Pet talk

Outdoors a dangerous place for pets

The decision to keep your pets indoors or outdoors is a major decision in raising and caring for your pet. Three is no right or wrong choice for this complex decision. The choice depends on many factors, and what works for one family does not necessarily apply to the next. How we as individuals view our pets, both in terms of how we want them to interact with our lives and how we believe their lives should be plays an important role in the decision process. Other factors include the size of our living spaces, the relative safety of the immediate outdoors, the number of pets we have, the needs of the individuals in the house and the personalities of the individual pets themselves.

People ask me what I think about the issue and I tell them that it depends on the above factors. Many pets live great lives both as indoor and as so-called "indoor/outdoor" pets. In general, indoor pets live longer, have fewer traumas and have less associated medical and surgical expenses than their outdoor counterparts. However, the final decision is that of the owner and ultimately, I respect both decisions.

For those of you who choose the solely outdoor life for your pet or the compromise indoor/outdoor life, I can at least offer some risk factors that are out there and how to minimize some of them. Let's start with one of the most ominous predators, the coyote.

Coyote attacks on our domestic cats and small dogs have been consistent and rising for many years. Coyotes hunt for food and have moved deeper into our environment over the years. There are two reasons: the coyotes' population is rising, and the fact that they continue to share our space makes them less fearful of us humans.

Hope Ranch, Montecito, the Riviera and every other suburban area surrounded by remoteness remains fair ground for coyotes. They are very smart hunters. They hunt in packs, often stalking their prey for many days. They loiter in food-rich environments and have little fear of people. I have seen coyotes in broad daylight and have heard stories of coyotes attacking small animals right near their owners — even those attached to their owner's leashes. Coyotes can roam over a large area and tend to run in dry creek beds. Attacks are often fatal and it is not unusual to only find a few small tufts of hair left behind. The best advice here is very simple: If you live in a coyote-inhabited area, it is best to keep your pets indoors. If neighborhood pets are mysteriously disappearing, or you can hear the coyotes howling in the distance, they are probably closer than you think.

Car accidents: It is extremely common for both outdoor cats and dogs to be hit by cars. If these animal is lucky, they escape with minor abrasions. But more often than not, broken bones and sometimes fatal consequences occur. If you see your pets crossing streets, then they are at risk. My hospital provides critical care for the Animal Control division for the City of Santa Barbara, and I see quite a lot of animal presented for care that have been hit by cars.

Cat fights: Cats, more so than dogs, are prone to working out their territorial differences by fighting. Dogs usually rely on gestures on posturing. Consequently, abscesses, scratches to the corneas and lacerations are very common in outdoor cats. If your cat is getting into frequent fights, try to understand if there's a neighborhood bully — or if your little sweetheart is in fact that bully. Cats that like to fight often have wounds on their heads, while the more passive victim will have war wounds on his or her rump. Making sure all the neighborhood pets are spayed and neutered helps. If your cat is the victim of an altercation, whether or not he or she is at fault, the earlier the wound is treated, the less likely it will develop into a costly surgical abscess.

Traps, barbed wires and fences: If these physical hazards exist, be careful. If your pet has to jump fences, or if local game wardens have placed traps for wild pets, then roaming your neighborhood is a dangerous activity for your pet. Again, not every outdoor environment is an ideal one for every pet.

Rat Poison and antifreeze: I have discussed these two common toxins in previous articles. The bottom line here is that both have a great potential to kill your pet, so prevention is the key. If you or your neighbor has a gardener, talk with him or her to make sure rat poison is safely kept in an area where it is not available to your pet. Check under your automobile for antifreeze leaks, or better yet, use an animal-safe coolant for your car. If your pet has exposure to these products, early treatment is his or her only hope for recovery.

Lack of attention to developing medical problems: One more insidious complication that outdoor pets are subject to is any medical problem common to both indoor and outdoor pets that may go overlooked because the pet is simply not around. If your pet is outdoors a lot, check out the animal at least twice daily to make sure it hasn't developed any medical needs.

Also, should your pet be in need of medical attention and someone besides you presents your pet for medical attention, proper identification is a must, either in the form of a collar with a nametag or a microchip inserted by your veterinarian. It may make the difference between your pet receiving all the care it needs.

In summary, regardless of the particulars of your outdoor environment, if your pet spends a significant amount of time outside, try to see him or her at least twice daily to make sure your pet is in good health.

Additionally, give a lot of thought as to if your actual outdoor environment is a reasonably safe one for your pet. Consideration to the amount of traffic, population of coyotes or aggressive cats and dogs, availability of poisons or presence of mechanical obstacles should be considered. Most medical or surgical problems are more easily treated if caught early.

James Strogoff owns and operates ABC Veterinary Hospital, 335 South Salinas St., Santa Barbara, 564.1464.