Morning walk can make your pet ill

CHANDIGARH : It's time to reschedule your pet's morning walk to later in the day with veterinarians advising owners to keep the animals indoors during the biting cold mornings. With cold winds sweeping the region, even the four-legged creatures have fallen on ill days. On Friday alone, 12 dogs were rushed to Panchkula-based government pet clinic with problems like vomiting and nausea.Apart from cold-related symptoms, Tricity vets have also seen an increase in number of pets suffering from Parvo diseases during winter.
In charge of Panchkula clinic, Dr MR Singla, said pets should be protected from direct exposure to cold winds. ''Avoid taking the dogs for early morning walk. A protein-rich diet is important to boost their immunity,he added.
Chandigarh-based veterinarian JC Kochar said the biggest sufferers of this season are puppies, who require a minimum of 28 degree C to survive. A warm place, mattress and round-the-clock monitoring is required during this season,he advised.
Highlighting that the canines were as prone to lung and viral infections as humans, Dr HS Grover of Mohali said, ''Make sure they're not left outside for long. Vaccination is also a must as it helps fight early infection, he said.