Wednesday, June 17, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Beware of regional
health concerns
for dogs
So you’ve got Fido pro-
tected from fleas and ticks
for the summer and it’s time
to go on that camping trip
with your family, including
your furry friend. However,
there’s a whole heap more
in Central Oregon that can
harm Fido besides fleas and
ticks.
Your furry friend loves
to run through the creek
and lap up water, but there
is danger: the tiny intestinal
protozoa giardia is found in
nearly all streams, rivers,
ponds and lakes in Central
Oregon.
A dog can acquire giardia
by ingesting an infected cyst
in the water through another
animal’s poop; the most
common route of transmis-
sion is through feces-con-
taminated water. Giardia
parasites prefer cool, moist
environments.
It’s also zoonotic, mean-
ing that if the family dog has
it or a human family mem-
ber has it, the entire rest of
the family, humans and ani-
mals, can be infected.
Your dog loves to hike
the sandy trails with you and
sometimes he’s off-leash. He
enjoys running through the
tall grasses, which happens
to include cheat grass. Cheat
grass is sneaky and enters
body cavities (particularly
ears, nose and even under
eyelids) and penetrates skin
between toes and elsewhere
on the body causing irrita-
tion and infection. If Fido
starts shaking his head a lot
after a hike, he could have
cheat grass in his ears. Have
your veterinarian check him
over.
They pop up everywhere,
in yards, in the woods, in
parks and alongside roads.
Some dogs, like people,
like to eat them, they can
be a gourmet delicacy, or
deadly poisonous. They are
mushrooms.
Common lawn and
garden mushrooms are
poisonous to dogs. They can
cause seizure-like behavior
in dogs that ingest them.
Mushrooms in yards should
be removed promptly before
your furry friend notices
them. If your dog becomes
ill, and you suspect mush-
room ingestion, call your
veterinarian immediately.
A favorite destination
near Sisters is Proxy Falls.
It’s a great hike for the
whole family. Of course
Fido will want to go along
on that rocky hike too.
However, typical ground
footing found in Central
Oregon can be very hard on
a dog’s footpads, at nearly
any time of year. Lava-rock
and gravel, crusty snow and
ice can all be very abrasive,
causing loss of protective
footpads callous and open
sores. Be sure to check your
furry friend’s footpads daily
for cracks and sores.
Living in a forested area
can also result in encoun-
ters with wildlife, even in
your own backyard. Coyotes
and mountain lions actively
seek dogs as prey in Central
Oregon, even in some resi-
dential areas. Small pets
are particularly vulnerable,
and some coyotes may be
bold enough to hunt dur-
ing the day. Deterring the
presence of coyotes by not
feeding deer or other wild-
life are effective preventive
strategies.
There are lots of mule
deer in Central Oregon, and
you will find them in your
backyard, especially when
you have a delicious gar-
den. Both does and bucks
will aggressively attack
dogs, especially when fawns
are present in the summer
months. Attacks on dogs by
deer can result in fractures,
internal injuries, and death.
Venomous rattlesnakes
are also present in certain
areas of Central Oregon,
particularly along streams
and rivers. They tend to be
timid snakes but do pose a
threat to curious or aggres-
sive dogs. Venom, even in
small quantities, can poten-
tially cause acute allergic
reactions, tissue damage, or
infections.
R at t l es n ak es s h o u l d
always be considered unpre-
dictable and potentially
dangerous. Although many
times they detect your pres-
ence and flee the area before
you notice them, encounters
may occur in campgrounds
and day-use areas as well as
in the backcountry.
Some areas of Central
Oregon, including Sisters,
have resident populations of
raccoons and skunks which
can cause problems for any
pets.
Raccoons can be ill-tem-
pered with dogs and inflict
serious injures including bite
wounds. Skunks can inflict
their trademark scent which
will make your furry friend
downright unwelcome in
the house until he is de-
skunked. If your furry friend
gets sprayed, there are many
products over the counter
that you can use to rid him
of the scent without using
bottles of tomato juice.
Feeding pets in a room
accessible to the outdoors
such as a pet door has
resulted in raccoons and
skunks in the house.
Another common
encounter with wildlife that
your dog could stumble
into is with the slow mov-
ing porcupine. And dogs
that are overly inquisitive
and aggressive are sadly
rewarded with sharp quills
in the mouth and muzzle.
These quills should be
removed without leaving
fragments under the skin,
and a thorough exam of the
mouth and throat with your
veterinarian.
Have a fun summer with
your furry family member
tagging along, and remem-
ber to plan ahead for the
safety of your furry friend.
Quilt Raffl e
for
FURRY FRIEND S
501 ( c )( 3 )
FOUNDATION
The third-annual Friends Friends quilt raffl e art
quilt, “po! po!,” was designed and pieced by Valerie
Fercho-Tillery. The intricate detail and mischievous
subjects make this a quilt you’d love to bring home.
The quilt is currently on display at
The pugget offi ce, 442 E. Main Ave.
Bring your pup by for a dog cookie and have a look!
Tickets may be purchased at
The pugget offi ce or online at our website,
www.furryfriendsfoundation.org.
Drawing will be held Monday, September 7, 2015.
100% of the proceeds go to Furry Friends Foundation.
Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or
go for it, 25 for $20.
Info: 541-549-9941
17
“No, No!” by by Valerie Fercho-Tillery | 44" x 62"