New Year = New You...and "Lucky" Too!

Are you looking ahead to the New Year with some goals in mind? Perhaps the idea of weight loss or increased exercise is on your list. Before embarking on your new routine consider making the task more fun by adding "Lucky" to your plans. What better encouragement could you ask for?

According to AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association), a 2008 study by the Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention showed that more than 44% of dogs in America are considered overweight - about 33 million. If your dog is part of the statistic, now is the time to get him moving.

AAHA has created a tool for a 2010 New Year's Resolution for you and your pet to resolve to get in shape. A signature and a paw print mark your commitment to a healthy new year. To download your own copy just click over to the AAHA website .

There are lots more health and fitness tips for you and your dog in Dogs Lose Lbs! You Win!, also available through AAHA. To order your own copy click here.

While on the AAHA site you might also spend some time on the www.healthypet.com website for fun and useful information for all pet owners.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays

Central Veterinary Emergency Services will be open from 2 pm on Christmas Eve until 8 am on Monday, December 28. Hopefully all will be well and we won't see you, but rest assured that we will be here should an unforeseen event with one of your four-legged friends change your holiday plans.

Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many...
- Charles Dickens

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Did you know?
We've just come out of a cold snap in Colorado with temperatures in the teens and single digits and wind chill below zero. Other areas of the country are still in the middle of a deep freeze. You may have noticed your four legged family members being just as hesitant as you to roam outside for long in these temps. It is a misnomer that an animal should be able to withstand really cold temperatures just because it has fur without conditioning or special gear. I've covered this topic a bit already in the post titled "Winder Adventures", but let's consider a few other dangers that pop up in the cold weather months.

Small Vs. Big, Short Vs. Long
Although some pets are conditioned to cold weather, veterinary experts agree that you should bring outdoor pets indoors if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Puppies, kittens, and short haired pets should come inside anytime the temperature goes below 40 degrees. Long haired pets do have a bit of an advantage, but proper grooming is essential to help them maintain a layer of warming air within their coat. Pets who are heavily matted cannot keep themselves as warm.

Shelter
If your pet must stay outdoors, be sure to provide shelter for your pet. A good "house" will have three enclosed sides, will be elevated off the ground, and will contain generous amounts of bedding such as straw or hay. In cold weather, bigger is not always better. A house just big enough for your pet will warm up faster and retain heat better than something that is too big. Your pet will need access to fresh water that isn't frozen. Use heated water bowls and replenish them frequently.

Antifreeze
Antifreeze is a common and deadly pet poisoning during colder months. If you suspect your pet has consumed any antifreeze at all, you must contact your veterinarian immediately! Antifreeze has a sweet taste to pets, so they will readily lap up any spilled material. If you spill antifreeze, dilute the area well with water and sweep excess water into a rocky or sandy area. Cover area with soil to keep pets from licking at the rocks. Read my post on a pet friendly Antifreeze alternative.

Cars and Pets
Cats love to warm up underneath car hoods. If your car is kept outdoors, or if cats have access to your garage, be sure to pound on the hood of the car prior to turning the ignition. Many cats are killed or injured grievously by fan belts and moving engine parts. Also, pets should not be left alone in vehicles due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning or hypothermia.

Hypothermia
Our pets suffer from frostbite and hypothermia just like we do. Consider keeping dogs on a leash when they go outside. Many curious dogs off leash will explore "frozen" retention ponds, lakes or streams and fall through the ice into frigid water. I cover signs and treatment of hypothermia in the "Winter Adventures" post.

Heat Source Cautions
You may encourage your dog or cat to warm up by a wood-burning stove, fireplace, or space heater. Be very careful to monitor your animal around any of these heat sources. They can cause severe burns. If your animal is mobile, let him move away from the heat when he's had enough. For non-mobile pets keep the animal a safe distance away and turn its body every 5 minutes to allow the area near the heat source to cool off.

Arthritis
Older pets may suffer more from arthritis during these months. You might consider providing warm, raised bedding to decrease the exposure to cold floors and drafts that can intensify the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Hydrotherapy can be a great exercise for pets with arthritis to gently loosen up stiff joints without weight bearing pressure on painful limbs. Marty Pease leads the CRCG clinical rehabilitation staff. She is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 21 years of experience and was certified by the University of Tennessee in canine rehabilitation in 2003. Marty would love to have you visit the Canine Rehabilitation & Condition Group (CRCG) to take your dog for a swim in the Open Dog Pool. You can also talk to your family veterinarian for other arthritis treatments for dogs and cats.

The moral of the story...snuggle a little closer with your cold nosed dog or cat to keep warm this winter.

What Should Santa Bring "Lucky"?

Even if our pets don't know the true meaning of the holidays, they do enjoy the attention and special presents that owners give them. Pet owners and those looking to give gifts to pets or owners could consider actual physical gifts, gifts that benefit other animals, or a gift that might benefit the pet in the future.

Remember, when giving gifts to your pet to consider his or her personality. If your dog tends to shred his toys than a stuffed animal with a squeaky center is probably not a good idea. The last thing you want is to have a Christmas present become an ingested foreign body that leads to an emergency visit to the nearest veterinary hospital.

That said there are lots of great options on the market these days, and whether you plan a trip to your local pet super store or want to stay home and shop on-line we have some suggestions to get you started.

Consider the "Croc" shaped shoe bed at http://www.sasquatchpetbeds.com/ or the beds made from recycled material at http://www.mollymutt.com/, either option gives your friend a new and comfortable place to stay. It may take some time for "Lucky" to get accustomed to his new bed. Placing one of his familiar blankets in the bed may help his acceptance of his luxurious new accommodations.

Toys are important to help keep your pet occupied and out of trouble. A variety of laser pointers are available at most major pet retailers, including the new FroliCat BOLT Automatic Laser toy. Dogs love any number of toys and this year you can choose from tough durable Kong® toys and the new GoughNuts. PetSmart has their soft plush Luv-A-Pet toys and 10% of sales go to help homeless pets. Remember when choosing a toy for your pet to ensure that the toy is durable without any removable pieces that could be swallowed. The first introduction to a new toy should be at a time when you can spend time with your pet to make sure they "play responsibly".

Or maybe you just want your pet to have a new outfit for the holidays. At http://www.poochieheaven.com/, you can find everything from Santa hats to elf outfits and gingerbread tees!

Overall, beyond the fun toys or fancy clothes for your pets, we recommend that you consider some less common, but definitely helpful gifts.

Millions of pets wander off each year, unable to find their way back home. A microchip, along with proper registration can insure your pet's safe return in case he becomes lost. Ask your family veterinarian for more information.

Being prepared for any emergency may not be a flashy gift, but it could save your pet's life. Consider pet insurance or even a Pet Health Savings plans as one way to help protect your pet from serious illness or injury. A variety of insurance plans are available at http://www.purinacare.com/ or http://www.petsbest.com/ and you can even set up an interest bearing, insured savings account for your pet by visiting http://www.pawsitivesavings.com/.

There are lots of families who need some assistance with their pet's medical bills. Here at the VRCC Specialty & Emergency Hospital we raise funds for the Animal Care Foundation, a non-profit organization providing one-time, partial financial assistance for emergency or specialty veterinary care from VRCC to low income Colorado residents. You can donate here.

Remember your local pet shelters this holiday season. In the Denver area the Dumb Friends League or Maxfund could always use a donation to care for the animals for which they provide shelter and love. Can't add one more pet to your house? Consider being a Pet Pal for a Maxfund animal.

And, as Dr. Arnold Goldman from Connecticut writes, "the gift of time matters to them the most." Make it a point to spend a little more time with your pets each day.

Our pets give us so much and ask so little in return. Ask your family veterinarian about ideas to help keep your four legged friend healthy and happy.

Happy shopping!