Safety For Pets

Boy oh boy where to start on this one. There are so many things we can do to make our pets' lives safer. We want to be cautious without being paranoid but we also don't want to be remiss and throw caution to the wind. Here are a few every day things every parent should know to make a safer home for their pets.


Household Toxins
I can't take credit for this list but I can certainly give thanks to Drs Foster & Smith for compiling such a great reference on pet poisons and toxins. It's a good reference to keep on hand and saves me quite a bit of typing :) Read through and familiarize yourself with common toxins you may have in your home. Don't forget, toxins aren't just chemicals but also certain foods. Foods that are safe for us may not be safe for our pets for example chocolate (bakers is highest danger, milk is on the lower end), onions, a certain amount of garlic, grapes, raisins and some other foods too!

Pet Poisons & Toxins

Also important to be aware of poisonous plants. Always watch your pet to be sure they aren't chewing on any of these around the yard or in your home. Where grass is concerned, it's not the grass that's unsafe to eat but the pesticides or other chemicals grass can be treated with. If your dog or cat likes to chew on grass pet stores like Petco & Petsmart sell petsafe grass to satisfy their need to weed. ;)

ASPCA's List of Toxic & Non-Toxic Plants 

Hidden Dangers 


Sometimes the very products and accessories we buy made specifically for our pets can be a hazard to their health. We can't very well live life in a bubble but we can take care to be vigilant and take the proper precautions to help avoid dangers.

Collars
Collars are not outright dangerous but they do have some hidden dangers. As you will notice on some products that they indicate "Not to be used for tieout". That is because some collars will snap if pulled hard enough and are meant to do so for safety reasons. Buckle collars, training (choke & prong) collars do not have this snapping feature. Under NO circumstances should a choke or prong collar be worn by a dog EXCEPT WHEN TRAINING or WALKING! For me, the main function of my dog's collars are for identification. For walking purposes I prefer to use a harness to avoid putting pressure on the trachea when walking - this is especially for my pugs and very important for all brachycephalic breeds. My personal preference is to balance the pull throughout the dog's body rather than on just the neck and throat. My goal is to avoid tracheal irritation and injury. My personal favorite is the Puppia Harness which seems to rub less and be more breathable and comfortable. There are a variety of collars and harnesses out there so if you need help choosing, feel free to ask ;)

Collars should be worn for identification but always be cautious to leave collars off when your dog is playing with another dog, in a crate or on a deck where their collar can get snagged or stuck between small spaces. I love collars, I have a friend who makes beautiful collars I can't resist. My dogs must have about 20 collars each! My personal feeling, however, is that collars should only be worn when owners can supervise. I prefer to leave my collars off my dogs when I am not around to supervise as I know there's no way they can leave the house without me there ;) They are also microchipped should anything happen. Cats should wear collars in case they get out or if they are outdoor cats so someone knows they belong to someone. They make special safety collars for cats that break away in the event they get snagged on something.

If you leave your dog's collar on during the day unsupervised because he/she is a door-dasher and bolts for the door anytime anyone comes in consider blocking off any entrances to the door, teaching your dog a strong sit-stay at the door or keeping them in a room of the house where they cannot get to the front door. Most of my clients do leave their dog's collar off for safety reasons and I put it on and take it off before and after walks. I think it's a good idea as a preventative measure. Although it may never happen, I feel it's always better to err on the side of caution.

If you still feel more comfortable leaving your dog's collar on during the day check out a company called Chinook & Co. They make collars for dogs called The Keepsafe Breakaway Collar that are meant to snap open with enough force. They won't snap open or "breakaway" when walking because they have an override feature that solves this problem. The owners of this company invented this collar when their dog Chinook passed away from an accident involving his collar (read "about us" section of site to read their story).

Toys
Toys are made for dogs and cats but as with collars it is important to supervise with most of them. Chewing off small pieces, swallowing large chunks, gastrointestinal obstructions & tears are all real concerns. In my recent post Dog Toys you will find all the information you need to know about certain dog toys and which are safe to leave with your dog unsupervised. I have yet to review cat toys so keep posted! But always watch those cats and what they like to put in their mouths (mine loves my computer wires!!!) If you have questions, ask!

Household Items
Unfortunately dogs can't always tell the difference between a toy and what's not a toy. Some dogs have serious chewing instincts and will go for whats there and what feels good to chew on. Especially puppies! It's important to puppy-proof (and dog-proof!) your home if you know your little buddy likes to get into trouble. If an item is big enough, stringy enough or sharp enough it can get lodged, twisted in or cause a tear in the gastrointestinal system no matter what it is.

If you can think of any other items you'd like to add to this list, feel free to email me at sitdogstay@gmail.com and I'll be happy to add them or answer any questions you may have.

As always...keep giving back what your pets give to you endlessly - LOVE!