Pet Tales
Breed Profile
Ragdoll
Happy Halloween for Your Pets The candy is prepped and your house is adorned with spooky decorations. Is your pet Halloween-ready too? Try these tips to make this busy holiday safe and stress-free for your pets.
The Ragdoll is a large, relaxed, easy-going cat that is great with children and other pets. Many will allow themselves to be dressed in clothes and carried around by youngsters with so little resistance that they literally flop like rag dolls, which is where they get their name. While they aren’t particularly active, they are friendly and may even enjoy a game of fetch. The Ragdoll’s medium-length coat has a soft, silky texture requiring little routine grooming beyond weekly combing or brushing. There is little shedding of the coat except in the spring and fall, when grooming requirements rise. Ragdolls are generally healthy, but they have one health issue that can be a large concern: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in cats and causes enlargement of the heart muscle. It is a hereditary condition. If your veterinarian detects a heart murmur, an echocardiogram can confirm whether your cat has HCM. The Ragdoll may live to reach 20 years of age, but most live to about 15 years old.
1.
Keep your pets in an enclosed room away from trick-ortreaters. Even an even-tempered pet may be frazzled by the frequent doorbell ringing, unfamiliar costumes and strangers—and may bite out of fear.
Ragdoll
2.
Make sure your pet is properly identified (microchip, collar and ID tag) in case it escapes through the open door while you’re distracted with trick-or-treaters.
3.
Candy is dangerous to pets! Xylitol (a common sweetener in sugar-free candies) and chocolate are poisonous to pets. Lollipop sticks are choking hazards. Keep candy secure from your pets.
4.
Skip the glow sticks around your pet’s neck. While the material isn’t toxic (in case your pet should bite the glow stick), it tastes really gross to your pet and causes excessive salivation. Glow sticks also pose a strangulation hazard.
5.
Consider skipping the pet costumes, as they cause stress to most pets. If you must deck out Fido, keep it simple. Avoid strings, belts, sashes and anything that can get in a pet’s eyes. Also never leave a costumed pet alone, as the pet may eat the costume in an effort to get it off, which can cause a GI obstruction. Pet Quarterly | Fall 2014 15