A little love goes a long way
cold weather tips
tick tips
1. KEEP your cat inside. Outdoor felines can freeze, become lost or
stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are
exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats,
dogs and wildlife.
2. DURING the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the
hoods of cars. When the motor is started the cat can be injured
or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area
be sure to bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine
so the cat can escape.
3. NEVER let your dog off the leash in snow or ice, especially during
a snowstorm - dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost.
More dogs are lost during the winter months than any other
season, so make sure your dog always wears ID tags, and a
microchip.
4. THOROUGHLY wipe your dog's legs and stomach off when they
come in from sleet, snow and/or ice. They can ingest salt,
antifreeaze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while
licking their paws. Their paw pads could also bleed from snow
or encrusted ice.
5. DO NOT shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer
coat will provide warmth. When you bathe your dog in the
colder months be sure to completely dry them before taking
them for a walk. Consider getting a coat or sweater with a
high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the
tail to the belly.
6. NEVER leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather.
A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold
and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. PUPPIES do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may
be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy
appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may have to paper
train them inside.
Check for ticks on your dog or cat daily.
If you find a tick on your pet remove immediately:
• Wear rubber gloves
• Grasp tick very close to skin with pair of fine tipped tweezers.
• With steady motion, pull tick's body away from skin.
• To prevent infection, avoid crushing tick.
• After you remove tick, clean pet's skin with soap and warm water.
• Never use petroluem jelly, match or lighter fluid to remove tick.
Use tick preventative monthly 12 months of the year.
Ask your vet to conduct a tick screening at each exam
Watch your pet closely for changes in behavior or appetite.
Symptoms of Lyme & other tick borne diseases
Arthritis • Lameness • Swollen Joints • Reluctant to move • Stiff, painful gait • Pain in legs and body • Fever • Fatigue • Swollen lymph nodes
1. SUMMER STYLES: Shaving is not as good of an idea as it soun because the hair acts like the insulation in your attic. Hair also protects your pet from the sun. Give lots of water and use common sense to help them stay cool. Brushing assists in keeping them cool.
2. STREET WISE. When the temps are high, asphalt can really hurt your pet. Paws can burn very easily on hot sunny days. Take your walks in a grassy area on these days.
3. AVOID CHEMICALS. There are chemicals everywhere, and we need to make sure our pets steer clear. If you have any reason to thing that your pet has been exposed to a chemical, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435
4. PARTY ANIMALS Have parties in your backyard is a summertime tradition, however, this can be dangerous for your pets. Make sure that indoor only animals stay in by securing them in a safe place. Pets that join the party should be watched from grabbing foods that could hurt them. Meat with bones, raisens, grapes, onions and of course, chocolates.
5. FIREWORKS Stress and injury are very common with a pet interacting with fireworks. Keep them safe.
