Pet Survival Guide: Winter and the Holidays

Bonny Rose

The holidays can be a stressful time for your pet, just as it can be for you! Sure, they don’t have to struggle with mall traffic just to buy gifts for everyone on their list or cook for twenty out of town guests, but there are a lot of changes they have to adjust to in the month of December.

First off, let’s deal with the weather. Usually, in a normal winter, it’s COLD! (Now, a Tennessee winter is a different story). The weather changes affect your dogs and cats just as much as it affects you. As a guideline, if you pet stays outside usually they will be fine with proper shelter (a covered doghouse or similar structure) down to around 20° F. However, puppies, kittens, smaller dogs and geriatric pets usually should not be left outside below 40° F. Some pets may need a sweater if their hair coat is especially thin or short. The cold also makes arthritis act up in geriatric pets, so remember to have their arthritis medications on hand and limit their time outside. Frostbite can occur in extremely low temperatures, especially on the ears, paws and tail. If theses spots appear hardened, cold to the touch or black, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Remember to keep fresh water out for your dog and change it often to prevent freezing. Finally, if you use ethylene glycol anti-freeze in your vehicle, please keep it safe and away from your pet’s reach as it is highly toxin to both dogs and cats.

Now, for the holiday hazards your pet may encounter.

• Holiday Foods: Try to prevent your pet from getting any fatty or spicy foods, bread dough, fresh herbs, alcoholic beverages and sweets of any kind (especially chocolate ones). Cooked poultry bones can be a serious hazard to pets as they can splinter and cause gastrointestinal perforation.

• Decorations: Several holiday plants are toxic to pets, especially holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and amaryllis. Snow globes can contain anti-freeze, so keep them in a safe place to prevent them from breaking. Christmas trees should be secured to prevent falling and keep all breakable ornaments away from the bottom of the tree. Tinsel can also be a danger to both dogs and cats if ingested. Keep your pet away from the tree if possible, as ingesting the tree water or pine needles can cause stomach and intestinal upset. Also, keep candles and electrical wires out of your pet’s reach whenever possible.  

Lots of changes can happen over the holidays that may confuse or stress your pet. If you know when guests are coming, it is a good idea to exercise your dog before they arrive. This may help your pup relax and they may be ready for a nap by the time the guests show up. Try to prevent your pet from greeting guests at the door, as they may become stressed or react unexpectedly. If you think your pet needs a break or seems stressed, you can place them in their crate or an empty room to help them relax.

Finally, just like people, pets love presents! Don’t forget to pick up a new toy or some special treats for your pet to keep them entertained over the holidays.

Hope the holiday season treats everyone well and don’t forget to bundle up and keep warm! Happy Holidays from all of us at CSAH!

Fleas, fleas and more fleas!

This week, I will be covering a topic that has plagued so many of our clients (and staff) this summer. Fleas. Those little pesky bugs that suck your pet's blood, cause intense itching, skin lesions, and worst of all, invade your home. 

The flea most often seen on your dogs and cats is actually the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. These fleas lay eggs on the fur of their host (your pet), and the eggs then fall onto bedding or carpet for hatching. Hatching leads to larvae which leads to cocooning pupa which, after several weeks, finally produces an adult flea. Adult fleas feed on their host almost immediately. They consume blood and excrete it in a blackish red pellets onto their host to create "flea dirt." Flea dirt looks a lot like pepper flakes on your pet's skin. These fleas cannot survive for more than a few days in temperatures less than 37 degrees F. To survive the winter, these fleas find a host to keep warm. These hosts can be your pet, if you are not treating topically. 

In some pets, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) may develop secondary to flea infestations. FAD is a hypersensitivity to flea salvia that may cause dermatitis in dogs and cats. In cats, this typically presents as miliary dermatitis with small crusted spots on the neck, back and face. In dogs, there is intense itching, usually at the tail base but can occur all over the body. Dogs can lose hair and develop lesions in the skin from the intense itching. Occasionally, secondary bacterial or fungal infections may occur on the skin from the self-trauma. 

Fleas can cause more problems than just itchy skin. In young animals, too many fleas can lead to iron deficiency anemia from so much blood loss. Also, fleas are carriers of several different intestinal worms. The most common is the tapeworm. When grooming, your pet may ingest a flea which may then lead to a tapeworm infection as well. 

The goal of flea treatment is three-fold: 1. eliminate fleas on your pet(s), 2. eliminate fleas in your pet's environment and 3. prevent subsequent re-infestation. 

Eliminating fleas on your pet. There are so many products out on the market right now for flea control. Here is what we typically recommend for clients. Remember, please make sure you are purchasing the right product for your pet. Check the weight and species approved on all products before using them. 

1. Topical monthly flea and tick prevention - products such as Parastar Plus, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix for dogs or EasySpot and Frontline for cats - these products may take up to 24 hours to start killing fleas
2. Oral monthly flea prevention - Comfortis or Trifexis (heartworm prevention as well)
3. Oral immedatiate treatment - CapStar, which kills fleas on the pet for 24 hours

To treat the environment, there are a few different things to do, depending on the degree of infestation. You may start by washing all the bedding your pet contacts and vacuuming the carpets (tip: put a flea collar in the vacuum bag). There are sprays out there to kill fleas in their various stages you can use as well. Usually, however, you will have to get a flea bomb to fully treat your home. There are also treatments that can be used on the yard. Concentrate these on places your pet goes, such as the doghouse, garage or special areas your pet likes to lounge. 

Preventing re-infestation is usually done by using a monthly prevention we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, fleas can develop resistance to some of these products. If you notice a product stops working for your pet, wait a few weeks after application and try a different one. These products are ideally used year round. If you want to stop using topical products during the winter, just remember to use them a month after the first freeze and then re-start a month before the last freeze.

Hopefully this will help pet owners to deal with the terrible flea season we have seen in Tennessee this year. Remember, you are not alone if you are experiencing a flea infestation. If you have more questions, please let us know or call the office at 615.377.4959. Thanks!

- H