Country pet care tips

1. Allow supervised runs only

"People think farms or acreages are big, safe, wonderful places for animals," says Leigh. But there are just too many potential hazards on most acreages for pets to run free. Getting a collar snagged in a fence or a paw caught in a trapline are a few of the perils pets face in the country. Run-ins with road traffic or livestock are other common dangers.

Large dogs are probably safe to run free when they are supervised, say the Ennens, but small dogs should remain on a leash at all times. Dogs may try to pick fights with critters like raccoons and groundhogs, which can be devastating for tiny dogs. "A small dog could be injured or even killed in minutes," Leigh says.

A better option than letting pets roam free is to go with your animals for a walk or run around your acreage or neighborhood. When you return home -- especially after a hike through a wooded area -- be sure to check pets for burrs, seedpods, and ticks. Seedpods and burrs can lead to painful and infected sores if left unnoticed. Check your pet's paw pads for cuts and scrapes, too, especially if they've been on ice during the winter.

2. Avoid tangles with livestock

The Ennens often treat pets that are injured as a result of being chased, kicked, or stepped on by horses or other farm animals. They recommend keeping young cats and dogs away from livestock altogether because young pets don't have the agility to scoot away from a flying hoof or stampede.

Be careful, too, when horseback riding near pets. A barking dog can easily spook a horse. Put pets in the barn, house, or kennel when a young or green horse is being ridden nearby.

3. Take steps to prevent Lyme disease

Both dogs and cats can contract Lyme disease, a flu-like illness spread primarily by deer ticks and most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Lyme disease can lead to joint damage, heart complications, and kidney problems in pets. There are vaccines available for dogs, and the Ennens recommend that dogs on acreages be vaccinated.

Watch for deer ticks regularly. "Check between toes, on pads, under the neck, in ears, and around the collar," says Leigh. Remove ticks using tweezers.

Firmly grip the tick's mouth parts as close to the animal's skin as possible, then pull straight up. Apply an antiseptic to the bitten area. Destroy the deer tick by immersing it in alcohol. You might want to save the tick, marking the date it was found, in case your pet develops Lyme disease.

4. Provide housing, fresh food, and water

Country pets need access to shelter that is comfortable in a variety of temperatures. During the winter months, pets need protection from wind and cold. In the summer, they need shade. An insulated, draft-free shelter is ideal.

Pets should have access to fresh water at all times. "Make sure the water bucket can't be tipped over," says Bruce. He recommends anchoring water and food pans to a fence or kennel using a bolt or chains. Food should be kept fresh, too.

5. Don't forget the basics of good care

While it once was common for a country vet to treat everything from pigs to ponies to poodles, it is wise to take pets to veterinarians who specialize in that type of animal, say the Ennens. "I don't have the time or capacity to read all the latest research evolving in the world for all the various different species," says Bruce.

There are constantly new developments in medicines, vaccines, and treatments with specific doses and regimens for each species.

The Ennens stress the importance of keeping pet vaccinations up to date, including distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvo, Bordetella, rabies, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease for adult dogs. Dogs should receive monthly protection from fleas, heartworms, and ticks, and they should be dewormed every six months.

Adult cats should be vaccinated for feline leukemia, rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, Calici virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and rabies. Protection from fleas, ear mites, heartworms, and ticks should be given to cats monthly. They should be dewormed every six months.

Talk to your veterinarian for specific recommendations for your animal.

Keep the coons away

Although they like to create a wildlife-friendly environment at their acreage, the Ennens take measures to keep raccoons away. Coons are not only messy nuisances, but also carriers for rabies, lepto, and the roundworm Baylisascaris. The last parasite, which is passed through the raccoon's feces, can damage other animals' and humans' central nervous systems. "Each year a number of children go blind or die from exposure to it," says Bruce Ennen.

To avoid attracting coons and other critters, pets should be fed during daylight hours in a secure area such as a kennel or in the garage where wildlife can't access leftover food. Always store pet food in a snug container such as a garbage can with a tight-fitting lid.

Patio for the pooches

Bruce and Leigh Ennen's country home has a patio that provides housing for the couple's four dogs: Trig, Boon, Valentino, and Angus. The patio holds two 10×18-foot kennels with access to individual housing inside the adjacent garage.

Chain-link fence creates the walls for the outdoor kennels. Metal cattle panels from a farm supply store provide an open-air ceiling. Outer walls and ceiling are draped with black nylon pet shading (available at building supply stores). In addition to sheltering the dogs from sun and wind, the outdoor kennels provide protection from owls, eagles, and red-tailed hawks. Raptors can be deadly for small dogs like Valentino and Angus, both miniature pinchers. The kennels also protect the dogs from coyotes and raccoons.

Just off the kennels in the garage are four 4×4-foot insulated plywood shelters. The shelters have vinyl swinging overhead doors that keep out drafts while still providing good ventilation. The shelters have heated floors, heated blankets, and heated water buckets. They provide warmth in the winter and a cool, shaded place to rest in the summer.

The dogs' patio has a concrete floor that slopes to a drain pipe connected to a separate septic system for dog waste. A plastic water trough set in the concrete provides added drainage. Bruce spends a few minutes each day with a hose to wash away waste and debris. "It is very easy to clean," he says.

Another convenience is the patio door off the couple's bedroom where Valentino and Angus sleep at night. Leigh can let the small dogs out to their kennel in the middle of the night without having to roam through the house.

The Ennens say the pet patio gives them peace of mind when they are away from home. Their four dogs can enjoy the country air but still be protected from sun, cold, wind, and various predators.

Learn more

• North Brady Animal Hospital
  
  Phone: 563/391-9522
  
  Web: www.northbrady.com

• American Veterinary Medical Association
  
  Web: www.avma.org/care4pets