CHANGE THE WAY YOUR PET VIEWS RESTRAINT AND HANDLING!

Do you have a pet that hates having their nails trimmed? Or maybe your pet is fine at the vet EXCEPT when it comes to taking their temperature. One way to deal with these fears is to utilize the concept of "desensitization" and "classical conditioning".

Desensitization is the process of teaching the learner that a specific stimulus is non-threatening over time, through repeated controlled gentle exposures.
Classical conditioning links emotional responses with a stimulus over time through predictions.

The goal is to link stimuli such as having your pet's tail lifted or having their nails trimmed, with a yummy treat to create a positive emotional response.

The basic routine is:

Stimuli, starting at a level where your pet is comfortable (example lifting your pet's paw, touching their face)
Verbally mark the reward by saying "Treat"
Present the reward within 2-3 seconds of saying "Treat"
Gradually increase the stimuli, e.g go from picking up your pet's paw, to touching the paw with the clippers, to eventually trimming your pet's nails.

Key Tips:
Make sure your pet likes the treat you are offering and knows how to use the treat delivery method. For example, not all pets are used to eating off a spoon or tongue depressor.
Go slow - Listen to your pet and only increase the intensity when your pet is comfortable

These videos fast forward the training process for learning purposes.

Getting your pet used to having their teeth brushed!

Brushing your pet's teeth daily is the best thing you can do at home to keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy. Unfortunately, our pets haven't had any lessons in oral hygiene so they may or may not be willing participants in the daily brushing session.

Start by touching your pet's face and gradually work towards being able to lift their lip. Once your pet is comfortable with this, grab a tooth brush and eventually, you'll be able to start brushing!

Please give Lette Broom a round of applaws!

During the warmer months your pet will need flea and tick medication.

Some of you may ask, how do I apply the medication on my cat? Or, how on earth am I going to get my dog to sit still? The answer? Handling sessions!

Start by getting your cat used to being gently restrained, gradually start to part the fur and hold the vial towards the coat. Soon this monthly task will be done in seconds!

Don’t forget, ticks can also attach to cats as well as dogs. Which means your cat that likes to wander in the backyard could very well pick up some passengers.

Please give Matilda Mac a round of applaws!

By popular demand, how to get your cat used to nail trims!

Desensitization and classical conditioning can help make kitty pedicures a much less …. dangerous experience. Our goal is to link stimuli (lifting the paw, playing with toes, trimming nails) with a yummy treat to create a positive emotional response.

Remember the paws are a very sensitive part of the body, so be mindful to move slowly when going through the different steps of trimming your pet’s nails.

For example, don’t start to pick up your pet’s paw, if they still aren’t used to be restrained. Similarly, don’t introduce the clippers, until your pet is comfortable having their toes played with.

Please give Matilda Mac a round of applaws!

How do you know if your pet is comfortable?

Signs of stress:

Fidgeting
Ears slightly back or to the side
Panting
Tight mouth
Low tail position
Starting to not accept treats.

If your cat starts to seem stressed, give them a break and try again later.

Please give Matilda Mac a round of applaws!

The same principles can be applied to getting your dog used to the nail dremel.

The biggest challenge with the dremel is the sound of the machine. Start with getting your dog used to having their feet handled. Then get your dog used to the sound of the dremel starting by starting the machine away from your pet and gradually moving it closer.

Please give Titan a round of applaws!

The ultimate kitty challenge ... giving your cat tablets!

Inevitably, at some point in your cat’s life, you will need to give your cat medication. Sometimes we can hide the medication in food or pill pockets but cats are pretty smart.

Break this process down into small steps as the face and mouth is a very sensitive area of the cat’s body.

Start by showing your cat the treat delivery method, then get your cat used to restraint. Gradually move to handling their face and then finally opening the mouth.
Remember to closely monitor your cat for signs of stress. Only move to the next step once your cat is completely comfortable.

Investing the time into getting your cat used to the restraint required for pilling a cat will make the process significantly less stressful when your cat isn’t feeling well. It will also make you significantly more successful in convincing your cat this isn’t a horrible event, if you aren’t actually giving him/her a tablet during the training process.

Please give Matilda Mac a round of applaws!

Desensitization and counter conditioning can be very helpful in making daily care for your pets easier. For example, pets that need regular ear cleaning.

Working on these scenarios when your pet DOESN’T have a problem (when the ear is not painful) will make treating your pet when there is a problem much easier.

Start by getting your pet used to having the ear flap lifted, then gradually pick up the cleaning solution (or a prop bottle) and work towards applying the solution.

Please give Loki a round of applaws!

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had to apply eye medication to your dog's eye?

Most eye medications need to be applied at least twice a day, sometimes even five times a day. You can apply desensitization and counter conditioning to help make this process much more manageable and pleasant for both you and your pet.

Start by getting your pet used to having their face handled, gradually begin touching around their eyes (this is a sensitive part of the body), then begin pulling the eye lids back. Eventually start to hold a small bottle near by as if you were going to put a drop into the eye.

Remember, working on these scenarios when your pet DOESN'T have a problem (when the eye is not painful) will make treating your pet when there is a problem much easier.

Please give Loki a round of applaws!

Just like people, animals can be scared of needles too. For your pet, they know the signs of an injection, the veterinary clinic and most importantly, the pinching of the skin before the injection is given.

For very needly shy patients, the first signs of fear come from the moment we pinch the skin in preparation for the injection. They normally don't even feel the actual injection itself!

You can help your pet by working on getting them used to restraint, the tenting of the skin and a poke with a blunt object. Making this process (up until the actual injection) a normal part of life can significantly help your pet during at their actual veterinary appointment.

This can be particularly helpful for patients that require injections as home, such as diabetics.

A special round of applaws for Matilda Mac!

Some pets are not used to be restrained. It is not common that we hear that pets "like to do things on their own terms". However, restraint for procedures is an essential part of training. For example, all dogs need an annual heartworm test which requires restraint for a blood draw.

Remember, your pet will be more open to learning when they are not in a stressful environment, such as at home with their owner. Getting your pet used to being restrained at home in a familiar environment will help them be much more comfortable when they are being restrained at the veterinary clinic.

Please give Loki and Lette a round of applaws!

These small training sessions can go a long way at making your pet much more comfortable at the vet.
Remember to keep training sessions short and fun!

If you would like to start working with your pet at home or have any questions about how to apply these concepts please contact us at 905 844 6786 or reception@macvets.com. We would be more than happy to help you utilize these training methods.

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Itchy Pet Awareness Month

By CY Mac • 03 Aug, 2023

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month! This month was created to help unite pet owners and veterinarians in managing pets with skin conditions. We want to empower pet owners with the resources to identify signs of concern in their pets, and get the veterinary care they need to provide rapid and lasting itch relief. Did you know that allergic/atopic dermatitis (dry, itchy, inflamed skin) is the number one reason for veterinary visits? Even knowing this there are still an alarmingly large number of pets that go untreated by a veterinarian every year, often simply because owners are unaware of what to look for. Your pet’s itch could be caused by: Flea allergy Environmental indoor and outdoor allergens Food allergy Contact allergy Parasites such as fleas and mites Bacterial or yeast infections Remember, all pets will scratch, lick, bite, and rub. But if it is becoming more frequent or excessive, it may be a sign of an allergic itch. Signs of Itch Include: Excessive scratching. Biting, chewing, rubbing or scooting Frequent licking Recurrent ear problems Hair loss Body odor Skin changes Because the frequency at which something occurs is subjective and will vary depending on who you ask, we often refer to the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Dermatology Itch Scale . It is an incredibly helpful tool for us to be able to objectively measure the severity of itching. Early treatment is always preferred in these types of cases. Severe, prolonged scratching can damage the bond between pets and their owners by interfering with normal activities and increasing stress in pets themselves. It’s not uncommon that pet owners will experience stress, anxiety, and frustration about their pets itch. Especially when they know their pet is uncomfortable but aren’t sure how to help. Check out our Dermatology Page for more information and resources. If your pet is itching for help, don’t wait. Reach out to the M.A.C. team today at 905-208-9933 or at reception@macvets.com to see how to get help for your pet’s itch, fast.

Will My Pet Get Bored of Eating the Same Food?

By CY Mac • 20 Jul, 2023

Will My Pet Get Bored of Eating the Same Food?

Hot Weather Safety Tips

By CY Mac • 20 Jul, 2023

Many people love spending the long, warm days of summer outside with our canine companions, but being outside without the proper precautions in hot weather can be dangerous for our pets. Here are some of our top tips for keeping your pup cool in the heat: Adjust your walking routine Aim to go for walks either early in the morning, or later at night when it’s cooler. If you do choose to walk during the day, remember to check the temperature of the pavement. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s too hot for you to walk on it comfortably in bare feet, then it’s too hot for your puppy's paws! Provide lots of fresh, cool water Dogs can get dehydrated quickly, and it is therefore important to ensure there is always water easily accessible. Remember to take some on the go with you, even for just short walks. Provide cool surfaces to lie on A cool, damp towel is an inexpensive and easy solution. Reduce the amount of walking and exercise Even though it is tempting to keep our little ones' routine the same, their safety is more important. Providing activities indoors such as puzzle feeders or long lasting lick toys will help to keep them calm and occupied. Provide water playtime Try setting up a sprinkler or kiddie pool (preferably in the shade) to let them play in while supervised. Prevent sunburn Did you know that dogs can get sunburnt too? Those more prone are those with no hair, with white or thin coats, and dogs with light pigmented noses and eyelids. Applying a pet safe sunscreen or keeping them indoors is best.