Scribblin’ Dogs

Category: Scribblin’ Dogs

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HOW CAN I GET MY PET TO THE VET DURING COVID?

HOW CAN I GET MY PET TO THE VET DURING COVID?

Written by Rosie Gao, B.Sc.

As a lifelong pet owner, I see and understand the anxieties and guilt that come with a pet’s sudden decline in health- and the need for a vet visit. Navigating pet care during COVID-19 can be even more difficult. Now more than ever, we need to plan ahead for our pets’ health care needs, and what to do if a vet visit is required when we can’t bring them there.

What if the only regular check up appointment slots are during the day, when you may need to be at work or at home guiding your child through virtual learning? What if your large, heavy, senior dog is suddenly unable to walk, and carrying him proves unsafe or impossible? What if you are isolating in a senior care center, and you need help sending your cat to their regular veterinarian?

Or, in more advanced cases, what if your pet needs to be transported from their regular vet to the referral hospital for overnight or specialty care? If they need monitoring, oxygen, fluids, or drug therapy administered during their transport? Wouldn’t you like to know that an option exists for a Registered Veterinary Technician to accompany your beloved companion on their trip, comforting them and ready to provide medical assistance to ensure the safest travels when they need it most?

These are just some of the cases that we have seen in just the few months that we have been in service since the pandemic first began. Until now, there has never been a service like ours in the Greater Toronto Area. We are grateful to be able to help pets and their owners access their veterinarians when they otherwise might not have been able. I am grateful for my compassionate, professional, and knowledgeable team who care for each pet, no matter the species or condition, as if it were their own. Care is taken to ensure before each transport that we have enough towels and blankets, and pee pads if the pets have a little “accident” along the way. The heating and air conditioning kicks on well before the pets enter the back of the vehicle, a refurbished ambulance that has been fitted for animal transport. Along the way, we adjust the lighting and temperatures and sit with the pet to ensure they are comforted, speaking to them in reassuring tones and offering plenty of pats. Sometimes the pet enters the ambulance healthy, bright, and in a carrier or on a leash, ready for their regular check up. Sometimes they require the ramp, and other times the stretcher and gurney. Sometimes they are anesthetized, intubated, and hooked up to IV fluids and oxygen flow which need to be maintained and monitored until the pet reaches the referral hospital. No two cases are alike, but the goal is always the same- the smoothest possible transport, with the best possible care to the pet in our charge.

So, Where Does COVID Factor In?

COVID-19 has changed the way veterinarians engage with pet owners.  For most veterinary clinics, pet owners are required to wait in their vehicles outside the hospital and are informed on the status of their pet by phone.  Wait times can be very uncertain, as demands have increased on many veterinary service providers. This is exacerbated by the approach of winter and adverse weather conditions. To mitigate these stresses associated with veterinary access, simply book a return trip with us and let us shuttle your pet to and from their appointment. We will let you know when your pet has safely reached their veterinarian and make arrangements for the return trip when your loved one is ready to come back home- saving you stress and endless hours of waiting.

If you or someone in your household has recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 and leaving home with your pets is not an option, if you are in isolation for any reason, your pets may still be able to make that appointment. Our team of specialized RVTs and ACAs are prepared to offer contactless curbside and apartment hallway pick ups of pets in accordance with safety & social distancing protocols.

These include:

    • Personal Protective Equipment on board
    • Sanitizing equipment on board
    • Minimum 2 meters between all staff and clients
    • Virtual service requests
    • Contactless payment
    • Contactless virtual waiver
    • Contactless pickup and drop off
    • Pets transported only- no owners on board
    • Single pet transports
    • Sanitizing vehicle space and onboard equipment on drop off and pick up
    • Contact tracing

We have all had to make compromises in our lives this year- pet care shouldn’t have to be one of them. As our society continues to adapt to deal with the social, economical, and environmental impact of the pandemic, we are here for you and your pets.

Sponsored Content

Toronto Animal Mobility Services is a professional, veterinary-trained pet transport service that helps pet owners get their pets to and from their vet appointments across the Greater Toronto Area. We are available Mondays to Fridays, from 7 AM to 8 PM, and are equipped to handle pets from moderate to serious clinical needs. We understand that veterinary visits can be stressful and are here to mitigate some of that stress while providing the best possible care to your companions during transit.

Call for a quote or pick up request at 416-449-PETS (7387) or book at www.torontoams.com

For other enquiries, contact [email protected]

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Tips on How to Curtail Your Companion Dog’s Barking

Tips on How to Curtail Your Companion Dog’s Barking

Written by

Katie Stokes

Dogs bark to alert you to something, to show you they’re happy and ready to play, to greet you or even to ask for something. But when it gets to be too much and too frequent, there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of barking without ignoring your dog’s needs.

Dogs are easy to live with and enrich our lives daily. One of the ways they get our attention is by barking. It’s their way of communicating that they need something. Whether it’s the bathroom, hunger, lack of stimulation, a desire for a specific toy or a need to exercise or play, dogs always have a reason for barking. When it’s excessive, it may be happening due to a lack of training, behavioural problems or even fear. Interestingly enough, barking is actually a self-reinforcing behaviour in that dogs self-sooth and reward themselves by barking. As a result, some cases of barking are harder to minimize than others.

The biggest mistake people make when trying to stop a dog from excessively barking, is using punishment-based tactics like sprays, shocks or pronged collars. Not only are they inhumane and ineffective, but the emotional fallout can be disastrous and actually cause more problems with behaviour.

IInstead, simply pay attention to what triggers your dog. If it’s the doorbell, for example, you may need to desensitize your dog to the trigger and train them to do something other than barking when they hear it – practicing positive reinforcement is a great tactic! A simple method would be to train/teach your dog to sit when the doorbell rings and reward them with a treat when they do it successfully. Gradually they’ll learn this new behaviour and the end result will be a win-win.

It sounds simple, but make sure you don’t reward your dog for excessive barking, or you’ll never make any headway. Sometimes this can be difficult because pet parents don’t realize that rewards are more than just treats for dogs. Rewards can be attention-based too so be aware of how you address your dog when they’re barking. For them, any attention is good attention.

If your dog barks constantly even though their immediate needs are being met, you’ll want to focus on minimizing barking in general. A great way to approach this is to imagine the bark as something you can control on cue. When you ask for a bark, reward it. When you don’t, no treats are given. Another interesting approach would be to teach/train your dog to use inside bark (just like you would explain to a child to use their inside voice) which is low-sounding bark.

Interestingly enough, sometimes the breed of dog you have can also affect its desire to bark. To some extent, all dogs are bred to be vocal by humans. Centuries ago a dog keeping watch and alerting owners when there were signs of danger was very useful so some pups like hounds are chattier with their barking because of their breeding. This doesn’t mean the dog is un-trainable, it just means you can’t expect them to be silent all the time like some dog breeds. Do your research to learn more about the breed and it may provide some additional insight into behaviour.

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5 Ways to Manage a Multi-Dog Household

5 Ways to Manage a Multi-Dog Household

Written by

Katie Stokes

When it comes to dogs, more isn’t always merrier. Sometimes the dynamic of a multi-dog household can be a lot to handle. While it may be difficult to understand, dogs have preferences for each other and different behaviours. We tend to see dogs are either one thing or another; either they’re very social with other dogs or they’re not social at all. Either they’re intimidated by bigger dogs or they’re not. But in reality, there’s a scale and every dog is different. The sooner we learn this and stop expecting our dogs to behave a certain way, the easier it becomes to manage a multi-dog household. These five tips may help:

1. Manage Triggers
Mealtime can be a big trigger for some dogs. If your dogs are working on tolerating each other, feeding separately can make that easier. Eating requires you to be relaxed but it’s hard to rest and digest if you’re stressed. If you want your dogs to get along, don’t force them to eat near each other until you know how much they’ll tolerate it.
Treats can also be an issue. Make sure they’re instant and go from your hand to their mouth. Every dog enjoys treats differently so it’s up to you to read the situation and do your best to eliminate any potential fights that may break out between dogs based on their eating habits, timelines or pet peeves.
Toys can be a valued asset and distraction but they can also be the cause of some serious bickering and jealousy in a multi-dog household. If sharing toys is an issue with your dogs, consider supervised play time instead of allowing toys to be used whenever the dogs want.

2. Be Aware of Conflict Areas

Doorways and narrow spaces can be the cause of a lot of conflict because they’re so enclosed. Corridors, landings, stairways etc are all areas that may cause issues if multiple dogs are in those spaces at the same time. If two dogs are already struggling to get along, everything is multiplied by 1000 in a confined space so do your best to avoid confrontations in those areas. Place food bowls, water and beds in open spaces so there’s no extra tension during meal or bed time.
3. Don’t Underestimate Alone Time
Every dog should always be able to get away from the others if they need to. It’s not healthy for dogs to be together 24/7. Crates or having dog friendly spaces in separate rooms can help dogs put space between each other when it’s needed. They want to spend time with you so don’t deprive them of that, just ensure you’re giving them the alone time they need when they’ve had enough contact.
4. Control the Sleeping Situation
Personal space is a necessity. Imagine how you would feel if your sibling just slept in your bed one night and was constantly fighting for a chance to sleep there every night. A loose or uncertain sleeping situation can cause a lot of aggravation and stress, especially when multiple dogs are trying to get comfortable. Each dog should have their own personal space. Whether it’s in one room in separate beds or in different rooms altogether based on where they’re most comfortable.
5.Recognize Teachable Moments
Multiple dog households can be a breeding ground for insecurity and jealousy. Teaching dogs that compete for affection when enough is enough, or keeping group petting at a minimum can help. This will allow them to understand that they don’t need to compete for your love. Your job is to teach them so it does you no favours to oblige them every single time they demand love (especially at the expense of the other dogs). Neither, though, is it ok to completely ignore them. Don’t accept impatience or bad manners. Teach them that good things come to those who wait if you’d like for them to be patient and polite. Remember that they aren’t misbehaving on purpose, they just haven’t learned yet so be patient with them as a multi-dog household can be difficult to navigate for our four legged friends.