Healthcare Traveler - October 2008 - (Page 8) Paws for Thought Pumpkins, foxtails, and bats, oh my! E N S U R I N G P E T H E A LT H AT H O M E A N D O N T H E R O A D Ever wonder how to break the ice at a new assignment? Here are some autumn animal facts to share with your human friends and your pets. Kim Kilmer L ast week, I met with a new client regarding some behavior problems with a 5-month-old puppy. The family of five had recently acquired the puppy to add to their abundant pet population, including fish in an aquarium nearly the size of an Olympic swimming pool, two cats, three hamsters, two odd looking mice (at least I think they were mice), a snake, and a bird or two that I heard singing in an upstairs office. If these pets were in the wild, there would be enough to create a full food chain! Another tip: Always remember to keep your animals inside and safe during Halloween. Fortunately, the parents in this family are serious about teaching their children to appreciate and to properly care for their pets. All kids are home-schooled and pet care is one of their favorite parts of the curriculum. As I was discussing the training schedule for the puppy, one of the youngest children said (and I quote as nearly as possible), “Miss Kim, it’s getting to be autumn, and I have some autumn animal facts. Did you know that the Tasmanian Devil stores fat in its tail?!” Now, keep in mind this information was coming from a child about 4 or 8 Healthcare Traveler October 2008 5 years of age. It was definitely subject matter outside my area of expertise. Wondering if I were being trumped by a youngster, I later verified that Tasmanian Devils not only store fat in this manner, but those that are ill might have thin tails. Intrigued, I decided to check out other factual tidbits that might be useful for pet lovers this fall. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll learn something new and bring it up as part of that awkward “getting to know you” discussion you are bound to have on your next assignment. If nothing else, on a quiet evening in your new surroundings, you might read the October “Paws for Thought” to your pet. Ask Kim My dog, Maggie, always wants to jump on my legs when I come home. She is so excited to see me. What can I do to stop her? — Jacque Pumpkins galore Did you know that canned (unseasoned), fresh cooked, or frozen pumpkin is a wonderful and tasty source of fiber that can be used to supplement the diet of overweight dogs? Also, most United States zoos incorporate fresh whole pumpkins in their autumn animal enrichment programs. Those animals that won’t eat the pumpkins either mash them during playtime or use them as water toys. Be sure to check your local zoo’s schedule for fun fall events. Dogs love attention, whether it is positive or negative. Keeping this in mind, the best way to stop a jumper is to say “off” once and then totally ignore the jumping. Don’t make eye contact, say anything else, or push her down. You have to become a statue. As soon as all of her feet are on the floor, offer quiet praise. The key to this training is that it has to happen all of the time. To help Maggie understand, you can introduce clicker training to the exercise. Have the clicker and treats ready when you walk in. If she jumps, ignore her. As soon as all four paws are on the floor, click and treat. Maggie will soon realize what she needs to do to get your attention—which is to keep all four feet on the floor, not in the air or on you. Dangerous foxtails Dry foxtails, a common sight in the withered fields of autumn, can be a serious health threat to animals. The top of the dried grass can break off the stalk and wiggle its way into an animal’s eyes, ears, nose, paws, and skin. Based on their construction, » Attention travelers! Do you have a question for Kim? Send it to plederman@advanstar.com and it could appear in the next edition of “Paws for Thought.” www.healthcaretraveler.com http://www.healthcaretraveler.com
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