Sidewalk Salt and Ice Melt

As pet owners, it’s important for us to be aware of the many new safety concerns that appear in the wintertime. Sidewalk salt and ice melt are often used during the winter months and can be tracked from the streets and sidewalks to inside the house. 

Because these products are actually toxic for pets if consumed, it is important to always make sure your house is safe and salt-free. We recommend gently washing your pet’s feet with warm water and mild soap when they come inside to keep dangerous chemicals from being tracked through the house.

We also recommend keeping your pet from licking the salt off their feet. If you’re concerned about keeping your pet safe, many home supply or hardware stores now carry pet-safe ice melt products, but remember that city trucks that sprinkle salt on the streets are always using the poisonous kind.

Christmas Pet Safety

“My pet would never eat food off the table!”

“My pet would never knock over the Christmas tree!”

“My pet would never bite someone!”

We all know our pets pretty well, but what we don’t always realize is that stress can make anybody do crazy things! When you have holiday guests or flashing Christmas lights or loud holiday music—or all of the above—at your house all at once, your pet may get stressed and frustrated, causing them to act out in unexpected ways. Most pet accidents are met with the statement, “He’s never done anything like that before!”

We recommend always making sure that your pet has a safe place to sit and relax during your holidays parties. Just like some people, pets need to get away from the action and de-stress, but most of the time they don’t know how to ask for their space. If your pet is comfortable in their crate, we recommend moving it into a quiet room and letting them spend some time resting during your holiday get-togethers. Your pet will be happier, and by extension, you and your guests will be happier! And holidays disasters will be prevented. 

A Pet-Friendly Thanksgiving

During the holiday season, our pets want to be in on the action just like anyone else. It’s important to be prepared for possible pet emergencies if your pet is going to be home during the holidays. It’s important to, first of all, educate your guests about not feeding table scraps to your pet. 

We recommend having pet treats set aside so that guests who do feel the urge to feed your pet will be sure to feed them something safe. We recommend keeping all garbage can lids on tight as that trash is going to start smelling delicious to your pet once it’s filled with discarded turkey bones and other rich holiday foods. 

If possible, we also suggest keeping your pet in a quiet, comfortable place away from the action during mealtimes. This keeps them from temptation when plates or food items are spilled on the floor, and can also help alleviate their anxiety. All pets should be given the opportunity to take a nap during the holidays, after all, on regular days most of our pets sleep for 16 hours or more!

Obesity and Your Pet

Did you know that an estimated 50% of household pets are overweight, or worse, obese, for their weight class? This can be a very serious issue down the road! Our pets age significantly faster than we do, putting them at a greater risk of health problems over a shorter period of time. If a pet is over their ideal body weight, they have even more chance of developing health problems such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney failure, just to name a few.

 

 

At Webster Groves Animal Hospital, we recommend that all pets be weighed regularly to ensure that they are maintaining a healthy weight range for their body type, size, and breed. (For example, a pit bull and a retriever of roughly the same size would have significantly different ideal weights because pit bulls are generally more muscular, and retrievers are known for their lean body types.

 

 

We can provide pet weigh-ins, ideal weight recommendations, and weight management advice for pet owners who are concerned about their pet’s weight management as well as current or future health concerns. If you have questions about your pet’s weight, diet, exercise, or overall health, please don’t hesitate to ask! That’s what we’re here for. 

Control Is Key to Safe Indoor-Outdoor Lifestyle for Your Cat

My friend Sherry called in tears. Her cat had not come home. I was confused. Where had he been? She explained that she had been letting him outside each night for months to "be a cat." He would always return each morning.

But one morning he wasn’t there. Nor was he there the next morning, or the following mornings. Sherry was desperate. She plastered signs around her neighborhood. She asked the town’s road crew members if they had seen, or found, her cat.

Sherry’s cat never returned. She hopes some kind person took him in. But her thoughts about the other possibilities became nightmares.

What actually happened to her cat is anyone’s guess. Hit by a car? Attacked by another animal? Poisoned? Trapped? A deliberate target of some sick mind? Injured in a fall?
Could Sherry have handled her cat’s need for stimulation any differently?

Yes. There are options. An indoor-outdoor lifestyle is possible—but control is key, according to the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Allowing cats to roam freely not only increases their risks of disease and trauma but also puts songbirds and other wildlife at risk.

One option? A harness and leash. First, the harness must fit properly, says Diane Eigner, VMD, owner and director of The Cat Doctor in Philadelphia, and past president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Let the cat get used to the harness in short bursts, perhaps a half-hour, while you oversee reactions. Use treats and distractions to derail protests. Next, attach a leash. Whether you can walk your cat depends—on your cat. Some enjoy a walk if they can explore an interesting area. Others resent being controlled but will explore if you just hold the leash.

Another option? A cat-proof enclosure. Sturdy units expose cats to outdoor sights, sounds and smells while limiting risks. Eigner prefers enclosures that can be accessed through a pet door so the cat can come inside when it chooses. Check the pet door regularly to ensure it moves freely.
Stand-alone units require extra supervision so the cat can’t escape when being put in or removed. That’s when using a harness and leash comes in handy.

A unit with wheels allows you to put the cat inside while it’s still in the house before rolling it outside. However, that movement will frighten some cats. Of course, any unit will need a place for fresh water and some spaces out of the hot sun.

A cat that goes outside needs parasite control specific to your region, says Eigner, and your pet should be microchipped. Make sure you register the microchip and keep your contact information current.
The best choice, however, is to keep your cat indoors and provide the enrichment it craves.

Originally published on Healthy Pet.