Winter Pet Care Tips – Pet Services Journal November/December 2007

• As it turns cold outside, be sure that your pet has adequate shelter. If possible, bring the pet in from the outdoors. Otherwise, provide a dog house, shed, or barn with warm bedding to protect the pet from inclement weather.
• Provide a constant supply of fresh water, free from ice. Eating snow can cause diarrhea, and while dehydration is more common during summer months, it can occur during the winter as well.
• Make sure that your pet does not ingest antifreeze which is extremely toxic to them, causing kidney failure. The sweet taste of antifreeze is very appealing to pets so be sure to clean up after servicing your vehicle. There are also environmental and pet-safe antifreeze available.
• Wipe your dog’s feet when they come in from outdoors, as de-icing products can create redness, chemical burns, and upset stomachs.
• Regular grooming will help protect your pet during winter months. A well-groomed, fluffy coat provides insulation for the pet while a matted coat may cause the pet to get colder faster which may result in hypothermia. Removing the hair between the pads will help prevent snow and ice from accumulating on the feet. Also, your groomer can use a moisturizing conditioner to assist with dry, flaky skin that is often observed during the winter.
• Outdoor pets will burn more calories during the winter trying to stay warm and therefore will need to eat more.
• Cats, trying to find a warm place to rest, may crawl up into the engine of your automobile. To prevent an unfortunate accident, look underneath your car and bang on your hood before starting your car.
  

Hours Change at Soldan Dog Park – Lansing Unleashed E-News for November 28, 2007
Ingham County Parks Department has extended the hours at the Soldan Dog Park. The new hours are from 7 am to 7 pm. Drive-in gates do not open until 8 am and Hawk Island Gates will close at 7:15 pm. There are no lights at the park, and use of the park is at your own risk.
Also, a snow fence is being erected to block access to the pond at primary locations. Please keep your dogs off the ice/out of the water during the winter.

Health and Medicine: Preventative Measures
Veterinarians recommend that all dogs undergo a CBC (complete blood count) and a blood chemistry panel annually, especially after they reach six years of age.

The CBC includes the following:

• Red cell count, which measures the number of red cells and discerns any abnormalities in their growth, shape, size and color
• Hematocrit, which measures the concentration of red cells in the plasma
• White cell count, which measures the number and health of the leukocytes
• Platelet count, which measures the blood concentration of the cells that play a necessary role in blood clotting
  

The chemistry panel focuses on the chemical components that are suspended in the clear, watery content (serum) of the blood after it has been separate from the cells and other blood constituents. In these tests, levels of a dozen or more substances are evaluated for a wide range of factors including oxygen and nutrient content and can reveal problems in organ function

These yearly tests and an awareness of the many clinical signs associated with canine blood disorders such as pale gums, lethargy and blood in the urine and stool will certainly aid in the prevention of treatable situations becoming life threatening conditions.

At Wag’n tails Pet Resort, our grooming and kennel staffs are trained in the recognition and communication to you of the signs and conditions mentioned above. We always consider it a privileged and an honor to partner with you in the health and well being of your pet while they are in our care.