In This Edition:

— Latest Events at Kamp K9
— Info Feature: Cold Weather Health
— Photo of the Month
— Links

WHAT'S HAPPENING

THAT TIME ALREADY?!?!

Yep, folks, it’s time to start thinking about your holiday plans. If you’re planning on travelling out of town for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, the time to start planning for your pet’s accommodations is now. The phone has begun to ring here and there with new customers looking for those reservations, and we definitely want to be sure that our long-standing customers get taken care of, so we encourage you to plan ahead and early.

We’re all chugging along nicely here at Kamp K9. Preparations have begun for the colder weather, and we’ve been busily winterizing the homestead in anticipation of what the Farmer’s Almanac predicts will be a colder-than-normal winter. I used to work for Geiger Brothers, the publisher of the Farmer’s Almanac, some 22 years ago. (I had nothing to do with weather or crop prognostication; I worked a stapling machine and packed almanacs and calendars and labeled them for shipping. Woo-hoo.) In my time there, I didn’t see or learn anything that suggested great accuracy from the almanac. I take comfort in that every year.

At any rate, we’re pretty much prepared ahead of schedule here for the upcoming winter. To help YOU be prepared, this month’s info feature contains quite a few tidbits of knowledge to help you keep your pets healthy and safe during the coldest times of the year.

I took a refresher course a couple of weeks ago on pet first aid; I had last taken one in October of 2005, and it was good to have the information back into the forward part of my brain!

With the influx of the recent graduates of “Dances With Dogs” puppy school, Kamp K9 has gotten even livelier than before. It’s been a lot of fun to see the new kids adapting to their new day care, and let’s face it, the “cute” factor here has shot through the roof! If you’re planning on getting a puppy, or know someone with a younger dog who’d like to send him/her to day care for socialization, but they’re perhaps a little too young to come here, I can definitely recommend pointing them to Julie Bernier at Dances With Dogs in South Portland. You can reach her at (207)632-1863; check out her web site at www.danceswithdogsmaine.com. 

Thank all of you for your loyalty and for making this year a successful one.

INFO FEATURE: Keeping Your Pets Safe During the Cold Months

You all knew it had to come SOME time, right? Living in a 4-season state definitely has its challenges at times, but a little preparation and common sense will go a long way toward the continued safety of your little loved ones, even when the temperature’s bone-chilling. Here are some tips for you to ponder before the weather really turns.

• Keep an eye on the temperature. When it falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it's best to keep your pet indoors. Short-haired dogs, cats and puppies should be kept indoors when the temperature dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Limit your walks when it’s very cold, and watch out for wind chills.

• Watch out for a blue tongue - it is a sign of hypothermia. Wrap your dog in blankets and place him/her near a heat source. Note that bathing your dog will only keep in moisture and potentially make your pet’s condition worse. If your dog does not return to normal within a few minutes, immediately call your vet. Ears, tails, toes, and the scrotum can easily become frostbitten. If you notice the skin turning slightly pink or ice crystals form on these areas, bring the dog inside immediately and attempt to warm them using human touch. The warming process should be gradual. Do not use a heating pad or hot water bottle. Call your vet if the condition does not visibly improve quickly.

• Keep your pet's coat well groomed. Matted fur won't properly protect your pet from the cold. Sweaters and coats aren’t a bad idea, either, especially for short-haired breeds that aren’t designed for arctic or alpine climates. Keep your dog’s nails trimmed. Long nails reduce traction and can easily be broken while walking on ice. Nails can also be torn off if they penetrate into dense, icy snow, and get stuck while your pet is walking or running. It’s also a good idea to trim the hair in between the pads of your dog’s feet. Long hair reduces traction, snow can get impacted, and ice crystals can form.

• Check your garage and driveway for antifreeze. Antifreeze tastes sweet to pets, but most brands are poisonous if consumed. Should your pet ingest any amount of antifreeze, contact your veterinarian immediately.

• Regularly check your pet's water to make sure it's not frozen. When your pet is outside, make sure there’s plenty of fresh drinking water available. Animals can't burn calories without a fresh supply of water, and if they can't burn calories, they'll get cold. Also, use a ceramic or hard plastic water bowl rather than a metal one, as your pet's tongue can stick and freeze to a cold metal.

• Use a damp towel to wipe your pet's feet and underside. Ice-melting chemicals can irritate and burn the pads of your pet's feet and can cause serious injury if ingested. Another way to protect your dog's feet is to purchase boots; it’s also been suggested that spraying their feet with cooking spray helps, but I can’t verify the veracity of that statement. If you want to try it, talk to your vet, and when experimenting with it, watch your pet closely.

• Provide a dry, draft-free doghouse if you must keep your dog outside for any period of time.  It should be large enough to allow your dog to sit and lay down comfortably but small enough to hold in its body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The doghouse should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

• Slap the hood of your vehicle before starting it. In their search to keep warm outdoors, cats often take refuge next to a warm car engine or tire.

• Speaking of vehicles, just like in summer, don’t leave your pet in the car unattended. Temperatures can drop quickly.

• Keep snow from piling high next to your fence. A packed snowdrift will provide a boost for your dog to jump over the fence and escape the safe confines of your yard, and make sure you clear a path for your dog to do his business or get exercise.

• Indoors, make sure your pet sleeps away from drafts. Areas near windows or doors that lead outdoors may allow cold air to seep in and keep your pet from staying adequately warm.

• Compare the amount of exercise your dog receives during the colder months to warmer months. If your dog is indoors more at this time of year, it's probably getting less exercise and may need less food. However, if your pet is outside often in the winter months, it may need more food to burn the calories necessary to produce more body heat.

• If your dog’s coat is dry, ask your vet about adding an oil supplement to his food.

• Protect your pet from burns. Winter is the time of year when house fires are more likely to occur. Take special care to monitor wood stoves, space heaters and other heating sources to protect pets. from being burned. Burning ambers can get into your pet's coat, or he may be curious and touch hot surfaces. Make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries and include your pets when you develop a house fire evacuation plan. Use care with candles. Candles are often a part of winter ambiance, but are also one of the leading causes of house fires. They can be knocked over by jumping cats, running dogs and wagging tails. Ensure the candle is well weighted with a dome to protect pets.

• Use pet-safe ice melting materials. These are readily available at pet stores, are safe on paws, and are quite effective. Of course, we use such materials here.

Sources: Sacramento SPCA, Pet Place.com, MyPoliticalPooch.com, kidsturncentral.com

 

PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

This was brought in by Regina Miller, who’s the mother of Ben, an Airedale Terrier who comes in for day camp and occasional boarding. She spent time lying down in the pumpkin patch getting bitten by mosquitoes, using a blade during its earlier growth to score the surface. The raised effect happens when the outer skin heals up around the scoring. Very cool!

Got a funny photo you'd like to share? By all means email it, and we'll include it in a future issue!