“Whiskers” May 2010
May is here and summer can’t be far behind.
Hope you enjoy this month’s issue of “Whiskers.”
As always, your comments, questions, and suggestions are appreciated.
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Animal Airways Launches Service for Cat Owners
Animal Airways, the first global pet-flight management provider for safe and simple family travel, announced the launch of its designated “Cats In-Cabin” Service.
It provides cat owners, who wish to travel with their cats, with all the information and preparation necessary for a safe and simple flight.
The program is geared toward in-cabin flights with solutions such as soft-kennels, document and regulation check and instruction on how to calm the cat during a flight.
Working in collaboration with airlines that allow cats in-cabin, the flight managers and veterinarians will create the most suitable travel plan for the customer.
Animal Airways was established by a veterinarian with a vision of pet-friendly family travel, and has already revolutionized pet
travel for families in 10 countries.
For more information visit http://www.animalairways.com
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There’s no telling what an animal might eat.
This story should serve as a reminder to keep anything even semi-edible up high or behind unopenable doors.
For Michelle and Don Juen of Maplewood, Minn., it’s a lesson that’s been long in the making.
As a puppy, their now 4-year-old Labrador retriever, Rock, devoured a chicken carcass he had found in the trash.
Then there was the time he gobbled up Don’s multivitamins.
This past Christmas, Rock had to have his stomach pumped after he managed to eat homemade cashew brittle, peppermint bark, and a pound of packaged whole bean coffee.
In March, Rock ate 23 packages of instant breakfast powder.
Fortunately for the Juens, Rock suffered no long-term ill effects from the incident.
Wonder how old the dog will be before his owners figure out a way to permanently end his food thievery?
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Proper Care of Stray Animals
Is it a stray or is it lost, and what should you do?
Always be careful when approaching a stray animal says Dr. M.A. Crist, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M University College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
“If the animal is injured or scared it may inflict bite wounds or scratches to the person approaching or trying to handle the stray animal,” Crist says.
Because you don’t know if this animal has been vaccinated for rabies, it’s always best to let experienced personnel handle stray animals and take the animal to a veterinarian immediately.
The animal should have veterinary care if sick or injured and it should also be checked for a microchip or other form of identification that may reconnect it with the original owner.
Also be mindful of bringing a stray animal into a confined area such as your car as the animal may become frightened and become a fear biter. The best place for any animal to travel is in a pet carrier or crate.
A stray pet should be kept away from your personal animals because one does not know if this animal may be carrying other diseases and expose your pets to these diseases.
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Pet and Pools
Memorial Day marks the opening of most people’s pools.
And the accidental drowning of a family pet is more common than you’d think.
Although most healthy dogs and cats have an innate ability to swim short distances, escape from a pool can be a struggle.
Barking or meowing is often difficult when a pet is in the water, and although they head to the closest edge of the pool to climb or claw their way out, concrete can break toenails, which can increase the panic.
Animals may head to the shallow end of the pool but depending on how far away that may be, water is ingested and breathing can become labored.
The animal is exhausted within minutes.
So keep a close eye on your pets this spring and summer – especially around the pool.
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When the Snakes Come Marching In
Once the temperatures get into the high 70’s to low 80’s, the snakes that “winter” begin moving.
Depending on where you live, they can be king snakes, rat snakes, milk snakes, rattlesnakes, hedge snakes or garter snakes, to name a few.
The snakes that hibernate deeper down in burrows, pits, and dens, will start moving after the ground around them warms up, most notably includes the rattlesnake, and the first things they look for is food and water.
Once they shed their skin, then it’s time to find a mate. So, if you are hiking or camping, be careful where you sit. Check downed trees or old logs and be careful of even stepping over a downed tree or old log, because there might be a snake on the other side.
Typically, if you find a snake in a tree, it is non-venomous; however, be careful of low-lying branches of trees near the water, because water moccasins like to hang around those areas.
Snakes also like to hide under sheet metal (tin) or old boards and siding.
This time of year non-venomous king snakes, milk snakes, rat snakes, hognose and garter snakes are all moving around; but copperheads and water moccasin will be out soon.
If you are boating or fishing and see a snake’s entire body swimming on top of the water; that is a water moccasin. Non-venomous snakes
will swim under the water.”
