Thursday, July 21, 2011

How to Keep your pet safe in the heat.


I received this information in an email and I feel that it is timely and useful information for pet owners.  I am reposting it here for you.  Of course, there is a link to a product, but that is to be expected in some emails.  I have included the link also, because I believe he is offering a product that is beneficial for all pets.  I firmly believe that vitamins and minerals are required to be supplemented due to our diet choices and the way food is processed today--even pet food.  I hope this information will give you pause and help you keep your loved one safe from this horrid heatwave.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. AVOID the car- never leave your pet in one. The temperature can rise to dangerous levels within 10 minutes- EVEN if the windows are open. In practice I have seen heatstroke develop in 15 minutes, especially with the brachycephalic breeds ( pushed in faces)

2. Keep your pet hydrated, and in the shade. Much the same as us, especially during the peak sun hours. Provide plenty of fresh cool water, and if you have air conditioning, get your pet in it.

3. AVOID strenuous exercise during the HOT sunny hours. Try and do your dog walking early morning or late at night. Both of my dogs, Lewis and Jessie literally stop moving in the heat!

4. STAY off the HOT road- I have had dogs in the past with damaged paws from sun heated ashphalt. IF it is too hot for you to walk on it with bare feet, then it is TOO hot for your dog.

5. Offer frozen treats- I often freeze a Kong filled with peanut butter. I have made frozen yummy Ultimate Canine 'dogsicles' which my dogs LOVE.

6. There are specific products that you can get to keep your pet cool- such as long lasting KOOL vests, although I find plain old common sense is a BETTER way to go...if your dog gets too HOT offer cold water, shade, and air conditioning.

7. Signs of Heat Stroke:

The signs depend upon the extent of heat stroke. In the early stages, your pet will pant rapidly, have thick, ropey saliva, and have bright red gums. His body temperature will be between 104-106°F.

As the body temperature climbs above 106°F, your pet will go into shock with subsequent organ shutdown.

He will have pale gums, be weak and dizzy, with vomiting and diarrhea. The brain becomes affected and he may seizure or fall into a coma. In this case, he requires immediate, life-saving veterinary intervention.

The normal body temperature of a dog or cat ranges between 38 - 39°C or 103°F. Our pets maintain this temperature through panting, however sometimes they are unable to lose enough heat. Dogs and cats probably do suffer from heat cramps and heat exhaustion like us humans but the symptoms are mild and we don't recognize them. The condition that we see is heatstroke, and it may cause the death of a pet.


8. TO THE VET ASAP. If you suspect severe heatstroke and your pet has collapsed, get your pet immediate veterinary care. In this case, the organs may be shutting down and he needs specialized care to survive. While in transit it is important to continue to apply cool wet towels to the back of the neck and groin area.

9. WHAT'S THE TEMP? Use a rectal thermometer and find your pet's exact temperature: if it is 104°F or higher, he has heatstroke, and you need to take action.

10. COOL DOWN. Run cold water over the back of your pet's head. Place cold packs wrapped in towels between the back legs, on the belly and in the armpits. Wet towels can be used instead. You can use a garden hose to run the water over the back of his head. 




P.S. Those 'dogsicles' I mentioned are VERY yummy according to my expert tasters ( Lewis and Jessie)...

You cat owners out there with hot cats can also make 'catsicles'

The secret ingredient?

My supplement.

You can get a 50% OFF trial bottle to make hundreds of healthy, and tasty dog and cat 'beat the heat' frozen treats by going here:

http://www.thedogsupplement.com

http://www.thecatsupplement.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

More about the kittens....

My love, KT, taking a break!
I haven't posted much recently about the feral kittens living on my front porch.  They are all spayed and neutered finally and they all got rabies shots and worming.  I can actually touch (as in pet and hold) two of them, so this month I gave them flea medicine along with the big black male cat I have had for sometime now.  He is a love and adores being rubbed, unlike his sister who is stand-offish and aloof.  Anyway, these cats are all doing well and living on the porch. 

It is comical in the mornings when I take Satchmo and Austen out to do their business, I look behind me and I have a line of black and black-n-white cats trailing behind me like little ducklings.  I will take my Flip camcorder with me some morning to try to catch a video of them all walking behind me.  I crack up.  I wonder what my neighbors think?

The beautiful and aloof Ditto

Here's Frac the scaredy cat

Reclining in the back, the friendly Fric

The lovely and at ease Petunia

The elusive and shy Tulip
I did finally get some pictures of the kittens, so will post them here.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Top 10 July 4th Holistic Pet Safety Tips

Here's an email I received from a holistic veterinarian that I thought I would post here for you to read.  The 4th of July is a fun holiday for people, but not so much for our pets.  Please take a little extra time to ensure that your pets get through the holiday without undue stress.  This site is one I visit often, and I recommend his book and videos to you.  We should all be prepared for whatever happens to our pets and his book will give you the information you need to deal with emergencies with confidence.

Happy 4th of July to all of you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


By Dr Andrew | July 4, 2011

Top 10 July 4th Holistic Pet Safety Tips
1. Keep them at HOME. In most cases it is always safer to leave Your pet at home, in a quiet, closed in place…your house! Our pets have hearing 10 times our own, so any loud noise is ESPECIALLY disturbing to them. I leave my own pets with a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter.
2. THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC. Turn up the tunes to drown out some of the impending loud noises. This will screen out some of the loud sounds, lowering anxiety levels. Music with a slow even beat, such as classical, will work best.
3. FLOWER ESSENCES. Bach Rescue Remedy is a very safe alternative medication that may calm your anxious pet. Place 4 drops on your pet’s gums prior to leaving.
4. SOOTHING FINGERS. A type of therapeutic touch, called Tellington Touch has helped many pets with noise anxiety. The most effective area is the ear. Gently hold the ear flap between your thumb and forefinger. Gently stroke from the base of the ear to the ear tip; repeat the motion several times covering different sections of the ear. Use the same fingers to draw tiny circles at the base of the ear. Try both of the techniques on your dog when he is calm. If he reacts well, then try it the next time a storm approaches.
5. Pet ID. Every Holiday involving Fireworks causes scared animals who run away and get lost. Ensure your pets have identification at all times.
6. Keep your pets out of hot cars: A puppy just died recently in Vancouver after being left for 3 hours in a parked car, with the sunroof open. The inside of the vehicle was over 100 F. Once again LEAVE your pets at home.
7. SAFE topicals for pets. Read the labels to make sure the sunscreen or insect repellent can be used on your pet.
8. Toxic Glow Jewelry-AVOID it. Your pet may look cute glowing in the dark, but the glowing substance is orally and intestinally toxic.
9. Fireworks and Pets are a BAD idea. The noise is likely to severely frighten your pet. Then there is the risks of severe burns. The fireworks themselves have caustic substances, such as potassium nitrate, arsenic.
10. Be prepared: You should Have a basic pet first aid kit, plus know where your closest emergency vet is. You can also make your own First Aid kit.

All in all, use common sense, and keep you and your pet safe.

Best wishes and have a Happy Holiday

Dr Andrew
Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Here's the PBS video--The Dogs are alright--about the Vick dogs

This video is posted here for those who don't know about or realize what went into saving the Vick fighting dogs.  This video shows the hope and help these dogs were given by just a few people; those who were supposed to be looking out for their welfare seemed to give up on them.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Losing a Pet: What to do to deal with the grief

Losing a pet is an experience that cuts deep. These furry, feathered, or even scaled companions become part of our families, our daily routi...