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

Thu Jan 2 20:10:32 UTC 2014

I agree with you raven. I live in Colorado, and though the vets advise
giving heartworm preventative here now during spring and summer, there are
no mosquitoes around here this time of the year, and I don't give them the
stuff until mosquito season again. and we don't have to do flea treatments
at all here. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 12:06 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] With Snow on the Way, Fidelco Says Don't Forget Pets in
Storm Preparations

Most vets recommend a lot of things, primarily for the purpose of
making money. Too, it's recommended so that people don't forget to
give the preventive, but if you ask questions and read up, you will
see that many recommendations are unnecessary, loose guidelines, and
big money-makers. For instance, if you read what the companies who
make the preventives actually say, you'll see that once every 30 days
is still too often (e.g. Heartguard Plus). Most vets recommend annual
or triennial vaccinations, but if you do research, you'll learn far
more about vaccinations than your vet tells you, like the fact that
dogs who have health problems, are sick, or are immuno-compromised are
not supposed to be vaccinated; or that vaccines last far longer than
three years. Many vets don't care and will still give the vaccine,
just to make that money.
As someone who is very much into natural preventives, natural
medicine, and natural living, I don't play on the team with the
conventional vets and doctors, especially since my dog and I have had
bad experiences with the four vets that we have visited. It is hard to
find someone who educates themselves beyond what is said by the
textbooks, food and drug companies, and misguided veterinarians.
I have turned against conventional vets since I went to four different
vets in different locations, who all said that my dog is just
predisposed to anal gland issues and chronic ear infections, so I just
have to live with it and treat the problems as they crop up again and
again. I'm sure that anyone in their right mind who thinks critically
would not believe this for a second. I sure don't. I started reading
and researching like crazy. I dropped the preventives, stopped feeding
my dog cancer, and found a holistic vet. Anal gland issues and ear
infections are gone. I don't even have to clean my dog's ears.
Okay, off my soapbox now.

On 1/2/14, Larry D. Keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Raven

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