October 2007 News Letter

 

Fall is my favorite time of year.  This year, however, the drought has robbed us of the brilliant foliage display that Tennessee is noted for.  We can still have those bon fires with hot dogs and marshmallows, with caution of course.  The scents of leaves burning and  smoke from the fireplaces are aromas that fill my heart with memories old and new.  Hopefully we can turn the air conditioning off in our houses and enjoy some fresh air with the windows and doors open.
October is pet wellness month so I hope you enjoy this month's information.   

 Pam

Car Rides

• Keep your dog's head inside the window.  It's dangerous to let them hang outside of the vehicle.  Bugs, sand, road debris, etc, can cause serious injury to your dog's eye, ears and nose.
• Teach your pup to wait for permission to enter or exit a vehicle.
• Safely confine your dog in a plastic kennel or padded travel harness and seat belt to prevent injury in case of sudden swerves, stops or an unforeseen accident.

5 Ways to ensure your dog's health and well being for years to come.
 
 1. Focus on Fangs: Brush teeth and gums.  Do daily grooming.
 
 2. Watch their weight:  Heavier dogs can have more physical problems later in life.
 
 3. Visit the Veterinarian regularly:  It's important to detect problems early on.  Keep vaccines up to date. Bring in a stool sample to check for parasites every 6 months.  Make a list of any questions that you may have.
 
 4. Keep training on track:  Training keeps a bond between pet and owner.  Concentrate on leash training and the command of "come".
 
 5. Spay and neuter: In males, it prevents prostate problems, aggressive behavior, wonderlust,and eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer.  In females it is best to spay before the first heat cycle because then it nearly prevents mammary cancer and ends the possibility of pyometra (a potentially fatal infection of the uterus).



Fact or Fiction?

The cat will suck the breath from the baby?
  
False:  Baby saliva happens; it smells good and is accessible to cats.  "In the olden days, babies died all the time mysterious diseases" certified animal behavior consultant, Beth Adelman says.  Back then, if a person saw a cat licking the baby's mouth and the baby wasn't moving, he or she might have come to the wrong conclusion.  Cats also sniff things they are curious about.  Remember that a baby's face is at your cat's level.

The cat might smother the baby.
   
True:  Cats have a tendency to snuggle up with babies.  They are cat -size and warm, and they sleep a lot.  A newborn can't move, and a cat could inadvertently block the baby's air passages.


Can't Find Their Way Home:
     
Statistics:

Each year 10 million pets are lost and without proper ID.  90% are never found.  You would think that with these statistics, pet owners would be beating their veterinarians doors down to get their pet(s) micro-chipped, but they aren't.  There are 146 million pets in the U.S. and only 10% have a micro-chip.  Of those, 50% don't register with a database and even fewer update their info each time they move. Any pet can escape or get out accidentally, that's why it is so important to have a pet micro-chipped.  All it takes is a one time out the door or under the fence. After the micro-chip is injected, submit the information to the database and keep it updated.  After all..........a micro-chip without a database entry is like a cell phone without a battery.  By the way------there is no credible evidence that microchips in pets cause cancer.

Your Outside Cat

Some dangers that your outdoors cat can face.

Disease- feline leukemia and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) spread by contact, un-neutered males are worse because they tend to fight.  Both diseases are spread through saliva.  There are other viruses that cats can catch and spread

Unwanted pregnancy- Unaltered female cats often return home "in the family way"

Parasites- Tick, fleas, worms and other parasites usually attack outdoor cats and can be brought into your home, can spread to both you and your other pets.  Ticks and fleas can cause allergies, skin irritation and anemia.  In addition, trying to rid your home of these insects can get complicated.

Accidents- Outdoor cats face the risk of being killed by cars, especially in the urban areas.  They can also get caught in traps, or consume poisonous substances.  Running away and not finding their way back is another hazard.

Predators- In rural areas, cats can fall victim to larger predators, dog fights, cat fights, or fights with other animals.  Often they fall prey to humans as well.

Laws- If caught in someone else's yard, your cat can be taken to the nearest shelter.  Without ID, the shelter may put the cat to sleep after the normal time limit, or adopt it out to someone else.  In fact, euthanasia kills more cats than  the above factors combined.

Dusk and dawn are the most dangerous times for your cat to be outside.  In rural areas, these are the prime times for many of the larger predators to be out and about.  In cities and towns that time is the visibility of drivers is the lowest.  The safest time for a cat to be outside is during the day.