SOME USEFUL INFORMATION FOR YOU & YOUR PET All dogs on the island should be vaccinated against Parvovirus, Leptospirosis and Hepatitis. Dogs that regularly mix with other dogs, such as those in doggie day care, should also be vaccinated against Kennel Cough. Living on a Caribbean island, you will most certainly be taking your dog to the beach and must keep in mind that salt water is poisonous. As dogs don’t realise how dangerous salt water can be, they often drink freely when playing and splashing around. This can result in hypernatremia (an elevated sodium level), although it is rare to see extreme cases. Pet parents must make sure to prevent this by carrying a bottle of fresh water and offering it several times during the beach walk. (Bringing a beach Frisbee is a good idea - it acts as the perfect dog bowl too!) Some classic signs of salt poisoning are vomiting, diarrhoea, incoordination (walking drunk), severe depression and/or seizures. These symptoms are secondary to cerebral edema, or brain swelling, which needs to be treated very carefully by your veterinarian. You will also need to ensure your dog doesn’t get heatstroke, which is quite common and can be deadly. Never leave your dog in the car, avoid long walks and playtimes during the middle of the day, have breaks during walks and always have water to hand. Symptoms of heat stroke include heavy panting, vomiting and breathing difficulties. If you suspect your dog has heatstroke take the animal to a vet immediately as it could be fatal. Insect stings are also common on-island. Curious dogs that use their noses to poke around can be stung by scorpions, bees and other insects. If you notice any swelling around your dog’s face, or other parts of its body, take it to a vet as soon as possible. Hurricanes & Pets It is very important that you remember to make preparations before hurricane season for all members of your family, including your pets. The incredibly tragic losses from Hurricane Ivan showed us how vulnerable pets are and how completely reliant they are on their owners for their survival. Public shelters do not accept pets for both health and safety reasons. Prepare an emergency accommodation plan and make inquiries in advance, to avoid last minute stress for you and your pet. Remember, if it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pet. If you decide to evacuate your family to a shelter, alternative arrangements need to be made for your pets. Never leave pets outside—bring them indoors. If you are sheltering at your place of work, it may be worthwhile checking to see if they will allow your pets to shelter there with you. Most importantly, you should never leave your pets tied up outside or left to fend for themselves in your evacuated home, as they cannot survive on their own. Wind, flying debris and flood water killed innumerable pets during Ivan. Before the storm make sure your pet has a current ID tag, microchip (in case the ID collar becomes lost) and that you have current photos for identification (in case you are separated), medical record copies, medications and food, all in airtight plastic bags. A pet carrier or crate should be outfitted with newspapers, blankets, a favourite toy (to comfort your pet) and have proper identification affixed to the outside of the crate. Stock up on at least a month’s worth of food supplies, newspapers and medications before the storm and prepare a first aid kit. Remember, you can never be too prepared for a hurricane! If leaving the Island, you can easily obtain a travel health certificate from your veterinarian; it can be issued in one day for your pet. However, bear in mind that vets may well get overwhelmed with pet owners requesting health certificates as the storm gets closer to us. Your vet will require the following documents for a health certificate: your address here, your destination address, vaccine history, rabies vaccine certificates and copies of your pet’s rabies titre blood tests. Remember, if you leave the Island with your pet without their current rabies travel paperwork, you will be subjected to the government import requirements for pets when returning. After obtaining your completed health certificate from your vet, hand-deliver it to the DOA in Lower Valley to have your exit permit issued. You cannot travel on a veterinary health certificate alone. If you consider your home a safe refuge for your pet during a storm, you may want to foster an animal from the Cayman Islands Humane Society. They are often in desperate need of alternative shelters for their animals during hurricane season.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 01:46:37 +0000
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