Mandy Meech: The Dog’s Perspective

06/08/2024

31/07/2024

Today I am grateful NOT to be working in clinic. No not to enjoy the sunshine, but to be away from the devastation that heatstroke still causes despite multiple warnings. I am grateful not to be battling to save lives, and witnessing unnecessary deaths of wonderful dogs who would have quite happily missed a walk today.

To all my veterinary colleagues, I just hope you do not have to see too many tragedies today. Sending lots of love and healing as it’s part of our job which should no longer be part of our job and has a huge negative mental impact.

KEEP THOSE DOGS IN THE COOL, AT HOME!

31/07/2024

It is important to identify and understand heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Heatstroke is the final stage, these dogs are SEVERELY affected. Seizures, clotting problems, blood lost through vomit and diarrhoea. These dogs are in shock! Submerging icy water is potentially their only chance.

Those who are panting hard, walking like they are drunk, having vomiting and/or diarrhoea without blood, NOT having seizures will respond to cold water on hairless areas and a fan. We don’t need to be as aggressive with our cooling.

All dogs affected by the heat should have a vet check…

www.animallovepetfirstaid.co.uk
Unique courses taught by a vet ❤️

15/07/2024

Eli and Ezra rocked their loose lead walking and recall training session today 🤩

Ezra is also undergoing a behaviour consultation as he can be fearful and anxious around some dogs and people. All my behaviour consultations include a Dynamic Dog Assessment to identify if there is any potential undiagnosed pain or discomfort that may be contributing to his behaviour.

Well done lads, today you did good 👍 😍

15/07/2024

Eli and Ezra both rocked their loose lead walking and recall training today 🤩

Ezra - on the right - is also undergoing a Behaviour Consultation due to his fear and sensitivity towards some dogs and people. All my behaviour consultations include a Dynamic Dog Assessment to identify if there is potentially any undiagnosed pain or discomfort that may be contributing to his behaviour.

Well done lads, today you did good 👏 😍

10/07/2024

🐕 A new study from the RVC has revealed that delaying spaying of bi***es until between seven and 18 months causes a 20 percent reduction in the risk of early-onset urinary incontinence, compared with early-age spaying between three and six months. The findings will help vets make evidence-based recommendations on the timing of spaying, whilst taking into account other spaying considerations.

➡️ https://rvc.uk.com/vetcompass-dog-spaying-urinary-incontinence

01/07/2024

The lovely Eli rocked his loose lead walking training today 💪❤️

03/06/2024

Small dogs can lose agency very quickly. Despite asking for space they are often ignored or even laughed at. It's no wonder they get defensive and worried by people. Does your small dog struggle in the world? We can help with that, drop us a line in the comments.

22/05/2024

An update on the lovely Tilly. Tilly’s owners contacted me a few weeks ago due to recent sudden and unprovoked attacks from Tilly towards her elderly housemate TJ in the night. No other behavioural concerns were raised. When any sudden changes in behaviour occur we must always rule out pain or medical issues that may be causing or contributing to the behaviour. Tilly’s owners had taken her for a vet check as they suspected pain might be an issue and she was physically examined and the Vet could find no indication that she was in any pain.

All my behaviour consultations include a Dynamic Dog Assessment which means I can identify how both emotional and physical health may be affecting your dog’s behaviour. This is what was revealed for Tilly:

Behavioural signs included
✅ sudden onset of unprovoked aggression towards her housemate at night time
✅ increase in whining during the day
✅ very stressed when travelling in the car
✅ long standing history of not wanting to walk very far and wanting to be picked up on walks
✅ agitated behaviour during the day sometimes which often included pawing and pestering at TJ and trying to herd him into their bed

Physical signs included:
✅ hyperextension in her carpals and tarsals (wrists and ankles)
✅ consistent skip in her right hind when running on uneven ground
✅ consistently cocking her right hind when weeing, both standing and squatting
✅ a preference for laying down on her left hip (to offload weight from the right hind)
✅ a preference for sitting on her left hip and leaning against a solid surface (to offload weight from the right hind)
✅ standing with her weight shifting forwards (to offload weight from the hind limbs)

A report was complied with my findings which was sent to Tilly’s Vet who subsequently suggested an x-ray of the right hind revealing she has a Grade 2 luxating patella - a condition where the knee cap regularly dislocates and pops back in. It can be acutely painful when it occurs. Tilly was trialled on some pain medications and her behaviour improved significantly - no more attacks on TJ, little to no whining and less agitated behaviour during the day.

Surgery is not an option for this little girl for various reasons but at least now her owner can make environmental changes and work closely with her vet to manage Tilly’s diagnosis and ensure she lives as comfortable a life as possible.

Never underestimate the impact pain can have on behaviour. Behavioural changes are often the first sign of pain and the physical signs can often appear subtle and easily be missed or even considered ‘normal’ for our dog because they’ve always looked or behaved that way.

If you feel your dog would benefit from a Dynamic Dog Assessment please get in contact by emailing [email protected]

07/05/2024

LANGUAGE OF THE LICK

Dogs usually lick their lips when food is about to be served, when a tasty treat is imminent, when those soulful eyes are begging you to share whatever you’re putting in your mouth, or when that last morsel of food stuck on their nose needs to be captured.

Maybe it’s just an itchy nose or a pesky bug that’s irritating them, but sometimes lip licking can be an important sign that there’s something else going on.

The amazing vocabulary that is dog body language is often spoken through subtle signs that are so easy to miss, but when noticed can provide us with important information as to how our dogs are feeling.

Lip licking is part of a group of calming signals that dogs use in an attempt to avoid conflict, calm themselves and others down and generally indicate that they’re feeling anxious or uncomfortable about something.

We also often use this type of body language without even being aware of it. Fiddling with our hair, nails or ears, biting the end of a pencil, tapping feet - may all happen when we’re feeling uncomfortable in a situation.

Sometimes lip licking can provide a warning that there’s an underlying medical condition like gastrointestinal issues, dental or mouth problems or pain somewhere in the body.

Take note of lip licking in different situations. It may be as simple as seeing a lip lick when you just can’t resist kissing that adorable face, but your dog is telling you that they really don’t feel comfortable with your way of expressing affection.

Take note, listen to their language and do what you can to improve their emotional state.

07/05/2024

Language of a Yawn

Yawning is one of the many signals that dogs use to calm themselves or others down when they’re feeling stressed or uncomfortable.

Neuroscience shows that yawning is also triggered during moments of transition from one behavioural or emotional state to another - waking up, falling asleep, moving from being relaxed to alert or from an anxious to a calm emotional state.

Although we may be unaware of it, we also use types of calming signals. Think about the kind of body language we might show when we’re in a situation that doesn’t allow us enough personal space, like getting into an elevator with a group of strangers.

We may instinctively not face anyone directly, look down at the floor, watch the indicator buttons, focus on our phone and avoid any eye contact - these are all “calming signals” that people use to prevent any potential conflict.

If you notice more yawning than usual, or yawning in a specific situation, look into what may be causing this.

A yawn caused by stress is usually longer, more intense, with the tongue curled up at the end.

Sometimes there is so much more to a yawn than we may think.

01/05/2024

Growling is simply communication. It does NOT mean your dog is aggressive.

I'm not sure when growling became so vilified.

When did we decide that dogs weren't allowed to have an opinion unless it aligned with our own?

That they weren't allowed to express their displeasure, their fear, or their anger? That they just always had to agree with what we were asking of them?

When did our expectations become "put on a happy face?" And "grin and bear it, dog?"

Let me tell you this, IT IS FINE IF A DOG GROWLS. Growling is just a form of communication. Communication is ALWAYS a good thing. It's when communication stops that we are all in trouble. (And if we know they are feeling a particular way, we are better positioned to help them).

IT IS OKAY TO VALIDATE YOUR DOG'S FEELINGS. Any feelings. Their happy ones, sad ones, and yes, their angry ones, fearful ones, anxious ones, or worried ones. And growling can happen in all of those situations, too.

If your dog growls, THEY ARE TELLING YOU SOMETHING: "That thing is scary," "I don't want to be touched right now," "I need space," "I hurt," "I am worried," "That startled me."

And while you might say, "my old dog never growled at me," know that some dogs use growling to communicate more than others. They are not bad dogs, they are good communicators!

24/04/2024

Behaviour Consultation today with the very very handsome Bertie 🥰 who also happens to be staying with us in our holiday cottage at Dogs Love Holidays

Bertie displays a high level of reactivity to a wide variety of triggers. Despite many years of training and behaviour modification his reactivity has sadly worsened. The only factor that has not been totally ruled out is undiagnosed pain/discomfort.

All my behaviour consultations include a Dynamic Dog Assessment which can help identify any physical issues that may be problematic for Bertie and potentially contributing to his reactive behaviour.

For further information on my Behaviour Consultations head to my website
www.mandymeech.com

13/04/2024

Dogs rarely bite ‘out of the blue’ or without warning. If we learn to identify earlier lower level signals and take appropriate action - such as moving away or stopping our interaction with the dog -then there will be no need for the dog to escalate their behaviour.

If we continue to ignore those lower level signals then a dog is likely to learn to escalate their behaviour quicker or give up giving those lower level signals as it has learnt they don’t work.

Other factors such as stress and pain can also cause a dog to climb the ladder quicker than they normally would (just like humans do).

If you own a dog then you have a responsibility to learn how they communicate. For their sake as well as yours.

03/04/2024

💯% this! You know your own dog better than anyone. If your gut instinct is telling you something isn’t right then it probably isn’t.

Advocate for your dog. If you need support to do so then feel free to contact me, I can help 👍

Unsure on what to do next?

WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED IT WETHER ITS A FRIEND OR A CLIENT.

You have taken your dog to the vet as you can see something isn’t quite right, maybe its a skip of one or both hind limbs or a funny gait or maybe its lameness of a forelimb. The Vet then checks the dog over and says “its normal for ***insert breed here***” or “dogs slow down when they get old and its common for them to limp”, and thats where the conversation ends and you walk away feeling that there must be something more you can do for your dog!

Many people do not realise they can ask for a referral to a specialist vet, for further investigations or a referral to a therapist for ongoing support, many people aren’t aware they can ask for an analgesic trial (pain meds) to help their dog feel more comfortable.

Many people do not realise they can go somewhere else for a second or third opinion, be it at the same or a totally different practice.

It’s time to ask for more!

• More time

• More investigations

• More information

• MORE SUPPORT (however that looks)

There is always MORE that can be done. It’s not normal for a dog to limp, no matter the age. It’s not normal for small dogs to skip, no matter the breed.

Things that can be looked that can help are;

• Diet - reducing processed foods helps to reduce inflammation

• Lifestyle & home environment evaluation

• Exercise overhaul

• Supplements - joints

• Pain meds

• Diagnostic imaging - Xrays, CT, MRI

• Blood, urine, faecal testing

• Surgery - when needed

• Supportive therapies - Physio, Hydro, Massage, Acupuncture (and so many more)

If you or your client aren’t being listened to then go somewhere thats going to hear you and don’t feel bad about doing so!

Believe me, your dog will thank you for it.

27/03/2024

A fantastic free resource for dog owners who want to learn more about dog body language. Just click on the link to enroll.

https://pact-course.thinkific.com/courses/PACTtastercourse?fbclid=IwAR23Dfz6BvaQP5TZV-Ab4jUb86qqhTXvujg7XN1S734Z48WGXPA1tCGQ_g0_aem_ASQDVrzx-2hXW9ThGl5PIlD405Tcwvo9yhKW9CstXpQHnxwQUUHUCICE9Kpj1JTm2mc

This is a free course offered by PACT Dogs Ltd. There are no hidden costs. By registering with Thinkific and enrolling on the course, you confirm that PACT can sign you up to our mailing list (which you can then unsubscribe from at any time)

27/03/2024

Never under estimate the impact of pain on behaviour. As a Dynamic Dog Practitioner qualified in identifying signs of pain and discomfort in dogs, all my behaviour consultations include a full Dynamic Dog Assessment for your dog.

‘My dog is naughty/bad/untrainable/dominant/stupid’

I hear this most weeks on intake forms. Usually I get pretty excited to see these cos I know I’m gonna get to change a dog and owners life!

So often we write our dogs off as any adjective that fits the above and honestly, I’m yet to meet a dog who fits any of those adjectives (and I have worked with 10k plus dogs over the ten years I’ve been doing this!). I do however week in week out meet dogs with health issues that contribute to their slow progress in terms of training. Did you know dogs don’t show pain or discomfort how we do? We often think ‘oh he isn’t limping or yelping so he is fine’.

Please read the examples below ⬇️

🐾 A huntaway cross who I work with who bit his owner. Reluctant to have his feet cleaned, got spicy over any intense handling, had periods of seeming insanity and relentless barking and being unable to calm down. Huntaways are vocal dogs… but…

Turns out he had hip dysplasia. This dog didn’t limp. He wasn’t lame in any way. He chased his ball and sprinted and jumped and had no issues physically on the surface however under that behaviour was pain.

🐾 A French bulldog. Resource guarding to the extreme. Bit his owners while resource guarding the knot pattern in their wooden floor. Also bombed around without a worry in the world and had no outward signs of pain.

Turns out he had a severe spinal condition causing intermittent excruciating pain.

🐾 A young spaniel owned by a very good friend who was having confidence issues. She would ‘tap out’ of training on the regular and my friend went from ‘this is my ticket dog who will represent my country’ to ‘is this even possible?’

Dog had hormonal issues and likely spikes of hormones left right and centre. A carefully timed spay and she is now grade 6 in agility.

🐾 A friends Border Collie. Owned by a very experienced and talented agility handler and trainer. Regularly ‘checked out’ of training sessions, seemed to not be able to learn things that were moderately straightforward. Described by other trainers as ‘oh she is just a border collie it’s what they are like’.

Turns out she is mostly deaf.

🐾 A black Labrador. Always social and friendly and attended brilliant puppy classes and adolescent classes. Had the best start training wise you can imagine. He started showing some intermittent aggression to his owners in the home and aggression to other dogs out and about.

Turns out he had bilateral elbow dysplasia.

🐾 Young German Shepherd. Always energetic and silly in her behaviour but suddenly got worse. Excessive zoomies, inability to settle, increased reactivity to other dogs, reluctant to get in the car, obsessive destruction at home.

Turns out she had an infection in her va**na that was causing discomfort and exacerbating all those teenage behaviours to the point of being unmanageable.

🐾 My own dog! My NSDTR started missing his dog walk contact early last year. I was tearing my hair out trying to fix it.

Turns out he had a minor iliopsoas strain and some physio fixed the issue for us.

———————————

All these dogs have one thing in common. They are not stupid or untrainable or naughty or dominant. They are uncomfortable and that is triggering extreme behaviour fallout.

None of the above issues would be resolveable with training. All of the issues will be resolveable with training ONLY when the pain is resolved. Some of them will have drastic improvement from the moment the pain or discomfort is managed!

If your behaviourist or trainer doesn’t immediately advise a veterinary visit if any aggression, excessive ‘naughtiness’ or strange behaviour is present, walk away immediately. Even if you think your dog is fine, visit the vets. Ask for a thorough examination and push for a proper evaluation of your dog from nose to tail and potentially blood tests too. If you’re still not sure, get a second opinion.

You cannot train the pain or discomfort out of your dog. Address THIS first and foremost.

20/03/2024