[nagdu] With Snow on the Way, Fidelco Says Don't Forget Pets in Storm Preparations
Michael Hingson
info at michaelhingson.com
Fri Jan 3 06:38:58 UTC 2014
Dogs do not by definition have heartworms. The medication is to prevent
dogs from getting the worms. Once a dog is infected the treatment is
different.
The reason for giving heartworm medication all year round is to insure as
much as possible that your dog will not get infected. Even when giving the
medication all year round dogs should have a heartworm blood test once a
year.
Best,
Michael Hingson
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 10:03 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
What class was this? I am not sure that it is true that all dogs have heart
worm.
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandydp
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 9:20 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
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, IncR and America's VetDogsR, The
Veteran's K-9 Corps IncR Providing "Second uSight"R 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/doc52c57792639a6
>>> 15
>>> 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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