Trick or Treating - Help your pets!

Halloween is a great time of the year for children and adults alike – as we look forward to fun, costumes, trick-or-treating, and candy!  Unfortunately it can be especially stressful and pose hazards for your beloved pets.  This week we will have some great tips to help keep your animals safe and sound this Halloween season.

One alternative to having the trick-or-treaters come to the front door and ringing the bell would be to have a station with a table, chairs and candy set up at the end of the driveway.  This way the pets are inside and not upset by the constant bell-ringing, the door is not providing a chance for them to slip out, and they do not get nervous with the different costumes.

Are your Decorations a Trick or a Treat?

Halloween decorations such as fake cobwebs should be kept out of reach of dogs and cats. Light strands, loose wires and electric cords can be a serious hazard to your pet who may chew them. Never leave candles, such as those in jack-o-lanterns, unattended, especially around puppies and kittens and wagging tails!

Dog-gone scared at halloween?

Some dogs experience intense anxiety over the large number of strangely dressed visitors. Keeping your pet away from all the trick-or-treaters may do the trick, but if you think that your pet will need something more, speak with Dr. Westbrook or Dr. Williams well in advance. They may have several recommendations – and it's always a good idea to do a trial run before the big night to see how your pet will react.

Glowing Good Time?

Glow Sticks
These fun little gadgets are commonly used to keep kids safe while they're outside in the dark. Pets (especially cats) find the sticks to be a lot of fun as well. Pets may chew on them, puncturing the sticks. While most of the glow items are labeled as non-toxic, they do have an extremely bitter taste. This may cause pets who bit into them to begin drooling and racing around the house. A little treat or sip of milk and the taste reaction will usually stop. Call our office at 407-366-4486 if you have any further concerns.

Why are Rabies Vaccines so important?

        September 28, World Rabies Day, has been an annual worldwide event since 2007.  It is an initiative that was started by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).  Worldwide, more than 55,000 people die from rabies, with majority of these deaths (approximately 95%) occurring in Asia and Africa¹.  Startlingly, almost half of these deaths occur in children under the age of 15 years.  This is thought to be attributed to the lack of knowledge, as well as general curiosity, for children to expose themselves to potentially infected animals.  Although the rabies virus can be found in numerous animal species, including wild and domestic animals, the vast majority of human cases are the result of being bitten by an infected dog.  The sad reality is that this sometimes regarded as 100% fatal disease is 100% preventable through appropriate education and preventative measures, specifically targeting cats and dogs. 

     You may ask why then are rabies vaccines still important/mandatory in the US if the majority of human cases occur in under-developed countries? The reason is simple.  It is BECAUSE of the rabies vaccination protocols in place that the human cases have declined in the US.  Appropriately vaccinating our furry four-legged family members provides the first line of defense, acting as a protective barrier against rabies infection, without having to provide pre-exposure immunization of everyone in the general population.  According to data provided by the Florida Department of Health, in 2012 32 counties had 102 reported cases of animal rabies (majority occurring in raccoons) as of December 31, 2012².  These cases were only tested and reported if direct exposure to humans or pets occurred.  It was determined that the most at-risk domestic animal for contracting rabies is an unvaccinated outdoor cat².  

                Perhaps the most devastating fact regarding rabies is that the disease is arguably 100% fatal and 100% preventable.  With proper education of the most at-risk population (children) and promoting the vaccination of domestic animals (dogs and cats), rabies infection in humans could hopefully be eradicated in years to come.  For more information on World Rabies Day, and upcoming events, please visit www.rabiesalliance.org.

References

1. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/. Revised July 2013.
2. Florida Department of Health. http://www.myfloridaeh.com/medicine/rabies/rabies-charts.htm
3. Global Alliance for Rabies Control. www.rabiesalliance.org

               

Halloween is coming!

Did you know that black cats are lucky after all? They are considered symbols of luck in Great Britain and Japan. Black also goes with everything - especially a loving home!

Our Howl-a-Ween Pet Costume Contest is here!

Dress your pet to impress and post a photo of your cat or dog (or any pet of yours) in a Halloween costume on our Facebook page.  Invite all of your friends to "like" your photo - as the dog and cat photo with the most "likes" wins a goody bag! The photo contest will run through Halloween night and the winners will be announced on our Facebook page on Monday November 4, 2013. What are the "best costumed pets" wearing this year?