Kalmpets

06/09/2024

Uh oh, this little fellow is having a bad day and has lost his humans. If he is familiar please contact Dogs' Refuge Home WA INC

02/09/2024

This week, our Thumbelina-sized Eiley turned one! Her first year was full of challenges—she often refused to eat, even when offered a gourmet feast, and her barking seemed to have no off switch. Emotional regulation was tough for her, even in the calmest of settings. Despite trying all the usual strategies, nothing seemed to work. But with the right therapy, Eiley has made remarkable progress. She’s no longer anxious about everyday sounds and has finally found her "stop" button for barking. We’re on a positive path now and excited to see what the future holds. Happy birthday, little Eiley! 🎉🐾💕💞🎉

02/09/2024

September is animal pain awareness month. Signs of chronic pain can be subtle and easily missed. Learn how to identify the early signs of pain, allowing therapeutic intervention at the earliest sign of disease so your pet can have both lifespan and health span.

Welcome to Animal Pain Awareness Month!

Thanks to IVAPM, we're joining forces to shine a spotlight on recognising and alleviating pain in our furry friends.

Throughout this month, let's empower ourselves with knowledge on how to identify subtle signs of discomfort in our dogs.

Join us on our Big Walk to raise awareness and learn invaluable insights into understanding and addressing our pets' pain! - Today is the last day you can sign up. Head to the link to join in - https://caninearthritis.co.uk/get-involved/the-big-walk

Together, let's make this month a testament to compassionate care for our beloved animal companions.

02/09/2024

Please support this incredible program. Upcoming conference too!

This is "lucy's_project_-_explainer_video (Original).mp4" by Anna Ludvik on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

29/08/2024

Does this look familiar? 🤣🐾

26/08/2024

Our current understanding is that a dog’s emotional range is similar to that of a 3-year-old child. They experience love, fear, anger, happiness, frustration, and internal conflict but do not feel guilt, pride, or shame and never intentionally cause harm. They do their level best with the information you have provided them. No matter your dogs age, if they are experiencing behaviour problems and you need help, Kalmpets is standing by to support you.

🐾

Please Read Carefully Prior to consultation, a detailed history is obtained through completion of this survey. It is important to gather this information prior to consultation as it allows us to maximise productivity on the day of consultation. Information shared...

23/08/2024

Distress tolerance is your dog's ability to endure and manage emotional distress, whether it's real or perceived. Dogs with low distress tolerance frequently feel overwhelmed by stressful events and may be observed to carry out unhealthy coping mechanisms (including aggressive and OCD behaviours).

Life for our dogs is full of stressors, from minor daily irritations (e.g. postie) to major life changes like moving house & pain-based disease. Your dog's ability to tolerate and manage distress plays a crucial role in how they respond to these situations. Intense negative emotions such as fear, anger, anxiety, frustration and conflict can be particularly challenging to handle. The more intense these emotions, the harder they can be for your dog to control.

Understanding the factors that impact your dog's distress tolerance and learning techniques to improve it can be beneficial. Seeking behavioural therapy when necessary can also aid in managing your dog's stress more effectively. By improving your dog's distress tolerance, you can better manage both minor worries and significant life events, leading to healthier emotional responses and coping strategies.

Early intervention is key to ensuring your dog's behavioural path is the optimal path for their continued well-being.

21/08/2024

Meet Harley, our hero, and his little-big brother, Frankie. As Harley grew from a puppy into adolescence, his behaviour began to change. He started to act out, becoming increasingly aggressive toward the ever-patient Frankie without any clear reason. He also struggled more and more with socialising at the park, gradually becoming isolated from other dogs. But after 12 months of therapy, the transformation is incredible! Harley is now almost unrecognisable—he’s so much happier, more playful, and affectionate. It’s clear he feels so much better. He and Frankie are closer than ever, playing together all the time. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 to Harley and family for changing a life positively and creating the best future possible for a good boy. 💓💓💓.

If you need support for your dog that doesn't seem to know how to "speak dog" then Kalmpets is standing by.

19/08/2024

Unique Professions chat with Dr Kate on what its like to be a Behaviour Vet.

19/08/2024

Dogs possess the same brain structures and chemicals responsible for emotions as humans do. Research suggests that a dog’s emotional range is similar to that of a 3-year-old child. They experience love, fear, anger, happiness, frustration, and internal conflict but do not feel guilt, pride, or shame and never intentionally cause harm. This is why all dogs are inherently "good dogs." If your dog is behaving poorly, consider checking for signs of fear or pain and remember they can only respond to challenges with the information you've given them. If you need help with your good dog’s challenging behaviours, Kalmpets is here to support you.

🐶❤️ 🐶

15/08/2024

At just 5 months old, I found myself homeless, scared and impounded. After a 6-hour journey from the north, I had my first vet check where it was discovered I was born with congenital deafness and was living in silence. After one failed adoption (their loss!), I finally found my forever family. They saw the best in me right away and were committed to helping me overcome my challenges. I had a hard time coping with past trauma, which led me to obsessively chase and bite my own tail and legs, no matter how hard my loving humans tried to stop me. I was also afraid of cars and would try to control their movements by chasing and lunging at them. But today, at 3 years, 6 months, and 13 days old, I am my optimal self. Thanks to the endless love and support from my family and a little help from the team at Kalmpets, I’m now living a wonderful life 💞💓🐾

14/08/2024

Lovely thought D & G but its a "thank you, but no thank you from our canine spokeshuman"

ROME (AP) — Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has launched a new alcohol-free perfume for dogs called ‘Fefé’ in honor of Domenico Dolce ’s poodle, but not all vets and pet owners agree it's safe or appropriate. The perfume costs 99 euros ($108) for 100 milliliters (3.4 ounces) and has been cert...

12/08/2024

Unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment for everyone involved. While dogs are cherished members of our families, it's important to remember that they are not human and perceive the world differently. Each year, around 200 scientific papers are published on canine mental abilities. The general consensus is that dogs typically possess the mental capacity of a three-year-old child. By adjusting your expectations accordingly, you can help ensure your beloved pet's behavioural success. 🐾💓

If you need support for pet behaviour problems or to adjust your pet's mental health, Kalmpets is standing by. Contact us here: https://bit.ly/3Sv5jZr

09/08/2024

5 things your worried/anxious pet wishes you knew

1. Its ok to reassure me: comforting your pet during times of worry does not reinforce fear, and it can help them feel safe and secure.

2. I’m not trying to be naughty or vindictive: sometimes we see the end result of a behaviour (eg destruction or house soiling) and feel our pets are intentionally trying to upset us. However, when we look at the underlying feeling our worried animal was experiencing, these behaviours can be a sign of panic or distress.

3. Adding in something nice helps: positive reinforcement, that is, adding in something your pet enjoys such as food or play, if done in the right way, can help change their underlying emotional response to something they find worrying.

4. I’m not trying to be mean when I growl: this is just communication. Often we have missed some of the earlier, more subtle signs of communication our dogs are offering. A dog may be pushed to growl if they feel cornered/threatened or their earlier signs are not being heard – a growl is saying “Please stop, I need space”.

5. Obedience won’t “fix” my behaviour: you can have the most obedient dog in the world, but if they are feeling worried, fear will always override obedience. Behaviour modification isn’t about obedience, its about changing the animal’s underlying emotional response.

If you need help with your worried pet, Kalmpets is standing by to provide experienced support. Reach us here: https://bit.ly/3Sv5jZr

07/08/2024

Training your dog is just like any relationship....it has ups and downs, but the journey is worth the effort!

If training isn't going to plan, trusted techniques aren't working, your pet's behaviour is impacting your wellbeing and you need some help, Kalmpets is standing by to provide support.

Contact us https://bit.ly/3Sv5jZr

05/08/2024

Monitoring your dog's water intake is essential, as many chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and other hormonal diseases, can lead to increased drinking. Regular monitoring of your dog's water intake can identify signs of disease earlier.

Accurately determining your dog's water intake can be tricky. They may drink from multiple sources, or you might have several pets sharing the same water bowl. To get a precise measurement, it's essential to control these variables as much as possible.

How to get a daily water intake:

1. Ensure your dog has access to only one water bowl.
2. On day 1: Empty the water bowl, fill the bowl with a measured amount of water and record the time and amount of water added to the bowl.
3. If you refill the bowl on the day of testing, add a measured amount of water and add to your record sheet.
4. 24 hours after the start time, measure the amount of water left in the water bowl and subtract that figure from the total amount put in the bowl.
5. Ideally, repeat steps 1 - 4 for a further two days.
6. Divide the total volume recorded as consumed over three days by 3 to get your three-day average.

What's normal?
Too little or too much can both indicate health issues. There is no scientific agreement on what the daily water needs are of dogs because of the many variables that can change daily water intake (e.g. weather, food, exercise). The calculator below is a useful guideline adapted from work out of the National Research Council, Bethesda MD. Plug your dog's weight and level of activity in and it will provide you with a recommended water intake. If your measured water intake is vastly different from this figure then your primary care vet is standing by to provide further advice.

To determine how much water your dog needs to drink each day, use this calculator for Daily Dog Water Intake Calculator

01/08/2024

Tail position and wagging style are crucial aspects of canine communication. A wagging tail can indicate a dog's emotional state or intention, but it should be interpreted alongside facial expressions, body language, and behaviours for an accurate understanding. Additionally, the direction of the tail wag (left or right) can signal positive or negative emotions. Positive stimuli often result in higher amplitude, "propeller" tail movements, while negative stimuli typically cause lower amplitude, stiffer, or tucked tail wags and positions. Some breeds have very short or no tails, which can be a significant communication barrier, requiring these dogs to work harder or receive extra support to convey their messages effectively.

31/07/2024

The fact that your dog can "sense" when you're stressed might either help or hinder your emotional regulation. While their keen sense of smell plays a crucial role in detecting your stress, dogs are also adept at interpreting and soothing stressed human body language. Read more below.

In an experiment, dogs were surprisingly accurate in detecting sweat and breath samples from people who were stressed.

30/07/2024

Your pet’s skin is home to a community of bacteria and fungi (microbiota) that help maintain its health. When skin becomes inflamed, this community can be disrupted, potentially leading to chronic skin issues. Restoring this balance can help repair the skin barrier and may reduce the frequency and severity of allergic skin flare-ups. A diet rich in Omega-3s, immune-boosting foods, and probiotics, along with carefully chosen topical treatments that support your pet's microbiota, is essential for maintaining healthy skin.

25/07/2024

Strong social bonds are essential for conflict prevention in social animals like dogs and humans. One effective way to strengthen these bonds is through behavioural synchrony, where individuals perform the same behaviour at the same time. This phenomenon has been observed in both dogs and humans and is believed to lead to emotional synchrony. A common example of this is when you yawn and your dog yawns in sync.

This week, scientists at The University of Tokyo published a study showing that dogs' breathing patterns are influenced by human breathing, demonstrating behavioural synchrony. This new knowledge can be used therapeutically. As our dogs' best role models, we can help them when they are anxious (and their breathing rate rises) by being mindful of our own breathing. By dropping our shoulders and slowing down our breath, we can help our dogs return to a state of calm and synchronisation.

25/07/2024

Smell preferences are as unique as each individual. Since smell is closely linked to memory, certain scents can evoke powerful recollections. In the story below, we explore some of the most common smells that dogs dislike.

Dogs have an incredibly keen sense of smell, estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than humans. This powerful olfactory ability helps them navigate the world, but it also means they are particularly sensitive to certain odors. While some scents are pleasant and enticing to d...

24/07/2024

Another amazing rescue thanks to a dog's nose.

Koi carp were first introduced to New Zealand in the early 1960s. Since then, they have wreaked havoc on native species. Many methods have been used to detect and monitor this invasive species but with limited success. Until now. Recent evidence suggests that laboratory-based scent detection dogs may have the potential to serve as an early warning system for carp detection. There is hope yet for your dog to gain meaningful employment! 🤣❤🐾

🐶 ❤️

23/07/2024

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be a debilitating condition that affects both humans and animals. It often manifests as intrusive thoughts and abnormal behaviours. In dogs, tail-chasing is one of the most common symptoms of this disorder. Canine patients suffering from this condition will chase their tails for many minutes to hours at a time, often inflicting severe wounds on their tails and thighs. Cats can also be affected, with some grooming themselves excessively until only skin remains or even causing abrasions. Behavioural recovery is possible with the right help. If you think your companion is suffering from OCD, Kalmpets can help.
🐾❤

23/07/2024

Researchers have extensively studied the bond between humans and canines, uncovering numerous physiological and psychological benefits for both parties. As a result, many colleges and universities have implemented canine therapy programs to help students manage daily stress. College students, a group often experiencing high levels of stress and mental health challenges, can particularly benefit from such initiatives.

This dissertation explores the benefits of a single canine therapy session for college students, utilizing both self-report and biological measures. It stands out as one of the first studies to employ salivary cortisol and oxytocin levels, alongside self-reported stress scores, to assess the impact of a canine therapy session on undergraduates. Additionally, the stress behaviours of the dogs were monitored before and during the session. Findings revealed that students had significantly lower cortisol levels and reported lower current stress levels after the session. There was no significant difference in canine stress behaviours before and during the session.

Overall, the novel aspects of this study provide critical information supporting the benefits of canine therapy.

A Measurement of the Effects of an Acute Canine Therapy Session on Salivary Cortisol and Oxytocin Levels in College Students
KLN Stauch - 2024

❤️❤️

18/07/2024

Happy 1st Birthday to our dear friend Cosmo! Wishing you many more healthy, calmer, and joyous years ahead. A big thank you to your wonderful humans for their love, care, and support, all of which are helping shape you into the beautiful adolescent you are becoming ❤🎉🎂🎈

11/07/2024

It's inspiring to see a crucial message come to life with the support of a council. Kudos to the city of Cockburn for taking the initiative to invest in education that unites the community.

04/07/2024

Is One Dog Enough?

We strive to provide our canines with the best life possible. In households with only one dog, I am frequently asked whether having a canine companion would enhance their dog’s quality of life. For most dogs, their humans are their secure base, providing comfort and safety.

A recent study investigated the impact of different factors on shelter dogs, including feeding/play enrichment, having a canine companion, and regular human contact. Although it was a small study, the results were clear: dogs living with other dogs experienced the greatest stress reduction. This benefit was more significant than toy/feeding enrichment or daily human interaction.

02/07/2024

Have you ever wondered why your anxious dog struggles to overcome their anxiety? Recent research reveals that anxious dogs (and humans) have a reduced strength of connection between the brain regions responsible for learning and processing information. This weakened connection may explain why anxious dogs often experience attention deficits and have difficulty learning new things. Fortunately, with careful treatment, we can help strengthen these neural connections.

27/06/2024

Please meet Ziggy. Our journey with Ziggy began 18 months ago.

Ziggy started life in a challenging environment in the Wheatbelt, among 15 other dogs. Initially cautious, he quickly developed a strong attachment to his new humans. Thanks to dedicated care, Ziggy attended regular training, enjoyed various feeding enrichment tools, and received broad social education. Despite this nurturing environment, Ziggy's genetics and early life trauma manifested as a growing fear of strangers during his adolescent months.

Ziggy's fear of unfamiliar people mirrors an experience common to many human children. From an evolutionary perspective, being wary of strangers is an important developmental milestone. It helps dogs and children learn to critically assess their environment and distinguish between safe and unsafe people, objects, and sounds. Typically, this developmental phase is transient, with most dogs gradually moving through it by 6-18 months of age. However, some individuals, like Ziggy, continue to struggle with building trust and confidence around new people.

Fortunately, Ziggy's humans were proactive in seeking support for his social anxiety. Thanks to their incredible love and dedication, Ziggy is now at his behavioural best.

If you have a dog with stranger danger, help is here. ❤

💚 🧠