1350 South Fish Hatchery Rd.   Oregon, WI   53575		608-835-0551

As fall and winter approach, here are some reminders for keeping your pets safe.

• Cats often like to sleep on a warm engine so remember to tap on the hood of your car prior to starting your engine in the winter.
  
  
• Antifreeze is a very lethal poison in cats and dogs. It tastes sweet to our furry friends so they lap it up readily. Knowing this, please remember that it is extremely important to clean up any antifreeze spills immediately. Antifreeze can cause irreversible kidney damage followed by death within 3 - 5 days.  Treatment needs to take place within three to eight hours of ingestion for a chance at survival.
  
  Early signs of ingestion are vomiting, depression, wobbliness, in coordination, tremors, increased thirst and urination, and severe hypothermia in cats.  As the condition worsens, signs of kidney failure become evident.  These include anorexia, mouth sores, salivation, inability to urinate, severe lethargy or coma, seizures, and eventually death.
  
  Treatment involves stopping the antifreeze poison from being metabolized, fluid therapy to correct the acidity in the blood, and other medications to assist the kidneys.

Holidays are a wonderful time to be with family; however they can be dangerous for our four-legged friends. Here are some things to keep in mind during the next few months to help keep your pets safe and healthy.

• Do not feed your pet the leftover ham, turkey or bones you have cooked.  They often cause vomiting, diarrhea, inflammation in the pancreas, and/or an intestinal obstruction.  These illnesses are potentially life threatening. So instead of leftovers, give your pet a wonderful kitty or doggie treat to celebrate the holiday with you.
• Also, be careful with the decorations placed around your home and on your tree.  Tinsel and glass ornaments may be dangerous if ingested or broken.
• Finally, prevent your pet from drinking the Christmas tree water as it contains chemicals from the tree which could result in sickness.