PAW PRINTS

St. Lawrence Valley SPCA

Newsletter-Spring 2009
Your Perfect Pet Is Here!
 

Shelter Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday,  Friday 1:00-4:00,
Thursday 2:00-4:00
Saturday Noon-4:00.
Closed Sunday. Monday & Some Holidays.
Phone (315) 393-5191
6718 SH 68 (P.O. Box 594)Ogdensburg, NY 13669

Adoption Fees
Cats $50 --- Dogs $75
This fee includes spay/neuter, distemper, parvo and upper respiratory vaccinations. Animals will be checked for worms, fleas, ticks and other parasites and treated if necessary. Cats can be tested for feline leukemia for an additional  fee.

Upcoming Events

• ￿2nd Annual Motorcycle Ride-May 30th
• ￿7th Annual Dog Walk-June 14th
• Mark your calendars for these upcoming events.

Become an SPCA Volunteer

The St. Lawrence Valley SPCA is in need  of active, motivated people , at least 18 years of age, to become Shelter Volunteers. Dog walkers are always needed and the one on one attention given a dog can mean the difference between finding a home or not. Maybe smoozing with the cats is more to your liking. Spend an afternoon grooming and socializing with them. Extra people are always needed at fund raising events. There is something for everyone and no one is asked to do anything they are not comfortable with. Interested persons can call 393-5191 to request our brochure on BECOMING AN SPCA VOLUNTEER as well as a volunteer data sheet and general waiver. The potential volunteer who wishes to work directly with the animals will be asked to attend an orientation and work for a few hours with an experienced volunteer to “learn the ropes”. Once familiar with Shelter procedures and routines, they are welcome to come into the Shelter during regular open hours. 



 

Dogs & Fireworks

          Summer is upon us and with it will come fireworks displays. Please don’t take your dog with you when you attend. Keep them safely at home instead. The bright lights and loud noise can be very frightening and as dogs have more sensitive hearing than we do, the booms may actually hurt their ears. Even dogs that are not normally afraid of loud noises may become very upset by fireworks. A normally very friendly and gentle dog, when running away from a loud noise, may act out in self defense if approached by a well-meaning stranger. 
    
Before bringing your dog outside after a nearby fireworks display, large or small, check the area for not embers or fireworks that may have been lit but did not ignite. Fireworks components, whether exploded or unexploded, are toxic. Fireworks debris that’s eaten can cause stomach distress and internal damage that can be fatal. To prevent painful burns on paws, noses and eyes, be sure to keep dogs away from children with sparklers.

Shelter Wish List

• ￿Litter, Litter &  Litter
• ￿Laundry Soap
• ￿Bleach
• ￿Dish Detergent
• ￿Paper Towels
• ￿13, 45 & 55 Gallon Heavy Duty Trash Bags
• ￿Purina Cat Food (Blue Bag)
• ￿Pedigree Small Dog Breed Hard Food
• ￿Canned Cat & Dog Food
• ￿Purina Kitten Chow

Itchy Summer Hot Spots

     Although similar skin lesions can occur any time of year, hot spots.....raw, inflamed, wet sores that itch and often grow rapidly, are much more common in Summer. Warmth and  moisture are usually contributing factors in types of inflammatory skin disorder, also referred to as Moist Eczema, Acute Moist Dermatitis or Acute Moist Pyoderma.
     The nasty, painful sores can start just about anywhere on a dog’s body. Typical locations are the side of the face, especially around the ears, on the rump, over the hip, on the legs and paws. Common characteristics include weeping and oozing, crusting and scabbing, intense itching and hair loss. The sores sometimes have a foul odor.
     Any dog can get a hot spot but they occur more frequently in a long haired breeds like Golden Retrievers, Collies, German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels. Dogs with dense costs, especially those with an undercoat, are most susceptible.
     Hot spots can start with almost anything that irritates the skin..a flea bite, a tick bite or a mosquito bite. Irritation from matted hair, burrs or awns, an ear infection, anal gland secretions..even a tiny scratch from a clipper blade can become a hot spot. Skin allergies are compounded by heat and humidity. Excessively warm and moist skin, irritated by exposure to grass or pollen, can cause intense itching. With incessant scratching, licking and chewing, a very small irritated area can quickly become a large infected sore. Regardless of the cause, the scratching and gnawing must be stopped.
     If you notice signs of irritation very early and act quickly to provide relief from the itching, you may be able to stop further damage. If you see your dog rubbing, scratching or chewing around a spot, check to see what’s there. Clipping the hair over the affected area will allow you to see how large the lesion really is. It will permit light and air to reach the skin and help to dry the surface.  Wash the area gently with warm water and mild soap, rinse and carefully pat dry.  Applying an antiseptic may be all that’s needed to stop the discomfort caused by an insect bite. A thin coat of Cortisone cream could calm the itch of an allergic rash. Use a mild astringent to help dry irritated skin in warm, moist areas.
     If the spot does not quickly respond to those measures, if your dog continues to lick and/or scratch the area, if there is any sign of weeping or inflammation, call your Veterinarian. . . . .reprinted from BellaOnLine.

Your Dog May Be Dying!

On a hot summer day the inside of a car heats up very quickly. On an 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside your car-with the windows slightly open-will reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. In 30 minutes it will go up to 120 degrees. On warmer days it will go even higher. A dog’s normal body temperature is 101.5 to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. A dog can withstand a body temperature of 107-108 degrees for only a very short period of time before suffering irreparable brain damage-or even death. The closed car interferes with the dog’s normal cooling process, that is, evaporation through panting. If your dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, you can give immediate first aid by immersing him or her in cold water until body temperature is lowered. Then seek medical attention. Don’t let what little summer weather we have in northern New York spell tragedy for your pets.

• Cat Facts
• ￿The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprints of a human.
• ￿The Giraffe, Camel and Cat are the only animals that walk by moving both their left feet, then both their right feet. This method of walking ensures speed, agility and silence.
• ￿Backward -pointing spikes on a cat’s tongue aid in their grooming.
• ￿Cats eyes come in three shapes: round, slanted and almond.
• ￿Stings to the mouth can be very dangerous to cats. If your cat is stung, or ever experiences any type of sting to the mouth, take her to the Vet immediately. As her mouth swells from the sting, she may be unable to breath.
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• Protect your pets from parasites. Discuss options with your Veterinarian.