We really wanted to repost this article from the ASPCA since the flu is such a hot topic. Hopefully everyone will be staying well this holiday season! If you do get sick and don’t want to expose your cats- how about booking them a mini vacation at Cat’s Pajamas Luxury suites here in Lincoln? They are pampered and safe while you recover. Email us- frontdesk@catspajamaslincoln.com - for more information.

Ever since the news broke earlier this month that an American cat caught the swine flu, rumors about how pets can catch this disease have been spreading—but we’re here to set the record straight
“On November 2, test results confirmed that a pet cat in Iowa was infected by the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, which was most likely transmitted by human family members,” reports Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA. “All family members, including the cat, have now recovered. In unrelated incidents in other states, a few pet ferrets also recently tested positive for H1N1, and one of them has died.” Although we already knew that infected humans could transmit H1N1 to both pigs and turkeys, these are the first reported cases of the virus affecting cats and ferrets.

According to Dr. Murray, there are no known instances of a dog catching H1N1 (but remember, it is flu season, and your dogs are still susceptible to catching other flu bugs). In addition, there is currently no evidence that H1N1 can be passed from pet to human—it seems to be going only the other way, with people transmitting the illness to their pets.

A little common sense will go a long way in decreasing the likelihood of passing the illness on to your pets. If members of your household are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, the ASPCA recommends protecting your pets by:

• washing hands thoroughly,
• covering coughs and sneezes and
• avoiding close contact with pets during the course of the illness.

In fact, if you’re sick, it’s a good idea to give your pets a place other than your bedroom to sleep at night until you get better.

If any pet displays symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing—especially if a human family member has recently suffered from influenza—please contact your veterinarian.

If you have not done your Disaster Preparedness Plan and included your pets, I want to encourage you to visit these sites for more help.

www.ready.gov

www.petsitters.org

Please call some local hotels and find out who will take pets- WHEN THERE IS A LOCAL DISASTER. Just because they don’t take pets on a regular basis does not mean that if there is a tornado or flood that they will be strict about that policy. Call a friend or relative that lives 30-60 minutes away and ask if they will take care of you and your pet in case your home is destroyed by fire, flood or storm.

April is Nebraska ’s Disaster Preparedness Month.

The staff at A Pause for Paws, Inc.

This month is Disaster Preparedness Month in Nebraska !

You, as a Pet Parent, need to have a plan for your Pet(s) too!

We at A Pause for Paws feel it is important for us to help pet parents prepare for the “unthinkable.” If you need help gathering supplies, answering questions, or filling out information– just give us a call. 402-420-PETS

At www.petsitters.org you can also find the Disaster Preparedness Guide for Pet Owners in a PDF format. Lots of the information is vital to pets in Nebraska . Please pay careful attention to SECTIONS III (Tornados and Thunderstorms), V (Floods), VI (Winter Storms), and VII (Extreme Heat), Appendixes 1 (Pet Identification Form) and 2 (Disaster Supply Kit.) If you fill out this plan, please copy and send it to our office, so we have it in your file.

In Lincoln, during thunderstorms and tornado watches and warnings, we make our best effort to care for your pets on their regular schedule, however, we will adjust our visit times to insure the safety of our sitters and your pets.

We LOVE caring for your pets and keeping them healthy and safe in a home environment. Please help us continue to do a great job, by letting us know your emergency plan. If you have taken the time and thoughtful consideration to fill out this plan, please copy and send it to our office, so we have it in your pet’s file.

Happy Halloween!

This is your “trick or treat” for your pets. If you are not going to be home for the evening, remember to turn OFF all the lights. Your pets do not need the added stress the door bell can cause them. Leave on a radio or TV to help drown out the extra noise on the street. Also bring outdoor pets inside if at all possible. Kids like to do “tricks” to outdoor pets, especially black cats!!

Costumes for pets can be hazardous unless your pet is well supervised at all times. Clothes on dogs and cats can be cute, but deadly. Please keep strings/ties short and away from the neck and feet. Buttons, snaps and accessories can be eaten and swallowed, causing chocking or an intestinal blockage.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is poisonous to pets. Macadamia nuts, almonds and too much sugar can be too!

BOOK NOW for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years! As soon as your plans are set (you know your starting and ending dates for us) then call or email. We also require a deposit, so be prepared to give a credit card number or mail in a check.

THANKS & Happy Halloween.

Tonia & Jennifer
A Pause for Paws, Inc.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications may help you feel much better, but they can make our pets feel much, much worse. In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 89,000 cases of pets exposed to human medications-by far, the most common cause of household poisonings in small animals.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested any human medications-or other toxic substances-please call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. To read our expert’s complete top 10 list of dangerous drugs, visit APCC online.

NEW YORK, September 29, 2008 — Keeping your pets safe on Halloween doesn’t have to be tricky. The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is offering the following tips to help pet parents avoid potential hazards as they celebrate Halloween this October.

“Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president, ASPCA Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) in Urbana, Ill. “So as you start to make plans for trick-or-treating or Halloween costumes, pet parents should be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”

Here are just some of the ways animal lovers can keep their pets safe this Halloween:

• Skip the sweets. Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures. “Chocolate, especially baker’s and dark chocolate can also be potentially poisonous to animals, especially dogs,” advises Dr. Hansen. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst, urination and heart rate and even seizures.
   
• Watch out for those wrappers. Cats especially love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and induce vomiting.
   
• Trick-or-treating is for kids, not pets. During trick-or-treating hours it is best to keep pets in a room away from your front door. “Halloween brings a flurry of activity with visitors constantly arriving at the door, and pets may escape the safety of their home. Be sure that your pet has identification tags should he or she accidentally get loose,” recommends Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA Pet Adoption Center in Manhattan. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with tags and/or is microchipped.
   
• Careful with costumes! If you dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit his movement, hearing, sight or ability to breathe or bark. Also check the costume for choking hazards. A smart alternative to dressing your pet from head-to-paw? A simple, festive Halloween bandana.
   
• Decorations can be dangerous. Re-think putting candles in Jack-O-Lanterns. Pets can easily knock over Jack-O-Lanterns and start a fire, and curious kittens are particularly at risk of getting burned by candle flames. Also take care to prevent your pets from having access to wires and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, a wire can damage your pet’s mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock.

If your dog or cat accidentally ingests any potentially harmful products and you need emergency advice, please consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee applies) or www.aspca.org/apcc. For more information on having a fun, safe Halloween with your pets, please visit www.aspca.org.

About the ASPCA^® Animal Poison Control Center
Established in 1978, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the only 24-hour, 365-day facility of its kind staffed by five veterinary assistants, 10 certified veterinary technicians, nine board-certified toxicologists/veterinary toxicologists and 16 veterinarians. Located at the ASPCA’s Midwest Office in Urbana, Ill., the specially trained staff provides assistance to pet owners, and specific diagnostic and treatment recommendations to veterinarians pertaining to toxic chemicals and dangerous plants, products or substances. In 2007, the center handled over 130,000 cases. The center also provides extensive veterinary toxicology expert consulting on a wide array of subjects, including legal cases, formulation issues, product liability, and regulatory reporting.

###

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) was the first humane organization established in the Americas, and today has more than one million supporters throughout North America. A 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in animal-assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach. The New York City headquarters houses a full-service, accredited animal hospital, adoption center, and mobile clinic outreach program. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York’s animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.