Noise Phobia Nurse

10/01/2024

"When owners stood close to their dogs and provided comfort by talking to and petting them, the dogs’ heart rates and ocular temperatures decreased when compared with the condition in which owners were not interacting with their dogs.

Both of these changes are associated with a decrease in stress. Dogs also attempted to jump off of the examining table less frequently when their owner was providing them with comfort than when the owner was not comforting them."

The authors conclude: “The well-being of dogs during veterinary visits may be improved by affiliative owner-dog interactions."

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/vet_trips/veterinary-visits-its-important-to-be-there-for-your-dog/

Don’t struggle with managing your dog’s behavior during essential health check-ups. Reach out to Rachael today to schedule a private consultation. Learn how to prepare your dog for their next veterinary visit, understand what to expect and discover effective strategies to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience that can support the veterinary team caring for your dog in the right way.

Message Rachael to find out how to best prepare your dog for the unexpected or simply to tolerate routine treatments/procedures including grooming essentials and routine vet visits better via her website noisephobianurse.com or hit the button below

why do vets take your pet to the back

29/10/2023

It’s pumpkin season! 🎃 If you're off to a pumpkin patch or picking up one or two from the supermarket, don't forget to get the dog one too! 🐕 This bowl (and bowel!) boosting superfood is highly beneficial for;
​🧡 Boosting immune health
​🧡 Improving skin & coat
​🧡 Regulating bowel movement
​🧡 Improve muscle health
​🧡 Boost hydration
​🧡 Reduce issues with diarrhea
​
Simply removing the seeds, steam or bake your pumpkin until the flesh is soft, scoop out the flesh and wait to cool before feeding. Freeze the rest into ice cube trays to use all winter!

28/10/2023

I saw a kid walking his lovely lab having a great time and then he gave him a big old yank on the lead, which was on a collar and my heart did that achy breaky thing.

Underneath that strong looking neck, are some vital life supporting structures connecting your dog’s gut and nervous system to the brain.

If you have a big dog that lunges or pulls on the lead, a collar is not going to stop him. A harness is not going to make him lunge or pull more. However, it will distribute his weight through a part of the body designed to protect the organs instead of the full pressure being on the neck and all it contains.

A yank on the lead can cause emotional associations that lead to behaviour issues and pressure around the neck can cause multiple physical injuries some terminal.

With thanks for the illustration and we recommend https://perfect-fit-dog-harness.com/harness.html

Neck injuries include bruising, whiplash, headaches, crushed trachea, damage to the larynx, fractured vertebrae, neck and spinal cord injury and paralysis or neurological problems.

If the parasympathetic nervous system is tweaked through a tug to the neck the vagal reflex can cause instant death.

Higher intraocular pressure can cause serious injury to dogs already suffering thin corneas, glaucoma, or eye injuries.

It has also been linked to hypothyroidism as the collar rests on the area of the thyroid gland causing damage.

It can impinge the nerves supplying the front legs leading to an abnormal sensation in the feet that can present as a dog that starts licking their feet. Often misdiagnosed as having allergies.

A dog's epidermis is only 3-5 cells thick, in humans it is at least 10-15 cells thick.

Excessive pressure can cause damage to the dog's eyes, larynx and thyroid gland.

Particularly risky for puppies under 6 months, a time during which the cartilage of the trachea is still delicate.

A dog that feels pain and discomfort on saying hello to another dog, or trying to sniff the environment, is in danger of associating other dogs or other stimuli in the environment with pain and discomfort resulting in a dog that we would label “reactive” and/or “aggressive” when on lead, “but ok when off lead”.

26/10/2023

EVERY time your dog hears a triggering sound, his or her fear becomes more ingrained.
I can help you understand how to work with your dog and turn these potentially negative associations, into positive ones.

Common signs of fearful reactions include:

Trembling and shaking
Clinging to their owners
Hiding
Destructive behaviors like digging
Excessive salivating
Panting excessively
Restlessness and pacing
Excessive barking
Attempts to escape
Accidents indoors
Self-expression of a**l glands
Refusal to eat or difficulty eating
Over-grooming

See my website to book your private consultation before your local firework display this year.
noisephobianurse.com

25/10/2023

Dreaded fireworks coming soon.

Here is the topical case the story of a dog I went to some years ago who was very scared of any bang - however small - and the progress they made.
https://www.dogidog.co.uk/constantly-spooked-by-distant-sounds

20/10/2023

14/10/2023

How relaxed does sweet Murphy look?!

I wish all dogs could snooze their way through fireworks..unfortunately it’s just not the case because due to their heightened senses the experience is a lot more intense for them.

If you are worried that your dog will not be as relaxed as dear Murphy looks here, please do get in touch for some practical advice on how best to prepare for noisy events such as your local firework display.
See website for information and bookings
noisephobianurse.com

12/10/2023

Have you prepared your dog to cope well with what’s ahead?

The bright flashes and loud bangs of fireworks might be exciting for humans, but can be really scary for dogs!

This is because it’s difficult for them to understand that they aren’t in danger when they hear/see them, and their enhanced senses are much better than ours – so they experience fireworks much more intensely than we do, which can lead to severe anxiety and trauma.

Loud sudden and unexpected sounds such as thunderstorms or fireworks are typical triggers of fearful behaviours in dogs and many companion dogs suffer from noise sensitivity.

Stress associated with fear and anxiety can have negative impacts on health, welfare, behavior and lifespan, depending on both the nature of the stressor (intensity, duration, persistence, etc.) and the coping skills of the individual.
As an owner it can be incredibly hard to watch your beloved dog scared and it’s easy to lack the confidence to know how to help him/her.

Marked and even extreme responses to noise in domestic dogs varies by study, but often ranges as high as 50% of dogs that suffer to some extent.

Studies have also shown that a high percentage of dogs obtained during the pandemic, are exhibiting signs of fear due to lack of socialisation to potential triggers early in life as an opportunity to build confidence.

Further research has obtained data to support that some dog owners are underestimating fearfulness in their dogs in response to household noises, and responding inappropriately to dogs' expressions of fear and anxiety. Better education is required for dog owners to accurately interpret canine body language, to both safeguard dogs' welfare and minimise development of anxiety-related behavior problems.

The fear response is a normal adaptive behaviour, essential for survival and to protect the individual from harm. In the short term the stress response is healthy.

However when the exposure and response is prolonged of such negative experiences that they become reinforced these can develop into a phobia where dogs can show truly irrational and unsafe behaviours in an attempt to feel safer

Fear responses can be considered abnormal when they are repeatedly and consistently triggered by non-threatening stimuli, or when the level or duration of response is out of proportion compared to the actual threat level posed by the stimuli.

Rachael has experience living with dogs with severe sound phobias from all walks of life. She understands how difficult it can be for owners, particularly if you lack the confidence in knowing what is needed to help. A huge range of products on the market and misinformation of out dated methods of management can cause owners to feel they have tried so many ways to help but without success.

Book your private consult today to discuss with Rachael a plan specially made for your pets recovery to start moving towards calmness with your dog.
Visit my website for details and bookings noisephobianurse.com 🐾

08/10/2023

A trusting dog is outside and suddenly fireworks go off and freak him out. This one event can cause untold damage to the dog's confidence.

08/10/2023

There are about five weeks to go before November 5th. There is still time to help our dogs.

Here is Kenzo's story. Poor Kenzo panicked. It took just five minutes for the lady to get back home and in that time he had eaten his way through a plasterboard partition. His mouth was bleeding.
https://www.dogidog.co.uk/unexpected-fireworks/

07/10/2023

It’s not too late to learn how to help your dog this fireworks season!

It may be your dogs’ first experience to come this year and you want to help your dog feel safe and confident.
Unfortunately for others, you may have already seen your dog react badly to certain sounds, such as fireworks or thunderstorms and want to know what methods or products can be trusted amongst all the ones that claim they could help.

It is important to be able to have confidence as an owner and know you are doing the right things to build the correct positive associations for your dog, in order to be able to prevent phobias developing or to be able to manage them in ways where over time they can actually reduce.

I will be offering online Noise phobia consultations as a discounted rate throughout the month of October.

Please go to my website for booking 🙂

https://noisephobianurse.com/