Archive | Pet Safety RSS feed for this section

Animal Hoarding: Recognzing and reporting animal cruelty

By on April 16, 2012 in Pet Safety

Animal hoarding is a serious problem in which a person does not have the ability or resources to care for their unusually high number of animals.  According to the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, the definition of animal hoarding is:

  • Having more than the typical number of companion animals
  • Failing to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in illness and death from starvation, spread of infectious disease, and untreated injury or medical condition
  • Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling
  • Persistence, despite this failure, in accumulating and controlling animals

Keeping too many pets can cause problems such as malnourishment, overcrowding, and neglect.  It can also raise sanitation issues, such as attracting rodents, insects, and disease, which create health issues for not just the pets but for the hoarder and the public, as well.  On top of putting pets at risk of starvation and death, it also has long lasting psychological effects on the pets, which make them harder to adopt after being rescued.  This creates an added burden to animal shelters already working at full capacity.

Furthermore, animal hoarding is considered a form of animal cruelty even if the original intention was benevolent.  All states have requirements for minimal pet care and, more recently, many states are also  passing laws specifically prohibiting animal hoarding.  The Animal Defense Legal Fund has a clickable map of animal protection laws in the United States and Canada to help you easily determine what is not allowed.

The exact cause of animal hoarding is up for debate, but the Humane Society states the general consensus is that “Animal hoarding is a symptom of psychological and neurological malfunctioning, which might involve dementia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.”   Removing the animals from the home is only a temporary fix as most animal hoarders are repeat offenders and may require psychological intervention.

If you suspect someone of hoarding animals, the first step is notifying Animal Care and Control in your area. The ASPCA has a fact sheet on recognizing and reporting animal cruelty.

Comments are closed

Hazards of Easter

By on March 20, 2012 in holidays, Pet Safety

While we’re still a few weeks out from Easter, some people are already buying plants and putting out decorations, so we think it’s timely to remind you of some of the seasonal pet hazards associated with this holiday.

Easter seems as if it would be low on the danger list, since there are no fireworks or scary trick or treaters. Unfortunately, some traditional human Easter treats and traditions are not so good for pets. Be cautious with your Easter celebrations and all will be fine for you and your furry friends.

The most common and serious threat to pets are Easter lilies, which are extremely toxic to cats. Exposure can be fatal, so absolutely don’t bring them in the house if you have cats. This is a very real risk and all parts of the lily are poisonous. A leaf, a petal, pollen and even the water in which the lilies might be soaking can poison a cat. If someone gives you one, take it to work or give it to a catless friend. Easter lilies are not toxic for dogs, so feel free to regift them to your dog loving coworkers and neighbors. If you suspect that your cat has licked or nibbled on an Easter lily, or if your cat is showing symptoms such as vomiting or unusual lethargy, call your veterinarian immediately. An untreated cat can die within 36 hours of exposure.

Most people know that chocolate can be toxic to dogs but it bears repeating. Dogs, unfortunately, have never gotten this memo and still salivate for it, so make sure that kids’ Easter baskets full of tempting and possibly fatal treats are hidden far away from dogs’ reach. Unlike Easter lilies and cats, however, all chocolate is not immediately fatal for all dogs. A simple rule to remember is that the darker the chocolate, the greater the threat and the larger the dog, the less the danger. A small dog who has eaten any amount of dark gourmet chocolate should be taken to the vet immediately. On the other hand, a larger dog who has scarfed down a couple of milk chocolate eggs will probably be fine, although call your vet just in case.

Easter “grass” in kids’ baskets is a real problem for both dogs and cats. The long strands of plastic can tangle up in pets’ stomachs and cause issues that can result in costly surgery or even death. Consider using tissue paper, paper grass or any creative alternative instead of the more common plastic kind. You can even make your own paper “grass” with green construction paper and a shredder.

In addition to these threats, you might also consult with the ASPCA’s list of Top Ten Pet Toxins for 2011. It’s a handy reference for all seasons.

And let’s not forget humans in our litany of Easter dangers. Hard boiled eggs should only be left at room temperature for a maximum of two hours, so plan your Easter egg hunts accordingly and have a happy Easter!

Comments are closed

Pet Safety on Valentine’s Day

By on February 14, 2012 in holidays, Pet Safety

The American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has compiled this handy Guide to a Pet Friendly Valentine’s Day. Poison control experts see a spike in pet incidents around the Valentine’s Day, so it is important to watch out for your pets. Here is a quick rundown of their list with some of our comments, but be sure to check out their full article:

Pet Safe Bouquets
Flower arrangements can be poisonous to animals. All species of lily are potentially fatal to cats, causing severe kidney damage. Refer to ASPCA’s guide to Poisonous Plants to make sure there are no dangerous plants in your flower bouquet. Other types of flora can cause symptoms in your pets, so also refer to the guide of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. The compendium is complete with pictures to help you identify and remove the offending plants from your bouquets. And not all floral dangers come from poisons. Roses contain sharp thorns that your pet might want to bite or chew on, but if accidentally swallowed they can cause infection. Instead of eliminating roses you can always opt to de-thorn the stems, just make sure to do it away from your animals.

Forbidden Chocolate
Although most pet owner’s are already aware of the dangers of chocolate to pets, it’s important to be extra aware of it this time of year when there is an abundance of chocolate might be lying around. Chocolate can cause vomiting/diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures, an abnormally elevated heart rate, and can lead to inflammation of the pancreas. See our past post for a cool chocolate interactive tool from National Geographic that allows you to see exactly “how much” of “what kind” of chocolate can have what sort of effect.

Other sweets can be dangerous too. Many candies contain a substance known as xylitol which can cause pets to suffer depression, loss of coordination and seizures, so make sure to keep these out of reach of your pets.

Careful with Cocktails
Since most domesticated pets are smaller than humans it is important to be extra careful not to spill any wine or other alcoholic drinks while celebrating the holiday. Ingestion of alcohol by animals can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances, respiratory failure, and coma.

Playing with Fire
If you plan on celebrating the evening to candle light, be aware that cat and dogs can burn themselves or cause a fire by knocking over candles, so be sure not to leave any unattended.

Wrap it Up
While exchange gifts is common on Valentine’s Day, the left over tape, ribbons, bows, wrapping paper, cellophane and balloons will instantly attract the attention of your pets, but might get lodged in their throat or digestive track, causing the cat to choke or vomit.

The Pet Poison Helpline also has some Valentine’s Day Safety Tips for Pets. Hopefully, you’ll take precautions and won’t need it – but keep this number handy just in case: Pet Poison Helpline 800-213-6680

Comments are closed

Rock Pooping Pug is 2011 Hambone Award Winner

By on January 16, 2012 in Dogs, Pet Safety, Pet Videos

Every month, Veterinary Pet Insurance posts the most unusual pet claim of the month, and at the end of the year, they accept votes for the Most Unusual Claim of the Year.

This past year, a pug named Harley earned the dubious distinction of winning the 2011 Hambone Award for having ingested more than 100 rocks. See x-rays and more about his incredible gastronomical feat here, as well as in the video below.

Running a close second was Chico, a Chihuahua that survived a harrowing encounter with an owl. You can read more about the 2011 nominees, plucky pets who survived some hair-raising ordeals.

Comments are closed

Winter Pet Care

By on January 12, 2012 in Pet Health, Pet Safety

cat peeking out window

Dropping temperatures this time of year have adverse effects on not only humans but pets as well.  It is important to keep a careful eye on your pets in the winter months due to the many seasonal dangers present.  For example, more dogs go missing in Winter than any other time of the year.  Snowfall makes it harder for animals to track scents and find their way home.  Once missing, the cold can have extremely harmful effects on your pets.

The American Animal Hospital Association has posted a helpful Winter Pet Care Guide on things to look out for and ways to protect your pet.  Make sure to check out the link for the full details, but here is a quick breakdown of some of the things you can expect:

  • Take your animals for a winter check-up to check for winter vulnerabilities.
  • Keep your pets inside as much as you can.
  • Look for warning signs such as whining, shaking, or anxiety.
  • Keep an eye on pets seeking warmth as they will curl up next to anything warm, from flames, heating coils, to car engines, all of which can be dangerous.
  • Take care of their footpads when they come in contact with rock salt and chemicals used to melt ice.  Also make sure they don’t ingest any of these things as it may cause inflammation of their digestive track.
  • Keep your animals away from ponds and lakes as they can fall through the ice.
  • Make sure they have easy access to shelter outdoors.
  • Never take your dog off its leash.
  • Make sure their water bowl doesn’t freeze over.
  • Be especially careful with pets that are young, old, or have pre-existing health conditions.
  • Be aware of your pets susceptibility to Frostbite and Hypothermia and how to treat those conditions.
Comments are closed

Pet poisons abound over the holidays

By on December 13, 2011 in Birds, Cats, Dogs, holidays, Pet Safety

Holiday moochers

The Pet Poison Helpline reminds us that the holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about a potentially poisoned pet. They offer a list of holiday-related decorations, plants and food items that the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline recommend keeping away from pets. See: Winter Holiday Pet Poison Tips

For more tips on preventing accidental exposure to poisonous substances, see:

Top 10 Pet Toxin lists – separate lists for dogs & cats

Toxic Food Guide for Pets

Holiday Plants Toxic to Pet Birds

Holiday Safety Tips from the ASPCA

If you have a problem, be sure to keep this number to the Pet Poison Helpline handy: 800-213-6680

Comments are closed

Holiday Pet Travel Resources

By on December 1, 2011 in Pet Safety, Travel

traveling dog

Plan to travel with your pet this holiday season?  Anything more than just a quick local trip will take extensive planning and consideration.  Because pets aren’t allowed on most train or bus services in the US, your options are pretty much limited to car travel or flight on a select few pet-friendly airlines. Of course, there’s always pet boarding and pet sitting are also good alternatives if you can find good local resources.

If you need to travel with your pet, here are some good resources to help you plan.

6 Tips For Travel (by air) With Your Pet

Airline numbers and websites

ASPCA offers 10 tips for safe pet car travel

Buckle up those traveling pets!

Pet Friendly Hotels and Motels

Posh pet hotels

Much, much more information in our Pet Travel Guides & Information Center

Comments are closed

Top 10 Winter Tips For Pets

By on November 10, 2011 in Cats, Dogs, Pet Health, Pet Safety

winterdog

PHOTO CREDIT

Outdoor shelters for dogs need to be warm, dry and windproof, with a heavy plastic or burlap door covering. The size should fit the dog, neither too big (your dog’s body heat will disperse), or too small. The floor should be padded with clean straw or cedar shavings, which is preferred to blankets, which can become wet and freeze.

Don’t assume your pets will be okay outdoors just because they have fur. Pets can develop hypothermia or frostbite after even a relatively short time outside, and puppies and young pets are especially vulnerable. Ear tips, tails, face, footpads, legs and the genitalia in male dogs are especially susceptible to frostbite; read more here.

If you are leaving water out for an animal, be careful that it doesn’t freeze and leave your pet with nothing to drink — and don’t use metal bowls outside for food or water because her tongue could stick to the frozen metal!

Feeding may need to be adjusted; if your pet is outside he or she may require more calories, while indoor dogs that are getting less outdoor exercise due to bad weather may need fewer calories to avoid weight gain.

If you’ve walked your pet where de-icers have been used, be sure to rinse his feet when you return home. Some de-icers are toxic when ingested, which can happen when your pet licks her paws. You should also check paws regularly after walking in snow and ice to be sure your dog doesn’t have frozen bits between the pads, or injuries.

Don’t allow your dog off leash in snow. The ASPCA says that “especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.” And of course, be extra careful near frozen ponds or lakes, where your pet could fall through the ice!

Remember that cats will seek warm places in winter, and that may include your car’s engine compartment; slap your hand on the hood before starting your car.

Cats and dogs are attracted to anti-freeze that contains ethylene glycol, a chemical that is highly toxic but which tastes sweet to pets (and humans — including kids!). Use antifreeze that has an additive to make it taste bitter, or one containing propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol as a safer alternative, and read about anti-freeze poisoning and treatment here.

Don’t use dangerous portable heaters in a dog house, garage or other unheated area, instead create a cozy space and and add a warming pad especially for pets. Inside, a nice pet bed or warm blanket will protect from drafts.

Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather! According to the ASPCA, a car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

Comments are closed

Chocolate Interactive

By on October 25, 2011 in Dogs, Pet Health, Pet Safety

cupcake_dog

PHOTO CREDIT

So, by now you’ve probably read a million times that chocolate is dangerous, and even potentially fatal for your dog, but National Geographic has a fantastic chart that allows you to see exactly “how much” of “what kind” of chocolate can have what sort of effect.

Use the center slider to find your dog’s weight, then look on the right at the different types of chocolate and see how much of each kind will cause vomiting and diarrhea, rapid heartbeats, tremors and seizures, and potential death. The lesser symptoms are represented by the lightest colors, beginning with light peach, up to to the most severe — death, with deep crimson.

So, you can see by this chart that a 30 pound dog might get a case of vomiting and/or diarrhea after ingesting around 250 ounces of white chocolate, but may well die after eating less than two ounces of powdered cocoa.

Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea or hyperactivity. As absorption increases, there will be an increase in the dog’s heart rate, which can cause arrhythmia, restlessness, hyperactivity, pacing, muscle twitching, increased urination or excessive panting. If you see these symptoms, get to a vet, or call them immediately!  You can call the pet poison hotline ($35 fee) if you can’t get your vet: 800-213-6680. And it’s a good idea to have some activated charcoal on hand in case you need it to treat poisoning at home.

But of course, the very best thing to do is secure all chocolate safely away from greedy pooches!

Comments are closed

Top tips for making Trick-or-Treat more Treaty, less “Tricky”

By on October 19, 2011 in Dogs, holidays, Pet Safety, Uncategorized

PHOTO CREDIT

It’s that time of the year to remind all pet-lovers to take five minutes of planning to keep your little furgoblins safe this Halloween. Our top three quick tips are:

  • Beware chocolate, and also Xylitol-sweetened treats! These can be lethal for cats and dogs!
  • Check your pets’ ID tags and collars. Is everything up to date and in good order? We take precautions during the holidays, but if our beloved pet somehow dashes off, we want to be sure they’re safely tagged!
  • Make sure you have this number handy: 800-213-5580; this is the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline.

The Helpline charges a $35 per incident fee, payable by credit card. Of course chocolate and Xylitol aren’t the only treats that can be harmful to pets. Raisins and grapes are other top dangerous offenders, and most human Halloween treats just aren’t good for your pet even when not life-threatening, plus wrappers and other packaging can lead pets to ingest them and suffer intestinal blockages. So, when it comes to treats and sweets:

  • Keep all Halloween candy far away from your pets. If you are stocking up to distribute to trick-or-treaters, put the candy in drawers or cupboards that your clever pet can’t access. Once you bring the treats out, store in a lidded container, preferably in a spot your pet can’t get to.
  • If you take your dog out trick-or-treating, be sure to keep him/her leashed. Even a well-behaved dog who doesn’t normally need a leash may dash away in the excitement, plus it’s easier to keep a leashed dog from snatching dropped candy from the streets or yards.
  • Buy or make healthy treats especially for your pet. This will help reduce everyone’s temptation to just “share a bit” of the house candy.

Once you’ve squared away the treats, it’s time to take off your witch’s/wizard’s hat, and put on your pet psychiatrist hat to address a few more issues:

  • Costumes Do or Don’t? Lots of people enjoy dressing up their pets… but do their pets enjoy it? Some pets are game for anything, and some absolutely adore the spotlight and all the attention they can get. Some are so laid back that they calmly put up with all our human shenanigans. But if your pet is shy, nervous, uncomfortable with the outfit, or anxious with change or unusual activity, it’s kinder not to costume.
  • If you do try costuming your pet, make an early trial run to see how they respond and give them a chance to become familiar with the new thing. Beware of any dangerous bits that they might chew, bite or swallow, and be sure their vision and movement aren’t hampered.
  • Stranger Danger? If your pet is nervous around new people, crowds, or excess activity, keeping them separate from the front door and other active hot spots is the best idea. Put up a baby gate, or set them in a different room or protected area if there is any chance at all they might dart out the open front door, or become aggressive with “intruders.”

In addition to being aware of the possible dangers of toxic treats, unwelcome or dangerous costumes, scary strangers, and open doors, be sure, too, that your decorations are all safe from inquisitive Fluffies and Fidos — especially if they’re chewers or gobblers! And be sure to be very careful about securing candles or any open flame and any electrical wires. And have a very happy and pet healthy Halloween!

Comments are closed
← Older posts