Storms can be scary for all of us, including your pets. Many pets, mostly dogs, are afraid of thunderstorms. This is one of the most common phobias that pets and their owners face.

If you and your pet have never been through a storm together, make sure to keep a close eye on them! There are many anxiety signs that your pet may exhibit before or during a thunderstorm. Some pets start to pant, tremble, hide, pace, bark or start being disruptive when they know a storm is coming. These signs can continue throughout the duration of the storm and pets who suffer from separation anxiety often act more anxious when they are alone during storms.

To help your pet, you can find a safe place for them to relax and "hide" from the storm. This area should be readily available, especially if you are not going to be home. Closing doors and windows or playing music can be very helpful to reduce the noise of the storm. You could try distracting your pet by coaxing them to play during a storm, which could be an effective way to keep them calm.

Another way to help your pet is using a technique called "systematic desensitization." This helps pets with their anxiety by exposing them to some elements of thunderstorms. For example, playing a recording of light rain and thunder and rewarding your dog with a treat when they show no anxiety is a good start.

There are a few things that you should avoid doing when your dog is scared during a thunderstorm. Do NOT put your pet in a crate. Your pet will still be very fearful in the crate, maybe even more than normal, and could potentially injure themselves trying to escape. They may develop a fear of the crate if they are always put in a crate during a storm. Do NOT punish your pet for being scared as this will only cause them to be more scared. On the other hand, don't try to console your pet too much as they will see this as reinforcement and you inadvertently reward the behavior. Lastly, do NOT force your pet to get too close to the sounds that scare them. This is not a helpful solution and could possibly cause your pet to become aggressive.

Sometimes medication is necessary to help with the anxiety. Natural and herbal remedies can be helpful, but for severe anxiety prescription medications might be needed. Most animal healthcare professionals offers behavioral consultations to discuss phobias and anxiety, and can help you choose a medical remedy for the behavior.

Keep your eye on weather situations in your area and plan ahead to help your furry friend when he or she needs it!

Author Sarah Bashaw, DVM can be reached at El Dorado Animal Hospital, a full service, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic designed with client comfort and patient care in mind.

Call El Dorado Animal Hospital for your appointment today (480) 837-0800 or visit our website http://www.eldoradoanimalhospital.com

When water intake does not equal water output, your pet can become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause serious complications for all living things, including your pets. Water makes up about 80% of your dog's body and needs to be replenished daily to maintain health. Water dissolves natural and unnatural substances and is necessary for proper circulation, temperature control, saliva, transportation of nutrients throughout the body, digestion, and waste removal.

Dehydration can be caused by reduced water intake or the increase of fluid loss. Reduced water intake can happen due to drinking less water, hot weather, strenuous exercise, or even high altitudes. Excess fluid loss can be caused by vomiting or diarrhea, especially in puppies.

Some of the symptoms of dehydration in dogs include:

• Sunken eyes

• Lethargy

• Loss of appetite

• Dry Mouth

• Depression

You might be able to detect dehydration in your dog by lifting the skin on the back of the neck to see if it returns to the original position quickly or not. This is equivalent to gently pinching the skin on a person's wrist or hand to see if it stays pinched (dehydration) or returns to normal quickly (hydration). If you suspect dehydration, you should take your pet to a veterinarian as it may be indicative of underlying problems.

Dogs at risk for dehydration are similar to people. Various illnesses such as kidney disorders, cancer, diabetes, and infection can cause dehydration. Older dogs and pregnant or nursing dogs are more susceptible to dehydration. At the vet, your dog will probably be given intravenous fluids as well as tests to find the cause.

Dehydration can be prevented with the following precautions:

• Provide clean water at all times, changing it frequently to prevent stagnation and bacteria.

• Monitor your pet's intake of water, especially if he has had vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms that contribute to fluid loss. General a dog needs about one ounce of water for each pound of body weight per day.

• Make sure his water bowl cannot be knocked over.

• Bring extra water for traveling or exercising, especially in hot weather.

• If your dog seems to be drinking less than normal, check his mouth for sores, sticks, etc.

• Avoid chaining your dog where he could get entangled and not be able to get to his water bowl.

• If you dog or cat is prone to drinking out of the toilet, keep the toilet lid closed. This water is a source of bacteria.

Many pet owners have found a solution to their dog or cat's hydration problems with a pet fountain. There are several makes and models on the market today and each has pros and cons that will help determine if it is a good fit for your pet. Lots of pets enjoy drinking water that is running and not still, dirty, and stagnant and they tend to drink more if a clean, moving water is available.

B. L. Martin enjoys large dogs, but needed to find solutions to the dirty water that has contributed to dehydration and sickness. You can check out her website on pet fountains that provided the solution she was seeking at Drinkwell Pet Fountains, where she provides additional information on the wide range of choices Drinkwell offers, including the Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain as well as the Drinkwell 360 and Big Dog Pet Fountains.

Dogs really, truly are your best friend. Not only do they make the best companions, they are actually beneficial to our lives. They play many roles in your home and are always there for you, even if there was a misunderstanding just minutes before.
They are not only the most loyal mates, they are also there to help you reduce stress, cheer you up when you are feeling blue, happy to see you all the time, take care of the children, and warn you when strangers are approaching.
There are several ways dogs can significantly improve our lives, both mentally and physically. They provide on-demand, free health care and psychological counseling to people from all walks of life and below I have listed 7 ways dogs directly benefit peoples lives.
1. Dogs have a great sense of humor
Laughter is always healthy for all of us. Dogs provide comic relief when it is most needed. They are extremely patient with people and allow themselves to be used as entertainment. Who else would let you play dress-up, take pictures, and post them all over the Internet?
Once they figure out what makes you laugh, they are very intuitive and continue the behavior, causing you to laugh even more. They love the attention they get, so they don't mind if they end up as the butt of the joke. As long as their owners are laughing, all is well with the world.
2. Dogs provide a sense of calm
Dogs have the ability to reduce stress, in turn, improving our healths overall. Dr. David Niven, author of "100 Simple Secrets Why Dogs Make Us Happy" stated that dogs reduce our stress level nine times longer than the amount of contact.
This means that for five minutes of contact, therapy time with your dog, you are improving your health for 45 minutes. These loving compadres are also known to comfort patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and lower blood pressure for those with heart disease.
3. Dogs are great exercise buddies
Most dogs have the need to exercise daily, helping their owners get healthy workouts simultaneously. These energetic canines are actually very powerful motivators, forcing you into a routine. Most of the time, the pace at which dogs walk meet federal criteria for moderate or vigorous exercise. The fresh air is also a bonus, benefiting the heart and mind.
4. Dogs are socially supportive
In addition to helping you find a date as a conversation starter, dogs can also be a social support, especially for shy owners. There are many social activities centered around dogs, especially in urban and suburban areas, providing both the pooches and their owners with opportunities to interact with others in the community. Social interaction is one factor that contributes to a healthier life. They have known to be great matchmakers, helping their owners find and fall in love with their soul mates.
5. Dogs build immune systems
Studies have shown that children raised around dogs have stronger immune systems than those who grow up with no pets in the home. The constant presence of the pooches' fur can help children build up their respiratory systems, resulting in lower incidences of asthma and allergies. Naturally, dirty dogs are the perfect tool to help children grow up to be healthier adults.
6. Dogs love senior citizens
Our canine friends are extremely good for senior citizens. In addition to providing older owners with a purpose to live, in caring for the dog, they also benefit Alzheimer's patients. According to Dr. Lynette Hart from University of California, Davis, Alzheimer's patients have less anxious outbursts when they live with dogs. Some insurance companies will even ask clients who are over 75 if they have a pet, as part of their screening interviews.
7. Dogs have a nose for cancer and other ailments
With their strong sense of smell, some dogs are able to detect early stages of cancer. They are able to use their powerful sniffer to smell lung and breast cancers in a person's breath. This is true for any cancers that live just below the skin as well, located throughout the body. Experts believe that dogs are able to identify chemical traces in parts per trillion, allowing them to detect skin cancer when sniffing skin lesions, as well as prostate cancer when sniffing urine.
It is absolutely amazing how many ways dogs are able to help improve our lives. They are not just loyal companions, but they are also one of the most critical caretakers a person can have. Some would argue that they are more than man's best friend; they are our saviors.

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Adopting a new dog can be stressful! Where will you adopt your dog? What breed will it be? Do you need to buy pet health insurance? All your worries will be put to ease when you meet your new furry friend. Adopting a dog is a special day that you will indeed remember. A few tips can make the transition for you and your new dog an easy one.
Clear Structure
You will want to make sure you give your dog a clear structure of his new home. This means you and your family will need to be consistent the first few days your dog arrives at home, so you do not confuse him. You will need to consider where your dog will be spending most of his time and make sure the area is dog proofed. Because he may be under a lot of stress from his move, he may forget any housebreaking he learned previously, so a kitchen would perhaps be the best area.
Upon Arrival
Upon arrival, you will need a few things for your new friend. You will need to purchase all of the following things before your dog arrivals at his new home. You will need dog or puppy food, food and water bowls, a bed for your pet, and a collar and ID tag. A couple other things you will need are a dog license and pet health insurance. By law, you must have a dog license and can acquire one at your local post office. You will also want to buy your new pet dog insurance, incase of unexpected illness or injury.
The First Couple Days
The first couple days with your dog can be stressful ones for yourself as well as your dog. Be sure your dog has plenty of time to acclimate himself with yourself and your family before you introduce him to any strangers. If you do not wait, your dog can be put under severe stress and you will be overwhelming him. When you bring him home, make sure you introduce him to his toileting area immediately. Give him plenty of time to get familiar with the area and relieve himself. You should then start your regularly scheduled training with your pet.
After a Few Weeks
Don't worry if your dog doesn't show any personality during the first few days of his arrival. Most say that the dog may not show his personality for a few weeks after the adoption. Your dog will want to get accustomed to you and your family and it may take him awhile to do so. Remember to stick to your original planned schedule so your dog doesn't get confused. After he is settled in, you and your dog will be bonded together in no time!
Remember, adopting a dog should be an enjoyable experience. Don't fret if it can be a little stressful at times. Your dog will be acclimated to his new home in no time and you can begin your lives together.