Pet Show – taking your furry friend on the road
Listen to Pet Show! Our guest this week was the illustrious Harrison Forbes! He’s the host of the nationally-syndicated Pet Talk show and author of the book Dog Talk. He’s an expert who’s been heard all over the world. (And as a side note, he’s been interviewed by Larry King. So in a way, the Pet Show crew is almost as awesome as Larry King. Admittedly, we don’t have suspenders.)
Anyway, Harrison’s impressive resume aside, he spoke to us about traveling with your pets this summer. Anybody who’s ever tried to load up a dog or cat and go for a road trip knows this is no easy task. Harrison gives us some great advice for keeping your pets calm and happy during the drive.
Our Tale Tips for the show are more than necessary considering the horrific heat in Oklahoma these days. Dawn shares info about how to protect your animals from the heat:
- Keep up with your regular vet visits.
- Pets need water and shade when outside.
- Look for symptoms of heat problems – panting, difficulty breathing, drooling, weakness, collapse, seizure, vomiting or high temperature.
- Don’t leave your pet in the car. Seriously.
- Keep animals that can’t swim away from the pool.
- Don’t leave windows open in upper stories. Pets can be attracted to the air flow and fall out.
- Haircuts are good – shaving to the skin is bad.
- Keep your pets off hot asphalt, which can burn the pads of their paws.
- If you’re boosting your lawn with chemicals, use them carefully and away from animals.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Keep your pets safe in the summer
The Humane Society gives these Top 10 tips for keeping your pet safe this summer:
- Never leave your pet unattended in the car on a warm or sunny day. Cars quickly heat up to a dangerous temperature, even with the window slightly open.
- Be sure to keep your pets up-to-date on their vaccinations and preventative medications. Fleas and ticks stay busy in warm weather and summer is also the prime time for heartworms. Check with your veterinarian about the best way to keep your pets healthy.
- Keep your cats indoors to keep them safe. Cars, other pets, and wild animals can all pose risks to your cats’ safety. By providing playtime, cat trees, and other enrichment, your cat will be happy and content to stay indoors with you.
- Beware of cocoa mulch and other gardening products. Cocoa mulch can be deadly if ingested and has an appetizing scent to some animals. Pesticides, fertilizers and other harsh chemicals can also be quickly fatal if ingested.
- When taking your dog for a walk on a hot day, plan for shorter walks mid-day, when temperatures peak, and longer walks in the morning and evening when it’s cooler. Hot sidewalks can burn the pads on your dog’s paws, so walk on the grass when possible.
- If you have pet rabbits, be sure to keep them indoors because they don’t tolerate heat well. Keeping a rabbit indoors will also provide protection from predators who might try to attack a rabbit in an outdoor hutch.
- Never leave your dog outdoors unattended on a chain or tether. Long-term chaining during the hot summer months can result in countless insect bites, dehydration, and heat stroke. Even short-term unattended tethering can pose risks such as theft or attacks by people or animals.
- When driving with pets, be sure to keep them properly restrained and inside the vehicle. Special seatbelts and secured carriers can protect pets during accidents and prevent them from distracting the driver. The back of a pick-up truck is never a safe place for a pet to ride.
- Be mindful of your pets around your wild neighbors. When going for walks or playing in a fenced yard, don’t allow pets to harass birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other wild animals.
- The summer months are the peak season for dog bites because so many kids and dogs are playing outside. You can reduce the risk of your dog biting through training, socialization, and getting your dog spayed or neutered. Kids can learn to stay safe through good manners around pets and humane education.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – prevent hot dogs
No, not the kind you eat – the kind that pant and plop down on your living room in dramatic fashion.
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Heat poses risks for pets, too. (statewide)
- Keeping your animals cool during the hot summer months. (statewide)
- Broccoli-snake head case goes unsolved. (New York)
- Reeling in a sizable catch hooks kids on fishing fun. (Choctaw)
- Dog show convenes. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today, yesterday and Saturday -
- Dog injuries prompt search for abuser. (Jenks)
- Habitat project for dogs reset. (Oklahoma City)
- Ladybug helpers. (Oklahoma City, Saturday, page 1d)
- Mine That Bird pulls off upset. (Kentucky)
- Fighting for “vicious” dogs. (Shawnee)
- Buddy in the storm.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show! Keep your dogs calm during storms
Listen to Pet ShowAs we all know, spring is a pretty volatile season in Oklahoma, and this season is the prime time of year for thunderstorms. For many pets, this can be scary.
Dr. Debra Horwitz, of Veterinary Behavior Consultations in St. Louis, talked to us about all the great ways you can keep your pup calm during the storm.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet advice after the tornados
The tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma were a reminder to pet owners how important identification is.
Severe weather can rip down fences, pull down walls and leave pets confused and scared. At least one veterinarian is helping reunite lost dogs with their owners. The best way to ensure a pet is returned is by microchipping, he said. Collars and tags can sometimes be caught and torn by debris. Microchips stay under the skin and can be tracked by any vet or shelter official.
Here is some more information from the ASPCA about disaster readiness:
- The Pet Evacuation Transportation Safety (PETS) Act, passed after Hurricane Katrina, allows owners to take their companion animals with them to shelters. Contact the shelter before you show up to make sure it’s OK. Some shelters are designed for animal owners.
- Practice getting your animal out of the house so it isn’t scary or difficult. This is especially important for cat carriers.
- Owners with pets that require special temperature settings, such as reptiles, need to have duplicates of everything, such as heaters. Fish owners should have a small, transportable tank ready.
- Socialize your pet as much as possible in case they come in contact with rescuers or other people at the shelter.
- Keep an emergency kit of your pets needs, such as any medicines and some food, that you can take with you. Be sure to keep a photo of you with your pet if you get separated and have to claim him.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
OKC vet helping find lost dogs
There’s hope for some dogs lost because of the tornado in Oklahoma City. Read the full story. Here’s an excerpt:
“Dr. Gary McNeill and his staff at the Rockwell Pet Clinic are looking after dogs gone astray because of storm damage. Three dogs had been brought to the clinic by 6 p.m. Two had collars but none had identifying microchips or tags.”
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Koala saved from fire
Finally, there’s some good news from the wildfire catastrophe in Australia. A firefighter saved an injured koala.
The poor little gal was walked around on burned feet when she spotted a firefighter, who immediately called for water and help.
Koalas are known for their cranky nature despite their cute appearance. They rarely come down from the trees and usually aren’t interested in interacting with anyone. But in this case, the injured marsupial was desperate for help.
Animal welfare officers eventually picked up the koala and took her to a nature reserve where she’s healing well. (Word has it she already has an admirer – a male koala who keeps hugging her.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Six more weeks of winter in OKC
Grizzly bears Will and Wiley predicted six more weeks of winter today as part of the annual Groundhog Day activities at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Here are photos from Oklahomanphotographer Paul Hellstern.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
More Oklahoma snow pictures
Maddi plays in the snow. She’s owned by Merin Gracey of Edmond.
Jennifer Pickern’s dog enjoys the first snow.
Dewey enjoys his first snow day with husky pal Heidi. They’re owned by Shawn and Beth Gollob of Edmond.
Send us your pet pix! ccoppernoll@opubco.com
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
