Loving the Fur Babies on Love Your Pet Day

by Carol Grinage, volunteer contributor
 



Ladybird prefers crosswords.  

In honor of Love your Pet Day, Friday, February 20, we'd like to share with everyone our new partnership with an organization that enables us to give the fur babies in our lives love after a disaster too.

Let's face it. In spite of the fact that they're messy, noisy and sometimes mischievous (see photo evidence), pet owners wouldn't trade their 4-legged friends for anything. But when disasters strike, such as home fires, it's pets that are often left without help. What are people supposed to do when their pets need food? This is where Don’t Forget to Feed Me steps in.

On a daily basis, Don’t Forget to Feed Me is an organization that helps pet owners who cannot provide for their animals to receive food and supplies. But recently, their mission expanded when we teamed up together.

In January, Don’t Forget to Feed Me delivered 500 “Pet Comfort Kits” to the American Red Cross. The kits will be placed in disaster relief trucks. These kits contain a retractable food dish, pet food, leash, squeaky toy, and treats. When Red Cross workers respond to a home fire and the family also includes pets, volunteers will provide a Pet Comfort Kit to the owner. On average, Red Cross teams in DFW help five families every day.

For more than a century, American Red Cross workers have taken care of disaster victims by providing safe shelter, new clothing and groceries. Now, we can do even more. And our response volunteers already report what a big difference the kits make for pet owners, no longer worried about where fido or fluffy's next meal will come from either. On this Love Your Pet Day, we salute pet owners everywhere, and our newest partner, Don't Forget to Feed Me.

Show your Pet Day love by posting a photo of the creature in your life, and if you'd like, you can use hashtag #LoveYourPetDay.

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Dog Days of Summer: Pet Heat Safety

by Carmen Wright, volunteer contributor

Dear Owner,

Listen, I know you like summer because of outdoor barbecues and swim parties, but don’t forget about me. Now, it’s not that I’m ungrateful for the hamburger patties you “drop” off the grill or the hot dog buns you conveniently leave on the edge of the countertop—thank you for those. But when it gets this hot, don’t forget I’m sporting a full fur coat and bare feet. Here is a quick list of do’s and don’ts to keep your furry four-legged friends happy. 


DON’T…

• leave me in the car—it’s like an oven in there. And if you see one of my fellow furry friends in a car, track down their owner immediately (and give them a good talking to).
• take me on walks when it’s hot outside—remember those bare feet? A nice morning walk or evening stroll will do. 
• leave me outside for more than a few minutes—even with shade, I’m going to get hot pretty quickly. Now if you installed that dog door you’ve been promising…
• ignore me—if you see heavy panting, excessive thirst, uncoordinated behavior, or dizziness, chances are I’m suffering from a heatstroke. If that’s the case, take me inside, put some ice packs on me and give me small amounts of water and ice cubes. 

DO…

• brush me or give my fur a good trim so I’m a little bit cooler in this weather.
• leave me plenty of water and make sure I have shade when I’m outside. A fan is nice, but it’s not going to help me cool down very well. 
• put ice cubes in my water, or better yet, make some peanut butter popsicles! 
• wet my neck, feet, and belly so I can cool down faster. If we do go for a long walk, I wouldn't object to wearing a cooling vest—it’s so much less embarrassing than that bumblebee costume you tried to get me in last year. 
• make a plan for a power outage. 
• download the Pet First Aid App from the American Red Cross. Those guys think of everything. 

Oh!  And do keep dropping those hamburger patties, maybe even one with cheese on it?

Love, 

Your Pet

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Hot Weather Dictates Extra Attention for Pets

Summer arrived with high temps and humidity, and the mercury is likely to keep rising. As the weather gets warmer, certain dangers for your pets become more prevalent. The American Red Cross has steps pet owners can use to keep family pets safe and healthy this summer.

Summer arrived with high temps and humidity, and the mercury is likely to keep rising. As the weather gets warmer, certain dangers for your pets become more prevalent. The American Red Cross has steps pet owners can use to keep family pets safe and healthy this summer.

The first step is to know what is normal for your pet – their gum color, heart/pulse rate, body temperature and breathing rate - so you can recognize when something is wrong.

Heat stroke is a common problem for pets in the warmer weather, according to Dr. Deborah Mandell, VMD, DACVECC, pet care advisor for the Red Cross. She explained that heat stroke is more common in the early summer because pets are not yet acclimated to the warm weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are prone to heat stroke. This is also true for any obese pet, a pet with an extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea.

“Animals love to play and may not stop playing, even if they are becoming overheated,” said Dr. Mandell, who is also affiliated with the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Some signs your pet may be developing heat stroke include heavy panting, and being unable to calm down, even when lying down. Their gum color may be brick red, their pulse rate may be fast, or they may not be able to get up. If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.

Sunny days seem like great opportunities to take your pet for a fun car ride. Dr. Mandell issued a reminder not to leave your pet in the car, even for a few minutes. “The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees,” she said. “It’s just not a good idea to leave the pet in the car, even with the windows cracked open.”

Pet owners also need to be aware that animals may try to get out of a window or door, which are more likely to be open as the weather warms. And some plants in your garden can be hazardous to animals. For instance, many lilies are very poisonous to cats. Visit the ASPCA Poison Control web site to find out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals.

Your pet is part of the family and deserves to be cared for and protected. Follow these important steps to help keep your pet at their best:

• Give your pet plenty of exercise. Regular exercise will help your pet feel better and live longer.
• Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, cool water.
• Get to know a veterinarian and make sure your pet has yearly checkups.
• Make sure your pet is up to date on vaccines, especially rabies.
• Get your pet spayed or neutered.
• Keep dogs on leashes outside – another animal may be too much temptation.
• Know how to perform CPR and provide basic first aid until veterinary care is available.

Animals can’t tell you when they aren’t feeling well. Many hide signs of illness until a problem is very advanced. Knowing what is normal for your pet and being able to recognize changes early, can make a huge difference in treatment success.

Don’t forget to include your pets in emergency action plans as well:

• Emergency action plans for your family should include all of your animals.
• Plan to take your pets with you in an evacuation. If it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for them either.
• Most Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety concerns and other considerations. Know which friends, relatives, hotels, boarding facilities accept pets in an emergency.
• Assemble a portable kit with emergency supplies for your pets:
• Leashes, harnesses and/or carriers
• Food, drinking water, bowls, manual can opener
• Medications and copies of medical records
• Current photos of your pets and of you with your pets

Additional tips can be found on our Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist. Pet First Aid courses are offered at many Red Cross chapters across the country. The Red Cross has also developed Dog First Aid and Cat First Aid, comprehensive guides with DVDs to help your keep pets healthy and safe. From basic responsibilities, like spaying/neutering and giving medications, to performing CPR and preparing for disasters, these guides offer information pet owners can trust. Contact the American Red Cross-Dallas Chapter to see when classes are available or to purchase guide books. Products can also be purchased online at the Red Cross Store.

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Dog (and cat) Days of Summer!

What a relief to know we have so many ways to beat the heat in already scorching temperatures. We can head to the pool with the family or take in some complimentary air conditioning at the local movie theater or mall. Unfortunately, our four-legged friends have fewer options than we do, so we have to do the work to make sure our pets are prepared as much as we are.

Pets large and small can get dehydrated quickly and heat stroke can be fatal if not attended to right away. Pets need to always have plenty of fresh, clean water available and a shady place to be able to get out of the sun. It’s always best to keep pets indoors in extreme heat and be sure they do not get over exercised.

Remember that while Fido may be a part of the family and you want to take him with you on every trip to the lake or summer cookout, ask yourself if it’s really be the best choice for him. When temperatures are high, it’s not good for dogs to be on asphalt for extended periods. It can cause your dog’s body to heat up more quickly and can burn sensitive paw pads. Really, would you want to walk across a parking lot barefoot in the hot Texas sun? Neither does Fido.

Also remember that it is never safe to leave an animal in a vehicle for any period of time. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes and cracking the windows does not help. Animal’s bodies overheat so quickly that if left in a car – even for a quick run into the store – it could be a potentially fatal situation for them. If that isn’t enough, keep in mind that leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states.

If a pet becomes overheated, they need immediate attention as heat stroke can set in and become fatal very quickly. Symptoms of overheating include:

• Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
• Increased heart and respiratory rate
• Drooling
• Mild weakness
• Stupor or even collapse

As the situation becomes more serious, symptoms may also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature over 104 degrees. Pay especially close attention to animals that are flat-faced. They are unable to pant as effectively to cool down and are more prone to heat stoke. Other animals that are at higher risk such as elderly, overweight, or pets with heart or lung diseases should be kept in air conditioned rooms as much as possible.

And one final tip to get your party animal stylin’ for summer: A lightweight summer haircut for dogs can help prevent overheating. A one inch length is usually a good standard to go by as you never want to take it down to the skin. A shorter length like this will keep them cooler while still leaving them with some protection from the sun. For cats, a few extra brushing sessions will help prevent problems for them that can be caused by extreme heat.

Learn more Hot Weather Tips for your pet from the ASPCA. While you’re there, check out their section on Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet to be sure the whole family is ready for anything!

Be Red Cross Ready with our Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist!

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Family, Children, Pets - they all need a plan!

As with any situation, being prepared is the key to survival. You wouldn’t go into a meeting without your presentation, you wouldn’t send your child to school without their school books, and you wouldn’t walk into a final exam without studying. You take such care making sure you and your family prepares for daily life, the same care should be taken to prepare for a disaster.

At home, develop a plan that the whole family knows and practice it regularly. In a tornado or severe weather, everyone needs to know where the safe room is. Practicing this drill is just as important as practicing your fire drill. When making your plan, include the following:

• A safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
• During a thunderstorm. This safe room should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail.
• An emergency kit that includes the basic necessities you will need while waiting out the storm such as a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, water, non-perishable food, emergency blanket, and first aid kit.
• A plan for family pets to get them into a safe area. Make sure they have collars or identification on them in case they get out. If they are in the room with you make sure you have food and water for them as well as a leash or kennel to keep them secured.
• Each member of the family should have a list of emergency contacts and one out-of-area contact person should be designated since it may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into their cell phones.
• A safe meeting place. Not every disaster will happen when you and your family are all together in your home. After a disaster strikes make sure there is a safe meeting place established away from the neighborhood to meet up. Access to your home may be cut off, so you need a familiar place that everyone would be able to get to.

More useful tips and a checklist on what you can do to build a plan for your home and pets can be found at www.redcross.org.

Helpful Checklists from RedCross.org

• Thunderstorms (PDF)
• Tornadoes (PDF)
• Pet Safety (PDF)

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