Pet ‘Net Safety Event

Pet ‘Net Safety Event

Posted in News on October 21, 2009 | one response

We are all about giving you the best and most comprehensive advice today to keep your pets safe and healthy during the upcoming holiday season.   Aarff.com is pleased to join the top pet blogger websites today for the 2nd annual Pet ‘Net Safety Event.   Petside.com and NBC Universal started the event last year with great success.  You will find a wide variety of topics…all to keep your four legged friend safe and sound through the holidays.  We just want to help you get a jumpstart!

Aarff.com is focusing today on senior pets.  The next few months are truly my favorite time of the year, but if you have a pet it can be like avoiding land mines.   Cold weather and all that it brings and all of those comfort foods.  Our own Dr. Aarff, Dr. Katy Nelson, has contributed a special column today for Pet ‘Net Safety and for all of you who have older pets.

Laifoo.JPGCaring for Senior Pets in the Fall

While enjoying the crispness of fall, we are quickly reminded of the cold, dry weather that is just around the corner.  Along with the approach of winter, an awareness of seasonal challenges to our pets must come with it.

With the use of indoor heating systems, our pets’ skin and respiratory tracts can become dried out.   The use of moisturizing shampoos and sprays, supplementation of the diet with essential fatty acids, and regular brushing can help to stimulate healthy skin.  The introduction of some humidity into the air can be very helpful, as well.  Getting out and getting some fresh air is beneficial for many reasons, not the least of which is that older pets are often more sensitive to air pollutants, which are now trapped indoors in the cooler months.

Winter months can be very uncomfortable for pets with arthritis.  A warm, padded orthopedic bed with a machine-washable cover (essential for cleaning up after an old age accident) can provide a cozy retreat for the elderly dog.  Exercising regularly can enhance mobility and help to keep off those pesky winter pounds.  However, if your pet is still drhaving difficulty getting around, a visit to your veterinarian should be considered to discuss supplements or prescription products that could help your furry friend to feel better.

Not unlike their human caretakers, geriatric dogs and cats experience changes in metabolism which can make it much more difficult to regulate their body temperature.  Pets lose the majority of their body heat from their foot pads, ears and respiratory tract.  It is often necessary to utilize the extra insulation of well-fitted sweaters or coats for older dogs, smaller dogs or dogs that are shorthaired or naturally lean (such as whippets or greyhounds).  Also, using protective footwear in environments where the streets or the sidewalks freeze can not only prevent frostbite to the foot pads, but also keep the chemical compounds used for clearing those surfaces off of your pets’ feet and out of his gastrointestinal tract.

Finally, evaluate your older pets’ diet.  If he spends time outside, he will require more calories during the cold weather.  Food is fuel and he’ll have to burn it to stay warm.  Ensuring that he has access to clean, unfrozen water can decrease the likelihood of him drinking out of puddles or gutters which could be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners and other chemicals.  For a more sedentary, inside pet, however, fewer calories are required for maintenance energy requirements.  Providing a high quality diet for your older pet that is rich in anti-oxidants, fiber, prebiotics and probiotics can help to him to re-establish his natural defenses which decrease over the years– his healthy immune system.

Winter can be a wonderful time of year, for both you and your pet.  It can be a dangerous time as well, but it need not be.  If you take some precautions, cold-weather pet care can boil down to nothing more than compassion and common sense.  Use both in equal measure and you can both have a fabulous season together.

Again, be sure to visit the official Pet ‘Net Safety Event homepage, where you’ll find a wide range of topics to care for your pet this winter.

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One Response to “Pet ‘Net Safety Event”

  1. Ann says:
    October 22, 2009 at 4:50 am

    Yes, winter is on its way and its time to take extra precautions in caring for our pets. I think the major concern is in keeping our furry friends warm during these season of the year. If you have not been providing a bed for your pet, I think its time you do. A heated sleeping mat or matress or a fleece dog bed that provide a warm resting place for your pet would very much be appreciated by your pet.

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