Sunday, June 28, 2009

Leaving Pets in Parked Cars


Leaving your pet in a parked car is not "cool." Leaving your pet in a parked car can be a deadly mistake.

NEVER leave your pet unattended in a parked car for any period of time, not for 20 minutes, not for 2 minutes. On a warm day, the temperature in a car can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes -- even with the windows partially open. I've seen pets in cars where the guardians didn't even leave the windows cracked! What are they thinking? Obviously, they're not thinking. Your pet can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke or suffocation when trapped in a hot car.

The elevation in body temperature stimulates your dog's body to release substances that activate inflammation. At temperatures greater than 109 degrees Fahrenheit, failure of vital organs, and consequently death, can occur.

In California it is illegal to leave a dog in a hot car. In 2006 Gov. Schwarzenegger signed SB 1806:

"SB 1806 makes it a crime for a person to leave a pet unattended in a vehicle in a way that endangers the well-being of the animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering or death. Unless the animal suffers great bodily injury, a first misdemeanor conviction for this crime is punishable by a fine of $100 or less per animal. If the animal suffers great bodily injury, the punishment is a fine of $500 or less, a sentence of up to six months in county jail, or both. A person convicted of felony animal cruelty is subject to a fine of $20,000 or less, time in state prison, or both."

The bill was passed in 2006 and became a law in 2007. If you live in California, it may be a good idea to have a copy of the statute or a copy of the article in the link above to show the police if you ever see a dog in distress and they are reluctant to do anything about it.

Places where you tend to see most often dogs in parked cars is at the mall, in which case you can contact mall security to let them know. At the grocery store? Any other retail store? Ask management if they will announce on the intercom the guardian of the pet come to the front of the store. Be able to provide management with the color, make, and model of the car along with the license plate number.

Even if the sun isn't on the car at that moment, we all know that could change if the car remains for an extended period of time.

Can't find the pet's guardian? Be prepared to break the window of the car -- obviously away from the animal -- and get the animal out of the car.

This is what you should do if a pet is exposed to high temperatures:

Be alert to the signs of heat stress -- heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue.

If the pet has become overheated, you must lower his or her body temperature immediately by taking the following steps:

1. Move the pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over his or her body to gradually lower the animal's body temperature.

2. Apply ice packs or cold towels to the pet's head, neck, and chest only.

3. Let the pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.

Finally, take the pet directly to a veterinarian -- it could save the pet's life!

If you see an animal in a car exhibiting any signs of heat stress, call your local animal care and control agency or police department immediately!

You don't just expose your pet to the dangers of heat stress when you leave him or her in a car; you also expose your pet to pet theft. Many pets are stolen each year from unattended cars.

Taking your pet for a ride may seem like fun -- I know my dogs love it! -- but many pets prefer to spend time in the comfort and safety of home. Explore activities that you and your pet can share at home, and avoid the risks of leaving your pet in the car.

If you must take your pet with you in your car, do so safely. Cats should ride in pet carriers, and dogs should ride in travel crates or wear safety harnesses. When a pet travels, he or she should wear two ID tags -- one with a home address and one with a destination address.

I think most of us like the companionship of having our pets with us as much as possible. If it is warm outside, don't take him with you unless you are able to stay in the car with him and keep the air conditioner running. Remember: if you were to sit in your car with your winter coat on on a warm day and are uncomfortable, your pet will be, too!

Please keep your precious companions safe!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

June 2009 Pet Halo Award: Dogswell


The Pet Guardian has implemented the Pet Halo Award, our way of giving "four paws up" to pet-friendly individuals and companies who are particularly kind and generous with their time and resources in making our world a better place for our furry friends. We want to share some "pawsitivity" every month with you and are asking you to join us in doing the same!

We've just learned from the publication "Mile High Dog" that Dogswell, makers of natural treats and dog food, launched a relief campaign to give away 10,000 bags of dry dog food to people who have lost their jobs, taken a pay cut, or have suffered financial hardship. The offer ran from April 15, 2009 to May 15, 2009.

According to Dogswell marketing representative Jenny Williams, "We know how difficult it's been for pet owners to keep their pets, and we want to do what we can to help people keep their dogs for at least one more month." When the bags of food are mailed out, they come with a high-valued coupon so that the next bag of food can be purchased at a discount.

When so many pet guardians have found themselves financially destitute and in the difficult place of feeling they've needed to relinquish guardianship of their pets to shelters, it is comforting to know that there are those who are wanting to keep families together.

Kudos to Dogswell, our June 2009 Pet Halo Award winner!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Veterinary Care: Science, Guesswork, or Quackery?


What does veterinary school teach vets, besides the anatomy of many different animals, office procedures, and taking the word of some drug reps and pharmaceutical companies as gospel? The Pet Guardian really has to wonder, as apparently some vets and their staff can't be taught common sense, instinct, compassion, and how to deal with their paying, concerned -- sometimes frantic -- wanting-to-be-educated clients. How much of veterinary care is science, guesswork, or quackery?

I write this not because of a bad experience I've had with a vet lately, but because of the flood of e-mails that find their way to me from people whose dogs or cats received horrendous "care" from veterinarians all across the United States, Canada, and Europe. It makes me so sad that our companion animals can be hurt by the very "experts" we are told we should trust.

Seven years ago, when I was becoming familiar with the holistic way of life for my dogs, I was referred to a vet who is well known in Colorado. People drive to see this man from many surrounding states to have their pets looked after. I felt comfortable with this "mountain vet" at first, especially because we both hate a certain drug manufacturer, who shall go unnamed here.

My dog Casey is a big, gentle soul of a black German shepherd/lab mix. He's not fond of a lot of attention bestowed on him and being in public places. He's one of the sweetest, most wonderful dogs you'll ever meet. Casey doesn't want baths, and he certainly does not want his toenails cut. He wants to be by my side at all times, and otherwise, please leave him alone, he'd say, if he could speak.

This mountain vet's office literally took five of their vet techs to hold Casey down to the floor to draw blood. This was an especially painful thing for me to watch, an image that stays with me to this day. But the blood had to be taken as we needed to find out the effects ProHeart 6 was having on Casey's immune system. I felt so bad for my poor baby struggling to get free from the clutches of these people.

By the time Casey and I had made it home this day from the mountain vet's office, the vet had called to report a sky-high level of white blood cells and said to bring him back for a recheck. Since this office could not assure me I could bring him in on another day and be seen right away for that recheck, I elected to try two other local vet offices for the same simple procedure. Which, by the way, turned out to be just fine. Casey had been so frightened by the mountain people that it caused his white blood cell count to hit that sky-high mark.

Sometimes Casey likes to lick his paws. It's very infrequent, but he does it. This same vet suggested I had mold in my house (a brand-new house), that Casey was allergic to "mold" in the carpet. This vet suggested that I -- get ready for this -- bathe Casey in BLEACH. Besides the fact that I did not have an itchy dog, this just did not sit right with me. At the time, even with my ignorance and trusting nature, I didn't know why it didn't sit well with me. But if anyone wants to try an experiment with pouring bleach on their own skin, have at it. See how you feel, especially if you have an open wound.

What happened with Casey makes me wonder how much science, guesswork, or quackery exists when it comes to vets treating our pets.

You know how I mentioned Casey is an old, gentle soul. Because of this, he also has highly developed keen instincts. I think some pets possess this gift more than others. I trust Casey's instincts implicitly and have learned so much about not only him, but my other dogs. He's the true teacher here.

Casey is seen now by a wonderful holistic vet who has a very calm demeanor about him, who is sort of a "pet whisperer," if you will. Anyone from this vet's office can draw blood or cut Casey's toenails without the assistance of even a second person. It's a miracle, I sometimes think, but no, it's really Casey letting me know these people are "okay," that I can trust in them for his care, as much as I can allow myself to trust vets, anyway.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial for pet guardians to become educated and be true advocates for their pets. Accepting things at face value, whether it be from a veterinarian or watching a cute TV commercial, without research conducted on one's own behalf, is NOT ACCEPTABLE and can lead to disasterous consequences. Pet guardians must learn to trust their own instincts and to trust their very animals who are trying to tell them something, if only we'd just listen.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Dangers of "Spot-On" Flea Killers


It's summertime, that time of year when pet guardians have real problems with fleas and ticks. Please everyone copy and paste the following link into your browser and read this most informative article. Buyer BEWARE!

http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf

A good rule of thumb to always follow is this: If you would not let your human baby, your children, or yourself ingest or apply a chemical to your own body, PLEASE do not subject your pets to this kind of treatment! The same goes for heartworm injectables! These products that the TV commercials claim are "safe" can cause serious, irreversible side effects that could even cause death!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Pet Guardian Information Community


We're happy to be back and doing what we love: informing unsuspecting pet guardians of dangers that may be lurking around their home, in the environment, and through commercial establishments that may affect their family pets.

Let this be a forum for all to share their experiences, both good and bad, so that all of us pet parents may learn how to better care for our pets and become their advocate. We are their voice!