Pacific Rose Veterinary Nursing & Behaviour Counselling

22/05/2026

20/05/2026

Calming signals are part of the dog’s natural communication system. They are often overlooked because they appear small or insignificant, yet they play a vital role in preventing escalation to aggression. A head turn, a blink, or even moving slowly can all be ways a dog is saying, “I mean no harm.”
Understanding these signals not only improves safety but also deepens the human–dog bond.

20/05/2026

It actually makes a lot of sense: thick material inside the ear ca**l could interfere with sound transmission and contribute to hearing loss.

A 2018 case series described four older dogs that developed acute hearing impairment while being treated with ointment-based ear medications over several weeks.

The dogs underwent diagnostics including CT imaging, video otoscopy, ear flushing, and BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing to evaluate hearing function.

Residual ointment material was identified deep within the ear ca**ls. After anesthetized ear flushing and removal of the medication, hearing thresholds improved in all four dogs, and owners also reported noticeable improvement at home.

The medications involved contained betamethasone, clotrimazole, and gentamicin in a thick mineral oil–based vehicle.

The authors suggested the hearing loss was most consistent with a conductive process — meaning sound transmission was physically impaired, likely due to retained medication within the ear ca**l. However, they also noted that age-related hearing decline and possible gentamicin-associated ototoxicity could not be completely ruled out in some patients.

This report is a good reminder that when dogs develop acute hearing changes during treatment for otitis, retained otic medication may be one potential reversible contributor worth considering.

Study Cited in Comments:

20/05/2026

Adopting a foreign rescue dog feels like the right thing to do—but is it always? A deeper look at the ethics, welfare, and unintended consequences.

19/05/2026

To all veterinarians interested in behaviour or rehabilitation, the SBCV invites you to the 2026 BARC Behaviour and Rehabilitation Conference: Diagnosing & Treating Lameness and Behaviour Like A Pro. AAVSB RACE has approved these CE hours.
In person on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2026
Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel - Richmond, BC, CANADA.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Register for your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/BARC2026tickets
For Full Program: https://tinyurl.com/BARC2026Program

19/05/2026

Persistent a**l sac issues? Check out this comprehensive article that dives into all things a**l sacs, from causes to cures.

"Canine A**l Sacculitis: A Brief Review With a Focus on the Recent Literature"

Read more here:
https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/dermatology/canine-a**l-sacculitis/?oly_enc_id=5790G9318467D0Y

19/05/2026

Mark and reward immediately ❓
Well, I’m here to tell you that this doesn’t work for every dog.
Food? Absolutely.
But there is a little talked about topic here and it's timing.

Yes, the marker word itself should absolutely happen at the exact moment the behaviour occurs.

But the food delivery?
For some dogs, this is where things can get a bit chaotic.

Particularly for dogs that already struggle with the following:
impulse control
over arousal
frustration
reactivity
or showing frantic anticipation around food

What can also happen for some dogs? Well, they’re firmly focused on your hand movement.
Those eyes are well and truly looked onto the “prize” and that can also mean they may only ever show you a brief “snippet” of the behaviour you wanted.
They’re now bouncing, jumping or nudging for it.

That behaviour you wanted can become “lost” in the excitement.
This can happen because we are told to mark, reward immediately, rinse and repeat.

That immediacy of the reward doesn’t work for all dogs.

And “all dogs”?
Well, that could be your dog.

19/05/2026

What is the World Kitten Report? Only an amazing document full of data, science and facts through research by Hills. PET OWNERS TO VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS NEED TO READ THIS!!

If you want to know all things KITTEN you need to read this report!

Check out this fun information:
Umbilical cord falls off: 3 days
Eyelids open: 7–10 days
Normal vision: 4 weeks
Adult eye color: 6–7 weeks

OR THIS AWESOME INFORMATION
Five Pillars of A Healthy Feline Environment:
1. A safe place
2. Multiple and separated key resources
3. Opportunity for play and predatory behavior
4. Positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat social interaction
5. An environment that respects the cat’s sense of smell and other senses

Read more here:
https://www.hillsvet.com/content/dam/cp-sites-aem/hills/hills-vet/en_us/feline-health/pdf/72222-hills-world-of-the-kitten-2026.pdf