Pet Talk

DEAR PET TALK: Why is a rabies shot important? – Devoted to Dogs

DEAR DEVOTED: Massachusetts law requires puppies and kittens to be vaccinated by six months of age. According to Dr. Ashley Raymond, Second Chance Animal Services Medical Director, “Protecting your pets is simple with a rabies vaccination administered by your veterinarian. This vaccine not only keeps your pets safe but also helps prevent the spread of this dangerous disease. This law is in place to help protect humans from contracting the disease, which leads to death if not addressed promptly.”

If you do not get your dog from a shelter, where rabies vaccinations are mandatory, get your dog a rabies shot immediately. Ditto for cats. This virus lives in saliva, so if your dog is bitten, the virus is then carried into its body, where it replicates in muscle cells and then spreads to nerve fibers. Symptoms may take up to a month, and may include fever, seizures, lack of coordination or paralysis, behavioral changes (shyness or aggression) and more.

“Rabies is a deadly virus that affects both humans and animals, with most mammals susceptible to infection,” said Dr. Raymond. “If an unvaccinated pet contracts rabies, it almost always leads to death. Wild animals including raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats, and even cats most often are the most common carriers of the disease.”

If your dog is in a fight, and is bitten, immediately get it to a vet, even if it has had a rabies shot. If you’re bitten by a wild animal, or a dog or cat with unknown history, ditto. And thank Louis Pasteur for identifying this disease, and administering the first rabies vaccines back in 1885. We’ve vaccinating our pets for a long time, but rabies still exists and it’s awful. Take care of your pet.

You can make a reservation for your pet at the next Jeffrey P. Stephens Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic for a $5 rabies, $5 distemper and $22 microchip. The clinic is sponsored by Second Chance Animal Services and made possible in part by a grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9-12 p.m. at Fitchburg Fire Department, 33 North St. Open to pet owners in all towns. Call (508) 637-1333 to make a reservation or visit secondchanceanimals.org.

Sally Cragin is the Director of  Be PAWSitive Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send questions to sallycragin@gmail.com

DEAR PET TALK: What are the “Dog Days” of summer? – Canis Major

DEAR CANIS MAJOR: This phrase goes all the way back to Homeric Greece (900 years BCE) and originated when ancient astronomers noted that Sirius, which is a star in the “Canis Major” (dog) constellation is visible, and rises when the sun rises. Sirius is also known as the “Nile Star,” or “Star of Isis,” because around 4 millennia ago, Egyptians noticed that during the time of the summer solstice, Sirius would appear to rise before dawn. And since the annual flooding of the Nile occurred simultaneously, the star foretold great fortune or great loss.

The second week of August is when this star is most visible, but the Old Farmers’ Almanac declares July 3 through Aug. 11 the official “dog days,” but others view the dog days as lasting into September, as these days are associated with hot and sultry weather.

In mythology, Sirius was the companion dog of Orion the Hunter, and the appearance of this constellation coincides with late summer. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky now, is actually the dog’s “nose” and the constellation is adjacent to Lepus, a hare that Canis is chasing!

We think of the “dog days” as a time when it’s so hot, dogs just lie on the floor with their tongues out, but the original meaning meant a time when men went to war, as well as a time when the Romans thought that Sirius added extra heat to the sun, because it was so bright.

And if you were selecting a puppy during the time of Ancient Greece, Xenophon (4th century BCE) declared the best names for dogs were just one or two syllables, so they could be easily called. For example, Xenophon named his favorite dog Horme (Eager), and Atalanta, the swift-footed racer of mythology called her dog Aura (Breeze).

Sally Cragin is the director of “Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education.” Visit us on Facebook, email or call/text 978-320-1335. 

Dear Pet Talk: Last week you wrote about keeping dogs cool during heat waves. But what about cats? – Feline Fan

Dear Feline Fan: You read my mind – cats need to keep cool also, and both cats and dogs share physiological similarities as regards cooling their bodies. Unlike humans, they lack sweat glands in their skin, but do have some glands in their paw pads. However, those aren’t sufficient for keeping them cool. Whereas you’ll see a dog pant if overheated, cats are more likely to lounge in a cool place and become lethargic.

However, identifying when lethargy becomes distress is critical – here are some steps you can take to help keep your kitty cool and comfortable when the heat soars.

First, keep your cat hydrated. According to the Blue Cross website from the United Kingdom (and no one loves kitty cats more than the British!), consider putting your cats water bowl in a place far from their food and litter box. You might also collect rainwater for pets to drink – some cats may prefer this to tap water. Maybe kitty would like to chase an ice cube on the floor – this will help cool their paws.

Dr. Ashley Raymond, Second Chance Animal Services Medical Director says that “Signs of distress or heat strokes in cats include increased breathing rate, difficulty or open-mouth breathing, hypersalivation, pale, tacky, or abnormally colored gums, vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, collapse, or seizures if severe.”

Keeping a close eye on your pets when it’s hot enough to make you uncomfortable. Helpful tools include: an ice pack near where they like to sleep and keeping air conditioning on also helps. Keep your pet brushed, and put cold water on your own hands and stroke your cat to help him cool down. And – by a coincidence, as I write, my cat Vinnie, who is a very frolicsome striped orange two-year-old is demonstrating how to keep cool. He’s recumbent on the window sill nearby enjoying the cross-breezes and shade. Smart kitty!

Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Text questions to 978-320-1335 or email sallycragin@gmail.com.

DEAR PET TALK: Do dogs need sunscreen when they go out? And what are the rules for taking your dog to the beach? And if you take your dog to the beach, and they inadvertently consume sand from playing, can it cause digestive issues? – Sun Loving Dog Mama

Dear Sun Loving Dog Mama: Those are timely questions, as plenty of warm days – which can be spent on a green lawn, or a sandy beach days beckon. Pack an extra towel, a tennis ball or two, a water bowl and yes, sunscreen. Experts advise that sunscreen should be applied to dogs, especially those with light skin, white fur or hair. Just as humans do, dogs can develop various skin cancers. Apply sunscreen to areas of the body that will be exposed, such as nose, around the lips, ear tips, groin and belly.

If your dog goes swimming, remember to re-apply. Peak sun hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and white dogs with short hair, such as French bulldogs, bull terriers, pitbulls, Dalmations, and Greyhounds are most susceptible to sunburn.

More than 50 Massachusetts ocean beaches allow dogs, or allow dogs in certain areas. From Gloucester to New Bedford, and throughout Cape Cod, there are beaches to bring Fido (on- and some off-leash). Bring water for your pet; and an umbrella to provide shade as needed. Labs and Retrievers love to spend time in the water; others prefer to stay on dry land. Many pet owners report “water therapy” helps ease hip or joint ache in senior dogs.

As for eating sand and drinking sea water – problems can definitely occur. “A little sea water or sand isn’t a big deal,” says vet Dr. Anna Kwiatkoski, of Danbury CT. “But a lot is definitely a medical emergency.”

How does this happen? Dogs could ingest sand if they chase a tennis ball on the beach, or if they’re digging holes (sand flies in the face and is swallowed). Sand can cause intestinal blockages; symptoms include vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, constipation, and possibly a hard mass around their stomach. But these are extreme cases – use good judgment when you and your dog go to the shore and have a wonderful time!

Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Text questions to 978-320-1335 or email sallycragin@gmail.com.