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Pet Wellness – Driving Safely With Your Pets

January 23, 2013 By

One aspect of pet wellness is driving safely with them. Even though it may seem simple to drive with your pets, this is not always the case. For example, your pet dog or cat may get very excited when traveling and may have had a few accidents in your car’s backseat. Your pet may also behave in an undesirable manner such as jumping back and forth or may not even enjoy traveling in the first place. The following are some of the things that you can do to make it more safe, enjoyable, and comfortable to drive with your pets.

Restrain Your Pet
Driving with unrestrained pets is hazardous because they can disrupt your attention or suffer serious injury if an accident takes place. They can also be thrown about during panic braking. In order to avoid this, you should always restrain your pets in the rear seat. You can use a pet carrier or pet harness and secure it in place using the seatbelt. You can also use a cage which should be placed on the rear floor.

Make Sure Your Dog Does Not Hang His Head Out of the Window
Dogs love doing this but you should discourage it because your pet can suffer eye damage from flying dirt and dust.

Refrain from Smoking
Smoking increases the feelings of nausea in humans and this can also happen to your pet.

Do Not Leave Your Pet in the Car if the Weather is Very Cold or Hot
Hundreds of pets die every year after being left locked in a car when temperatures are extremely hot or cold.

Get a Safety Harness
There are many types of safety harnesses available for pets of all sizes. Ideally, you should look for harnesses that are made from soft, strong nylon webbing and are designed to restrain pets around their necks and bodies. They should also be nonirritating and adjustable. When your pets wear such a safety harness, they can sit up, lie down or stand since they are safely restrained. Safety harnesses are compatible with all automobile seatbelts and some of them
serve dual purposes.

Use a Pet Seat Cover
This pet wellness product is a layer of cloth that is designed to cover your car seat. Pet seat covers come in a wide variety of materials, sizes, and colors. They are very useful for ensuring that the hair your pets shed does not fall onto your car seat. They also help protect car seats made from soft leather.

Use a Pet Car Barrier
Most pets love to have freedom to move from the back of a minivan, SUV or crossover to the front passenger seat. However, this can be dangerous and you can ensure that your pet does not get to the front seat by using a pet car barrier. This pet wellness product is usually made from wire and it adjusts to fit different vehicles. If your pet is stubborn you can purchase an extender that you can use along with the wire barrier to keep it at bay.

When you start using products such as safety harnesses, you may find that pets, especially dogs, will chew on them. However, you should be patient and use reward treats. This will help your pet become comfortable with the new arrangement and enjoy traveling while retained.

Filed Under: Pet Safety

How To Behave Responsibly In “Pet Friendly” Accommodations

November 14, 2012 By

If you are a pet owner who has decided to do some traveling, you may want to take your furry or feathery friend along with you. You’ve called ahead to make sure your hotel is a “pets allowed” accommodation, you’ve found out what their policies are about your pets stay at the hotel, and now you’re on your way to a fun filled time. How do you make sure that your pet behaves himself while at the hotel, and what do you need to do to make your stay as pleasant as possible for everyone involved (including your pet)?

A good place to start is to make sure that traveling with your pet is a good idea. Some pets, for example, a small bird, a nervous cat or dog, or a small animal like a hamster don’t do well on trips, so it’s probably best to leave them at home with a pet sitter or board them. If your pet travels well, make sure that you take along the supplies that you’ll need to make your pet feel comfortable and “at home”. Bring along food, their favorite toys and blankets or bed, treats, and a cage or crate. Also, it’s a good idea to make sure that your pet has his tags or other identification in case he gets lost.

Once you’ve arrived at your hotel and checked in, confirm the hotel’s pet policies. Once you’ve done that, take your pet to your room and let them become accommodated to their new environment. Give them lots of attention and praise, and let them eat and have a drink. Don’t let them scratch or chew on the furniture or furnishings of your room. The hotel policies may require that your pet not be left alone in your room, or, if they are allowed to be alone, that they be crated. It’s probably a good idea to do so anyway, just in case the housekeeping service needs to enter your room. You don’t want your pet running off or jumping up on them. When your pet is roaming free in your room, make sure to put the “do not disturb” sign up on your door so that no one will enter the room unexpectedly.

When traveling with your pet, it’s important to keep the other hotel guests in mind. Don’t let your pet bark or be noisy. You may not mind the sounds you pet makes, but a tired person trying to sleep in the next room may not find them enjoyable. When you have your pet out of your room, keep them on their leash or in their carrier at all times, and don’t take them into areas of the hotel where pets are not allowed. If your pet relieves himself where he shouldn’t, make sure to clean it up right away. While traveling with your dog, make sure he gets lots of exercise and clean up any mess he may leave when you take him outside. Please keep in mind that although you may love your pet and he may be wonderful, other people may not not be quite so fond of him. They may have allergies or they may be afraid of dogs, cats or birds. Be respectful of that, and everyone will be happy.

Traveling with your pet can be a lot of fun if you just keep these simple rules in mind. If you are responsible with your pet and respectful of others, you and your pet will be welcomed back anytime.

Filed Under: Cats, Dogs, Pet Safety

Traveling With Pets on Your Vacation

November 6, 2012 By

If you are considering traveling with pets during your vacation, then the following tips may indeed prove to be quite useful in making the entire journey a little bit easier for both you and your pet. Some animals love traveling and they will pose no problems whatsoever; however, there are others that can get extremely stressed and upset at the entire thing. The following tips are aimed more towards the latter group.

By the time you are at the stage of going through these tips you should have already identified where you are going to be staying and checked the reputation they have in dealing with pets. Do spend time finding out what other pet owners say about the places as they will give honest opinions. Doing so will allow you to feel quite confident in having your pet staying there as well.

First, you need to prepare for the trip. This means bringing enough water and food, something to keep them cool or warm, and perhaps even their favorite toy to keep them entertained during the journey. It is also advisable to plan ahead and search for a list of veterinary clinics in the area you will be going to so you know where to take them should they fall ill during your vacation. Also, look at having them either microchipped or equipped with an ID tag just in case they go astray, as this will make it more likely that you will get them back.

Another important thing to do is to make sure that they are familiar with what they will be traveling in. This is much easier if you have a cat as they will tend to be used to going in their holder and they should be quite comfortable in doing so. However, with dogs, you need to get them used to the kennel or car seat well in advance of you leaving as this will make sure that they are less stressed. The best thing to do is to introduce them to it for a short period of time at first, and then slowly build this up until they are comfortable being in there for as long as needed.

Before leaving, it is advisable to take them to your usual veterinarian for a check up and also to make sure that all of their injections are up to date. Also, discuss the trip with the veterinarian and get their advice. It may then be decided to give your pet a mild sedative for the journey if they are naturally nervous. If you decide to go this route, try the medication beforehand and observe their reaction. Doing so will prevent any surprise reactions during the trip. There are also natural alternatives to consider for calming your pet down prior to travel.

Those are some of the things to think about when you are considering traveling with pets, especially when it is over a reasonable distance. By using them, you should find that the journey is a lot easier for them and they will not be as worried or upset by the change. A happy pet results in a happy owner!

Filed Under: Cats, Dogs, Pet Safety

How to Make Your Home Pet-Friendly and Safe

October 11, 2012 By

Pets are more than ordinary animals; and they not only add warmth to your home, but also keep you company whenever loneliness strikes. In fact, some of our pets can be very good playmates. There is no doubt that you are bound to develop a deep feeling of closeness with your furry, feathered and finned friends.

Unfortunately, most people fail to think about their pets whenever they are building a home or moving into a new one. As a pet owner, it is essential to have a pet friendly home, one that will give it maximum comfort and security as it moves around. You could think that making your home pet friendly is such an easy task that can be done in a couple of minutes. To the contrary, it takes time to ensure that your home is safe to support the life of your pet. It has every right to live just as long as you, right? Here is what ought to be done.

Fence your home.

This is particularly essential for an outdoor pet like a puppy or dog; one that you do not have to necessarily keep in your house. A fence is extremely essential for such pets to define their territory. Putting boundaries around your yard lessens the chance that your pet will expose itself to hostile or harmful environments. Besides, you are rest assured that it will not get lost because it only plays within the compound of your home. The type of fence that you put up also contributes a lot in establishing a pet friendly home. Avoid electric fences that can electrocute your pet or thorny ones that can cause physical bodily injury.

Set up a housing station.

However close you want to be with your pet, the fact that most of them prefer having their own housing station is inevitable. Animals will always be animals; there are times they need their own time to shed off their domestication and roam freely. You have to consider putting up a comfortable cage or house where they can spend part of their time. If you have one pet, a small housing unit would be fine but if you own many pets, a large housing unit with a partition for each is preferable. Always strive to make the housing station as friendly as possible.

Keep harmful substances out of reach.

Pets and kids have one thing in common; they will get into any and every thing. Therefore, harmful substances such as drugs should be kept out of their reach. Some pets are naughty. They can be all over kicking things here and there while eating whatever pleases them. Such substance that can cause any type of harm should be tucked away safely to ensure that your pet can move around the house freely without swallowing anything dangerous. Similarly, electrical faults should be quickly fixed and sharp objects should be well kept. You never know what your pet is up to, do you?

Clean your house with simple vinegar.

Another aspect of a pet friendly home is in how it is cleaned. While appreciating the fact that you have to keep you house clean by scrubbing the floors using various detergents and disinfectants, the health of your pet is equally important. If you truly love your pet, then the cleaning of your house should be done by simple vinegar diluted with water. This is because vinegar has no effect on pets.

Vacuuming of carpets should be done after sprinkling them with baking soda and windows should be constantly sprayed with isopropyl alcohol.

There are indeed numerous measures that can be taken into account to achieve a pet friendly home. Nevertheless, the outlined ones are the most basic and essential to keep your pet safe and comfortable.

Filed Under: Pet Safety

Pets and Children Playing and Growing Together

September 26, 2012 By

As a parent with pets and children in the same house, you probably know by now that pets are a huge a part of your kids’ lives. That is why it is important that you are involved in discussion and planning that will eventually lead to a positive result and experience for everyone involved. There are many valuable lessons that a child may learn through interaction with pets. When a child treats a pet with care, kindness, and patience, the child will also be learning how to handle and treat people. He will be prepared well to relate with people in the right way, portraying virtues of respect and care.

The child will also learn how to be responsible through interaction with pets. Before you decide to get your children a pet they have always wanted, you need to lay down some ground rules for them to follow. Since they want to keep the pets, they will have to abide by the rules you establish. This way, they will be learning how to be responsible while still enjoying their furry friend.

Children should also be taught the right way to play with pets. With these skills, there will be safe interaction and relationship between pets and children. The children should be told clearly that provoking their pets by handling it the wrong way may just turn tragic. You, as a parent should learn safety tips for interaction between the pets and children. These safety tips should be passed down to the children to ensure that they are safe at all times. Research is the key when it comes to these safety tips.

Research will also come in handy in terms of finding the right pet breeds known to be good with children. It does not matter the type of pet; finding the right breeds for your children is important. Choosing a pet that is right in terms of your lifestyle, your family, and home is important. You should go for a pet that isn’t intimidating to your children. Getting the children a pet they can maintain is the right way to go. Aggressive pets will only work negatively in all you will be trying to achieve with your children, apart from scaring them. Exotic pets like chameleons, frogs, etc., are very hard to care for, hence when making such decisions, a lot of care should be practiced.

Caring of pets can help in the development of social skills among children. However, there are some guidelines that you as a parent should apply for this to be possible. Children, especially those under the age of 3-4 years, need to be supervised at all times as they interact with their pets as they are not mature enough to control of their physical movements and impulses.

Children who grow in a family with pets tend to portray some characteristics that are unique in all ways. These children usually have a high self esteem and confidence. The positive relations they have had with pets will influence their developed trust when relating with others. Non-verbal communications, as well as the virtues of empathy and compassion, mature well within such children.

Filed Under: Cats, Dogs, Kids and Pets, Pet Safety

Pet Food Safety

August 20, 2012 By

Part of your responsibility as a pet owner is to keep your pet safe and also protect it from harmful food products. However, there is a common assumption amongst pet owners that a pet can eat any food that a human consumes. This is far from the truth and by feeding your pet certain types of food, you might be slowly poisoning your pet without even knowing it. Pet food safety is very essential for the well being of your pet and you should note that the body system of an animal greatly differs from that of a human being and certain types of food that are safe for human consumption can be dangerous when ingested by animals. The following is an overview of some foods that are considered toxic to pets.

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins are considered to be two of the most toxic when it comes to pet food safety. Grapes and raisins usually cause irreversible damage to your pet’s kidneys and might even cause death in extreme cases. This condition mainly affects dogs and cats.

The signs of toxicity that a pet might display after ingesting grapes or raisins include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased urine production and even a drunken gait. These symptoms usually start manifesting themselves a few hours after the initial ingestion. It is usually advisable to take your pet immediately to a vet when you start seeing these signs. The normal treatment procedure involves induced vomiting and gastric levage which is the pumping of the stomach.

Onions

Onions might seem to be quite harmless and even beneficial as they have medicinal properties. However, the ingestion of food containing onion by a pet can be quite catastrophic. In animals, onions cause Heinz body anemia, a condition which brings about the destruction of red blood cells and may lead to kidney damage.

Signs of onion poisoning on your pet include increased heart beat, pale gums, weakness, vomiting and bloody urine. It is also important to note that onion related ingredients such as garlic and chive also have the same effect. Treatment for onion based toxicity includes fluid therapy and oxygen administration. Due to the seriousness of this type of poisoning, you should ensure that you properly dispose of food products that might contain onion.

Chocolate

Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical known as theobromide that can adversely affect the lungs, heart, kidney and nervous system of your pet.

Signs of chocolate poisoning usually include tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and even hyperthermia. Your pet might also go into a coma and the normal treatment regime is to induce vomiting or perform a gastric lavage.

Caffeine

Food items containing caffeine are considered risky when it comes to pet food safety. Food products that have caffeine contain a chemical that is also present in chocolate, therefore, this type of poisoning can be compared to chocolate poisoning.

Macadamia Nuts

Ingestion of macadamia nuts and other types of nuts is not generally fatal but can cause your pet extreme discomfort. Some of the adverse effects associated with ingesting nuts include vomiting, general body weakness, depression, joint swelling and a drunken gait on the part of your pet. Symptoms usually disappear after a couple of hours but it is advisable to take your pet to a vet.

Xylitol

This is a sugar free sweetener found mostly in chewing gum. When ingested by your pet, it causes the pancreas to increase its secretion of insulin causing the blood glucose level to fall.
Common signs of Xylitol poisoning include a drunken gait, vomiting and seizures. Intravenous administration of dextrose is usually the course of medication offered when you take your pet to a vet.

In order to ensure pet food safety, proper disposal and storage of potentially dangerous food products is highly recommended. You wouldn’t want to accidentally poison your pet or allow for them to poison themselves!

Filed Under: Cat Health, Dog Health, Pet Safety

Pet Adoption Tips

July 25, 2012 By

There are millions of animals that do not have homes these days. Thankfully, you are one of the many people who would like to help one of these poor animals. You are in the right place. Congratulations for taking the first step to adopting a pet for your family. Having the correct pet adoption tips on hand will make your decision a lot easier.

The following tips will help you to make a well informed decision.

Have a chat with your family before choosing a pet. Discussing the responsibilities that come with this new addition will make sure that everyone in your house is ready for the new changes that your pet will bring. If you have children, you might not want to get a very large dog, but maybe a puppy rather, one that can grow up with the kids. Remember that all children will need some type of supervision when it comes to caring for a cat or dog, so it will end up being the parent’s responsibility at the end of the day.

Do the necessary research about the different breeds. Some breeds tend to be more aggressive and will not be suitable if you have children around. Make sure you check to see if any of your family members have allergies before making a decision. You would not want to have gone through all that effort to find this out after the fact.

Some animals do not play well with children. Kittens and puppies have sharp claws and they could unintentionally hurt your children.

Having a new pet will allow you to teach your children how to walk a dog and help them understand how often it is required. If you are getting a cat, make sure everyone understands how to change the kitty litter box correctly.  Keep in mind, when first adopted, puppies tend to need potty training, while a cat will demand your attention until it adjusts to the new environment.

Make sure to choose a pet that will suit your individual home. If you live in an apartment, you will want to rather get a cat or kitten.

Before bring your furry little friend home, make sure that you have bought enough food supplies. If you have chosen a baby animal, then you might want to buy some toys and things to keep the little one busy.

Create a schedule that can involve the entire family. This will not only help your pet feel more comfortable, but also help your children learn responsibility.

In addition to these pet adoption tips, you will want to find a suitable sleeping place for the new addition to you family, especially if you are adopting a dog. Cats tend to find their own place to sleep, while dogs need a little help. If you allow animals in your home, then you will need to decide where you would like your dog to sleep. There are many different types of beds available on the market today. On the other hand, if you would prefer your dog to sleep outdoors, then you will need to find a suitable, waterproof dog house.

Filed Under: Pet Adoption, Pet Safety Tagged With: ,

Tips for Choosing a Family Pet

July 19, 2012 By

For families who are considering choosing a family pet, you should consider an animal that all members of the family are going to enjoy. There are many different animals that could make a great pet, from dogs and cats, to turtles or other small rodents (hamsters, mice, etc). So, before making the choice, families should consider all options, and ask all family members what they would like best, prior to selecting the animal to bring home as a first pet.

When you have smaller children, a pet that is interactive, loving, and fun to play with might be the best option to look for when choosing a family pet. Dogs are probably the best option, especially with younger kids. Breeds like Retrievers are probably the nicest breed, as they are loving, will play with the kids, and are caring pets. For those who want a house pet, a cat or other pets like a turtle might be a great choice. They are small, inside animals, and are easy to care for. Additionally, they keep to themselves, and do not make a mess in areas other than the designated liter box or cages.

Introducing Your Pet to the Family

After choosing a family pet, you have to know how to introduce it in to your family. With younger kids, you are going to want to bring the dog (or other pet) in slowly. You should let the pet learn its way through the home, get used to the family members, and most importantly, go at its own pace. Making sure the kids do not move too quickly and trying not to force the pet to do things it does not want to do is also important. Letting the pet get accustomed to his/her surroundings, where they will live, and who the owners are, is an extremely important part of the introduction process.

Interaction

Once the pet has made itself comfortable with the home, the kids, and owners, you can now start allowing the kids to interact and play with the pet. Especially with dogs, as they are so loving and interactive, once they know who the owner is, they are extremely loyal. Playing out in the yard, inside, or anywhere else the pet is allowed to be, is suggested, so that the dog learns who the owners are and how to play and interact with them. With younger kids, parents must be around early on to ensure the kids do not do something to irritate the pet, which may cause it to lash out in defense.

There is no one set way to introduce the pet in to the home; you have to give it time to get accustomed to the family, its new home, and surroundings. After choosing a family pet, give it a few days to learn who will be caring for it and that it is now living in a caring home. From there on, each family will go about interaction, caring for, and playing with their pets in a different manner than other families.

If your new pet still seems a bit stressed and is not adjusting well, pick up our guide to the upper right of this page titled “10 Ways Your Pet Can Become Stressed and What You Can Do About It.” Apply the techniques we suggest and your pet will be on its way to feeling right at home.

Filed Under: Kids and Pets, Pet Adoption, Pet Safety Tagged With: , ,

Summer Pet Safety Tips

July 5, 2012 By

How You Can Keep Your Pet Cool and Calm as the Temperatures Rise

As summer nears, the weather heats up, it is important to know that pets need some help to beat the heat and enjoy a healthy and happy summer. In most areas of the country, summer is associated with good weather and good times, but for pets, summers can present real dangers. Summer activities such as traveling and barbecues carry risks. However, there are simple pet safety tips of protecting your pet and ensuring that it also enjoys its summer.

The first thing to do is to visit a vet. By so doing, you will ensure that your pet has undergone all the necessary vaccinations and medications. Every year during early spring, all pets should be given a blood test. This will help to determine whether the pet has heartworms or not, and in case it has, it is treated. Heartworms are deadly parasites transmitted through mosquito bites from other infected pets. It advisable that cats and dogs be vaccinated every month against these parasites. It is during summertime that ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and other parasites come out in full force. You should also try to keep your pet groomed during summer. By so doing, you will be able to easily and quickly find potential parasites.

The second pet safety tip is to keep your pet cool. Cats and dogs get dehydrated quickly, and so you should give them a lot of water when temperatures outside are high. Also ensure that your pet has a shady place to shelter in case the sun burns too much. Do not let your pet lie on hot asphalt when temperatures are high. When your pet’s body lies close to the ground, it can heat up quickly resulting in the burning of sensitive paw pads. Also, adjust the routine of exercising with your pet. Take your pet for exercise or play in the evening or very early in the morning. This applies mostly if your pet accompanies you during jogging. Pick an exercising route that has enough shady areas where your dog can rest.

You can allow your pet to wade off in a children’s pool if there is one nearby. As you splash water on your pet, do it carefully and safely. As a pet safety tip, do not leave your pet near a pool without someone looking after it. Some might be able to swim, while some cannot. After swimming, you should rinse your dog to remove salt or chlorine from its fur. If possible do not allow your dog to drink pool water because this water contains chlorine and other substances that might cause stomach upsets. Teach your pet to locate the pool steps and to climb out by use of a pet ramp. Improve its safety by making it wear a life vest.

In the southeastern part of the US, summertime means Hurricane Season. This is a good time to get your pet microchipped or get them a tag and collar in case they are separated from your home. If your pet says mostly outside, it is best to bring him or her in when the storms get close. This would include dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rodents, etc. Even if the rain does not fall on your home, the winds alone can put your pet in grave danger. Animals are sensitive to weather so if it senses dangerous activity, it may run (or fly) away to find a safer place. If your pet is always outside, you can put him or her in the garage (if you have one), or bathe him or her and bring them inside the living area of your home. If for some reason you are not home when a storm hits, make prior arrangements with a neighbor to make sure your pets are in a safe place until your return.

During summer there tend to be more ceremonies that involve fireworks. Fireworks are not friendly to pets. When you go for these fireworks, leave your pet behind. Do not ignite fireworks when pets are around. When some pets are exposed to lighted fireworks they might suffer from trauma due to curiosity and the sheer noise of them. Pets don’t understand that the loud noise is for “fun”; they heard danger and will likely run and hide. Statistics show that Independence Day is the holiday when the most pets abandon their homes and end up lost. That is another important reason to make sure they are tagged or microchipped. Unused fireworks are equally dangerous because they contain toxic substances like copper, arsenic, chlorates and other heavy metals. These will negatively affect the health of your pet if they chew any piece of them.

These pet safety tips will ensure that your pet is safe during the wild months of summer. To help your pet better cope with summer stresses, pick up our guide at the top right of this page titled “10 Ways Your Pet Can Become Stressed and What You Can Do About It.”

Filed Under: Pet Safety Tagged With: , , ,

How to Create a Pet Friendly Home

June 6, 2012 By

Pets are great fun and they provide great companionship. It’s so common now-a-days to have a pet living in the home, that pet owners often refer to the pet as a part of the family. That is why it’s important to make your home pet friendly so that your pet is out of harm’s way and you can also save your possessions from being damaged by your pet. Creating a pet friendly space is quite similar to baby-proofing a home and should be done with the same attention to detail.

Cords

Go through the house and tape any electrical cords against the wall so that your pets cannot be strangled or electrocuted. If your window shades or blinds have cords, cut them short or tie them up to keep them out of your pet’s reach. Not only can a pet get strangled on these cords, but a pet may also end up pulling the shades off the wall while playing with them.

Valuables

Remove everything that is valuable or breakable from low shelves and coffee tables and put them in higher shelves or storage areas where your pet will not be able to access them. If you can, put doors or a gate to close off the areas that you don’t want your pet to go.

Kitchen Items

In the kitchen, store all snacks and food items in the cupboards or the fridge so that your pets are not always climbing on the kitchen counters. Not only is it unsanitary for pet owners, but it is dangerous for pets. If your pets, especially cats, are used to being on the counters, they could get in harm’s way, either by knives, heat, or kitchen appliances, while you’re cooking. Therefore, when cooking, ensure that small pets, even those such as mice and hamsters, are in their dwellings so that they don’t get harmed during food prep.

Medications & Chemicals

Keep medications and household chemicals locked up in a safe place. If your pet ingests some of these they may require hospitalization; and if your pet takes large amounts, it may lead to death. If you smoke, don’t leave cigarette butts lying around because it is likely that your pet will chew on them. Nicotine is just as dangerous to animals as it is to humans.

Children’s Toys

Keep away all children’s toys, dolls, figurines, and other such items so that your pet does not chew them, choke on them, ingest pieces of them, and not to mention, destroy them. It is very dangerous if your pet swallows small toy parts, rubber and plastic items or polythene bags as they can become lodged into the animal’s throat while no one is home, or the material could get stuck in the digestive tract causing further health problems. Get into the habit of putting things away so that your pet cannot access them, just as you would with a baby or toddler around.

Garbage Cans

Take the garbage out often and use a garbage can with a tight fitting lid so your pet cannot open it. Many foods that humans eat are not suitable for pets so it is important that your pet does not have access to the trash. Many dogs also like to chew on garbage found in the bathroom so it is a wise choice to keep your trash can in the cabinet or keep a lid on it.

House Plants

If you have house plants, keep them out of your pet’s reach as these may be poisonous to your pet and can become destroyed once your pet chews on them. Cats are notorious for chewing on house plants because it is in their nature to chew on grass and other greenery outside. Thankfully, grass patches that are designed to be eaten by your cats are readily available at your local pet store.

Furniture

To protect your furniture from fur shedding you can use materials for your furniture that don’t stain easily such as crypton, ultrasuede and leather and they are easy to clean. Alternatively, you can pick furniture fabrics and carpeting that match the color of your pet’s fur so that the shed fur is not as visible.

Give Your Pet Their Own “Spot”

Put a designated pet area near entrances so that your pets have an area where they can sleep and keep their toys. Make sure it is easily accessible to the outdoors for those quick moments when they need let you know that they need to go. Bored pets tend to chew furniture and get into mischief so ensure they have safe chewable toys and can go out when they need to.

Filed Under: Pet Safety Tagged With: ,