More Pet Safety Tips
How to Take a dog's Temperature
If you suspect your dog is sick then taking your dog's temperature is important. It is not difficult, but it is a task best performed with two people. Have someone hold the dog still, preferably someone the dog knows and likes.
- Apply petroleum jelly to the head or bulb of a rectal thermometer.
- Slowly slide the thermometer into the dog's rectum about 1 inch deep.
- Wait 2 minutes for a mercury thermometer.
Remove slowly and read the thermometer. Shake down the thermometer and clean it after every use. A dog's normal body temperature ranges between 100.5 Fahrenheit (38.1°C) and 102.5 Fahrenheit (39.2°C). A dog's temperature below 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2°C) and temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) are considered extremely serious and your dog should be brought to a veterinarian immediately.
Thunder, Fireworks and Loud Noises
Many dogs become very distressed when they hear loud noises such as thunder. Fireworks, vacuum cleaner noise and other types of storms can also cause certain dogs to become extremely fearful. Common reactions include hiding, shaking and occasionally destructive behaviours like chewing through screen doors to escape to safe territory.
There are several things you can try to help calm your dog down depending on the severity of the problem. If you are anticipating a storm or fireworks a good extra long walk can help by tiring out your dog so that fatigue wins out over fear. Playing the radio or TV at a high volume can also mask the noise and relieve the fear. Providing your dog with a safe space of the DOG'S choosing usually where the noise level is lower, can often lessen the anxiety.
During an actual episode of anxiety, calming your dog down by over petting it and 'babying' IS NOT a good idea since this can actually reinforce the fearful behaviour. Punishing or crating an anxious dog is also bad thing to do since they cannot control this anxiety and may well destroy their crates or injure themselves.
Desensitization
A technique that has been very successful treating anxiety and phobias is called desensitization. The technique involves exposing the subject to a low level of what actually causes the anxiety while paired with something positive. Get a tape recorder and get your hands on sounds of a thunderstorm or fireworks or loud noises (perhaps the vacuum cleaner) that normally cause your dog to become afraid. Have your dog in a quiet room with you and start the tape off at a very low (barely audible) volume. Reassure your dog by petting it and saying "good dog" (or something similar) in a regular non babylike voice. Give your dog a couple of treats. Start off very slowly the first few times, perhaps just a couple of minutes of the low volume noise. GRADUALLY over a week or so make the volume louder until at the end of the exercise it is very loud. The goal is for the dog to associate these loud noises with calmness and treats thereby relieving the fearful behaviour. This technique works well for most dogs, but it must be done correctly or it can worsen your dog's reaction. Seek advice from your vet when in doubt.
If none of these techniques work then perhaps a meeting with a behaviorist (ask your vet for a referral) can provide you with a specific plan for your dog. In terms of medication, there are herbal medications that can help and there are mild tranquilizers that can be prescribed by your veterinarian.
Water Danger and Dogs
Did you know that not all dogs have the natural ability to swim? In fact, water can be downright dangerous even to dogs that love swimming! There are no ‘doggie lifeguards’, hence it is your responsibility to watch over your dog when in the water and be prepared to provide assistance if your dog is struggling. Equally important are measures you can take to prevent the possibility of problems occurring. Respect the water and your dog’s limitations to ensure that you have a pleasurable break from the heat of summer.
Dangers for the ‘Fish out of Water’ Dog
This is for the dogs that love the water. You couldn’t ever imagine your dog having problems in the water as it appears to be more comfortable in the water than on land. There can however, be an increased risk of water-related injuries in these dogs if you become complacent thinking that your dog is such a good swimmer and leave the dog alone or stop watching it for a couple minutes when it is swimming. Perhaps you have a pool in the backyard or back out onto a body of water where you just let your dog out to go swimming. It only takes a second for something to go wrong, after which the situation degrades quickly. Two quick examples of accidents that can occur while your dog is swimming include sudden onset of fatigue and swallowing water and panicking. Additionally, some dogs will be so determined to retrieve a stick thrown to them in the water that they may not realize their limitations and get too tired to make it back into shore. Dogs who swim in waves face the added risk of a wave crashing over their head. This may cause them to swallow water and panic and they may drown if not helped by their owner. Furthermore, strong undertows can easily drag a dog far out so that it is unable to swim back in. There are other risks that face your dog while swimming in the water, but generally if you keep a close eye on your pet, swimming will remain an enjoyable experience for the both of you.
Dangers for the ‘Land’ Dog
If your dog will not go near the water, or perhaps just likes to put its paws in and not swim, it is imperative that you consider the dangers that face your dog regarding water. Chances are that at some point in its life, your dog will be faced with a situation with water, whether accidental or not. To begin with, if at all possible and your dog is not terrified of water, it may be a good idea to attempt to teach your dog to swim. Do not force this upon your dog, not all dogs are natural swimmers so they may not be able to grasp the concept of swimming. Even a dog that is of a breed that is known for its swimming abilities may have difficulties. Each dog is an individual, and just like people, some will be better at certain skills than others. If your dog refuses to learn how to swim, and you will be exposing it to situations where it is in close contact with water, such as boating, it would be wise to consider arming your pooch with a floatation device. There are doggie life preservers that will keep your dog afloat if it happens to accidentally go overboard. Boat docks and pools provide other opportunities in which dogs may slip or fall over the edge and can drown if they are unable to swim, or even if they can swim but panic. The take home message for the land dog and water is that just because your dog doesn’t like the water, it does not mean that it may not accidentally find itself in the water. Always keep a careful watch on dogs that can’t swim near water and be prepared to save a dog that cannot swim or one that panics.
General Precautions for Dogs and Water
If you have a pool, watch your dog as it swims, and teach it where the steps are so that it will be able to find them again should it fall in when you are not watching. If you plan on taking your dog on boating trips, allow it to become accustomed to the boat before you take it out on the water. Make sure to have a comfortable location your dog can retreat to, or be prepared to slow down the boat speed should your dog look very uncomfortable. Life preservers are a great precaution for both dogs that cannot swim and dogs that can swim. Finally, before you let your dog go swimming anywhere, scrutinize the environment to look for anything that could be a potential danger to your pet. If you are unsure whether or not something in the environment is hazardous, err on the side of safety and go somewhere else to swim or tell your dog you’ll have to take a rain check.
Giving cats pills
It is a simple fact of owning a cat that one day you may need to give your cat some medication in pill form. Giving your cat medication is not likely to be a fun task but some simple preparation will make your life much easier. In fact the key to not turning this event into a nightmare is in the preparation. The very first thing that you want to do is go to the pharmacy and buy a small syringe or eyedropper that will hold 1-2 teaspoons of liquid. Most cats benefit from a little bit of water after the pill is given and there is almost no way on this green earth that you will get your cat to drink from a bowl or glass during this activity. So buy a small empty syringe (without an actual needle) or eyedropper and fill it with water so that it is ready and close by. The next CRUCIAL thing that you want to do is trim your cat’s nails. Cutting your cat’s nails is just a precaution. Normally when you follow the advice in the next few paragraphs all will go pretty smoothly. However cats are feisty creatures so better safe than sorry. If your cat easily tolerates nail cutting, you can give your cat the pill right away. If your cat doesn’t tolerate nail cutting very well though, you would be well advised to wait an extra 15-20 minutes, while your cat settles down again and THEN give your cat the pill.
Once you have everything you need close by place your cat on the kitchen table or counter or on some surface that is slippery for a cat. This will help prevent the cat from digging its claws into the surface if it tries to escape. Alternatively you can try to just go to your cat and get down to its level while it’s resting, but your cat may well have a better grip if it wants to escape. Pet your cat for a couple of minutes before you give the pill as this will help relax your cat. Your goal is to make this as painless as possible for your cat and not to use a lot of force because you may have to go through this a few times a day for the duration of the treatment. Once your cat is relaxed try to administer the pill as quickly as possible.
Gently place the palm of your hand on the top of the cat’s head and slightly tilt the cat’s head upward. Then using that hand, you’ll take your thumb and index finger (the middle finger) and apply slight pressure by pulling the cats upper jaw open just a bit so that your thumb and index finger are resting behind the canine teeth (the longest teeth) of the upper jaw. With the other hand quickly insert the pill as far as you can toward the back of the cat’s throat. Once the pill is inside deep enough, the cat should naturally swallow it. If it is not deep enough, a gentle blow (with your breath) onto your cat’s nose, or rubbing its throat gently usually causes it to swallow. Don’t force your cat’s mouth shut as this won’t allow it to swallow, but do make sure that the pill has been swallowed.
At this point it is a good idea to use the hand in the exact way above and give the cat a quick squirt of water (1 teaspoon should be fine) using a sterilized/clean eyedropper or a syringe filled with water (obviously no needle at the end). Insert the instrument in the side of the cat’s mouth right near where you are holding its upper jaw behind its canine teeth. Squirt it in fairly quickly. This will aid the pill to travel into the stomach as well as ensure that your cat has swallowed the pill.
If you are having a really hard time with your cat, you can wrap your cat in a towel having only its head stick out. This should make it a lot easier to follow the steps above. A second person holding your cat while you give the pill can also help. Ask your veterinarian for a demonstration if you are having difficulty. Once the cat has received the pill, you should end the ordeal with some nice petting once the cat has calmed down. Good luck!
Freezing temperatures - cats and dogs
Although it seems obvious to most pet owners, we are now experiencing a period of bitter bitter cold in most of Canada and a good part of the U.S. Thousands of cats and dogs literally freeze to death each year. Many more suffer from hypothermia, and end up in veterinary offices due to excessive exposure to the cold.
Even if you have a dog like an Alaskan Malamute, or a Husky don't leave your dog outside for long when it's too cold.
The rule of thumb is this: If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pet.
If you have a dog, do some research on how long your particular breed can handle the cold if he/she is going out to relieve itself or go for a winter walk. Protect your pet's body and limbs with warm fabric, if your breed is susceptible to frostbite.
