Dr. Max wishes you safe and happy holidays.

                     

Happy Holidays

Profile:  Dr. Max is an 8 year old Shih Tzu living in Riverdale, NY.
Qualifications:  Ph.Do., PUNY (Pooch University of NY), MA in Psychology, Mutger's University, NJ; BS, Poundston College, NJ.

The topic is A safe holiday for your pets.       I wanted to remind everyone that though this is hopefully a happy time please remember some simple rules to keep your precious family members safe.

 

9 Foods that can be dangerous for your dog:

(picture from Pinterest)

Turkey breast - high fat foods can lead to pancreatitis.

Sage - contains oils dangerous for your dog and can cause indigestion.

Nuts - Can a have a reaction within 12 hours=vomiting, inability to stand and tremors. Symptoms can either go away or lead to deadly shock.

Cooked bones - These can splinter inside your dog's digestive tract and cause major problems.

Nutmeg Using nutmeg in sweet potatoes and pumpkin can cause seizures if your dog consumes it alone or in these sides. It can lead to death in extreme cases.

Alcohol - Small amounts especially beer can cause life threatening toxicity. Hops in beer can cause elevated body temperature, racing heart, vomiting and sometimes death.

Chocolate, Dough and Batter - Small amounts of chocolate can harm them and dough can rise inside their bellies, which causes pain for your dog.Spare batter contains uncooked eggs, which are always a risk for Salmonella.

(pictures from pinterest)

KEEPING PETS SAFE
It is probably a good idea to keep them separated and stress free in a spare room or behind a gate. Cats, of course, can jump over a gate so do the best you can.  Do remember to pay some attention to them. They can have feelings of being overwhelmed or abandoned.   

3  Plants coming into your home that will have to be eliminated.

Mistletoe - especially berries

Holly - especially berries

Poinsettia - leaves, stem, leaves http://m.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/poisonous_plants.pdf

There are many things that lie around and can be dangerous for your pet. Please be vigilant in keeping these things away from them.

Christmas trees - keep your pet supervised around them.  

7 decorations to be mindful of.

Imitation snow - hazardous if ingested.

Preservatives on your tree - they can leach into the water in the bowl and your pet will drink that.

Edible ornaments - Too much sugar can cause a rush, glue used could be toxic, materials can be poisonous or hazardous.

Lit candles - Enough said.

Christmas lights - Keep the strands away from the bottom where a cat or dog can easily chew on the electric cords. Make sure the end of the extension cord is tucked away so your pet cannot get to it.

Angel Hair - Finely spun fiberglass used in vintage decorations but has since been taken off the market.  Don't use old decorations made from angel hair. Newer versions made from PVC can also cause health concerns.

Tinsel - The most dangerous holiday decoration for your pets. Just ingesting a few strands of tinsel by your pet is highly likely to make your pet ill and even create deadly effects of an intestinal obstruction.

Mama and I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

Don't forget you can get a Dr. Max calendar on Etsy or Ebay.  If you have trouble ordering

just email Mama at itadow@gmail.com.

A few days ago another girlfriend passed away.  Her name was Honey Dew and she had moved to FL so I had not seen her in awhile.  I so missed visiting her in her nice, clean and organized home.  She was always such a happy pooch and I loved being around her.  We spent a lot of time together when there was very loud noises in our buildings. We took turns staying together in each others homes.
I know her Mama, Mercedes, is feeling very sad and I feel badly for her.  Please send your condolances to Mercedes.
 

© Dr. Max/Ita Dowler/maxdow  all rights reserved July 8, 2012

http://drmaxdow.com

you can reach me at itadow@gmail.com

mama’s website www.psychotherapybyita.com (new one coming next month)

mama’s twitter account:  @ItaDowler

 

Dr Max talks about anxiety

Profile:  Dr. Max  8 year old Shih Tzu living in Riverdale, NY.  

Qualifications:  Ph.Do, PUNY, (Pooch University of NY);  MA in Psychology, Mutger's University, NJ;  BS, Poundston College, NJ

The topic is Anxiety in dogs. I would like to add that much of this information is relevant to other species.  I have the honor of interviewing my cousin Galway. He is a Beagle and is eight years old. He has been living with his Mama for five years. Galway has suffered from an anxiety disorder for most of his life and luckily was rescued by his Mama,  Lorraine. 

Dr Max:  Galway, it is so nice to catch up with you. Can you tell us about the symptoms of anxiety that you experience and some of your history?
  
Galway:  Hi Dr Max. Thanks for doing this interview. So many dogs who suffer with anxiety are misunderstood and get punished for bad behavior when we can't help our impulses. I will tell you that I lived with a family where I was socialized as a puppy but not on lead. I was allowed to run in the woods with other dogs.   Did you know that a puppy has to be socialized between 4-14 weeks and that is it?  After that the pooch will experience stress when he or she is near another dog. 

Dr Max:   Yes, I read that.  I understand that you fare better when off lead.   Is that true?

Galway:  Yes that is true because I feel comfortable and more in control when I am off leash. I am still shy but I will hang out at the doggy spa with the other dogs.  The problem is that when on the leash I feel so much anxiety that my impulse is to go on the offensive and try to get to the other dog.  This has caused major problems for my Mama.  Just like humans, anxious dogs need to feel they have control. 

Dr Max:  That has to be hard on both of you.  In looking at your chart I see that you have some phobias.

Galway:  Well if you want to call them that. I hate being left alone. I get so anxious that I get destructive. I am so afraid of being abandoned again that fear just gets a grip on me. I am also afraid of  carriages. Don't ask!  I am a Beagle so I think it is in my DNA to howl when I see prey but Mama says carriages are not prey.

Dr Max:  So you went to see the Behaviorist/Vet Dr Shepherd.  I see in your chart that she put you on Prozac.  How is that working for you?

Galway:   In the beginning I felt more anxious but after awhile I was okay. I also went into training with Instinct. They are specialists in dealing with troubled dogs and they work closely with Dr Shepherd. The trainers are a lot of fun and seemed to care about me. My initiation was to stay at Instinct for one month and Mama was allowed to visit me periodically.

Dr Max:  How do you feel now since it has been some time that you have had your training and been maintained on Prozac?

Galway:  To tell you the truth, I am feeling much better but anxiety can still creep into my life. I get very upset when I run into dogs on a leash that I don't know. Carriages still get to me and I am not crazy about thunder either.  Fortunately, I only see carriages in Riverdale.  I am happy when I am at home with Mama and I also like her friends.  I feel much more secure in State College and my NYC vet wants to wean me off of the Prozac once I am able to handle the triggers that set off my anxiety.

Dr Max:  Well Galway thank you for letting us get to know you and helping to explain how anxiety has affected not only your life but your Mama's.  I see that you brought a photo so humans and dogs can see you experience anxiety because your Mama has left, even though my Mama is with you and has lots of treats.  Riverdale was a tough transition for you.  I have some issues with Riverdale too.

                                                           

In my next blog I will discuss anxiety in more depth since this disorder affects many species on the planet including humans.   Let's get ready for Fall.





In loving memory of my good friend Ella who recently passed away.  I will always miss her.
Dr Max.        







http://www.dr.maxdow.com

www.psychotherapybyita.com
itadow@gmail.com
c Dr Max/Ita Dowler all rights reserved 7/8/2012

Dr. Max. I'm here to help. 
 

Hi there.   In case you need to see my credentials again, here they are:  Ph.Do. in dogcology from PUNY (Pooch University of New York),  Maxter's from Mutger's University in New Jersey and a B.S. from Poundston, NJ.  I am originally from Bayone, NJ but was adopted from foster care when I was 2 1/2 yrs old. I came to live in Skyview in the Bronx in December 2010.  My human/Mama continues to help me focus on being less reactive and more sociable with humans and dogs of all sizes.

Since my mama is doing a presentation on Diabetes in humans I thought I would talk about Diabetes in dogs for this blog.

Diabetes does not occur that often in dogs.  It varies between one in 400 to one in 500.
Nevertheless, it still pays for humans to educate themselves on the symptoms.  We dogs still can't talk human. 

 Do you know the symptoms?  Here they are:
Increased thirst.
Increased urination.
Increased hunger.
Sudden weight loss.
Obesity.  (This can cause your dog to develop Diabetes).
Weakness or Fatigue.
Thinning or dull hair.
Cloudy eyes.
Depression. (Due to ketoacidosis)
Vomiting.

Dachshunds and Miniature Poodles are predisposed to ketoacidosis.  Ketoacidosis is more commonly found in older dogs and in females.  

The following breeds are at a higher risk:
Keeshond
Puli
Miniature Pinscher
Samoyed
Cairn terrier
Poodle
Dachshund
Minature Schnauzer
Beagle

Standard tests for Diabetes include a complete blood count, chemical profile and urinalysis.   A high concentration of glucose will be found in the blood and urine.  High levels of liver enzymes and electrolytes imbalances are also common.  High levels of ketone bodies may also show in the urine. 

Treatment and Care:
Daily exercise since obesity is a major cause of Diabetes.  Balancing the food and liquid cravings can lower insulin demands.  Soft and moist foods need to be avoided because they cause rapid accumulation of glucose in the body.  You know not to switch the food too rapidly.  Your pooch will get diarrhea if you switch the food too quickly.   Your vet will give your pup an individual treatment plan and help the humans look for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.    There are various types of insulin available and your vet will determine the best one for the dog.

Usually smaller dogs need multiple doses of insulin as part of their insulin therapy while larger dogs need only one dose per day.  Your vet will prescribe based on weight, size, gender and individual insulin needs.  Just like humans you may need to evaluate your dog's blood glucose levels on a daily basis and adjust the insulin dose accordingly.

I am sorry to say but if the diabetes is serious enough the lady dogs will probably need a hysterectomy because of the surge of hormones at the time of estrus.

Careful maintenance can help your pooch live a normal life-span.  (PetMD 1/2014)

Check out my web site  http://drmaxdow.com

© Dr. Max/Ita Dowler/maxdow  all rights reserved July 8, 2012 

You can contact me at maxdow123@gmail.com

psychotherapybyita.com - my Mama's web site

Dr. Max. I'm here to help.

Hi there.  Dr. Max, still here.  In case you need to see my credentials again, here they are:  Ph.Do. in dogcology 
from PUNY (Pooch University of New York),  Maxter's from Mutger's University in New Jersey and a B.S. from Poundston, NJ.  I am originally from Bayone, NJ but was adopted from foster care when I was 2 1/2 yrs old. I came to live in Skyview in the Bronx in December 2010.  My human/Mama continues to help me focus on being less reactive and more sociable with humans and dogs of all sizes.  

  

You have not heard from me for quite a while because there has been a lot going on.  As I mentioned in my last post, Skyview, where I live, has been doing something awful called pointing.  What this means is that they are drilling between the bricks and repairing mortar.  They also drilled around the posts on the terrace.  Apparently the posts are aluminum and the original builders did not leave room in the cement for the aluminium to contract and expand.  The noise and dust have been horrific and we have not had access to our terrace.  Everything from the terrace had to be brought inside so Mama just threw out our cafe table and chairs.

 

Man outside our window fixing the terrace.







      At this time, Mama went a little nuts and got rid of a lot of our regular furniture. Then she just started moving everything around, painting and replacing the floors.  There was no place for me to hide.  There was noise everywhere which made me sick.
      I am finally getting to my point of how stress affects dogs.  We do experience many of the feelings that humans do.  How you recognize stress in your pup is the following:

     The number one sign of stress is soiling,  the body is tense, tired appearance, change in pace, a different tail wag or lower than usual, whining, barking, avoids eye contact. red pigment around eyes and ears, jaw clomping, yawning, drooling, ears back or uneven, sits or lays down, paws sweating, irritability sniffing, digging,  out of context behaviors.   Please note that illness is a reaction to stress for us just as it is for you.  That can include vomiting,  diarrhea, loss of appetite, allergies, and skin reactions.   I will say that a number of dogs in Skyview told me how sick they got from all the noise and dust.  

I was throwing up for two days so Mama brought me to the vet.  He

gave me a shot to stop the vomiting and fluids to replace electrolytes.

I stepped on a bee because of the contractors and off to the vet again.  That hurt soooo much.  He gave me a shot for the pain.  a shot of steroid and an antibiotic. 

    

      Don't forget we read your body and pick up on your stress. We will try to calm you down but internalize the stress ourselves. Please take a break and take us both for a walk. Also, talk calmly to us and let us know everything is ok. Petco advises you not to coddle a dog because this might be perceived as positive reinforcement for exhibiting bad behavior due to stress. Whenever I get stressed Mama kisses me and says everything is ok. I like it and it helps to calm me down. At other times she yells treats to divert my attention. Works every time. I am such a sucker. 

      

 I pride myself on being a tough guy but I am really scared here.  There are just too many changes.  I need my routine.

     I will also admit that I pooped in the apartment a few times.  I never ever do anything like that but I was thrown off balance by all the noise of the drilling on the outside and the confusion of different men coming in to work within the apartment.  It was all too much.  The men are outside drilling today but Mama is home because it is a holiday so I feel better.  She just got me groomed by Angela which sucks.  I love Angela but I hate getting groomed.  I do feel good though.

           Some advice to help with your dog if he/she is stressed according to Petco:
    Crate training.  Personally I don’t like a crate but it can be a safe place for your dog. I hide under the bed.
Confine your dog to another room when having a party.
Keeping up basic routines.  I find this is really helpful because it is something I can count on. 
        I know Carol comes on Mon and Wed and Renalto comes on Thur to walk me.      
Take your dog to the vet to check him/her out. Sorry my fellow pups but it is necessary in case something is wrong physically. Also stress can create an illness.  Check out Doctors Foster and Smith Ultra-Calm Biscuits for dogs.  It helps control anxiety with natural formula with valerian root and chamomile.  I get 3 to 4 of these when I get groomed. :)

     On the positive side I have acquired two training certificates.  I completed the Advanced course but Petsmart felt I had to let strangers pet me without treats.  No one pets this boy without treats so I did not get a certificate.  I am presently in the Tricks class with Judith whom I love.  I do think that the stress of the past year has interfered with my training.  

     I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays in case I don’t get back to you by that time.  I hate to say this too but be careful with human treats to your pooch.  Apparently your pup can get pancreatitis from eating too much fat from human food.  Yikes I feel like a traitor telling you that.  Peace out to my fellow canines.  Let's not forget those poor humans and animals in the Philippines.

Check out my web site   http://drmaxdow.com

© Dr. Max/Ita Dowler/maxdow  all rights reserved July 8, 2012 

You can contact me at maxdow123@gmail.com


psychotherapybyita.com - my Mama's web site

Dr Max May blog

Hi there.  Dr. Max, still here.  In case you need to see my credentials again, here they are:  Ph.Do. in dogcology from PUNY (Pooch University of New York),  Maxter's from Mutger's University in New Jersey and a B.S. from Poundston, NJ.  I am originally from Bayone, NJ but was adopted from foster care when I was 2 1/2 yrs old.  I came to live in Skyview in the Bronx in December 2010.  My human/Mama continues to help me focus on being less reactive and more sociable with humans and dogs of all sizes.  

       I am so late in getting the quarterly blog out because so much happened.  First of all, my grandpa passed away on 2/6/2013.  That was very upsetting to me but I am glad I got to be with the family through the process of death.   I know Grandpa was glad to have me there by his side because we had a very special relationship.  I miss him very much. Yes dogs grieve. 

     Unfortunately he passed during that big snowstorm in Suffolk County, LI.  Boy it was something to see Aunty Lorraine and Mama shoveling sooo much snow.   Anyway I got to be with Grandpa in the hospice and the wake at the funeral parlor.  I think it was very good that I was there to give comfort to Aunty Lorraine, Mama and dad's friend Donna.

At the hospice with Aunty Lorraine

                           

Me at the wake

On a brighter note I went to beginner training for dogs at PetSmart and met Judith my trainer. 
I love her.  I graduated and got a certificate and everything.  I am now in intermediate class and Mama says I have to keep going but I don't care I love it.  Carol, my dogwalker comes with us and she is terrific too.  I have all this positive energy around me helping me to feel secure and safe.    What did I learn you ask me?  Well I learned "leave it", "stay", "puppy push up", "down" and other stuff.  Basically I learned to have more impulse control.  I am smart but I do have my issues.  My original home did not provide me with safety so I had to be on my guard at all times and make sure that I was not pushed around.  This left me feeling a bit insecure and reactive.  We are just like people that way

Hi there.  Dr. Max here.  In case you are not familiar with my credentials.  Here they are:  Ph.Do in dogcology from PUNY (Pooch University of New York).  A Maxter's from Mutger's University in New Jersey and a B.S. from Poundston, NJ.  I originally came from Bayone, NJ but was adopted at 2 1/2 & moved to Skyview in the Bronx.   My human/Mama has focused my training on making me less reactive and more sociable with humans and dogs of all sizes.

   

Well 2012 is coming to an end and I thought we could take a look at the kind of year we had.   Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast and created devastation along the way.  We here at Skyview were lucky.  I did see some windows blown out and cars that got squashed but as far as I know no humans or animals were hurt.  We did lose cable but that does not affect me and it is all about me.    

Let's not forget that we had an earthquake this year and the hottest summer on record.  I hear we have this thing cold global warming.  Not good for me.  I am a cold weather dog and I could get blown away. 

We also had some dogs injured this year by bigger dogs.  This is unacceptable.  We little dogs have a hard enough time having to look up all the time, having humans step on us, and sometimes just being treated as an accessory.

This is Boris.  His paw and head were injured by a dog in the park. I get along just fine with Boris because we kinda look alike so I think he is a handsome dude even though he is a Pekingese and I am a Shih Tzu.  Both of our breeds come from Tibet.

Lucky lives in my building and he was badly injured by a big dog while exiting an elevator.  Danger lurks everywhere so I say to fellow doggies be careful and try not to get aggressive with big dogs. I know that is hard. 

We did not have much of a winter last year but we did have some snow.
Also, do you remember that it snowed in October?  We thought we were in for it but it has gotten mild again,  Except for Hurricane Sandy we are doing ok.  I hate getting salt on my paws.  I love the snow but I dislike when the ice crystallizes on my fur.  Goldy wears boots but I can't stand them. This is Molly, Murphy and Boris.

Here is Goldy who wears boots.  I have to say she is pretty sophisticated.  I do like to play with her.  She lets me chase her in the park.  That is her Mama,  Birgit.  Laura is there with Dusty who is also a rescue like me.  Dusty is a therapy dog.  He goes to visit the seniors with Laura.  He told me he likes to do that because the seniors are so happy to see him and he gets a lot of attention.

Friendship is important.  We dogs are very sociable.  Do remember that we are descendents of wolves and they traveled in packs.
So try to take your pal on doggie dates.  It is fun in the park with Ella but lately Mama says there is too much poop.  I love it because there are great smells.

There are ways you can stay cool in the summer such as stay in the shade, have cool drinks and lots of treats. You can also wear sun block if your hair/fur is too short.  We dogs get sunburned too.  Mama is threatening to get me sunglasses so I don't get glaucoma.  I don't know where she gets these ideas.

Now there are things you can do if you know there is a storm coming. We doggies know ahead of time because we can feel changes in the barometric pressure.  Actually all animals have that ability but dogs are better at it, right?   When your mama or papa is watching TV, it is good to get their attention and go for a walk while you can.  Also, let them know to stock up on food,  treats, water, batteries and put gas in the car.  My friend Hunter, who is a cat living in FL, told me that so luckily Mama did listen to me and we had gas. 

Max likes to gather his toys around when he senses a storm coming.  It makes him feel safer.  We all have our way of dealing with danger.  His brother Ryan has other things that he does but we can't show that here. 

You can tell that Honey Dew is desperately trying to convey her anxiety about the upcoming storm.  Just look at her tail wagging.  Besides the danger of the storm she doesn't want to get dirty.  Your can see the ground is alread wet.  Yuck!

After the storm I went outside to check the damage. It is a little tough when you are short cause a little branch becomes a big problem.

 You should know that it can still be dangerous after a storm because branches and signs can still come down.  The trees are weighed down by rain and may come down.  Signs can become loose and when a big wind comes they can fly around.  It is a good thing I was under the bench when this sign came down.    


It is also beneficial to dress appropriately in a storm because you can get really wet.  I am
forced to wear this ridiculous raincoat but it does help to keep me dry and clean.  When you are close to the ground you can get pretty messy.



Just in case you are very anxious when a storm comes I recommend Dr. Foster and Smith Ultra Calm Bisquits.


It looks like Bo is back in the White House for another 4 years.  He is happy about it.  He has his own secret service team so he gets lots of walks.           
 

I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza.      


Ryan and Max want to wish you a Happy New Year.

© Dr. Max/Ita Dowler/maxdow  all rights reserved July 8, 2012  

You can contact me at maxdow123@gmail.com

Hi there.  Dr. Max here.  In case you are not familiar with my credentials.  Here they are:  Ph.Do in dogcology from PUNY (Pooch University of New York).  A Maxter's from Mutger's University in New Jersey and a B.S. from Poundston, NJ.  

I originally came from Bayone, NJ but was adopted at 2 1/2 & moved to Skyview in the Bronx.   My human/Mama has focused my training on making me less reactive and more sociable with humans and dogs of all sizes.

 As previously stated, my mission is to open communication  between humans and dogs. I would also like to address problems that dogs may have but don't feel they have a voice in their family.   

Questions have come in about socialization for dogs.  It is very important that they socialize because a bored dog is a destructive dog.  A tired dog is a happy dog.  Simple.  I will include some photos taken to show you how we doggies do it.

This is my pal Rex.  He believes he is the boss as I do.  He has also perfected the 10 to 2 dancer's pose in convincing his human to go in his direction. 

If you see Rex around say hi.  He is little but friendly and spry.

Now we call this getting together.  You humans have your coffee clatch but we doggies do the group sniff.  This is Rex in the middle and my pal Murphy with myself coming up from the rear.  Once we are sure of the doggy we will be friends.

This is Ella.  She is a senior dog but we are great pals.  She is a very good listener as you can tell.  Size nor age matters to us as long as we have a similar temperament.  

I got attacked by a big dog in the park and was really scared of big dogs after that.  I would try to attack them first so they would not know I felt vulnerable.  Many dogs my size do the same thing which is sad because they can get really hurt.  That happened to my friend Boris but that is a story for another day. 

Ella was very kind to me and posed no threat.  She has arthritis which makes moving for her difficult at times.

     My human, Mama, says I lack empathy and need to think of other dogs before myself.  I have no idea what she is talking about since I am the center of the universe.

 This is Max (his head is further front) and Marley.  They are both

Maltese and look identical.  Needless to say they like each other.

Dogs tend to be narcissistic so looking at their mirror image is quite attractive to them.  They are checking out something here and keeping the park safe for all.

Now this is Cocoa. He is also a Shih Tzu.
We are taking a stroll in the park and he is telling me
something very important.

I too am a good listener since I am credentialed as a dogcologist.

I hope that humans can understand that we need to
share our experiences as well.

As you can see it is very important for dogs to socialize.  We have our own language and rituals.
The following is a youtube link showing dogs playing in our park:

Dogs playing in the Park: Max, Ryan, Goldie & myself.
  http://youtu.be/YqRbhOgolug Dogs in Skyview

Also I would like to say hello to my friends in Russia, Germany, India, Australia and the UK.

Привет друзья

Hallo,  Freunde

मित्रों को नमस्कार.
Hola Amigo, Buenos Dias

Hello, Shrimp on the barbie now?

Hello, Time for tea?

 I love saying hi to friends across the country.  Arf Arf

You can contact me directly at maxdow123@gmail.com

© Dr. Max/Ita Dowler/maxdow  all rights reserved July 8, 2012