How do I prepare my dog for the arrival of a new baby?
A new arrival in the home is often very exciting and a very busy time for everyone. Many dogs can find this change confusing and become stressed or anxious (it is important to recognize these signs and not assume they are jealous). It is best to try and prepare as far in advance as possible so that he or she has time to adjust to any new expectations. The following is a list of things to consider: – ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations and deworming (this is important to minimize the risk of any zoonotic diseases) – Understand basic obedience – Work on training with dogs who have any food bowl aggression (babies and toddlers can be very curious about the dog dishes) – Attention from owners; some dogs benefit from owners training them the become used to less daily attention or attention from a different member in the home – Role-playing and getting your dog used to walks alongside a stroller – If there needs to be any changes in the home to control the dogs access to the main baby areas (either with baby gates, doors, etc) Once the baby is home, always have careful supervision to allow your dog to see and smell baby and keep interactions a positive experience. It really is important to ensure your dog still has their own time with people where they receive abundant attention and play
I think my dog is in pain; can I give a human pain reliever?
We do not recommend that an owner give any over-the-counter medications such as aspirin without first consulting with a veterinarian. Aspirin can be dangerous as it has common side effects as a gastrointestinal irritant and there is a risk of bleeding and ulceration from this. It also makes it adding new medications more risky as many pain medications that are labelled for use in dogs are more likely to have side effects if there has been no “washout” period or lapse in time between different pain medication types.