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
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today
- - Teen, dog escape fall into icy pond. (Oklahoma County)
- - Eagle eyes scan the sky. (Arcadia, page 4d)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
You might not like the snow, but …
Robin Lambert of Seminole sent this photo to us: “We moved to Seminole 2 years ago from Craig Colorado and are really used to living in the snow. Kayli, our dog, is so excited to finally see some white stuff. I think she misses it more than we do!”
Sharon Bearden of Duncan: “This is our English bulldog, Max, playing in the snow this morning.”
Pets need extra care during the cold
Turns out, animals can get frostbite, too.
I have two dogs, and they’re like me in a lot of ways. They can be impatient, loving, curious, sleepy – a full range of emotions. But sometimes it’s easy to forget that they, like us, are susceptible to the changing weather.
Oklahoma weather is just ridiculous. Just this month is was 70 degrees one day and snowing the next.
But unlike us, pets can’t add extra sweaters or gloves – unless you put them on.
The ASPCA gives these 10 tips for keeping your pet safe through the cold winter months:
- - Keep your cat inside.
- - Bang loudly on your car hood in case cats curl up in your engine for warmth.
- - Don’t let dogs off leash during snow or ice. They can lose their scent and become lost.
- - Wipe sleet, snow or ice off your pet when he comes inside. The precipitation could have antifreeze or salt he could ingest.
- - Don’t shave your pet down to the skin.
- - Don’t leave an animal in a car alone. Your vehicle acts like a refrigerator, holding in the cold.
- - Consider paper-training puppies during the winter because they are much more sensitive to cold.
- - Clean up any antifreeze spills in your driveway. It’s deadly to animals.
- - Make sure your pet has somewhere warm to sleep.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Paloma storms the Caribbean
Today, people in Cuba and Hispaniola are coping with tropical storm Paloma.
She’s fierce, they say, and could strengthen rapidly into a hurricane.
I’ve been living with a hurricane named Paloma for almost four years.
She’s a gray and white Italian greyhound whose full name is Paloma Belladogga and is a force of nature unto herself.
She barks like a hurricane’s wind blows — that is to say, constantly.
And she is fast. Very fast. Like here:
To see how fast the breed is in motion, here’s a video of an Italian greyhound running:
But the storm, like its 11-pound counterpart, has a calm spot. She can be content and motionless for hours. As long as she is being petted and loved on. Or is sitting for a portrait, like here:
Perhaps the Caribbean Paloma will fly through without wreaking much havoc, or she will graduate to a hurricane that will not soon be forgotten.
Either way, Paloma and I will be watching.
– Amy Raymond, Assistant News Editor
Pet owners should be careful with onset of cold and flu season
The sneezing, wheezing and fever season is upon us, so many of us will likely have over-the-counter medicine out of our cupboards more than usual.
While pets can take some human medicines in small doses – Benadryl, for example – not all people pills are OK for your pet to ingest.
The most common cause of small pet poisoning is human medicine, according to the ASPCA.
Here’s a list of the top 10 medicines that post a threat to your pet.
- - Anti-inflammatory pills, such as ibuprofen or other pain relievers
- - Antidepressants, such as Prozac or Wellburtrin
- - Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol and other pain relievers
- - Methylphenidate, such as Ritalin and other ADHD drugs
- - Fluorouracil, a cancer-fighting drug
- - Isoniazid, found in an array of anti-tuberculosis drugs
- - Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant Oklahomans buy from behind the counter in pharmacies
- - Anti-diabetics, such as glipizide and glyburide
- - Vitamin D derivatives, such as calcipotriene and calcitriol
- - Baclofen, found in Balclorax or other muscle relaxers
Need more information? Call your vet immediately. Want a second opinion? Call the ASPCA Animal Poiston Control Center - recommended by the Oklahoma Poison Control Center – at (888) 426-4435. The cost is $60.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
