Still got snow and ice on the ground and own pets? A warning

[Omaha Steve]

Yesterday afternoon Marta & I took our rat terrier Sweetie to the vet for her yearly physical. Everything was great. :-)

As we were in line to pay our bill, 3 guys in their 40's came through the door begging for emergency help. They had a huge dog in the back of a pickup truck. Thor is a Newfoundland. It took 3 men and the vet to carry him in on a blanket. His owners had been walking him on his leash on the sidewalk near their home. Thor was ahead of them and couldn't see the sheet of ice he was on. When he slipped, the slant of the sidewalk pushed him out into traffic and was hit by an SUV. The driver stayed on the scene and even came along and helped carry Thor inside.

We decided to stay long enough to find out how he was doing. He will live, no bad internal damage. We called when we got home and learned he will be having trouble walking the rest of his life.

Please keep your loved ones close when walking around ice or snow.

[Dappleganger]

1. OMG, what a tragedy!

Newfies are the sweetest gentle giants, ever. I'll bet that owner felt horrible. :(

[Kceres]

2. So relieved to read that he will pull through.

Thanks for the warning, Omaha Steve. I always worry about slipping myself but haven't really thought about my dogs. I will from now on.

[eleny]

3. It's so important to learn to be in charge and have a dog heel at your side

It's tempting to let out the lead or let them run free without the leash. But bad things can happen fast.

Thanks for posting your gentle reminder. Sometimes that's all it takes to get people on track.

[blondeatlast]

6. I have one of these; I LOVE it. Helps with my arthritis too.

http://www.ezydog.com/fxstore/product/521/Cujo.aspx

[OnyxCollie]

37. There is a danger of slipping on ice

and falling onto your dog(s).

Bad for dogs and bad for you. (They will think they're being attacked and will start biting.)

I've slipped a few times this winter. Fortunately, my dogs were out of the way. They came running back to see what happened to me.

[hlthe2b]

4. Abolutely...

And though most dogs are very sure footed and can resist a great deal of cold and snow, the ice salt is devastating to their paws. If you are out alot and are living where snow is now accompanied by very low or even subzero temps, consider investing in some booties. A good pair has traction soles and attach with velcro, so they can be put on fairly quickly. It doesn't take long before your dog learns to "appreciate" them and won't fight you in putting them on.

In between, clipping the fur between their paws can help, as can spraying a bit of PAM on them before going out. Rinse and wipe them down well upon return to keep the salt from abrading the tender skin between the paws.

You precious pup will thank you in spades. ;)

[get the red out]

11. Booties have been wonderful!

We have a young dog now and the booties have really helped during this horrific winter. The salt was cutting her paws and when I would wipe them after our walks there would be spots of blood. It didn't take her long, as you said, to get the hang of the booties.

[hlthe2b]

17. It took me a couple of attempts to find the right ones for my girlie

REI, fortunately had a good selection last year and a good return policy. I am amazed at how quickly my sweet older doggie adapted to them and her amazingly overt shows of appreciation towards me when I put them on. She knows I only do so when the conditions are really frigid.

When I take off, I look at them and can't help but smile-- like a new mama looks at her toddler's first little shoes. They really are so cute! ;)

[Granny M]

39. Good to know that your older dog

adjusted to them. I have hesitated buying them for our old Welsh terrier, doubting that he would put up with them. He's never worn a coat, either. Maybe I'll take a chance, although we don't have THAT much snow and ice, usually.

[get the red out]

40. Oh so cute

Layla's are purple, just precious! I think we wore the lady helping us in Pet Smart out trying on booties on a then reluctant dog.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

16. Very good advice

I have small dogs so when we come back from a walk in this weather (a short walk, unfortunately) I fill an old baby bathtub with warm water and wash their feet.

[spanone]

5. great info...thanks

[mopinko]

7. steve, you keep giving me reasons to like you.

ratties are the best. i have a pair of sisters right now, and had another in the past. terrier people are a special sort. or at least those that have convinced their terriers that they are the leader are. i suspect yours knows who the good guy of the house is.

poor newfie, tho. i agree with the comment above about dogs walking at heal. aside from being safer, it does convince a dog that you are a trustworthy leader. so much dog trouble comes of people not providing clear leadership to their packs.

[Omaha Steve]

13. ( A few years (07) ago about Sweetie) ASPCA SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK: PLAYING IT BY THE EARS

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3581271

The link to the ASPCA and HUA are no longer working. The ASPCA decided not to include the fact Sweetie came to us with a broken leg from an abusive owner.

We have another rat terrier (Luka), and a wire haired terrier named Dug (taken from the movie UP). They too were rescues.

Sweetie enjoys some sun in the back yard:

[mopinko]

14. mine love to be under the covers, too.

but they are very good. if they get uncovered, on their own or because the boxer who sleeps on the floor next to the bed has stolen all the blankets again, they wait patiently for some sign of life from me. if i roll over or otherwise rouse myself, they run up the the head of the bed, and put their paws on my gently until i lift up the covers and let them back in.
the crazy thing about that is that they spend most of the day under the covers on my bed, and manage quite well on their own. not sure if it is deference or laziness that makes them not do that at night.

my 2 little girls are the palace guard. the boxer is a big hearted thing who would give her life in a heartbeat, but she has little left of her hip joints and is slow to get up and moving. our house was broken into a while back and it was the terriers that scared the guy away. they follow me everywhere that i let them. they think i hung the moon. you have to earn that with them, and i feel really lucky to have them.

">the triuveRAT

my 2 little girls, rags and socks, as pups, and the dearly departed zipper.

[tblue37]

19. I got an error message when I clicked to look at your pups.

Now I am desperate to see them! (I am addicted to such pictures.)

[Omaha Steve]

21. Dug in the back yard

It's getting late. I'll post a Luka photo tomorrow. Below Sweetie asks to adopt the deer.

[tblue37]

23. Thanks! I love pics of animals. I currently have 3 adult cats and a

6-month-old kitten. But I have often had more animals than that. A few years ago I had four cats, two ferrets, four milk snakes, and a prairie skink (lizard)!

I love animals. (I visit cuteoverload.com several times a day for a picture fix!)

[NEOhiodemocrat]

25. Dug is sure a cutie!

and is that deer eating your garden?

[Omaha Steve]

28. 1/2 flower bed & 1/2 deer diner

The other side of our back fence is Fontenelle Forest: http://www.fontenelleforest.org/

We are used to sharing with pretty much all the animals in the area. The bird feeders attract them. For some reason a few years ago, a raccoon tore up the cushions on the patio furniture. That and worrying about ticks and parasites from these visitors are the only down side.

[mopinko]

20. ok, try this pick thing again.

the triveRAT-pups rags and socks, and the dearly departed zipper



son graeme with sophie the black capped lory



kaya in the shower

there, through is a couple birds, too.

[tblue37]

Thanks! I am also crazy for parrots! nt

[tblue37]

22. Self-delete. Accidental dupe. nt

[Omaha Steve]

24. oh so cute

Good thing our ratters are fixed, we could never give up such beautiful puppies.

We also have 3 cats.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. Sounds like my friend's Boston Terrier.

She is a sweetheart and loves to dive under the covers and snuggle. I call her "Butt snuggler" because that's what she heads for. Warm butts.
I have no idea how she gets any air to breathe!

[mopinko]

35. yeah, mine do that too.

they are supposed to sleep by my feet, and they start out there. but once i am asleep, they sneak up. they are just jealous enough to have one on one side, and one on the other. so, if my knees are bent, one is snuggled up to my butt, and the other to my belly.

[xchrom]

8. Excellent cautionary tale. Nt

[tabasco]

9. Please support your local SPCA, Humane Society and animal shelter.

Thanks! :toast:

[tridim]

10. My dog's minor ice-slip cost me $2000 in knee surgery. Be careful.

[get the red out]

12. Such a horrible incident!

I have thought of this! I am so sad it actually happened to someone. I have also worried about me slipping on ice and accidentally injuring my dog that way as well. Many days this winter I have opted to just play ball with my girl instead of walking.

[LWolf]

15. That's good advice.

No snow here, but ice is all winter long. My dogs have 6 acres to run on, and it's less slippery on the dirt than it is on a sidewalk or paved road, so they weather the ice just fine. The 3-legged dog sometimes needs assistance to get up the porch steps to get back in the house.

[JanetLovesObama]

18. Thank you for the heads up!

We are not used to this snow and ice here in Central Texas. I dearly love my animals and have kept them inside for three days and nights (until today). They were not happy but were safe and sound.

[jberryhill]

26. Another week of this crap, and I'm getting a team of huskies

My dog mocks me in her bare feet, porpoising around in the snow saying "Let's play!" while I wonder how much longer my slippers will keep my feet warm.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. My dog has frostbite on the bottoms of her feet.

She was out while we were shoveling snow the other day and we think that's when it happened.

[jberryhill]

30. How common is that?

If I left it up to Jade, she'd run around in ice and snow all day, but I'm not sure that's the best idea.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. I had never heard of it before.

But it's also been colder here than I can remember in decades.

[Jamastiene]

29. Poor doggie.

K&R

[lapislzi]

33. Also: use pet-safe salt!

Tender paws get torn up by ordinary salt.

On the humorous side, I watched my very large kitty do the downward slide across the driveway last evening before coming to a halt in a snowbank. He was far from traffic, and he has yet to recover his dignity.

[border_town]

34. Thanks for sharing

I too have two very big dogs (Great Pyrenees) that I have had to walk through this icy mess. I try to stay on the streets, but living in the city you always run into traffic. Some people are nice and drive slower while other are just jerks. Thankfully the only one of us that has taken fall is me and I was okay.

We still have a few months left of winter, so be careful out there!

[NotThisTime]

36. How awful, what a wonder that there were 3 men and the vet there to help... what a tragedy for the

poor pup. We have a lab ourselves and he doesn't walk by our side, right now he either runs in the back yard or the woods near us, however we're moving and we'll have no choice but to walk him on the sidewalks... will keep this tragedy in mind as we do so...

[keepCAblue]

38. 35 zoo animals freeze to death in northern Mexico

Weather extremes can be hard, even deadly, on animals. If it is too cold or too hot outside for you or your kids, it's too cold or hot for your pets. Keep them inside.

"CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – Thirty-five animals at a zoo in the northern Mexico state of Chihuahua have frozen to death during the region's coldest weather in six decades.

Serengeti Zoo owner Alberto Hernandez says 14 parrots, 13 serpents, five iguanas, two crocodiles and a capuchin monkey died. He said Saturday that power failures cut off electrical heating at the zoo in the town of Aldama.

Temperatures have dropped to 9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 13 Celsius) in the area, the coldest weather in 60 years.

Power outages have affected much of northern Mexico, forcing factories and businesses to close. Dozens of people are in shelters. Schools have been closed in Chihuahua state but are expected to open Tuesday as the weather warms."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/lt_mexico_frigid_weather_animals

[wisteria]

41. Thank you for the advice and warning. n/t

[RoccoR5955]

42. This is true. Sorry about your pet and family member, and another warning, though on a lighter note

Don't let your critters eat the yellow snow!

[ZombieHorde]

43. Damn, that sucks. Ice is so difficult. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

44. I once saw a woman walking 3 chihauhaus on long leashes. One sped away

jumped into traffic and got hit. The car sped on (wasnt their fault anyway). The lady grabbed the dog out of traffic but I could see its little body stiffening. Hope it lived, but I doubt it.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[artemis starwolf]

46. RE: chihuahuas on long leashes

I'm a dog groomer. Those 'flex-leads' that extend out are dangerous IMO because it's hard to control your dog on them and they could easily run out in the street even though they're on a leash. They are fine for at the park, but please, when bringing your dog to the groomer or vet, or walking on a busy road, use a regular leash and either a martingale style collar or harness so your dog can't back out of it. Glad that poor Newf was okay! I used to have 2 of them. Great dogs!