April, 2019 | Atheistsnever

You’ve just arrived home from work and before you even open the door, you can hear your dog whining for you on the other side. You open the door and, after being knocked down by your dog’s enthusiastic greeting, walk into the living room to see what was destroyed today…

Sound familiar? If so, chances are your dog is experiencing the all-too-common separation anxiety. The bad news – we as owners may unknowingly be contributing to this problem. However, once we understand how our behaviors affect our pets, we can instead significantly reduce their anxiety.

What causes Separation Anxiety?

One contributing factor to separation anxiety is our long, drawn-out good-byes. If you’re like most people, you feel so bad leaving your pet that you give them a lot of attention and kisses before walking out the door. As a result, your dog actually gets excited and left with a lot of energy that he some how has to release. Unfortunately, most dogs will resort to chewing, digging, or their own preferred method of destruction.

Does Your Dog Experience Separation Anxiety? — image source

Then, when we finally arrive home and see the mess he made, we make the situation worse. While we may be angry with the dog, in most cases, we also feel guilty for having left him alone. We try to “apologize” to our dog with lots of attention and treats. We may feel better, but this tells your dog that tantrums are acceptable. And of course, our guilt returns the next day when we have to leave, and we’re back to where we started.

This cycle only gets worse for the dog over time. Older dogs may not be as destructive so in many cases, their energy comes in the form of stress. We all know the effects stress can have on our health – and it’s no different for dogs. OK, now we really feel bad leaving them… cue: repeat of cycle.

How do we prevent Separation Anxiety?

To prevent this anxiety, the most important thing to do is not make a big deal about leaving. Instead, make sure you leave quietly with your dog feeling secure and comfortable. Consider giving your dog some attention and exercise before you leave and allowing him time to calm down while you are home. Then, when you finally get around to leaving, he will be relaxed and tired and more likely to just sleep while you …

T.S. Eliot once called April “the cruelest month,” though he probably wasn’t thinking about heartworms at the time. You see, April is the month that most veterinarians start checking dogs for heartworm organisms they may have been exposed to during the previous mosquito season. The worms can only be detected after they reach sexual maturity, which takes about six months. Before this time, the host will not exhibit any symptoms. According to most experts, heartworms are easy to prevent, but hard to cure.

Because the disease is spread by infected mosquitoes, cases of heartworms are more common in temperate and tropical areas. That said, cases have been reported in all 50 states, even in Alaska! Dogs of any age can contract the diseases, even puppies. In fact, they are far more likely to succumb to it, since they have immature immune systems. That is why most veterinarians recommend starting puppies on heartworm preventives as early as four weeks of age. These medications have been proven up to 99 percent effective at preventing the disease.

How do they work?

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can protect your furry friend from this deadly disease. Pills, tablets, and topical solutions can be purchased with a prescription, either online or at your vet’s office. The most popular preventative treatment is a beef-flavored chewable tablet that must only administered once a month. Trust us, it’s worth the money!

Dog Medicine Used to Treat Heart Worms in Puppies — image source

Prescription Products

* There are a number of effective medications on the market today, including:

* Interceptor: Available in flavored, chewable tablets, it guards against heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms.

* Sentinel: Combines a heartworm preventative with a flea-control agent.

* Heartgard Plus: Sold in chewable cubes, it protects against heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms.

* Proheart: Prescribed in tablet form, it guards against heartworms alone.

* Revolution: This topical solution is the latest in heartworm preventative care. It also protects against fleas, ticks, and ear mites.

Treatment

Heartworm disease isn’t always easy to detect, even for a trained professional. The symptoms come on slowly, as the worms grow; and they are often mistaken for other, more common conditions. Your puppy may have a nagging cough or be a bit lethargic. But it is only during the final stages that symptoms are impossible to miss. For example, your furry friend may pass out because the worms are obstructing the blood …