December 2009
“WHISKERS” DECEMBER, 2009
Hello everyone. I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is behind us, and the Christmas season is here.
This month’s newsletter has some interesting and very useful information, and I hope you enjoy it.
I wish you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season.
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10 Tips Before the Holidays Arrive
The American Humane Association offers the following tips to pet owners.
Ringing Doorbell Equals Nervous Breakdown?
Many pets are agitated by the sound of doorbells, especially since their hearing is much more sensitive than ours. If your dogs bark, run and jump when new people arrive at the house, or if your cat runs for cover, consider disengaging the doorbell and putting a sign on the door to ask guests to “knock please.”
“No” to the Five-Second Rule
Sometimes we forget what can fall on the floor when we are cooking for a holiday crowd and there’s a pet around. Some of it may be OK, but things like bread dough, can cause problems. When an animal ingests dough, its body heat causes the dough to rise in its stomach, leading to bloat or worse.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Cats and other animals may seek out your car engine for warmth during the winter months, so honk the horn or bang on the hood a few times before starting the engine.
Adjust Your Pet’s Diet
Most pets spend more time indoors during the winter, which means their activity level drops and they need less food. However, if your pet does spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather, he will need more food as he burns calories to keep warm.
Ice, Snow and Salt
Your pet may like taking a stroll outside when the temperature dips, but many people use powerful salts on their sidewalks to combat the ice. Clean your pet’s paws after your outing to prevent its pads from becoming irritated and dried out.
Don’t Forget Your Feathered Friends
Getting ready for holiday gatherings usually means extra cleaning before guests arrive. Fumes from rug shampoo, furniture polish and oven cleaner can be fatal to a bird if they enter its delicate respiratory system. When using these products, keep them away from birds, and open your windows to let the air flow.
Just Because It’s Cold Doesn’t Mean They Can’t Catch a Bug
Mosquitoes and other bugs can be a year-round problem. Remember to keep your pets on their regular heartworm, flea and tick preventive medicines, even during the winter.
In Addition to Poinsettias …
Holly, amaryllis, mistletoe and pine needles can be harmful to your pet’s stomach. Go for the fake versions to keep your traditions, and your pet, alive.
If They Like Toilet Water, They’ll Probably Like Tree Water
Both cats and dogs may find Christmas-tree water irresistible, so if you add a tree preservative to the water, make sure it is pet friendly. Better yet, use a tree stand designed to prevent pets from accessing the water, which can harbor bacteria.
More Temptation Lies in the Tree
With its glittering lights and natural climbing area, the Christmas tree may offer a new place for your cat to play. Hang your most valuable or breakable ornaments near the top and cat-friendly ornaments on the bottom.
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Alert Issued About Canine Influenza
An alert has been issued for pet owners regarding the highly contagious canine influenza, or dog flu.
Veterinarians at PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance say dogs can easily contract the H3N8 virus (the Dog Flu virus) by coming in contact with other dogs, contaminated objects, and even their owners, who unknowingly can pass it from an infected dog to an uninfected dog.
Canine influenza is extremely contagious and while humans are not affected by this flu strain, they can unknowingly pass it from an infected dog to an unaffected dog. Dog flu can also be spread directly from dog to dog and via contaminated objects. Dogs in kennels, boarding facilities, or animal shelters, at dog shows, or in close proximity to other dogs are at a higher risk of contracting canine influenza.
“If your dog is exposed to another dog that has the canine influenza virus, it is highly likely your dog will come down with the dog flu,” says Dr. William H. Craig, DVM. “Pet owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus,” he said.
The dog flu first emerged as a threat in 2004. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says canine influenza has now been detected in more than 30 states.
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Cold Weather Reminders
Some people think that animals’ winter coats are enough to shelter them from the cold.
But if you take a look at where your cat chooses to sleep, it’s pretty obvious that a cat will choose to nap in the warmest, sunniest place in the house – especially in the winter.
The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) reminds cat owners that their pets can be extremely vulnerable if they are exposed to cold weather and potentially dangerous elements found in and around their owners’ homes.
Additionally, as pets vary in size, age, and health status, you need to discuss your pet’s individual needs with your veterinarian.
“Cars, antifreeze, heaters and wood stoves can be death traps for animals if pet owners are not careful,” says Dr. Jeff Smith, president of the CVMA. He adds, “Even inside a house or apartment, though it may be warmer, dangers are present. Anything with an electrical cord or heat source, which may provide extra warmth for humans in the winter, may be dangerous to the average pet.”
*Keep antifreeze away from pets. Cats like the sweet taste and smell of the chemical, but ethanol glycol-based antifreeze is highly poisonous. That’s why some states have required that a bittering agent be added to antifreeze to make it taste unpleasant.
*Bang on your car before starting the engine. Outdoor cats often will curl up into the wheel wells and engine compartments for warmth and they could get trapped. • Protect animals from wood stoves and portable heaters. Cats can jump on top of them, causing burns to their paws. • • Keep nails clipped. Shorter nails allow for better traction on icy surfaces.
• Provide plenty of fresh water. Your cat is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer, and of course, snow is not a substitute for water.
• Wind chill makes days colder than what the actual temperature might show so limit your pet’s time outdoors, although I Love Cats does not advocate allowing cats to roam free outside.
• Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal to keep containers from freezing. Darker colors are recommended as they will absorb more heat.
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Protecting against Dog or Cat Bites
When a dog or cat bites, an infection can follow.
“Wounds that are most likely to become infected are those on the face and hands or when people wait more than eight hours before seeking medical attention,” says Dr. Kate Stenske, a clinical assistant professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
“If you are bitten, first wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and then call your physician right away,” she says.
Stenske said that bite wounds can become infected because dogs and cats both harbor a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in their mouths. Bites are an ideal way for bacteria to be transmitted, she said, because teeth damage tissue, making it more prone to infection.
“Cats, especially, have very sharp little teeth, so they can inject bacteria deep into a person’s skin without causing much of an external wound,” Stenske says.
“Some of the more common bacteria we worry about are Pasteurella, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Streptococcus,” she says, adding, “We also worry about the potential spread of the rabies virus from animals to people through bite wounds.”
Some bite-induced infections can’t be blamed on pets, she says. Bite wounds can be contaminated with bacteria people carry on their skin, rather than bacteria from the pet’s mouth.
It helps to neuter your dog or cat, train and socialize them and use a leash when outside.
For more information on bite prevention, go to http://www.avma.org.
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Rabies: How to Protect Yourself and Your Pets
Rabies is a virus that occurs in mammals and infects the central nervous system; the disease can cause death in humans if it is not treated. Nearly 90 percent of cases occur in wild animals (raccoons, bats, foxes etc.), while less than 10 percent of cases occur in domestic animals like dogs or cats.
Humans usually become infected when they are bitten by an infected animal. Early symptoms of rabies are fever, headache and general malaise. Since these are similar to other illnesses, infected persons often do not seek treatment because they are unaware they have rabies.
Progressive symptoms include:
– Insomnia
– Anxiety/confusion
– Partial paralysis
– Agitation
– Hallucination
– Excess saliva
– Difficulty swallowing
If you have been bitten by any animal you should seek medical care immediately. After possible exposure to rabies, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Treatment for someone who has contracted rabies is called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP treatment, which consists of one dose of a substance called immune globulin and five doses of the rabies vaccine over 28 days, both of which help your body fight the virus.
Treatment must be given as soon after exposure as possible for the best chance of recovery.
If you see an animal you suspect of having rabies, you should call your local health department or animal control agency as both will have ways to safely remove the animal from the area so that no one becomes infected.
Infected animals often display symptoms similar to those listed above and may seem to be acting strangely or seen somewhere outside their normal habitat. The best way to prevent the spread of rabies is to have all your pets vaccinated against the virus. This will also help prevent them from being infected if they come in contact with an infected animal.
For more information, go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov.
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MONEYSAVING OFFERS FOR DECEMBER 2009
The specials for December offer everyone a chance to save money on very order placed, regardless of the size of the order. You will receive $5 OFF on all orders up to $49.99. For the $5 OFF, use Coupon Code FIVE. You will receive $10 OFF on all orders of $50 or more. For the $10 OFF, use Coupon Code TEN. These special discounts will be available throughout the month of December. You may order as many times as you like, and save money on every order. In addition to the discounts, you receive free catnip balls with every order, plus a free 32 oz. bottle of Spot & Stain Eliminator (a $12.95 value). And if your order is $50 or more, you will receive a free bottle of Odor Eliminating All Purpose Cleaner too. (a $10.95 value) Have a happy holiday season!
