Pet Care - Autumn

Autumn weather and holidays provide special concerns for the pet owner. Before these times are here you need to take certain precautions to make sure your pets don't suffer.

Thanksgiving

   Although Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, we urge you not to share your holiday meal leftovers with your pet. Table scraps, including Thanksgiving turkey, are unhealthy for pets. Turkey bones or spoiled meat could be especially dangerous to your pet's health.
   Turkey bones, like other bird bones, are hollow and therefore break easily and splinter into sharp pieces. Most dogs and cats will not chew the bone thoroughly and sharp pieces can cause blockage and perforate the intestinal tract.
   A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in his digestive system may not show any symptoms for 1 to 2 days. When symptoms do occur, they may include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, or diarrhea. Sometimes the bone will pass by itself; other times it may need to be surgically removed.
   Another common ailment in pets who eat leftover turkey is salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey's intestinal tract. The cooking process usually destroys all the organisms, making the turkey safe to eat. Occasionally, the center of the turkey may be undercooked, especially if it's large or full of stuffing. If the meat sits out at room temperature for too long, the salmonella organisms can multiply and cause contamination. Pets may become poisoned if they eat any of the turkey that has been sitting out.
   Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite, and listlessness.
   Another problem that can occur if your pet overeats a large amount of fatty foods on Thanksgiving is pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.
   Symptoms of pancreatitis are variable. Vomiting and abdominal pain are the most common symptoms of pancreatitis. Trembling, panting and a hunched-up abdomen indicate pain in a dog. Diarrhea, often tinted with blood, fever, and weakness are also very common.
   Acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency. Dogs experiencing acute pancreatitis are usually in severe pain.
   Pets should not be allowed to eat table scraps, even on Thanksgiving. If your pet sneaks some turkey or other food from the table and begins showing any of the signs listed in this article, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Halloween Top 10 Safety Tips

   1. Please don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween. There are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, and even killed pets on this night.

   2. Keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween. (P.S. It’s also our duty to remind you here that kitties are healthiest and happiest when they live inside ALL year round!)

   3. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Sammy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

   4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

   5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

   6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.

   7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.

   8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

   9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

   10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

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Summer

Autumn

Winter

Disasters

Puppies / Kittens

Allergies

Poison

Chocolate

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