Monster care during the colder months...

As I mentioned last week, dogs and cats weren't domesticated so they could be independent. In fact, the result of their domestication is just the opposite and has caused the to be unable to survive in the wild on their own. Considering this information and that the definition of the word "domesticate" is readily accessible and should be common knowledge, especially for pet owners, it's impossible for me to identify with the people who still let their pets roam free. Furthermore, the attempts by owners to justify allowing their pets to roam free that might include acres of private land or pets knowing their boundaries are essentially what you clean up after your pets; crap. This dependence, especially in the wild, is why it's so important to ensure that pets are getting the most optimal, loving care possible.

As a side note: many cats are able to rely on instincts to hunt and survive in the wild. This ability, however causes any other problems, such as spread of disease and overpopulation, that I will address in later blogs. One paw and a time for now...

During my two years of working at a veterinary clinic I encountered a dog that was left outside to roam free for hours in below freezing temperatures. While he was found in a pretty under populated area with little traffic, this elderly dog was still in considerable danger by being outdoors alone. As in my last blog, this sweet dog was brought in by what we at the vet clinic called a "Good Sam;" a person who finds an abandoned or in need animal brings them in for help. This Good Sam was driving along an out of the way road and passed a dilapidated building that was obviously abandoned. As she passed the building the Good Sam saw a dog laying alone outside and became concerned that it was going to run out in front of the car or try to chase her. She slowed down as she passed out of caution and saw something was wrong with the dog and it was unable to stand. The Good Sam feared that the dog had been hit by a car and was injured so she stopped the car to check him out. After she cautiously approached the dog she found that he was unable to stand because he had become frozen to the ground. After somehow carefully prying his bony legs fro the ice below, the Good Sam loaded him into her car and brought him straight to our clinic. When the doctor examined the bewildered dog he found that his joints were in extremely poor condition due to ignored arthritis and probably just gave out because of a mixture of the dog's advanced age, the frigid temperatures, and the arthritis being ignored. After the dog was cared for for a few days at our clinic his condition did not improve, the owner never claimed him, and euthanization was the most humane option because he was unable to stand or walk without being held up.

Coincidentally, the doctor who treated the above dog had a pet that was maimed from being left out in the cold also. A few years before the above incident, a stray cat was brought in by a different Good Sam who had found a cat near his car with a partly severed tail. It turned out that the cat had climbed up under the hood of the car and when the Good Sam started his engine, the fan belt caught the cat's tail and ripped part of it off. The doctor explained that cats often seek heat from recently shut off engines and this sort of thing happens much more than people think. After the doctor fixed up the traumatized cat's tail and no one ever claimed it, he decided to adopt the cat and it went on to live its next eight lives happily.

Now, to help avoid both of the above situations and many potential others, I have gathered some helpful do's and don'ts about caring for our monsters during the cold winter months:

• Do keep your cats indoors during the winter months as they can easily become lost, frozen, or ultimately lose their tails.
• Do wipe off your dog's feet, legs and stomach after bringing them in the house. Your pets might ingest road salt or antifreeze from walking in the snow.
• Don't let your dog off its leash during ice or snow storms because they can lose their scent easily and become lost.
• Don't give your pet a short hair cut during the winter months. If your own a small dog, consider getting them a sweater vest for extremely cold days.
• Don't leave your pet alone in a vehicle. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter and become even colder than it is outside.
• Do increase your dog's food supply if he/she spends a lot of tie with you doing outdoor activities during the winter. The extra food and protein will help to keep them warm and their fur in good condition.
• Do be sure to clean up all antifreeze or coolant spills as these things taste really sweet and yummy but are extremely toxic to pets and humans alike.
• Do choose a safe alternative to road salt to use around your house. The most popular and recommended product is called "Safe Salt" and is not only better for your pet, but also for the environment.

Also make sure your pet has a warm, dry place to sleep in the house that is away from drafts from doors or windows. There are many different pet beds available at pet stores and other stores alike. Otherwise, a blanket or cushion with your scent will do just fine.

Next week I'll be tackling a little tougher subject; pet sterilization. There are many myths regarding the spaying and neutering of pets, like it makes them lazy, that I will discuss and give some background information on to verify or disprove them.

Caring for Your Monster During the Summer Months.

Dogs and cats weren't domesticated so they could be left to roam town all day or so they could be tied up outside, alone and forgotten about. They were domesticated, mostly, to be companion animals and there are many dangers to leaving an animal unattended outside for long periods of time, free to roam or not. For example, what most people don't realize is that dogs and cats can suffer from many of the same illnesses brought on by sun exposure and high temperatures as people, like dehydration, heat stroke, and sunburn. Actually, animals are at a much higher risk of developing these problems with less exposure to the elements than people due to the way their bodies are designed, especially with their bare paw pads and inability to sweat.
Another thing that puts animals at a higher risk is that they lack the human's arsenal of protective gear, like clothing and sunscreen.

In 2005, while working at a veterinary clinic I witnessed the effects of sun exposure and high heat on a Brittany Spaniel that was left to roam free during one of the hottest days of the summer. He was brought in by a family who had no idea where he came from or who he belonged to. All the family knew was that their son found the dog panting uncontrollably under a tree in their front yard and that he was unresponsive. The family realized that this dog needed help immediately and rushed him into the clinic. When the dog's limp body was lifted onto the examination table the first action the veterinarian took was to take his temperature. It was 106 degrees; about five to six degrees higher than what is normal for the species. Because no one knew the owner or and the dog was not wearing a collar, it was impossible to know how long he had been in this condition or if he was able to be saved. Regardless, the staff went to work immediately to try to lower his temperature with a cold bath, but it was too late and as the doctor put it, his brain was fried. I don't remember how, but the owner was eventually located and the young dog of about five or six was euthanized.

I witnessed this tragedy almost five years ago and can still envision the dog lying limp on the table with his chest violently heaving as his lungs try to pant the heat out of his body and it frustrates me to know that this dog's death and many other animal's deaths can be prevented by something that seems as common sense as not leaving a pet outside on scorching hot days. As a general rule, if it's too hot for you to be outside, it's too hot for your pet to be outside for extended periods of time. This advice goes for all dogs and cats, but there are some breeds with flat faces (Persian cats and Pugs) that owners should be particularly careful with on hot days because they're unable to pant normally like other animals with protruding noses. Panting is particularly important as it's an animal's only self cooling mechanism because of their inability to sweat. Other animals that are of higher risk include those with heart or lung problems and ones that are elderly or overweight. Besides the advice on animal care I gave above, I have also gathered a few tips for caring for pets during the warmer moths and listed them below.

Do's and Don'ts of summer pet care:

• Don't leave your pet alone in a vehicle. Even with windows open, on extremely hot or sunny days the car can quickly heat up like an oven.
• Do make sure your pet has plenty of clean, cool drinking water. Avoid giving them ice cubes as they're choking hazards.
• Do make sure they have a cool, shady place to lay in if outside.
  
• Do bring extra water for your pet and make frequent drink stops when walking or jogging with them on hot days.
• Don't travel with your dog in the bed of the truck. If, for some reason you have to travel with them in the bed be sure the surface they are standing on is slide resistant and not too hot by testing it with your feet.
• Don't bring your pets to festivities that include fireworks as they may become nervous and agitated bu the loud bangs.
• Don't feed your pets human food or drinks at parties as they may become sick. Some things might actually even be harmful to their health such as raisins, onions, and chocolate.

A couple of other tips and things to look out for:

• Some symptoms of an overheating pet include; excessive panting or difficulty breathing, a high fever accompanied by vomiting or bloody diarrhea, increased heart rate, weakness, lethargy, confusion or even collapse. If a pet shows these symptons after being in the sun or heat, call a veterinarian immediately for advice on bringing them in to be examined or treating them at home.
• Another common injury in the summer months involves safety indoors. Treat your pet almost as you would a child when it comes to "proofing" your house and be sure to secure the window screens tightly. This advice is especially for cats or small dog owners as these types of animals generally like to sit in the window sill and look outside as my Monster does.

Remember that your pet's health depends on you and they're not able to tell us if something is wrong with them. Always pay close attention to changes in your pet's eating or bathroom habits because those are usually the first to change if they are sick. Your love and care combined with the tips above should help your pet enjoy a happy summer vacation with you.

*Next week I will shed some light on caring for your monsters during the winter months. A blog that those who live near me in the frozen tundra of Upper Michigan should know a little something about.