In this week’s Pet Talk, Maneka tells how to calm a hyper dog and is it okay to give mind-calming medicines to them for composure?

By Maneka Gandhi

What is CPV and how it can be fatal to dogs?

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious and  infectious disease that can be fatal for dogs. Puppies aged six weeks to six months are most at risk. Many dogs that are diagnosed with ‘parvo’ die. The virus attacks cells in a dog’s intestines and stops them from being able to absorb vital nutrients. This means that a dog or puppy will become very weak and dehydrated. Symptoms of CPV include foul-smelling diarrhoea with blood in it, vomiting, loss of appetite, collapse, depression, fever and sudden death. CPV attacks a dog’s cells in its intestine, meaning it becomes dehydrated and weak. There is no cure, but vaccinating dogs and puppies against CPV will protect them.

How to calm a hyper dog?

1. Exercise: It is very important for your dog to exercise. Take your dog out for long walks regularly.
2. Build a routine around your dog’s lifestyle. Food habits should be maintained and feed your dog at regular intervals.
3. Training: Training your dog can also help with the hyperactivity.
4. Introducing new toys for play can divert your dog’s attention and reduce the hyperactivity.

Is it okay to give mind calming medicines to hyper dogs for composure?

Mind Calming Drugs are medicines that are administered to dogs who are hyper active. Mind Calming drugs can be administered only with the veterinarian’s consultation. But these will impact organs in the body. Perhaps castration is one answer. But first try exercise. To calm a hyper dog, the dog should be taken out for long walks. It is very important for your dog to exercise. Training your dog can also help with the hyperactivity.

Is giving milk to a dog good ?

Giving milk to dogs depends on their lactose tolerance level. What is lactose intolerance? Lactose is a simple sugar found in milk, which requires an enzyme known as lactase to properly digest. Most dogs lack the enzyme lactase in their body, so they can’t digest lactose that’s contained in the milk they drink. Generally, dogs will get many similar symptoms that you and I would get if we were lactose intolerant and we drank milk that was rich in lactose. If they don’t puke, it’s alright to give them milk with Roti or Daliya once in a while. Giving only milk as a meal should be avoided. Cow milk also contains a high level of fat, that will lead to bloating in your dog, cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes even a very serious and fatal condition called pancreatitis. An alternative to cow’s milk, that many people have been turning to in recent years, is goat’s milk. Goat’s milk has a substantially less amount of lactose than is found in cow’s milk, which means lactose intolerant dogs have a very high chance of drinking goat milk without having any health problems later. It contains a lot more calcium than cow’s milk. Goat’s milk is just a lot tastier than cow’s milk. It is rich in vitamins B, D, K,  and E. But if you give them curd instead, as a topping with rice, vegetables etc, that is better.

Do dogs also get fever after being vaccinated?

Dogs might get mild fever after being vaccinated, just like humans. Besides mild fever, it is common for pets to experience some of the following side effects:

1. Discomfort and local swelling at the vaccination site.
2. Decreased appetite and activity.
3. Sneezing, mild coughing, “snotty nose”, or other respiratory signs, may occur 2-5 days after your pet receives an intranasal vaccine.

If these side effects last for more than a day or two, or cause your pet significant discomfort, it is important for you to contact your veterinarian.

Why do some people hate animals so much?

People might hate animals for many reasons.

Cultural training: People are taught when small that animals are unclean and dangerous and should be avoided. Some religions and cultures believe that animals should be killed — ranging from ants to elephants — not just for eating but because they should not occupy the same space as humans. They believe that animals are simply created for human use, and they pass these beliefs on.

Trauma: If someone has been attacked by a dog, or believed a dog was going to attack them, they might develop a dislike for dogs. For some people, even the notion that a dog could attack, or hurt them, is enough to make them wary.

Antipathy towards the Owner or Befriender: Most of the time, in my experience, the problem is not that people hate animals. They hate, or want to hate, the person who owns the animal or who feeds the animal. And if this person is a lone woman then she is targeted, and animals are made an excuse. Whether she feeds birds or dogs, she will be complained about and warned. If she has animals in her house, the society will be provoked to ask her to get rid of them. This is simply power play and it is done by psychos. Alas, as colonies grow more and more crowded, and people live cheek by jowl, such psychos — and they include men and women — have increased. They are bored  and frustrated by their own lives and they need outlets for their anger. And who better to take it out on than animals and their friends.

Just like Colleges and Universities have so many Committees and Clubs, can they have an Animal Welfare Committee?

Many have started at the initiative of the students themselves. It is an important Club to have, as it should learn about animal conservation and animal welfare. It helps the human survive. Children who work with animals are found to be 15% smarter than other children. There is something in the interaction, and in the learning to be compassionate and responsible for weaker beings, that makes these children smarter, more disciplined  and considerate.