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

Fri Jan 3 05:19:34 UTC 2014

One thing I learned on class last month is that heart worm  is actually something all dogs have. The medication isn't really a preventative it is to kill the already existing heart worms. This is what I was told in my last class. Never looked it up. Apparently the mosquito bite makes it active. I hate chemicals also. They have natural defense as a flea and tic killer. I stop give front line every other month in the winter but never ever stop the heart worm. Heart worm is fatal. Once a dog has it there isn't anything anyone can do. I have seen three dogs be put down. Honestly if I was in the woods that much I would look into a natural flea medication or keep giving the frontline because a tic can cause lime disease which also isn't pretty. Again, I hate medications and chemicals and often worry about putting stuff on and want to look into the natural stuff, but some things I don't want to take chances on though. One thing I learned on class last month is that heart work is actually something all dogs have. The medication isn't really a preventative it is to kill the already existing heart worms. This is what I was told in my last class. Never looked it up. Apparently the mosquito bite makes it active. I hate chemicals also. They have natural defense as a flea and tic killer. I stop give front line every other month in the winter but never ever stop the heart worm. Heart worm is fatal. Once a dog has it there isn't anything anyone can do. I have seen three dogs be put down. Honestly if I was in the woods that much I would look into a natural flea medication or keep giving the frontline because a tic can cause lime disease which also isn't pretty. Again, I hate medications and chemicals and often worry about putting stuff on and want to look into the natural stuff, but some things I don't want to take chances on though. 

brandy pinder
Alumni Council -  second vice Chairman
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc® 
and America's VetDogs®, The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc® 
Providing "Second uSight"® since 1946

371 E. Jericho Turnpike smith town ny 11766
Cso: 866-282-8047
Email: brandydp at verizon.net
Cell: 304-685-4499

> On Jan 2, 2014, at 11:56 PM, Raven Tolliver <ravend729 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Steve,
> I stand corrected. I did some research and found that , yes, the deer
> tick can still rear its ugly head in cold temperatures.
> Fortunately, coconut oil is a flea and tick repellent, so no matter
> what happens, my golden guide is in the clear.
> There are other natural oils that work too, so the poison is
> unnecessary regardless. Another plus is that the oils are less costly
> than the poisons.
> My guide and I definitely travel in the woods; we're surrounded by
> them. My college campus is 110 acres, and about 90 of those acres are
> woods. We work and play in the woods regularly throughout the year,
> and we've never had any pest problems.
> 
>> On 1/2/14, Steven Johnson <blinddog3 at charter.net> wrote:
>> 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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> 
> 
> -- 
> Raven
> 
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