PETS WITH CHRIS BROWN
PET TA TA’S
It’s back! The pet questions you were too afraid to ask … PET-TA-TAs! This Halloween it’s
an unusual night with some frightful guests joining the TLR family.
First up we hear from a concerned viewer who fears the family dog is suffering from
nightmares. Then it’s a creepy crawly issue our next viewer discovered when he came
across the family cat playing chase with one of Australia’s most poisonous spiders. It’s a
fright-mare on TLR this week as Chris dispels myths on some unusual pet behavior!
DR CHRIS’ PET TA TA’S
Dr Chris answers all the questions you’ve been too afraid to ask about your pets. If you
have a Pet Ta Ta ask Chris by emailing [email protected]
Pet Ta Ta #1: Is my dog having nightmares when he twitches and whimpers during
his sleep?
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Like humans dogs go through three sleep stages, NREM, non-rapid eye movement,
REM, rapid eye movement, and SWS, short-wave sleep.
It’s been theorized by experts that during REM dogs do dream and act on these
dreams by twitching and whimpering, and moving their paws as if they were
running.
Young puppies and senior dogs tend to move more in their sleep.
The cold temperature can be a reason dog’s twitch in their sleep.
SOURCE: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-dog-twitch-while-sleeping
Advice
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Like us, dogs go through three sleep stages – NREM (non-rapid eye movement),
REM (rapid eye movement), and SWS (short-wave sleep).
At the REM stage dogs fall into a natural paralysis state so they don’t act out their
dreams. But like humans, dogs sometimes don’t fall into the complete state natural
sleep paralysis causing, movement and whimpering while sleeping.
To wake your pet during this time it’s best to call out their name or use a loud noise
to disrupt the sleep. Shaking the dog during the restless sleep could lead to an
accidental bite, if the dog is having a bad dream.
Pet Ta Ta #2: What should I do when I find my cat playing with a funnel web?
Funnel Web Spider
• Found mostly in the southeastern regions of Australia and within a radius of 160km
from Sydney.
• They can grow up to 4.5cm in length.
• The black Funnel-web is known to be aggressive and will raise its fangs in defense.
• The Funnel-webs fangs are strong enough to penetrate finger nails.
• They’re most commonly seen during summer and autumn.
• Funnel-web spiders live in burrows in the ground, or in stumps, tree trunks or ferns.
Dogs & Cats:
• Although the spider’s venom does not affect them the spider’s bite may need to
treated and monitored in case of infection.
SOURCE:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/shorter/story.htm
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/outdoor/adventure/2012/05/australias-most-dangerous-predators/
Advice
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Pets are essentially immune to the venom of most poisonous spiders so they are
rarely affected by bites.
Call your pet away from the spider rather than attempt to pick the spider up
yourself.
Once the pet is at a safe distance you can then dispose the spider using a jar and
card to slide underneath the jar.
Redback spiders are generally not deadly but they can cause mild paralysis or
muscle weakness.