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Vet Tech Tid Bits

Winter in the South

Winter in the South has it's own set of situations we need to watch out for. From the possibility of 70 degree days to the potential of ice and snow, we have you covered!

Is that Ice and Snow in our forecast? Being prepared for winter weather is more than just making sure you have milk and bread! To be ready when winter calls be sure to have several days worth of food and water for yourself and your furbabies. When taking dogs out to potty in the snow and ice, protect their feet. You can do this by having dog shoes or only taking them out for a brief period of time and cleaning their paws well they return indoors. For kitties who reside outside, create a warm place in a sheltered area. Lots of warm bedding and even a warming pad is extra helpful to keep them protected from the elements.

Even with cooler to cold weather we can still see the creepy crawlies. The truth about fleas and ticks is that they never really "die off". They stay dormat and for fleas specifically they can lay in wait to hatch out when they feel the presence of body heat. This means if you are planning to frequent your home away from home please keep your pet current on all their monthly preventions to keep the spread of diseases by fleas and ticks at bay.

During the winter we often have different plants that we bring into our homes. The most common being Christmas trees, Yew, Holly, Mistletoe, and Poinsettias. These plants are primarily poisonous to cats, however could cause irritation to dogs as well.

Seasonal allergies tend to plague our furry friends and winter time is not guaranteed to freeze out the allergens. If you find your pet is still a little itchy despite the chilly temps it may be time to look into some seasonal allergy medications. You can contact our office for guidance regarding the right product for your itchy pal.

With winter holidays comes lots of treats and goodies. These range in the forms of home baked sweet treats to store purchased candies, and everything in between. Many of the favorite ingredients are toxic to pets. Some of those include but are not limited to chocolate, raisins, nuts, spices, onions, garlic, and leeks. If your pet has a diverse palate and prefers human food over their own, take care to hide away any snacks that may be harmful. And if you pet has a knack for being naughty, just give us a call if they consume anything that may be of concern.

During the holidays we often have our pets boarding more often due to travels or family and friends visiting. During these confined situations there are more opportunities for our pets to contract infections, specifically upper respiratory infections. To help prevent this or to decrease symptoms if they do catch a bug from their friends please be sure to keep Fido and Fluffy up to date on their vaccines. For dogs, maintaining their bordetella +parainfluenza vaccine AND their canine influenza vaccine will be their best protectors. For cats, keeping up their feline upper respiratory vaccines before going to a cattery or feline boarding facility will facilitate healthy habits!

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