What is it?
“Spay” refers to the sterilization of female pets. “Neuter” refers to the castration of male pets. The term “Neuter” is also often used as the term for getting either male or female pets fixed.
Some great reasons for neutering are:
*It improves your pet’s health
Puppies & kittens can be neutered as early as 8 weeks. Younger animals generally have a quicker recovery period as well.
The cost of neutering varies depending on your vet’s office or local ASPCA location. Some animals in shelters are neutered before being adopted out but the expense is often too much for a shelter or rescue to do for all of their animals so be prepared to get it done on your own after adopting.
Some great resources are your local vet, animal shelter or rescue group (ex: ASPCA). Also, SPAY/USA has a hotline and website: 1-800-248-SPAY or visit www.spayusa.org
*May cause some behavior changes (for the better!)
*Pets are generally calmer, more relaxed, & more affectionate
*It reduces the urge to fight
*It reduces the urge to wander
*It eliminates spraying (marking objects with urine)
*Your female pets are no longer in heat, eliminating the mess & clean up that comes with it.
*No hassle in raising & finding homes for a litter
*Lessens the amount of dog bites in the community
*Controls pet overpopulation which in turn helps with the amount of perfectly healthy pets that are euthanized in shelters due to overpopulation or too long in a shelter (animals can go crazy from being in a shelter environment for too long!!)
Pets can generally eat any type or brand of food designed for them. When looking at something like dog food though, one of the best ways to tell if it’s a good kind of food or not is to look at the ingredient list. If a kind of meat (usually chicken, turkey, or beef) is in the first three ingredients then it is a higher quality food. Also, many dogs have wheat allergies so it is always good to be aware of how high on the ingredient list wheat is. Overall it is up to you, the owner to pick out what you feel is the best food. Your vet can always answer your questions too.
As for people food: it’s up to you how much (if at all) you wish to feed them. There are some things that animals cannot eat though. You do need to watch how much protein you’re giving dogs since too much can cause liver and kidney problems.
Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, a potent stimulant that is chemically similar to caffeine.
What to do if your pet ingests chocolate
Call your veterinarian or animal poison-control center immediately! The Pet Poison Hotline number is 800-565-5719. Be ready to relate the type of chocolate consumed and the amount, the time the ingestion occurred, and the approximate weight of the dog. You may be instructed on how to induce vomiting and how to monitor the dog’s condition. A veterinarian should check the dog as soon as possible because treatment can be given to alleviate some of the symptoms and better insure a positive outcome.
Chocolate is very toxic to your pets. Dogs that eat too much chocolate may vomit at first and/or have diarrhea. If enough of the chocolate is absorbed, the dog may start to show signs of hyperactivity, panting, pacing, restlessness or muscle tremors. With all the stimulant effects comes a very rapid heartbeat and even seizures, both of which can be fatal.
Baking chocolate is the most deadly form of chocolate because it is the most concen-trated form. The next most toxic form is semisweet chocolate, followed by milk chocolate, hot chocolate or chocolate milk, and white chocolate. Also, the more expensive the chocolate product, the more “real” chocolate it contains and thus the more toxic it is. Keep in mind that a mere four ounces of baking chocolate or one pound of milk chocolate can be lethal for a 15-pound dog.
Hazards at Home
• Alcoholic beverages
Other potential dangers in your home include burning candles that may be knocked over, electrical cords that can be chewed, and loose cords or wires that animals may become tangled in.
For more information on what to do for a poisoned animal, what plants are poisonous, and how to poison-proof your home, visit the ASPCA website (www.aspca.org) and click on “Animal Poison Control Center.” If you suspect your pet has been poisoned and you need immediate assistance, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
• Substances containing caffeine
• Chocolate
• Fatty foods, especially drippings and grease from cooking
• Chicken and turkey bones
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions
• Macadamia nuts
• Salt and sugar
• Yeast dough
• All medications (aspirin is especially harmful to cats)
• Antifreeze
• Bait for rodents
• Batteries
• Car care products
• Fertilizer
• Gorilla Glue (or similar products)
• Household cleaners
• Ice-melting products
• Nicotine products
• Pesticides for insects
• Plants that are toxic to pets (ex: poinsettias)
• Pool or pond products
• Poisonous snakes
• Utensils with food on them
Dogs
Dogs don’t perspire like we do. To cool themselves off they have to pant. If the air that they are breathing in is too hot, then panting has little cooling effect and the dog will quickly overheat. Over-exposure to heat causes many of the same symptoms as shock. You will see rapid, shallow breathing, weakness, and a very high body temperature.
Leaving the windows of your car open, even wide open, is not helpful either. The car can still become hot enough to cause heatstroke, brain damage, and even death, even if you leave them for just a few minutes.
Other Animals
All animals need plenty of water available to them in hot weather (and through all the seasons). If they are too near a window they can still be sunburned from too much exposure…especially animals with white or light colored coats.
Rabbits can also be adversely affected by extremes of temperature. To control the temperature of their environment and to keep them safe from predators, rabbits should be kept inside. The temperature inside their houses should not drop below 60 or go above 75 degrees. Heat stroke can occur in a rabbit at 80 degrees.
Letting your dog ride in an open pickup truck bed can be dangerous in hot weather also. Especially since truck beds are often dark colors, which get very hot.
If your dog is exposed to heat for too long and begins to show signs of overheating you can cool the animal as quickly as possible by spraying him with cool (not cold) water or wrapping him in cool, moist towels. Because of the many problems caused by an elevated body temperature, seek professional help immediately.
When walking your pet in hot weather, keep in mind that the asphalt or cement can get very hot. In fact, it can get hot enough to burn a dog’s pads, causing them pain for days. Before going for a walk, check the ground for hotness with one of your own hands or bare feet. If you can’t keep your hand (or foot) on the ground for more than three seconds, it’s probably too hot to walk your dog. You might want to do only short walks early in the morning or later in the evening, when the temperatures are lower.
Making sure to provide plenty of water for your dog is always important, but it’s especially critical during hot weather. If your dog is inside during the day, make sure you supply fresh, cool water. If your dog stays outside during the day, make sure the water bowl isn’t somewhere it can be easily tipped. Also, make sure they have a shady place where they can get relief from the sun. Baby pools are a nice way to give dogs their own clean puddle in which to play and stay cool.
Grooming your dog helps to keep them comfortable as the seasons change. A natural coat that has been groomed offers protection from sunburn and acts as cooling insulation. Shaving your dog’s coat completely will take away that protection. If you are unsure how short is safe to go, check with a local dog groomer, pet store, or vet’s office.
Most animals don’t get a lot of exercise in the winter months. Watch your pet’s weight, and consult your veterinarian if you have questions.
Check the condition of your pet’s coat. Mats sometimes appear in winter and interfere with the coat’s ability to keep your pet warm.
Make sure that water is available both indoors and outdoors. If you live in a very cold climate, use plastic instead of metal bowls and buckets.
Be on the lookout for antifreeze, which often leaks from cars into parking lots and puddles. Check the floor of your garage, too, for any telltale signs. Antifreeze is attractive to pets because it tastes sweet, but most brands are very poisonous and may be fatal. If your pet ingests even a small amount of antifreeze, contact your veterinarian immediately. Pet-safe antifreeze (which tastes bad) is now available.
If you live in an area where there’s snow, wipe your dog’s feet after walking her. They may have picked up ice-melting chemicals, which can irritate and burn the dog’s pads. Some of these products are poisonous if ingested by pets. You may want to try dog boots, which protect your dog’s feet from sharp pieces of ice, as well as ice-melting products.
One caution about clipping your pet: If you change the length of your pet’s natural coat, he/she will need protection from the cold and the sun. Also, some coats do not grow back well, so it may be better to consult a professional groomer if you want your pet to wear an un-natural style.
Start the grooming process by gently touching all the animal’s body parts. If your pet seems uncomfortable with your touch, remember that animals learn positive associations with repetition and praise. You will need to be a kind, gentle leader but remain firm in your intentions. The plan is to teach your pet to enjoy being groomed and to groom your pet on a regular basis, not just when the animal is matted or really dirty.
Brushing & Baths
If you plan to give your pet a bath, do the brushing part first. Brushing and combing will feel good; it removes dead hair and tangles, and distributes natural skin oils. If the coat is thick, make sure you are combing all the way to the skin. Be gentle and patient, though; too much pressure on the skin can cause irritation called brush burn, and pulling the tangles will hurt if you try to hurry. A detangler can be used on dry hair to loosen any knots. Note that different types of brushes are used for different coats.
When giving a bath, the water should be warm, even in summer, because very cold water can chill animals and leave your pet with a bad association to bathing in general. Give your pet a full body massage while lathering up the shampoo; be VERY careful around their head - i usually use a wash cloth with very little to no shampoo on it fpr their head and face, then rinse. Be careful not to get water in their ears. If you wish, add conditioner and comb through the coat before a final rinse. On cold days, all animals should be dried, and very young, old or sick animals should always be dried to prevent chilling.
(Human bath products – shampoo & conditioner – can only be used on very specific breeds of dogs. Almost all breeds need pet specific shampoos. Try a gentle or hypoallergenic on puppies and very small dogs. Otherwise which brand of pet shampoo you use is up to you as the owner.)
Nails, Teeth & Ears
Before nail clipping for your first time, I suggest going to a vet or professional groomer for a lesson. Overall, I feel that nail clipping should be done by a professional. Accidently cutting the quick in a dogs nails can be very painful. Most vet offices will do it during your checkups and the cost is generally very inexpensive.
You can gently massage the gums and brush the teeth on any pet – from the smallest hamsters to the largest horses. If taught with patience and kindness, most animals enjoy a mouth massage. Remember to use animal toothpaste appropriate for each type of pet.
You should periodically check your pet’s ears. If they are clean and free of debris, then give them a nice ear rub. If their ears are dirty, smell bad or look sore, make an appointment with your vet. If you are doing a quick cleaning to healthy ears, start by dampening a cotton ball with appropriate ear cleaner and wipe the folds of skin, starting near the head and cleaning out to the ends of the ear flaps. Do not use cotton swabs because they can reach too deeply inside the ear and cause damage. Some animals are sensitive to the feeling of the cleaner going in, so you might want to start with just a small amount.
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