LOOKING AFTER PETS Processionary caterpillars , Leishmanosis and other pet nasties

[baldilocks]

Originally Posted by Angelic

Driving safely with your dog in Portugal.
The legislation for dogs travelling in vehicles varies from country to country and it is wise to know what is required to ensure the safety of your dog and others and avoid potential fines etc. for not abiding to the laws. The legislation for Portugal states that dogs must be suitably restrained in a separate passenger area where they cannot interfere with your driving. When they say restrained this means using a special lead that is fitted into the seatbelt, which for your dogs safety and to prevent injury to their neck should be used with a suitable dog harness. Alternatively they should be contained in a crate/travelling kennel or behind dog guards.


If you drive a commercial vehicle i.e. a van, your dog is allowed to travel in the back without being restrained as long as it is completely separate from the driving area. Many countries are now making it law to have your dog in a crate or behind a dog guard, with heavy fines being administered if you are caught not abiding to the law. Portugal however still allows the use of a lead restraint at the moment.

Irrespective of the law, common sense says there are many reasons for safely restraining your dog when travelling in the car:

It is very dangerous to have your dog loose whilst driving, if you suddenly stop or swerve they may be thrown out of the car and cause injury to you, themselves and others in the car.
They can distract you causing all sorts of risks.
If they are near an air bag as it goes off they will suffer serious injury.
They could jump out to chase something if the windows are open as you drive.
Your dog is prevented from jumping out as you open the car and putting themselves in danger with passing cars etc.
If there is an accident and your dog escapes into the traffic they risk getting injured, causing another accident or biting someone as they may well be very anxious/scared.
You could run the risk that your insurance company will not cover any costs caused from your dog being unsuitably restrained whilst driving.

Certainly in the UK if there was an accident and your dog is not restrained in a crate or behind a dog guard in your car the emergency services are not obliged to enter your vehicle until a dog handler arrives hence delaying any treatment they need to administer to yourself or your passengers.
I have not been able to find out if this would apply here in Portugal but I would not like to take the risk and always travel with my dogs comfortably restrained in a crate for their safety as well as others.

I sometimes wish that the same rules applied in respect of some children, too!

[JohnBoy]

There is another reason for retraining your dog (or child) not mentioned above. In an impact at only 50 k.p.h., any loose object getting thrown forward onto the windscreen hits it with a pressure of 3 tons. Imagine the damage that would do to a skull.

No contest. If you love 'em, belt 'em up. But I will let you put kids in the boot!

[baldilocks]

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

There is another reason for retraining your dog (or child) not mentioned above. In an impact at only 50 k.p.h., any loose object getting thrown forward onto the windscreen hits it with a pressure of 3 tons. Imagine the damage that would do to a skull.

No contest. If you love 'em, belt 'em up. But I will let you put kids in the boot!

Not to mention the damage to the windscreen!

Trouble is we have an MPV type and kids in the back-end get up quite a bit of speed before they catch you across the back of the neck!

[siobhanwf]

Please think of me when the weather is hot.

[mehereinportugal]

Was watching the One Show last night (well more precisely was flicking to see if anything on worth watching). Anyway it would seem that these little nasties have now been found in the UK and they were issuing the same warnings - they warned of how irritating they were to children but did not indicate that they could be fatal to our four legged friends.

[siobhanwf]

Originally Posted by mehereinportugal

Was watching the One Show last night (well more precisely was flicking to see if anything on worth watching). Anyway it would seem that these little nasties have now been found in the UK and they were issuing the same warnings - they warned of how irritating they were to children but did not indicate that they could be fatal to our four legged friends.

Unstoppable deadly invader: Relentless rise of the poisonous caterpillars | Mail Online

[siobhanwf]

UsuallY the processionary caterpillar is one the move earlier in the year. But there have been reposts of the little blighter in the Sao Martinho area. SO BEWARE.

Angelic who helps us with our two babies has reposted that a friend`s dog has come into contact with then. Although doing well as her owners got her to the vets very quickly she is likely to loose half her tongue.


After speaking to the vets today about various things they did say they see cases of caterpillar poisoning all year round, so do be aware it can happen at anytime.
message from Angelic


REMEMBER get your pet to the VETS IMMEDIATELY
BUT THE BEST IMMEDIATE TREATMENT is to give your pet a large dose ( one or two antihistamine tablets) together with Prednisolone tablets which you can buy from any Pharmacy here and also if you can get them to drink fresh orange juice.
I must admit I keep a supply of predniisolone tables handy at home.

[mehereinportugal]

Originally Posted by siobhanwf

UsuallY the processionary caterpillar is one the move earlier in the year. But there have been reposts of the little blighter in the Sao Martinho area. SO BEWARE.

Angelic who helps us with our two babies has reposted that a friend`s dog has come into contact with then. Although doing well as her owners got her to the vets very quickly she is likely to loose half her tongue.


After speaking to the vets today about various things they did say they see cases of caterpillar poisoning all year round, so do be aware it can happen at anytime.
message from Angelic


REMEMBER get your pet to the VETS IMMEDIATELY
BUT THE BEST IMMEDIATE TREATMENT is to give your pet a large dose ( one or two antihistamine tablets) together with Prednisolone tablets which you can buy from any Pharmacy here and also if you can get them to drink fresh orange juice.
I must admit I keep a supply of predniisolone tables handy at home.

Another friend of mine called me this morning to tell me that they have the nests and caterpillars on their road - they are in Alfaeizerao.

[alexft]

Bio response, around house plant trees that attract birds who eat them

[baldilocks]

Originally Posted by alexft

Bio response, around house plant trees that attract birds who eat them

I think you will find that most birds have more sense and avoid them like the plague!