- Never
leave your pet alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows rolled
down, the vehicle will quickly heat up. When travelling with
your pet, always take fresh cold water.
- We all
need exercise, but it's never a good idea (for you or them)
to exercise in hot, humid weather. (This is especially a concern
immediately following meals.) Try to exercise your pet in
the morning or in the evening when it's cooler.
- Let
your dog or cat rest in a cool part of the house during the
heat of the day. Always make sure they have access to fresh,
clean water.
- Animals
with short or snub noses or animals suffering from heart and
lung conditions should be kept indoors in air-conditioning.
- Stay
away from lawns and gardens that have been sprayed with chemicals.
If you suspect your animal has been poisoned, call your veterinarian
immediately.
- Watch
out for coolant leaks. If possible, use propylene glycol rather
than coolants containing ethylene glycol in your vehicle.
- When
you take your dog to the beach, make sure there's a shaded
spot for them to rest and don't forget the fresh water!
- Avoid
hot asphalt. Dogs cool themselves through panting and the
pads of their feet. On hot asphalt they can quickly overheat
and the sensitive pads can burn.
- Don't
forget the yearly checkup with your vet! Ask about heartworm
tests and preventative medications. Your vet is also an excellent
resource for flea and tick prevention programs.
WHY
SPAY OR NEUTER?
There really isn't a good reason not to have your pet spayed
or neutered as they make better companions and live longer
and healthier lives. Spayed/neutered pets do not
get fat or lazy after surgery. Weight gain comes from overfeeding
and lack of exercise. The benefits of spaying or neutering,
especially if done during the first year, include:
reduced
aggression and dominance
reduced
desire to roam
less
embarrassing behaviour by male dogs
no
bloody stains from females in heat
no
unwanted suitors of the opposite sex
less
chance of spraying by male cats
removes
the risk of ovarian/testicular cancer
no
unplanned and costly puppies or kittens to care for
even
if you are able to find homes for the puppies or kittens
your pet produces, you are taking homes away from the thousands
of unwanted animals already at humane societies/SPCAs
Does
your pet have identification?
Permanent identification and a tag are your pet's ticket home
if they become lost. Your cat's tag should be on a break-away
collar just in case he gets caught on something. Microchip implant
or tattoo are the best forms of permanent identification. A
microchip is a transmitter the size of a grain of rice that
is injected just under the animal's skin. Most humane societies
and veterinarians have scanners that will read the information
in the chip and can find out how to contact you right away.
A tattoo is an individual number permanently written usually
on the animal's inside flank or ear flap that allows the owner
to be traced.
TIPS
FOR YOUR PETS
A new
puppy will often whine because he misses his mother. Wrap
a towel around a warm hot water bottle and place it in his
bed. A ticking clock or a radio playing softly will also help.
To help keep your puppy from chewing on the carpet and furniture,
be sure he has his own rubber toys. On furniture (table, chair
legs, etc.) that he is chewing on, try putting a little oil
of cloves on the wood. The odor should keep him away, if not,
the bitter taste will.
For a new litter of puppies or kittens, confine them in a
mesh playpen. With a wooden playpen with wooden slats, tape
screen around the pen so they won't get out. Children's plastic
pools are great for new puppies. The pool can be rinsed out
to rid odors or messes.
To get your puppy's attention, put a few pennies in a empty
soda can and shake. The noise will make him stop what he is
doing. This can be a good training tool.
Housebreak your dog by hanging a bell by the back door. When
you want to take your puppy outside, ring the bell. As he
gets older he will ring the bell when he needs to go out.
Don't leave cigarette butts in ash trays where a puppy can
get to them. If eaten, cigarette butts can lead to nicotine
poisoning.
Always keep the toilet lid down if you use toilet bowl cleaners.
They are often strongly alkaline and tempting for pets to
drink.
Keep your pets away from toxic plants. Rhododendron, Japanese
yew, and lily of the valley, as well as peach and cherry pits,
can all cause problems if eaten.
Antifreeze is highly toxic. Consider using a pet friendly
antifreeze instead.
Secure electrical cords to baseboards or make them inaccessible.
If your pet chews on them, it can suffer electric shock burns
and may even die.
Look into crate training your dog. It keeps him and your house
safe.
To hide cords that can't be made inaccessible, you can place
paper towel or toilet tissue cardboard rolls over cords. Place
construction cardboard on walls over cords.
Never give your pet chocolate. This can be very toxic to your
pet. Call your vet immediately if your pet has conumed any
chocolate, even a small amount.
Remove burrs from your pet's fur by working oil into the tangle
or by crushing the burrs with pliers. You can comb out crushed
burrs as they lose their holding power.
When bathing your pet, place a rubber mat in the bottom of
the tub for a more secure footing for your pet. It will feel
safer and be more relaxed.
When washing your pet, a pet creme rinse or coat conditioner
is helpful for dogs that have fur that tangles.
A little peanut butter spread on a ferrets tummy can distract
him long enough for you to clip his nails. And you can use
a nail file to file down the sharp ends on a frisky animals
nails. The metal ones, on nail clippers, for bigger animals
and emery boards for smaller animals. No more bleeding nails.
If your puppy has an accident, blot up as much moisture as
possible. Rub the spot with a solution of vinegar or lemon
juice and warm sudsy water. Blot a few times, then pour straight
club soda over the spot and blot again. Place a dry towel
over the stain and put a heavy object (like a book) on top
of it. Replace towel if it becomes soggy and repeat blotting.
For cat accidents, follow the same steps but, when the spot
is dry, rub with a cloth dampened in ammonia. This will take
the offensive odor away and it will prevent the cat from ever
going in that spot again.
Reflector tape on your pet's collar might help cut down on
the danger of its being struck by a car at night.
To rid your pet's house of fleas, place pine needles in the
house or under his bedding. Salt crevices of dog houses to
keep fleas out.
Vacuum floors and carpets often during flea season. Put salt
or mothballs in vacuum bag to kill hatching fleas.
Your pet's dish will stay put while he is eating if placed
on a rubber mat.
To keep ants out of your pet dishes, place the food dish inside
of a pie pan of water.
Store large bags of pet food in clean plastic pails with lids.
Keeps food fresh and easy to dish out.
To keep cats off of tables, put strips of double faced tape
on them. Cats will not like the feel of the sticky substance
on their paws.
Cats hate plastic so to keep your cat off your chairs, cover
the chair with plastic until he learns it's off limits.
Cats love to hide in empty boxes or paper sacks.
Attach a string to a ping pong ball and hang it on a chair
or shelf to entertain your pet.
Crumble aluminum foil into a ball for your cat to bat around.
Garbage bag twist ties and the plastic rings from the neck
of plastic gallon milk containers are hours of entertainment
for cats as well.
When your cat refuses to take liquid medicine, spill the medicine
on his fur. He will lick himself clean and take medicine at
the same time.
Remove your pet's hair from your clothing by using masking
tape. Roll tape out and attach the tape backwards on the roll
so the sticky side is out. Roll the tape on your clothes and
the hair will stick to the tape.
To remove excessive hair from clothing, dampen a sponge and
briskly rub clothing. Hair should ball up and you'll be able
pick off the hair balls.
If you plan to travel with your pet, start out with small
trips first before going on long trips.
Be sure to pack a pet's own food and water to avoid upsets
on trip. Some animal's stomachs will become upset on food
or water that it is not familiar with.
Pets should be confined in carriers while traveling. Your
pet will be unable to leap from open doors or interfere with
driving.
Dog harnesses are available that hook to car seats.
Sedatives from your veterinarian can be given to jittery pets
for unavoidable traveling. Otherwise if your pet doesn't like
traveling it's better to leave him with a sitter.
Be sure to have identification on your pet while traveling.
Be sure to include area code with telephone number. Two collars
are good in case one falls off.
If you're a bird lover, help make their nesting easier by
providing building material. Collect bits of string, yarn,
hair from your brush, lint from dryer. Fasten together lightly
and attach to a tree branch.
In winter, treat birds to a pine treat by covering pine cones
with hardened bacon grease (or other fat) and roll in bread
crumbs or bird seeds.
Pine cones can also be coated with peanut butter and rolled
in sunflower seeds.
To attract birds to an outdoor birdbath, drop a few colored
marbles into the water.
If you have a indoor bird for a pet and it gets loose in the
house try this: Close the drapes and turn off the lights.
Birds will usually stay motionless in the dark and you'll
be able to catch it more easily.
