Did you know?

In Massachusetts, if you own a dog, cat or ferret it is the law to keep him/her current with a rabies vaccine. Dogs have to be licensed in the town that you live in.  Just bring in a copy of your dog's current rabies certificate to your town hall.

Happy, Healthy Holidays

exerpts from Erika Sorocco 'Cat Fancy'

Keep tempting holiday treats out your cat's reach.  Garlic can lead to anemia and sometimes cause vomiting.  Onions can also cause severe anemia.  Artificial sweeteners like xylitol are often used in baking instead of sugar, can lead to low blood sugar and potential liver failure which can be deadly. The only food that is usually safe to share with your cat is plain turkey or chicken.

Other UNSAFE foods/beverages for your cat:

alcoholic beverages                               

chocolate                                                  

yeast dough

raisins

bones

Plants:

Mistletoe is the most toxic plant for cats.  Poinsettias, ivy and pine needles are not particularly toxic but can cause stomach upset.

PREVENTATIVE DEWORMING

Quick Facts about Intestinal Parasites:

• Zoonotic (can be transmitted to people) parasites are transmitted primarily from a contaminated environment, not from normal contact with your pet.
• Parasite eggs cannot be seen by the naked eye.
• One female roundworm can lay up to 100,000 eggs in a day and one hookworm can  produce up to 20,000 eggs in a day.
• In just one week, two puppies infected with roundworms can shed more than 20 million eggs and contaminate a 2,800 square foot backyard.

What can I do to protect my pet and family?

Contaminated pet dropping can carry infective eggs, the source of most pet to human infections.  Follow these steps to help protect your pet and family:

• We like to check a fecal sample at least once a year. Bring it in with you for your pet's annual exam.  It is common for puppies & kittens to have parasites. Interceptor brand heartworm pills also protect against several parasites in addition to heartworms.
•  
  Practice good hygiene.  Wash hands after handling pets or cleaning up pet waste.

• Remove pet droppings from your yard frequently.
• Keep pets flea-free.  Ingestion of fleas can transmit tapeworms to animals and people.
• Do not allow children to go barefoot or sit or lie on playgrounds where they could be exposed to animal stools.
• Do not drink water from streams or other sources that may be contaminated with animal feces.
• Keep pets clean.
• If you are pregnant do not change your kitty's litterbox! Make sure that chore is given to someone else in the household during your entire pregnancy.  You might be at risk of contracting Toxoplasmosis from the litterbox.

RESPONSIBILITY-BEFORE GETTING A CAT

First, make appropriate choices by asking:

-Can I handle this responsibility?

-Does anyone in our family have allergies?

-Can we afford a new pet?

-Do we have time/space for a new pet?

-Will our new pet be safe with our family and other pets at home?

NEXT, FIND THE RIGHT CAT

-60 million cats in America have no home

-Visit your local shelter, humane society or cat rescue & adopt

-Do your homework, make sure the pet is spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

BRINGING YOUR NEW CAT HOME

-Plan ahead and get everything you need and have it ready

-Make food and litter boxes easy to find

-Allow time for your cat to adjust, this could take a few weeks for a shy kitty!

-Keep your cat indoors and safe from harm

-Make an appointment at your veterinary clinic to have an initial check up

COOL DOG FACTS

-The average city dog lives 3 years longer than a country dog

-87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch T.V.

-Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures

-Gidget is the name of the Taco Bell dog

-Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet

-Basset Hounds cannot swim

-Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour

-The bible mentions dogs 14 times

-Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese

-The Labrador Retriever is the #1 favorite breed in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

-Obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs

-An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner’s will

-Dog’s nose prints are as unique as a human’s finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them

-Dogs have no sense of “time”

-Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years

-The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound

-The world’s smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua

-The St. Bernard is the heaviest

-Only dogs and humans have prostates