If you find your pet in immediate danger from an accident, fight or poisoning after hours call:

Rivergate Pet Emergency Clinic
615-859-3778
910 Meadowlark Lane in Goodlettsville.

Nashville Pet Emergency Clinic
615- 383-2600
2000 12th Avenue South in Nashville.

Clinics above are Monday through Friday from 7p.m. to 7a.m.; Saturdays through Monday from 5 p.m. to 7a.m. and all major holidays.

Robertson County Animal Clinic at 384-5393. They are located at 807 Fifth Avenue East in Springfield. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They have a 24 hour emergency service for large and small animals.

There is also an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hot line open 24 hours a day/seven days a week. There is a $45 consultation fee for this service. Their number is 1-800-548-2423. (back to top)

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cures. At holidays and year round, here are some tips to avoid a potential tragedy for your pet.

Never allow anyone to give your pet alcohol. Pets can die from alcohol poisoning.

Keep all chocolates away from your dog. Chocolates can be lethal, depending on how much your dog eats.

Liquid potpourri may contain essential oils and detergents that can cause ulcers in the mouth and throat in a dog or cat. Keep the potpourri out of you pet’s reach.

Keep batteries out of your dog’s reach. Should your dog chew up a battery, the ingredients may cause mouth and throat ulcers.

Never give your dog a chicken or turkey bone. The bones can splinter and cause obstructions in the dog’s stomach or they can get caught in its esophagus.

Keep macadamia nuts away from your dog. If he eats too many, he can develop a high fever and a paralysis in his rear legs.

Keep tinsel away from your cats. They often will eat it and possibly end up with it stuck in their intestinal tracts.

The angel hair on your Christmas tree is spun glass and will sicken the pet that eats it.

If your dog eats yeast dough before it’s been baked, the dough will continue to rise in the dog’s stomach, which can cause the dog to bloat. If your dog bloats, the stomach may start to twist – which presents a severe emergency.

Keep all human medicine away from your pets unless your veterinarian instructs otherwise. A single Tylenol has the potential to kill your cat.

Don’t worry too much if your dog or cat eats a piece of poinsettia. The worst effect will be mild vomiting and diarrhea as this plant has a low toxicity.

Be aware of plants you have in your house and in your yard. The ingestion of azalea, oleander, mistletoe, sago palm, Easter lily, or yew plant material, by an animal, could be fatal. Other natural dangers; apple seeds, apricot pits, cut leaf philodendron, eucalyptus, geranium, Japanese Show Lily, oriental lily, tiger lily, tomato plant (green fruit, stem and leaves).

All automotive products such as oil, gasoline and antifreeze should be stored in areas away from pet access. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) can be deadly in a 7-pound cat and less than one tablespoon could be lethal to a 20-pound dog. There are non-toxic brands of available. Safe antifreeze products are available. Ask for the new "animal friendly" antifreezes made with nontoxic propylene glycol to be put in your car. These include:

Prestone Products Low Tox Antifreeze/Coolant, available at some Kmart, Wal-Mart, Western Auto and Target stores;

Old World Industries Sierra Antifreeze (1-800-289-7234), available at some Checker Auto Parts, Pep Boys and NAPA stores; and Sta-Clean Antifreeze (1-800-825-3464).

In addition to being hazardous to mice and rodents, baits are very dangerous to pets. Ant, roach, snail, rodent and slug baits contain sweet smelling inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut butter, and sugars, which can be very attracting to your pet. PETA is a good source of humane control of uninvited animal and insect intruders so visit them at www.peta-online.org

Be aware of labels. If a product says “for use in dogs only,” please don’t use it for cats or other animals.

The National Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a guide to help you keep your pet safe from a tragic poisoning accident: ww.napcc.aspca.org. (back to top)

SUMMER TIME PET WARNING

While you're turning the air up in your home, please remember to be extra cautious of your pets. It's amazing that folks whose reaction to the heat is to act like they are melting can be oblivious to their dog panting in their own backyard.

Summer brings a lot of dangers to our pets. The horrific heat, flea, tick and mosquito infestation can make them feel miserable. For your pet's sake, take a moment for a brief checklist. Do they have plenty of cool water? It needs changing at least twice a day. Do they have access to shade in the form of proper shelter? Are they scratching constantly? When you pet them, is their skin filled with scabs? If so then a veterinarian needs to check them for flea infestation. Is your dog on heartworm preventative? If not, please have your vet perform a heartworm check and advise on treatment or prevention for this deadly mosquito-born disease.

Dogs, cats & other pets all have the same basic requirements of shelter, clean food and water. They require your vigilant care. If you can't provide this basic responsibility, then don't get a pet. Benign neglect? No, it’s plain old cruelty to give to take in an animal whose quality of care is non-existent. Please give them more than a life, give them a home.

Don’t take me home unless you will care for me every day. I need food, water and a clean place to rest. Also love. Remember, I depend on you for everything.

I’m not a stuffed toy. I’m a live, sensitive and feeling creature. Like you. So treat me kindly. Respect my need to be left alone at times. When you’re angry, don’t take it out on me. But you can tell me all of your troubles.

Be patient with me when I don’t always obey or when I make a mess. I want to please you, but sometimes I don’t understand. I can learn – with a little help from my family.

In return, I'll give you something no one can buy, or make or win in a contest. I’ll give you all of my love. And whether you feel glad, or sad or mad; I'll be just the same -- loving you -- as long as I live.(back to top)

On a warm day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 160 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with partially opened windows. With only hot air to breathe, your pet can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke.

Signs of heat stress: heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, dizziness, vomiting, deep red or purple tongue.

If your pet gets overheated, you must lower his body temperature immediately!

Get him into shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over his body.

Apply ice packs or cold towels only to head, neck and chest.

Let him drink small amounts of cool water, or lick ice cubes. Ice cream can be used. Remember, no chocolate.

Get your pet to a veterinarian right away - it could save his life.

On hot days, your pet is safer at home. (back to top)

Do not leave dogs outdoors when the temperature drops. Regardless of the season, short-haired, very young, or old dogs and all cats should never be left outside without supervision. Most dogs, and all cats, are safer if kept indoors, except when taken out for exercise. Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks.

No matter what the temperature, wind chill can threaten a pet’s life. A dog or cat is happiest and healthiest when kept indoors. If you dog is an outdoor dog, however, it must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably but small enough to hold in body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with burlap or a rug.

Outdoor dogs need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your dog’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your dog’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.

Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine.

The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can burn the pads of your pet’s feet. Also wipe their feet with a damp towel before your pet licks them and burns its mouth.

Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze and all household chemicals out of reach. Better yet, use antifreeze that is nontoxic and, if swallowed, will not hurt pets, wildlife, or your family.

Dry heat can dry out your pet’s skin and make him/her itchy and uncomfortable. A small amount of vegetable oil in your pet’s food will keep him/her comfortable. (back to top)

Surgically handicapping a cat is not the way to solve her scratching habit. Most cats can learn to use acceptable scratching areas like scratching posts, thereby eliminating the need to declaw. To help cat owners who are having trouble with their cat’s scratching, here are some tips:

Trim the cat’s claws weekly, using nail clippers to remove the white tip of each claw. Be sure not to clip too closely to the dark red portion, or “quick” of the claw. Some clawing is done to wear down the claws, trimming prevents this need. Ask your veterinarian to help you the first time if you are feeling unsure. And have a treat handy when you are through to let your cat know this just may be a good thing!

Provide the cat with an alternative piece of furniture to claw – her own scratching post. The post should be at least as tall as the cat when she stretches up to full length (this is the position many cats scratch in). It should be sturdy so that she can’t knock it over, and it should be covered with bark or carpeting. Don’t use posts covered with looped carpeting, as your cat will get her claws hung up in the loops and will resist using the post. Many cats have a need to climb as well as scratch, so a tall, well-anchored post with secure perches may be helpful for cats who continue to claw furniture after being provided with a post.

To entice your cat to use the post rather than your couch, place the post right next to a favorite scratching place, cover it with catnip, and “show” your cat how to use it by extending her claws on the post and making a scratching motion. However, lead her and don’t force her. Cats want to always think what they do was their idea, not yours! And always praise your cat when she does use the post! Use a repellent such as perfume or vinegar on the former scratching places, or cover them with plastic or tape to make them undesirable places to scratch. A squirt with a water pistol or plant mister, or a very firm "no" will remind the cat not to scratch where she shouldn’t.

These methods should begin to work in a couple of weeks. If not, it may be necessary to rethink the type of post and where or how it is positioned.

When cats scratch people, it is usually because they want to play. They need to learn that scratching will not get them the attention they want. When a cat scratches someone, the person often fusses and jerks their hand away, which only entices the cat to attack the moving target – to your cat it’s a great game! When the cat scratches, simply scold with a firm “no”, and get up and leave her alone. Soon (if you are consistent) your cat will learn that in order to keep playing, she can’t scratch. Avoid accidental scratches by playing with a toy attached to a string, providing some distance between your hand and your cat’s eager claws. Never entice kittens to use your hand as a toy or object of attack.

Anne Raver, a columnist for the New York Times, lamented the declawing of her cat, Mrs. Gray, in a column: “She doesn’t flex her claws anymore, in that luxurious way she had while snoozing in the sun. She’s quieter, too, like a feisty soul beaten up once too often. We’ve taken away her last wildness, the dignity that comes from power.

We tell ourselves it’s all right to do these things to animals. We have civilized reasons, like not letting them destroy our priceless possessions. We tell ourselves how we rescued them from the streets. After all, Mrs Gray was a stray. top

We remove their claws when they don’t respect our possessions. But we’d call it barbaric to remove the fingers of a thief.

Mrs. Gray comes to sit by me now. She purrs and rubs her head against my hand. I suppose I could say she has forgiven me, in which case her love puts mine to shame. But I have stolen from her and she is the lesser for it.” (back to top)

HOW TO PREPARE A PET ALERT CARD
This provides immediate instructions in the event death or hospitalization prevents you from returning home to your pets.

1. Create a Profile
*list & describe each pet
*list contact info of emergency care providers
*keep card in wallet or purse

2. Set up a Pet ID File
*create a file for your pets that includes photos, vaccination & medical records, and current meds
*include contact info of veterinarian, pet sitters, neighbors and boarding kennels
*are any pets in cages or crates? if so explain why. Are there special instructions?
*does this pet have a microchip?
*list meal instructions
*list socialization needs, e.g. cats that grew up together & should stay together, or these cats don't always get along
* make info easy for others to access by putting a note on the fridge or some other obvious place telling where file can be found.

3. Name Emergency Caretaker(s)
*make sure each caretaker has a house key and knows where pet files are located
*discuss expectations in advance

RENTING WITH PETS

Are you moving, and thinking you just can't bring your dog or cat with you?  For the sake of your 4 legged companion, do some research first. Visit the following website, www.rentwithpets.org. This site is created by the HSUS and may just have the answer to keep you'll together. After all, Fido wouldn't move without you!

SAAW Nashville
P.O. Box 23535
Nashville, TN 37202
615-474-8390
laurie@fixyourpet.org

SAAW Lincoln County
P.O. Box 906
Fayetteville, TN 37334
931.937.6045
nylu6045@bellsouth.net

Website mastery and maintenance by Angie Slade