Whether or not dogs dream isn’t known with scientific certainty, but it sure is difficult to imagine that they don’t. We’ve all watched our dogs demonstrate behaviours in their sleep that resemble what they do in a fully awake state. Paddling legs, whining, growling, wagging tails, chewing jowls, and twitching noses inspire us to wonder what our dogs are dreaming about.
What we know about dogs and dreams
While our knowledge on this topic is very limited, the following known information helps us believe that dogs do indeed experience dreams. According to MIT News, Matthew Wilson, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, and Kenway Louie, a graduate student in 2001, have studied the relationships between memory, sleep and dreams. They found that when rats were trained to run along a circular track for food rewards, their brains created a distinctive firing pattern of neurons (brain cells). The researchers repeated the brain monitoring while the rats were sleeping. Low and behold, they observed the same signature brain activity pattern associated with running whether the rats were awake or asleep. In fact, the memories played at approximately the same speed during sleep as when the rats were awake.
Can we apply this to dogs?
Can we take what is known about dreaming in rats and humans and apply the information to dogs? Wilson believes that we can.”My guess is — unless there is something special about rats and humans — that cats and dogs are doing exactly the same thing,” he said, according to USA Today’s website.
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It is known that the hippocampus, the portion of the brain that collects and stores memories, is wired much the same way in all mammals. According to healthday.com, Professor Wilson says, “If you compared a hippocampus in a rat to a dog; in a cat to a human, they contain all of the same pieces.” He believes that as dogs sleep, images of past events replay in their minds, much the same way people recall experiences while dreaming.
In people, it is known that most dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dogs also experience periods of REM sleep. Psychology Today’s website says that during REM their breathing becomes more irregular and shallow. There may be muscle twitching during REM and, when one looks closely, rapid eye movements behind closed eyelids can often be observed. It is during REM sleep that behaviours thought to be associated with dreaming (legs paddling, twitching, vocalizing, etc.) are most commonly observed.
What we want to believe about dog dreams
When we observe our dogs as they sleep, it’s just about impossible to imagine that they are not dreaming. Just like the rats studied by Wilson and Louie, it is tempting to believe that our four-legged best buddies are reenacting their recent experiences; playing at the dog park, sniffing in the woods, chewing on a treasured bone, and chasing squirrels.
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The National Institutes of Health says that Sigmund Freud theorized that dreaming was a “safety valve” for our unconscious desires. Perhaps he is correct, and, when our dogs sleep, they dream about catching the neighbour’s pesky cat, continuous belly rubs in conjunction with unlimited dog treats, and stealing the Thanksgiving turkey from the dining room table.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
If you want to learn how to groom your dog at home, you need to know the basics, such as how to cut a dog’s nails. I’ll show you exactly what you need to do and how to do it safely so that know one gets hurt.
Cutting a dog’s fingernails might sound scary but there’s nothing about it that’s difficult. You just have to be careful and know what you’re doing .
You should start off by collecting all of the supplies for this task. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Nail Trimmer
- Scissors
- Styptic Powder (optional)
Now that you’ve got your stuff together, it’s time to get started.
Step 1: Make Your Dog Comfortable
First, make sure your dog is relaxed and comfortable around you. Do this by giving him a treat or two before starting. If possible, start this process after they’ve eaten their meal to help them feel extra sleepy and calm! For anxious dogs, you can even try CBD Oil for Dogs.
Step 2: Prepare The Paw
Second, lift one of your dogs paws into your hand and press gently on the pad of the paw while looking at the tip of each nail. You’ll be able to see where your dog’s skin is and if you cut it, he will bleed and it may hurt him.
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That’s why we use a nail cutter, so we don’t have to worry about hurting our dog when trimming their nails.
Step Three: Secure The Paw
Third, you can feel free to push down on the pad of their paw if it’s more comfortable for you. If your dog is wiggly when you’re trying to hold his paw, you can try this instead!
Step 4: Apply The Cut
Fourth, once you’ve identified where the quick ends in each nail, go ahead and cut just past that point. You’ll only want to cut into the pinkish area on the end of his nail, not into the black part. If you do accidentally cut into this black section, use an absorbent cotton ball to stop the bleeding. After it stops, apply some styptic powder to help the blood clot faster and prevent infection in your dog’s paw. You can then apply some CBD for Pets to promote healing as well.
Step 5: Repeat on All Nails
Fifth, keep trimming until all their nails are the same length.
Step by Step Instructions for Trimming Dog Nails
- Pet your dog and make sure they’re comfortable with you
- With one paw in each hand, feel for the end of each nail to know where to cut
- Cut just past this point (only into the pinkish area)
- Keep cutting until all of the nails are the same length
- If you accidentally cut into the black part, apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding
Now that you’ve learned how to cut your dog’s nails, you can feel confident doing it at home! If this process continues to be too stressful for either of you, then why not try bringing them to a groomer?
If you want more information on how to do this and other dog grooming basics, check out the video linked below:
Did you know that some authorities feel that 1 out of every 100 dogs that reach 12 years of age develops diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a hormonal problem where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps push sugar (“glucose”) into the body’s cells. Without the insulin, the body’s cells are starving for sugar; unfortunately, this then stimulates the body to produce more and more sugar (in an attempt to feed the cells). That’s why your dog’s blood sugar is so high (what we call a “hyperglycemia”) with diabetes mellitus.
Without insulin, the sugar can’t get into the cells; hence, why you need to give insulin to your dog with a tiny syringe twice a day. In dogs, this is a disease that can be costly to treat and requires twice-a-day insulin along with frequent veterinary visits for the rest of your dog’s life.
So how do you know if your dog has diabetes? Clinical signs of diabetes mellitus in dogs include:
- Excessive drinking
- Excessive urination
- Urinary accidents in the house
- Dilute urine
- Overweight or obese
- Muscle wasting
- Ravenous appetite
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Weakness
- Unkempt or poor hair coat
- Blindness secondary to cataracts
- Neuropathies (nerve problems)
As your dog gets older, it’s worth talking to your veterinarian about doing routine blood work to make sure your dog is healthy. This blood work will help rule out kidney and liver problems, anaemia, infections, electrolyte problems and diabetes mellitus. The sooner you recognize the clinical signs, the sooner your dog can be treated with insulin and the fewer complications we see as a result.
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So, if you notice any of the signs above, get to a veterinarian right away. Now, continue on for 5 important reasons to test your dog for diabetes:
1. Your dog will live longer
Diabetes mellitus can shorten the lifespan of your dog, as secondary complications and infections can occur. With diabetes, the body is immunosuppressed and more likely to develop diabetic complications which cause long term harm to your dog.
2. Your dog will be able to see
Did you know that the majority of dogs with diabetes eventually go blind from cataracts? Even in well-controlled diabetic dogs, the excess sugar in the body can have secondary effects on the lens of the eye; it causes more water to influx into the lens, which disrupts the clearness of the lens. As a result, cataract formation occurs, resulting in eventual blindness and secondary inflammation in both eyes. While cataract surgery can (and ideally, should) be performed, it can be costly.
3. You’ll save a lot of money
Treatment for diabetes mellitus includes twice-a-day insulin treatment, insulin syringes, prescription diets, and frequent veterinary trips for blood tests. Also, as diabetic dogs can’t go without their insulin, it may mean hiring house sitters or pet sitters to treat your pet while you are on vacation.
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4. You’ll have fewer urinary accidents in the house
One of the biggest signs of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is excessive drinking, urination and having urinary accidents in the house. Because of hyperglycemia, dogs are also at increased risk for urinary tract infections, wreaking havoc on your carpet. The sooner you can treat your dog with insulin and get diabetes controlled or regulated, the less your dog will drink and urinate, making your dog more comfortable too!
5. You’ll have more peace knowing that your dog is healthy
As a veterinarian and dog owner, I want to make sure my dog is as healthy as possible. You might already be talking with your veterinarian about vaccines each year in a dog that is older than 7 years of age; next, talk to your veterinarian about doing an annual exam and routine blood work too. It’ll pick up on medical problems sooner, so you can rest assured that your dog is going to live a longer, happier, healthier life!
Having a diabetic pet is also a big commitment, as it requires dedicated pet parents who can give twice-a-day injections of insulin. Caring for a diabetic dog does require frequent trips to the veterinarian to regulate blood sugar. That said, dogs can live with diabetes for years with appropriate care and treatment. When in doubt, make sure to monitor your dog carefully for the signs of diabetes, and seek veterinary attention sooner rather than later to help test for this ever-growing problem!
LAS VEGAS–There are millions of dogs in the United States and according to American Kennel Club (AKC) there are seven primary groups of dogs including:
- Sporting: Breeds in the Sporting Group were bred to assist hunters in the capture and retrieval of feathered game.
- Hound: All breeds in this group were bred to pursue warm-blooded quarry, including jackrabbits, deer, fish, ducks, and birds.
- Working Group: These breeds were developed to assist humans in some capacity. This ranges from pulling sleds and carts to guarding flocks and homes to protecting their families. Many of these breeds are still used as working dogs today.
- Herding: This group comprises breeds developed for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer.
- Terrier: The feisty, short-legged breeds in the Terrier Group were first bred to go to the ground in pursuit of rodents and other vermin.
- Toy: It may not surprise you to learn that these small dogs were bred to serve as attentive companions and that they’re especially popular with city dwellers.
- Non-Sporting: Breeds in the Non-Sporting Group have job descriptions that defy categorization in the six other groups. They were all developed to interact with people in some capacity.
The pandemic has changed the way much of how people work with a large number of people remaining home and working. The rises of the vaccinations are working well with the hope of returning to an office.
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This is all fine and good for the majority of people, but the family pet may not do well with the separation. Animals, dogs in particular, are creatures of habit and adjust accordingly. The master of the pack, the dog owner, around all the time gives the dog a degree of comfort. Rapidly up and leaving can cause a real pet anxiety issue in dogs.
Pre-pandemic, the approximate rate of anxiety in dogs was around 14 percent. As people begin to return to work, it is highly likely that number will rise and with that rise, visits to the vet’s office. The diagnosis will be clear – separation anxiety. The veterinarian will likely prescribe anxiety medications, along with the unfortunate side effects of most medications.
Happy Paws 4 Life believes there is a better solution, and one that does not require a prescription – CBD Oil.
CBD is derived from the hemp plant and it is non intoxicating, compared to THC the active component of marijuana. The efficacy of CBD oil is well documented for pain and anxiety relief in people as well as the family pet.
Happy Paws 4 Life has an all-natural full spectrum hemp extract oil with a powerful prebiotic and super omega oils rich in Omega 3 fatty acids for health. The CBD extract oil helps the family pet stay calm and relaxed during the separation time without any known side effects.
