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4A Daily News – Saturday, October 27, 2012 healthPetsactivities & Holiday is no treat for black cats By KATHY ANTONIOT- TI Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) Each year at this time, people who own black cats are warned to keep them safe from thieves who might want to use the cats for nefarious purposes. Keep your black cats indoors, owners are told, lest they be stolen and used in dark satanic rituals. Whether caution is nec- essary or rooted merely in urban legend, some older news accounts remind us there are individuals who might think Halloween gives them freedom to ter- rorize or kill an animal for entertainment. Even using an animal as party decor or for a prank is abuse, plain and simple. Animals don't appreciate the holiday and don't understand the symbolism that surrounds it. Like chil- dren, they can easily become frightened seeing people in strange costumes and masks on the spookiest night of the year. No matter how wide- spread the problem is or is not, the real fear of an ani- mal being mistreated has caused some rescue agen- cies to refuse to allow any- one to adopt black cats the last few weeks before the holiday. market until Halloween," said Georjette Thomas, director of advancement at One of a Kind Adoption Center. Instead, the West Akron, Ohio, shelter is sponsoring a "Double the Love" program where peo- ple can adopt one cat and get a buddy for it at no additional adoption fee. Summit County, Ohio, Animal Control uses the same philosophy with all of the adoption applica- tions it receives, especially this time of year, said Craig Stanley, director of administrative services for Summit County Executive Russ Pry. "We pay attention to the "Black cats are off the conversation — for exam- ple, if they are specifically looking for a black cat — and we note the age of the person who wants to adopt. If the radar goes up, it Halloween can be a fright By RONNIE CASEY would throw up red flags," said Stanley. The association between black cats and Halloween dates back cen- turies to a time when peo- ple believed felines were really witches in disguise. Halloween originated with ancient Celtic feasts of Samhain, or summer's end, when it was believed that spirits emerged from their resting places to roam the streets and play tricks on the living. would dress in costumes so any evil spirit lurking in the dark would not be able to recognize them. The spirits would be offered food and animal sacrifices. Black cats were some- times considered a witch's familiar — his or her supernatural servant — because they are largely nocturnal, roaming at night when people believed that evil lurked waiting to attack unsuspecting souls. Imaginations ran wild when the lack of knowl- edge prevented people from logically explaining what they couldn't under- stand. On that night, people Still, old traditions and superstitions die hard and many rescues warn owners to pay special attention to the safety of their pets dur- ing the Halloween season. It is estimated that Americans will spend $370 million on Hal- loween costumes for their pets this year. The Ameri- can Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals has provided these com- mon sense tips for animal owners during the Hal- loween season: —Keep treats for trick- or-treaters. Chocolate — especially dark or baking chocolate — can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. —Pumpkins and deco- rative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce an upset stomach in pets that nibble on them. —Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possi- bly life-threatening electri- cal shock. —Exercise caution with candles. Pets can eas- ily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curi- ous kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames. —If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not con- strict the animal's move- ment or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on cos- tumes before the big night. If your pet seems dis- tressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, leave the costume and don a fes- tive bandana. —Take a closer look at your pet's costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill- fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury. —All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a sepa- rate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets. —Don't put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it. For pets who don't like them, wearing a costume might cause undue stress. —When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside. —Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification and wears an up-to-date license. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a life- saver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you. Halloween is a favorite holiday for many adults and chil- dren, pets may not be as excited about it. Halloween night arrives, the witches, goblins and ghosts ring the doorbell constantly. Loud noises can be very fright- ening to dogs, cats, and other pets. Very social dogs and cats may be perfectly fine with it. However, all others should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during prime trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers in cos- tume can be exceedingly stressful for Fido and Fluffy. What a wonderful costume you saw for your pet. Again, your pet may have a different idea. Just because you think it is cute does not mean that he/she will enjoy wearing it. If your pet truly does not mind you dressing him up, make absolutely sure the costume is safe and comfortable for him. It should not constrict movement or hearing. It also should also not hinder his ability to breathe, bark, or meow. If your pet balks at being in his fancy costume, why not let him wear a fun bandana instead? Halloween is a very bad time for cats, especially black ones. There are those people who think Halloween is the perfect excuse to hurt or kill felines. Keeping your cats inside or in a protected, safe area for a few days and nights will insure their well-being. If they are used to being outside they might whine and groan, but again, they will be much better off where you can keep a watchful eye on them. Adult parties are great fun for adults. While an adult might handle being intoxicated relatively well, your pre- cious pets cannot handle it at all. Some may think that a drunken animal is a funny animal, but that type of humor can kill your furry friends. You might want to consider not leaving any lighted can- dles or Jack-O-Lanterns easy to get to, which could be knocked over by an exuberant dog or curious cat. Not only could a fire be started but the animals could also burn them- selves severely in the process. In addition, use caution when hanging decorative lights. If your pet thinks the wires are the new chew toy, he might receive a life-threatening electrical shock. Trick-or-treaters are not the only ones begging for Hal- The scariest night of the year is almost here. Even though loween candy. Dog and cats are notorious for wanting a treat or two. Remember, chocolate is not a sweet reward for them. It is deadly in any amount. Candy wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in their digestive system when eaten and cause a frantic rush to the veterinary hospital. With so many recipes available to make homemade dog or cat treats, you just might want to make them their very own "goody bag." However, if you do suspect your pet has eaten something that will cause him problems, please call your veterinarian immediately or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Trick-or-treating, going to parades, etc. as a family can be a wonderful fun time for everyone, except possibly your pooch. Before bringing your dog along, be sure he is fine with strangers and noise. The last thing anyone would want is for your dog to get stressed or fearful. If while you are opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog does not dart out and become lost. A collar with tags and/or a microchip can be your and his lifeline, increasing the chance that he will be reunited with you quickly. If you take a few extra steps before the holiday, potential dangers and problems for your pet can be greatly reduced and all of you can have an enjoyable festive time. Hope you and all the members of your family have a very happy Halloween. Ronnie Casey is a volunteer with Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter.You can read her blog, Mutts & Moggies, at redbluffdailynews.com. Pet Vet: Lump on muzzle may be abscessed tooth By Jeff Kahler, D.V.M. The Modesto Bee (MCT) Pauli has developed a lump on the right side of his face just below and in front of his eye. Alicia suspects her 7- year-old terrier mix was either whacked by the neighbor's cat or bitten by a spider. Pauli does not seem to be in pain, and seems to be eating normal- ly. Alicia gave Pauli some Benadryl, but saw no improvement in the lump. Certainly, a wound inflicted by a cat scratch could cause a lump. The wound could close over quickly, trapping contami- nants, namely bacteria from the cat's nail. This leads to infection, which can cause abscess. If Pauli's lump were caused by a developing abscess, I would expect some pain, though lack of apparent pain does not rule it out. Equally possible is an insect or arachnid (spider) bite. Depending on the type of insect or spider and the individual's sensitivity to the venom, a lump can develop. A lump as a result of an arthropod encounter should have gone down over time and possibly have improved with Benadryl. ly in the location of Pauli's lump. So I am thinking there may be a dental problem. There is a tooth in a dog's mouth, actually two of them, on the right and left upper dental arcade, called the carnassial tooth. It is generally the largest tooth and has three roots. The tip of each of these roots is just below a thin layer of bone that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. If one or more of these roots becomes infected, this bone can be penetrated, causing abscessation and invasion of the nasal passage and/or a swelling in the area of the bone involved. This swelling shows up precise- Harvest of Hearts 5th Annual Benefit Dinner 8026 Airport Road, Redding I-5 North, Exit #673, Rt on Knighton, Rt on Airport Located 1 mile south of the Airport (Next to Kents Mkt) Open Mon-Sat 8-5 & Sunday's 10-4 wyntourgardens.com WYNTOUR GARDENS 365-2256 Facebook Homes of Hope for Victims in Domestic Violence Sat. Nov. 10th Guest Speaker: Jennifer Scarborough Music: Stacy Stone RB Community Center tickets 347-1330 or 527-7449 Silent Auction 6pm Dinner 6:30 also available at The Loft I am ruling out an abscess from a cat "attack" because Pauli does not appear in pain. You're probably asking, "Why isn't Pauli in pain if he has a carnassial tooth root abscess?" I suspect he is, but is not showing it in the way you or I might do so. People show pain by complaining about it. Dogs commonly show pain by demonstration. In the case of a tooth abscess, a caretaker might note a decreased appetite from the dog. Often, as Alicia has mentioned with Pauli, there is no appetite change. These guys are tough! What one might notice if he carefully watches a dog with a car- nassial root abscess is that the dog chews food on the opposite side of the mouth from the infection. A sub- tle sign, yes, but nonethe- less it does indicate pain. A visit to Pauli's veteri- narian is in order. Radi- ographs of the teeth will demonstrate the presence of a tooth root abscess, and a root canal or a tooth extraction will cure the problem. That is, of course, if the problem for Pauli is a carnassial root abscess.