help keep your pet calm and relaxed versus anxious and panicked. We offer a variety of solutions; Thundershirts, calming sprays, and treats that have natural ingredients to help relax your pet. Thundershirts are a great tool that works on compression and gives your dog a soothing hug that really works. We also have a few different calming sprays that use natural oils to help calm your pet and relive their anxiety. We also carry chews that have all natural herbal ingredients that also help relax and relieve your pet’s stress and anxiety.
Canine Influenza
Attention Pet Owners
Northland Pet Lodge does not require that your pet be vaccinated for canine influenza yet, but we strongly recommend it.
Recently, we’ve been getting questions from some of our pet owners about a new dog virus called canine influenza. They were concerned about stories they had seen or read in the news about dog flu outbreaks. In answering their questions, we realized that all of our dog owners may have similar questions and concerns. So we’re writing to tell you about canine influenza, what puts dogs at risk, and what can be done to protect them.
Canine influenza is a respiratory disease that causes coughing, nasal discharge, and loss of energy and appetite. The signs of infection are similar to those of other respiratory diseases in dogs, but the coughing caused by canine influenza can last for several weeks. With proper care, most dogs generally recover. However, canine influenza can lead to more severe or even life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, and has been fatal in up to 8% of cases.
Because canine influenza is caused by a relatively new virus, dogs have no natural immunity to it. And since it’s highly contagious, visiting places where dogs congregate, such as boarding facilities, doggie daycares, dog parks, or groomers, puts dogs at higher risk for catching this new virus. Making things more difficult is the fact that dogs can spread the virus before the coughing and other signs of sickness appear.
The best way to protect your dog from canine influenza is through vaccination. Fortunately, a Bivalent H3N8 and H3N2 vaccine is available that aids in the control of disease caused by Canine Influenza.
We recommend vaccinating dogs against canine influenza and there are vaccines available. To give your dog the most complete protection, the initial vaccination requires two doses of vaccine given 2 to 4 weeks apart, followed by a single booster dose given annually.
We are working closely with local vets to inform the community about canine influenza, and to create a reasonable and effective action plan to minimize the risk to our four-legged companions. Again, at this time, we do not require the canine influenza vaccination yet, but we strongly recommend it.
Sincerely,
Jeff McGrath
Owner/Operator Northland Pet Lodge
For more information about canine influenza go to www.doginfluenza.com
Delta Changes Pet Policy
For those of you you travel with your pet, listen up. Delta has announced that starting March 1st 2016 they will no longer accept pets as checked baggage. This will not affect your plans if your pup flies with you in a crate under your seat, but if Fido needs to be checked in a lot has changed. First, they will have to be booked separately as air cargo. They may be on a different plane than you and you will have to arrive 3 hours prior to their departure time.
Disturbing the Peace
Why does barking go from normal to nuisance?
Almost all dogs bark, and usually for very good reasons. But few things will make you the talk of the neighborhood — and not in a good way — more quickly than letting your dog bark excessively. What counts as “excessive”? Nuisance barking is generally defined as howling, yelping, or barking that is frequent or habitual and can be reasonably considered a disturbance. (It’s true, however, that this is a fairly subjective assessment.)
Why do dogs bark?
•Dogs bark to communicate.
It is a deeply ingrained behavior, and over millennia it has served an important function for their safety, and that of their owners.
•Dogs, like people, are social animals.
Scolding or yelling at your dog when he barks will not make it stop. In fact, your dog may interpret your yelling as participation in the “conversation.”
•Dogs may bark simply because they’re bored.
With few other outlets for expressing their frustration, a dog may resort to barking just so he has something to do.
•Dogs bark to get attention.
Because they are pack animals who bond deeply with their humans, dogs crave attention. If the only attention your dog receives is when he is barking, guess what he’s going to figure out pretty quickly…?
How can I keep my dog from barking excessively?
•Train your dog to bark only when it’s appropriate.
Interrupt inappropriate barking by distracting your dog. Drop a plastic soda bottle full of pennies or rocks somewhere near him. When the noise disrupts his barking, praise him with “Good dog, that’s enough,”in a light, pleasing voice.
•Spend time playing with your dog everyday.
There are many reasons why spending quality time with your dog is vital her physical and emotional well-being. And one of them is that dogs who do not get enough interaction with people are more likely to bark.
•Give your dog chews and toys.
Another tool in fighting boredom and providing an appropriate distraction.
•Keep your dog occupied when you can’t be home.
Doggie day care; a friendly and reliable dog walker; even neighbor who may crave a little canine companionship if they don’t have a dog of their own; stimulating canine-specific “puzzles with treats hidden inside: While you may be your dog’s favorite pack member, you can ensure you have back up.
Prevention is the place to start. You can prevent nuisance barking before it starts by making sure your dog is happy, healthy, and well-trained. Contact a dog club in your area for information about training opportunities.
Erika Mansourian, AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
http://www.akc.org/learn/family-dog/disturbing-the-peace/
April 29, 2015
October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! Lets all remember to help our four legged furry friends that need a home by finding them a new home, volunteering your time to a local shelter, donating products and or money to your local shelter or to the ASPCA. Our Brainerd Lakes Area shelter is H.A.R.T. ( Heartland Animal Rescue Team) http://www.hartpets.org/ they have been adopting pets for almost 30 years. Many of us are unable to take any additional pets in to our homes, but hat doesn’t mean that we can’t help. HART is always looking for volunteers to help walk the dogs, care for the cats, foster care, special event help, animal transportation, and educational helpers. Many shelters are also very grateful for both monetary donations and donations of food, toys and treats. We also have a donation box for HART for both Money and products at Northland Pet Lodge
Dog Allergy Symptoms: What’s Causing Them and How to Treat it
He’s scratching and licking, keeping you awake, ruining his show coat, and giving himself a handy excuse for breaking that stay. It’s driving you crazy—imagine how he must feel.
We most often associate allergies with sneezing and respiratory problems in people, but in dogs, allergies are most often associated with the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. About 10 to 15 percent of dogs with food allergies will have both skin and GI signs, and about 20 to 30 percent of dogs with food allergies will also have itchy skin from other non-food allergies.
GI signs are most often seen as:
•Loose stools, with an average of three a day
•Vomiting and belching
•A skin sign is usually itchiness, and it appears the same as itchiness due to other allergies
According to one recent study, nearly 8 percent of dogs presented to a referral dermatology practice had food allergies, which represented about a third of all the dogs presented there with allergic skin disease.
“Ears and rears” is sometimes used to refer to the characteristic location of itchiness, though it’s actually a little more widespread than just those regions. In one study, dogs with food allergies suffered from itchy ears in 80 percent of the cases (and in fact, only the ear was affected in a quarter of all cases); itchy feet in 61 percent; itchy groin region in 53 percent; and itchy armpits, anterior foreleg, or eye regions in about 35 percent of cases. Secondary ear and skin infections often arise from self-inflicted trauma from scratching and chewing. These infections must be treated along with removal of the offending food.
Some breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Poodles, and Chinese Shar-Pei, may be at greater risk for food allergies, though they can appear in any breed.
Allergies can appear at any age, but most dogs have been eating the offending food for two years before signs of allergy appear. Some develop signs as early as two months of eating the offending food, but allergic reactions are not something that normally appear immediately after introducing a new food. But once symptoms appear, their onset is often sudden and serious.
Most dogs react to one or two allergens; about 20 percent react to more. There’s a greater chance that dogs react to animal products from the same species (milk and meat from cattle, for example) or from related species (cattle, sheep, and deer, for example).
Diet trials are inconvenient and tedious. But compared to your dog’s discomfort, they’re a small price to pay to identify the culprit. Unfortunately there is no cure for food allergies—except to avoid the offending foods.
This article comes from Caroline Coile, AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB May 19, 2015
for the entire article click the link below
http://www.akc.org/learn/family-dog/food-allergies-dog-scratching-licking/
Northland Pet Lodge offers many great grain free dog food, grain free treats and other skin and coat supplements to help alleviate your pets allergy issues. Call or email us today for more information
Fall Training Classes Starting September 14th
Northland Pet Lodge offers Puppy, Beginner and Advanced training classes. The 9 week Beginner Class includes an orientation and the cost is $128. Orientation is for the Beginner Obedience classes only and will be held Monday September 14th at 7pm and Tuesday September 15th at 5:45pm. Please do not bring your dogs to orientation. The 8 week Advanced Obedience class will begin Monday September 21st at 5:45pm and the cost is $128. The 5 week Puppy Class starts Tuesday September 22nd at 7pm and the cost is $80.00.
Here is a link to our training page that gives insight into each of the classes.
https://northlandpetlodge.com/training/
Want to know who your trainer is?
https://northlandpetlodge.com/training/trainer-bios/
Here is a link to some of our great resources for pet training
https://northlandpetlodge.com/training/training-resources/
Keep Pets Safe in the Heat
Practice basic summer safety. Never leave your pets in a parked car. Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.
Watch the humidity. “It’s important to remember that it’s not just the ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet,” says Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. “Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly.”
Taking a dog’s temperature will quickly tell you if there is a serious problem. Dogs’ temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104 degrees. If your dog’s temperature does, follow the instructions for treating heat stroke.
Limit exercise on hot days. Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.
Don’t rely on a fan. Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don’t cool off pets as effectively as they do people.
Provide ample shade and water. Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don’t obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.
Cool your pet inside and out. Whip up a batch of quick and easy DIY peanut butter popsicles for dogs. (You can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And always provide water, whether your pets are inside or out with you.
Keep your pet from overheating indoors or out with a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in cool water, and they’ll stay cool (but usually dry) for up to three days. If your dog doesn’t find baths stressful, see if she enjoys a cooling soak.
Watch for signs of heatstroke. Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.
Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.
How to treat a pet suffering from heatstroke. Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian.
Prepare for power outages Before a summer storm takes out the power in your home, create a disaster plan to keep your pets safe from heat stroke and other temperature-related trouble