October 11th, 2011
Now that temps have dropped and some leaves are starting to change we can relax and know that summer has bid us adieu. Having a respite from the heat is nice, but we should keep in mind our furry friends. Though they have coats on all the time, they still need consideration in colder weather.
Pets who like to nap on cool surfaces in the summer may not enjoy it so much now. Make sure there is bedding available for your buddy to snuggle on when he’s tired. Make sure that if he gets wet, he is dried quickly. He will still need plenty of water to drink. Just because it’s not hot, it doesn’t mean he’s not thirsty!
Antifreeze is a big danger this time of year. Dogs and cats both think it’s a tasty treat, but it is extremely toxic. Keep an eye on your pet when outdoors, and make sure she doesn’t drink anything from the ground that looks suspicious. Antifreeze is a bright green color and pools where cars have parked and leaked it from their engines. Symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning include nausea or vomiting, increased thirst, tremors or twitching, and wobbly or uncoordinated movement. Portable heaters are also a hazard – never leave a pet unsupervised in a room with a space heater, and keep an eye on them around fireplaces too.
When the holidays come around, there is a whole new list of things to worry about! Alcohol and chocolate are abundant, but make sure they’re all accounted for so that your best four-legged friend doesn’t regret overindulging. Many plants are poisonous. Poinsettias are rumored to be toxic, but aren’t as bad as they’ve been made out. They won’t kill your plant-chewing cat, but they can cause an upset stomach. The best rule is to keep all vegetation out of reach, so that even if they’re not poisonous you’re not cleaning up half-digested plant bits from all corners of the house. Even when not fatal many greens cause vomiting and diarrhea, and that’s never fun for any of us. For cats who like grass, there is cat grass and catnip which are both fine for them to nibble in moderation. These can both be found in pet stores.
Decorations can be hazardous too. Electric cords, candles, and glass trinkets or ornaments all bring out the mischievous side of our pets. Tinsel can be especially bad for cats who like strings. If eaten, it can become tangled in the stomach or intestine and require surgery to be safely removed. Tree-climbing cats should be kept away from Christmas trees, or there could be a very large mess to clean up!
Fall and winter are great seasons. Just keep a few things in mind, and your and your pets can enjoy them with fewer troubles.
Tags: Animal Health, Atlanta pets, Briarcliff Animal Clinic, cat, dog, Pet ownership, pet tips
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September 20th, 2011
We’re right in the middle of Adopt A Less-Adoptable Pet week. Petfinder has dedicated this week to animals who are often overlooked by potential adopters. These include pets with chronic illnesses or handicaps, those with darker fur, and more mature animals.
Through no fault of their own, these little loves seem less desirable. When someone is surfing the adoptees on web sites or walking past them at the shelter, the cute kittens or affectionate puppies overshadow the others. With so many looking for homes, it’s easy to see the cuter ones and forget the ones who need us more.
Blind pets, FIV-positive cats, kittens with cerebellar hyperplasia, animals with mobility problems, older pets, and those with other disorders may take a bit more work than those without. Often owners say that caring for these pets is more fulfilling. Knowing that they are really and truly needed can give people a sense of purpose. And the love that a cat or dog who is dependent on you not just for food and shelter but for smaller day-to-day tasks can feel deeper.
Two of my cats would be considered less-adoptable. My black cat is one of the sweetest cats I know and is more like a dog in the personality department. Our three-leg freaks out the neighborhood kids and others who come over to visit, but he’s beautiful and looks like a Ragdoll. They both add interesting elements to our family: Panther is the man of the house, but is also a lapcat. He keeps the others in line. Bunny is unaware of his missing leg and often tries to get toys or swat the other cats with it. He also attacks the water in his dish with his one front leg. Our house would be a lot different if they didn’t live in it, and it would be to our detriment.
We had a patient named Figaro. He was an older cat, blind in one eye, missing a few front toes, and had kidney failure. He also wasn’t a fan of coming in to the clinic for his fluid treatment. I grew attached to him, and each time he came for his treatment they would let me know my buddy was in. His spunk was endearing. I tried to give him extra attention when he boarded once, and found out that he *loved* catnip. It didn’t make him wild and crazy though; he got super affectionate. His dad told me they’d never given it to him, but they did after that. When his time came, I was in the room with the owners and the doctor, and I cried with them. Figaro was their special guy, and I know they miss him. He’d found a special spot in my heart in the years I knew him, too.
This week, and throughout the year, if you’re looking to adopt a pet, think about bringing home someone who will appreciate you more than you can imagine. Adopt a cat with special needs, or a dog with black fur. If you can give them what they need, they will certainly give you all the love they have.
Courtesy of petfinder.com
Tags: adoptable, adoptions, Atlanta pets, Briarcliff Animal Clinic, cat, dog, Pet ownership, pet tips
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September 13th, 2011
Animals can tune in to emotions. Often they can sense when other animals are frightened, aggressive, or otherwise upset. In the wild, this can mean that they need to be on the alert for danger.
Companion animals may have a different way of sensing vibes in the air. Since they aren’t in the wild, existing as a pack with other animals who are constantly on the lookout for threats, they pick up on our moods and body language. Sometimes it seems that they know how we feel without us (knowingly) showing any outward signs.
When I was a kid, my mom’s cat didn’t like me. That was fine, because I liked the dogs better anyway. If I sat next to her on the couch, she’d get up, turn her back to me, and lay back down. She also had her kittens under my bed – yuck. But on nights when I had trouble sleeping, she would curl up behind my knees and purr. It always made me go right to sleep. One of our cats now always knows when I’m sad. Even if I’ve gone to another room, she’ll come find me and demand that I pet her. She’s very persistent about it. My mom’s dog always curled up in my lap during thunderstorms, though I think it was more to comfort herself than me.
Some therapy dogs are trained to tune in to small signs of stress, fear, or agitation. They can help soldiers with PTSD when they have a panic attack coming on. Courthouse dogs comfort witnesses testifying who may be under extreme pressure. Rosie is such a dog: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/nyregion/dog-helps-rape-victim-15-testify.html?pagewanted=all.
Animals are being recognized more and more for their help in comforting humans when nothing else can. Is it because they think we’re members of their pack that they comfort us? Or is it out of pure love? What have your pets done to make you feel happy when you’re down?
Tags: Atlanta pets, cat, dog, Pet ownership, pet tips
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September 6th, 2011
Our country will soon mark the 10th anniversary of the unbelievable horrors of September 11th, 2001. It will be a somber time. The losses were immeasurable, but the day also produced heroes. Many things have been said about the policemen, firefighters, civilians, and even ferry boat captains (see this great story) who did more than they ever imagined they would have to do. I’d like to pay tribute to the approximately 350 dogs who helped in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Search and Rescue dogs came from all over the country, as well as from Canada and one from France. They came to help find survivors but most found only remains. Many of them, used to finding live people, became depressed at what they seemed to feel was their failure. Up to a month after the attacks they searched, doing 12- and sometimes 16-hour shifts in the harshest of conditions: dust and smoke in the air, a huge pile of twisted steel and concrete as their ground, and the grim task of finding no one alive.
Therapy dogs were there, too. Rescuers and volunteers faced with this catastrophe had to come to terms with the harsh reality of so many casualties. For humans as well as canines, it was too much to bear. The few short breaks they had were sometimes spent with dogs who could sense grief and stress, and who could comfort these selfless people who were doing their best to help.
There was one canine casualty in the attacks. Sirius, a yellow Lab and a bomb-detection dog, was assigned to Police Officer David Lim and worked the World Trade Center. Officer Lim left him in the basement of Tower Two to investigate the explosion he heard. He never got the chance to retrieve his partner and friend. In January of 2002, Sirius’s body was recovered, and as they brought him out of the rubble, all of the machinery was silenced, as was done for all officers. He was saluted and carried to a waiting police truck, draped in an American flag.
There were many who selflessly assisted in the aftermath. These dogs were trained to go where asked and help. Even though they may not have understood the scope of what happened, they knew they were part of something terrible and did what they could. Their heart and presence did more than sniff out the victims – they consoled and encouraged their human counterparts. Let us honor those who gave their all in our time of great need, both two-legged and four.
There is a book coming out this month, showing 15 of the rescue dogs from 9/11 now, 10 years later.
Tags: Atlanta pets, Briarcliff Animal Clinic, dog, hero dogs, Pet ownership
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August 31st, 2011
Last week, this picture went viral:
It’s a picture of Hawkeye, Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson’s dog, laying next to his owner’s casket. His funeral was attended by 1,500 people, but this was the most memorable image from it. It moved me to tears, and has been shared all across the internet. The loyal companion who misses his owner so much that he lays by his casket is so sad and heartwarming at the same time.
In Tumilson’s case, he was a military hero who died in the line of duty, making him a true hero. But for us who aren’t so noble and selfless, our dogs still treat us like idols. The saying “I want to be the person my dog thinks I am” is so great because they adore us, in spite of our shortcomings and faults.
Hawkeye was adopted by a family friend who frequently cared for him while Tumilson was deployed. He will without doubt miss his dad, but knowing that this loving dog and example of dedication will be well cared for is so reassuring. I hope that he is as crazy about his new owner as he was about Jon Tumilson, and as we are about Hawkeye.
Tags: Atlanta pets, dog, hero dogs, Pet ownership, soldiers
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August 19th, 2011
Sorry I’ve been slack about posting new articles. I’ve been working on the annual fundraiser for our Foundation! Saturday, October 22nd we’ll have a 2-mile walk/4-mile run, a raffle with great prizes, a pet costume contest, and fun for the whole family! You can register for the event here: http://www.firstgiving.com/bafinc/paws-on-pavement-dogs-walking-for-a-cause. And there’s a Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paws-on-Pavement-Dogs-Walking-for-a-Cause/234493019923058.
Help us spread the word!
Tags: adoptable, adoptions, Atlanta pets, Briarcliff Animal Clinic, cat, dog, Pet ownership
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August 3rd, 2011
The folks over at http://www.romeothecat.com/ have declared this week to be Global Rescue Cat Week. They are going to celebrate it by having their readers send in their stories and pictures of their rescue cats.
Celebrating the pets we love dearly is always a fun thing to do. Our dogs and cats have personalities uniquely their own, but many more people get to see our dogs. When we take them out for walks, go to the park, or even bring them with us to sit on a nice patio when we’re going out for dinner, passersby get to pet them and we regale them with stories of their cuteness. Cats don’t usually get that type of attention, unless you’ve trained them to walk on a leash (which is a feat in itself!). This will provide an outlet for us to share their stories and their quirks with others.
A friend of ours, very much a dog person, once told me that he didn’t like cats because they don’t have personality. After visiting us for an hour or so, Panther had won him over. Our alpha cat had decided that this friend needed to have his lap warmed and his hands occupied with ear scratching. Granted, Panther acts more like a dog than a cat. He comes when you call him, and he’s dog aggressive. He’s chased two large dogs out of our house on three separate occasions, once while wearing an e-collar (a.k.a. the cone of shame). He’s also not what you’d call the most nimble of cats, being around twenty pounds.
We rescued from an acquaintance, whose cat had had kittens that were headed to the shelter. We also got his sister, a tuxie named Boodus. The black and black-and-white duo run this place. They take their turns sleeping with our older daughter, and tolerating the open-mouthed kisses and too-tight hugs from the 1-year-old. I have two other cats who were adopted from Briarcliff Animal Clinic, both with special needs, but that is a post for another day.
Since Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat was in June, but kitten season is still alive and well, I think Global Rescue Cat Week is a great idea! It not only tells the stories of rescued cats, but it brings attention to the joy that adopted kitties can bring to a home. There are still many cats and kittens out there who are looking for homes who may have missed the campaign a month ago. That doesn’t mean they should be forgotten.
What is your rescue cat’s story? Do you have room in your heart and home for another kitty?
Panther is so elegant.
Boodus's favorite napping spot as a kitten.
Tags: adoptions, Atlanta pets, Briarcliff Animal Clinic, cat, Pet ownership
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