Your Pet's Tail Tells a Tale

Do you know how to decode your pet's tail twitches? It’s our job as pet owners to recognize when our dog or cat is feeling happy, uncomfortable or scared. Our pets give us numerous signs of their feelings through their body language. They give signals that we can learn to decode with the right information. Catster and the ASPCA give us tips for learning the tale of the tail – or what your pet’s tail movements mean for their mood.

A cat’s tail is an incredible tool of self expression. If you are unable to read the expression on your cat’s face, always look to their tail. Catster tells us that you can tell a lot about your cat’s mood from the height and movement of their tail.

-          A Tall Tail held straight up in the air is a sign of a happy cat. Your cat may be saying, “I’m happy to see you!”
-          A Question Mark Tail where the tail is straight up in the air but hooked forward at the tip indicates a curious but unsure cat. Give your cat a little encouragement and assure them that the situation is okay if you see this tail.

-          Tip Twitch is a relaxed tail that starts to twitch back and forth at its tip and is an early sign of over stimulation. Your cat may have had enough with the current situation and is ready to move on.

-          Tail Flip is when your cat whips their full tail once in a single direction. They may be giving you a little bit of ‘tude. You may see this twitch if you need to scold your cat for bad behavior; it’s a “yeah, whatever” from your cat.

-          Tail Hug is if you are lucky enough to have a cat tail wrapped around your wrist. Consider it an affectionate hug!

-          Exclamation Point Tail is a startled vertical tail position and is often accompanied with an arched back and fur standing on end. Your cat may have been caught by surprise by something. A soothing voice and slow petting will help them to calm down.

-         Hunting Tail is when a cat is stalking prey, whether it’s a mouse or a favorite toy. They will hunker down low to the ground and stretch out their tail behind them, where it may twitch slightly. This cat is full of adrenaline and ready to pounce!

A dog’s tail can, surprisingly, be more complicated to decode. Although a wagging tail does often mean a happy dog, this movement does not always mean your dog is pleased and ready to play. The ASPCA tells us a bit about decoding a dog’s tail, noting that one of the most important things is to know your dog’s resting tail position.

While most dogs have a relaxed tail that hangs low to the ground, certain breeds have a tail that hangs naturally in more intense positions, like a pug’s curly tail or a greyhound’s naturally tucked-under tail. Knowing your dog’s natural tail position will help you to decode their emotions.

-          Relaxed Tail in its natural position means that your dog is at ease.

-          Gentle Wag is a tail that wags slowly side to side and indicates a happy dog.

-          Forceful Wag is when your dog’s tail wags enthusiastically back and forth or even in a circular pattern and it indicates that they are excited to see you!

-          Low Wag or Tucked Tail is if your dog’s tail is held lower than normal or curled underneath them just between their back legs. This means they are feeling nervous or submissive. The may still wag their tail side to side in a rapid manner, but if the tail is low, this is a nervous wag.

-         High, Stiff Tail is when your dog is alert. You may see them hold their tail higher than usual in a stiff position without any movement.

-         Flagging Tail is if your dog is alert with a high tail and starts to “flag,” or rigidly move his tail back and forth. This is a sign that your dog is standing their ground. It may look like a tail wag at first, but the rigid movement actually indicates a more threatening behavior.

Once you learn the way pets talk with their tails, you can learn the best ways to communicate with your pet!

Thanksgiving Foods - What's safe for pets?

Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means tons of turkey, stuffing, veggies and desserts. For your pet, it means a house filled with delicious smells that may have them mooching for a taste. There is no harm in sharing parts of your holiday meal with your pet, but you need to choose which parts wisely. Certain foods on your Thanksgiving table could be extremely harmful to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists the foods that your pet can and can’t eat this holiday:

Turkey – A nibble of the classic Thanksgiving bird is fine for pets, but make sure it is completely boneless and well cooked. Cooked bones have potential to splinter if ingested, and raw or undercooked turkey could contain salmonella bacteria. Also, to be extra safe, remove the skin. A well-seasoned turkey could contain essential oils from certain herbs and spices that could give your pet an upset stomach.

No raw dough or alcohol – A lick of the cookie dough bowl or a sip of wine may be sweet indulgences for humans, but both can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Batter that contains raw eggs poses the same threat as undercooked turkey: salmonella. Raw dough also has the potential to rise in your pet’s stomach, leading to vomiting or other internal problems. Alcohol has a much stronger effect on our pets than it does on humans, so even a small amount can lead to serious symptoms.

Less is more – Foods with minimal seasoning tend to be safer for pets to eat, so stick with potatoes and string beans over other rich, mixed options that may contain unsafe foods or seasonings. For example, some stuffings or cranberry sauces can contain raisins, mushrooms, onions or sage, which are dangerous for pets’ digestive systems.

Everything in moderation – It’s easy to overeat on Thanksgiving, but no one likes to feel like a stuffed turkey at the end of the night. The same goes for your pet. Don’t allow them to overindulge in these rich holiday foods, they could wind up with an upset stomach, gastrointestinal problems, or worse. Stick with small portions, and continue to feed them their regular diet.

Pet treats are still treats – Just because there are festive foods available, doesn’t mean your pet won’t appreciate their everyday treats! Offer your pet a dog bone or a stuffed Kong (with maybe just a few steamed vegetables or spoons of mashed potatoes inside) to chew on during your meal. This will also help keep your pet calm and preoccupied during an otherwise busy evening.

We all want to include our pets during the holiday, which is why dogs lodging at Morris Animal Inn over Thanksgiving won’t miss out on the tasty fun! Pets will receive their own Thanksgiving dinner of freshly cooked turkey, mashed potatoes, string beans and regular stuffing.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Morris Animal Inn!

Efforts to Help Pets in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy

When Hurricane Sandy made landfall, it left much devastation in the New Jersey/New York area. Homes were left shattered and in the dark, and families were left with the painful task of having to put the broken pieces back together of what was left of the destruction. With many homes still deemed unlivable in the wake of the clean-up, homeowners are being forced to find alternate residences. Already having to leave their homes, the idea of finding a new place to live is an added burden for these families who have lost so much.

With everything that has happened, some families are also facing the reality of not being able to care for their pets during these trying times. Temporary living situations, lack of resources, and tight financials are impacting pet owners all over the area and they need our help. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is taking huge strides in trying to provide for these families and animals while they try to rebuild. For thousands of families, pets are the only thing they have left and the ASPCA has responded in the best way. By providing food, cat litter, temporary shelter, and other supplies for these pets, they are eager to find all the help they can get.

Longtime pet lover and celebrity chef Rachel Ray recently donated $500,000 to the ASPCA to help the animals affected by Sandy. A true philanthropist, Ray is setting an example of just how much help these victims need.

If you would like to contribute to the cause and help out these poor animals, every cent counts. Donate here and help make the lives of these families a little easier.

Another example of an organization that has taken great strides to help families and their pets is the The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA). They have an urgent list of items they need for their Pet Pantry Distribution Center as they continue to help those affected by Sandy. Click here to view this list.

We are pleased to have Vin, as a contributing writer for If They Could Talk. Vin is a passionate dog owner. We look forward to sharing his contribution on interesting and educational pet topics.