Pet Auto Safety

Do you have a evacuation plan for your family in case of a fire? Did you include your pets in that plan? We have outlined some important tips which will help you include your pets in the fire evacuation plan.

First and most importantly, make sure your pets always wear their tags or have identifying tattoos or microchips. Animals tend to flee when terrified. So if your pet escapes the burning house before you can leash or crate him, there is still a chance they will be found and returned.

Know where your pets tend to hide. Fire is a scary thing and your pet will try to get as far away from it as possible and will go to a place where they feel safe. Some dogs hide during thunderstorms. Where does your dog hide? Cats tend to have all sorts of secret places they go to get away from it all. Do they go on top of the cupboards, in the closet, under the bed? Make sure you have a way to reach those special hiding places.

You should have an emergency kit for yourself and family. Don’t forget to put your pet’s things in the kit too. Helpful things to keep in the kit are leashes, pet food, any pet medications, and your pet’s veterinary information. If you have cats, make sure you have crates handy for them, or use a pillow case if needed.

Remember, your pets are important members of the family too. But if you can’t get to your pet, it is important that get out of the house as soon as possible. You can leave the door open as you leave. If you have a spare moment, open a window for them too. It sounds harsh, but you can’t help your pet if you get caught in the fire too. There is still hope that your pet will escape and you want to be around to take care of them and the rest of your family.

While we love to spoil our dogs while we are spoiling ourselves this Thanksgiving Holiday, let’s be a little careful about the kind of food we give our dogs. Some Thanksgiving food can be high in fat. And while a little bit may be okay, it could still upset your dog’s tummy. Dogs who are used to eating dog food with no salt, seasonings, preservatives, or other additives, might have very upset stomachs from eating our Thanksgiving food. An upset stomach can be painful for a dog. And it could cause unpleasant diarrhea or vomiting.

Some fatty foods include the skin from the turkey, gravy, candy and other sweets, or anything buttered. Foods which can be harmful for your dog include raisins or grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, potatoes, and dark chocolate. Be sure to ask your veterinarian for a list of more foods which are not good for your dog. Some of these foods could even be deadly.

Another important thing to remember is to not give your dog turkey bones - not even the big and thick drumstick. The bones of the turkey splinter easily and can get caught in your dog’s throat or puncture their intestines. The damage of a turkey bone could cause a lot of pain for your dog, and possibly even death. And it could cost you a lot of money and heartbreak.

Be safe this Thanksgiving Holiday. Give your dog lots of dog treats if you wish to spoil them over the holidays. If you think about it, most dogs don’t even take the time to taste their food, so they probably won’t even know the difference!

When you travel, you have an emergency first aid kit for yourself, but what about one for your dog?

First and foremost, when traveling with your dog this summer, be sure your dog has access to plenty of water. Also be sure to keep the phone number of your dog’s veterinarian and a 24 hour number to a pet emergency hospital.

The other contents of an emergency dog first aid kit are similar to that of an emergency first aid kit for people. Your emergency dog first aid kit will need bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment, and tweezers. The emergency dog first aid kit will also need, sterile saline for the eyes (contact lens solution), latex gloves, and a blanket (especially when travelling in cold weather).

An additional item your emergency dog first aid kit will need, which is not needed in an emergency first aid kit for people, is a nylon leash. Oftentimes when a dog is injured, they will not want you to touch them. In order to help them, you may need the nylon leash to wrap around your dog’s muzzle and to restrain the dog while you tend to them.

Never give your dog Tylenol, aspirin, Advil, or any other medication without first checking with your veterinarian. Before you go traveling with your dog, you may want to ask your veterinarian what sort of emergency medications you can keep in your emergency dog first aid kit. When traveling with your dog, it is always best to be prepared.

As much as we want to take all our loved ones with us when we celebrate our country’s Independence Day, we should really leave our pets at home. Unless we can take them back home before the fireworks, your pet would have a lot less anxiety at home by themselves than they would with the fireworks display.

As spectacular as the big sparkly lights in the sky are, dogs just can’t appreciate the awesomeness of it all. The sounds terrify them and seeing the beautiful resulting display does nothing to appease their fears.

Out of terrifying fear, dogs will try to bolt and run. And if they take you by surprise, you might find your pet’s leash jerked right out of your hand. Hindered by fear, your dog will run far and fast. And they probably won’t pay any attention when crossing streets with oncoming cars.

So please, leave your pet at home this holiday night, and have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Poor Maya burned her paw the other day. When we went to the dog park, Maya was so excited that she burst out of the car as soon as I took off her dog car seat belt, but before I was able to put on her leash. I have learned to put on the leash before taking off her seat belt, but only after Maya burned her paw while running around on the hot asphalt pavement of the parking lot. One of her feet blistered and some padding came off. I took her to the vet, but the only recommendation they had was to give her some pain medicine and not let her walk around too much. She limped for three days.

Before you take your dog out this season, be aware that the black asphalt pavement is very hot and can burn your dog’s feet. Try to avoid the black asphalt pavements or try to park in a shaded area. Maya’s injuries were very minor and limted to only one of her paws, but could have been much worse.

Whose Maya?  Check out her profile on the Pet Pals page of Pet Auto Safety.com.

You would be surprised at home many things around your home can be harmful to your pet. If you have a puppy or a curious adult dog, please read this following article on the common houshold dangers to your dog:

Protect Your Pet - Common Household Dangers to Your Dogs
By: Guy Berg

I used to give my dogs rawhide bones all the time because they absolutely loved them and I thought it was good for their teeth.  But when they ate the whole bone within a matter of minutes, I worried.  Should they be eating that much at one time?  Even though it is good for their teeth, is it good for their bodies?  Rawhide is made from the hide of animals.  I couldn’t imagine that it had much nutritional value.

We came across an article recently that spells out the truth about rawhide bones and why you probably should not give them to your dog.  Check out this great article by Jon Dakins:

 http://ezinearticles.com/?Rawhide-Toys—Treat-Or-Trouble?&id=1492142

I used to live in the country where it was very well known that coyotes would attack sheep, cattle, chickens, and even other dogs. I had 5 acres of land but kept a half an acre fenced so that my dogs would not roam around and get attacked by these coyotes (or mistaken for coyotes and get shot by a farmer). In the fenced yard, my dogs were safe.

However, Duce had a tendency to dig. Like my other dogs, he was kept in the house at night but let outside during the day for potty and play. I liked to be outdoors too so I was generally able to keep an eye on him and stop him from digging. But one day, he dug out and disappeared. I looked and looked for him but the country is a big place and there was still a lot of wild and wooded areas that made it harder to find him.

I really loved that dog and I miss him very much. He was shepherd/chow mix and a beautiful and lovable dog. It wasn’t until recently that I heard about a GPS pet tracker. The company I work with called PetAutoSafety.com sells one in particular called the RoamEO pet tracker. If those had been invented when I had Duce, I would have gladly have purchased one. That way, when Duce got out I would have been altered and hopefully would have been able to track him down and get him back home before he got hurt. This is a great product and probably one of the best pet trackers on the market because it is so easy to use and there is no monthly fee. I have the RoamEO pet tracker now although my dog Missy is almost exclusively and indoor dog. I use it mostly when we go camping or hiking. Missy has never gotten away from me but I don’t want to take any chances with losing another great dog.

Every year on the 4th of July we walk over to the park near our house where there is a huge fireworks display. And every year when I get home Sephi is hiding in the bathroom. I find her there shaking uncontrollably from the terrible noises that just took place. I can only imagine how she would have felt if I had brought her to the park with me.

I am amazed at how many people I see at fireworks displays with their pets. So many dogs get lost this time of year due to them running off in fright. And some of them end up getting hit by a car. So please leave your dog at home during the fireworks display.

There are other things you should consider this 4th of July in keeping your pet safe. It’s not unheard of for a dog to break their chain, dig out, or jump the fence in order to try to escape the noise. So keep your pet indoors. And if possible, keep them in the quietest place of the house. Sephi goes into our bathroom because that is the quietest place. I turn on the bathroom fan because she is familiar with that noise and it helps to drown out some of the noises of the fireworks. You can also leave a television or radio on for your pet before you leave. Do not leave any windows of your house open. And if your dog knows how to open any of your doors, lock them before you leave.

Always make sure your pet is wearing their identification tags. A desperate dog just might be able to find a way out. I have heard of dogs breaking out of windows, going through air ducts, and even managing to open an unlocked door. Tags will help to bring them home. If you find a dog this year, contact the local animal shelter and humane society. Post in the classified ads of your local newspaper. Post online too. Craig’s list is a popular place to post online. Leave fliers at local neighborhood centers and notify local residents.

If you know your pet will enjoy it, feel free to take your pet to the park for the 4th of July picnic, but please leave them at home for the fireworks! Enjoy the Independence Day celebration and come home to a safe and happy pet.