Holidays are anything but fun for many pets. While we humans love the change in routine, the parties, the guests and the decorations, our furred and feathered family members too often find the disruptions disturbing -- and sometimes dangerous.
If I had to pick a holiday that's the least compatible with pets, it would have to be the Fourth of July. Fireworks are flat-out distressing to many animals. Many spend the holiday on tranquilizers, while others (who probably should have been sedated and certainly confined) take off in terror from their yards. The lucky ones are found by neighbors or land in shelters, but there are always those animals who are hit by cars or are simply never heard from again.
The Fourth of July may be a pet's worst nightmare, but Halloween is pretty close to the top of the list in terms of risks, too. The two biggest problems with this ghoulish holiday are frightened pets and poisoned pets -- and animal emergency clinics traditionally see plenty of both. With the increase in activity, cats and dogs get nervous and some will take off if they can. That means an increase in animals hit by cars. Other animals may be a cause of injury: All those costumed young visitors can trigger territorial instincts or fear-responses in some dogs, who may then become a bite risk.
The best solution for nervous pets is to confine them for the evening in a crate or a quiet room far from the front door or any holiday festivities. Many animal-welfare groups warn that black cats are at special risk around Halloween, claiming that cultists pick up the animals for ritual torture. Such concerns have led many shelters to halt the adoption of black cats in the days before Halloween. In truth, such cruelties are so poorly documented that they surely happen rarely, if at all. Most fall in the realm of urban legends. Your black cat is more likely to be killed by a car than a cultist, but the threat of either is more than reason enough to keep him inside. If you keep your pets confined safely inside the house, you will eliminate one source of risk. Keeping them away from the goodies will take care of the other.
Candy is a problem more for dogs than for cats, because cats are generally picky about what they eat. Not so for most dogs, who'll wolf down candy wrappers and all if given the opportunity, giving many a serious case of what veterinarians call "garbage gut." Any candy can trigger a bout of intestinal upset, but chocolate can do much worse. The small dog who gets a large amount of chocolate could end up dead without prompt veterinary intervention.
Some people put costumes on their dogs, and that's safe enough if you use common sense. You can find ready-made costumes in most pet stores, in almost as much variety as you'll find in stores for children. Homemade costumes can be fun, too, and you'll find a surprising number of pet-costume events where you and your dog can show off your handiwork.
The standby costume for my black retrievers has always been to put round white stickers on them, creating "reverse Dalmatians." Such a costume meets the commonsense standard: It's comfortable and nonrestrictive, and it doesn't involve anything that could be hazardous, such as dye or paint.
While pets may not like holidays as much as we do, any celebration can be made pet-safe with just a few basic precautions. Be sure to take them, because veterinarians would rather hand out candy to children than medicine to pets on Halloween.
PETS ON THE WEB
Black cats may be considered unlucky by many people, but African-American culture traditionally takes another view. According to the Web site of the Lucky Mojo Curio Co. (www.luckymojo.com/blackcat.html), which sells traditional and folkloric spiritual supplies based in the African-American, Asian and Latin-American traditions, black cats are believed to bring good luck to gamblers.
Unfortunately, some of the rituals aren't lucky to the cats themselves: One of the good-luck pieces the site details (and decries, fortunately) is the bone of a black cat, historically achieved through hideous torture of the animal. The site says there are voodoo practitioners that claim to be selling the bones of black cats, but the product is really a chicken bone.
THE SCOOP
A lot of products get sent my way by manufacturers hoping I'll write about them. Most don't pass muster with the in-house testing staff, who have made mincemeat out of "indestructible" chew toys and created messes with "untippable" water bowls. Recently, though, a box of goodies was a big hit with my canine crowd.
Chewtastics is a series of chew toys. And on first glance they look much like the selection of bones, rawhides and hooves you'd find in any pet-supply outlet. But these products are made with a different process that allows the manufacturer to preserve the marrow, tendons and more on the bone. The result? A better chew, at least to judge by how happily my dogs went for them.
Although I didn't offer the hoof product to my crew -- hooves can break into nasty, sharp shards, so I avoid them -- the bones provided many hours of entertainment to my two retrievers, who are enthusiastic chewers.
Chewtastics are priced from $1.99 to $4.99, and are available at pet-supply stores, including Petco. For more information, visit the company's Web site (www.chewtastics.com), or call toll-free: 866-489-8196.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: Why don't you like Jack Russell terriers? We have two and they are a handful, but we love them! They are the best breed around. Look at Eddie on the show "Frasier" and tell me another dog that's cuter and smarter. And what about "Wishbone"? 'Nuff said. - H.W., via e-mail
A: I love Jack Russell terriers! They are adorable, funny and very bright. "Wishbone," a PBS show for children that features a Jack Russell in the title role, is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. But I cannot deny that JRs are one of the breeds I find myself talking people out of most frequently. Or I console people after they've adopted a Jack Russell, only to find out they got far more dog than they bargained for.
The latter group usually writes letters that go something like this: "Help! We have a Jack Russell, and he barks, jumps, digs and chews nonstop! What can we do?"
I'm always tempted to write back: "Congratulations! You have a real Jack Russell. They all bark, jump, dig and chew nonstop. You didn't know that?" You can -- and should -- train a Jack Russell, but the best you can do is end up with a well-behaved ball of fire. You can't change the essential personality of any breed, so you'd better know what you're in for before you adopt.
Now, before the nastygrams roll in from people who have sedate JRs, let me say that even the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America feels compelled to warn people about the breed on its JRTCA Web site (www.terrier.com).
"Many experienced, as well as inexperienced, dog owners are overwhelmed by the demands of a Jack Russell terrier, leading to the dogs being abandoned even before they reach adulthood," notes the site, which offers a profile to help potential JR owners determine if they are up to the task of keeping one.
It comes down to this: Do your homework! If you want a relatively calm, laidback temperament in a dog, get a basset hound. Don't expect a Jack Russell to be anything except what he is -- five dogs' worth of energy stuffed into an adorable little body. There's no such thing as a "bad" breed, just people who choose the wrong breed for their personalities, preferences and lifestyles.
As for Eddie on "Frasier," that dog, whose real name is Moose, has a full-time trainer to keep him in line. 'Nuff said.
Q: When our cat got sick, our veterinarian recommended giving her baby food to coax her to eat until she felt better. Is that really a good idea? -- G.A., via e-mail
A: Meat baby foods are very popular with cats and can get a finicky pet to show interest in food again. Just read the label and choose a food without onion powder in it. That stuff's not good for cats.
You may not have to use baby food to get your kitty to eat, though. Sometimes warming up the meal will increase its palatability. Just put a little canned food on a plate and microwave for 30 seconds or so, then stir to eliminate any hot spots. You want the food to be about body temperature --warm, but not hot.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.
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