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.