Do Animals Grieve the Loss of a Loved One?

by Vicki on August 27, 2010

I have long been convinced that animals grieve when a loved one disappears from their life. Think of how deeply we mourn the loss of our pets. It only stands to reason that other sentient beings would experience a similar emotion when they lose a loved one. Some people chide me for anthropomorphizing — attributing human qualities to animals, but I’ve seen this emotion many times in animals.

ShaktiPaw grieving the death of his human.

My “evidence” began with the first dog I had as an adult. My husband and I had adopted Buffy as a puppy, and she was our “child” for the next ten years, until we divorced. This hardy German Shepherd went into a nose dive when she and I moved out. She developed severe health problems and depression that she never really recovered from.

The next incident showed up when one of my two dogs died. Copper, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, died of a blood immune disorder after living for about 6 years with Kutya, our alpha Kuvasz. In life they squabbled, ignored each other and competed for my attention. So when Copper died, I was surprised to see Kutya lay down in front of the fireplace with her chin on her paws and barely move from that position for the next three months. Her depression became so deep I feared she was going to die of heartache. Whether grief had run its course or the homeopathic remedy I began giving her for grief worked, she pulled out of it.  Just 18 months later, 7 year old Kutya succumbed to bone cancer. I’ve always wondered if her immune system was compromised by an ongoing undercurrent of loss.

Most recently, my Beagle mix Ernie has developed a panoply of health problems since his mentor Scooty died last December. He has lost his appetite, and along with it a significant amount of weight. Ernie has always appeared to be a stoic, but time and again I’ve seen how deeply sensitive he is beneath the surface (a Scorpio dog maybe?).

I’ve seen other examples of grief among my pet sitting clients’ animals. I’ve been thought of as a kook sometimes for my beliefs about animals’ emotions, but a growing body of research supports the notion of animals’ having a rich emotional life. Dogsters “For the Love of Dog Blog” carried an interview on August 23, 2010 with Dr. Michael W. Fox, renouned Brittish veterinarian, author of more than 40 books, and advocate for the humane treatment of animals. Dr. Fox validates my pet grieving theory much more eloquently than I can. The article is very interesting, and I hope you’ll take a look.

What do you think — do animals grieve the loss of a loved one? If you’ve seen it first hand, please share your stories.

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1 in 5 Drive with Dog in Their Lap

by Vicki on August 22, 2010

Just who's driving this rig?

Is petting your dog in the car as dangerous as texting on a cell phone? That might be a little tricky to answer. However, AAA and Kurgo have just released results of a study showing the risky behaviors some of us engage in with our pets while driving. 

I’m chagrinned to admit that I’m one of the 20 percent who occasionally drives with my dog in my lap. I know better. I teach pet safety in my pet first aid classes.  That 12 pounds of fluff could become a lethal missile in a crash. He would certainly not survive, and I might not either.

The highlights of AAA’s study show that nearly 60 percent of people who take their dog in the car with them have engaged in distracting behavior with their pet while driving.  More than half pet their dog while driving, and 20 percent hold the dog in their lap.  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away for only two seconds doubles our chances of being in a wreck.

Of the 80 percent of pet owners who take their dog along in the car, only 17 percent use any kind of restraint.  “Restraining your pet when driving can not only help protect your pet, but you and other passengers in your vehicle as well,” cautioned Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, AAA National, Traffic Safety Programs manager. She went on to say, “An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in the vehicle in its path.”

The easy solution is to use a restraint when you take the dog along. I carry a crate in the back of my Prius for those trips when I’m more safety conscious. You can buy harnesses to hold the dog in place in case of an impact. A few sources of seatbelts and car restraints for dogs include Ruffrider.com, OhMyDogSupplies.com, PetSafetyBelts.com, and many retail pet suppliers.

So whether you’ve taken Oprah’s No Phone Zone pledge or not, it looks like it’s time to get serious and take the No Dog Zone pledge while driving! Anybody out there willing?

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Motherhood

by Vicki on August 9, 2010

If you want to start your week with a warm fuzzy feeling, check out this You Tube video.  I guarantee it will wipe away any Monday morning blahs.

 

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If you’ve ever lived with a dog, you’ve probably been at the end of your rope at some point with  at least one of the problems Randy Grim addresses in this entertaining but informative book. 

Grim runs a shelter for abandoned dogs (www.StrayRescueForDogs.com).  Like all of us who do dog rescue, he is faced all too often with adopters who want to return their dogs because of  behavior problems.

The chapter headings will give you an idea of his wit as well as the range of behaviors he covers.

Chapter 1      A.D.D. dogs (i.e., hyperactive dogs)

Chapter 2     Escape Artists

Chapter 3     Dogs Who “Play” When You’re Away (i.e., separation anxiety)

Chapter 4     Shuuut Up!  (i.e., excessive barking)

Chapter 5     The Turd Eaters (ahem, coprophagia)

Chapter 6     Cujo in the Dog Park (i.e., dog-to-dog aggression)

Chapter 7     Dogs Who You-Know-What in the House (i.e., housebreaking and dogs marking territory)

Chapter 8     Dogs Who Lick Baby Snot (i.e., setting boundaries around babies)

Chapter 9     Bullies With an Attitude (i.e.,  dominance aggression)

Chapter 10   Cowardly Lions (i.e., fear aggression)

Chapter 11   Allergy Season (i.e., I’m allergic to my dog)

Chapter 12   Scaredy Cats (i.e., submissive peeing)

Chapter 13   I Love Old Dogs (i.e., I love puppies and want to dump my old dog because she’s, well, old)

Chapter 14   To Crate Or Not To Crate (i.e., give them a den for security while you’re gone, not a punishment)

Chapter 15   Affordable Strays (i.e., how to find a stray dog’s owners, how to afford to keep a stray when money is tight.) 

This book is a must-read for all people working in dog rescue, and, let’s face it, for all dog owners. It is the most entertaining training manual you’ll ever read.

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Two more companies have recently announced recalls due to possible salmonella contamination.

Earlier this year Merrick recalled their Beef Filets Dog Treats, saying it waPet food recall: Merrick-Beef-Filet-Squares, due to possible contamination with salmonellas because of improper processing. After FDA involvement, they have now announced the recalled product may be contaminated with salmonella. They have also expanded their recall to a more recent batch. You can find all the details on dates and batch numbers at www.PetsitUSA.com/blog/ or go to Merrick’s website at www.MerrickPetCare.com

United Pet Group has also voluntarily expanded their recall of a variety of cat and dog supplements, sold under the brand names Doctors Foster & Smith, ProPet, Petco, Excel, Nature’s Miracle, and DDS. Again, the recall is due to possible salmonella contamination. For a complete list of products involved in the recall, you can go to United Pet Group’s web site, or find an easy-to-read table at www.PetsitUSA.com/blog.

I highly recommend following the PetsitUSA blog for recall information. Therese Kopiwoda, who writes the blog, is one of the best informed, up-to-the-minute  sources on pet food recalls.   

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Natural Balance Announces Voluntary Recall

June 20, 2010

Natural Balance issued the following alert recalling certain of its Sweet Potato & Chicken Formula dog kibble:  Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., of Pacoima, CA, announces a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, in 5-lb. and 28-lb. bags because it [...]

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Unexpected Ending When Cop Rescues Dog

May 28, 2010

One of my favorite blogs is Dogster, for the Love of Dog Blog. They carried this photo and video today of a police officer rescuing a dog whose leg was caught in a fence. The ending is very cute and unexpected. Take a look, and don’t miss www.dogblog.dogster.com for other amusing videos and content.   [...]

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Oil Spill: Donate Pet and Human Hair to Help

May 10, 2010

Pet and human hair used in oil spill cleanup. Learn more at MatterofTrust.org.

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Book Review: “Love is the Best Medicine”

April 26, 2010

Veterinarian Nick Trout, author of the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Where it Hurts, has given us another lovely portrayal of the deep bond between humans and their pets. He draws a beautiful verbal picture of the soul connection we feel for certain animals that pass through our lives.  Trout takes us on the emotional [...]

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Safety Alert for Washington Pet Owners

April 16, 2010

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a press release warning of canine distemper in raccoons . All pet owners should take extra precautions with their pets and be sure vaccinations are up to date. WDFW NEWS RELEASE Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 http://wdfw.wa.gov/ April [...]

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