Tag Archives: independence

Simple Ways to Soothe a Stressed Dog on Independence Day, According to Experts

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As America celebrates the Fourth of July with flashing lights, barbecues, and parades, our furry friends may not find fireworks as enjoyable. Many dogs can be scared of fireworks, even if they are only hearing or seeing them from a distance.

If your dog is afraid of fireworks, there are ways to make the experience more relaxing. Dr. Zazie Todd, an animal behavior expert, shared some tips on how to keep your dog calm during a fireworks display.

Why are dogs scared of fireworks?

Dogs have sensitive hearing, so loud sounds like fireworks can be particularly frightening for them. Without understanding the context of these sounds, dogs can become scared and anxious when they hear fireworks.

To help your dog feel more at ease during fireworks displays, there are some steps you can take.

Tips for keeping your dog calm during fireworks

Create a suitable environment for your dog

One way to protect your dog from the noise and light of fireworks is to draw the curtains and turn on the TV. However, being present to reward your dog when there are loud noises can be even more effective in calming them down.

Comforting your dog during fireworks is okay, as they look to you for support in stressful situations. Creating a safe and comforting space for your dog can also help them feel more secure.

Don’t be afraid to comfort them

Despite the idea that comforting a scared dog can make them more afraid, there is no scientific evidence to support this. It is important to offer comfort to your dog during stressful situations, such as fireworks displays.

Try desensitization training

Training your dog to be comfortable with loud noises, like fireworks, can be beneficial. Exposing puppies to quiet firework sounds during their socialization period can help prevent fear of fireworks in the future. Building a positive association with fireworks can also reduce fear and anxiety in dogs.

Going to the vet

If your dog suddenly becomes extremely frightened of fireworks, it may be worth seeking professional help from a vet. Getting your dog checked for any underlying issues causing fear of fireworks can be important for their well-being.

Get a prescription for medicine

If you don’t have time to train your dog or want immediate relief, your vet can prescribe medication to help your dog cope with fireworks. However, this should be used as a short-term solution, and long-term training is recommended for lasting results.

About our experts

Zazie Todd, author of Pet Psychology, is an expert in animal behavior and pet care. With a background in psychology and training, Todd provides science-based information on keeping pets happy and healthy.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Simple Tips from Professionals to Soothe a Stressed Dog on Independence Day

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Flashing lights, barbecues, parades, and red, white, and blue flags flying: Fourth of July celebrations have arrived in America, as Americans across the country come together to celebrate the nation’s independence.

But for our furry friends, fireworks may not be such a fun experience, especially as many dogs can find fireworks scary, even if they can only hear and see them from a distance.

Luckily, if your pup has an aversion to fireworks going off in the sky, there are ways to make the whole process a lot more relaxing. Dr. Zazie ToddWe spoke to an animal behavior expert for all the tips you need to keep your dog calm during a fireworks display.

Why are dogs scared of fireworks?

If you’ve ever whispered to your dog that you’re going for a walk, you’ll know that dogs have extremely good hearing — and this can be a problem when they encounter a particularly loud, scary sound like fireworks.

Without any context about what these sounds are, it can be a pretty frightening experience. “We know why there’s this loud explosion or this bright light going on, but dogs don’t,” explains Todd.

“If we don’t do anything to teach them that these sounds are OK, they’re likely going to get scared. And if they’re scared, they’re going to continue to get more scared every time they hear it.”

So how exactly can you teach your dog that loud noises outside aren’t a threat? Well…

Tips for keeping your dog calm during fireworks

Create a suitable environment for your dog

Drawing the curtains and turning on the TV is one way to protect your dog from outside noise and light, but while this may make the sound of fireworks less noticeable, it won’t block them out completely. “This helps, but it’s even more effective if you’re there to reward your dog when there are particularly loud noises,” says Todd.

“A room with closed blinds and soothing sounds is a dog’s happiest place, but that’s their choice. Tidy up the room, but don’t lock your dog in there. It won’t solve the problem, but it will help.”

Don’t be afraid to comfort them

It’s often said that you should not comfort a scared or anxious dog as this will make them more afraid, but there’s no scientific evidence to back this up.

“It’s perfectly OK to comfort your dog – in fact, you are important to them – and when they’re stressed, they’re looking to you for help and to make them feel better,” says Todd.

“Unfortunately, fireworks can be very frightening for them and even your comforts will make them difficult to cope with, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them.”

Fireworks are a traditional way to conclude Independence Day celebrations in the United States. – Image credit: Getty

Try desensitization training

It takes planning, but training your dog properly at a young age can set you up for a lifetime of peaceful firework enjoyment.

“Puppies have a sensitive socialization period from three weeks of age to around 12 to 14 weeks, and we recommend exposing them to quiet firework sounds during this time to prevent any fear of fireworks,” Todd says.

“This will give them a more positive experience and reduce stress for them in the future. They don’t have to be puppies, you can train them at any age, but it’s easier when they’re younger.”

But what if your dog is already afraid of fireworks? Although this exposure training can work, a different approach may be more effective. Rather than getting your dog used to loud noises and flashing lights, building a fun association with the experience can be a great way to reduce the fear.

“The idea with desensitization or counterconditioning is to give your dog a tasty treat that he’ll enjoy every time a loud noise is heard,” Todd says.

“Over time, you develop what’s called a conditioned emotional response. You might even learn to love the sound of fireworks!”

Going to the vet

In some cases, your dog may have had no resistance to fireworks for a long time and then suddenly become extremely frightened of loud noises – in this case it’s worth seeking professional help.

“Scientists at the University of Lincoln Your dog associates fear with pain. “If the fear of fireworks starts later in life, it’s well worth getting tested just to be safe,” Todd explains.

This could be due to a different experience, but it’s best to check with your vet first to be safe.

Get a prescription for medicine

Some of the strategies above require a fair bit of advance planning, but what if you don’t have the time to train your dog?

“Your vet can discuss medications and will often prescribe medication to help your dog survive the fireworks,” explains Todd.

Obviously, this is best used as a one-off technique and you’ll be better off approaching training your dog in the long term.

About our experts

Zazie Todd Author of Pet Psychologyis an award-winning blog that brings you the latest science on our pets and evidence-based pet care practices. Todd has a PhD in Psychology, a Certificate in Training and Counseling from the prestigious Dog Trainer Academy, and an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behavior from International Cat Care. She is the author of the following books: Wag: The science behind making dogs happy and Purring: The science behind making cats happy.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Immune cells exhibit greater independence than previously believed

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New research reveals that immune cells can independently navigate complex environments by actively shaping chemical cues, a discovery with significant implications for understanding immune responses and cancer metastasis. have.

Immune cells exhibit a higher level of self-directed mobility than previously appreciated. InFLAMES researcher Jonah Alanko has shown that these cells are more than just passive reactors to surrounding chemical signals. Instead, they actively modify these signals and skillfully navigate complex environments through self-organization.

Directional cell movement is an essential and fundamental phenomenon of life. This is an important prerequisite for personal development, vascular remodeling, immune response, etc.

The research conducted by postdoctoral researcher Jonah Alanko focused on the migration and navigation of immune cells within the body. Chemokines, a type of signaling protein, play an important role in directing immune cells to specific locations. Chemokines, for example, form in lymph nodes and create chemical cues called chemokine gradients that cells in the body follow. According to Alanko, these chemokine gradients are like scent trails left in the air, getting brighter as you move away from their source.

The traditional idea was that immune cells recognize targets according to pre-existing chemokine gradients. In other words, cells that follow these cues have been viewed as passive actors, when in fact they are not.

Dendritic cells move through a microscopic maze with the help of chemokine gradients they create. In the upper image, the nucleus of the cell is drawn in blue, and the lines in the lower image represent the movement of the cell.Credit: Jonna Alanko, University of Turku

“Contrary to previous notions, we were able to demonstrate for the first time that immune cells do not need pre-existing chemokine gradients to find their way. They can create their own gradients, making complex We can move collectively and efficiently even in difficult environments,” Alanko explains.

cells consume chemokines

Immune cells have receptors that can sense chemokine signals. One of these receptors is called CCR7 and is present on dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells are specialized antigen-presenting cells that have a critical role in activating the overall immune response. We need to find the infection, recognize it, and then move to the lymph nodes with that information. In lymph nodes, dendritic cells interact with other cells of the immune system to mount an immune response against pathogens.

Alanko’s research showed that dendritic cells not only register chemokine signals at the CCR7 receptor, but also actively shape their chemical environment by consuming chemokines. The cells thereby create local gradients that guide their own movement and that of other immune cells. The researchers also discovered that another type of immune cell, her T cells, can benefit from these self-generated gradients to enhance their own directional movement.

“When immune cells are able to create chemokine gradients, they can guide the directional movement of themselves and other immune cells to avoid future obstacles in complex environments,” explains Jonah Alanko. do.

This discovery deepens our understanding of how immune responses are regulated in the body. But it can also reveal how cancer cells direct their movement to cause metastasis.

“The CCR7 receptor has also been found in many types of cancer, and in these cases this receptor has been shown to promote cancer metastasis. Cancer cells use the same mechanisms as immune cells to It may even guide its movement. Our findings therefore have the potential to help design new strategies not only to target specific cancers but also to modify immune responses. ,” said Jonah Alanco.

Reference: “CCR7 acts as both a sensor and a sink for CCL19 to coordinate collective migration of leukocytes” Jonna Alanko, Mehmet Can Uçar, Nikola Canigova, Julian Stopp, Jan Schwarz, Jack Merrin, Edouard Hannezo, Michael Sixt, September 1, 2023; scientific immunology.
DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adc9584

Jonna Alanko is a postdoctoral researcher at the InFLAMES Flagship in the MediCity laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland. She carried out most of her recently published research in a research group led by Professor Michael Sixt at the Austrian Institute for Science and Technology (ISTA) in Austria.

Source: scitechdaily.com