Friends of the Riney Canine Health Center,
Thank you for joining our pack! I’m Brian Collins, an extension associate for the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, and I’m pleased to share this month’s “From the Vet’s Desk” monthly health tip with our members.
October is here and it brings awareness to a number of dog-related topics. While many of us dog owners welcome the fall for its cooler temperatures and colorful leaves, unfortunately it also marks an unwanted surge in ticks. One of my friends recently told me that she removed over 40 ticks from her dog over a period of a few hours after their morning walk! There are a number of tick species including the black-legged (deer) tick, the Lone Star tick, American dog tick, the brown dog tick and others – and their prevalence and the diseases they carry will vary geographically. Here in the Northeastern US, the deer ticks are especially numerous now, and they carry a range of diseases such as Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease. At this time of year, with favorable, cooler temperatures, immature (nymphal) deer ticks are maturing into adult ticks and are looking for a host to feed on and then reproduce. Ticks that your dog pick up are easily transferred to humans, so regardless of where you live, it’s important to make sure your dogs are on schedule with their tick prevention. In July of this year the FDA approved an injectable product that provides 12 months of protection against fleas and ticks. Please check with your veterinarian to determine what products are best for your situation. By taking steps to protect our dogs and ourselves, we can still enjoy the great outdoors!
Are you thinking of adding a new dog to your family? October is Adopt-a Dog Month which is a great time to consider supporting one of the many shelters or rescue groups who intake almost 3 million dogs per year in the US. October 1st is dedicated in particular to black dogs to bring awareness that they typically take longer to get adopted. Whether this is your first dog or if you’ve owned dogs in the past, there is a lot to consider and also so much to gain from the joy of having a canine companion. It’s important to choose a dog that will be compatible with your lifestyle and living situation. Would you want a puppy or an older dog? Do you have time and space for a dog? How will your current pets adapt to having a new housemate? When meeting dogs available for adoption it is important to interact with them and learn whatever is known about their personalities and behavior, such as how they interact with other animals and children. Another consideration is the cost of owning a dog. According to one recent study of dog owners, average expenses for one year ranged from approximately $1,500 to $5,000, based on age, size and individual medical needs. If you aren’t ready or able to adopt a dog, there are lots of ways to support shelter and rescue groups in other ways such as donations of money or supplies, fund-raising, volunteering time, or even fostering a dog.
October is also National Animal Safety and Protection Month and with Halloween a few weeks away, it’s a great opportunity to think about how to have fun with your dogs while keeping them safe. If you will be decorating for Halloween (and some of us, go all out!), it’s important to ensure your dog isn’t afraid of the decorations and that they won’t chew and possibly ingest pieces of them. Lit candles – such as in jack-o-lanterns -- should be kept well out of the reach of dogs to prevent the possibility of burns or fires. Like with other holidays, there will be opportunities for dogs to have access to food and treats that are meant for people. In particular, it’s important to ensure that dogs don’t ingest foods such as chocolate, raisins, or anything that is sweetened with xylitol. Part of your festivities may include a costume for your dog -- many of whom will tolerate this (like my dogs!) or even seem to enjoy it but be aware if your dog seems stressed. Costumes should fit well, not include pieces that could cause a choking hazard if eaten, and should not impede their vision, breathing, or movement. If there are more frequent visitors at your home, there may be more opportunities for your dog to escape through an open door or gate. Safeguards include keeping your dog in a secure location and ensuring that they have an identification tag and microchip.
Congratulations in advance if you add a new dog to your family! Wishing you and your dogs a safe and happy Fall!
As always, thank you for being a Riney Canine Health Center member. We look forward to catching up with you next month!
Dr. Brian Collins, D.V.M. 94
Other resources:
First-aid for poisonous substances
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