Gary Bogue: Keeping an old dog warm on cold nights

Oakland Tribune, Sep 25, 2008 by Gary Bogue

Summer's curtain calls,

Hot and dry, seem endless but

Fall waits in the wings.

-- haiku by Lura Osgood, Pleasant Hill

Dear Gary:

I have a female German shepherd, Pfeiffer, who will be 13 years old this January. Except for a progressive nerve disorder that causes her to be unable to feel her rear legs, and therefore stumble quite often, she's very alert, active and a joy to live with.

She sleeps in the garage at night in a wooden enclosure about 4- feet in length, width and height with substantial cushioning. My concern is about the upcoming cold winter nights. Would it be helpful and prudent to provide her a heating blanket under her sleeping pad to make her more comfortable at night?

It seems to make sense to me. Thanks.

Roc Lumley, cyberspace

Dear Roc:

A heat source sounds like a good idea, but I'm not too keen on using an electric blanket.

If an electric blanket gets bunched up, it might become overheated. And if your dog is unable to feel anything on her rear legs, the blanket could get too hot and she might not realize it.

My dog expert and good friend, Judie Howard of Moraga, also reminds us that garage floors are very hard and cold. Pfeiffer's circulation is probably not as good as it was when she was young, and Judie says she might not be able to keep her body at a comfortable temperature on those cold nights, even with a heat source.

It would be great if you could find a nice, warm place inside the house where your old family pet can sleep at night. That would solve your concerns. You'd also be closer to Pfeiffer in case she wakes up with a problem at night, as older pets often do.

If the house isn't feasible, thermostat-controlled heating pads designed for dogs are at pet stores and online. A thermostat keeps the pad temperature in your dog's proper temperature range.

Go online and Google Petco dog heating pads and you can see what's available.

SNIP PROGRAM

The next SNIP (Spay/Neuter Impact Program) low-cost spay/neuter clinic for feral cats is Oct. 5 at the Contra Costa County Animal Services Spay/Neuter Clinic, 4800 Imhoff Place, Martinez.

Contra Costa County feral cats and kittens older than four months old will be spayed and neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped for permanent identification for only $10 per cat. Humane traps are required. Resources to borrow or rent traps will be provided. For more details or to make reservations, call 925-473-5027.

More clinics will be scheduled for 2009; check www.snipcat.org for updates.

SNIP, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, was formed in 2006 to help reduce the numbers of unwanted cats and kittens born in Contra Costa County who are surrendered to the public shelters. It costs SNIP about $30 per cat to provide these services. Tax- deductible donations to purchase necessary medical supplies are gratefully accepted. Send your check, payable to SNIP, to P.O. Box 4746, Antioch, CA 94531.

Many thanks to Contra Costa Humane Society, which is generously donating $10 for each surgery done in 2008, and to Contra Costa Animal Services for the use of its spay/neuter facility.

NOTE: Because of cancellations by several of SNIP's volunteer veterinarians, they don't have the minimum number needed to staff the upcoming clinic. It would be a huge hardship and disappointment to the caregivers who have already made reservations if they are forced to cancel. Veterinarians are urged to please consider donating just two hours of their time at the Sunday, Oct. 5, clinic. Please e-mail karenkops@yahoo.com for more details.

Thanks for caring!

Find more Gary in his blog at www.ibabuzz.com/garybogue or write Gary, P.O. Box 8099, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-8099; old columns at ContraCostaTimes.com, click on Columns; e-mail garybug@infionline.net.