Written by Dr. Anna, Camden Pet Hospital
March is such a tease. Like the ball you pretended to throw for Theo, the bestest dog ever, who lovingly turns and runs three strides, eyes wide waiting to see it drop and bounce ahead of him, but no… just a false throw – silly human, still can’t always figure out how to let go of that ball.
We Minnesotans have a love-hate relationship with our winters, as do our furry companions. We look forward to snowy blue-sky days in the winter when we can romp and play in the powder. There’s nothing quite so funny as watching a pet throw their entire body into fresh snow face first. It’s especially hilarious when our short-legged furry friends like dachshunds and corgis just disappear bouncing up and down in the beautiful winter wonderland. Or the small sighthound breeds that still seem part fox when they do a four-foot bounce high into the air and dive with their nose and front feet together to pounce on some imaginary critter hiding beneath the snow.
The snow-covered yard with warm days is a tease that spring will be here soon, and we’ll all be basking in the sun and grinning as we hang up our shovels for the (hopeful) last time. But what a tease that is when the snow melts through, and all the hidden dog poops are revealed!
As we shift from cool to warm, remember those furry feet and keep in mind that salt-treated sidewalks will really irritate pets’ paws. Those pups that have furry paws, like the Whos in Whoville, are better protected, but it’s especially tough on paws that are near-naked like pitties, pointers, dobies (dobermans) and thin haired breeds like yorkies and maltese.
If you can, once you get back inside, use a wet warm washcloth to wipe off your pet’s pads. Keep in mind that wet mushy salty snow is pretty tough on the skin between the paw pads and it’s super cold too! When it’s that kind of snow outside it’s best to stay off the beaten path or think about how stylin’ your pooch would be sporting booties!
Think about using sand in the future for your sidewalks instead of salt (or even a 50/50 mix). You can purchase sand from the hardware store, but it may be outside frozen in the yard. (You can also get free sand from the City Public Works gate at 27th and 28th Aves N.) You just need to keep the sand dry, or have the bucket inside, or mixed with a bit of sand so it doesn’t clump or freeze. Sand is less expensive than salt too and much better for all the pets!
The last winter-to-spring pet wisdom I’ll impart is a strong encouragement to make sure you’ve got your pet on their monthly parasite prevention! We see far too many pets with deadly heartworm disease every year and trust me, it costs a lot less to protect your pet with a monthly chew than it does to have to treat heartworm disease!
The other preventable disease we’re seeing more and more is leptospirosis aka ‘lepto’ – please get your pets vaccinated. In our area, there is such a high likelihood of exposure to this terrible disease, it’s just a matter of time until your dog contracts it and gets very sick if they don’t have vaccine protection. Unfortunately, this disease is much harder to treat than Lyme disease, so once the damage is done to their liver and kidneys, there’s little chance of them recovering fully, if at all.
On a brighter note – enjoy the light! Your pets certainly do, so rise with the sun and get out for an early morning walk or a late evening sunset stroll after work. If you don’t already have a nice sunny sitting spot for your feline friend consider clearing off the top of the bookshelf by the window so she can bask in the morning sun and sleepily watch the world go by – ah what a life our spoiled kitties lead!