Cape Breton flood takes its toll on pets

While people continue to deal with the aftermath of flooding inCape Breton, pets are facing hardships of their ownand some are evenfalling ill from contamination.

Many people were driven from their homes during the torrential rainfall on Thanksgiving Day,and along with themas many as 1,100 pets.

Joey the cat wasone of them.

He lives just a block down from the area hardest hit by the flood.His owner, Lucy Wintermans, initially kept him inside but relented and let him outa few days later when the floodwaters had receded.

He returned covered in oil.

"I wasn't really thinking clearly that there would be so many places with water on the ground and oil spilled and that andso I regret letting him out," saidWintermans.

She washed Joeyseven times and because he seemed to be feeling poorly, shetook him to the vet, but it didn't help.

"He started walking in circles. He wasn't himself. He seemed like he was in pain," Wintermans said. "He didn't like to be touched and usually, he's a really affectionate cat."

Joeywent back to the vet where he received an IV overnight.

"He is doing better;he's eating again and the smell of the oil is gone," said Wintermans. "But now his skin is peeling off and he's just not very happy."

'Just terrified'

Roberta Lynch lives a few blocks awayfrom Wintermans.

She has a dog and two cats and "theywere just terrified," she said.

"They were showing signs of anxiety. Mycat wouldn't leave me alone. My dog wouldn't leave me alone. Myother cat was so anxious. He began to be sick," said Lynch.

Veterinarian Charlotte Ramey saidsince the flood, her practice has treated many cases ofdiarrhea due tocontaminationfrom sewer backups.

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She suggests pet owners keepdogs from drinking out of puddles while on walks and keepa closer eye on outdoor cats.

Deworming your pet even if it's not showing symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea is also important.

Areas of Sydney that never before had high levels of certain canine or feline diseases may experience them now, carried in by floodwaters, Ramey said.