Be cautious with collars

October 01, 2013 04:19 pm | Updated June 02, 2016 04:21 pm IST - CHENNAI

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Fluffy and his two adorable white and gold male siblings are playful and are ready to go to new homes. Call 9600199956

Don’t collar an outdoor cat : An outdoor cat (one that you feed once in a while, but lives outdoors and is dependent on natural prey such as rodents) is at risk of strangulation by the collar if he gets it caught in a branch. Outdoor cats that have bells added to the collar have the additional problem of being unable to hunt effectively, as their prey might be alerted by the sound of the bell.

Avoid collaring young kittens and pups on the street if you are not adopting them : Putting ribbons or collars around the necks of baby animals is risky if they are likely to wander off, or be picked up by passersby and left elsewhere. As they grow, the loop around their neck will tighten and cause serious injury or death. Collar them only after they find safe foster care or permanent.

The ideal collar tightness level for your pet : If you have a companion animal that is strictly an indoor pet, collaring him and adding a metal identity tag with your number on it is important, as it will help return him to you safely if he goes missing. This can also be done for fully-grown outdoor dogs that you feed. Says Dr. Afzal Mohamed, senior veterinarian — “A collar should be snug enough not to slip over the dog’s head. There should be a two finger gap between the collar and the neck at its tightest point”.

Sayno to choke collars : “There is no substitute for a patient, gentle approach to training. Do not recommend the use of choke collars,” says Dr. Afzal. “ People often misuse choke collars and this can cause injuries to the trachea, neck, eyes etc. There are gentle methods to teach a dog not to pull on the leash while walking, such as a front attachment harness or a Martingale collar”.

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