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

Fri Jan 3 01:23:15 UTC 2014

Raven,
Your advice is good, but the deer tick can actually sometimes still be found
surviving in these bitterly cold temps.  Although my guide does not go out
into the woods or is in any areas that this could possibly occur, it can and
does occur.  

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 12:07 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

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/doc52c57792639a615
> 514214
> 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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