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5 Tips for Helping Fido Survive the Holidays

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December 5,2015
by Bryan Bailey

Just the other day, I was driving home from an outing with my dog when I passed a billboard announcing the annual, pre-Christmas sale at a major, local retailer. I remembered thinking, really? How can this be? Weren’t the holidays just here yesterday? Suddenly, the relaxing day I was having turned into anything but that as I began to go through my annual, mile-long, stress-inducing, pre-holidays mental checklist. The pain on my face must have been obvious because as I checked off item number 7 out of 200, I felt the warm, sticky sensation of my dog’s tongue in my right ear. Reaching behind me, I rubbed his big head and asked, “You’ll help me get through the holidays, won’t you?” The thump, thump, thump of his tail on the back seat was all I needed as an answer. My dog had my back.

For most people, the holidays are a bittersweet occasion in that it’s a time of reuniting with loved ones, endless parties, and the exchanging of gifts; however, it’s also one of massive preparation, excessive spending, and worrying about perfection in everything from what to wear, what to give, and what to serve. It’s truly the season of cheer and fear where nothing is overlooked or left to chance . . . except Fido. Yep, the very dog that has your back is left by himself to deal with a myriad of holiday stressors that range from multiple attacks by your relative’s screaming kids to a fat man in a red suit yelling “Ho, Ho, Ho,” which unfortunately translates to “no, no, no” for your dog who rightfully thinks he’s done nothing wrong! For us humans, it’s easy to understand during the holidays why “misery loves company” but not for your dog. Therefore, here are a few tips that will help Fido get through the holiday season without misery as his constant companion.

1. Give training as an early gift. Dogs are social creatures (minus the scary parts of being social during the holidays, such as the fat man in the red suit with the long, white beard). They would much rather spend their time with us than being locked away in the laundry room when company arrives. Learning behaviors, such as “stay” and “be quiet,” upon command before the holidays could earn your dog the good graces of the laundry room parole board and a coveted spot on a fleece bed next to the Christmas tree. Keeping in mind that some of your guests would rather admire your well-trained dog from a distance, you’ll be giving them an early gift as well.

2. Maintain your dog’s normal routines. I’m not sure about you, but my routines during the holidays are anything but normal. However, our dogs are creatures of habit and any changes, even subtle ones in their established routines, can produce stress. The onset of these stressors can then lead to undesirable behaviors such as destructive chewing, restless pacing or whining, or even an escalation in aggression as your dog attempts to cope with its anxiety. In addition, dogs are extremely temporal and can sense your holiday stress; it’s no wonder you will find most dogs hanging around the spiked eggnog bowl! Keeping your dog’s routines right on target during the holidays is impossible for most of us, but do your best to add Fido to your Day Planner. His stress is one less stressor you’ll have to worry about.

3. Traveling with your dog. The holidays are one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and if it’s off to grandma’s house you go and you’re thinking of taking Fido with you, you may want to plan well in advance. If you will be flying with your dog, check with your airline about its policies and regulations as these vary greatly with each individual carrier. For example, some will fly your dog in a climate-controlled space, and others won’t. Therefore, bad weather could prevent Fido from making the trip. Also, unless Fido is a service dog, he will have to fly in an airline-approved kennel, and the size requirements for your dog’s kennel are not the least bit standard in the airline industry. The best rule of thumb in regard to kennels is go big. I have had dogs rejected because their pointed ears barely touched the top of their kennel while they were standing! If it’s a vehicle you will be traveling in, be sure to treat Fido like any other occupant and restrain him. Time in your lap or your children’s laps can wait until you arrive at your destination. Remember, if Fido isn’t restrained and an accident should occur, Fido will become a projectile. I’m sure the only flying animals you will want to see during the holidays are Santa’s reindeer!

4. Dealing with other dogs. Nearly 90 million American households have at least one dog. If you visit with family or friends during the holidays, your dog is likely to encounter a dog that is not of its pack. Because dogs are dogs and not humans, their perception of the alien dog could be quite different than yours. You may see a nice dog, but your dog may see a threat or an opponent, which could then lead to a fight. Keep a close eye on your dog during the initial meeting, and if either dog appears to be fearful or threatening, immediately separate the dogs and keep them separated until the visit is over. Do this whether your dog is naughty or nice.

5. Dealing with other children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report millions of dog bites each year in the U.S. with most of those occurring to small children. Not recognizing or ignoring the warning signs given by dogs that feel threatened by the direct interaction of small children is one of the leading causes of these bites. During the holidays, children tend to be more excited and animated as they play with new toys or with their relatives or friends. Because Mom and Dad are engaged in food preparation or entertaining, these children are not as closely supervised as they are during other times. Unfortunately, letting little Johnny whack his cousin’s dog with his new Star Wars light saber could end with little Johnny getting a gift he didn’t ask for but really did.

The holidays are a very special time of year, even with the accompanying stressors. However, for Fido, he would rather it not be so special. Treating the holidays like any other time of the year for him will be the best present you can give.

Bryan Bailey is a nationally-recognized, award-winning animal behaviorist, who has shared his expertise with Fox & Friends, SiriusXM, Dog World and more, along with veterinarians, dog owners and celebrities. His first book,Embracing the Wild in Your Dog, is a culmination of his experiences and expertise and, together with his wife, owns ProTrain Memphis and Taming the Wild. Learn more at www.TamingtheWild.com.

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Christ Episcopal Church Announces Blessing of the Animals on October 3

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photo by Boyd Loving

Christ Episcopal Church Announces Blessing of the Animals on October 3

September 28,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Blessing of the Animals

All are Welcome!

Ridgewood Nj, Christ Episcopal Church Announces Blessing of the Animals on October 3 . Families and children of all ages are invited to a Blessing of the Animals and celebration of the life and ministry of St. Frances of Assisi on Saturday October 3, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood. Everyone is invited to bring their favorite pets: dogs, cats, goldfish, rabbits and even stuffed animals….any beloved creature, great or small.

A short service celebrating all animals will be followed by individual blessings of each animal. The service will be held at the outdoor altar, which is located by the entrance to the Nursery School on Franklin Avenue. In the event of rain, the service will take place inside the church. Refreshments will be served. There will also be some orphaned animals from the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge who are eligible for adoption. Please consider bringing a donation from the RBARI wish list found on their website: www.rbari.org to this event. Contact the church office at 201.652.2350 with any questions or visit www.christchurchridgewood.org. The church is located at 105 Cottage Place, at the corner of Franklin Avenue, in Ridgewood, NJ.

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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital 10th Annual ADOPT A PET DAY September 20th

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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital 10th Annual ADOPT A PET DAY is 9/20/2015

We will host up to 25 shelters and rescue groups, who will bring about 200 pets for adoption.

Open your heart and home to a friend for life!

(Same day as Ridgewood Fall Art and Craft Street Fair)

On Sunday, September 20th, from 11:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M., Rain or Shine, the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital will be holding its 10th Adopt-A-Pet Day at 320 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. The events have been so successful in finding homes for pets, so please share this post, and we look forward to seeing you there!

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Your cat doesn’t love you: science

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Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph | September 4, 2015 2:56 PM ET

Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown. Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact, cats show no sign of separation anxiety.

Researchers at the University of Lincoln have concluded that cats, unlike dogs, do not need humans to feel protected.

Before cat lovers start despairing about their aloof pets, however, animal behaviourists said they should take the finding as a compliment. If cats stay, it means they really want to be there.

Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln’s School of Life Sciences, said: “The domestic cat has recently passed the dog as the most popular companion animal in Europe.

“Previous research has suggested that some cats show signs of separation anxiety when left alone by their owners, in the same way that dogs do, but the results of our study show that they are, in fact, much more independent than canine companions.

“It seems that what we interpret as separation anxiety might actually be signs of frustration.” To find out if cats needed their owner to feel secure, the researchers observed how 20 cats reacted when they were placed in an unfamiliar environment together with their owner, with a stranger or on their own.

The study monitored the amount of contact sought by the cat, the level of passive behaviour, and signs of distress caused by the absence of the owner.

“Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the stranger left them with the other individual, we didn’t see any additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its owner is one of secure attachment,” Prof Mills said.

https://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/your-cat-doesnt-love-you-science

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Keep Your Pet Safe, Healthy During Hot Weather

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Posted July 21, 2015

Summer weather can pose certain dangers for your pets. The American Red Cross has some steps people can take to keep the family pet safe and healthy this summer.

The first step is to know what is normal for your pet – their gum color, heart/pulse rate, body temperature and breathing rate – so you can recognize when something is wrong.

Heat stroke is a problem for pets in the warmer weather and is more common in the early summer because pets are not yet acclimated to the warm weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are prone to heat stroke. This is also true for any obese pet, a pet with an extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems.

Some signs your pet may be developing heat stroke include heavy panting and being unable to calm down, even when lying down. Their gum color may be brick red, their pulse rate may be fast, or they may not be able to get up. If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.

As the weather gets nicer, many pet owners take their pets in the car with them. Do not leave your pet in the car, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees.

Pet owners also need to be aware that animals may try to get out a window or door, which are more likely to be open as the weather warms. And some plants in your garden can be hazardous to animals. For instance, many lilies are very poisonous to cats. Visit the ASPCA Poison Control information to find out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals.

You can download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app to have veterinary advice in the palm of your hand. The app features first aid steps for more than 25 common pet situations and identifies common substances that are toxic to animals.

 

https://www.redcross.org/news/article/Keep-Your-Pet-Safe-As-Temperatures-Rise

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Enter Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Holiday Pet Photo Contest!

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Enter Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Holiday Pet Photo Contest!

Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital

Enter Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Holiday Pet Photo Contest!

3 HOLIDAY PET PHOTO PRIZES!! 3 WINNERS!!

Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital is hosting a Holiday Pet Photo Contest! Please “LIKE” our Facebook Page to enter, and submit your photos for the contest either by a Facebook message, or by emailing them to us at: contact@ridgewoodvet.com. Please make sure that you identify your pet’s first & last name when submitting the photo, and leave your contact information. You may only submit 1 picture of each pet; however, you may enter as many pets as you wish! You may also submit a group photo of your pets for consideration as well as individual pictures.

Once we have your photo, we will upload it to the Holiday Pet Photo Contest album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/…. Click on that link to find your pet’s photo, and feel free to share, comment and like it, because the photo with the most “likes” on our Facebook page wins!! This contest has already started, so hurry! And it will end on December 24th at 11am EST. Winners will be revealed by December 26th. ***Before entering the contest, please read the full rules, regulations and instructions in our “Notes” section here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/ridgewood-veterinary-hospital/ridgewood-veterinary-hospitals-holiday-pet-photo-contest/824984030886736***

1ST PRIZE
$300 Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital Gift Certificate

2ND PRIZE
$150 Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital Gift Certificate

3RD PRIZE
$75 Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital Gift Certificate

***Remember, the photo with most “likes” on our page wins so please email us your photo entry today and share the Holiday Pet Photo Fun! Thank you!

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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital : Antifreeze is a dangerous poison for pets

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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital : Antifreeze is a dangerous poison for pets

Ridgewood NJ, As winter brings in the cold, antifreeze can leak from a car’s radiator. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which is a dangerous poison for pets, affecting the brain, liver and kidneys.

It may taste delicious, even sweet, to your cats or dogs at first, but it is very toxic, and even the smallest sip can be fatal. If you suspect your pet has licked antifreeze, call your veterinarian immediately.

Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital
320 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 447-6000

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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital Spring Adapt A Pet Day Today

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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital Spring Adapt A Pet Day Today

Open your heart and home to a friend for life! Join us this Sunday for Adopt-A-Pet Day at Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital from 11am-4pm.

Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital 320 E. Ridgewood Avenue , Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450

Experience the JOY of Unconditional Love! We look forward to seeing you there!

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Defending Myself Against “Anonymous” Posters

Though I am quite amused at the person screaming at me anonymously through an online message board, I do feel the need to defend my comments which have been taken out of context – shocking!

Here is exactly what I posted:Just a heads up I have spoken to Oradell, as well as two AnimalHospitals in NYC near my office, and neither is recommending this shot.Additionally, the fee is $20, plus a $40 visit fee, both x 2, so the total cost is $120 for the vaccine. Not telling anyone which decision tomake, just helping provide some additional facts.

Nowhere am I “knocking” Ridgewood Animal Hospital or Dr. Cerf, who has seen our dog since we moved here and from what I can tell, does an excellent job. I am also quite happy for you that Dr. Cerf was able tosave your dog, as we had a difficult and expensive experience with our pup at 6 months old having developed a liver shunt and needing surgery,luckily for us he was saved by the great team at the NYC Animal Medical Center.

I did call Oradell after receiving the letter from RVH because I wanted to see if they charged less than Ridgewood for the shot, as my initial inclination was to absolutely vaccinate our dog. Oradell did inform mewhen I called that they were not recommending the shot across the board,and I will concede that perhaps in my above post, I could have been abit more specific. Additionally, I also contacted two vets near my office in NYC, who also stated they were not recommending the vaccine.My post was providing as accurate information as I had at the time. The mere suggestion that I would have some sort of agenda and thus put the beloved pets of my neighbors at risk is insulting.

If you were so curious as to where I work (as if I am some rogue internet poster who owns stock in Oradell Animal Hospital) you should note that unlike you, I do not post anonymous comments, though, for your piece of mind, I can assure you, that the utility company I work for has no vested interest in hurting RVH.

Sincerely,
John B.

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