Winter 09 Newsletter - Winter Care for Pets

News from the Team

Fred is now a cover star! He has worked very hard to overcome his bad start in life, and walking with so many dogs over the past year has really helped him to settle down, so I was very pleased that he earned this honour!!

In case you can’t read it, the book is called ‘100 Ways to Solve Your Dog’s Problems’. Unfortunately I’ve been included in the photographs inside, but there aren’t many!

Mud!

I apologise! Some of the dogs seem to have an inbuilt mud magnet. I’m happy as long as they are enjoying themselves, but I do what I can to leave the mud outside. Please leave an old towel out for me to give your dog a final ‘polish’ before I leave them. If you’d like to leave newspaper, cardboard, plastic sheeting etc on the floor, I’ll happily walk on it.



Special Requests

Dog training - I’d like to extend an offer for basic training- I am able to teach the dogs, but need experience teachingpeople to teach their own dogs, so if you think you and your dogwould benefit from one or two sessions for basic exercises, sit,down, recall, lead walking, please get it touch. This will be alimited offer!




Food labels and empty bags

As part of my training I’m researching dog food and ingredients, so it would be really helpful if I could have empty dog food and treat bags, labels from tins etc. Just one or two of each would be great.

Winter Care

Young, elderly, ill or infirm dogs (sighthounds such as Greyhounds, Whippets or Salukis in particular) may need a coat when out of doors this winter.



Wind can be particularly chilling. Dogs with short coats living in centrally heated homes don't grow a winter coat in the same way an outdoor dog would. If you turn your heating off at night or while you are out, consider whether your dog might be cold, even indoors and think about getting a separate coat for night times.

Dogs don't usually need more food in the winter unless they are kept outside, so don't be tempted to give extra food. Outdoor water bowls can ice over, and very cold water is not good for dogs. There is a danger of ice burns to the tongue if the bowl is metal and cold enough, or a ceramic bowl can crack. Float a ball in the water to help prevent icing over, bring the bowl in, or empty it on very cold nights.

It can be just as dangerous to leave a dog in a cold car as a hot one, because the car keeps cold air in – make sure your dog is warm enough if you have to leave them for a while. Dogs, but in particular cats, have a great liking for anti-freeze
due to its sweet taste. Keep it well away from your pets because it can be fatal.

Cats have a tendency to climb into warm places in winter, and this includes car engines. Please be aware and try to be sure where your cat is before you drive off.

Chocolate and mistletoe are more in evidence at Christmas. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, although they may be able to tolerate a small amount of milk chocolate - small dogs are more at risk as they don’t need to eat much to be ill. Call the vet if you
suspect they have been in the Quality Streets – cooking chocolate is much worse, so watch out when chocolate cakes are around.

Mistletoe, and in particular the berries, are highly toxic, so make sure they are hung up carefully and can't be pulled down by the dogs. Watch out for fallen berries.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are often left outside in the winter.

Rabbits can deal with this as long as they are not in a draught or getting damp. For guinea pigs it’s pure misery! Bring your guinea pigs into a shed or unused garage, and give them, and rabbits, thick newspaper under the bedding to help insulate,
and plenty of extra bedding, changed more frequently as if it gets wet (either rain or urine), it will freeze. Bubble wrap is your furry friend’s Best Friend. Keep two water bottles, and make sure to swap them over if one freezes. Don’t forget to spend
time with your pets, even if it is cold and dark outside.

Snow and fur is not a good mix, and sometimes snow balls form on long haired dogs. Even shorter haired breeds can gather these on their feet, and once they have formed they need to be left to melt (hairdryers can help if your dog will tolerate it). They
are very painful for your dog to walk on, so if you spot them, take the dog home for a break. Vaseline between the toes, and keeping long fur trimmed can help. Leave some fur on, as is will help to protect their pads from frozen ground.



If we get heavy snowfall again this season, watch out for snow on buildings or trees that might melt and fall – just as your dog is underneath. Check that the height of the snow in the garden doesn't open up an escape route for your dog.

Snow, ice and hail usually lead to gritting lorries. The salt and other materials can irritate your dogs feet, so you may need to give them a damp wipe over when returning from a walk; try not to let your dogs lick their feet in case they ingest something that could make them ill.

Autumn Newsletter - Online version

News from the Team

First of all, sorry for the late arrival of this newsletter. I am still recovering from a very busy summer with lots of dogs coming to stay for their holidays! My carpets will never be the same again...


Thank you for your patience with my time off this year, I have one more week off in October (19th to 23rd) and that's it until February 2010. I am 'open' all over Christmas and the New Year period, although New Year's Eve is already booked for boarding. Please refer me to your friends if they need a little help with their pets over the party season! I don't just do dogs and cats, I can feed fish, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, chickens and anything else Brentwood residents see fit to bring into their homes as companion animals.

Please let me know if there are any days over the holiday period I will not be needed as soon as possible.

I have now been in business for one year, and I would like to thank everyone for the trust and loyalty I have been shown. I continue my training in dog handling and behaviour, and being around so many different breeds is part of my education. This can only benefit your dogs! My knowledge of cats and cat behaviour is increasing as well.



Identity Tags

Under current law dogs are required to wear an identity tag with the owner's name and address clearly inscribed on it when they are in public places. I would strongly recommend as many phone numbers, of as many people as possible, are also attached to the collars (without weighing your poor dog down).



If your dog (or cat) strays and is taken to a pound or rescue, although they will make reasonable attempts to trace and contact the owners they cannot spend a lot of time on each animal. If there has been no contact, after seven days they can put your pet up for adoption and rehome it. If this happens owners have no legal right to the return of their pet, and it is not uncommon for new owners to refuse to part with pets they have legally adopted, even after as little as a week.

From the Daily Mail, September 09 - Scamp’s Story

When, after seven days, no owners had come forward to claim her, the local authority became the dog's legal owners and began the process of rehoming her.

Because Scamp was such an unusual stray, the kennels very quickly had nine applications to adopt her and on September 1 she was handed over to her new family - the same day the de Lacys returned from holiday and travelled up to Wirral to begin looking for Scamp.

When they arrived at the council kennels in Birkenhead they were given the bombshell that Scamp had been given a new home.
....
'We have appealed to the new owners on the de Lacys' behalf to ask if they would consider returning the dog.

'However, they state the dog has settled into their household and have refused, which is their right.'

If your pet is micro-chipped (most pets can be micro-chipped, not just cats and dogs), give the chip company as many phone numbers as you can. You may add my number to tags or chips if you wish. I will always help reunite lost pets, even if circumstances change and I am no longer caring for your pet.

Micro-chips must be kept up to date with contact details otherwise they are useless.

Fireworks

There's no avoiding them, it's coming up to firework season. For the younger pets this may be their first experience, and we can try to make it as easy as possible for them.

If you have any major concerns about your pets, please speak to your vet in advance.

A bolthole – many pets will find a small space to hide. Leave them where they hide if you can. Don't worry if they miss their tea, or you think they may need to go out to spend a penny.




If your dog is used to a crate, try layering it with blankets or old duvets to deaden any noise, and leave some stuffed interactive toys or something for them to chew. Chewing and licking has a calming effect on dogs and should help.



Keep curtains and windows closed and the television or radio on, a little louder than usual.

Dogs can be given a good run before it gets dark so they don't have to go out again.

Bring cats indoors, and lock the catflap, providing a litter tray for the evening. Multiple cat households may encounter friction between cats, so try to give them their own'territory. They may choose the area themselves, so don't start moving them around if they have naturally separated. Doors can be closed to keep them apart.

Rabbits can be brought into a house or shed for the evening. If that's not possible, turn the hutch to face the wall and cover with an old duvet (make sure they have fresh air!). Give them, and any other caged animals, extra bedding so they can bury themselves if they need to.

Identification for your pets is essential at this time of year. If your pet escapes and runs off an identity tag will enable neighbours to bring them back or contact you. Being micro-chipped does help reunite pets with owners, but an identity tag on your dog will hopefully avoid the need for the dog warden to get involved (saving yourself a hefty fee and probably kennel fees).

In the morning check the garden for firework debris if there have been fireworks locally.

Old duvets and blankets can often be picked up on Freecycle, or in charity shops. Wallace Kennels will be grateful for clean blankets in good condition when you no longer require them (I can pass them on – as well as any other surplus dog 'equipment' or food).


Smudge

Before I was a professional dog walker I was a ‘foster mum’ for dogs in rescue, waiting to find a new home. At the moment I have Smudge staying with me. His previous family had rather colourful lives which culminated in an eviction, so with nowhere else to turn, I had to open my doors and my heart to him.



Smudge is a ten year old Border Collie cross who is currently in the care of Animal Action in Essex.

Smudge sustained an injury to his front leg as a young dog, which has left him lame and so only has very short, slow walks, which he enjoys. Smudge is in good health apart from his leg. He is a little nervous as he is anxious to avoid further pain, but he eats and sleeps well and can live with other dogs. As he is unsteady on his feet a calm household is a must, no cats or children. He can be left for a few hours.

He would probably best suit a retired person who doesn’t do a lot of walking, but would take him out for short trips to keep his mind active and allow him to investigate new sights, sounds and smells.

If you know someone who would be interested in giving Smudge a home, please let me know, pass on this newsletter, or phone Lu Scott on 01277 634406. A rehoming fee and homecheck (the rescue will check the family and environment will be suitable for Smudge) will apply.

Smudge has settled in with me, and is very quiet around the house, but really needs a family to call his own, possibly with less comings and goings. His limp is quite pronounced, but he can move quickly enough when his dinner is ready!