Winter Safety Tips for Pets and Wildlife
By Dr. Denice Moffat
Make Drinking Water Available: The temperature is dropping here where we are. I’ve noticed all the water places I have lovingly placed in the yard for all the neighborhood cats, squirrels and birds are frozen in the morning. This is the time of the year when you want to be diligent about replacing that water for the animals. Dehydration at this time of the year can lead to bladder stones and urinary track blockages, especially in cats.
So. . .if your cat is crying while trying to urinate or makes direct eye contact and urinates on some beloved item you own, don’t scream, grab the cat and throw it out of the house without calling your veterinarian to make an appointment for a urinalysis and exam. The cat is trying to tell you something.
“Look at me. I’m in trouble and really in excruciating agony. PLEASE HELP ME!”
And if you have thrown your cat out and it left and never came back, then it’s time to forgive yourself and learn from this tip. We all make mistakes occasionally.
Do You Use Rock Salt Or Some Other Ice Melt Products? Exposure to salts and salt-based ice melting products, a common occurrence, can cause dogs severe dermatitis, inflammation of the paws and serious gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and internal burns of the mouth and digestive tract. You might want to check out https://www.SafePaw.com for a location on where to purchase this product. Safe Paw is a patented compound that works just as good or better than salts or salt-based ice melt products. This non-corrosive product is a two-way timed-release wonder. The liquid component starts melting ice instantly while breaking its surface tension, which speeds up the melting process.
Is Your Antifreeze Safe For Pets? This is antifreeze season and I’ve seen a few leaky radiators. Just one teaspoon of this sweet, delectable substance will totally trash your pet’s kidneys causing an agonizing death. And I can tell you through experience that it is really terrible to watch.
If you can get your pet into the vet within 24 hours of ingestion, you have a chance to save them. We inject alcohol (somewhat similar to EverClear) into the animal’s veins and keep the animal drunk for 24 hours. The alcohol binds up the ethylene glycol so that it won’t crystallize and destroy the kidney tubules. Expensive, painful, and not necessary! Get some pet-safe antifreeze today which is made of propylene glycol instead. I noticed the Sierra brand was cheaper than the regular stuff at our local WalMart this year.
Helpful Books/Links/References: