Once again it is time for Dr. Penningtons Annual Autumn Check List!
Here are a few tips to help our pets get ready for the winter ahead....I
hope you find these helpful.
* Now is a good time to put in fresh bedding such as straw or cedar
shavings in dog houses. Old blankets or other items that retain moisture
are not recommended since freezing may occur. Dog houses should be twice
the size of the dog (any larger will cause excess heat loss).
* Since outside pets energy requirements are different this time of
year, you will want to check with us for advice on the proper diet. Pets
burn more calories in the winter to produce extra body heat.
* Make sure your pets are up to date on their vaccines as distemper is
generally seen more in the cooler months.
* As you are getting your car ready for the winter, PLEASE remember that
antifreeze is very tasty but deadly to dogs and cats. Clean up any spills
well and properly dispose of old antifreeze that was drained out....DO NOT
leave it in a bucket that a pet may have access to. As little as 1 oz. may
be fatal to a 15 pound dog and no more than 1/3 oz. to a cat. Death may
occur in as little as 12 hours.
Symptoms include lack of coordination, vomiting, rapid breathing, and rapid
heart rate. Call immediately if you suspect your pet has been exposed to
antifreeze.
* A warm engine will be a tempting place for a cold cat. A knock on the
hood or honking the horn will alert your cat and may save his or her life.
* Keep your caged birds away from drafty windows. A heat lamp or heating
pad placed under the cage will offer radiant heat for our feathered friends.
* Dogs toenails become longer in the fall and especially winter due to
less walking outside. Regular clipping (every month or two) will keep the
quicks from growing out too long.
OK , enough of the serious stufff, Now time for fun facts! I love these....
** Hamsters that exercise regularly in a hamster ball or wheel experience
a runner's high very much like that of human marathon runners. University
of Michigan researchers discovered that a mildly narcotic substance
produced in the brains of mature golden hamsters seems to be one of the
things that motivates hamsters to exercise. I am gonna buy one of these
wheels as soon as I can find one big enough.
......I am more like WC Fields about exercise....whenever I get the urge
to exercise I just lie down for awhile until it goes away.....
** The noseprints of dogs are as distinctive as the fingerprints of
people. In fact, the Canadian Kennel Club requires noseprints on every dog
in the registry. Noseprints are made up of a unique pattern of lines or
dots that can be readily identified.
** A cats purr does not originate in the throat. The sound begins in the
blood system. It is the result of a vibration motion that arises from the
wall of one of the major blood vessels in the chest area. These vibrations
are readily transmitted to the upper air passages.
** A cat...even a small kitten, has more bones in its body than a human
being. A human being has 206 bones, a cat has 230.
Remember that if you ever have a pet care question, then feel free to click
on "ASK DR. P" at our website www.priestlakevet.com. I will make
every effort to answer you quickly.
