A Kenneling Alternative

Pet Safety

March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month

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March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month. According to the Pet Poison Hotline, fifty percent of the calls they receive are situations where an item that was not toxic to a person was ingested and was toxic to pets.

Categories

Let’s take a look at the top categories of potential toxins and identify ways to keep your pets safe:

  • Xylitol. This is a substance in many sugarless products that is toxic to pets. It can be found in anything from sugar-free gums, mints, and even peanut butter. Symptoms that you may notice include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, tremors and seizures.
  • Medications. Human medications can have lots of adverse impacts on your pets. From red blood cell damage to neurological problems, make sure to keep all human medications safely stored away from pets and small children. 
  • Flowers. With Easter around the corner, lilies are one type of flower that pets should not be exposed to as they can be toxic. If you have tulip or daffodil bulbs, keep an eye out for pets that like to eat them. These can also cause illness. 
  • Chocolate. In keeping with our Easter theme, those chocolate bunnies can be bad news. The real danger is in the darker and more bitter chocolate as it contains a chemical compound related to caffeine. If you pet ingests these types of chocolates, or you think it might be possible, watch symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, and seizures. Death is a possibility to seek medical attention promptly if you think your pet has eaten chocolates. 
  • Pest Control and Fertilizers. You might be preparing for vermin and gardening, but keep your materials out of the pathway of your pets. Some items can be fatal in small doses, so don’t take any chances.

If you do need immediate assistance with possible poison situations, contact your local veterinarian’s office or reach out to either the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 or contact the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

I Wanna Be A Pirate For Halloween!

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Halloween is a time of candy and fall weather. It’s also the time when we get to dress our pets up in costumes they may (or may not) want to be in.
 
Who doesn’t love all of the videos and pictures of pets in hilarious and adorable costumes? And while your pet may be into it, there’s some reporting from NPR that outlines things you might want to consider before dressing your pet up.
 
If your pet is one that is used to being handled and dressed in clothes, Halloween costumes are probably not going to be pushing the limits of their comfort. But, if your pet isn’t really one to tolerate being clothed, adding a costume to the mix may create discomfort, or under certain circumstances, injury.
 
According to a survey NPR cited, “more than three-quarters of owners plan to put their pet in a costume this year, and more than half plan to take their dog out trick-or-treating.” That’s a high proportion of pets wearing costumes and being exposed to human candies, like chocolate, that might be fatal.

What To Look For

Not sure about how your pet feels about that adorable costume? Check their mannerisms and body language.
Rena Carlson, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recommends that you look for specific signs. For example, “Are they panting, pacing or restless? Do they have a soft face? Are their lips nice [and] soft, or are they grimacing a little bit? What are their ears doing? Are their ears back? Can you see the whites of their eyes when you normally cannot? All of those are signs of stress.”
Consider less restrictive costumes like using a tag to match Scooby Doo or other small adjustments that the dog won’t mind. And remember that for some dogs, the extra attention because of the costume is a completely worthwhile trade-off.
 
Whatever you opt to do, keep in mind how your pet responds and react accordingly. For those of you with costume friendly pets, please share your photos.

International Homeless Animals’ Day

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The third Saturday of August is designated as International Homeless Animals’ Day. The event was started by the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) which is an animal welfare group. According to MetLife Pet Insurance, one of the group’s main programs is related to “reducing the deaths of dogs and cats that occur due to overpopulation.”
In the US, events such as adoption fairs to dog walks to spay and neuter clinics, are used to promote awareness. We can have a local impact on pet overpopulation. Let’s highlight some of the ways you can take part in reducing the number of homeless animals and decreasing overpopulation.

Actions You Can Take

First, spay or neuter your pets. This is the most direct impact you can have on preventing overpopulation and keeping unwanted pets out of shelters. Other ways you can reduce shelter capacity include fostering shelter pets.
Pets are often stressed and do not behave as they would normally when in a shelter. Keeping a pet in a foster home reduces stress . It also allows potential adopters to see the pet as they would typically behave. It also makes for an easier transition from a foster home to a forever home. Moving from a shelter directly into an adopter’s home can take a toll on both the pet and the new pet parent. The pet will spend more time decompressing which can result in some pets being returned before they have had time to adapt.
You can also serve as an animal advocate to encourage reduced shelter capacity through microchip programs, spay and neuter programs, and rescue groups and fostering programs. Each one of us can help keep the number of homeless animals low. One day, we might reach the point where shelters are no longer a capacity. Let us know how you plan to take part in Homeless Animals’ Day.

Pet Travel Safety Day Is January 2nd

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For those of us with pets, we make choices about when and how they travel with us.

Airline travel is simply not an option for me. I have an anxious dog above the weight limit and size to fit under a seat. And sometimes the duration of the trip means I won’t be leaving Ginger at home.

Which leads me to today’s topic: pet travel safety. January 2nd is designated as Pet Travel Safety Day. It is a day to remind those of us who load our pets up into our vehicles that we should take precautions to make sure we all arrive at our destinations safely.

DISTRACTIONS

While we may think we are giving our pet freedom by allowing them to roam untethered in our vehicle, we are actually setting up a potentially fatal event if a crash occurs.

  • Impact. According to a Forbes article a car crash at 25 mph can turn a 75 pound dog into a missile with an impact force of 3,000 pounds.

  • Loose Pets. Maybe that sounds scary for a large dog, but what if you happen to have a small pet that rides on your lap? The impact of an airbag going off between your body, the pet, and the steering wheel can kill a small dog. And the likelihood that a small pet could be ejected from an open window or flung into a windshield increases with them roaming freely.

OPTIONS

Perhaps you are already harnessing your pet when you travel. Do you know how your harness holds up in a crash?

According to the same Forbes article, a study by the Center for Pet Safety and Subaru found only one harness that provided the appropriate level of protection to both the people and the pets in the car: Sleepypod. Check out their car harness options at https://sleepypod.com/car-harnesses .

Additionally, several car manufactures have their own safety options for pets. Check out Jeep, Jaguar, and Land Rover or take advantage of the Subaru version of a safety harness through the Sleepypod website.

No matter where your travels take you, if your pet is going along be sure to harness them for their safety and yours.

Summer Hot Weather Hazards For Pets

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As we head into July and August, hot temperatures can really have an impact on our pets. Let’s discuss some of the potential hazards that might be present in your surroundings as summer heats up.

According to the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are a number of things to consider during hot weather.

  • Heartworm. While heartworm may not be the first thing that comes to mind, heartworm is a risk factor. Moosquitos are out and they transmit the disease. Get your pet checked for heartworm and keep her on preventative medication.
  • Dehydration. Like humans, pets need to get plenty of water and have a shady or cool spot to keep their internal temperature regulated.
  • Parked cars. We know that it can heat up quickly inside a car. This means potential heat stroke or death. And, in some states it is illegal.
  • Pools. Pets shouldn’t be unsupervised. Not every pet is a good swimmer. And if you use pool covers, the potential for an unattended pet to get trapped is real.
  • Open, unscreened windows. Pets can fall out of windows that are open and unscreened. Also, if you live in a high-rise with a patio or balcony make sure your pet is never left unattended. A fall from a significant distance can be fatal and can potentially injure others below.
  • Asphalt. We know the road gets hot. If your pet is low to the ground, not only can they get an overheated body from absorbing heat into their belly, they can burn the pads on their paws.

For other hazards go to https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/hot-weather-safety-tips.

Be safe and keep an eye on your senior pets as the summer sun raises the mercury in those thermometers.