With the arrival of fall, we begin to round the home-stretch on another year of yard work. As we do so, many of us will battle not only our browned-out lawns and seeming endless hours of raking the fallen leaves—we may also battle poison ivy. For those of us who are sensitive to it, this scourge might even earn us a free pass from participating in all that yard work. But remember, just because you have not been out there touching it, poison ivy may still find a way to vex you—courtesy of your pets! There seems to be some debate about whether dogs and cats actually develop a rash from poison ivy. Conventional belief is that their coats protect our furry friends from having issues with poison ivy. Although actual cases of poison ivy may not have been definitively documented in dogs or cats in the veterinary literature, places on their bodies where their coats are naturally thin might, at least in theory, be vulnerable. Such spots could include the abdomen and ears of some dog breeds, as well as the skin just in front of the ears in cats. Even though our pets may never know the miserable itch from poison ivy of the joys of calamine lotion, oils from the plant can hitch a ride on their coats. And that is where the potential to pick up an unwelcome case of poison ivy from our pets comes into play. As with any contact irritant, the ideal thing would be to avoid exposure entirely by trying to keep pets out of places where poison ivy grows. For most owners of pets that spend time outdoors, that may not be possible. Identification and appropriate eradication of the plant is another level of defense. Be sure to avoid contact between your pets and any chemicals you might use in this phase of your war on poison ivy. Since many people have yards too large for this to be practical, and many pets that wander outside do so off of their owners’ properties, these measures will have their limits. Bathing pets or wiping them down with wipes after they have been outside may help to remove any unwanted poison ivy oil. Scientific advice is lacking when it comes to what works best for this purpose. Be sure to ask your pet’s veterinarian before applying anything on your pet’s coat or skin. Just because you read it on the internet doesn’t mean that it is a good idea! And just as with many other “contagious” diseases, personal hygiene is paramount. Be sure to wash your hand thoroughly after petting your dog or cat following their outdoor romps, especially if you can’t be sure about what wonders they might have encountered during their adventure!
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:05:47 +0000
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