|
PET PRECAUTIONS:
WINTER AND THE WINTER HOLIDAYS
Different seasons bring different concerns for all pets. The cold weather air,
dampness, and other challenges complicate life for all the different species
and especially those pampered pets. Here is a partial listing of tips and
considerations:
MONITOR YOUR ANIMALS
PROVIDE SHELTER
VIEW THINGS FROM A PET PERSPECTIVE
GROOMING NEEDS
PHYSICALLY CHECK THE ANIMAL
FOOD & WATER NEEDS CHANGE
MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDS
HOLIDAY HAZARDS
HUMANE HOLIDAY HINTS
MONITOR YOUR ANIMALS
If your animals go outside frequently, don't leave them outside for long
periods of time in cold weather. The wind outside or drafts inside can be a
challenge and make things colder than the thermometer says. You want to watch
all pets carefully to make sure they are comfortable and physically feel warm.
PROVIDE SHELTER
If animals are allowed to be outside during extreme (or less than extreme)
weather or are kept outside for a while, be sure to provide them with adequate
shelter. The proper types of shelters will keep your animal warm, dry, and
protected from breezes or drafts. Sweaters or blankets may be good additions
to have an animal wear or to cover part of a cage to conserve heat.
VIEW THINGS FROM A PET PERSPECTIVE
Remember that different floor materials may conduct cold. Cement, brick, tile,
and linoleum floors may become extremely cold. Padding or temporary flooring
can help, or even throw rugs or blankets. Restaurant pads, used in work areas
of busy diners, can be thrown down as good insulation too.
When outside, extra care needs to be taken with your pets. Be careful when
walking or playing since surfaces could be slick. Slipping could seriously
injure your pet or you. Also watch out for frozen water or areas such as
streams, ponds, lakes, or rivers where your animal could fall through the
ice.
GROOMING NEEDS
Clean animals are warm animals. Hair, feathers and fur insulates and the
cleaner it is; the better job it does. Groom your animals regularly and make
sure they are completely dry before they are let outside. Once in, make sure
that you use a towel or a blow dryer to dry off your pet. Care must be taken
with using heat so use low settings.
Pet birds should never be exposed to drastic drops in temperatures. Even
during good weather many people, after giving their bird a bath, will make
the mistake of using heat (blow dryer) on birds. This is not recommended
since doing this dries out the oil in the feathers and they lose the
repelling quality turning the feathers blackish.
PHYSICALLY CHECK THE ANIMAL
On all animals, the ears, tail, and feet, and limbs need to be checked upon
coming in from outside. Preventative care must be taken to prevent frostbite.
Extra care of feet is a good idea. There are some products on the market to
help insulate and protect both paws and hooves. Lubricants can restore
condition on those that are cracked and dry.
Trimming some of the excess hair, from the bottom of footpads, that could
get wet and freeze or accumulate snow is a good idea. Extra hair can be good
insulation but feet need to be dried and checked regular after trips
outside. Check the paws for cracked or cut pads. Rock salt, used to melt ice
in many places, can irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your pet's
feet after they come in. Horse hooves should be kept protected, and checked
regularly.
FOOD & WATER NEEDS CHANGE
Since it takes more energy in the winter to keep the body temperature
regulated it is sometimes necessary to increase the calories or food quantity
of those pets. This is especially true for pets that are very active or that
remain outside throughout the cold weather. Notice if your pet is dropping or
gaining weight and always consult with your Veterinarian regarding these
things.
Provide plenty of fresh water and make sure you check the water supply.
Pipes can freeze just as water-bowls can. There are some special bowls on
the market that keep ice from building up in the bowls and heat tape can
help with frozen pipes. Dehydration can be a problem during this time too,
so don't think that snow can be a substitute for water!
MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDS
Do not keep animals in the weather exposed back area of a pick-up truck or
inside the car alone with the engine running. Wind chill will freeze your
animal to the bone and carbon monoxide could kill your pet very swiftly. Also,
take care not to leave any anti-freeze out. Be aware that anti-freeze can
collect on driveways and roads, and is highly poisonous. Apparently it smells
and tastes good to animals but it can be lethal. You might want to start using
environmentally safe and animal friendly (non-toxic) substitutes.
Be very careful when using additional heat sources. Fireplaces and portable
heaters can severely burn animals. Be sure fireplaces are screened, keep the
portable heaters out of reach, and make sure there is plenty of ventilation
with older heat sources.
HOLIDAY HAZARDS
Holiday hazards are equally challenging and sometimes downright dangerous. The
winter season is full of holiday festivities and therefore the holidays are
important times to take special precautions for the health and safety of pets.
It is a good idea to give special consideration towards animals that you are
thinking of bringing into the home at this time too.
Plants (holly, mistletoe, poinsettia etc.,) are poisonous to pets. Other
hazards include glass ornaments, edible ornaments, electrical cords, heated
decorative bulbs, hooks, tinsel, and a wide variety of other decorating
items. Make sure they are kept out of reach or in places your animals cannot
get to them. Other hazards include chocolate, alcohol, and caffeine which
can make your animals very ill or, in some cases, kill them.
Other problems can include the sharp needles from the Christmas tree which
can cause intestinal problems or worse. Pets may climb, or knock the tree
over, so it may be best to keep the tree in a room that can be blocked off.
Another option would be to keep the tree surrounded with a mini barrier
(helps with small kids too!) such as baby gates or even a large playpen or
portable kennel fence (safely decorated this can look nice). Candles are
another hazard, not only for burns, but for fire hazards!
Animals will find any holiday things appealing and tempting to play with or
explore. Shock, electrocution, ingesting odd objects, knocking over things
to get at something, burns, broken glass, and toxic plants or painted items
can wreck havoc on your pet by injuring or killing them and the efforts to
save them can be costly both emotionally and financially. Preventing the
hazards by taking precautions is the best cure.
HUMANE HOLIDAY HINTS
Obtaining an animal during any time requires sensitivity, good judgment, and
research since they are living, feeling and emotional beings. Animals deserve
careful consideration and time devoted to the search for them and integration
into the home.
The holiday season is one of the worst times to consider obtaining a pet. It
is not a good time to introduce a pet into your family. There are numerous
hazards, distractions and other activities which provide a horrible
background to obtain a new animal in. Getting an animal during these most
commercial of times supports irresponsibly bred animals and perhaps a less
than cherished view of a living creature.
New animals require quality attention and a stable environment, which most
holiday season celebrations do not permit. Also, an animal is not a toy or
gift that can be returned or tossed aside when it loses it's appeal. Too
many animals end up abused, dead, or in shelters around the holidays, so
think long and hard about the temptation to obtain one during this time.
Since it is the thought that counts, how about buying all the related
supplies related to the pet, wrapping it up and presenting it as the symbol
of the pet promised? Make the search a family project for after the
holidays. This will teach proper stewardship, compassion, and show an
immense amount of love and responsibility while creating anticipation and a
greater desire for the cherished pet.
Remember: Using common sense and good judgment will make the winter and
holiday season associated with it much safer and happier to all.
RESPONSIBLE PET GIVING
DURING THE HOLIDAYS
A perfect Christmas morning: little children diving into a big pile of
packages. It is ultimate chaos. What could possibly make it better? A new
Christmas pet ?
Each year, begging children, and commercials, showing a new puppy in a box
under the tree, inspire people to give pets as gifts. Why not?
Although the magic moment with the camera might happen, what happens right
after that? The new animal has just been brought into ultimate chaos, which is a
terrifying experience for the animal. Not only that, but the physical
environment is extremely dangerous, and it is a day when all the people are
going to be distracted most of the time. The new animal is very likely to eat
something that could make it sick. Scarfed tinsel, ribbon, or packing material
may require emergency surgery, or even cause death. A bite into a light cord can
cause electrocution. You might even step on a pet playing under wrapping paper.
Because the people are distracted, it is likely that the new pet will soil a
carpet, which is going to make somebody mad.
Then there are the Christmas goodies. Chocolate is toxic to pet s. Alcohol
is very toxic. Will somebody leaves an eggnog where the pet can sample it? Fatty
gravy, a turkey bone, stolen plastic people toys all could cause big health
problems.
The adults had no sleep the night before Christmas, and the kids not much
more than that. The kids and the pet will soon be exhausted. Then what happens?
Is there a safe prepared place for the new pet to go to rest? Will the animal be
tossed into some empty room where it may howl or scratch furniture, climb
curtains or chew something it shouldn't? Is the family going out for hours?
Beth Wheeler at Hearts United for Animals in Nebraska warns about giving
pets as Christmas gifts. "The holidays are a very busy and stressful
time," she says. "It's not the best time to add a new pet. Pets need
to have the right start in a family or bad habits can develop."
Do these people really want a pet? And, if so, is this the right pet ?
Kids always want a pet , so you can't go by them. Are they old enough for the
responsibility of having one? Animal experts everywhere warn that small children
and small animals are a bad combination. Even in innocence, little children are
often very rough on little or baby animals. On Christmas there is no chance the
adults can be supervising every second. Far too often the result is an injured
or a terrified pet that bites or hides. Such animals end up dumped at shelters.
Many shelters report a big increase in unwanted pet s, especially purebred dogs,
shortly after the holidays.
Is it okay to give pets to adults? Grownup children like to select a nice
animal to give grandmother, but they don't ask first. Then, because it was a
loving gift, Granny is stuck with it even if she doesn't want an animal at all,
or doesn't like this breed or even the species.
"It is inappropriate for another person to make that decision for a
family," says Wheeler. "Adding an animal to a family is a very long
term commitment and requires considerable thought. ... We have many dogs at the
shelter who were given as pets to people who really didn't want a pet ."
What should you do about pets as presents?
- Never let a pet be an unplanned purchase. It isn't fair to the pet and
it isn't fair to the pet 's new owners.
- Don't bring the new animal into the house on Christmas. It's hard to
resist the chance for a Kodak moment, but if you love animals, wait. On
Christmas give a stuffed toy, and a promise to go help pick out the right
pet after the holidays.
- Ask first. Well before the holidays, discuss with the adults whether
they want a pet at all and if so what kind and what age? Let them prepare
before the pet comes home. A pet is a lifetime of responsibility, not a toy
to tire of and throw away.
- Before you choose, talk and listen to knowledgeable people in the
field. What you think you want may be entirely wrong for the situation.
- Select your pet carefully from an animal shelter or a rescue group.
Those guys need homes.
- Have all pets spayed or neutered. The Humane Society of the United
States says four to six million unwanted animals are euthanized every year.
- Send a card to your shelter with a holiday donation. The people deserve
thanks and the shelter can always use the cash.
Tenderheart and Goose
I WANT A DOG
(theme song of Pet Tales,
playing now)
I want a dog.
I want a dog.
A dog I can play with, this is my one wish,
and that's why I want a dog.
I want a dog.
I want a dog.
A dog that will lick my face,
we'll run and laugh and chase,
and that's why I want a dog.
I'll teach him to do some
tricks,
like sit and fetching sticks,
and that's why I want a dog.
I want a puppy,
one who will love me,
I want a puppy of my very very own.
I want a dog.
I want a dog.
A dog I can cuddle,
he won't be trouble,
and that's why I want a dog.
I want a puppy,
one who will love me,
I want a puppy of my very very own.
Heartwarming Holiday Stories
Barney
My Buddy
Christmas Snow
A Christmas Buddy
My Most Memorable
X-Mas
A Toy on Top of a
Christmas Tree
|