Artificial Food Coloring: Is It Good for Your Pet?

Posted on June 28, 2018 - 12:50 pm by
artificial food coloring and pets

It’s no accident that pet food often comes in a rainbow of colors. When you open a bag, it’s comforting to see the golden yellow of chicken, the red of rare beef and the green of fresh vegetables — all hues that the original ingredients may lose during the manufacturing process. Often, these colors are added after the fact.

But given that dogs and cats can’t visualize the same spectrum of colors we can, the colors are really added to appeal to pet owners. Which raises the question, are artificial food colors really necessary? If they don’t add any nutritional value, could they actually do more harm than good?

A Troubling Past

In the 1880s, vendors found that food coloring could make their wares more appetizing. Unfortunately, the practice wasn’t always honest: Colors were added to conceal spoilage or discoloration in less-than-fresh food. Even more alarming, some of the colors contained toxins such as mercury, arsenic and lead, which often had more severe effects on people than the original food spoilage.

The Food and Drugs Act of 1906 banned the use of these toxic food colors. Most of the remaining approved food colorings were made from the byproducts of coal processing known as coal-tar dyes.

Eventually, even these colors were found to be problematic when, in the 1950s, trick-or-treaters in several cities became sick from eating candy made with a common orange dye made from coal tar. This orange color additive and a red food color were tested for safety and eventually banned.

This led to the Color Additives Amendments of 1960, which required more stringent government oversight and scientific evidence of safety for color additives used in human and animal foods.

The FDA Keeps Close Tabs

Today, the Food and Drug Administration regulates all color additives that are used in human and animal foods. All color additives must be listed with the FDA and fall into one of two categories: those that have to be certified by the FDA and those that don’t. Certified colors are man-made and include fewer than ten approved colors.

Colors that are exempt from certification are natural pigments from plants, minerals or animals. The FDA also provides strict guidelines for use of the colors including the types of foods that may use the coloring, the amount of coloring allowed and how the color must be identified on packaging. Still, the FDA continuously reviews all food colors for safety.

Can Colors Additives Be Dangerous?

A 2010 article by the Center for Science and the Public Interest claimed that food dyes posed human health risks for cancer, allergies and hyperactivity in children.

While research has suggested that some food colors, especially used in large amounts, may have cancer-causing effects, these are not among the current FDA-approved colors. If FDA-approved colors are used according to direction, they should be safe in both human and pet foods.

It’s relatively rare for people to have allergies to food colorings. The same goes for cats and dogs, who tend to have allergic reactions to proteins in their foods. Finally, research on whether food colorings cause hyperactivity in children is inconclusive.

Still, while we might assume that food colors that are safe for people are also safe for pets, there is a paucity of research to show just what effects color additives have on dogs and cats.

A Move From Artificial to Natural

A recent Nielsen Global Survey found artificial colors among the top three ingredients consumers prefer to avoid. In fact, most likely spurred by consumer demand, many global food companies such as General Mills, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Mars, Nestlé and Frito-Lay are finding natural alternatives for artificial colors in their products.

If you’re like other pet owners, you’re probably questioning the same ingredients in the food you feed your pets. While the current food colors approved by the FDA appear to be safe — at least so far — more and more pet owners will no doubt look for ingredient lists that don’t include the word “artificial.”

Celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day!

Posted on June 14, 2018 - 7:57 am by
A woman sitting at a desk in front of a laptop taking notes with a small black and tan dog on her lap.

Why gather around the office water cooler when you can convene around a tail-wagging Labrador retriever? That’s the idea behind Take Your Dog to Work Day. This is your chance to share your workspace with your canine counterparts.

For Some Companies, Pets Are a Year-Round Perk

In 2021, a survey of 500 C-suite executives found that about 60 percent were planning to allow pets in the office in some form. Amazon, Google and Etsy are among the companies who now welcome pet dogs at work.

As it turns out, there are surprising benefits to four-legged coworkers. Studies show that pets may reduce office stress and create a social connection that enhances cooperation and communication. Pets are a way for employees to express their personalities. Dogs can also boost morale and help restore a work-life balance, reminding workers to periodically take breaks and go for a quick walk.

For companies, it’s a no-cost perk that helps recruit millennials who are now the largest pet-owning segment of the population. Some workers may even be willing to work later in the day, since they’re not under a time crunch to get home to let out their dogs. Pet-friendly policies may help with employee retention and actually enhance the company’s image in the eyes of their customers.

A Few Potential Drawbacks

Of course, not every employee may appreciate the merits of your drooling Saint Bernard. Some people may be allergic to pet dander and others may be afraid of dogs because of previous traumatic experiences. There may also be cultural or religious reasons to eschew pets in the workplace.

Pets that aren’t properly socialized or are fearful or aggressive may not enjoy being exposed to unfamiliar people and the hustle-bustle of the office. Barking may be disruptive, and there may be fur or “accidents” to clean up. That teething puppy may do some damage to office furniture. Finally, any dog in a stressful situation is capable of biting.

And pets don’t belong in every workplace. Loud manufacturing or chemical facilities may not be a comfortable or safe place for your pet. Pets should also be kept away from food service areas and medical centers that may cater to people with compromised immune systems.

Rules of the Office

Before you bring your pet to work, there are several things you can do to make it a good experience for everyone:

  • Make sure your pet is comfortable around new people, new pets and new environments (will riding an elevator be too scary?).
  • Pet-proof your office space to eliminate any electrical cords, sharp items or small objects your pet could accidentally swallow.
  • Check that your pet is healthy and current on vaccines and parasite control to protect the health of your pet as well as that of coworkers and other pets.
  • Groom your pet so the fur is clean and nails are trimmed.
  • Make your feeding preferences clear to help prevent coworkers from indulging your pet with too many goodies.
  • Determine pet-friendly office areas and avoid lunchrooms, conference rooms, restrooms and other pet-free zones.
  • Bring everything your pet needs for the day including water and food bowls, toys, beds and waste bags.
  • Don’t let your pet wander where it might disrupt other workers or mistake the office plants for the great outdoors.
  • Introduce new dogs slowly or in an outdoor, neutral area.

Chances are, with your pet by your side, your day will feel less like work and more like play.

You Have Options Before Giving Your Cat Up for Adoption

Posted on June 7, 2018 - 8:34 am by
Don’t give up on your cat

Cat ownership can be like marriage: It’s designed to be a lifelong commitment. But sometimes family allergies, landlord rules, litter box issues or other unforeseen problems can make the best plans go awry. Sometimes, cat owners may feel as if they only have one heart-wrenching option: to rehome a beloved cat.

But don’t resort to cat adoption without exhausting all your options. There are plenty of resources to help you keep your cat where he or she belongs: with you.

Top Reasons Cats Are Surrendered

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that 3.2 million cats enter shelters in the United States every year. Common reasons cats are relinquished include:

  • Cost of upkeep — Most cats are inexpensive to acquire. More than half of owners get cats from friends or relatives or take in a stray, according to the American Pet Products Association. But the first year of cat ownership — including veterinary care, litter and food — can cost up to $2,285, according to Petfinder statistics. While the ensuing annual expenses are often lower, a job loss or other personal difficulty can make it difficult to pay for everyday cat care.
  • Medical care — Feline health issues can be expensive. Three health issues that are common in cats — kidney failure, hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormone) and diabetes — often require lifelong medication.
  • Behavioral issues — Urinating outside the litter box, scratching furniture and not getting along with other household pets are common — but often fixable — reasons cats are surrendered to shelters.
  • Housing problems — Owners may move to an apartment that doesn’t accept pets, or perhaps there are already too many pets in the household.
  • Family situations — Allergies, divorce and other problems can make it seem like giving up the cat is the only option.

Help Keep Your Cat at Home

If you need help with your cat, please reach out to your veterinarian or local cat shelters or rescues for help. They can help provide you with resources to address issues including:

Behavior problems — If your cat shredded your couch or peed in your shoe, rest assured that it’s not being vindictive. Scratching is a natural feline behavior that helps cats groom their claws, mark their territory and stretch their bodies. You can train your cat to use a scratching post instead of your furniture.

A trip to the veterinarian may also reveal an underlying medical condition, such as urinary tract crystals, that can be treated. If there’s no medical problem, you can work with a veterinary behaviorist or find resources online to help with behavior issues such as litter box problems.

Financial assistance — Ask your veterinary clinic if they offer payment plans or credit services. Local veterinary schools and shelters may also offer low-cost clinics. You can even try using an online fundraising platform or contact local rescues for other suggestions for affordable care. If you need help with food or other cat care, there are state and local organizations that may be able to help.

Allergies — People who are allergic to cats are usually reacting to allergens in dander (flakes of dead skin), urine or saliva. To help minimize exposure to allergens, wash your hands after handling the cat and perhaps keep the cat out of your bedroom at night. You can also try vacuum cleaners and air purifiers that include high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. Pet wipes can help minimize dander, as can weekly cat baths (if your cat is the tolerant sort). Of course, consult an allergist to see if there are medications that might help control your signs.

Housing — Cat owners who rent tend to run into the most issues with housing. But the Humane Society of the United States provides several suggestions that could help.

With a little ingenuity, most cat problems can be solved. Which means you really can commit to a long-term relationship and years of family pictures with your favorite feline.

Human Medications Can Be Poisonous to Pets

Posted on April 19, 2018 - 9:04 am by
What helps you can be harmful to them

There’s a long list of household items that can be toxic to pets: plants, laundry pods and chocolate being the most common enemies. But 50 percent of the calls to pet poison helplines actually involve mishaps with human medications.

It can happen easily. A pet noses through a purse on the floor, plucking out a bottle of pills. The dog gnaws on an asthma inhaler, left on the bedside table. The cat flips open the lids on the weekly pill container or the dog thinks it’s a new chew toy.

Sometimes, it’s human error that puts our pets in danger. Do you keep your own medications in the same cabinet with your pet’s pills? It’s easy to mix them up. And some owners may intentionally administer a human medication to a pet, assuming that it’s safe because it’s labeled for children or it’s sold over the counter at the drugstore.

However, if the human medicine gets into the pet, it’s important to note that pets metabolize many of these medications differently than we do, sometimes with harmful — and even deadly — consequences.

Keep Pets Out of the Medicine Cabinet

If you suspect that your pet has eaten any human medications, call your veterinarian or the 24-hour Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 immediately. Here are some of the human medications that could be most problematic in dogs and cats.

OTC Pain Medications

These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil and some types of Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin, as well as acetaminophen (Tylenol and Excedrin).

Pets that eat large doses of NSAIDs can experience severe stomach ulcers and kidney failure. Signs may include vomiting (with or without blood), diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, increased drinking and urination.

A single, regular-strength tablet of acetaminophen can be fatal to cats. Poisoning by this substance in cats usually affects red blood cells, leading to difficulty breathing and swelling of the face and paws. In dogs, acetaminophen toxicity can lead to liver damage. This medication is also found in many human cold and flu products.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are some of the most commonly used human prescription medications in the U.S., going by names such as Prozac, Celexa, Cymbalta, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor.

Pet overdoses of these medications can lead to sedation or the exact opposite, excitation. Pets may have tremors or seizures and may experience vomiting and diarrhea. Cats, especially, are attracted to the taste of Effexor, and just one pill can be dangerous.

ADHD and ADD Medications

Stimulants such as amphetamines are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), weight loss and narcolepsy.  The drugs go by names such as Adderall, Dexedrine, Concerta, Ritalin and Vyvanse. Illegal forms of these drugs include methamphetamines, crystal meth and ecstasy.

In dogs and cats, even small amounts of these medications can lead to seizures, panting, heart problems, vomiting and diarrhea.

Heart Medications

While many of these medications are used in both human and veterinary medicine to treat heart failure or blood pressure problems, in certain doses, they can be toxic to pets.

Beta blockers such as Coreg, Sectral, Toprol and Tenormin can lower heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors such as Altace, Lotensin, Prinivil, Vasotec and Zestril are generally safer unless the pet has heart or kidney disease. But high doses can cause low blood pressure and dizziness in pets.

Sleep Aids and Anxiety Medications

These include drugs such as Ambien, Lunesta, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Valium and Xanax. Drugs that cause sedation in people can do the same in pets — or have the opposite effect. Up to 50 percent of dogs that eat toxic doses of sleep medications actually experienced panting, hyperactivity and tremors. At high doses, some of these drugs can cause liver damage in cats.

Asthma Inhalers

Because these inhalers often contain 200 human-sized doses, a dog who punctures the canister when chewing on one can be subject to a huge overdose. Signs may include a racing heart rate, vomiting and collapse.

Tips to Help Protect Your Pet

  • Always place purses, backpacks and other totes that contain medications out of your pet’s reach.
  • The same goes for weekly pill containers or plastic bags containing pills— don’t leave them on counters where pets can access them.
  • Store human medications separately from your pet’s medications to avoid unintentional mix-ups.
  • Take medications in a separate room from your pet so he or she can’t snap up any pills inadvertently dropped on the floor.
  • Never administer any human medication to a pet unless your veterinarian advises you to do so.

Again, if you suspect that your pet has eaten any human medications, call your veterinarian or the 24-hour Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Pet Food Storage

Posted on March 29, 2018 - 2:08 pm by
Taste of the Wild

How do you store that big bag of dog food after you lug it in from the car? Do you crack the seal and leave it in a corner? Dump it into an easy-access tote? More importantly, how should you store it? Taste of the Wild has some tips and best practices for you!

An interior graphic detailing the do's and don'ts of pet food storage to ensure food remains as fresh as possible.

What food you feed your pet matters, but where you store it is almost as important. Follow these tips and you’ll keep your pet food as safe and healthy as possible.

*All tips provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/proper-storage-pet-food-treats

Protect Your Pets (and Your Appetite) from the Lone Star Tick

Posted on March 15, 2018 - 7:18 pm by
You'll have a real beef with this bug!

Deer ticks, it seems, get all the attention. You’ve no doubt heard that they can cause Lyme disease in dogs and people. But do you know about the lone star tick? One bite can cause a red meat allergy that can make you forego steak and burgers forever. It can also spread organisms that may cause serious and sometimes fatal diseases in dogs and cats.

These crawling pests are just another reason why tick and flea protection should be on your to-do list this spring.

A Threat to Pets

Like other ticks, lone star ticks can transmit a number of bacteria and other disease-causing agents that can make pets sick. For instance, most can pass on protozoa that can cause a serious disease in cats called cytauxzoonosis. Infected cats may experience fever, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, yellow gums and eyes, coma and death.

While those organisms don’t affect dogs, lone star ticks can transmit other infectious agents that cause a number of other diseases that do harm dogs, such as ehrlichiosis, a disease that causes lack of energy, vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes and bleeding, and in some severe cases, death.

To make matters worse, ticks of most varieties can carry more than one organism at once, making it possible for pets to be infected with multiple diseases.

A Special Danger to People

Like most ticks, lone star ticks are just as happy to bite humans as they are to feast on animals. And when they do, they can transfer pathogens that make people sick, too. In addition to ehrlichiosis, people can come down with other dangerous diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

However, the lone star can cause problems that many of us will take very personally! If these ticks feast on cattle before they bite people, they can transmit alpha-gal, a sugar that can cause a red meat allergy in humans. Affected people may come down with hives — and potentially go into anaphylactic shock — about four hours after eating a hamburger. Just another reason to be diligent about your tick control.

More Pets (and People) at Risk

Although lone star ticks used to be limited to the southern states, they’ve now spread across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and as far north as Maine and New Hampshire. In fact, lone star ticks are now found in 30 U.S. states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  What’s behind this geographic expansion? According to experts, many of these ticks hitched a ride on white-tailed deer, one of their favorite host species.

A More Aggressive Bug

Adult female lone star ticks are easy to recognize by the white dot or “star” on their backs. These ticks are often found in forests and moist, deep ground cover where there’s no sunlight to dehydrate them. Like other ticks, they will cling to a blade of grass or low-lying branch and “quest” for a host, meaning they’ll reach out their front legs to grab onto a person or animal when it passes by. But unlike other ticks, lone star ticks will also actually race toward their hosts.

In fact, when the conditions are right, “tick blooms,” or swarms of immature stages of the lone star tick, can be released. Hundreds of these tiny ticks can crawl up pant legs, through socks or into pet hair in minutes.

Help Protect Your Pets and Your Family

When walking your dog through the woods, it’s best to keep him or her on a leash and on the path or trails to reduce the risk of being exposed to ticks. After being outdoors, check your pet — and yourself — for ticks, and remove them as soon as possible. Also, clear any leaf litter from your yard to make it less inviting for ticks.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends that all dogs receive year-round tick control. Although cats that spend a lot of time outdoors are more at risk for ticks than indoor cats, remember that dogs and people can carry ticks indoors. Your veterinarian can help assess your pet’s risk and recommend tick control product that’s both safe and effective for your dog or cat.

What, Exactly, Are Pet Foods for All Life Stages?

Posted on March 8, 2018 - 9:19 pm by
All life stage diets

Anyone who’s ever roamed the pet food aisles knows how overwhelming it can be. You could easily spend more time examining pet food labels than choosing your own food. Is there a way to cut to the chase and find a complete and balanced diet for your pet?

A diet for all life stages could help. But what, exactly, does that mean?

Life-Stage Nutrition

To be labeled “complete and balanced,” pet foods must meet nutritional guidelines established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). In creating these guidelines, the organization recognized that the nutrient requirements of dogs and cats change over a lifetime.

Compared with adult pets, puppies and kittens need higher levels of vitamins, minerals and even additional calories to help their bodies grow. Pregnant and nursing pets are eating for more than one, so they also need additional vitamins and calories than other pets.

That’s why the AAFCO provides nutritional adequacy statements for the following diets:

  • Growth and reproduction (puppies, kittens, pregnant and nursing animals)
  • Adult maintenance
  • All life stages

Diets that are designed for all life stages meet the nutritional requirements for both growth and reproduction as well as maintenance diets.

Feeding an All Life Stages Diet

Since these kinds of diets are complete and balanced for any life stage, you can feed them to pets of any age.

One caveat: Because these foods tend to be higher in calories, they may be just fine for the energetic Weimaraner that’s wearing a racetrack in your lawn. But if your pet spends more time beached on the couch, you might want to reduce the amount of your pet’s daily food intake.

It’s really like feeding any food. If your pet is active and can stay lean on the diet, there’s no problem. But if your pet starts to lose that hourglass waist and it takes more effort to feel your pet’s ribs, it’s probably time to cut back a bit.

A Special Case: Large Breed Puppies

In general, puppies and kittens need more nutrients until they’ve grown into their adult skeleton, at about one year of age. Large and giant-breed dogs, however, may not finish growing until 12 to 18 months of age.

Because these larger dogs can be prone to developmental orthopedic problems, such as hip dysplasia, it’s generally recommended to prevent them from growing too fast. Diets for these breeds tend to be lower in calcium and calories than other growth diets to help them grow slowly and stay lean, so they’re not putting too much stress on developing joints.

If you want to feed a diet for all life stages to your large breed puppy, look for a food package that states the diet “is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth/all life stages including growth of large-size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult).”

What About Senior Pets?

While AAFCO does not provide nutritional guidelines for senior pets, an all life stages diet is generally acceptable for healthy older dogs and cats.

Of course, many older pets may be less active, so they may not need as many calories as a growing puppy or kitten. In those cases, simply reduce the amount fed each day. If this amount becomes significantly less than the amount recommended in the feeding guide, then a transition should be made to a lower calorie formula. And if your older pet has a health condition, such as kidney disease, your veterinarian may recommend a specific dietary therapy to help slow the progression of disease.

But for healthy pets, a diet for all life stages just might make your trip down the pet food aisle that much easier.

Is It a Stroke or Old-Dog Vestibular Syndrome?

Posted on January 25, 2018 - 6:50 am by
Taste of the Wild

One minute your dog is fine, and the next they are staggering with their head listing to one side. It looks like the canine equivalent of a human stroke. What’s going on? While it could be a stroke or other serious condition, in a gray-muzzled dog, it’s often idiopathic vestibular disease, more commonly known as what’s called old-dog syndrome. And that’s actually good news.

Feeling Dizzy

Located in the inner ear and brain, the vestibular system helps dogs maintain balance and coordinate the position of the head, eyes and legs. Anything that disrupts this system can throw your dog’s balance out of whack. And in older canines, it’s not rare that this happens. This syndrome is considered to be “idiopathic,” meaning that no one knows, exactly, what causes it. While old-dog vestibular syndrome generally affects older dogs, it can occur in cats of any age.

You’ll know it when you see a sudden head tilt, loss of balance, falling or rolling to one side, circling, trouble walking and abnormal eye movement, often from side to side. As you can imagine, these symptoms are often accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Although these signs can be frightening, the good news is that most dogs recover from vestibular disease. While some retain a head tilt, they seem to regain their sense of balance and do just fine.

Strokes Can Have Similar Signs

Like humans, dogs can have strokes, but they typically aren’t as common as in people. Strokes can be caused by the rupture of blood vessels or blocked arteries in the brain. They can also be caused by fibrocartilaginous emboli (FCE), or material that travels through the blood and lodges in a blood vessel, often in the spinal cord.

Like vestibular syndrome, a stroke or FCE can occur suddenly. With the latter, especially, a dog may leap after a tennis ball, yelp with pain and immediately have difficulty walking. This can occur in dogs of all ages. Signs of a stroke can be subtle but may also include head tilt, circling, weakness, paralysis of one or more limbs, loss of urine or bowel control and collapse.

To complicate matters, other conditions can cause signs similar to old-dog vestibular syndrome, including inner ear infections, hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone), toxins, trauma, infectious diseases or brain tumors.

Pinpointing a Cause

Because these signs can indicate a potentially serious disease, it’s important to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. The doctor will perform a full physical exam, including looking for signs of inner ear infections and neurological problems. In addition to possible blood or urine tests, your veterinarian may recommend X-rays to help visualize the middle and inner ear, which can’t be seen on physical exam.

A Wait-and-See Approach

In many cases, the veterinarian may monitor older dogs before performing more tests. While the signs can be severe for 48 to 72 hours, those with old-dog vestibular syndrome often improve gradually over the next few days to weeks.

Dogs that don’t show signs of improvement in a few days typically require additional diagnostics, which may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) for evidence of a stroke or other brain lesions.

Your veterinarian may prescribe medications to help reduce motion sickness. It may also help to hospitalize the dog, or limit them to an area of the house with soft carpeting and no stairs to help minimize possible injuries from falls. With prompt veterinary attention, most dogs with old-dog vestibular syndrome — and strokes — eventually recover.

Avalanche Rescue Dogs: The Search for Survivors

Posted on January 11, 2018 - 2:28 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Imagine being swept into a thundering, fast-moving avalanche. You’re catapulted downhill in a rumble of snow, then buried in darkness. The snowpack surrounds you like concrete, so you can’t free your arms to dig out. You’re not even sure which way is up.

Your only choice now is to stay calm and hope someone finds you. If you’re discovered within 18 minutes, there’s a greater than 91 percent chance of survival, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal. But at 35 minutes, that rate plunges to about 30 percent as the oxygen supply begins to peter out.

When the clock is ticking, an avalanche rescue dog may be your best hope for survival.

An Unmatched Sense of Smell

These highly trained canines can cover more ground much faster than their human counterparts. For instance, an avalanche dog can typically search 2.5 acres — roughly the area of two football fields — in about 30 minutes. To search the same area, it would take 20 people about eight times longer.

While people rely on long probe poles or beacons that can pick up radio frequencies from the victims’ transponders, an avalanche dog locates buried humans using just his or her keen sense of smell. These dogs have proved so successful that many ski resorts now station avalanche rescue dogs on the mountainside with their ski patrol teams. The dogs ride the lifts with their handlers and are prepared to climb onto snowmobiles or jump into helicopters to reach an avalanche site in minutes.

Not All Saint Bernards

The concept of avalanche dogs may bring to mind the classic image of a Saint Bernard parting the snowdrifts. But in fact, other dog breeds are more commonly used today.

Trainers generally look for agile dogs with a strong hunting drive, such as Labrador retrievers, German shepherds and golden retrievers or crosses of those breeds. Herding breeds, such as border collies and Australian shepherds, may also excel at this work. The dogs have to be non-aggressive towards people and get along well with other dogs.

The dog must know basic obedience commands, be able to follow hand signals and work under cold and often stressful conditions. For example, when there’s no place for a helicopter to land, avalanche dogs and their trainers may be lowered to the mountainside from a long rope dangling from the helicopter. (This practice, called “long lining,” is allowed in Canada but not in the U.S.)

Years of Training

If they start as puppies, it may take two to three years for an avalanche dog to become fully trained. Even then, handlers must keep up the training on a regular basis.

Handlers, who are typically part of a search and rescue team and certified in first aid and avalanche rescues, train dogs to use their hunting drive to search out human scents under the snow. For dogs, it’s almost a game of hide and seek. Dogs receive a positive reward, such as a game of tug-of-war, for locating people hidden in “snow caves” or people-scented clothing buried up to 30 inches under the snow.

Dogs are taught to dig and bark to indicate their finding. Once the dogs successfully locate their handlers under the snow, the search is made more difficult by substituting strangers. Because multiple people may be caught in an avalanche, dogs are even trained to find several people in different snow caves.

Dogs may also learn additional skills, such as running between their handler’s skis to help protect their paws from the sharp edges of other skiers. They may even learn to ride on the handler’s shoulders to conserve energy when covering a lot of ground.

Avalanche dogs generally have careers that span 8 to 10 years. Their handlers have to keep a close eye on them and watch for signs of aging, pain or lameness. Then the dogs can retire into the warmth of home, content that they’ve done their job saving human lives.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Keeping Your Pet Active in the Winter

Posted on January 4, 2018 - 6:13 am by
Taste of the Wild

Tempted to pull the comforter over your head and not emerge until spring? You’re not alone. But getting active is the best antidote for cabin fever — for you and your pet. A little cold-weather exercise can help keep your pet in good physical shape. So here are some ideas to get your pet up and moving when the mercury tumbles.

Play Outdoors

If you bundle up your dog, there’s no reason he or she can’t go dashing through the snow with you. For dogs with thin coats or hairless breeds, look for a warm, comfortable coat that allows for easy limb movement.

Make sure to trim the hair between pads so it doesn’t collect ice balls. If your dog will tolerate booties, they can help prevent the buildup of snow, ice and potentially toxic ice melts used on roads and sidewalks. If not, rinse and towel off your dog’s paws once you come indoors.

When your dog is dressed for the cold, you can make trips to the dog park, hike in the woods or just make the rounds of the neighborhood. (Remember, many cats can learn to walk on a leash and wouldn’t mind getting out of the house, too.)

Have a dog that needs to burn off a lot of energy? Take up skijoring. For this sport, you cross-country ski while your dog runs ahead of you on a harness that is clipped to your waist.

Keep Moving Indoors

To help your pet get a workout inside, consider:

Doggie daycare — Drop your dog off for an action-packed day of chase with other like-minded mutts. Or invite one of your dog’s favorite pals over for a play date. Chances are, your dog will wear out and sleep soundly all night.

Cat trees — Help your cat stretch those muscles with a multi-level cat tree. Most cats love to be above the action, especially when they can watch the bird feeder outside the window.

Treadmills — If you’re not going to use it, your dog might as well hop on it. Start slowly with your dog on a leash and provide plenty of treats. Then work your way up to longer sessions each day. It’s a good, low-impact exercise to help maintain muscle mass and range of motion.

Laser pointers — Both cats and dogs love chasing that fast-moving dot around the room. Try building an obstacle course so your pet can run, leap and stretch while in pursuit.

Food Puzzles — Pets may not have to hunt for their own food, but there’s no reason they can’t work for it. Place some kibble inside a food puzzle and let your dog or cat put their mind and paws to work. You can even split up your cat’s kibble and hide it around the house so they have to walk from room to room to find it.

Toys — Even if you’re watching TV, you can exercise your pets with a game of fetch. Few dogs or cats can resist a tennis ball or catnip mouse arcing through the air. Or tie a toy to a string and draw it across the floor to bring out your pet’s predatory drive.

Of course, exercising your pet is only part of the challenge. But once you get them off the couch, it’s easier to get yourself moving, too.