Questions and Answers

To some dogs, the sound of lightning and thunder sounds like a volcano erupting. Their good hearing causes some to have hysterical and sometimes uncontrollable behavioral changes. Some of the symptoms, such as shaking and heavy breathing, are a state of mental stress and fear. This occurs mainly during Independence Day celebrations, which sometimes causes them to run away from home in extreme cases. Therefore, it is a good idea to close the windows of the house on Independence Day, or during stormy winter days, and leave the radio or even soothing music on for your dog. Studies show that small dogs like talking on the radio, and large dogs like calm or classical music. If this happens when you are at home, pet the dog calmly and try to draw attention to the activity the dog likes to do at home.

Licking feet indicates friendly and submissive behavior, which is why the dog licks you and strangers. Licking in nature is a sign of flattery and excitement. In order to stop the licking, you must respond immediately - a negative response, such as making noise with an empty Coke can with a few rocks in it, or spraying it in its direction with a water gun. While the dog is retreating, give positive reinforcement in a flattering tone and with the addition of their name. Then call them again, and let them sit next to you or next to guests while giving verbal reinforcement for more restrained behavior. Tal Yanko

One of the common problems we see and treat in our daily work at the clinic is related to skin problems (dermatology). This is a broad topic that includes various allergy problems: it is usually the basis for other problems. Allergy is an immune response to substances we come into contact with (eat, breathe, touch, etc.) that our immune system interprets as harmful and responds by secreting various substances (including histamines) that cause allergy symptoms. Like us humans, animals also suffer greatly from allergies. In our case - depending on the severity, the allergy is expressed in various sneezing and itching in the facial area. Animals scratch their fur, face, and paws until they sometimes bleed. In severe cases of an allergic reaction - usually as a result of an insect bite - the animal can swell in the head area and there is a risk of suffocation as a result of pharyngeal edema. In these cases, you should quickly contact your veterinarian. We usually see symptoms of itching and licking of the feet. Customers are sure that it is fleas, "I only treated him a week ago and he is itching again.." The best treatment for allergies is to try to avoid contact with those substances that provoke (different from one person to another) an allergic reaction. Which is not at all simple because it is difficult to identify the exact cause. If a dog is sensitive to house dust mites, for example, and is at home most of the day, it is impossible to prevent contact. Of all the things that animals come into contact with, only a few can be controlled. One is the food they eat - it turns out that the protein in food is an important factor in an allergic reaction - and a dog suffering from allergies is recommended to change (gradually) the type of food - there are foods based on chicken, fish, lamb, etc. and to avoid any type of homemade food. You can also get advice about dog foods at Doggy Style, which in many cases eliminate the problem. If a few weeks have passed and there is no change in symptoms, this is probably not the solution – now it is possible to switch to a medical food in which the proteins have undergone a hydrolyzed process that causes the long protein chain to break down into many small ones or to start drug treatment. Another controllable factor is flea bites, similar to a child being bitten by a mosquito and the area of the bite swelling – then he starts itching and does not stop, the same thing happens with flea bites in dogs and cats. In humans, the most common anti-allergy medication is from the antihistamine family (Lorestin, Ahistone, etc.), which is effective and has almost no side effects (mainly fatigue), but in animals it is almost ineffective. We use drugs from the steroid family in low doses that greatly reduce the immune response. In fact, we do not solve the problem but eliminate the symptoms. If a secondary infection occurs, antibiotics are added. Dogs that suffer greatly and for whom drug treatment is also ineffective, we take a blood sample and send it to a special laboratory in the United States, where we test which of the 100 common allergens the dog is sensitive to - if it is possible to prevent the dog from coming into contact with some of the substances found (grass, wool, cigarette smoke, etc.), we will also be able to reduce its allergy. If it is not possible (house dust mites), we order a vaccine containing those specific allergy factors and, in the process of injecting the vaccine over a period of about a year, cause the dog to lose its sensitivity to those allergens. The disadvantage is the high cost. But in this case, we are trying to treat the problem and not the symptoms. Written by: Veterinarians - Multidisciplinary Clinic in Krayot