Archive for the ‘Emergency Pet Care’ Category

I receive a newsletter from the Sunbear Squad. The Sunbear Squad transforms animal lovers into animal welfare defenders, with knowledge, tools and inspiration. They have a great website, I highly suggest you checking them out! OK, here’s the article:

Signs Of Heat Stroke in Animals

Do you know WHAT to do?

SIGNS

The signs depend upon the extent of heat stroke. In the early stages, your pet will pant rapidly, have thick, ropey saliva, and have bright red gums. His body temperature will be between 104-106°F.

As the body temperature climbs above 106°F, your pet will go into shock with subsequent organ shutdown.

He will have pale gums, be weak and dizzy, with vomiting and diarrhea. The brain becomes affected and he may seizure or fall into a coma. In this case, he requires immediate, life-saving veterinary intervention.

The normal body temperature of a dog or cat ranges between 38 – 39°C or 103°F. Our pets maintain this temperature through panting, however sometimes they are unable to lose enough heat. Dogs and cats probably do suffer from heat cramps and heat exhaustion like us humans but the symptoms are mild and we don’t recognize them. The condition that we see is heatstroke, and it may cause the death of a pet.

CAUSES

BEING IN A HOT CAR. Never leave your pet in a parked car in sunlight. The car heats up to be like a sauna even on mild days.

EXCESSIVE EXERCISE ON A HOT DAY. Minimize exercise in the heat of the day. Avoid exercising your dog in unusually hot or humid conditions especially at the start of summer. Most heatstroke cases are seen at the start of summer.

NOT ENOUGH SHADE OR COLD WATER. Make sure your pet has plenty of shade to escape to during the day. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh cool water (the water should be placed in the shade) available at all times.

SOLUTIONS

AWAY FROM THE HEAT. Remove your pet from the hot environment. Get him out of the car and away from the sun.

TO THE VET ASAP. If you suspect severe heatstroke and your pet has collapsed, get your pet immediate veterinary care. In this case, the organs may be shutting down and he needs specialized care to survive. While in transit it is important to continue to apply cool wet towels to the back of the neck and groin area.

WHAT’S THE TEMP? Use a rectal thermometer and find your pet’s exact temperature: if it is 104°F or higher, he has heatstroke, and you need to take action.

COOL DOWN. Run cold water over the back of your pet’s head. Place cold packs wrapped in towels between the back legs, on the belly and in the armpits. Wet towels can be used instead. You can use a garden hose to run the water over the back of his head.

ALCOHOL SOLUTION. Rubbing alcohol will also speed up heat loss; it can be applied to the belly and groin, cooling as it evaporates. Liberally spread it on the skin; the most important thing is reducing the temperature in a controlled way.

DO NOT IMMERSE IN COLD WATER. This treatment does bring your pet’s temperature down, but tends to overcorrect it and then your pet may be seriously unwell, cold and wet.

RE-HYDRATE. Let your pet drink as much cold water as he can. If you have an electrolyte replacement, such as Gatorade, then add this to his water. If your pet drinks lots of water at once it is very likely to vomit. Once your pet is refusing water you can leave the bowl of water with it.

WATCH FOR SHOCK. Pets with severe heatstroke are at risk for shock. In this case you don’t want to wrap him in a blanket, but you can at least provide sugar. Rub corn syrup or honey on his gums while you are in transit to your vet.

DO NOT OVERCOOL. When your pet stops panting, they are likely at a normal temperature. You can check this by taking their temperature again. If it’s 103°F or 38 °C then stop the cooling.

SPECIAL CASES. Certain breeds are at a high risk for heatstroke, namely the brachycephalics (dogs with pushed-in faces). These include Pugs and Bulldogs; they snore and snort and have difficulty breathing at the best of time. In spite of them being a veterinarian’ s best friend, you should avoid exercising them on hot days, and always be on the lookout for early signs of heatstroke.

Be an earth angel. Adopt a not-quite-perfect dog or cat that needs you, and help it heal. Such a companion will teach you much about selfless love, generosity, and tolerance—becoming an earth angel for you.

www.sunbearsquad.org

In the swampy woods behind Julie’s house, there lies a hurt dog. As her neighbor, Jo Ann and she get closer to the dog, who appears close to death, the dog jumps up and takes off. They think they see a wound on the dog’s back leg and Jo Ann had heard a gun shot a few hours before.

This was five weeks ago. Julie and Jo Ann have been putting food and water out for this poor, extremely frightened and probably injured dog every morning and every evening. They cannot get within a few hundred yards of the dog before he tears off into the woods again. This is as close as they can get:

Tom Wargo, founder of Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen and The Backyard Sanctuary was notified of this poor dog and he felt that immediate action should be taken. Tom traps feral cats all the time, but not so many dogs. He has a coyote sized trap and took it to Julie’s, put the food in and waited.

About 4 hours later, the dog wandered into the woods where he usually gets his food and walked right into the trap. Unfortunately, the trap didn’t hold up to the terribly frightened dog’s struggling and kicking, so he busted out of the trap and left.

We are hoping someone will have a large trap that we can use, and a rescue who will know what to do with this terrified pup, or just for some tips or advice. Thank you for any help that you can give.

Contact: Tom Wargo, 404-345-6821 or Valerie Pegg, 770-363-0827

Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission–to be of service to them whenever they require it… If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
– Saint Francis of Assisi

This article is from page 23 of the PetTech PetSaver program and is helpful if your dog or cat has a seizure.

Seizures-Convulsions

Definition: Involuntary contractions of muscles caused by abnormal cerebral stimulation or dysfunction.

Causes: Seizures or convulsions can be caused by epilepsy, poisoning (from toxic substances like lead, organophosphate and strychnine) or head trauma (mostly caused by being hit by a car or a fall).

A seizure caused by poisoning is an emergency situation. The veterinarian needs to know the amount and type of poison ingested. It is best to bring the suspected container with you.

Signs: Falling, chomping jaws, stiffening of the body, paddling motion of the legs, jerky and uncontrollable movements lasting two to three minutes. Prior to and after the seizure the pet can have a low level of consciousness, be unresponsive and not know who you are. The pet may also empty its bladder and bowels.

Actions For Survival: Stay calm, reduce external stimuli (lights, sounds, people). DO NOT restrain the pet or place anything in its mouth. Clear the area of hard or sharp objects that might cause harm. If possible, pull the pet away from objects and onto a blanket to help reduce injury.

First Aid: Seizures:

• Be sure that your pet has a heartbeat and is breathing. If so, place a rolled-up blanket or towel under the head for protection.
• When the seizure has stopped, monitor breathing. If the pet has no history of seizures, transport to the nearest veterinarian or emergency animal hospital. If the pet has a history of seizures, take note and transport only if the seizure is not like its “normal” seizures
• Keep the pet comfortable in a quiet, dark place
• Clean up any mess and make a note as to the duration and frequency of the seizure for the veterinarian. If the seizure lasts longer than what is “normal” or the pet has repeated seizures, then you should contact its veterinarian.

A seizure caused by head trauma is an emergency situation. Treat as other life-threatening symptoms present themselves (i.e. CPR, Rescue Breathing, shock, bleeding, etc.). Transport the pet to its veterinarian or nearest emergency animal hospital immediately, moving it as little as poss ible.

Note to Pet Owners: Keeping records of a pet’s health is important, especially for a pet that has seizures.

You can contact my instructor, Jennifer Perry at 770-575-1423 or  Jennifer@PetTechAtlanta.com. Her website is http://pfa.pettechatlanta.com/.

May all that have life be delivered from suffering.
– Buddha

Continuing my “what to do in case of a disaster” series, in which the information was gathered and put together by Beth Fasnacht of Pet Watch, Inc. during our monthly meeting with Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters, here is an example of what to put in your pet’s first aid kit.

Here is what you’ll need:

• Durable waterproof case
• An informative First Aid guide
• A cold pack
• 6 to 8 cotton tipped applicators
• Eye irrigate
• Gauze pads
• Antibiotic ointment
• Petroleum jelly
• Flexible bandages that adhere to themselves (and not to your pet’s hair)
• Syringe
• Iodine ointment
• Scissors
• Adhesive tape
• Rectal thermometer
• Tweezers
• Gloves

For Birds: First Aid Kids Would Have:

• Stainless steel hemostatic
• Antiseptic wipes and swabs
• Forceps
• Cohesive bandage
• A curved tip syringe
• Sterile gauze
• Styptic powder

For more information, visit the Humane Society of the United States or call the American Red Cross. All agencies will be happy to help you at any time. Be sure to check out all the websites on Disaster Planning for Pets. There is a wealth of information to use. Here is a list of a few of these websites:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.
– Charles Darwin

A couple of weeks ago, I attended my Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters monthly meeting, where Beth Fasnacht of Pet Watch, Inc. gave us an excellent presentation on disaster emergency preparation. Here is a little more of what I learned.

Caring For Birds in an Emergency

Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier and warm up the car before placing the birds inside. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to mist the bird’s feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport.

• Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content
• Have a photo for identification and leg bands
• If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently
• Try to keep the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier during an emergency
• When transporting house lizards, follow the same directions as for birds

What About Other Pets?

Reptiles

Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase, but they must be transferred to more secure housing when they reach the evacuation site.

If the snake requires frequent feedings, carry food with you.

Take a water bowl large enough for soaking as well as a heating pad.

Pocket Pets

Small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while at the shelter. Take bedding materials, food bowls, and water bottles.

Life is life–whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage.
– Sri Aurobindo

I want to thank Beth Fasnacht at Pet Watch, Inc., who is in my networking group, Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters for providing me with this crucial information during our February meeting. I learned a lot from that meeting and will be sharing it all in previous, present and future blogs.

Pets and Disasters: Getting Prepared

Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In turn, they depend on us for their safety and well being. In this article, you are going to learn how to be prepared with a Disaster Plan to protect you, your family, and your pet family as well.

Did you know that the Humane Society of the United States is working with the American Red Cross on providing shelter and help to victims and their pets in disasters? Do we have any of these shelters in our areas? Do you have an emergency disaster system in place for you and your family?

One way the HSUS is working with people is teaching them how to prepare for a disaster. This article will hopefully help you if a disaster strikes your home and give you some interesting facts about what is being done to help people find shelter in a disaster.

Be Prepared With a Disaster Plan

The best way to protect your family and pets is to have a disaster plan in place. This includes all supplies, and they need to be ready to take out the door and/or  use  if a disaster strikes.

Being prepared can save their lives and yours!

Different disasters require different responses. However, whether the disaster is a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may have to evacuate your home. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost or killed. Prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.

Have a Safe Place to Take Them

Red Cross Shelters cannot accept pets because of states’ health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals that assist with disabilities are the only animals allowed in the Red Cross Shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to do your research.

• Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and restriction on number, size, and species. Ask if “no pets” policies could be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations.
• Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals on a temporary basis. If you have more than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately.
• Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
• Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have, as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort. If your local area does not have an emergency shelter, maybe work with the Emergency Management Team in your area to set one up.

“True benevolence or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation.”
– Joseph Addison

Often a warning is issued by the National Weather Service of approaching storms. They will announce hours or days before a storm hits the area.

At the first hint of a disaster, act to protect your pet and start putting your emergency plan into action.

Call ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements for you and your pets (if there is an emergency shelter in your area).

Check to be sure your pet disaster supplies are ready to take at a moment’s notice.

Bring all pets into the house so that you won’t have to search for them if you have to leave in a hurry.

Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars and securely fastened and up-to-date identification. Attach the phone number and address of your temporary shelter, if you know it, or of a friend or relative outside the disaster area. You may buy temporary tags and put adhesive tape on the back of your pet’s ID tag, adding information with an indelible pen.

You may not be home when an evacuation order comes. Find out if a trusted neighbor would be willing to take your pets and meet you at a prearranged location. This person should be comfortable with your pets, they should know where the pets are likely to be hiding, know where your pet disaster supplies kit is kept, and have a key to your home. (If using a pet sitting service, they may be available to help, but discuss the possibility well in advance with your sitter/client/neighbor.)

Planning and preparation will enable you to evacuate with your pets quickly and safely.

Bear in mind that animal react differently under stress. Outside your home and in the car, keep dog securely leashed. Transport cats in carriers. Don’t leave unattended anywhere- when scared they can run off. The trustworthiest pets may panic, hide, and try to escape, or even bite or scratch.

When you do return home, give your pets time to settle back into their routines. Consult your vet if any problem behavior persists.

If you take all of these precautions, staying together as a family without injury to you or your family members (pets included) will be one less thing for you to worry about if your house is gone or damaged.

Dogs look up to you. Cats look down on you. Give me a pig. He just looks you in the eye and treats you like an equal.
- Winston Churchill

Recently, I attended my monthly meeting with Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters and Beth Fasnacht of Pet Watch, Inc. did a fantastic presentation on disaster preparedness. She urged us to share what we learned, so this blog is  focused on disasters and what to do about your pets. I hope you never have to practice anything that you learn from this!

Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit

Whether you are away from home for a week or a day, you’ll need essential supplies. Keep items in an accessible place and store them in sturdy containers that can be carried away easily (duffel bags, covered trash containers, etc.). Your pet disaster supplies kit should include:

• Pet First Aid Kit
• Medications, vet records and medical records (stored in a waterproof container)
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport the pet safely and ensure that your animals cannot escape (Note: Pets will be scared, so plan for it.)
• Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.
• Food, portable eater, bowls, cat litter and litter box, and a can opener
• Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.
• Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable

“Until one has loved an animal,  a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France

You’ve heard of Meals on Wheels, right?  Well think of Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen as Meals on Wheels for pets.

In 1997, Tom Wargo, who’s dog Daffy is pictured below, started this much needed service. Too often people who are having money troubles think that they must give up their beloved pets because they can’t afford them anymore. Daffy’s is there for those folks to provide food every month for their pets. In the last year, Daffy’s has given away over 80 tons of pet food. The only thing that Tom asks for is that the people who come and receive pet food volunteer in the community that for at least 5 hours per month. It doesn’t have to be Daffy’s, although the organization solely depends on volunteers. You could volunteer at your church, the local animal shelter, homeless shelter, or anywhere in between. He just wants to be sure that the good deeds get “paid forward.”

Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen depends on donations. They have a warehouse in Lawrenceville with pet food of all types, but there’s a problem. Daffy’s is running very low on dry dog food and monetary donations. If you can help in any way, it is greatly appreciated and will also warm your heart. If you need pet food, don’t be shy! You will feel welcomed and they are happy to help you keep your pets fed. See the Daffy’s website for the calendar of days that they are open and stop by the warehouse:

2160 Oakland Industrial Court, Suite 100 in Lawrenceville, GA. For more information, see the website at www.daffyspetsoupkitchen.com, email at thesosclubofga@yahoo.com, or call 404-345-6821.

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” – Mark Twain

While researching this subject, I found that there are MANY toxic dangers out there for your pets. I did my best to collect them all and put them in a readable and organized list. Please let me know if I left anything out and I’ll add it. There is so much, make sure that if you think that your pet has ingested or breathed or touched something that is making them act weird or feel bad, get them to the vet first and ask questions later. You could save their life.

PLANTS

Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (pit)
Arrowhead
Asparagus Fern
Avocado
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Baneberry
Begonia
Bird of Paradise
Black Locust
Black Walnut
Bleeding Heart
Boston Ivy
Caladium
California Poppy
Calla Lily
Carnation
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Cherry (seeds, wilting leaves, and pit)
Chinese Evergreen
Chives
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Corn Plant
Crocus
Croton
Crown of Thorns
Crown Vetch
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Delphinium
Devil’s Ivy
Dicentra
Dieffenbachia
Donkey Tail
Dumb Cane
Dutchman’s Breeches
Easter Lily
Elderberry
Elephant Ears
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Florida Beauty
Four O’Clock
Foxglove
Foxtail
Fruit Salad Plant
German Ivy
Gladiola
Hemlock
Holly
Honeysuckle
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Iris
Ivy
Jack in the Pulpit
Japanese Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil
Kalanchoe
Lamb’s quarter
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily of the Valley
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords-and-Ladies
Lupine
Marigold (Marsh Marigold)
Marijuana
Mayapple
Mexican Breadfruit
Milkweed
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning Glory
Mother-in-Law plant
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms
Narcissus
Nephthytis
Nightshade
Oak Tree (buds and acorns)
Oleander
Onion
Peace Lily
Peach (wilting leaves and pits)
Pencil Tree
Philodendron
Pigweed
Poinsettia
Poison Ivy
Poison Hemlock
Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Poppy
Potato (all green parts)
Pothos
Precatory Bean
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Cactus
Rubber Tree
Sago Palm
Schefflera
Shamrock Plant
Snake Plant
Snow on the Mountain
Sorghum
Star of Bethlehem
Stinging Nettle
Stinkweed
Swiss Cheese Plant
Taro Vine
Toadstools
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (entire plant except ripe fruit)
Umbrella Tree
Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wisteria
Yew

FOODS
Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados—toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy goats
Cherry pits
Candy (particularly chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol)
Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
Garlic
Grapes
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions and onion powder
Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt
Tea (caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Yeast dough

This information was gathered from several sources.

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. ~Hebrew Proverb