Subjects:
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| Cold Weather: |
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Try to keep your cat inside.
Some prefer to sleep near a warm motor |
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and
will become injured when the car is started. Honk
your horn |
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before
starting your vehicle to alert the sleeping
feline. |
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Take care with short-hared
dogs out of doors; a warm sweater will help. |
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Don't forget to wipe your
pet's legs, feet & abdomen. These areas can |
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freeze
quickly. |
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Treat frostbite slowly
with warm, wet towels and see your vet as soon |
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as
possible. |
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Remember, puppies become cold
quicker than adult dogs. |
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Keep pet's sleeping areas warm
and free of drafts. |
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Don't forget that your outdoor
pet needs fresh water and food, as well as |
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a
covered area to be protected from the cold
weather. |
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Keep your dog's coat longer in
winter, and never let your pet go outside |
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until
completely dry after bathing. |
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Holidays: |
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Increased visitors &
activites can frighten some pets due to change in
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their
routines. Insure them a safe place
alone, or consider a pet sitter. |
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During gatherings, beware of
discarded foods and bones, pets can get |
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into
them. Likewise, items such as chocolate, aluminum
foil, tinsel, |
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etc.
may be dangerous. |
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Be cautious with holiday
decorations. Items like ribbon, wrapping, tissue |
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paper,
boxes and bows can be hazardous to your pet. |
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A Christmas tree should be in
a wide, sturdy container. Cats could |
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consider
the Christmas tree a climbing post and knock it
over. You |
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might
want to consider placing the tree in a room that
is closed off. |
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Don't forget ornaments as
well. Glass balls can shatter easily and |
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popcorn
strands can become a meal. |
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Consider animal-safe items for
decoration, such as dried safe
flower |
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wreaths,
pine cones, or fabric/wood ornaments. |
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Don't forget to conceal that
extra length of electrical cording (see above). |
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Keep pets away from
poinsettias, holly and mistletoe (see above). |
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Candles and their flames might
appear inviting to a playful cat; don't |
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leave
candles unattended. |
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| Hot Weather: |
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Any pet
can suffer from heat stress; however, the very
young or old, |
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short-nosed breeds, overweight
pets, pets with cardiovascular disease |
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or respiratory disease are
especially at risk. Provide clean fresh water, |
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adequate ventilation, and
proper shading. |
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*
Never leave pets in parked vehicles ! |
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Some signs of heat
stress are: |
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profuse
panting and salivation |
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confusion |
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warm
dry skin |
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high
fever |
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rapid
heartbeat |
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fatigue |
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muscular
weakness or collapse |
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Cool pet gradually and seek
medical attention promptly. |
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| Poison: |
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Be alert for coolants
leaking from vehicles. Animals are attracted to
the |
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sweet
taste; however, a small amount will cause severe
problems |
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quickly.
As little as a teaspoonof antifreeze
can lead to irreversible |
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kidney
damage or death in a small dog or cat. |
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Other
poisons to watch out for: |
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Garden supplies:
such as insecticides; fertilizers and snail bait.
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Poisonous plants:
poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, even food items
like |
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dried onions can cause problems in pets. |
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Chocolate: As
little as an ounce of unsweetened
chocolate can |
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poison
a small dog. Milk chocolate isn't as toxic; if
ingested in |
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reasonable
quantities there is no cause for alarm. Many dogs
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however,
ingest unreasonable quantities and may be
poisoned. |
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Household Medications:
Acetaminophen (ex. TYLENOL) is deadly |
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poisonous
to cats. |
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NO-DOZ
may cause convulsions in both cats and dogs. |
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SOLARCAINE
may cause anemia in cats. |
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Ibuprofen
(ex. ADVIL) may cause kidney damage or gastric
ulcers in |
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dogs. |
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Pennies: Some
pennies contain zinc, which can cause vomiting, |
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anemia
and even death if ingested. |
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| Environment: |
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Electrical
cords should be inaccessible to pets,
especially puppies and |
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kittens,
who tend to chew on anything. A bite through the
insulation |
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can
result in a serious burn, fluid accumulation in the lungs or
death. |
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Confinement created by a chain
tied to a post or cable can result in |
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death
by suffocation if the chain becomes too tightly
wrapped around |
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a
post or your pet's neck. |
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Any unusual swelling or
soreness may be signs of a bite or bee sting. |
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Contact
your veterinarian immediately. |
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An
integrated approach to your pet's health.
