Taking Care Of Your Pet

Do You Know Where Your Cat Is?

Consider the following hazards to outdoor cats:

• Outdoor cats get injured by fighting with other cats, dogs, or wildlife. They will require more medical care than indoor cats.

• Outdoor cats often get hit by cars.

• Outdoor cats can get caught and seriously injured in the fan belt of a car as they try to find warm spots in the cold weather.

• Outdoor cats can be poisoned, either accidentally or intentionally by malicious people.

• Outdoor cats are exposed to serious diseases such as infectious feline anemia, upper respiratory disease, or rabies.

• Outdoor cats often get fleas, ticks or worms, all of which can threaten their health.

• Outdoor cats can be used as live bait to train dogs for fighting.

• Outdoor cats cannot "fend" for themselves. Domestic cats depend on humans for food and shelter.

• Outdoor cats, in general, have half the lifespan of indoor cats.

• Outdoor cats are simply not as protected as indoor cats.

Fixing To Fence In
If you are owned by a cat that just absolutely must go outside, it is possible to cat proof your enclosed yard so that your cat cannot get over the fence. This protects your cat from many dangers that outdoor cats face. There are several companies that sell ready-to-install cat fencing, or you can do it yourself with supplies from the local hardware store. All these fences work on the same basic principle - they attach to the upper portion of your fence and keep the cat from jumping up and reaching the top, effectively confining the cat in the enclosed area.

Do-it-yourself cat fencing takes an afternoon to do. You will need 28" wire garden fencing (enough to install on your entire fence plus a few extra feet), U-shaped nails, wire cutters & pliers. Optional: additional wire & flexible netting. You will be cutting the fencing into manageable sections, usually 8-10 feet or so will work, and then bending each section down the middle lengthwise.

Garden fencing is sometimes comprised of one-half larger squares and one-half smaller rectangles; use the half with smaller rectangles at the top horizontal portion. This prevents cats from wriggling through the larger squares. You will be tacking it to the fence in an upside down L-shape. Tack sufficient nails in the vertical portion so that it is attached securely. Connect the top portion of all sections with wire or cut edges of fencing. Corners can be overlapped. For a gate that opens inward you can use flexible netting and tack that to the top instead of the garden fencing, if necessary. For trees that are close to the fence use either leftover fencing or netting.

Be Creative
You need to think like a cat and block any areas that they can get through or over - trees, sheds, and spaces under the fence all need to be covered. You will need to keep a good eye on your cat for the first few days to see if they discover any areas that you may have missed. The fence will not keep other animals out initially until they learn to avoid your yard. So if any neighbor cats or wildlife get in, make sure that your cat is inside the house, then prop open the gate and give the intruder a chance to get out. They usually don’t make the same mistake twice!

Barking - Causes & Solutions

• Breed Of Dog
  Barking is a natural behavior that may occur more in some breeds or individual dogs than others because of their breeding or temperament. Some are more excitable, while others are more likely to react to confinement or isolation by barking. Prospective owners need to carefully select a dog suitable for their lifestyle and home environment.
• Confinement
  Dogs will bark at any noises or movements they can see, hear, and smell but are not able to investigate or reach. People or dogs passing by, birds flying overhead, lawn mowers, the telephone ringing, a knock on the door, livestock in adjacent paddocks or the sound of other dogs may trigger a bout of barking. A well-socialized dog that has been given a variety of experiences when young is less likely to overreact to outside distractions.
• Isolation
  Dogs are social animals and will actively seek the company of other dogs and people. When left alone in back yards all day, they may bark for attention. Most dogs will adapt to being left on their own if conditioned to do so from an early age. Leaving the dog alone for short periods at first, then gradually increasing the time to the maximum period it will regularly spend on its own will help the dog adjust. Owners can also assist by establishing a routine so that the dog receives attention when they are home.

• Fence-Line Distractions
  A dog should not be kept near a walkway, hostile neighbors, or where children can tease it. The location of the dog's kennel or run may need to be changed if it is too close to a neighbor or other distractions.  Neighbors who have dogs that growl and bark at each other should restrict each of the dogs' access to the fence-line. A high solid fence or confining the dog to the rear of a property can prevent the dog from growling, barking or lunging at passers-by.

• Visitors
  A dog will often bark at visitors arriving, whether they are strangers or friends, especially if it is behind a barrier. If a dog is introduced to the visitors, it won't be so vocal when they arrive.
• Anxiety
  Many dogs are anxious or insecure when their owners are absent and may cope with the stress of separation by barking, digging, or chewing. Plastic or hide bones should be given to the dog before its owner leaves home as these can provide an outlet for the dog's anxiety. Minimal attention should be given to the dog before its owner departs.
• Excitement
  Excitable dogs will bark when overstimulated. This frequently occurs during play or when the dog is chasing a ball or birds in the garden.
• Changes In The Dog's Life
  A major change in an older dog's lifestyle or environment may cause excessive barking. If an owner starts working longer hours, a marriage breaks up, a new baby arrives, or a family shifts house, the amount and type of attention the dog receives or its status in the household may change. Instead of ignoring the dog, the owner should establish a new routine that includes exercise, training, and play.
• Discomfort
  Dogs that are hot, wet, cold, or without shelter may bark, as will dogs that are sick or in pain, hungry, thirsty, or entangled in their chain. Before leaving home, the owner must ensure that their dog has access to good shelter, bedding, food, water, and familiar toys throughout the day.  Dogs that are kept inside should have access to the outside when their owners are absent.
• Teaching The Dog To Bark
  If a dog is taken for a walk, brought into the house or comforted because its barking is too loud and prolonged, then the barking will always be loud and prolonged. The dog soon learns that barking can be rewarding. If a dog is brought inside the house because of its barking, it must be done so on a permanent basis. A part of the house can be sectioned off for its use.

Correcting Excessive Barking

• Physical Punishment
  Yelling at or hitting a barking dog achieves nothing except to reward the dog by giving it the attention it was seeking. Whether the attention is good or bad does not matter to a dog that seeks it. Physical punishment will increase the likelihood of future barking by making the dog more anxious and may also cause it to bite when threatened in the future.
• Praise
  Get into the habit of rewarding a dog with praise for being quiet. Too often we only acknowledge the dog when it barks, which reinforces the unwanted behavior.
• Exercise
  Exercise alone will not stop a dog from barking, but it may provide an active release for its energy. Exercise should be varied, with 15-20 minutes daily spent walking, training, and playing with the dog. If the dog will be left alone all day, it is preferable for the owner to exercise it before leaving for work. Riding a bicycle with the dog running alongside is dangerous. Too often a dog is distracted by another dog and pulls its owner off the bicycle and into traffic, or the dog itself gets injured by the moving wheels.
• Getting A Second Dog
  Another dog may help if the dog is barking because of isolation or anxiety. If not, then the resident dog will probably teach the new dog to bark at all the distractions it presently barks at. Owners considering a second dog should first borrow a dog from friends, on different occasions, to assess whether company will reduce their dog's barking. Other pets can also provide company for the dog: caged birds can be used, but they must be kept out of the dog's reach.
• Barking Dogs Kept Inside The House
  Curtains should be drawn and the dog's access to windows restricted to prevent it from barking at passers-by. A "do not disturb" or "do not ring" sign pinned to the door when the owner is absent will decrease the likelihood of the dog barking when someone knocks or rings. Some dogs will relax more if the lighting is dimmed. A radio, TV, video, or music can be left playing when the owner is out. This may comfort the dog by muffling any extraneous sounds and creating conditions similar to when its owners are home. If the continual ringing of a telephone causes the dog to bark, an answer phone can be installed. This will enable the owner to call home at irregular intervals and use their voice to distract the dog from its barking.

Solutions to Digging

Dogs may dig out of boredom or to make a cooling/heating pit.

Some approaches:

• Filling in the holes
  Try refilling the holes with junk. With junk, dogs can quickly lose interest and pretty much stop digging. Fill the hole with whatever is on hand - dead leaves, sticks, pine needles, rocks, or even dog feces. Fill the top 2 inches or so with dirt. The dog finds the buried junk, gets discouraged, and often quits digging. They seem to get the idea they'll never know where they'll find junk, and it's not worth the effort to dig only to find junk, so they quit.

• Surprises in the hole
  You can try burying a water balloon in one of the holes which will pop in its face when it starts digging.

• A sandbox
  Try to remember that digging is a natural tendency for dogs. So, if there is any place where your dog may be allowed to dig, you should encourage it only in that place. Many people build a sandbox for their dog. Place the box in an area that is cool in summer and warm in winter. To teach the dog to dig only in the box, place or bury toys or treats (sliced hotdogs, for example) in the box. Encourage the dog to dig up the toy or treat. Praise the dog. Repeat until the dog willingly jumps in and digs. Watch the dog. When it starts to dig in any other place, quickly go out and take your dog to its box. Show it, by digging yourself, that it should dig in its box.
  
  To deter boredom, place several toys or treats in the box before you leave for work. The dog will spend its time digging in the correct place rather than digging up your roses. You can also sprinkle animal essence (available at hunting supply stores). Remember that dogs like to dig in freshly turned earth. So get out that shovel and turn the dirt over in the sand box every now and then. Toss in some fresh dirt. Keep a close eye on freshly planted areas, as they will be very attractive. Bury some extra hotdogs in the sandbox when you are putting down new plants.

• Line the yard
  For extreme cases you can line the yard with chicken wire and put a layer of sod over that. Use paving bricks or blocks around the edge to prevent the dog from injuring itself on the edge of the chicken wire.

• Overheating (heat prostration) can kill an animal. Never leave an animal alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows open, a parked car, truck, or van can quickly become a furnace. Parking in shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day. When traveling, carry a gallon thermos filled with fresh, cold water to prevent him from overheating. Don’t let your dog exercise in hot weather. If you want to run with your dog, do it in the cool hours of the early morning or late evening. Heatstroke is life threatening for both dogs and cats. Signs to watch for are: heavy, loud breathing, a staggering gait, and a bright red tongue or gum tissue. If heat stroke is suspected, get the animal to a cool place, put cold compresses on his belly, or in severe cases completely wet him down so his hair is soaked. This is a medical emergency – take him to your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

• Dogs and cats need a cool, shady place to sleep during hot weather, as well as plenty of clean, fresh water, accessible at all times. Feed your dog or cat in the cooler hours of the day. Older animals have a hard time in hot weather, so be extra sensitive to their needs during the hottest hours of the day.

• Be sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Parvovirus, an illness that flourishes in hot weather, can be fatal to dogs that have not received their vaccinations. Also, be sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are current. During the summer months, pets often spend more time outdoors, and the chances of encounters with wildlife (possible rabies carriers) increase.

• It’s heartworm medication time. If your dog hasn’t been tested for heartworm this year, see your veterinarian. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, but it can be prevented by administering a monthly preventive between June and November.

• Keep your pet well groomed. Daily brushing or combing lets you check for fleas and ticks. Fleas can cause allergic reactions and “hot spots” in dogs. Hot spots are large, wet skin sores that appear suddenly in areas where the dog has scratched. See your veterinarian for flea and tick preventives or if a “hot spot” appears.

• Keep dogs away from picnic garbage. Ingesting corncobs and chicken and other bones can be life-threatening by obstructing or perforating the stomach. Also, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the peels, fruit, and seeds of citrus plants such as lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits contain varying amounts of citric acid, limonin, and volatile oils that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and result in vomiting and diarrhea.

• If you have a swimming pool, do not leave your dog unattended in the pool area. Not all dogs can swim – they can drown if they fall into the water.