Keeping your pets safe during isolation
Bilton Vets • March 26, 2020
During these stressful times, we thought we try and share some tips on how to reduce the chance of you needing to come to the vet with an emergency.
With the increased isolation that pets and their owners are subjected to during these testing times, we have shared a few tips to try and help keeping you pet healthy over this period.
Foreign Bodies
We use the term "Foreign bodies" usually to describe items that animals ingest and then get stuck. This can often result in dangerous intestinal obstruction that usually results in emergency surgery. Common items that we see regularly include:
- Socks, fabric, material.
- Fruit stones such as peach/plum.
- Baby's dummies.
- Corn on the Cob.
- Stones/pebbles.
- Children's toys.
We suggest that, particularly if there are bored children stuck in the house, you keep an extra eye out for things that your dog may decided to chew up if they are bored.
We tend to see foreign-bodies more in younger dogs, more often male animals and certain breeds.... (Yes Labradors, we are talking about you...)
Traffic Accidents
Dogs are getting bored and cabin fever like everyone else and whilst it is tempting to let them off the lead to have a good long run about we suggest that you exercise caution and restraint. Only let your dog off well away from roads and when you are sure they are not going run away or dash off.
Bite Wounds
We have had to deal with several animals that have decided that having a good old scrap is a good way to blow off steam. During this period - we make sure that if you are likely to come into contact with other dogs, please put your dog on a lead to prevent any unwanted attention.
Stress/Boredom
Animals are likely to pick up on the changes that are occurring. We suggest the following things that can be done to try and make their (and our) lives a bit more interesting and less stressful.
- Play games with your pet. Dogs can play "hide-and-seek" with their dog treats hidden around different rooms.
- Consider teaching them some tricks. Giving paws etc.
- Why don't you find out if they are left or right handed? There is a good article here showing you how to find out. https://www.inverse.com/article/49829-how-to-find-out-which-paw-your-pet-favors-more
- Keep your cats occupied by encouraging them to chase paper, laser pointers etc
- Consider using Pheromone treatments such as Adaptil™ in Dogs or Feliway™ in Cats.
- Some people are suggesting keeping cats inside to keep them safe, - however we think this will create greater problems with stress related problems such as cystitis or over -grooming.
Toxic Ingestion
Try to make sure that anything that could be damaging to your pet, is kept right out of reach or locked away. The common things we see include:
- Food - chocolate, grapes, raisins, sweeteners (Xylitol based)
- Medication - make sure you keep prescription treatment well out of reach. If you are poorly then you need to keep your drugs away from our pets - particularly Ibuprofen in dogs and Paracetamol in cats.
- Nicotine gum/vaping fluids can cause rapid and fatal signs in animals as it is absorbed incredibly quickly from the mouth.
- Beware of any plants - lilies etc that could be chewed up.
Weight!
It is inevitable that animals are going to be exercising less, and that they are more likely to be being spoiled now that their owners are staying at home more. PLEASE make sure you reduce their calorie intake appropriately during this period of time
If you have any other ideas - let us know below and we will add them as we go along!!
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