​Started in 2024, pups that go through the PADP (Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program) have specific training to learn certain tasks that will help their future owners to deal with their responses to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

These tasks range from placing a paw, or two, on their owner to calm them when they begin to display a certain tic to being able to press an emergency button for assistance in a dire situation. They can also jump into the lap of their owners to calm and relax them and retrieve items that their owners may need.

The primary goal of a Psychiatric Assistance Dog’s presence in their owners life is to assist in interrupting anti-social or anxious behaviours to help them to recognise this and regroup.
​
As with all Assistance Dogs, they also go through the Public Access Test to ensure they can be with their owners at all times, both within and outside of their homes. 

These dogs, once fully trained are placed with Veterans who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a psychiatric condition that affects people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. As of 2024 it is estimated that the rate of PTSD affecting current ADF (Australian Defence Force) personal is 8%, with that number rising to 17.6% for ex-serving members. PTSD symptoms often start many years after the event and cause symptoms such as:

• reliving the event/s, sometimes in the form of flashbacks
• a desire to avoid anything that reminds a person of the event/s
• having more negative thoughts and feelings than before the event/s, including anger, fear, shame and guilt
• feeling on edge or keyed up
  ​

These life changing dogs are provided to their new owners free of charge, thanks to the Lions Assistance Dogs. 

Along with Psychiatric Assistance Dogs, Lions Assistance Dogs also provide 

• Hearing Assistance Dogs
• Medical Assistance Dogs
  
  If you, or someone you know, may benefit from one of these Assistance Dogs in their life or to find out more about how these amazing dogs transform the lives of the people they live with, visit the Lions Assistance Dogs website here. 

There are several reasons why dogs may eat their food too quickly. These include:

😋 Excitement
For food-driven dogs or those that are only fed once a day,  mealtime can be extremely exciting. They simply can’t wait to dig into their delicious meal, which often leads to gulping their food down.

🩺 Medical Reasons 
Certain health conditions and medications can increase a dog’s appetite. Dogs with an increased appetite may eat as fast as they can because they feel hungrier than usual. If your dog’s appetite has suddenly changed, it’s best to consult your veterinarian.

🐕 Instinct
In some breeds, eating quickly is instinctive. Dogs are natural scavengers, and for some, that survival instinct remains strong – they eat fast to ensure they don’t miss out on food.

🧬 Breed Disposition
Some breeds are naturally more food-driven than others. Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Pugs are well-known for their hearty appetites and may be more likely to eat quickly.

​🏡 Environmental Factors
​Dogs that grew up in a large litter, shelter, or foster home may have learned to eat quickly to avoid losing food to others. Even after those conditions change, the behaviour can remain ingrained.

Your dog eating too fast can lead to several health and behavioural issues for dogs, including:

🍖 Food Guarding
Dogs that become overly fixated on their food can develop protective or aggressive behaviours around mealtime. This poses a risk to other pets, children, and adults nearby.

🌀 Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus)
One major risk of eating too fast is bloat, a life-threatening condition in which the stomach fills with gas and twists. Swallowing too much air while eating quickly is believed to be a contributing factor.
👉 If you’re unfamiliar with bloat, make sure to read up on the symptoms here – it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention.

😱 Choking
When a dog inhales food instead of chewing it properly, there’s a serious choking hazard. Large pieces of food can become lodged in the throat and block the airway.

🤢 Vomiting and Indigestion
Eating too fast can cause indigestion and vomiting. This not only upsets your dog’s stomach but may also lead to further digestive problems if they re-eat regurgitated food. Long-term, it could contribute to issues like  gastritis or irritable bowl syndrome.

​🥦 Lack of Nutrient Absorption
If your dog’s digestive system is overwhelmed due to constant fast eating, it may not properly absorb essential nutrients from food. Over time, this can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other health problems.

The right approach depends on why your dog eats quickly, but the tips below are a great place to start.​

🧘‍♀️ Keep Mealtime Calm
Avoid building excitement around food. Make sure your dog is calm and relaxed before feeding. Ask them to sit or lie down before placing their bowl down, and use a release command before they start eating.
If your dog becomes overly excited, remove the bowl and wait until they settle before trying again.

🧩 Use a Puzzle Feeder or Slow-Feed Bowl
Puzzle feeders and slow-feed bowls make your dog work for their food, encouraging slower eating and providing mental stimulation at the same time.

🍽️ Feed Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Feeding your dog two or more smaller meals throughout the day helps prevent them from becoming overly hungry and inhaling their food all at once.

⏰ Create a Consistent Routine
Feed your dog at the same times each day so they know when to expect meals. Predictability can reduce overexcitement and anxiety around food.

🐾 Build Good Habits Early
​From the moment you bring your dog home, teach them that you can safely approach or handle their food. Gently place your hands near their bowl or remove it briefly while they’re eating. This helps prevent  food aggression and builds trust.
​
🚪 Separate Other Dogs at Mealtime 
If your dog eats quickly because of competition from other pets, feed them separately. Giving each dog their own space allows them to eat at a comfortable pace without feeling the need to rush.

​You should always monitor your dog’s eating habits. If their fast eating appears to worsen or if you notice signs of discomfort, choking, or bloating, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The power of an assistance dog cannot be measured, the impact they make on the lives of their owner and their family and friends is huge. Your support can help more children like Charlotte access life-changing assistance dogs and the hope they bring.
Want to help train more dogs like Letty?
From 8 weeks old, each puppy begins training with expert trainers in Assistance Dogs Australia's puppy kindergarten and with volunteers, building the skills, confidence, and socialisation needed to change a life.
By 14 months, dogs like Letty go into Advanced Training, mastering cues tailored to the type of support they'll be giving.
At graduation, each dog is carefully matched with someone on the waitlist, like Charlotte, empowering them to live a more independent, confident and connected life. 

Together, we can give more people with disability the safety, confidence and independence an Assistance Dog brings. 

Chocolate contains two substances that are harmful to dogs:

• Caffeine
• Theobromine

While humans can safely process these compounds, dogs (and cats) metabolise them much more slowly. This means the chemicals stay in their system longer, increasing the risk of toxic effects. And this is why, chocolate is toxic to dogs.

Theobromine is a naturally occurring compound found in cocoa and is the main ingredient used to make chocolate. It’s toxic not only to dogs, but also to cats and other pets.
Different types of chocolate contain different levels of theobromine:

• Dark chocolate & baking chocolate – highest levels (most dangerous)
• Milk chocolate – moderate levels
• White chocolate – very low levels (but still not safe)

Even small amounts can be harmful, especially in smaller pets. The more chocolate consumed, the greater the risk of severe illness, or even death if left untreated.

If your dog has eaten chocolate, symptoms can appear within a few hours. Keep an eye out for:

• Increased heart rate
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Restlessness
• Nervousness or agitation
• Hyperactivity
• Trembling or shaking
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Seizures

If you notice any of these signs, seek veterinary care immediately.

Time is critical when it comes to chocolate toxicity.

• Contact your vet immediately if your pet has eaten (or may have eaten) chocolate
• Provide details such as your dog’s size, the type of chocolate, and how much was consumed
• Follow your vet’s advice closely

If your regular vet is closed, reach out to a 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic.

The best way to protect your pet is prevention:

• Keep chocolate stored securely and out of reach
• Remind guests (especially children) not to feed pets chocolate
• Be extra cautious during holidays like Easter and Christmas when chocolate is more accessible
  

Like humans today, animals have two eye lids that move vertically, the upper and lower eye lids. These eye lids work to protect the eye lids from any debris, damage, sun light and to maintain moisture on the eye balls. It is responsible for creating up to 50% of a dog's tears so is vital to their eye health. 
The third eye lid of dogs and other animals such as cats adds even more protection to the eye ball and is not normally visible. 

A dogs third eye lid is located under their lower eye lid and sits in the corner of the eye. When needed, the third eye lid will extend across the dog's eye to protect it from any damage and helps to spread moisture across the eye ball. 
The third eye lid is opaque in colour and a dog is unable to see through it. It moves horizontally across the eye. 
The third eye lid also contains lymph nodes so helps to prevent eye infections. Unlike the upper and lower eye lids, the third eye lid does not move voluntarily and moves independantly. It is often triggered by the retraction of the dog's eyeball into it's socket (closing it eyes)

in normal circumstances, no. In healthy dogs, their third eye lid is often not visible and will not cause any interruptions to your dogs day to day life. For this reason, if the third eye lid is visible, it's a good indication that there may be a health concern for your dog. Some conditions that can affect the third eye lid in dogs includes;

• Cherry Eye - a condition where the third eye lid tear gland becomes swollen and bright red in colour, swelling out from the edge of the dog's eye. This condition is more common in some breeds than others, including Bulldogs, Beagles and Shih Tzu's. 
• Conjunctivitis - which can be caused by a virus, allergy flare ups or dry eye. This can cause a flare up of the third eye lid and cause it to be exposed from a dog's eye. 
• Poor Health Conditions - such as dehydration, weight loss, malnourishment or any condition that can affect the muscles around a dog's eye, can cause the third eye lid to be exposed. 
  

Should you have any concerns about your dogs third eye lid or their eye health, you should always consult your vet for an examination. If a dogs third eye lid is not functioning correctly, it could lead to eye damage, pain or discomfort for your dog. 

​Bloat is when gas and/or food stretches the stomach many times its normal size and the stomach turns more than 180 degrees on its longitudinal axis, sealing off both the entry and exit from the stomach. This causes the spleen swells placing pressure on the major vein bringing blood back to the heart from the lower body. Many damaging events follow including the release of toxins from the dying stomach lining and heart dysfunction. Without immediate care the dog goes into shock and dies. Bloat is an extremely serious condition, and should be considered a life-threatening emergency when it occurs. 

​Sadly, the exact cause of Bloat is still unknown.  even after extensive testing in controlled situations, Bloat does not occur consistently in the same simulations. 
It does however, seem to appear that it occurs as a combination of events. There are many theories about the cause of Bloat from Veterinarians. Factors may include feeding large meals of dry food followed by exercise, abrupt changes in diet, drinking a large amount of water after eating, and fast gulping of food. Other causes have been suggested but nothing has been proven.

​The most obvious signs are abdominal distention (swollen, hard belly) and non-productive vomiting (animal appears to be vomiting, but nothing comes up) and retching. The stomach and abdomen will be distended and hard to the touch. This distension is first apparent on the left hind side of the abdomen Other signs include restlessness (pacing & panting), abdominal pain, and rapid shallow breathing. Profuse drooling may indicate severe pain. If the dog’s condition continues to deteriorate the dog may go into shock and become pale (check gum colour), have a weak pulse, a rapid heart rate, become lethargic and eventually collapse. 
There are no home remedies to treat bloat, your dog needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Bloat is an emergency situation. Your dog will be assessed by the vet to establish what stage of bloat they are in and if a tube can be used to remove the gas from the stomach or if surgery is needed. 

Major Australian carriers like Virgin Australia and Qantas welcome service dogs from approved organisations. These dogs travel free of charge in the cabin, right by their owner's side, as their assistance may be needed mid-flight.

To board without issues, owners must meet these standards:

• Proof of Status: Present a current Public Access Card at check-in or boarding.
• Onboard Rules: Keep the dog tethered throughout the flight and use an absorbent mat to manage any messes.
• Advance Notification: Inform the airline in advance of your booking and submit all required paperwork ahead of time.

Allowing Assistance Dogs to accompany their owners everywhere promotes an active lifestyle and ensures a safe, supportive experience for both. Airlines carefully consider factors like:

• Flight duration
• Stress from cabin noise and new environments
• Quarantine rules for international returns to Australia

Decisions always prioritise the health and wellbeing of the owner and dog.

Hear from Sheree and her Assistance Dog, Jade, on their travel adventures;

'My assistance dog, Jade, is a perfect candidate for airline travel: she has frequent exposure to busy places and public transport, remains calm in every situation and settles readily in any location. We have shared 12 domestic flights together and, typically, Jade has afforded herself the opportunity of sleeping through them all! She has breezed through all airport procedures and apparently only once looked suspicious. Fortunately the security guard who ‘pat down’ her orange jacket found no concealments!
Taking up temporary residence in a hotel room without our usual ‘doggie door’ has only the added challenge of providing Jade with late night and early morning toilet breaks. Fortunately she is no stranger to elevators!  Whether at home or away, Jade’s daily exercise and free play needs must be met, so locating suitable parks is always a priority.

Though our experiences have all been overwhelmingly positive, and airport and flight staff accommodating without exception, I would only ever have Jade accompany me on flights of up to two hours duration. Being a wheelchair user I am required to board the plane first and disembark last, a procedure which potentially doubles the time Jade is not permitted to drink, toilet or freely move about. When I am occasionally required to take a long flight Jade enjoys a well deserved holiday of her own with my parents.'

This information and so much more available from ASDOG Australia website here!

Be sure to not miss any of our other Therapy Dog Thursday blogs here! 

When a dog has a luxating patella, this means that their kneecap (the patella) slips out of its normal position in the thigh bone (femur). This causes the knee to dislocate (luxate) sideways. The term “luxating patella” simply means the kneecap dislocates out of place.
There are two types of luxating patella:
MPL – Medial Patellar Luxation
This is where the kneecap moves inward out of position. This is the most common type of patellar luxation, and symptoms are usually seen earlier in a dog’s life. It is most commonly seen in small dog breeds.
LPL – Lateral Patellar Luxation
This is where the kneecap moves outward from its normal position. This is less common and is often seen in medium to large dog breeds. It is also more common in dogs that suffer from hip dysplasia.
A knee affected by a luxating patella is more likely to develop arthritis earlier in life due to consistent rubbing on the joint cartilage.

In most cases, a luxating patella is a hereditary condition passed down from breeding parents. However, it can also develop over time or be caused by a degenerative condition.
It’s important to ensure that the medical history of breeding parents is known, to help prevent luxating patellas from being passed on to future litters.

In mild cases, signs of a luxating patella may remain asymptomatic, and dogs are often able to pop their kneecap back into place on their own, sometimes without the owner even noticing.
A common sign is a dog walking with a “skip” in their step. They may briefly hold up the affected leg, kick it out, or shake it. If they quickly return to normal walking, it usually means the patella has slipped back into place on its own.
As a dog ages with a luxating patella, they may become increasingly lame in the affected leg. This is due to ongoing cartilage wear, which can lead to discomfort and arthritis.
If a dog needs help getting the patella back into place, they may cry out in pain and lick at the knee joint. It’s best not to handle the leg, as dogs can often correct it themselves. However, if the issue persists or the dog becomes distressed, veterinary attention should be sought as soon as possible.

During a physical examination, your vet can diagnose a luxating patella and assign it a grade. Luxating patellas are graded from 1 to 4 to determine severity, guide treatment, and monitor progression over time.

• Grade 1: Mild and unlikely to significantly impact day-to-day life
  
• Grade 4: Severe, painful, and likely to require surgery
  

Grade 1–2:
These cases often don’t require major intervention. Management includes maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding activities that involve sudden stopping, sharp turns, or spinning. Dogs may also benefit from physiotherapy or anti-inflammatory medication if discomfort is present.
Grade 3–4 (or frequent Grade 1–2 cases):
Surgery is usually recommended. This helps realign the patella, reduce pain, and minimise the risk of early-onset arthritis, especially in younger dogs.

Seeing an Assistance Dog at work is a heart-warming experience, and the journey of training and preparing one to join their new owner’s life is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of this process but weren’t sure where to begin, or what role you could play, we’ve got you covered. In this edition of Therapy Dog Thursday, we’re excited to share a few ways you can get involved in the training and raising of a future Assistance Dog.

Volunteer as a Puppy Raiser!
​
Welcome a beautiful puppy into your home (and heart) and help play a vital role in potentially raising a future Guide Dog who will assist someone with low vision or blindness in their day to day tasks.
As a puppy raiser, you will love, nurture and help expose your puppy to the world, to help grow them into a confident and well socialised dog.  Guide Dogs support you every step of the way with on going support from their Puppy Raising network and also cover costs of food, vet bills, collars, toys etc. 

Want to find out more? Visit their website here and register your expression of interest to learn more! 

Volunteer  to support a Breeding Dog!

​With Assistance Dogs Australia, you can share in a really special moment, by taking in a Mum-To-Be, pregnant breeding dog and supporting her through her pregnancy and birth. These beautiful babies will remain in your home until around 8 weeks of age.
Your job during this time is to provide love, safety and a secure space inside for Mumma and, when they arrive, her pups.  Support is provided by ADA during the entire process.
Please be aware, carer's for this role must live within a reasonable distance from the ADA National Training School in Waterfall NSW.  As most of our readers live in Victoria is would be great if you shared this opportunity with dog loving friends who live in NSW so they and then share this on with their networks - you never know who knows who - It's a small world these days!

If you, or someone you know, would be a suitable 'Brood Carer', find out more here.  You can also find other ways you can volunteer with Assistance Dogs Australia here! 

Provide your salvia... no really! 

Lions Assistance Dogs need your saliva - that is providing you are a Type 1 Diabetic.  Volunteers who provide their Type 1 Diabetic salvia are assisting in training Diabetic Alert Dogs - without even having to leave your home! 
To qualify to provide your salvia you must 
- Be a Type 1 Diabetic
- Have well managed diabetes and it be safe for you to fall outside of the normal blood glucose range

Lions Assistance Dogs provide collection kits and then freeze the salvia to store it until it is needed for training. Without these samples, they are unable to train their Diabetic Alert Dogs. 

Visit the Lions Assistance Dogs website here for more information on providing your salvia as well as other ways you can volunteer to support them. 

These amazing organisations could not operate without the efforts of amazing volunteers and donations. To donate, visit the websites below.