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The INDEPENDENT, December 17, 2009
Winter pet care safety tips given
The Oregon Veterinary Med-
ical Association and its mem-
ber veterinarians share the fol-
lowing tips for keeping your
pets safe and warm this winter:
Antifreeze Danger – An-
tifreeze is toxic to your pet’s
kidneys and can have deadly
consequences. The ethylene
glycol in antifreeze is sweet
tasting and appealing to cats
and dogs. As little as one-half
teaspoon can be toxic to a cat
and just a quarter cup can kill a
medium-size dog. Cats can lick
enough off their paws to cause
a fatal reaction.
Do not leave antifreeze un-
attended or allow it to spill onto
the garage floor or into the
street. Consider using nontoxic
antifreeze with a bittering agent
to discourage pet consumption.
If you see your pet drinking any
amount of antifreeze, take it to
a veterinarian immediately.
Shelter – Dogs and cats that
sleep outdoors should have a
snug, dry, draft-free place to
sleep. The floor of the shelter
should be raised off the ground
to keep cold and moisture
away from your pet. Ideally, the
shelter should be heated, insu-
lated, and have a door to keep
the elements out. During ex-
treme weather, pets should
stay inside. A pet that is shiver-
ing and refuses to play is too
cold and should come inside.
Car Motors – Cats may
seek the warmth of car motors,
and they can be severely in-
jured or killed when caught in
the fan belt of a car’s engine.
Make it a habit to check under
the hood for animals and honk
your horn before starting your
car.
Exercise – When walking
smaller and older dogs, protect
them with sweaters, and do not
stay outside longer than neces-
sary.
Paws – If snow and ice
clumps form on your dog’s
paws, be sure to wipe between
each toe with a warm, wet
cloth. Deicing salt can cause
paws to dry and crack. Soak or
wash your dog’s paws in warm
water and dry them thoroughly
after walks in areas where salt
has been used.
Diet and Water – A high
quality food with adequate pro-
tein and extra fat is required for
animals that spend time in the
cold. Your veterinarian may
also recommend a vitamin sup-
plement. Remember that water
may freeze outdoors so pro-
vide fresh, warm water
throughout the day.
Holiday Plants and Decora-
tions – Mistletoe and holly are
poisonous should be kept out
of reach of pets. Light strands,
loose wires and electric cords
can be a serious hazard to your
pet, especially puppies, who
may chew them. Be careful
with ornaments, tinsel, ribbon,
and other small holiday decora-
tions that your pet may try to in-
gest. Don’t add preservatives,
aspirin or sugar to your Christ-
mas tree’s water.
For more pet health care
tips, visit oregonvma.org. The
Oregon Veterinary Medical As-
sociation is a nonprofit organi-
zation of veterinarians who are
dedicated to helping people
give their animals a high quali-
ty of life.
Merry Christmas
Midway
Veterinary
Clinic 503-429-1612
805 Bridge Street, Vernonia