Tag Archives: cat

Winter Hazards for pets

As the colder weather starts to approach unfortunately so do some potential hazards for our pets. Here are some common things to look out for and try to keep our pets as happy and healthy as possible over the winter.

Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol)

Both cats and dogs are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze, and will often sample some if left out in a container or leaking from cars. Antifreeze is highly toxic – it is rapidly absorbed (initial signs appear approximately one hour post-ingestion), and there is a high mortality rate.

Acute cases (within 12 hours of ingestion) often present as if the animal was intoxicated with alcohol: stumbling, vomiting and depression are common signs. The kidneys are most severely affected, and even if the animal seems to improve initially with treatment, they may succumb shortly after to kidney failure. The kidneys shut down, and the animal is unable to produce urine. This type of kidney failure usually happens 12-24 hours after ingestion in cats, and 36-72 hours post ingestion in dogs. If you suspect that your animal has come into contact with antifreeze, contact your vet immediately.

Arthritis and Winter

Cold, damp weather aggravates arthritis in older cats and dogs. Some younger pets who have had a bone/joint injury may also suffer. Overweight animals also are more prone to arthritis.

If your pet is having trouble getting up or laying down, navigating the stairs, or has started to snap or cry when picked up, we would recommend a visit to your vet. There are many new arthritis treatments available, which can greatly improve your pet’s quality of life.

Please NEVER medicate your dog or cat with human prescriptions or over-the-counter medications! and remember paracetamol is extremely toxic to cats!

Outdoor Pets
If your pet lives mainly outside, make sure that a good shelter is provided — to shield from wind, rain, snow and cold. Take extra care to ensure that your pet is comfortable and can get into and out of their shelter easily.

If the weather is very cold make sure that your pets waterbowls do not freeze over and that there is always a supply of fresh water available.

Exercise

As always, exercise is important! If there is snow on the ground, check your pet’s paws for ice balls or injuries. Rinse feet off if your pet has walked where de-icers have been used. Some de-icers are toxic when ingested (when pet licks paws). If your pet is having difficulty exercising due to depth of snow, slick icy surfaces, or appears to be winded, shorten the usual exercise times and monitor for any unusual signs.

Indoor hazards

Plants – certain plants which we tend to have around Christmas time can be dangerous for pets. Poinsettias irritate the stomach and eyes. Berries of the Jerusalem cherry are toxic, and cause pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Holly and mistletoe, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, rhododendron and winter broom as well as Christmas berry, cherry, pepper and rose can all cause problems to pets that ingest them. Note: Liquid potpourri can cause terrible burns in an animal’s mouth should it be ingested.
Fires/candles – Ensure pets are protected from any open flames; many cats especially like to get too close to open fires, burnt or singed whiskers may alert you to this. Candles can easily be knocked over by pets and cause serious harm to people and animals.
Trees/decorations/presents – Christmas trees (real or artificial) can cause problems if ingested as can tree ornaments, tinsel etc. Avoid using chemicals/preservatives in your water stand if you have pets in the house.
Food – Alcohol and chocolate are toxic. Keep drinks and sweets out of a pet’s reach. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, and even a tiny amount of pure chocolate can be lethal to a small dog. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolate are the most dangerous. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. Turkey bones left in an accessible place are almost irresistible to pets, but they can lodge in an animal’s throat or block the intestinal tract. Remove leftovers from the table and don’t leave rubbish where animals can get to it. Christmas cakes and puddings are also a big ‘no-no’ for dogs as grapes, raisins and sultanas are toxic to dogs.

If you are concerned your pet has eaten something potentially dangerous please contact your veterinary clinic as soon as possible for advice.

Hoping everyone has a warm, safe, happy and healthy Winter!

Keeping pets safe and happy at Halloween

Unfortunately Halloween and the weeks leading up to it can be a very distressing time for pets and also for pet owners.

Here are a few tips to try and make things as safe as possible and hopefully a little less stressful for your pets.

1. Keep pets indoors during Halloween (especially after dark) and make sure that they have a safe, quiet place where they aren’t frightened by all of the noise and excitement and where they cannot escape through a constantly open door. A quiet room e.g. a bedroom where they can’t hear much of the noise from fireworks and loud bangs can help. Putting a radio or television on in the room can help block out some of the outdoor noise and closing blinds and curtains removes the visual stimulus from fireworks. If your pet looks for reassurance due to being scared of loud noises the worst thing you can do is to try and console them, this only makes the pet feel that it is appropriate to be scared. Try to carry on as if nothing is out of the ordinary, as your pet may feed off your anxiety, making the situation worse. Also never punish your pet for being scared, it will only make the situation worse.

Ask your vet for suitable calming treatments if necessary. A dog or cat plug-in Pheromone diffuser (DAP and Feliway) can be very useful for anxious pets. Other products such as Kalm aid are available over the counter and can help with stress reduction in some pets especially if used early enough before the stressful event – please ask you vet/vet nurse for advice.

For some pets (dogs especially) a prescription for a stronger anti-anxiety medication may be necessary especially if your dog has a history of extreme stress around Halloween. Please ask your vet for advice.

2. Make sure that pets always have good identification in case they escape from the house. Please ensure that your pet is wearing a collar with a clearly readable identity tag. We also recommend that you have your pet microchipped and to ensure that the microchip is registered to you on a database. Often when pets go missing an owner cannot be contacted as the microchip is still registered to a breeder or previous owner. If you are unsure whether your pet’s chip is correctly registered please ask your vet to check this for you.

3. Don’t take pets trick-or-treating. Dogs can become very distressed and confused by all the noise and activity with strange smells, costumes and loud bangs from fireworks.

4. Don’t let animals near bonfires, candles or other dangerous items. Avoid decorations that can be easily chewed or swallowed.

5. Make sure that your pet does not have access to any tasty Halloween treats. Chocolate can be very dangerous for dogs, even small amounts. If your pet accidentally eats chocolate please contact your vet immediately.

6. Finally if you are made aware of or see anyone mistreating an animal please report it immediately to the Gardaí.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

How to keep your pets happy and healthy in Winter

Remember cold weather can be just as hard on animals as it is on people, sometimes owners forget that their pets are just as accustomed to the warmth of the house as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for extended periods of time, thinking that all animals are adapted to live outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
• Take your pets for a winter check-up; your Vet can check to make sure they don’t have any medical problems that will make them more vulnerable to the cold.
• Keep your pets inside as much as you can especially when it is below zero degrees. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you absolutely must leave them outside for a significant length of time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water. Try leaving out a hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel so it won’t burn your pet’s skin.
• Some animals can stay outside safely longer in the winter than others. In some cases, it’s just common sense: long-haired breeds like Huskies will do better in cold weather than short-haired breeds like Dachshunds. Cats and small dogs that have to wade shoulder-deep in the snow will feel the cold sooner than larger animals. Your pet’s health will also affect how long she can stay out. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances can compromise a pet’s ability to regulate their own body heat. Animals that are not generally in good health shouldn’t be exposed to winter weather for a long period of time. Very young and very old animals are vulnerable to the cold as well. Regardless of their health, though, no pets should stay outside for unlimited amounts of time in freezing cold weather.
• Cats will curl up against almost anything to stay warm–including car engines. Cats caught in moving engine parts can be seriously hurt or killed. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by beeping the horn or tapping on the hood.
• If you live near frozen water e.g. a pond or lake, be very careful about letting your dog off the lead. Animals can easily fall through the ice, and it is very difficult for them to escape on their own. If you must let your dogs loose near open water, stay with them at all times.
• If you light a fire or plug in a space heater to keep your home toasty warm, remember that the heat will be as attractive to your pets as to you. As your dog or cat snuggles up to the warmth, keep an eye out to make sure that no tails or paws come in contact with flames, heating coils, or hot surfaces. Pets can either burn themselves or knock a heat source over and put the entire household in danger.
• It’s a good idea to have your boiler checked for carbon monoxide leakage before you turn it on, both for your pets’ health and your own. Carbon monoxide is odourless and invisible, but it can cause problems ranging from headaches and fatigue to trouble breathing. Pets generally spend more time in the home than owners, particularly in the winter, so they are more vulnerable to monoxide poisoning than the rest of the family.
• Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical ice melts in their foot pads. To keep your pet’s pads from getting chapped and raw, wipe her feet with a washcloth when they come inside. This will also keep them from licking the salt off her feet, which could make them ill.
• Also remember that anti-freeze is extremely toxic to pets, cats especially can be attracted to the sweet taste. Ensure that all chemicals are stored out of reach of pets and remove any spills.
• If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very resourceful in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide under porches or in dumpsters, window wells, shed etc. and they can occasionally get trapped. Watch them closely when they are loose outdoors, and provide them with a good quality, easily accessible shelter.
• Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes we don’t realise that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink. Animals that don’t have access to clean, unfrozen water are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals.
• Be particularly gentle with elderly and arthritic pets during the winter. The cold can leave their joints extremely stiff and tender, and they may become more awkward than usual. Stay directly below these pets when they are climbing stairs or jumping onto furniture; consider modifying their environment to make it easier for them to get around. Make sure they have a thick, soft bed in a warm room for the chilly nights. Also, watch stiff and arthritic pets if you walk them outside; a bad slip on the ice could be very painful and cause a significant injury.
• If your pets will tolerate a cosy doggie coat it certainly can help with heat retention however you can’t depend on it entirely to keep them warm. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract. The best way to guard your animals against the cold is keeping a close eye on them to make sure they’re comfortable.

New Kitten checklist

KITTEN CHECKLIST

When does my kitten need to be vaccinated?

Your kitten can be vaccinated from 9 weeks old. He/she needs to have 2 vaccinations at least 3 weeks apart. The second vaccine can be given at 12 weeks of age. Until your kitten has finished its primary vaccination course it is important that it doesn’t mix with other cats that are not vaccinated; this usually means keeping your kitten indoors for the first few weeks. It is also important to vaccinate annually as immunity wanes 12 months after vaccination.

What diseases does the vaccine protect him/her from?

The standard kitten vaccination course includes a three-in-one vaccine against the two main viruses that cause ‘cat flu’; these are a herpes virus and a calicivirus. The third component of the vaccination protects against feline parvovirus infection. A relatively new vaccination again feline leukaemia virus is available also and is recommended for all kittens along with the three-in-one injection. Cat flu and feline leukaemia are the most commonly seen diseases in Ireland and both can cause serious long term illness and often death.

How often should I worm my kitten?

The worming protocol practised by our Veterinary Clinics is as follows:

Worm every 2 weeks until 3 months old

Worm every 4 weeks until 6 months old

Worm every 3 months for life.

We recommend using an oral worming dose, i.e. a tablet or powder. Remember as your kitten grows so too will his worming dose. Make sure to weigh him regularly.

What worms can my kitten get?

Cats most commonly are infected with roundworms, tapeworms and less frequently lungworms. Roundworms are more common in kittens and can cause a potbelly, vomiting/diarrhoea and weight loss. All kittens are born with roundworms as they are passed through their mothers milk. Tapeworms can affect a cat at any stage in life and can be related to flea infestations. Both roundworms and tapeworms pose a risk to human health.

What should I feed my kitten?

Your kitten should be fed a complete dry kitten food and water. You can also add some good quality wet food (tins or pouches) on occasion but dry food is much better overall for teeth and digestion. When kittens are weaned from their mother they no longer need milk and feeding a kitten cows milk often results in diarrhoea; as a treat special lactose free cat milk is available. It is important to change from kitten food to an adult food once your kitten has finished growing- at this stage they no longer need the increased calories in kitten food. Of course occasional treats are allowed – in moderation!

Should I treat my kitten for fleas?

Fleas like a warm environment so are usually more prevalent in the milder months of the year. However with more Irish pets sleeping indoors or even in beds we are now seeing fleas all year round! Their bite causes your cat to itch and often can result in a severe allergic reaction. A spot on treatment can be applied to the skin on the back of your cat’s neck to treat or prevent fleas. Generally these treatments last one month. Fleas also lay thousands of eggs in carpets/beds/rugs etc so it is important to treat the environment as well as your pet.

When should I neuter my cat?

We advise that both male and female cats should be neutered from 5 months of age. Neutering prevents females coming into season and becoming pregnant and can reduce urine spraying and inter-cat aggression in males. For both male and female cats neutering also has the benefit of preventing many illness and certain types of cancer.

Should I get my kitten insured?

We do recommend insuring your kitten. Veterinary medicine has become more advanced in recent years. More sophisticated medication and equipment are being used to treat pets and therefore costs have increased substantially. Bills can run into several hundred or even thousands of euros. Insurance allows a vet to carry out his/her job to the best of their ability without financial constraints. Insurance not only covers illness/accidents, it also covers referral to specialists if needed and treatment for ongoing/ lifetime conditions e.g. heart disease/diabetes/arthritis. Sadly it is unlikely your pet will be 100% healthy throughout his/her life.

Should I microchip my cat?

A microchip is a tiny device about the size of a rice grain. It is usually inserted under the skin in the neck or shoulder area and remains there for life. When your cat is scanned by the vet its unique microchip number appears on the screen. When he/she is microchipped he/she is also registered on a pet database. This means that if your pet ever gets lost and someone brings it to a vet or rescue agency/shelter they will be able to contact you. It is not a tracking device but it certainly helps re-unite missing pets with their owners.