Happy New Year Dog Lovers Around The World:
I extend my warmest wishes for the New Year…2001…to all of you and your furry four-legged companions. May this be an exceptionally bright and peaceful year for all.
In New York City (USA) where I am based, it snowed all day Saturday, December 30th. We had a total of 11 inches of snowfall by the end of the day when the snow stopped. This snowfall made me think of different winter hazards your pets might face. In different parts of the world, you may not experience a winter with snow, but some day you may visit a country with this weather. And some of the following hints may hopefully make you think of other hazards that you can plan to handle ahead of time to prevent any injury or discomfort to your dog.
Snow Hazards
First, let’s talk about snow. Many large, longhaired breeds of dogs absolutely love the snow. I had a dog that lived to be 14-1/2 years old. He went to the “spirit world” three years ago. His name was Lickety Split and he was a Keeshond. He had a double thick coat. In weather like we just had, he was in all his glory. If he was here he would have plowed face and head first into the tallest mound of snow. It was a joy to watch him play and romp in the snow, especially when it first fell. The day of snow brought his memory back to me very strongly that day.
So if you have one of these very hardly, longhaired breeds, who enjoy the snow, you must have lots of fun with your companion when you see the flakes falling.
Some things to be alerted to:
1. In New York City and other places, many people put salt down to melt the snow and keep it from building up. This rock salt can be very dangerous for your dog. It can get stuck in his/her paws and cause pain, irritation, burning and damage when they walk, run and jump on it. If you are out walking your dog in snow and the dog starts crying, think about the possibility of salt in their paws/pads. Take a cloth with you on your walks so you can wipe away any salt that might be stuck in the paw or between the pads.
2. When you get into the house, even if there does not seem to be any problem, remember to wipe your dog’s paws to clean off the wetness and any salt that might be on it. You can also keep a warm bowl of water by the door, if this is feasible, and dip your dog’s feet in it when you first come in to dissolve any salt. Then wipe the dog’s feet clean and dry before letting the dog run through the house
3. If your dog does get salt between it’s pads and appears to feel pain, the pain may be due to a burning sensation caused by the salt. You might consider keeping the following homeopathic remedies for “burns” (this can be a real burn or a burning feeling like your dog would get from salt in it’s paw/pads) on hand in the winter time:
a. Arsenicum album 30C. (more useful for the burning sensation) The symptoms the dog might be experiencing would be chilliness, restlessness and perhaps thirst. The paw might be swollen, painful and might have an ulcer. If the dog seems to be more depressed that the situation would call for, think about giving this remedy after cleaning out the paw by soaking it in warm water and wiping it clean.
b. Cantharis 30C (good for burns and scalds at the time they occur). You may see a blister. Cold applications might make it feel better if they are in this state.
c. Urtica urens (stinging nettles) tea can be applied topically for burns that are painful and itch as well. Taken internally at a dose of 30C it will actually reduce the inflammation of a first-degree burn.
By the way, all of these can be used to treat real burns if they occur to your dog at any time.
Please note that these and some of the other remedy suggestions in this section are taken from Don Hamilton’s book “Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs” (North Altantic Boos, Berkeley, California, 1999)
4. Although there are many dogs who enjoy snow, there are probably just as many dogs that do not enjoy walking in the snow. I saw a sheltie (a longhaired small Collie-like dog) crossing the street on Saturday. It was clear by the way the dog was picking up its feet and slipping, it was not enjoying the walk. For these dogs, be careful when walking with them. They can easily slip and hurt themselves. Some stores sell rubber dog boots you can put on your dog in rainy or snowy weather. Many dogs will not tolerate these on their feet. However it might be worth a try if these conditions really upset your dog. If your dog will tolerate the boots, it will also protect its feet from the salt. Be sure to get the correct size for the best fit and comfort.
Snow Play Injuries
5. Of course, running and playing in a snowy area might make any dog more prone to injuries of its feet or legs. They can twist their ankle, or get their foot stuck in a hole. I always suggest trying the homeopathic remedy Arnica montana 30C (a total of three doses a 2 to 4 hours apart) at the first sign of any injury. If not better in 24 hours have your dog’s foot checked by a veterinarian. However, Arnica can work wonders.
6. Let’s not forget the shorter coated dogs. In their case, the cold alone may be a problem (Some long-coated dogs may also be sensitive to cold, but usually this is less common.) Remember to put a sweater on them and try not to stay outside too long. You will know if your dog is cold by looking at them. Many of them will shiver when they feel cold. They may also refuse to go out in wet, cold or rainy weather. Respect their wishes as much as possible.
7. My dog, Lickety, hated to go out in the rain and especially if there was lightning and thunder. He could actually hold his urination and defecation 24 hours if he had to rather than go out in that weather. So I respected him and let him stay home. A smaller dog that is house/paper trained obviously could just go indoors. If your dog resists going out, try to figure out what the objection is all about. Experiment with putting on a doggy sweater or raincoat or boots on your dog to see if these things make any difference. Some dogs are just afraid of the noise of rain, etc. For this you can seek help from a homeopathic veterinarian. Many homeopathic remedies can cure a dog that is afraid of noise, thunder, cars approaching, etc.
Dangerously Cold
8. I actually did cure my dog of his fear of thunderstorms and lightning at in his later years. I myself was quite surprised to come home on one very stormy night, thinking the house was going to be destroyed. Instead I found him lying quietly in the middle of the living room looking up at me comfortably. I had been treating him for other physical problems that were improving. I myself forget that when treating with homeopathic remedies I was treating “the whole dog, mental and physical symptoms.” The remedy I had chosen had “fear of thunderstorms” as part of its description. And sure enough it cured him of this long time (13 years!!!) fear. What a relief for him and for me. After that I was totally convinced homeopathy was the way to treat many other conditions that conventional medicine was unable to address. But enough about that and back to our topic.
9. If your dog does gets too cold and you are outside, take him into the nearest store to help him warm up. Most storeowners in New York City are very understanding of animals in distress. Or, if in the country, you might bring the dog into the car if nearby or a nearby house if closer than your own home. It would be helpful to keep extra blankets and sheets in your car if you are taking your dog out for a ride and then plan to let it run around in an open field or woods. This will give you something to wipe the dog off, if wet and wrap it up to warm it if the dog is cold.
10. If your dog has actually collapsed and may be turning blue, there is a very effective homeopathic remedy called Carbo vegetalis (any strength from 6C to 30C, 200C or lM is fine) that has been used to revive a collapsed animal or person. (In an acute emergency situation the dosage doesn’t matter that much. However if you want to know which to keep with you, I suggest the 30C. Most stores sell this strength.) I suggest carrying this with you or have it on hand in the house all the time. You may never need it, but the one time it may be needed you will be happy you have it. (When storing or carrying these remedies, remember to keep all homeopathic remedies away from electrical appliances, like refrigerators, microwaves, etc, and digital equipment like cell phones, etc.) Just put 2-3 pellets into the animal’s mouth every two minutes. While you are doing this, pick the animal up and rush it to the nearest animal hospital. With any luck if the Carbo vegetalis works, by the time you get to the hospital, your dog will be sitting up and feeling much better. A veterinarian to rule out any other factors that may have contributed to their collapse should still check them out.
Burns and Burn Remedies
11. Another problem in the winter months might be your heating system. If you have a fireplace, or heater, remember to make it dog proof. Again here obviously your dog could get a nasty burn (for real) if s/he gets too close to the heating system. If so, any of the burn remedies listed above would be appropriate.
12. In addition to the homeopathic remedies listed above, it there is a minor burn or scald, you might try putting mildly warm water on it instead of cold water. The warm water accelerates the healing process by improving circulation. For a real burn, after giving the appropriate homeopathic remedy, you should still take your dog to a local veterinarian to have the dog checked out, unless the problem seems totally resolved to you.
13. Many people tend to wait two to three days after the animal seems ill to take it to the veterinarian. I would like to suggest that anytime you suspect a problem, if it’s not resolved in 24 hours, take your dog to the veterinarian. At least call the veterinarian and let them know what the problem is. Get their opinion on whether you should bring your dog in or whether it can wait another day or two. If it was a small child, you probably won’t even wait that long. Use your common sense. Of course if there is not a veterinarian close by, then do your best with home care.
The most important point is that you think ahead in any season of the special problems that could arise because of the season. Because the readers of this column are all around the world, there are hundreds of other situations I cannot even imagine that are peculiar to your geographic area. If there are special needs you can think of that I have not covered here, feel free to write into the “Ask Dr. Elliot” column. I will address your questions in later issues.
Helpful Web Sites
(The following information was gathered by the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City, Inc. and published in the January 2001 edition of their monthly newsletter.)
Before closing this issue I would like to mention a web site that might be helpful to some readers. I briefly touched on the issue of dogs with fears in this issue. However there are many dogs with many behavioral problems including separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination habits, destructive behaviors, aggression, etc. My local veterinary association recently posted information about this web site. In an effort to decrease the number of dogs (and cats) that are given up to shelters or other warehousing institutions, Brian Kilcommons (a well-known training and author of such books as “Good Owners, Good Dogs; Childproofing Your Dog; and Good Owners, Great Cats—Warner Books) has started this new website. www.greatpets.com is a web site that is a new resource for owners and veterinarians. It provides professional and reliable solutions to behavior problems. There is no e-commerce connected to this site since its funding comes through banner advertisements.
The web site has a message board that pet owners can post questions and receive answers. In the near future you will be able to find “all things related” from what you need to know about specific breeds to how to stop a cat from spraying. Let me know if you find this website helpful. I’ll be glad to share some of your comments with all the readers so that they will be able to evaluate this site’s usefulness.
Another web site that might prove helpful to you is www.petbehaviorproblems.com
It features Drs. Amy Marder, Michelle Posage, Joan Engel and Victoria Voith who offer website fax and telephone consultations on a fee basis.
Since the Christmas holiday is also a time when many families decide to bring a new puppy into their home, these websites may be especially helpful. If you prefer to work with an in-person trainer, Mr. Kilcommons suggests starting the puppy training early – puppy kindergarten can be useful and fun for owners and pets alike. He suggests small classes of 6-10 people maximum. And it should be fun for people and pets. Training methods should be humane. The trainers should be experienced and ethical and have a variety of training methods to tailor to the needs of pets and owners.
As we begin the year 2001 let’s hope this coming year will bring love, happiness, health, peace and increased ethical treatment and awareness of animals throughout the world.
Best wishes to all,
Jill Elliot, DVM
Do A Good Deed
Although this is a site dedicate to dog lovers, someone recently sent me a website that enables us to make a free donation of 1.8 acres of BIG CAT HABITAT clicking on a picture of a BIG CAT. Go to http://bigcats.care2.com/ You can click onto this site once a day if you wish. I offer this site to you for the benefit of preserving the environment and the home of our precious bug cats. By the way, I’ve gotten many questions from readers around the world. I will do my best to answer as many as possible. And not surprisingly, many readers also ask questions about their cats as well. So there are apparently lots of dogs and cats roommates around the world.
