October 2003
Edited by Judy Wright
Once
again Guy Fawkes Night is approaching, (this is for British readers!).
There was considerable hope that legislation controlling the noise from
some fireworks might have been passed in time for this years' November
5th, but this was not to be. The good news is that it is still very much
'on the cards'.Once again, the night that used to be one night with a small gathering around a bonfire, with a few fireworks and some baked potatoes and perhaps a glass of mulled wine, is almost here.
November 5th has now turned into a week of bonfires, fireworks and parties and this means sheer hell for most animals. The 'bangers' are now more akin to small bombs, the noise is horrendous, what with those and the 'whizzes and 'bangs' from the others, it is very important to make sure that your pets are safely indoors.
Some dogs (and other animals) can become severely distressed when these things occur. If this is known to affect your pet and you are concerned, your vet can help you by prescribing a very mild sedative.
Otherwise, try to put the dog into a quiet room, close the curtains and put the radio or TV on and stay with him. A Cavalier will seek solace on your knee and probably shake like a jelly if he's at all worried!
THE
IMPORTANCE OF BEING WARM AND DRY!
As the weather gets colder, and everywhere outside gets muddier, it is often necessessary to wash off the dog's feet and tummy to avoid the house resembling a ploughed field!
This is fine as long as you make 100% certain that the dog is dried off properly. If you don't do this, the dog may well end up with a chill.
If the dog has been out in heavy rain and the coat is saturated, do be quite sure that you have dried him really well. Cavaliers don't have a waterproof undercoat like some dogs and will quickly get very wet and cold if not on the move.
Cavaliers, unless old or infirm do not generally need to be walked in a dog-coat, they are tough little souls!
As the weather gets colder, and everywhere outside gets muddier, it is often necessessary to wash off the dog's feet and tummy to avoid the house resembling a ploughed field!
This is fine as long as you make 100% certain that the dog is dried off properly. If you don't do this, the dog may well end up with a chill.
If the dog has been out in heavy rain and the coat is saturated, do be quite sure that you have dried him really well. Cavaliers don't have a waterproof undercoat like some dogs and will quickly get very wet and cold if not on the move.
Cavaliers, unless old or infirm do not generally need to be walked in a dog-coat, they are tough little souls!
GARDENERS
BEWARE!
This is a word of warning for those of you who enjoy planting winter bulbs in the garden. A friend in another breed has told me of a tragedy that occurred to a terrier belonging to some friends of hers.
Daffodils were being planted in the garden and the owners of the dog went indoors for a welcome cup of tea. The dog stayed in the garden and must have rummaged through the bag of bulbs and eaten several; the owners didn't see this happen.
Later that day, the dog became very unwell and was rushed to the vet for treatment. The little dog was very ill by this time and the vet suspected poisoning from eating daffodil bulbs. Despite the very best of veterinary care and an overnight stay at the surgery, the dog died.
The owners were distraught and had no idea that this could happen.
Please be careful!
This is a word of warning for those of you who enjoy planting winter bulbs in the garden. A friend in another breed has told me of a tragedy that occurred to a terrier belonging to some friends of hers.
Daffodils were being planted in the garden and the owners of the dog went indoors for a welcome cup of tea. The dog stayed in the garden and must have rummaged through the bag of bulbs and eaten several; the owners didn't see this happen.
Later that day, the dog became very unwell and was rushed to the vet for treatment. The little dog was very ill by this time and the vet suspected poisoning from eating daffodil bulbs. Despite the very best of veterinary care and an overnight stay at the surgery, the dog died.
The owners were distraught and had no idea that this could happen.
Please be careful!
ON
A HAPPIER NOTE!
Still with gardening though! I have several pairs of gardening gloves that I hardly ever use as they 'get in the way'.
On this particular day I had them on to cut back our big Blackthorn hedge, the thorns from this are vicious! I had my 'helpers' (the four legged variety!).
I took off the gloves and went to fetch the big loppers to help with a big branch: on my return there was no sign of the gloves. Now I am of the age when you put things down, but you aren't 100% sure if you did, and if you did, where did you put them?…There are many of us! Quite sure that the gloves would turn up; I went to fetch another pair.
The dogs were curled up by my bucket of tools where I'd left them, they were both quite 'out for the count'. It was only later, when they moved that the gloves appeared! Each dog had made a bed on top of a glove! How they love their comforts!
Still with gardening though! I have several pairs of gardening gloves that I hardly ever use as they 'get in the way'.
On this particular day I had them on to cut back our big Blackthorn hedge, the thorns from this are vicious! I had my 'helpers' (the four legged variety!).
I took off the gloves and went to fetch the big loppers to help with a big branch: on my return there was no sign of the gloves. Now I am of the age when you put things down, but you aren't 100% sure if you did, and if you did, where did you put them?…There are many of us! Quite sure that the gloves would turn up; I went to fetch another pair.
The dogs were curled up by my bucket of tools where I'd left them, they were both quite 'out for the count'. It was only later, when they moved that the gloves appeared! Each dog had made a bed on top of a glove! How they love their comforts!
HOUSE-TRAINING PUPPIES.
Watch this space! I am in the process of writing a piece for anyone that contacts me who is experiencing problems with puddles etc.
I will endeavor to produce this for the November notes.
In the meantime, for those of you struggling! Read the past 'Pet Pages' as some of them will contain information that will help you to cope.
Watch this space! I am in the process of writing a piece for anyone that contacts me who is experiencing problems with puddles etc.
I will endeavor to produce this for the November notes.
In the meantime, for those of you struggling! Read the past 'Pet Pages' as some of them will contain information that will help you to cope.
TAILPIECE.
I know that many of you really enjoy these little anecdotes. If you have any that you might like to share with a wider audience, do let me have them and, if they are suitable, I will include them. Please keep the piece fairy short.
THE MICE ARE BACK!
We live surrounded by farmland. This means that as soon as the harvest has taken place, the mice that lived on the fields come across the lane to us with the sole intent of setting up warm quarters for the winter!
Our cottage is old and part of it was extended just after the First World War and is made of wood. This part is raised on bricks, so there is a gap between the floorboards and the ground… Mouse Heaven! They are totally safe as we can't get to the Under-floor area because of the brick base!
One of the dogs, "Meg" has appointed herself 'Mouse Catcher in Chief", (she tries, but has yet to catch one!). As soon as she has got up in the morning she takes up her position at the door to the extension, where there is a step up. Now, on the riser of the step is a minute hole, and her eye is fixed on this as long as she sits there! I am sure she can't see anything, but she has convinced herself she can! Left to her own devices, she would tear away the step and the surrounding wall to make contact with the enemy!
The other morning, she was sitting there, intently watching the hole, when into the back door trundled one of our frequent visitors, the cock pheasant! Normally, Meg would have sent the pheasant packing with great aplomb, but she hadn't even heard it come in… the pheasant stopped behind her and she turned her head as if to say, "Don't disturb me!" and when she saw the totally unexpected bird, she nearly jumped out of her skin!
She recovered her composure very quickly and the poor old pheasant was, once again running away with a dog chasing it's tail!
THE MICE ARE BACK!
We live surrounded by farmland. This means that as soon as the harvest has taken place, the mice that lived on the fields come across the lane to us with the sole intent of setting up warm quarters for the winter!
Our cottage is old and part of it was extended just after the First World War and is made of wood. This part is raised on bricks, so there is a gap between the floorboards and the ground… Mouse Heaven! They are totally safe as we can't get to the Under-floor area because of the brick base!
One of the dogs, "Meg" has appointed herself 'Mouse Catcher in Chief", (she tries, but has yet to catch one!). As soon as she has got up in the morning she takes up her position at the door to the extension, where there is a step up. Now, on the riser of the step is a minute hole, and her eye is fixed on this as long as she sits there! I am sure she can't see anything, but she has convinced herself she can! Left to her own devices, she would tear away the step and the surrounding wall to make contact with the enemy!
The other morning, she was sitting there, intently watching the hole, when into the back door trundled one of our frequent visitors, the cock pheasant! Normally, Meg would have sent the pheasant packing with great aplomb, but she hadn't even heard it come in… the pheasant stopped behind her and she turned her head as if to say, "Don't disturb me!" and when she saw the totally unexpected bird, she nearly jumped out of her skin!
She recovered her composure very quickly and the poor old pheasant was, once again running away with a dog chasing it's tail!
*************
If you have any questions about owning a Cavalier
then click on the envelope to email Judy who will only be too pleased
to try and help you.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
This document maintained
by the webmaster@thecavalierclub.co.uk.
Material Copyright © 2003 The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club