Tag: Pet Safety
Holiday Pet Safety
11 foods and beverages that should always be kept away from pets
- Turkey Bones: Turkey (and chicken) bones and splintered fragments can get stuck in the roof of the mouth, throat, and intestines.
- Tomatoes: all kinds are toxic to cats, including parts of the tomato plant. Ingesting even a single cherry tomato can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.
- Alcohol: alcohol poisoning can lead to coma and death
- Gum, candy, chocolate: many candies and gum contain XYLITOL which can cause toxic or fatal liver damage to pets. All products containing xylitol should be kept well out of pets’ reach. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine which is toxic to cats and dogs.
- Mushrooms: Certain species of mushrooms, including those growing in damp areas of your yard, are toxic to pets and can cause shock and death.
- Raw potatoes (especially with green spots)
- Turkey skin
- Nutmeg
- Peach, apricot, other fruit pits: contain cyanide
- Caffeine: anything containing caffeine, including chocolate, coffee, and cocoa is dangerous
- Grapes and raisins: can cause renal failure
AND be sure to secure your trash! Moldy foods contain bacteria that can cause serious illness. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your pet has ingested any of the above items.
What about the tree and decorations?
Make sure it’s secured so that pets won’t be able to tip it over, which can cause all sorts of issues including broken ornaments (dangerous sharp fragments that could be ingested or stepped on), tangled wires (fire hazard), or injury (tree landing on pets). If you have a real tree, remember to keep pets away from the tree water. Even without tree food additives, the stagnant water is a breeding ground for bacteria and can cause stomach upset or diarrhea if consumed. Tinsel and pets is another bad combination. Skip the tinsel to avoid curious pets ingesting it. Once eaten, tinsel can get entangled in the digestive tract and cause issues leading to expensive surgery. Unattended lit candles are another big no-no around pets. When in doubt, blow those candles out.
Enjoy a safe and happy holiday season with your pets!
Keep Your Pets Safe on the Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is cause for celebration, but remember to keep your pets safe and sound during the festivities.
If you’re planning to attend a fireworks display, please leave your pets at home, preferably with another family member or someone they know. The loud noises from the fireworks can cause pets tremendous anxiety, stress, and even lead to heart attacks.
Pets should never be left outside unattended during the evening fireworks festivities. The loud noise can scare even the most confident animals, causing them to jump walls, dig under gates, or otherwise escape the safety of your home.
If you are unable to stay home with your pets during the fireworks demonstrations, make sure that they are all secure inside the house, and leave a TV or music on for them as a pleasant, comforting diversion.
Enjoy the holiday weekend, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Keep Pets Safe from the Heat
Keep Your Pets Safe from the Heat!
Everybody loves summertime! School’s out, vacations are in full swing, and backyard cookouts are everywhere. But along with the fun comes keeping a cool head, figuratively and literally.
When we forget to take a moment to prepare for those fun times – hiking, biking, swimming, and spending time outdoors with our pets – the results can be uncomfortable or even dangerous, especially here in the valley where summer temperatures can climb to highs in the 110+ range.
But don’t sweat it, we can help you and your pets stay cool in the summer heat.
Walk early in the morning or late in the evenings
The early morning hours and later on in the evenings after sunset are your best bet for safe pavement temperatures. Keep the five-second rule in mind. If the pavement is too hot for you to hold your hand on it for more than 5 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on it. The hot pavement can burn your dog’s sensitive pads. Walking on the grass is safer, but it’s still best to limit exercise to the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler.
Limit time spent outdoors
Beyond deyhdration and heat exhaustion issues, some breeds with white fur and lighter skin are more prone to sunburn, especially around the face and nose. Sunscreen isn’t just for people, ask your veterinarian for recommendations for appropriate sunscreen for your dog. When you are outdoors, always make sure your pet has plenty of shaded areas to play in. A kiddie pool with shallow water can also be a fun way to cool off, but pets should always be supervised around water.
Don’t leave pets in a parked car
Running errands during the summer? The safest, smartest thing to do is leave your pets at home.
Bringing your pets along for the ride simply isn’t safe, even if you’re planning to “just run into the store for a minute.” That “minute” often turns into five or ten minutes, which is more than enough time for the temperature in your car to rise to 130 degrees or higher, causing severe heatstroke, organ damage, or worse.
Please – leave your pets at home.
Always bring water
Even if you’re hiking in the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler, make sure you have enough water for you and your pets. Once the sun rises, temperatures climb rapidly and both people and pets can be overcome with heat before they realize it. Stop for hydration breaks often, and share that H2O with your pets.
What if there’s a power outage?
Great question. If your power goes out for more than a few hours, there are several pet-friendly places you can take your dog for relief from the heat. Most major pet stores allow you to bring your dog inside. A quick run to the store for a new toy or some snacks might be just enough time for the power company to restore power to your neighborhood. You could also check with family and friends who still have power, perhaps they can put you and your pets up until your power is restored and temperatures are safe enough to return home.
