Puppy Preschool

You have brought home an adorable 8 week old puppy, gotten them their first vaccination and now you want to begin to train your puppy. However, your vet has told you that your puppy is not to go down to the local dog park until their vaccination series is over, which is when they are approximately 16 weeks old. So what do you do? You enrol your dog in your local puppy preschool class!

Puppy preschool are special classes for dogs aged from 8 to 16 weeks old to teach them the basics of obedience and more importantly to give them a chance to socialise with other dogs and people. The dog’s prime socialisation period occurs from 3 weeks to 14 weeks of age. Unfortunately, this is the exact time that your dog cannot socialise with other dogs as it is not fully vaccinated. Unsocialised or poorly socialised dogs can go on to develop severe behavioural problems like dog and people aggression, so it is extremely important that your puppy gets as much socialisation as possible in this crucial period.

Most vet clinics and some pet stores hold puppy preschool classes, but with so many of them out there, how do you choose the right one for you and your puppy?

1. Check to make sure that they need proof of vaccination

This is extremely important. All puppies attending class must have had at least one vaccination. Ensure that the class you are enrolling in insists on checking each puppy’s vaccination certificate. You do not want to exposure your new puppy to any potentially deadly diseases.

2. Check to see what ages of dogs they accept into the class

Puppy preschool classes are supposed to be for dogs aged between 8 to 16 weeks, however, some classes will accept dogs of any age. This is a potentially dangerous situation. It in not in your puppy’s best interest to exposure them to under-socialised adult dogs. Also, whilst there is a large range of sizes that puppies come in from the tiny Chihuahua to the giant Great Dane, there is going to be an even greater size difference between your 8 week old Shih Tzu and a 6 year old German Shepherd. This can lead to accidental injuries when the dogs mix and play with each other.

3. Ask about who will be running the class and their experience with training dogs

Some classes will be run by accredited dog trainers whilst others will be run by veterinary nurses. Stay well away from classes that are not run by the either of the two. They may be cheaper, but they are really not worth it. You are paying out good money, so get the experience and knowledge you deserve.

4. Ask what type of training methods are used

The training method used to teach your puppy good manners and basic obedience is extremely important. You need to be comfortable with the methods the trainer is using. My personal preference for training both puppies and dogs is using positive reinforcement training methods and the use of food rewards.

5. Check how the space the class is held in is cleaned

This may sound a little anal and neurotic, but for puppies who are not fully vaccinated it is extremely important that they are trained in a clean, disease free space. Check that the area is clean with bleach or a strong disinfectant just prior to the class starting. This is extremely important for classes that are held at veterinary clinics – and most vet clinics are extremely diligent about providing a safe environment for their puppy classes.

If you are happy with the responses you have received to the above questions, then enrol your puppy into the class. Remember there is no limit to how many puppy preschool classes your puppy can attend. I have known owners that have attended two to three classes simultaneously.

If you enjoy going to puppy preschool and training your puppy, the next step is dog obedience classes which accept dogs from 4 months of age upwards. An important part of having a dog that is a pleasure to be around is training and socialisation, so start them young and make training fun and you will reap the benefits.

Pet Tube

We all love talking about our pets and sharing stories about their amusing antics. Well, now you can take this online at Pet Tube. Pet Tube is a brand new photo and video site set up by Australian’s Pablo Santos and Ross Maiorana. In its first month of operation it has recorded 5000 hits from all around the world. With a design feature very much like You Tube, you can create a profile and upload videos and/or photos of your beloved pets.

My favourite video would have to be the cat that barks like a dog. It is like a tiny Maltese on speed.

RSPCA – Twilight Adoptions

The RSPCA are holding Twilight Adoptions at selected NSW and Victorian shelters. This is to allow busy families and young professionals more time to look for the perfect new addition to their family. The days and hours vary according to the shelter so click on the links above to find out the opening times for the shelter closer to you.

All animals adopted from the RSPCA are health checked, vaccinated, wormed, desexed and microchipped.

The RSPCA Yagoona Shelter in Sydney are also looking for foster carers. If you have the time and space in your home to temporary care for an animal that is either too young to be at the Shelter or is having problems with the Shelter environment, please head over to the information page for the contact details of the Foster Career Co-ordinator.

The Importance of Desexing Your Pet

Warning: This article contains images of surgical procedures.

You may have heard the term desexing but may not know what it involves, why vets and animal advocates recommend it and the dangers to your pet’s health if they aren’t desexed.

Put simply desexing is the surgical removal of an animal’s sexual organs so that they can no longer breed. This may sound very barbaric, but in reality it is in your pet’s best interests both medically and behaviourally to have this procedure done. In Australia and most countries throughout the world, there are simply not enough homes for all the dogs and cats born each year. A very large percentage of them are euthanised before they ever reach their first birthday. By preventing your dog or cat from breeding you are helping to control the pet population.

When should I have my pet desexed?

The ideal age for a pet to be desexed is between four to six months, although the surgery can be performed on animals as young as 10 weeks old. In NSW, dogs and cats must be registered with your local council by the time they are 6 months of age. The cost of registering an entire animal in NSW is approximately $120, whilst a desexed animal is $40. So, as you can see, it is much cheaper to register your pet if they have been desexed. If your pet is older than 6 months old, it is not too late to have them desexed. Desexing can be performed on animals up to 8 years of age. The surgery can be done on older animals, but there is an increased risk due to their advanced age.

What does the surgery involve?

Your pet will receive an injection of anaesthetic which will send them to sleep. When they are asleep, a breathing tube will be placed down their throat through which oxygen and an anaesthetic gas are delivered so that they will remain asleep for the entire surgery.

If your pet is a female, the vet will make an incision in her abdomen and will remove both her ovaries and her uterus, a procedure that is called an ovariohysterectomy. The incision is then stitched closed and your pet is woken up. This procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.

If your pet is a male, the vet will make an incision just above the scrotum through which the testicles are removed and the van deferentia (sperm tubes) are tied. The incision is then stitched closed and your pet is woken up. This procedure takes approximately 15 minutes.

Your pet will be discharged either that evening or the following morning with pain relief tablets and the stitches will be removed 10 days post surgery.

What are the benefits to my pet’s health?

If your pet is not desexed, they may develop some extremely serious and life threatening diseases in their later years. The one that affects both males and females is cancer.

Entire males may develop testicular cancer, whilst females may develop ovarian, uterine or breast cancer. The picture (left) is of an 10 year old entire female German Shepherd with advanced ovarian cancer. The tumours were each roughly the size of a basketball. Unfortunately, due the advanced state of the cancer, she had to be humanely euthanised.

Female can also develop pyometra, a disease where pus builds up in the uterus. It is most commonly seen in female dogs, but also seen in cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets.

There are two forms of pyometra – open and closed. In open pyometra, pus is able to escape from the uterus making it easier and safer to treat. In a closed pyometra, pus is trapped in the uterus. If the uterus ruptures, pus escapes into the abdomen causing peritonitis and possible rapid death. The only form of treatment for both forms is an emergency spey which is extremely risky as the bitch is in shock and possibly septic.

Symptoms of pyometra are: vomiting, loss of appetite and increased drinking and urination – with an open pyometra pus can be seen dripping out of the vagina. It is extremely important for the entire female dog owner to be aware of this condition due to its rapid onset and deadly consequences.

What are the benefits to my pet’s behaviour?

Pets that are desexed are generally more settled than others who are not. This is because they are no longer experiencing sexual urges that they want satisfied.

Male desexed dogs are generally less aggressive and less likely to roam than their entire counterparts, this is because they don’t have testosterone circulating through their system that increases aggression nor are they looking for a bitch in heat to mate with. Meanwhile, male desexed cats are less likely to mark their territory, i.e. piss on your curtains and couch.

With female desexed dogs there is not the mess of oestrus (i.e. their period), which lasts up to three weeks, to bother about trying to clean up, nor do you have the concern that when out walking your dog some horny male will attempt to mate with her.

Female entire cats when they come into heat literally scream out to any nearby males. Whilst this is a great feature in the wild, it is not so wonderful when it is occurring in your bedroom at 3am. This behaviour will continue for approximately 10 days or until she has found a mate. Also female cats can go into heat multiple times throughout the year.

Getting your pet desexed is one of the best things that a pet owner can do for their beloved pet and the general pet population. By increasing the number of dogs and cats that are desexed every year, we will reduce the number of unwanted animals that end up in our city pounds. Also you will help ensure that your pets will not develop any life threatening diseases like cancers of the sexual organs and pyometra. If you have any concerns or worries about getting your pet desexed, please discuss them with your local veterinarian.

Welcome

Welcome to Petulance, the information blog for Australian pet owners! As a long time pet owner and veterinary nurse, I found that the internet contained so much misinformation and those few places that provided quality information were written for American pet owners. Therefore, I have set up this blog as a repository of quality information that is written with the Aussie pet owner in mind and as a place where owners can ask questions about issues they are experiencing.

I am currently in the middle of getting things set up, so please excuse the mess and weird goings on for the next few days.

This site will be launching on Monday 28^th January, so please come back then for the grand opening!