Author: SPCAI Staff

By SPCAI Staff

As we near the end of 2018 the temperatures are going to continue to drop for most us. You’re probably pulling out your heavy socks and puffy coats to help you keep nice and toasty when you’re outside. It’s important to remember how we can keep our four-legged friends happy and healthy during the late fall and winter months. 

Bundling Up: Not every dog or cat is built for cold snowy weather. Walks should be adjusted according to how cold it is outside, the lower the temperature the shorter the walk. Short-haired pets may need an extra layer when outside, but remember that in very cold weather long-haired pets may also need an added layer. Cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia, do not leave your pets outside for long periods of time.

Paws: There are many pet-friendly alternatives for ice-melt but you should still protect your pet’s feet from ice-melt and snow. You can do this with booties, but if your dog is like mine and absolutely hates booties use Musher’s Wax to prevent paw pads from drying out and remember to routinely wipe snow and ice from their paws during walks.

Cars: Antifreeze is incredibly toxic, if you have a car make sure to clean up any spills that occur and to wipe off your pets paws (and stomach if low to the ground) when coming inside incase they have walked through some.  Outdoor and stray cats can also hide in cars for warmth during the colder months, check underneath your car and bang on the hood or honk the horn before starting the engine to encourage them to vacate their roost.

The winter can be a fun time for everyone, just remember to protect your pet so they can have fun too!

Thanksgiving time is upon us and whether you're having tofurkey or free-range turkey your dog or cat will likely be begging for a sample or two. Even though it may be tempting to give in to those pleading eyes and wagging tail, there are a few things you should know before doing so. Traditional holiday foods can be dangerous and potentially deadly to pets but if you follow this short safety guide, both you and your pet will be more than thankful this year.

Bones - Small cooked bones from turkey or other meat sources can become lodged in the throat, stomach, or intestinal tract or break into splinters, causing extensive damage to the stomach and gastrointestinal tract if swallowed, even puncturing the small intestine.

Raw or undercooked turkey - may contain deadly salmonella bacteria, even if your dog or cat is used to a raw diet.

Batter – When raw bread dough combines with the body heat of your pet, it can cause the dough to rise inside the stomach, producing severe abdominal pain and bloating leading to more serious complications requiring surgery. Moreover, the batter used in cakes and pies usually contains raw eggs, which may have salmonella bacteria as well.

Fatty foods - Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skin, gravy and dark turkey meat are often difficult to digest which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog, and in extreme cases, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). If you notice your dog or cat showing signs of vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhea or lethargy, please do not wait to contact your veterinarian.

Onions and Garlic - These ingredients contain sulfides, which are very toxic to animals and can cause the destruction of red blood cells, especially in cats.

Sage - Commonly used as flavoring during this holiday, this well-known herb as well as many other herbs, contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets, especially in cats.

Raisins and Grapes - They are not only a choking hazard to smaller animals, but ingestion of either can cause significant kidney damage.

Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts - These can cause weakness, depression, incoordination, and tremors. In addition, the high-fat levels of these nuts may cause pancreatitis in dogs, resulting in severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Chocolate - In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. The chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous or even fatal are methylxanthines, which are similar to caffeine and more heavily concentrated in the darker varieties we often see as being advertised with a high percentage of cocoa.

Mushrooms - These can produce damage to a number of internal organs, including kidneys, liver, and the central nervous system, which can result in seizure, coma and sometimes death.

Candy - Many contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can cause a severe drop in blood glucose in dogs; in fact, 30 minutes after ingestion dogs could exhibit signs of depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Xylitol may also lead to delayed onset damage to the liver occurring days to weeks after ingestion. Xylitol toxicity in pets may be fatal and requires immediate medical attention.

Beer and alcohol - Alcohol, especially the hops in beer, can be particularly harmful to dogs, causing intoxication, panting, fever, racing heart, liver damage, even coma, seizures, and death.

When planning your holiday feast, it’s also a good idea to make sure that you properly dispose of any wrappings such as aluminum foil and plastic wrap that your dog may find rummaging through the yummy smelling trash. If you know that your furry four-legged friend is a scavenger, distract him with a safe made-for-pet chew bone or indulge him with a few cooked pieces of meat and safe vegetables inside a Kong toy. After all, pets are part of the family; they deserve a Thanksgiving treat too!

In September 2018, we reached out to the generous SPCA International community with a request to raise funds for our international partners who are working to put a stop to the dog meat trade and rescue its innocent victims. This is one of the most heartbreaking realities; community dogs are being rounded up, tortured and slaughtered because people believe their meat has special properties such as the ability to increase virility. Worst of all, this myth also perpetuates a belief that if a dog suffers before death, the meat will be more powerful. Dogs are being tortured through beating, electrocution, stabbing, and even being boiled or skinned alive.

Despite public outcry from many citizens where people consume dog meat, the practice continues. China, for example, can be a perilous place for dogs, but thanks to SPCA International supporters, more help and support is on the way. A $20,000 grant will be made to Bo Ai Animal Center where founder Du Yufeng along with staff and volunteers work tirelessly to rescue dogs from the meat trade and work toward a ban on all dog meat consumption.

The Bo Ai Animal Center is home to hundreds of dogs, and it would be impossible for the staff and volunteers to care for these animals without financial support from organizations like SPCAI and supporters like you.

Noah (above) is one of the Bo Ai’s more recent rescue dogs. He was lucky to be saved from the meat trade by Du and her team. Once he was healthy and vetted, Noah traveled to Amsterdam to meet his new forever family. They welcomed him with open hearts and warm hugs and today he is settling in nicely. He is experiencing a lot of firsts in Amsterdam – a new dog bed all his own, long walks, life with a housecat, and he even met a horse.

Many dogs like Noah that have been rescued from the dog meat trade and other perilous situations, are still available for adoption on by Bo Ai Animal Center’s website. We hope you will consider opening your heart and home to one of them.