For Mammal Monday:
In severe heat, outdoor animals need plenty of shade, water
"Through the use of occasional sponge baths, indoor misters, an arsenal of electric fans and regular servings of powdered electrolytes, employees have managed to avoid any heat-related incidents with the horses."
COLUMBIA — As temperatures climb into the 100s, outside animals such as dogs and horses are in the greatest danger of dehydration and overheating.
Common sense should prevail when helping your pet manage the heat, said Allison Brown of the Central Missouri Humane Society.
Tips for keeping animals cool:
The ASPCA provides hot weather tips for pets on its website. They include:
- Not leaving animals inside parked cars.
- Taking pets to a veterinarian in spring or early summer for a checkup.
- Keeping pets inside when it is extremely hot.
- Ensuring that pets have plenty of clean water.
- Knowing the warning signs of overheating pets. Warning signs include excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rates, drooling, weakness, stupor and collapse.
- Not leaving dogs unsupervised around pools or bodies of water. The website cautions that not all dogs are good swimmers.
- Not letting dogs linger on hot asphalt.
- Test for dehydration: The test involves pinching skin together on the dog's neck. If the skin stays together and doesn't return to normal, that could be a sign of dehydration.
- As excessive temperatures continue, Stephens College's Equestrian Center has implemented measures to keep its residents cool and happy. pictured giving the horse a sponge bath with a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol.
"If your pet is outdoors, make sure they have access to shelter and shade as well as constant fresh water," she said.
Dogs don't sweat and rely on panting to cool down. With their physiology, they can become dehydrated long before a human can.
"Just because you're OK for a mile walk doesn't mean your dog is," Brown said.
Leaving animals in parked cars is also extremely dangerous — the inside temperature can get up to 170 degrees in the sunshine, Brown said.
Although giving long-haired dogs a haircut to help them stay cool is fine, be careful not to cut them too close, she said. Without enough fur, dogs are susceptible to sunburns.
Breeds most at risk from overheating are those with short noses, like pugs, Boston terriers and boxers.
Symptoms pet owners should look for are if animals become lethargic or nauseated.
"If they're not acting normal, they are probably overheated," Brown said.
If pets show signs of overheating, Brown said, people can help them cool down with ice or blankets soaked with cold water. She also said to get them into air conditioning and to take them to a veterinarian.
Horse care in the heat
Horses, are also under threat in this stretch of heat.
The Stephens College Equestrian Center is taking precautions during hot summer days to protect its animals, said Ellen Beard, director of equestrian operations.
"This intense heat is bad," she said, "but it's the heat buildup over multiple days that gets to them."
As the heat index rises, the center tries to limit the amount of time the horses spend in direct sun — taking them outside early in the morning and later in the afternoon.
Inside the horse barn, large, round fans and shade cloths keep out the sunlight. The center also frequently watches water levels.
"We always give them two, five-gallon water buckets," Beard said, "and we fill them three times a day."
They also add salt and applesauce to the horses' diet – a homegrown, inexpensive way to get the horses to drink more water.
Symptoms of dehydration include rapidly flaring nostrils, not drinking enough water and lack of sweating. The center also often uses the "pinch test" to check for dehydration.
The test involves pinching skin together on the horse's neck. If the skin stays together and doesn't return to normal, that could be a sign of dehydration.
If horses exhibit any of these signs, Beard recommends getting them to drink more water and pouring rubbing alcohol on their backs to help cool them down. If a horse shows significant signs of distress or if the caregiver is in doubt, quickly get in touch with a veterinarian." From: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/07/19/animals-danger-heat/
____________________
Keep Pets Cool.
____________________
Common Ways Your Pet Can Be Poisoned
"A poisoning can mean a life-or-death emergency for your pet, a traumatic experience for family members, and a significant hit to your credit card or bank account. All for a situation that is entirely preventable.
Medicine Belongs in the Medicine Cabinet
According to the ASPCA, household pets are most commonly poisoned by the following ten human medications:
- NSAIDS
- Antidepressants
- Acetaminophen
- Methylphenidate (for ADHD)
- Fluorouracil (for Cancer)
- Isoniazid (for Tuberculosis)
- Pseudoephedrine
- Antidiabetics
- Vitamin D derivatives
- Baclofen (muscle relaxant)
Not only should you store all your medications, and your pet’s, out of reach of your dog or cat, you must also be careful not to leave loose pills on a countertop or table within reach of a curious animal.
Also take care to retrieve any slippery pills that drop on the floor, and clean up liquid spills right away.
Learn Which People Foods and Drinks are Hazardous to Your Pet
Chocolate, coffee and other products containing caffeine are at the top of the list. These food and drink items contain methylxanthines, stimulants that are toxic to your dog or cat.
Any alcoholic drink or food containing alcohol can make your pet very ill and can even be fatal.
Intentional vitamin D administration to pets has also caused toxicity. People have wrongly assumed their pets are as deficient as many people. Most commercial pet foods have very high levels of vitamin D added, so additional supplementation has caused vet visits for many pets.
Walnut fruit (the nut encased raw fruit that falls from trees) and macadamia nuts are toxic for dogs. Peanut allergies are as dangerous in canines as they are in people, so it’s a good idea to keep peanuts out of reach of your pup as well.
Other foods toxic to pets include:
More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/09/07/common-pet-poisons-present-in-households.aspx
- Avocado pits, which are especially dangerous for birds and rodents
- Grapes and raisins, which can cause kidney failure
- Onions and chives, which causes hemolytic anemia "
________________
Pets For Vets. Perfectly Paired: Shelter Dogs for Veterans
More pictures and info: https://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/store/item.do?siteId=310&itemId=46214&adId=77563&placementId=206416&origin=ERA_090309_ARS
"Our veterans often experience traumatic events that may affect them long after they come home. So do shelter animals. Now, a special program matches the needs and personalities of special shelter dogs and veterans who can help each other heal, and brings them together.
You can make a difference in their lives! 100% of your donation supports this program. Click to learn more!"
Do you know about Pets for Vets? This program carefully matches shelter dogs with veterans so that together they can help each other heal.
The Animal Rescue Site has given over 472,552,037 bowls of food since 2002!*
_____________________
KISS A LOT!
(poor pig - hope it’s had its shots)
___________________
Another Way To Stop A Dog From Jumping.
"...I got a call from a nice lady not too long ago about her dog's jumping problem. She was very concerned because everything she had tried did not work. It was a big problem because her elderly aunt came over every week and she was
afraid her dog was going to hurt her.
I pulled out my bag of tricks and she was right. Her dog loved to jump and everything we tried did not work. That's when I decided to do what I call the "Cha Cha" technique.
You see, when a dog jumps the person being jumped on will push and back away. The "Cha Cha" is done by doing a quick Cha Cha step into the dog. To do this correctly you need to keep your arms at your side and use your body to walk into the dog as the dog moves towards you.
As you can imagine timing is everything. Your friends will think you are a little wacky as you do Ricky Ricardo style dance steps with your dog, but it is very effective.
Done correctly, it's like waving a magic wand that stops jumping." By Eric Letendre.
---------
You have probably seen Victoria Stillwell, of "It's Me Or The Dog", teach this technique, too.
_____________________
When Does an Eye ‘Problem’ Become a Crisis?
"Eye problems are one of the most common reasons dogs and cats visit the vet.HSUS dug up this pet-care video from their vaults—same message, very different hairstyles
The seriousness of an eye infection in a companion animal can vary. The infection might be harmless and self-limiting, meaning your pet’s body heals itself.
Or it could be traumatic and cause permanent damage up to and including blindness or the loss of an eye.
Or it might be something in between those two extremes.
Veterinarians categorize eye infections as “urgent.” Most are not a true emergency unless there’s been trauma to the eye or sudden bulging, in which case you need to get your pet to his regular vet or an animal emergency clinic right away.
Generally speaking, you can consider your pet’s eye infection urgent if there are obvious changes to the eye that grow progressively worse to the point where you’re concerned.
If your dog’s or cat’s quality of life is suffering due to an eye problem, it’s another sign the situation is urgent. For example, if yesterday you noticed your cat blinking frequently, and today he’s not opening one of his eyes at all, it’s time to call your veterinarian for an appointment as soon as possible, within 72 hours at the outside. "
More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/09/07/diagnosing-and-curing-eye-infections-in-pets.aspx
___________________
"It’s a summertime throwback! We took a trip in the Wayback Machine and found this video from the early 80s. It looks like fashions may have changed, but most things about being a responsible pet owner never go out of style."
"We've come a long way since the 80s. Check out our state-of-the-art revamps of the pet care classics from the video (no self-addressed, stamped envelope necessary!). "
Responsible-pet-owner remixes:
- On a walk? Leash that dog »
- Collars are your cat's best friends »
- Dogs dig collars, too »
- Spay or neuter your pets »
- Want more tips? Visit our Pets section »
Meet Ellie
"When the Animal League rescued Ellie, an adult Keeshond, she had severe injuries to her back and advanced infections in both her ears. It is likely she suffered severe trauma and was left to die. Upon rescue, the Animal League immediately placed Ellie in the life-saving Help Me Heal Program so that she could get the extensive care she desperately needed.
During Ellie’s initial examination by Animal League Veterinarians, she was minimally responsive and severely dehydrated. Ellie was unable to stand or walk and had a high temperature. Her fur was matted and bloody and her back appeared to be burned and severely infected. Even worse, Ellie’s deep wounds were infested with maggots. In addition to these injuries, Ellie also had severe ear infections in both ears, a deformity in one ear, and her X-rays revealed that she has spinal arthritis, which is likely to advance and require chronic pain medication in the future. It was clear that she had been lost and suffering for a while.
Ellie is currently on antibiotics for her abrasions and infections. Her ears will likely require future surgery to help open up the canals, as they are extremely infected and damaged.
Your support of the Help Me Heal program ensures that animals, like Ellie, have a chance at surviving even the most tragic of circumstances.
Video of Ellie at: http://www.animalleague.org/support/support-rescue-medical-programs/help-me-heal/animals/meet-ellie.html
___________________
Yesterday:
Well, I guess it's sorted out…. for now
__________________
Ray tries not to work on Sundays, just like I try not to work on Saturdays.
But Jay will work any day of the week. Even though he has more money coming in than either Ray or I, he spends more as he has all that beer to buy!! A "Cast of Characters" has been added to the left side, in case you want to know who the people are.
So after I had picked up Jay, I was surprised to see Ray on my door step. The washing machine in the guest house was acting up, he had to advance it manually, and it seemed to have a leak. There's always something!! The appliance place isn't open again until Tuesday, so we will look and see if it is something we can fix before then.
Jay and I carried one of the 8' long folding work/yard sale tables out of the RVport. It had been stacked up with the rest of them, so I dusted it before we brought it in the house, and then we washed the surface. It didn't take long to dry as we rinsed it with a real sponge, and microfiber cloth.
The table made it so much easier to work on the twin bed mattress for the cargo trailer. We put batting over the foam, and then a thick mattress pad. Foam beds seem to feel so much better when there is an extra mattress pad before the cover. It will be even better when they put another one on it under the sheets. We stretched the brown knitted cotton cover tight, and anchored it, but I forgot to take a picture when we put it back in the trailer.
When we brought all the dinette cushions in, we found out that the remnant of brown upholstery fabric that I had bought at a thrift shop, was not going to be quite enough to cover them, and make the matching drapes. There is enough for the top, bottom and the two long sides, but that leaves the two short sides bare. But that is OK. I will make the sides out of the beige ultra suede fabric that originally came off the dinette cushions. I have the three beige ultra suede loose cushions that came with the seat cushions, and I planned on using them as accent pillows on the bed anyway, so it will all match.
We should be able to continue today, as all the beige ultra suede fabric was washed yesterday.
No comments:
Post a Comment