Capitaland Animal Hospital

11/15/2024

11/15/2024

With Hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is not making enough of a hormone called thyroxine that controls metabolism (the process of turning food into fuel). Hypothyroidism causes a wide variety of symptoms, but is often suspected in dogs that have trouble with weight gain or obesity and suffer from hair loss and skin problems. The good news is this disease isn’t life-threatening, it’s easy to diagnose with a blood test, and it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to treat.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs. The marker for autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroglobulin autoantibody formation, usually occurs prior to the occurrence of clinical signs. Therefore, periodic retesting is recommended.

Check out our website for more information on hypothyroidism: https://ofa.org/diseases/thyroid/

11/15/2024

Older dogs can make amazing companions, but you should be ready to handle any changes that come along with aging. Here are seven health issues you should be on the lookout for when caring for senior dogs.

11/15/2024

Yes, cats get heartworm disease and need heartworm prevention. Learn more.

11/15/2024

Walks with your dog don't have to be boring. In fact, walks are the ideal time to spend some quality time training your dog.

11/14/2024

Studies now confirm what we always have known, people do tend to choose dogs who like like them, and even act like them

11/14/2024

A team led by Dr. Boel Fransson at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital successfully treated a life-threatening lymphatic disorder in Wolfie, a rescued dog from Idaho.

11/14/2024

Walking two dogs at once can be easier with a double dog leash, but they aren't suitable for all dogs depending on their training and behavior.

11/14/2024

Skin conditions in cats can cause discomfort in your feline friend, and nobody wants to see that. Let’s find out more about five common feline skin issues and what you can do to help! As pet paren…

11/13/2024

Did you know this about a dog's tongue?

11/13/2024

Whether you’re adopting a puppy or adult dog, establishing a healthy bond with him from the start will help ensure a meaningful friendship. The powerful bond between human and animal is one of the…

11/13/2024

Dogs smell stress in humans, even people they do not know. They can discern our emotions far better than we can their emotions

11/12/2024

Do you dread someone ringing your doorbell because it sends your dog into fits of barking? Here's how to teach your dog some doorbell etiquette.

11/12/2024

WHEN SECONDS COUNT

This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but about how to go about it, if and when it does happen, in a safer way.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough information for dogs to know – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I need you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well. This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources and links to learn more about body language -
On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://www.dogwise.com/on-talking-terms-with-dogs-calming-signals-2nd-edition/?srsltid=AfmBOoqj8ruQJx5bCP7qWb03TqCyAGfmAvCj988UuWk_L1_UHbYcZsES

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://www.heska.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TVBC-Canine-Dog-Body-Language-handout.pdf

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.

11/12/2024

Dwarfism encompasses several conditions, and dogs with dwarfism can have affected size, health, and development.

11/12/2024

Are tear stains making your dog look sad all the time? Don’t worry! Here are six simple steps you can take to get rid of dog tear stains forever. Tear stains on your dog can make them look sad eve…

11/11/2024

Puppy toys are a great way to soothe the discomfort a dog undergoes while teething. These puppy toys are our top picks for keeping teething dogs happy.