Veterinary Behaviour Consultation Service

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Helping dogs and cats that just can’t stand having a mani-pedi.

Why do they hate it?

This week I have had am influx of pets that just can’t stand having their nails clipped. For some pets it’s mainly the restraint that they hate, for others it’s the noise of the clippers and some just can’t stand having their feet touched. Dogs and cats feet contain large numbers of touch sensitive receptors and so are much more sensitive to being held than either yours or mine.

No matter what the cause of the anxiety around having nails clipped, animals that don’t allow it to be done are a cause of stress for themselves, vets, nurses, groomers and their owners! They can develop medical issues associated with nails growing into their feet and often the problem worsens each time we try and overpower them to allow clipping.

So what can we do?

To try and reverse the stress and anxiety related with nail clipping we need to teach them that having their nails cut is actually fun thing 🙂 To do this we pair nail cutting with a tasty treat repeatedly (a technique called desensitising and counter conditioning). This technique is demonstrated wonderfully by Sophia Yin in the video below:

http://drsophiayin.com/videos/entry/training_a_dog_to_enjoy_toenail_trims

Dr Sophia Yin was a huge inspiration to Dr Julie and sadly passed away earlier this month. She will be sadly missed by the profession but her memory and techniques will live on.

And cats….?

Exactly the same technique can be employed with cats. Some canned food, tuna, Vegemite or peanut butter smeared on a spoon is a good option for them to lick while you practice holding their feet.

Here is Woollahra Vet Hospital’s practice cat Silver loving his nail clip:

nail clip resized

What about puppies and kittens?

Now for the prevention part! It is very important when you get a new puppy that you get them used to you handling them everywhere – opening up their mouth, looking in and handling their ears, and handling their feet. You can practice holding them and clipping small pieces from their toenails as soon as you get them!

If you are having problems with a furry friend misbehaving for their mani pedi and would like some advice on what to do next then please contact Dr Julie at Life on Four Legs.

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Apartment living with Sydney’s dogs and cats

According to a recent Sydney Morning Herald Article, more and more of us are willing to pay a premium to allow us to live with our furry companions in inner city apartments:

http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/can-i-bring-my-dog-too-20141012-114eyf.html

Until very recently (this month to be exact!) I have been living in an apartment in Rose Bay with my cat Sebastian – and he has been quite happy (if not slightly porkier than I would like…..).

Most of us work much longer days than we would like and most of our fur kids end up being at home alone for long periods of time. There are however a few easy to implement things we can do to make their lives happy and more interesting.

For both dogs and cats consider getting a puzzle feeder. These can be as easy as a home made kibble dispensing bottle (simply make holes in an old plastic bottle- and voila!), or hiding food in an empty egg box for cats – to more elaborately designed feeding stations such as the Trixie Cat Puzzle Boards or Kong dispensers. Alternatively, take to hiding kibble all around your apartment – your dog or cat’s very own daily treasure hunt! Seby is a big fan of his puzzle feeder:

photo (9)
When it comes to toys – variation is the key! Pets get bored of toys very easily – so leave them down for no longer than a week, then swap them with another. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on new toys, simply hide them for a few weeks and your dog or cat will get excited about it once more .

www.petsneedalifetoo.com have a huge range of amazing toys (just be careful not to leave any toys your pet can ingest parts of!)

With cats, remember they see the world from a different perspective and love nothing more that climbing on things and sitting up high. Consider getting a cat tree with various levels for your cat to hide or climb on. If you don’t mind adding to your interior design there are a wide variety of cat shelving and walkways you can buy online, I love:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CatastrophiCreations?ref=l2-shopheader-name&ulsfg=true

For a cheaper solution most cats can’t resist a cardboard box.
For dogs try and walk them at least once a day and add in some games for variation. You could try sharing walks with other dog owners in your apartment – so someone can walk them in the morning and the other person in the evening. If you are out for extended periods every day you could even consider a reputable doggy day care or dog walking service.

If you are thinking of getting a new cat or dog and want to discuss ways to enrich their lives to prevent common behaviour problems, or are currently living with an animal suffering from problem behaviours please don’t hesitate to contact Life on Four Legs 🙂