Life as a small-town veterinarian means that a simple trip to
the market may turn into a lengthy discussion about someone’s pet.
I never know who I might see at the store. And I love it.
Life as a small-town veterinarian means that a simple trip to the market may turn into a lengthy discussion about someone’s pet. I never know who I might see at the store. And I love it. I run into friends all the time when I go into town, and often we spend time catching up on each other’s family members, including the furry and feathered ones. It’s also a time when I get some of my best stories for this column. And such was the case this past Sunday when I went to the grocery store for a few things early in the morning.
A neighbor told me about a very lucky cat that had “adopted” him, and now was living the good life in his backyard. This kitty probably started life as a feral, but somehow ended up fat and sassy in the backyard of Bob and his wife. Lucky for them, their new cat has become a champion gopher hunter. (Something I always wished for Rumpy the Cat … he’s caught a few rodents over the years, but his primary food interest is the kibble bag.) Bob is so proud of his feline addition that he sometimes treats him with a little milk. And I’ll bet that cat gets a few other treats at times! Sounds like a good match for them all.
Bob also reminded me that outdoor pets need some special attention this time of year. He’s right. Frosty mornings mean that dogs need some escape from the freezing cold. Does your pooch have an enclosure to use as a retreat from the cold? Is his doghouse is clean and free from spiders? I’m forever amazed when I hear someone tell me that his pooch doesn’t like to use his house and prefers to sleep outside. This may be true for some canines, but when the temperature gets into the low or mid-twenties at night, outside dogs need protection. Do your canine buddy a favor, let him have the choice of going into the garage or a small doghouse. And make sure that his water bowl has fresh water, not ice, in it. If water freezes in his bowl, he won’t be able to drink.
And here’s an often overlooked seasonal hazard. Every year, we talk about the consequences if a pet chews on Christmas decorations. But rarely does someone mention the dangers of candles. Besides a risk for fire, candles present another potential health problem for small pets, particularly birds. Scented candles and lamps contain volatile oils that fill the room with wonderful holiday smells. Nice as they smell, these oils can be irritating to a small animal’s airway. I know of several cats and birds that have become very ill from inhaling these fumes. Pets and burning candles are a bad mix. Keep candles away from your pets!
And now for a question this week that hits close to home. Then I have to get over to the store for some shopping … and a few more stories!
Q:
Have you seen all the different gifts for pets? It’s crazy what new stuff comes out each year. What gifts do you give your pets?
A:
You’re right, some of the new gift ideas this year are amazing. The high-tech industry has come up with all kinds of electronic gadgets. But my favorites are still the traditional presents. Rumpy the Cat will get a new catnip mouse toy. Janey and Georgie will each get one of their own as well. They’re good cats … they share their toys.
Holly, our retriever, gets a toy, but she might do well with a sweater. She’s aging quickly and keeping warm becomes more important in her later years.
But how about some of the other gimmicks that are on the market these days? There’s everything from a new indoor potty pad for dogs (about $150) to a spray that makes it easier to clean up after your dog on a walk in the park. It’s called, appropriately enough, Poop-Freeze. The inventive entrepreneur is at work in this challenging economy. You won’t find these around our home. We’ll stay traditional.
But here’s a not-so-new idea that dog owners should consider. Anyone who travels in the car with their pooch should consider getting some kind of safety restraint for their canine companion. There are several different restraints that clip to the seat belt system making car travel much safer for pets and their owners. I’m forever amazed at drivers who pass me with their little lap dog sitting in front of them. Even a small fender bender could result in serious injury to a little dog crushed between its owner and the steering wheel.
But there’s an even more compelling reason for restraining pets in a moving vehicle: driver safety. The other day I rode with a friend whose little terrier was very excited to be out on the road for a trip to the hardware store. This little dog was jumping back and forth from the front to the rear of the car as we went down the road.
My friend was trying to negotiate traffic with this pooch in and out of his lap, constantly barking. I couldn’t help but wonder how he could drive safely with this kind of distraction. I told him about the safety restraints available and he laughed. She’d never go for that, he told me. Leashes and harnesses make her nervous, he told me.
Nervous? Kind of like I felt as we drove down the road, his dog bouncing and barking from seat to seat. It was a nerve-wracking ride. When we finally got home, I noticed (for the first time) one of his bumper stickers on the back of his car. “DOG IS MY CO-PILOT.”
Tell you what … I’m not flying with him again.
