As the clocks went back on Sunday 30 October, marking the end of British summertime, PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, issued a warning to all pet owners to make sure their pets are kept safe and sound during the darker winter months.

Road traffic accidents involving pets increase at this time of year, not surprisingly, due to decreased visibility on the roads. A recent survey* of over 227,000 cases seen at PDSA’s 42 PetAid hospitals and four PetAid branches discovered that in some areas, cats are three times more likely to be injured in a road accident than dogs.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon Elaine Pendlebury comments: ‘Road traffic accidents are one of the most common traumas we see at PDSA PetAid hospitals.

Cats spend a lot of time outside on their own, so if they are hit and no-one sees the accident, when the cat finally comes home there is a danger their owner may just think their pet is off colour, when actually they could be suffering from internal bleeding.

‘From my experience, dog owners are more likely to witness accidents involving their pet. To help prevent accidents dogs should always be kept on a lead until the owner is absolutely sure there is no danger from traffic - that includes car parks!

Tell-tail signs of a road traffic accident in cats and dogs include:

• Shock - your pet may be collapsed, cold and not responding to stimulation in extreme situations

• Difficulty in breathing - it may be rapid, irregular or very slow

• Cuts and wounds

• Limping or dragging a leg

• Unable to stand properly

• Bleeding from the nose

• Bruises

• Frayed toenails

‘If you are concerned about your pet’, continues Elaine, ‘you should take it to your vet straight away. Always have the telephone number of your vet by your phone at home, and save it on your mobile just in case your dog gets hit by a car when you are out.
‘Speed is of the essence when dealing with road traffic accidents, so the sooner you get in touch with your vet the better!’

PDSA has these five top tips to keep pets safe:

• Keep cats indoors at night

• Ensure dogs wear a reflective coat or collar when out walking

• Dogs should always be kept on a lead until the owner is absolutely sure there is no danger from traffic (that includes car parks!)

• Get your pet microchipped so you can trace it if it goes missing, but remember that a dog still needs a tag attached to the collar even when chipped

• If your pet is unfortunate enough to be in a road accident, don’t panic - contact your vet immediately

For more information about PDSA PetAid services, please contact 0800 9172509 or www.pdsa.org.uk

* 227,296 dog and cat patients seen by a PDSA vet during 2004 were included in the survey, a total of 156,395 dogs and 70,901 cats.