Choose a season: Winter

Winter Warnings For Pet Owners

Brrrrrr....!!!
The ground is covered with snow and a cold wind blows from the west. Wisconsin winters can present some important health hazards to our pets.

 

Keep Antifreeze out of reach!

Many car owners will refill or replace the antifreeze in their radiators at home. The active ingredient, ethylene glycol, is a sweet tasting and smelling substance that can be fatal to your pet. It is so attractive to pets that they have been known to chew open sealed containers and ingest the contents. As little as 2 tablespoons of the substance can be fatal to a small dog or cat.

The initial problem is due to the ethylene glycol which causes changes in the pet's brain. The substances made as this chemical is broken down in the body are toxic to the kidneys and can lead to deadly kidney failure. Signs that your pet may show after ingestion include: staggering and "drunk" behavior (within 1-10 hours of ingestion), "spacey" abnormal mentation, loss of consciousness, seizures, vomiting (green fluorescent liquid), excessive urination, no urination, and eventually death.

If you suspect that your pet may have ingested antifreeze, TIME is of the essence. You must take your pet to a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. If ingestion occurred within the last 1-10 hours, a blood test can be done to confirm that ethylene glycol has been ingested. If positive, ethanol (vodka or wood grain alcohol) or a newer antidote, will be administered intravenously and continued for at least 24 hours. Peritoneal dialysis can be used to remove the ethylene glycol and its toxic metabolites from the blood stream, often preventing any kidney damage. When ingestion has occurred over 12 hours previously, there may be no antifreeze still detectable in the blood and supportive care for kidney failure may be the only treatment available.

The best treatment is PREVENTION:

• keep pets out of the garage
  
• remove all antifreeze from surfaces
  
• never drain into open container
  
• keep antifreeze in enclosed cabinets with a latch or lock
  
• have antifreeze work done by professionals at a garage

Rat & Mouse Poison Can Be Deadly To Pets Too!

Cool weather can bring rodents into the house and many homeowners place rodenticides in nooks to keep them away thinking that pets can't get at it. These products are made to attract rodents by their smell and taste and will also attract our pets.

Most rodenticides work by causing the blood not to clot within the rodent, leading to fatal hemorrhage. Unfortunately, this will also occur in pets that ingest the poisons or ingest a rodent that has eaten rodenticide. Clinical signs that your pet may show result fro internal bleeding and include labored breathing, bloody vomit and/or stool, and bruising of the skin.

If you suspect you pet has ingested poison, bring your pet and the package to a vet immediately. Your vet may induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of the poison. The antidote is vitamin K1.

Other Toxic Substances To Keep From Your Pets

Windshield washer fluid is composed to methanol. This is toxic to animals and can cause acute blindness. Similar to ethylene glycol, these dogs will act "drunk", hysterical or become unconscious. Time is of the essence, and immediate veterinary intervention can be life-saving.

Be very careful as you are putting your summer clothes into winter storage. Mothballs and mothflakes (composed of naphthalene) are toxic to pets, especially cats. Exposure can be by ingestion or by inhalation if locked in a closet with mothballs in high concentration. Vomiting and labored breathing are the usual complaint. A change in the blood can occur causing low oxygen and the lungs can become congested. Treatment must be instituted rapidly by a veterinarian.

Cold Weather Can Cause Frostbite And Hypothermia

Hypothermia and frost bite can occur in a small animal within minutes in subzero temperatures. Frostbite in dogs and cats occurs most frequently on the ears, tail, scrotum, and feet. Signs of frostbite include flushed or reddened skin or foot pads initially, then white or grayish color changes, evidence of shock, scaliness of skin, and eventual sloughing of skin or foot pad surfaces. Frozen surfaces should not be rubbed or massaged. Warm the affected areas by using warm moist towels. Discontinue warming as soon as the affected areas become flushed. When warming is complete, gently dry the affected areas. Wrap the pet in a blanket to conserve its body heat and transport immediately to a veterinarian.

Mental dullness, severe mental depression, and loss of consciousness in a pet exposed to cold temperatures may be signs of hypothermia. The skin is typically very cold to the touch. Wrap the pet in a blanket to conserve body heat and transport immediately to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will provide intravenous therapy with warm fluids, begin slow rewarming from the core first. Careful monitoring of the heart is critical.

Prevention is the BEST Medicine!

The best approach to winter hazards is prevention.

• Keep your pets indoors during the subzero temperatures.
• When outside, allow short hair pets to wear warm sweaters. Place booties on their feet and wipe their feet off to remove cold water and road salt that can cause irritation.
• If your pet must stay outside in the cold weather, make sure they have a clean, dry and well insulated shelter and fresh water.