Humane Society of Elmore County News
February is Pet Dental Health Month and we can attest as to how many older pets we get into the Shelter that have to have major dental work done by a Veterinarian to improve their health. Just like us humans, our dogs and cats teeth build up tartar with leads to a host of health issues, not the least of which is bad breath.
If your pet has “stinky breath” that is often a good indicator that your pet should see your Veterinarian. Since our pets, especially our dogs, like to chew on a variety of items, they can crack or break teeth as well and even the most diligent pet owner can miss that. And did you know that infected teeth can also affect your pet’s heart and overall health? And many owners may only think of dogs when it comes to dental issues, but our cats need to be checked as well – your Vet will advise you best. So please give your Veterinarian a call this week to schedule your pet for a dental – many offer slight discounts during the month of February as well if you need a little more incentive.
We wrote about cold weather last week, but it has also been a rather wet winter and that can cause issues for our pets and livestock as well. Dogs that are kept in confined areas can suffer from constant exposure to water, urine and feces and the only solution is to MOVE THEM from that area. Pets must have adequate shelter so they can get out of all of this inclement weather and stay dry. That also means checking and ensuring they have dry bedding.
All this rain makes the ground soft, making it a lot easier for an energetic dog to dig out from a fence in a short period of time. Walk your fences and look for the start of holes before your dog escapes.
For both dogs and livestock, wet weather and wind can cause tree falls which can take out sections of fencing. Old wood fence posts can rot and livestock leaning on or over fencing can push over old fence and fence posts when the ground is as soft. This means livestock owners should also be walking/checking their fence lines to look for downed trees and failing fences. Loose livestock can endanger the public as well as the livestock themselves so please check your fences to keep them safe at home.
For animals constantly exposed to wet weather, a condition called “rain rot” can happen causing scabs, hair loss and discomfort for the animal. Stopping rain rot before it becomes extensive is the key and knowing to look for this condition is important. The advice on treating rain rot abounds but brushing out old dead coat can go a long way to keeping this condition at bay – as always, the best bet is to consult your Veterinarian.
For all of our animals, shelter from wet, cold, windy weather will go a very long way to keeping them healthy. Bring your pets inside and, if you do not have a barn, give livestock well-situated run-in sheds they can access to get out of the weather as they choose – they will appreciate it.
