Winterize your pet…..
Frequently we as humans forget that we have to winterize our pets. While some pets are better suited than others for living outdoors others are not and should be kept indoors. There is a common misconception that dogs will be "fine" if left outside. This is not true! All animals need shelter and insulation against cold weather. Frostbite and hypothermia are possible for our furry friends as well. Geriatric and young animals are high at risk so special care should be given to them.
Dog Houses: If you are going to keep your dog outside you must provide it with an adequate house. The house should have a heat source, dry bedding and be situated in a place that is protected from the wind. Bedding could be straw or blankets but be careful if your pet is prone to chewing. There are many heat sources available at pet supply stores like heated mats or lamps to be used with animals.
Food and Water: Fresh water should be available at all times. Heated dishes are great for those really cold climates. During the cold spells animals will need more food for energy and maintaining body heat.
Foot Care: Dogs with longer hair may develop ice balls between the pads of their feet causing limping. Be sure to clip the hair to prevent this from happening or use booties like Muttluks. If you are walking your pet on sidewalks or roads make sure you wash their feet when you get home with a warm wet cloth as people will have "salted" or "de-iced" their walks.
Anitfreeze: Antifreeze for vehicles is a sweet substance that many pets will enjoy lapping up but just a few licks can be fatal. Make sure that any containers are locked up and any spills cleaned up immediately.
Seeking Heat: Many animals will seek the warmth of a car engine. Before you start your car take the time to honk the horn or knock on the hood to scare off any animal that has possibly crawled up into your engine the night you brought your vehicle home.
The ASPCA has a good list of things to help winterize your pet. As well a call to your veterinarian may help give you some pointers.
Tags: dog, pet, winter, healthy pet
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Obestiy A Pet Epidemic Too!!
Did you know that approximately 45% of pets brought to veterinary clinics are overweight? It’s true. These are some guidelines that I follow when determining if a pet needs to go on a diet…
1. Feel your pets rib cage. You should be able to feel individual ribs. If not your pet is overweight.
2. Stand over your pet. Does it have and hourglass figure? If not your pet is overweight.
3. Look at your pet from the side. Is there a tuck at the abdomen? If not your pet is overweight.
These are some quick things that you can do to see if your pet is overweight. Now as for putting your pet on a diet that is another issue. First switch your pet (slowly over a week or two) to a reduced calorie diet. Two of my favorites are R/d by Hill’s or Calorie Control by Royal Canin. Take your pet to your veterinary clinic, talk to the staff there and weigh your pet. Both of these companies offer pamphlets that help to determine what your pet should be eating to lose weight.
Some other tips to help lose the weight are exercise, small frequent meals (so your pet feels full all day instead of being a voracious eater at one meal and hungry the rest of the day), feed carrots or low calorie treats and exercise. Some people ask how can I get my cat to exercise…..sure its easy for the dog people they just have to walk the dog but what about my cat. I offer the following suggestions……
Put the food bowl up or downstairs so your cat has to do the "stair" workout. Use enticing toys like laser pointers, feathers on strings or flicking sticks to get your cat to move around.
Just like with humans it is important to lose the weight at a decent rate. Most will agree that 10% a month in weight loss is a steady rate. I also encourage people to take their pet into their veterinary clinic once a month to get weighed and talk with the staff with regards to any questions you may have or to adjust the amount of food that your pet will get daily.
Remember, losing weight is never easy for humans or pets but with perseverance and the assistance of a good diet and the help of your veterinary staff you can do it and so can your pet.
Tags: pet, dog, cat, healthy pet, obesity
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Scardy Cats and Dogs…..Halloween is Scary for Pets
Halloween is a fun time for kids and many adults, but can be a frightening and stressful time for your pets. As a pet owner, you know your pet best, but here are some points to consider for your pet’s safety.
- Continual doorbell ringing and people at the door (in costume, no less!) can be stressful for a pet. Some pets may experience stress-related diarrhea or potentially injure themselves if crated or otherwise contained. Keep your pet in a quiet and safe place on Halloween.
- Watch your pet around strangers in costume — some animals may become unexpectedly aggressive or fearful, even normally friendly pets.
- Candles and Jack-O’-Lanterns within a pet’s range are a fire hazard. Wagging tails and frightened cats zooming through the house can easily tip over a candle or carved pumpkin, causing burns or a fire.
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Candy – many pets have a sweet tooth. General overindulgence, chocolate, and plastic/cardboard candy-filled toys can cause added problems if ingested.
- Keep your pets indoors on Halloween night, especially black cats. Animals are at risk for cruel treatment by some Halloween pranksters. Many adoption agencies and humane societies will not allow adoption of black cats around Halloween for this reason.
Look at all of that candy!
For many people, Halloween = candy. Please warn children not to share their goodies with the family pet.
Chocolate is poisonous for pets. Granted, a 50 pound dog would have to eat about 50 ounces of milk chocolate (but only 5 ounces of baking chocolate) for a toxic dose, but much smaller amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of chocolate toxicity include tremors, nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures and death. If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, consult your veterinarian.
Other candies, such as lollipops and those with plastic components, pose a danger if ingested. Lollipop sticks and plastic parts can cause intestinal obstruction and potentially rupture the intestines, which is a life-threatening emergency.
Look at the variety of pet costumes! How can I resist?
- While viewed as fun and adorable for some pet owners, caution is advised when putting a costume on a pet. A pet in costume should NEVER be left alone and unsupervised.
- Tight elastics on the costumes can get lost in the pet’s hair, potentially causing owners to overlook them, leading to swelling and pain in the area of the elastic.
- Some pets, if left alone in costume, may chew it up and ingest it. This could cause intestinal obstruction if more than small shreds of material are consumed.
- If the costumed pet escapes or is frightened away, the costume could entangle the pet on trees, fences, etc.
Play it safe and have fun
With a little caution and some common sense, Halloween can be a fun time for kids and pets alike. If any acts of animal cruelty are seen or suspected, please call your local shelter or animal authorities. Happy and safe Halloween to everyone.
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Pet cloning company shuts its doors.
Genetic Savings & Clone, a biotechnology company that sold cloned pets, sent letters to its customers last month informing them it will close at the end of the year because of little demand for cloned cats. The company had recently reduced the price from $50,000 to $32,000. Associative Press
Well thank goodness for that!
"It’s no surprise the demand for cloned pets is basically nonexistent, and we’re very pleased that Genetics Savings & Clone’s attempt to run a cloning pet store was a spectacular flop," said Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the United States. "It’s not just a bad business venture, but also an operation grounded on the misuse of animals."
I know it is very difficult when you lose an animal, in fact one of my future posts will deal with the human animal bond, but cloning your pet that is just going a little too far?? What do you think of cloning? Leave a comment.
Tags: pet, cloning, genetic savings & clone
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