[nagdu] With Snow on the Way, Fidelco Says Don't Forget Pets in Storm Preparations

Larry D. Keeler lkeeler at comcast.net
Thu Jan 2 18:38:39 UTC 2014


Raven, most vets do reccommend that you give the heart worm and tic 
preventatives all year. I do aggree with monitoring your dog though. I just 
got mine trimmed today and she wore a jacket home. She is poodly and doesn't 
really mind the cold that much but sence she has no guard hairs I don't 
usually work her when we are out in this cold for long. When we take a lot 
of busses and such we only have to stand out for a few minutes.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Raven Tolliver" <ravend729 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] With Snow on the Way, Fidelco Says Don't Forget Pets in 
Storm Preparations


> This article offers great advice about preventing dogs from getting
> into poisons and about winter safety.
> I have to disagree with 2 things here though.
> 1. when it comes to temperature, use your dog as a guide. If you
> notice your dog shivering, huddling up, or dancing around on the cold
> pavement, then yes, by all means get them a jacket or coat and try to
> work inside as much as possible. If your dog is like mine, and
> absolutely loves the cold weather and would sit, work, and play out in
> it seemingly for hours, then you have nothing to worry about as far as
> the temperature itself.
> 2. there is no point to giving heartworm, and flea and tick
> preventives during cold weather. Heartworm comes from mosquitoes. Like
> mosquitoes, fleas and ticks are bugs that thrive in warm, humid
> temperatures.
> Here in West Michigan It's cold from mid-October to mid-may.
> Mosquitoes ain't livin' and fleas and ticks cain't thrive when the
> temperature never rises above 50dg for more than a day. So if you live
> in areas where temperatures are frigid, these bugs are not a problem,
> no question.
> Insect preventives are poisons that kill bugs. If they poison bugs,
> they poison our dogs. Why would you give your dog more of the poison
> than is necessary? Would you spray your house down with Raid if there
> wasn't a chance of ants coming around? I wouldn't think so. So for the
> sake of your dog's health, don't give them the poison if what it is
> supposed to kill is not even present.
> Now this is a personal choice, but I do not give preventives during
> cold weather. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes need heat and humidity in
> order to survive. I only have one dog, and I also clean more
> frequently than most people. I vacuum my apartment every three or four
> days, and I vacuum all the furniture that my dog lays on once a week.
> I wash the coverings of my dog's bed, crate pad, and the couch
> cushions every two weeks.
> Also, I rub down my dog with cold-pressed unrefined coconut oil about
> once every week or two. I rub the oil in up from his tail to his head,
> and up from his paws to his shoulders. I comb and brush this through.
> Adding lavender oil helps as well. This treatment moisturizes the skin
> and naturally repels fleas without poisoning your dog.
>
> Here are several links to eliminate the hype about fleas, ticks, and heart 
> worm.
> fleas and ticks:
> http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/non-toxic-flea-and-tick-control/
> heartworms
> https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/heartworm-medication-part-2/
> spot-on solutions/poisons
> https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/poisoning-fleas-pets-and-kids/
>
>
> On 1/2/14, Ginger Kutsch <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> With Snow on the Way, Fidelco Says Don't Forget Pets in Storm 
>> Preparations
>>
>> Life - The Litchfield County Times
>>
>> http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2014/01/02/life/doc52c57792639a615514214
>> 6.txt?viewmode=fullstory
>>
>>
>>
>> BLOOMFIELD, Conn. - Winter weather isn't just hazardous to people, it's
>> dangerous for our pets, too! As Connecticut braces for a winter wallop, 
>> Dr.
>> RuthAnn Solomon DVM, Director of Animal Medicine at the Fidelco Guide Dog
>> Foundation wants residents to remember these key points to keep their 
>> pets
>> warm and safe. By planning ahead of the storm, pets and people will be
>> properly prepared!
>>
>>
>>
>> DURING THE STORM
>>
>>
>>
>> Keep your pets inside! All pets need shelter and insulation from the 
>> cold.
>> Cats and dogs may wear fur coats but they aren't equipped to be out in
>> freezing temperatures for long periods of time. Domesticated animals are
>> not
>> adapted to the cold like wolves or bobcats. Bottom line- if it's too cold
>> for you to stay outside, it's too cold for your pet.
>>
>>
>>
>> If you absolutely must keep an animal outside, be certain it has an
>> insulated shelter, access to plenty of fresh (not frozen) water and
>> increase
>> their food to two times normal serving, e.g., if they get one cup of 
>> kibble
>> per meal, give them two cups for that meal. A pet's energy requirements
>> increase to maintain body temperature (shivering for example) and those
>> living in a very cold climate have a greater caloric need just to stay 
>> warm
>> than the average dog that lives indoors.
>>
>>
>>
>> If you need to go outside during the storm, limit exposure and make sure
>> your dog is on a leash and wearing an ID tag. During heavy snowfall, they
>> can lose their scent and become lost. More dogs get lost during winter 
>> than
>> any other time of year.
>>
>>
>>
>> Keep candles, heat lamps and space heaters away from pets, children and
>> flammable materials. These are all burn and fire hazards. Inspect any pet
>> heating blankets or pads for frays or exposed wires, and never leave a 
>> pet
>> unattended with such a device.
>>
>>
>>
>> For those that use Duraflame logs, those logs are actually sawdust pulled
>> together with wax. Those two ingredients make for an attractive snack for
>> dogs! Duraflame log ingestion will usually just cause mild gastric upset;
>> however the problem arises when the dog eats a big piece which could 
>> cause
>> an intestinal obstruction. So please leave these logs of convenience well
>> out of reach of your pets.
>>
>>
>>
>> AFTER THE STORM
>>
>>
>>
>> Protect those paws! Ice and snow can easily collect between paw pads. 
>> Check
>> your dog's feet periodically, especially if they are limping or walking
>> awkwardly.
>>
>>
>>
>> Keep dogs off the ice and away from frozen bodies of water. Thin ice 
>> poses
>> a
>> grave danger for pets and humans alike, and even a walk on an icy 
>> sidewalk
>> puts your pet at risk of injuries like torn ligaments and footpads.
>>
>>
>>
>> Salt, antifreeze (ethylene glycol) and chemical de-icers on roads and
>> sidewalks are dangerous for your pet. Dogs that lick their paws or fur 
>> and
>> ingest these substances can become ill. Wipe your pup's paws, legs and
>> stomach with a warm, wet washcloth after walks and outdoor playtime.
>>
>>
>>
>> Speaking of antifreeze, there are two commercial products available in 
>> the
>> US that have a "safer" chemical (propylene glycol) in them: Sierra and
>> LowTox. However, just because they are safer does not mean that they are
>> non-toxic! For example, it would only take ONE teaspoon of ethylene 
>> glycol
>> antifreeze (more dangerous form) to be deadly to a 7lb cat. It would take
>> several ounces of the safer form to be a problem.
>>
>>
>>
>> REMEMBER
>>
>>
>>
>> Take extra care with puppies and older dogs, especially those with
>> arthritis. Wet, cold weather can worsen arthritis symptoms. Do not leave
>> young, old or sick dogs outside unattended at any time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Certain medical conditions like diabetes can affect your pet's ability to
>> regulate body temperature. Check with your veterinarian.
>>
>>
>>
>> Further, winter does not necessarily mean the end of bug season. 
>> Likewise,
>> winter does not mean you should stop giving heartworm, flea, and tick
>> preventatives to your cherished companions. As the old saying goes: It is
>> better to be safe than sorry and continuous use of these preventatives is
>> the simplest act you can make to keep your pet safe.
>>
>>
>>
>> Lastly, have the following numbers programmed into your charged cell 
>> phone:
>>
>>
>>
>> -Your veterinarian
>>
>>
>>
>> -Local animal emergency clinic
>>
>>
>>
>> -Poison Control (1-800-222-1222)
>>
>>
>>
>> -ASPCA Poison Control (1-888-426-4435)
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> Raven
>
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