It's cold outside...

With today being the first day of winter, I thought that it would be appropriate to talk about basic cold weather tips.
When there are extremes in temperature, more attention is required for your outdoor pets.  The cold can be as damaging as heat for our furry friends.  With the temperatures dropping below freezing there are a few considerations that need to be taken into account:
1.  All outdoor animals need to have shelter from the weather.  Whether that is a dog house, a barn or a garage, animals need a place to escape the cold and wet.  Animals can get frostbite, especially on their ears and pads of their feet.
2.  Outdoor animals may require more food to maintain their body weight.  This is because food provides energy that is converted into heat.  So it is especially important to watch your animals body condition to make sure it isn't loosing weight during the winter months
3. Access to fresh water at all times is important.  When the weather is freezing, it is important to either break up the ice on the bowl or have a heater for the water.  There are many safe products on the market that can help you meet your specific needs.
4. When it's very cold for extended periods of time, a blanket or coat may be needed to help protect your pet. 
5. If you walk your dog on sidewalks that have been treated with de-icer, make sure to wash the dog’s paws when you get home; these chemicals can irritate the skin. Or if using de-icer at home, buy pet safe de-icer as it causes less problems.
If an animal appears to be having hypothermia or frostbite, it's important to warm them up slowly and to get them to the vet.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays!

Christmas dinner

Christmas is next weekend and many people celebrate Christmas with a special dinner.  I just want to use this opportunity to remind people that they shouldn't include their pets in the special dinner.  There are many reasons to shy away from giving your pet leftovers from dinner. 
The first is people food tends to be higher in fat than most dog foods.  Giving your pet a high fat meal can cause pancreatitis.  The pancreas is the organ that makes enzymes that break down fat in your food.  When a high fat meal is fed the pancreas gets inflamed causing pancreatitis.  The signs of pancreatitis can range from inappetence to severe vomiting and diarrhea.  The abdomen is usually very painful as well.  The treatment for pancreatitis can range from just needing some medication to IV fluids and staying in the hospital until the pet is feeling better.
Another reason is food intolerance.  Some pets have allergies to certain foods.  Those allergies can cause anything from an upset stomach to severe itching which can last weeks.
A third reason to not give Christmas dinner leftovers to your pets is it can cause diarrhea.  Sudden changes in food can cause diarrhea by upsetting the balance of bacteria in the GI tract.  This is the reason why it's always recommended to change food slowly, giving the bacteria a chance to adapt.
A final reason to not feed leftovers to pets is toxins.  Some people food is toxic to cats and dogs.  The most common ones are chocolate and grapes or raisins, but onions and garlic can also cause problems.  Most toxins are dose dependent, but some animals are much more sensitive than others and we don't know which ones will have a problem until it is too late.
I hope you enjoy your Christmas dinner and remember to feed your pets their regular dog food.
Happy Holidays!!

Yes, microchipping works...

This is an article I saw today, that demonstrates the benefits of microchipping.  You rarely hear about returns after this long of an absence...

Dog missing 8 years from Virginia family farm turns up in Yuba County

By ROB PARSONS-Marysville Appeal-Democrat

Posted: 12/03/2011 12:00:57 AM PST

The Virginia owner of a mixed-breed pit bull said she was dumbfounded upon hearing that her dog, missing for eight years, had turned up in Yuba County. "Petunia," who's a mix of American Staffordshire Terrier and pit bull, was found in the Spenceville Wildlife Area near Beale Air Force Base earlier this week after she disappeared from a family farm in Virginia in 2003.
The woman who found her, Meg Eden of Oregon, was working with her dogs in the wildlife area when Petunia approached her, according to the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.
Eden took the dog to Yuba County's animal shelter Thursday, where a microchip scan connected Petunia to a veterinary clinic in Virginia. Clinic staff told Yuba County animal workers who Petunia was.
After the clinic contacted Petunia's listed owner, Kristen Pruitt of Fredericksburg, Va., she called the shelter and said Petunia, who was then 3 years old, had disappeared from the family's farm around Thanksgiving eight years ago.
Despite a large search, the family found no trace of her.
"We had definitely given up hope after eight years," Pruitt said.
A photo convinced Pruitt the dog found Wednesday was the same one she'd lost thousands of miles away, according to the shelter.
There was no explanation of how the dog traveled so far from where she was originally.
But Pruitt said her best guess is because Petunia is "gregariously friendly."
Yuba County Animal Care Services will assist Petunia in getting home to her family shortly, according to the department.
Petunia's Malti-Poo roommate in Virginia, Boo Boo, who is also microchipped, is excited for her canine friend's return, the owner said.
Pruitt said she is "anxious" to find out how the dogs will react when they see each other.
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_19462390

Even santa's reindeer need a veterinarian!

Here's an article that you may find interesting, especially if you have kids!http://www.avma.org/reindeer/default.asp