July Fourth Fun And Pet Safety!

We're stickin' together this holiday weekend, although neither of us are bothered much by the loud noises...

But we know lots of you are bothered by the festivities. In fact, this recent article in the Science Section of the New York Times says that "almost half of all dogs suffer from 'noise anxiety'". And it's not just July 4th fireworks—summer's frequent thunderstorms in some parts of the country aid and abet this noise anxiety.

Although this article discusses a new drug that may help dogs that have more extreme reactions to noise, it also details some of the additonal reasons dogs ( and humans!) dislike storms. For example, the "significant pressure changes, frantic winds, massive electrical discharges and concussive sounds". It's also important to remember that "Dogs can hear above and below our auditory range."

Veternarians and researchers cited in this piece also reaffirm some of the more old-fashioned methods to help your dog, like "muffling noise with quiet music, and if possible, staying with the dog in a windowless, interior room. Because a dog's flight response is on overload, it  is seeking a haven." And we pet owners should try to provide that haven.

When you have a spare moment admist your holiday festivities, let us know if your pets are adversely affected by the loud noises of fireworks and/or thunderstorms, and what you do to help ease their anxiety. We'd love to hear your stories!

P.S. As a counter to your pets' anxiety, we're proud to offer this ASPCA Summer Gift Pack to one lucky winner! Enter now—giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on July 11th. And we can safely say that the prizes include several anti-anxiety helpers for both you and your dog, like a Subaru yoga mat, and fun summer toys!

A Happy and Safe Independence Day to all of our blogging friends in the U.S.!

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Have You "Adjusted" Your Pet: Chiropractors For Your Four -Legged Friends

Dog being "adjusted" at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Have you ever considered a chiropractor for your dog or cat? Many people swear by chiropractors for themselves, and now with alternative veterinary procedures becoming more popular, chiropractic care for pets is on the upswing. But as usual with alternative medical practices, there's lots of debate: Can any old vet manipulate Fido or Fluffy into wellness, or must he or she be certified in chiropractic care?

And regardless of the practitioner's training, does it work?

According to this recent post on The New York Times "Well" Blog, "Animal, or veterinary, chiropractic originated around 1895, when human chiropractic first originated. But it didn't gain wider appeal until 1987...". Two years later, the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association was formed. And as expected, the article quotes many a satisfied customer who swears it's reliable and safe for a variety of ailments, and some in the medical community who voice contrary opinions. According to one veterinary neurologist near Santa Fe, New Mexico, "It [animal chiropractic] should be clearly identified as an unproven therapy, and practitioners should be prevented from making claims about its effects."

Truthfully, neither Parental Unit nor I had heard of chiropractic care for dogs and cats, although we did know that it was regularly used to help horses. We don't have an opinion at the moment, but since Parental Unit has fortunately never had the need for a chiropractor, she remains skeptical because they're not RN's or MD's. But what about you? Let us know if you've ever taken your pet to a chiropractor-veterinary or otherwise-and how you felt about the results. 

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