Valentines Day is for Loving Your Pets Too
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and love is definitely in the air, but so is potential danger for your pets. Jen’s Gentle Pet Sitters, LLC offers pet owners a few hints to keep pets safe this Valentine’s Day.
Two of the most common Valentine’s Day gifts, chocolate and flowers, can be extremely hazardous to pets.
In 2008, The American Society for the Protection Against Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) saw a 74 percent increase in cases of chocolate ingestion in the week before Valentine’s Day.
Animals are particularly sensitive to theobromine and caffeine, two ingredients in chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to your pets. Be sure to paw-proof all Valentine’s chocolate.
Many pet owners don’t realize that all members of the Lily family are extremely poisonous to cats. This is not a clever ploy by florists to sell more roses. Be sure any Valentine’s bouquets are lily-less.
Spring Hazards, Pet Safety Tips
Spring Flowers can be dangerous to pets?
Spring has finally arrived, but some of those beautiful flowers in bloom could pose serious health risks if ingested by curious pets. Log-in to the Members’ area and visit the Pet Health Resources section of the template gallery to download a list of spring health hazards. This Pet Safety Tip download can also be customized with your company information to share as a client leave behind.
Know your plants
There are many popular plants that are toxic to dogs. Plants like aloe, ivy, azalea/rhododendron, begonia, daffodils, lilies of the valley, tomatoes and gladiolas can all be harmful if ingested. The ASPCA has a list of plants that are toxic for dogs. And read our article on Toxic foods for dogs: fruits, vegetables and nuts to know what vegetables and fruits to keep your dog away from.
While it’s not practical to remove every plant in your yard, you should remove the most dangerous ones, especially if you have a puppy. You also will need to train puppies to stay away from certain plants through positive re-enforcement training and by deterring them by sprinkling plants with cayenne pepper or using a commercial non-toxic repellent.
Source:
www.petsit.com
www.dogheirs.com
Betty White Speaks About Pet Microchipping | HomeAgain
We stumbled across this video that we thought would be important to share about Microchipping.
Pet Safety
Winter Pet Safety 101
Article provided by one of our many cat clients and lover, Susan. Thank you!Winter is the time to sled and build snowmen during the day and snuggle by the fire at night. But winter fun presents some unique challenges for Fido and Fluffy. In areas that get cold and snowy, temperatures can get downright dangerous for pets, especially for those who aren’t built for the cold. What’s more, a number of common cold-weather products can be potentially poisonous. Here are a few tips to help keep the colder months safe for everyone:
Keep an eye out for automobile fluid. Both antifreeze and windshield washer fluid are hazardous to animals. Steer clear of puddles of antifreeze and washer fluid while walking your pooch, and keep pets out of garages and other automotive areas. The ASPCA recommends using products that contain propylene glycol rather then ethylene glycol.
Wipe de-icing products off paws. Ice-melting products can get stuck in your pet’s paws and then they may try licking it to remove it. Paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice. If you walk your dog on de-iced roads or sidewalks, make sure he wears booties. And wipe off Fido and Fluffy’s paws, legs and stomach when they come in out of the cold.
Be wary of rodent poison. If you live in a rural or semi-rural area, you may see more mice move in when the temperature drops. You or your neighbors may be tempted to rid yourself of these pests with rodent poison. Unfortunately pets sometimes eat the poison. If you exterminate rodents, use humane and safe traps rather than poisons. When letting Fido loose in a fenced-in yard, check the area for rodents before letting him out, and try to keep Fluffy inside for the winter.
Be prepared to act fast. If you think your pet has swallowed something toxic, call the 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline, staffed by ASPCA veterinarians at 1-888-HOMEAGAIN (1-888-466-3242). These calls are free for pets with a paid annual HomeAgain membership, a $65 value per call.
Watch the temperature. Cats and short-coated dogs don’t fare well in frigid temperatures, and even furrier breeds like Huskies and Malamutes can experience problems without adequate shelter. When the nights get cold and snowy, bring pets inside and make sure working dogs have a good doghouse with warm bedding, like straw or woodchips. Indoor pets should sleep off the floor and away from drafts on a dog or cat bed with a warm blanket, according to the ASPCA. Though frostbite and hypothermia is more rare in dogs than in humans, it can happen.
Keep cats away from your car. Cats love warmth, so after you park the car, the heat from the engine can entice even the wariest of felines. Once under the hood, your cat could be seriously hurt the next time you start your engine. Keep Fluffy inside and bang on the hood and honk your horn before starting your engine.
With a few simple precautions, the wintertime can be a favorite time of year for both you and your pets. So grab a warm blanket, curl up by the fire and enjoy getting cozy indoors with Fido and Fluffy.
Toxins in Sugarless Candy
Sugarless Candies Can be Toxic to Pets
Candies containing xylitol have been recognized by the National Animal Poison Control Center to be a risk to pets. This compound can cause liver damage and death in dogs susceptible to being poisoned with xylitol. If your dog ingests sugarless candy it would be best to contact the NAPCC (1-888-426-4435).
It is possible your vet will not be familiar with this source of poisoning as this information is fairly new and candies have not usually been associated with poisonings in dogs if they did not contain chocolate as the major ingredient.