Be Prepared!

The Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared” is a useful reminder when it comes to our pets.

Recently I found out about the untimely death of veterinarian and positive dog-training advocate, Dr. Sophia Yin.  Her website, www.drsophiayin.com has many wonderful short video clips that I recommend to owners when they have issues with their dogs. As sad as I was to hear of Dr. Yin’s unexpected passing, I also worry what will happen to her beloved dog Jonesy and her Bengal cat, both of which she used to show us a better way to train our animals. To us, pets are family, but to many, they are simply another homeless dog or cat in a rescue situation.

It is a difficult topic to think about, but regardless of your age or situation in life, it is crucial that you prepare for your own possible death or disability. Have a plan for your animals in the event you cannot take care of them any longer, and let your family and friends know what you want. You may not be able to bequeath $20,000 for the perpetual care of Fluffy until she passes, but at the very least, think about who would be willing to take on the care of your pets, and ask that person if they will serve as your pet’s guardian.

Illness: Another aspect of being prepared is to have a first aid kit at the ready for your pet. What items should a pet
first aid kit contain? Start with tweezers for removing ticks or splinters on your dog. A muzzle is an excellent idea—even the sweetest pet in the world can bite when in pain. You might want to consider adding a pillowcase to confine a cat needing treatment. Antiseptic swabs or wipes are helpful for cleaning wounds, and triple antibiotic ointment is just as useful for pets as humans. Petroleum jelly and a rectal thermometer are essential if you need to take your pet’s temperature. Go ahead and splurge on the $10 digital thermometer that reads in 2 seconds, because you really don’t want to hold a pet still for a 30 or 60-second thermometer readout. Gauze, tape, and blunt-end scissors are important items that work for humans as well as pets.

Getting your pet ready for the vet can be an ordeal in itself, so practicing some techniques at home will put you ahead of the game. For cats, you can build positive experiences with a cat carrier by leaving the carrier sitting out, and perhaps feeding kitty in the carrier or tossing treats inside. If the only time your cat goes in the carrier is to go to the vet, she’s going to run when she sees the carrier appear.

For dogs, they are often sensitive to having their paws (and sometimes their ears and mouths) touched, so practice a gentle touch of their paw and reward them with a tasty treat. As they grow accepting of this, up the ante by trying to pick up their paw and then offering the treat. Gradually make it more difficult, but never scary: squeezing their paw a little, isolating or holding the edge of one nail, and rubbing gently between their toes. Only practice three or four touches at a time, with a reward at each touch, and repeat frequently for best results. Believe me, both your pets and your vets will appreciate the time you spent desensitizing them to these things.

Finally, one more thing to consider is what you need if your pet ever gets lost. If you have indoor cats, and they try to sneak out the door, discourage that behavior with a spray bottle of water kept near the door, squirted at the cat if he approaches the open door.

For dogs, teach them to sit and wait at the door before being released. Your dogs, when outdoors, should always wear a tag that has an emergency phone number and address. If you already have an ID tag, are the number and address still current? A microchip is another excellent way to help your pet in the event he slips his collar or loses his tag. Make sure you have recent, clear photos of your pets if they do get lost. The faster you respond to a lost pet, the more likely you are to recover them.

As tough as it is to prepare for any of these situations, it is infinitely worse if you are not prepared. Hopefully this will give you a head start on keeping your pets safe and happy for the rest of their lives!