 A+ Pet Care Newsletter
Winter 2008
Why We're Thankful to our Pets
Why we're thankful to our dogs:
They make great pillows
They make us feel like superheroes when we walk through the door
A tail wag a day keeps the doctor away (and we get about 1,437 tail wags)
They make us strive to be the perfect humans they think we are
More loyal friends don't exist in this world
Why we're thankful to our cats:
We don't have to worry about forgetting to set our alarm clocks
They have an uncanny way of being there when we need them the most
They sure know how to carry a conversation
They see to it that we keep our minds sharp
We never know just where we're going to find them--in a box, in the sink, buried in laundry...
Top Ten Cold Weather Tips
Brrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.
1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a shorthaired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for more information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
Prepare for Everyday Emergencies
A snow or ice storm comes up quickly during the day and you can’t get home or you are not aware that you home was hit by a tornado, fire or a chemical spill that occurred nearby and you have pets home alone. Or worse yet, you are in a serious accident and no one knows to check on your pets.
The key to survival during a disaster, crisis or emergency is to be as prepared as possible before the disaster hits. Take the time to make a plan and assemble an emergency kit for you and your pet. By taking these steps now, you will greatly increase your pet’s chances of survival.
The following actions are recommended to make sure your pets are taken care of when everyday events like these prevent you from taking care of your pets:
R Find a trusted neighbor and give them a key to your house or barn. Make sure this person is comfortable and familiar with your pets.
R Make sure the neighbor knows your pets' whereabouts and habits, so they will not have to waste precious time trying to find or catch them.
R Create a pet emergency/disaster kit and place it in a prominent place where your neighbor can find it.
R If the emergency involves evacuation, make sure the neighbor would be willing to take your pets and has access to the appropriate carriers and leashes. Plan to meet at a prearranged location.
R If you use a pet sitting service, they may be available to help, but discuss the possibility well in advance.
R Post instructions for feeding and medicating pets as well as where they are allowed to be turned out.
Are You Prepared? Find out by answering these questions:
If You Have Pets:
1. Can you gather all your pets and put them into pet carriers in time? Do you have carriers for all your pets?
2. Are all your pets wearing collars and ID tags with their name, your name, your telephone number, and an emergency telephone number?
3. If your cat escapes the cat carrier and becomes lost, could you provide a photograph?
4. Do you know where you can go with your pets in the event of an emergency evacuation? Do you know of any animal-friendly motels nearby?
5. Do you have your veterinarian's telephone number on your list of emergency numbers in case your dog or cat becomes ill?
6. Do you have a contingency plan to evacuate your pets if something happens when you are at work?
7. Where is your pet's disaster evacuation emergency "go kit"?
If You Have Horses:
1. Can you have your horses loaded on the trailer ready to leave in time? Will your horse trailer hold all your horses?
2. Have you recently practiced trailering up your horse?
3. Is your horse wearing a halter with her name, your name, your telephone number, and an emergency telephone number on it?
4. Do you know where you can go with your horses in the event of an emergency evacuation?
5. Do you have your horses' Coggins tests in your emergency packet to present to the officer at the emergency shelter?
6. When you arrive at the emergency shelter to pick up your horse after several days, could you provide identification photos and descriptions from your emergency packet to prove ownership?
If You Have Farm Animals:
1. Can you evacuate your animals in time? Do you have a way to transport your animals?
2. Have you mapped out an evacuation route?
3. Do you have a safe place to shelter your animals on your property if you cannot evacuate them?
4. Do you have materials on hand to reinforce your barn and outbuildings?
5. Do you have a backup plan for feeding and watering your animals should your power supply be cut off?
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