How to help pets stay safe and calm in storm season
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
It’s hurricane season. No one knows that better than Jose Arce, DVM, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Arce was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and after Hurricane Maria swept through the island in 2017, his clinic was without power for several weeks and his home for three months.
He also knows firsthand the fears of pets during storms.
“One of my pets, my dog Flash, a dachshund, deals with a lot of anxiety, so storms such as Maria can be very stressful for him,” Arce says. “Not just the storm itself and the accompanying winds and rain and thunder, but in the case of Maria, the aftermath -- all the sounds of generators and heavy equipment.”
At this time of year, millions of residents of coastal areas along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and the Caribbean are worried about hurricanes and tropical storms. Besides the powerful winds, heavy rains and storm surges can cause flooding.
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to check your emergency kit to make sure that it’s stocked with water and food for yourself and pets, that you have copies of prescriptions for all human and animal family members in a “go bag,” and that pet carriers or crates are easily accessible. The AVMA website offers advice on disaster preparation and first aid at avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/pets-and-disasters.
If you’re traveling, be aware of hazards associated with where you’re visiting and keep tuned to local news and weather, Arce advises. “Be prepared to take appropriate action if danger threatens,” he says.
His top severe weather tips:
-- Microchip all pets, and make sure they all have tags and IDs.
-- Put together an easily accessible emergency kit with several days’ food, medicines, first aid kit and grooming items.
-- Tune into the latest news and weather report so, when possible, you can make sure pets are safe and secure before disaster strikes.
-- Have an evacuation plan mapped out in advance.
-- Follow the advice of police, fire or other authorities to evacuate or shelter in place.
-- Have an agreement with a friend or neighbor to evacuate each other’s pets if one family isn’t home.
-- Contact your veterinarian if you need more information on how to prepare.
Finally, be prepared to meet pets’ emotional needs, too. Whether you’re facing frequent thunderstorms, unexpected tornadoes or looming hurricanes, remember that many dogs and cats are fearful of the sounds of rushing wind, booming thunder and cracks of lightning. They may hide, tremble, cry, pace or become destructive. Give them a place to retreat in a dark, quiet room with no windows, or try a snug-fitting cape or wrap that may give them a feeling of comfort. Canine or feline pheromones may have a calming effect, too.
In severe cases, anti-anxiety or noise aversion medications may help. “If it is a long-standing problem that is progressively getting worse, seeking medication help from your veterinarian is a good idea,” says Debra Horwitz, DVM, a veterinary behaviorist in St. Louis. Make sure you have it on hand well before storm season, know how your dog reacts to it, and administer it half an hour to an hour before storms start. That means watching weather reports regularly so you can see what’s heading your way and when it will hit.
Most important, talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s fears before they become chronic or severe. They can refer you to a trainer or behaviorist who can help you introduce desensitization and counterconditioning techniques before or after storm season that may help your pet relax when storms roll back through.
Q&A
Does my pet
have a fever?
Q: How can I tell if my pet has a fever? If he does, what could be wrong with him?
A: The body’s response to illness is a classic example of fighting fire with fire. Body temperature rises in response to viral or bacterial invaders or other illness in an attempt to kill them off.
Dogs and cats get fevers in response to viral illnesses such as distemper and parvovirus in dogs and panleukopenia (feline distemper) in cats. Other causes include tick-borne diseases, immune-mediated diseases, cancer and pancreatitis.
Normal body temperature for dogs and cats ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re considered to have a fever if body temperature rises above 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
Feeling the forehead the way your mom did doesn’t work, but signs your pet might have a fever are lethargy, ears that are warm to the touch, shivering and loss of appetite. To know for sure, though, you’ll need to take your pet’s temperature with a thermometer.
Taking the temperature rectally provides the most accurate reading, but it’s not going to be “purr-furred” by your pet. It’s important to do, though, because it lets you know if you’re facing an emergency situation. Here’s how you can both get through it with minimal stress.
You can use a digital rectal thermometer or an old-school “bulb” thermometer. Lubricate the thermometer with K-Y Jelly or petroleum jelly. If possible, have an assistant who can distract your pet at the front end with a wooden spoon smeared with peanut butter or squeeze cheese while you gently, slowly insert the thermometer 1 to 2 inches into the rectum. Leave the thermometer in place for two minutes or, if it’s digital, until it beeps. Take your pet to the veterinarian if the temperature is below 99 or over 103. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Celebrate black
cats this week
-- Aug. 17 is National Black Cat Appreciation Day. Black cats don’t get the love they deserve. These gorgeous felines get a bad rap for bringing bad luck, but that’s a superstition that belongs in the trash heap of history. In fact, plenty of cultures believe that black cats bring good luck and romance. Black cats have interesting coat color genetics, too. The dominant pattern in cats is tabby, but solid black cats have parents who each carry the black color gene (B). Black cats must also have a recessive gene, called non-agouti, that prevents the tabby pattern from appearing.
-- We love our pets and groom and bathe them, but it’s still a good idea to wash hands after handling dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and other animals. Using good hygiene is the best way to prevent transference of zoonotic diseases -- from animals to humans -- whether you’re at home or at the state fair’s petting zoo. To prevent the spread of diseases such as salmonellosis or any other bacteria, viruses or parasites that might be hanging around, avoid touching your eyes and mouth after petting animals until you can thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water.
-- The cane corso is a member of the mastiff family and originated in Italy, where they often work as guard or protection dogs, police dogs and tracking dogs. Of course, many are also companion dogs. The word “cane” means “dog” in Italian and is pronounced “KAH-nay.” The word “corso” may come from the Latin “cohors,” meaning guardian, and is pronounced “KOR-so.” Impress breeders and Italian speakers by knowing that the plural term for the breed is cani corsi (KAH-nee KOR-see). The large dogs weigh 90 to 110 pounds and have short coats in black, fawn, blue or brindle. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker.
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.