A wonderful poster by Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings. See more of her wonderful dog training series.
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Dogs Having Fun, Water Edition
Little Friends by photography Seth Casteel is billed as “lifestyle pet photography.” Pet lovers will be charmed by his photos, but none more so than his highly amusing gallery on Dogs Underwater. Be sure to check out his other great galleries too.
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Top tips for making Trick-or-Treat more Treaty, less “Tricky”
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!
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Working like a dog has a new meaning
Friday, June 24 is Take Your Dog to Work Day.
This annual event is sponsored by Pet Sitters International and scheduled for the first Friday after Father’s Day. The underlying purpose is to promote the benefits of bringing people and pets together and to remind people that dogs make great companions and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs.
Pets can offer an important health benefit by helping to reduce stress and depression. Here are some ideas for how your workplace can get involved. Visit the Professional Pooch Gallery – you can also enter your submissions to win a potential cash prize.
Before you bring your dog to work, it would probably be a good idea to check with your employer … but if if you can’t bring Fido into your cubicle, you can still celebrate the spirit of the day by making a donation to your nearby pet shelter – or even better, adopting a dog from a shelter so you can have a canine companion join you on the job next year.
Tips for pet adoption (PDF)
Adopt a Shelter Dog
Pets and the workplace
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Cocoa bean mulch alert: potentially toxic to dogs and cats
Cocoa bean mulch is an increasingly popular garden product. Made from the residue of cocoa bean roasting process, many find it a more environmentally friendly garden product than chemicals. Producers say that it is a natural deterrent to slugs and snails. Plus it smells like chocolate – and that’s where the problems can come into play … some pets, especially dogs, are attracted to the smell and might ingest it. And reports show that this product contains high levels of theobromine, an ingredient present in all chocolate products to one degree or another. Theobromine can be very toxic to pets.
If you have a garden or lawn, you need to be alert to the potential dangers that lawn care products pose to your pets – cocoa bark mulch is by no means the only dangerous garden product, but it may be one of the more tempting ones because of its smell. We’ve amassed some articles and links to help educate you about the issue of cocoa bark mulch.
ASPCA study and report: Cocoa Mulch as a cause of methylxanthine toxicosis in dogs
Question to the ASPCA: Cocoa bean mulch is popular in our neighborhood. Is this toxic to dogs?
The Saturday Evening Post: The Hidden Dangers of Cocoa Mulch
Hershey’s supplies cocoa bark mulch, and their “frequently asked questions” deals with the issue of cocoa mulch toxicity and dogs – they acknowledge that it can be harmful in varying degrees, and that dogs might ingest it because it smells good.
What you should know about household hazards to pets – from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
ASPCA: Poison Control Center
ASPCA maintains a 24-hour a day Pet Poison Hotline. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, you can call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
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