Fall is my favorite season, and I think it's my pets' favorite, too. They all seem to perk up as the evenings get cooler and the days seem to gently warn of the colder days to come. I love walking the dogs as the leaves are turning along the river parkway near our home, watching my little pack as they lift their noses to track the changes in the air.
But even as I'm enjoying the crispness and beauty of fall, I'm aware that it means winter is around the corner, and with it, an awareness of seasonal challenges for our pets.
Primary among these, of course, is cold weather.
The weather -- heat in the summer, cold in the winter -- is of course of most importance to outdoor pets. I don't agree with the concept of keeping pets outdoors -- these pets are often lonely and bored, and are more likely to be suffering from physical neglect as well. (And don't forget: Loneliness and boredom often lead to behavior problems such as non-stop barking, which isn't fair to the neighbors.)
That said, I realize some people won't bring animals in the house, no matter what. If you're one of those people, you must provide adequate outdoor shelter. And the time to review your pet's shelter is now.
Animals must be able to get out of the elements. A pet must have a well-insulated structure just large enough so that he can curl up inside to maintain body heat. The structure should also have a wind-block to protect it from wintry blasts. In the coldest parts of the country, it should also have some sort of outdoor-rated pet-heating pad or other device. And be sure that there's always a supply of fresh, unfrozen water by using a heated bowl.
Animals who spend any significant amount of time outside will need more calories during cold weather. Food is fuel, and they'll need to burn it to stay warm.
Final outdoor caution: Remember to thump on your car's hood on cold mornings. You neighbor's cat may be nestled against the engine for warmth, and thumping your car's hood will get the animal to skedaddle to safety.
Indoor pets don't face the challenges outdoor pets do, but winter can be uncomfortable for them as well. For pets with arthritis, cold weather can be more painful, so ask your veterinarian about supplements or prescription medications that may help your pet feel better. A soft, heated bed may be much appreciated, too, especially by older pets. And remember that one of the best things you can do for a pet with joint problems is to keep the extra weight off: A pet who's more sedentary in winter needs to eat less.
Every year I'll get questions about sweaters for pets: Are they helpful or just plain silly? Some animals really can use the extra insulation of a well-fitted sweater: older pets, and dogs who are tiny (such as Chihuahuas), or are shorthaired and naturally lean (such as greyhounds or whippets). Overcoats can save you time drying your dog if you walk in inclement weather, especially if your pet's longhaired. And don't forget to wipe your pets' feet, legs and belly after they've been outside to keep the animal from ingesting any de-icing solutions.
Because heating systems can dry out the air, you and your pets may be more comfortable if you introduce some humidity. Birds, especially those species originating in tropical climates, will enjoy extra opportunities for bathing or being misted.
Cold-weather pet care is a matter of compassion and common sense. Use both in equal measure, and your pet will get through the worst of the season in fine shape.
SIDEBAR
Dog walkers, beware
Walking your dog is good for you, good for your dog and great for the relationship you have with your dog. But don't negate all those positive aspects by ignoring safety.
As the days get shorter in the fall, dog walkers may be out in lower light than they were a few weeks earlier, making them less visible to vehicles. The danger is higher if your dog is a dark color, you wear dark clothes, or you walk on a road without sidewalks.
Take a page from the bicyclist's book: Being seen is being safe. Check out reflective vests (for you and your dog), reflective leashes, and collars or other safety gear.
Q&A
More on medications and boarding pets
Q: I found the letter from the veterinary technician regarding labeling of pet prescriptions very interesting. Would you pass along my own practice in this regard?
If I need to board my dogs while they are taking a prescription medicine, I make up a chart. On the chart, I list every day that my dogs will be boarded, the name and amount of the medicines, and any special instructions (time of day, easiest way to give, etc.), with a separate line for each dose. I also include a place for the person giving the doses to initial.
When I pick up my dogs, I get the list back. This allows me the peace of mind of knowing that all doses were given. Making the chart also helps me remember to put down all the information without fear of forgetting something in the confusion of saying goodbye to my beloved pets.
This tip also works well at home to make sure they get every dose, especially when it's a medication you must give differently each day. -- R.D., via e-mail
Q: Could you pass along what works for us when it comes to boarding dogs with medication? We have four cocker spaniels, and they are unable to travel with us. We are lucky to have a boarding facility that is owned by a veterinarian.
Our cocker spaniels are all on some kind of medication. What I have done is set up their medications in pill boxes, like those we use, with their names on them. I also print out individual instructions along with a picture of each dog, including information on each dog's special quirks and other details that might help.
Since two of the dogs need allergy shots, I write the day and amount of each dose on the box.
We've tried having someone stay in our home, but I worried more than when they were at the veterinarian's boarding facility. At least there, there is a veterinarian on staff 24/7. -- J.H., via e-mail
Q: My husband is a pharmacist, and I have worked in the pharmacy. Would you please let people know that your letter writer is remiss in thinking the technician is using discretionary powers as to how the directions will be written?
Directions must be written exactly how the doctor writes them. It's the law. The issue of medications being labeled "use as directed" needs to be addressed with the writer of the prescription, not the person filling it. -- L.W., via e-mail
A: I didn't get the impression that the original letter writer was criticizing the technicians, but rather the practice at some veterinary hospitals of putting "use as directed" on prescription labels. As he pointed out, such labeling makes it difficult for someone else to care for your pet. That's just as true in an emergency as it is when you're leaving your pet for boarding or in the care of a pet sitter.
As for those who wrote in with suggestions for making sure pets get the right medications at the right time, that goes to the other point: Pet lovers have the ultimate responsibility for the proper care of their animals. That means making sure instructions on prescriptions are clear and that you understand them, and that you ask questions of your veterinarian if you do not.
I love the two ideas offered here -- organizing medications by day and putting a chart together. The first is what my friends do when they leave their golden retrievers to stay with me. Having everything written down so clearly makes it easy to give out the right amount of medications that these sweet old dogs are on.
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
PET Rx
Don't punish: 'Bad' cat may be sick
When a well-mannered pet, especially an older one, suddenly picks up a "bad" behavior, the first thing to find out is if the animal is sick. This is never more true than when trying to figure out why a cat has stopped using the litter box.
You'll need your veterinarian to give your cat a thorough examination, which may require diagnostic tests to spot abnormalities. Some medical reasons why cats stop using a litter box include urinary-tract problems or diabetes. Even arthritis could be an issue, making a tall-sided litter box too uncomfortable for an elderly cat to climb into.
Health problems must be resolved before your cat can be retrained to use the box, and even then, some environmental modifications -- temporary or permanent -- may be required.
Your veterinarian can help you get your cat back to optimal health and should be able to give you some tips on retraining. In more difficult cases, your veterinarian can help you find a veterinary behaviorist or other feline behavior expert to assist you in getting your cat thinking inside the box again.
(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)
THE SCOOP
A push for people to keep their pets
Even those who believe the suffering of animals should take a backseat during disasters have to admit that caring for animals at such times often means caring for people as well. After all, many people will not leave their homes to seek safety if they have to abandon their animal companions.
Phyllis DeGioia wants to change that. An editor at VeterinaryPartner.com, the veterinarian-owned company that provides the Pet Rx feature for the Pet Connection, DeGioia has started a grassroots campaign to get people to write to the Red Cross and ask the organization to modify its policies so people with pets can find safety in select disaster-relief shelters.
She notes that some communities -- notably in Florida -- already plan for the evacuation of entire families, pets included, and that the oft-mentioned challenges with allergies, aggression and sanitation can be dealt with through good planning and management.
DeGioia is calling her effort "The Snowball Effect," after the dog of the same name who was widely reported to have been forcibly separated from his young, sobbing owner during recent relief efforts.
For more information, go to www.veterinarypartner.com/snowball.
PET TIP
Nippy pup must learn biting isn't allowed
If you watch a litter of puppies play with each other, you might be surprised at how rough they can be. As puppies grow older, they learn from their littermates and their mother how to restrain those playful bites.
These lessons are important in the development of a well-mannered pet, which is why experts say puppies should stay with their littermates until at least the age of 7 weeks.
If you end up with a pup who missed the crucial lessons taught by her siblings, or if your puppy is naturally nippy (many retrievers and retriever mixes, for example, are very "mouthy" as puppies), all is not lost.
Teach your puppy to keep her teeth to herself by attacking the problem from a couple of different directions. The first would be to redirect the behavior. Clap your hands to startle the pup into stopping the nipping, and then give your puppy a toy to chew on instead. Don't forget to praise her for chewing on something that's not a family member.
Even as you're teaching the puppy what's OK to mouth, teach her how to leave family members unchewed by making the nipping unrewarding. Every time the puppy nips, dramatically cry "ouch" and immediately stop the play session. Fold your arms, turn away and ignore the puppy completely.
The message to get across: Play stops when nipping starts. If you're persistent and consistent, your puppy will get the message. It will also help if you make sure she's getting plenty of exercise, because sometimes dogs who don't get enough physical activity get too excited when they're finally offered the chance to play.
If the behavior doesn't show any sign of easing, or if the biting seems more aggressive than playful, don't delay in asking your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist or trainer.
BY THE NUMBERS
Is a dog better than a boyfriend?
The American Kennel Club recently conducted a survey in which women who had dogs were asked, "What qualities in your dog do you wish could be found in your man?" The answers (multiple answers allowed):
The works -- if my dog were a man he'd be my boyfriend: 34 percent
Perennial good mood: 25 percent
Always willing to spend time with you: 21 percent
Always up for cuddling on the couch: 20 percent
Motivates you to exercise: 12 percent
Eagerness to eat your cooking: 11 percent
ON THE WEB
Foundation helps give birds a second chance
Common wisdom is that people value what they pay for: A free pet will be more easily discarded at the first sign of difficulty. While it's true that people will often put more effort into keeping a pet they've paid a lot to acquire, sometimes even the most expensive pets -- such as parrots, who can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars -- find themselves without homes.
The reasons for parrot abandonment are many, but they usually come down to a lack of education about parrot personalities, care requirements and longevity.
What happens to unwanted parrots? If they're lucky, they end up at a place like the nonprofit Gabriel Foundation (www.thegabrielfoundation.org), a model program for avian rescue, placement and education. The foundation's Web site offers information on many avian topics, as well as showing off those birds who are looking for a new home of a more permanent variety.
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 petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.
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