Daily Paws

Pet news, tips, entertainment and opinions from VetLocator.com

Posts Tagged ‘pet tips’

Pet Emergency Tips: Emergency Kit For Our Pets – What would you add to the list?

Friday, November 15th, 2013

Recent natural disasters happening around the world highlight the need to have emergency procedures in place for our own families. emergency-kit-for-pets

Disaster emergencies can require being prepared to evacuate our homes from a short absence to a permanent relocation.

It’s disorienting enough for people to have to evacuate, however when pets have to leave, it is very disrupting.

Today, I came across an ASPCA article which lists helpful pet preparedness information. Below are some ideas from the ASPCA for an emergency kit to keep on hand for your pet. Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit every two months—otherwise they may spoil or become useless.

 

  • A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet (Pet Grab-n-Go Crate)
  • Pet first-aid kit and
  • 3-7 days’ worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food
  • Bottled water, at least 7 days’ worth for each person and pet
  • Flashlight
  • Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
  • Litter or paper toweling
  • Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
  • Pet feeding dishes
  • Extra harness and leash (harnesses are recommended for safety and security)
  • Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires
  • Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
  • Your pet’s favorite toy
  • Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
  • Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make “Lost” posters)

 

Its May, and it is starting to get hot!

Monday, April 29th, 2013

daily-paws-may-dayHere in Florida that also means the start of flea season (and some say flea season never ends here…) So with the warming weather and spring fully in the air, your pets may be feeling the spring fever too.

Here are some ‘plan ahead’ tips for you when you are overcome with the need to be outdoors with you pets so you both remain comfy, cool and safe:

Plan Ahead Tip #1 – Dress appropriately for the weather and make sure you are considering your pet too. For us this may mean layers we can remove if we get too warm, and add when things cool. It always includes a hat and sunscreen.

Since your pet won’t usually be able to shed or add a layer, help your pet’s natural process for cooling down by giving them a little help. Pets have their own way to remove layers, usually by shedding, panting and sweating. It is the perfect time to cut and trim their coats if they need it. Use your own judgment on whether a cut is right for them. In Florida our triple coated dog gets a cut before she is miserable and overheated and that earns us extra kisses from our cooled down pooch.

Plan Ahead Tip #2 – Have enough water, doggy bags (because we’re assuming you won’t be traveling with your cats), plans for shade, and food with you. We have a very cool fanny pack that is roomy enough for our snacks and our dog treats and waste bags, plus 2 water bottle holders, one for each of us.

Plan Ahead Tip #3 – Speaking of snacks; bring the right kind with you. Depending on how your dog shares, and how long they take to eat a treat, choose wisely. Nothing worse that having to wait while your pup savors the last bites of a ten minute chew – well, there is something and that’s if your dog is protective and is antisocial while devouring his 10 minute chew. Healthy, nutritious and quick to eat for both of you is a good plan ahead tip.

Plan Ahead Tip #4– Bring clean up supplies. Yes, we live in Florida, land of endless beaches, lots of water, lots of …. Well everything!
This means our dog gets plenty filthy when we go out, either from sand or dirt or weeds or water or, or… And we’re not special here. Anyplace those four feet can touch down is a place where there is a potential for a mess. Even if your pup is carried everywhere, in a backpack, carrier or arms, things can get messy.

Towels, plastic bags and baby wipes are handy to have and will get used so bring them along.

Plan Ahead Tip #5 – If you are going to be out for an extended time, something that’s nice is a cooling mat that allows air to circulate all around your pet. Cooling pet beds help cooling your pet down, relieving sores and pains for senior pets and injured dogs or simply giving them a good sleep.

Plan Ahead Tip #6 – Know what to do if your pet gets overheated. The first thing is to know what the signs of heat exhaustion/heat stroke in a pet are. If you observe a swollen tongue, heavy panting, glazed eyes and rapid pulse or vomiting. Or if you notice your pet’s tongue looks purple or he is walking or staggering, he might be dealing with heat exhaustion. If you’re not sure, be safe and do this: place rubbing alcohol only on your pet’s paws and keep him in a cool (but not cold bathtub). Splash with water especially on the belly, or you can apply ice packs only on head, neck and chest. Then call your vet immediately.

Oh, I did mention flea season, didn’t I? Yes…this is your last a plan ahead tip…Plan Ahead Tip #7 – Before going out make sure your dog or cat has some flea protection – whichever you feel is best for your pet, and when they come in CHECK THEM FOR FLEAS. Even with protection fleas will often jump on looking for a meal before they jump off. If they jump off in your house…not something you want, is it?

They say that planning ahead is a good thing. I agree, don’t you?

Have a wonderful spring!

Linda – Daily Paws

Most Dangerous Pet Dangers of Easter

Sunday, March 24th, 2013

easter-pet-dangersToday is Palm Sunday and many people are getting ready to celebrate the Easter festivities.

However, even though Easter is actually a time of celebration of rebirth for some Christians, their pets might not be ready to be resurrected if they have consumed one in all the five most dangerous pet dangers of Easter.

Easter Lilies

Although the Easter Lilly is one among the most common plants used to celebrate the arrival of Easter, it is the foremost lethal of plants to cats. Even merely ingesting a few of its leaves can lead to grave, acute renal and kidney failure which might result in your cat’s untimely death.

However, it is not simply the Easter Lilly that’s harmful to cats – all plant members of the Lilly family are potentially lethal.

As a friendly reminder stay those darned Easter lilies OUT OF YOUR HOUSE! There are dangerous and benign lilies out there, and it’s important to understand the distinction. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus – this ends up in minor drooling.

Locate a vet or call an emergency vet hotline.

Foil or Plastic Easter Grass

Easter grass is the second most commonly found dangerous part of Easter to pets, especially cats. This is as a result of the brightly colored foil makes an extraordinarily enticing cat toy.

Similar to tinsel used during Christmas time, this plastic and foil grass will cause intestinal distress in cats that needs immediate veterinary care.

Because it is hard to monitor, opt instead to use paper grass, or better yet, cat grass.

Chocolate Bunnies

It’s not Easter without those yummy chocolate bunnies! Just watch out that young children don’t inadvertently feed one to your cat or dog. Make sure that none of these chocolate bunnies, or different chocolate treats, are out of the reach of inquisitive pet noses. Chocolate will be extremely lethal to both dogs and cats and can conjointly require immediate veterinary attention.

Easter Eggs

Brightly colored laborious-boiled eggs will be a child’s delight and their pets too. However, day previous eggs that have not been properly handled or refrigerated will spoil on the inside, creating them lethal to pets.

When hiding these Easter eggs around your house or yard, be positive to stay count of them and build certain that they are all found. Another smart tip is to remind youngsters to throw away the eggs in the garbage after they are done eating them.

Baby Animals

Whilst it may appear tempting, getting a baby chick, baby bunny, or a baby duckling, may not be such a nice idea. Most of those baby animals can carry Salmonella which will then be passed on to your children and alternative pets.

If you actually do want to buy one of those baby animals for your child as a present, it is best if you wait till when Easter and then take your child to go to your local animal shelter or humane society. Here you will most undoubtedly realize a giant selection of baby bunnies, baby ducklings and baby chicks that are abandoned over the Easter weekend.

The best part is that not only can you teach your child about the importance of Easter, however you would conjointly have taught them the worth of pet adoption which is that the ultimate example of Easter rebirth.

House Guests

Since Easter is time best spent with family, take a few further precautions to confirm the security and comfort of your pets when guests come to go to. Create positive your pets have their own room or house in that they will get back when they become overwhelmed. Remind any visiting children to not feed Easter eggs or chocolates to your pets.

Valentine’s Day Pet Safety Tips

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and love is definitely in the air, but so is potential danger for your pets.  Make it a Valentines-day-pet-tipssweet and safe day by keeping these safety tips in mind:

  • Don’t let pets near roses or lilies. Roses and lilies are the most common Valentine day gifts and can be extremely hazardous to pets. Lilies are toxic and fatal to cats. Thorns can cause internal damage if ingested.
  • Keep an eye on candy and other sweet treats around your pet. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and so can the sweetener xylitol. Candy and food wrappers smell good and can present a choking hazard. And anything I didn’t mention when consumed by a pet can make them sick.  Keep pets away from this stuff.
  • If you are having a party, keep an eye on alcoholic beverages.  We’ve all seen or heard stories of different animals who like to drink.  How sad that their owners allow it, not to mention that sometimes this can lead to a pet’s death.  It’s not cute.  It’s not funny.  It’s sad.
  • Decorations, candles, cords = dangerous hazards.  The warm glow of candlelight is romantic and flattering, but open flames present obvious dangers if your pet has access to them. Keep your pets and children in mind when you celebrate.
  • And in the event something should happen, keep your emergency numbers at hand.

Have a safe and Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at VetLocator.com!

Petiquette & pet safety tips for the 4th of July

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

Today is going to be a great evening of bar-b-ques, fireworks and get-togethers.

We hope you and your friends and family have a wonderful time, but want to remind you to make sure your pets are safely tucked away before all the noise begins. 

In the event that you and your pets are able to accept holiday invites together too we thought we’d share some petiquette tips you might find handy.

1.  The very first thing you’ll want to do is to make sure it’s ok with your host that you bring your pet with you.
2.  Next make sure he/she has a collar with an ID and that the ID has correct information on it.  These days it’s an excellent idea to use a cell number rather than a home phone number since your cell phone is usually with you and you can be reached quickly in an emergency.
3.  Put your vet’s phone number and an emergency vet hospital number into your cell phone to have it handy in the event you need it.
4.  Try to find out who’ll be at the party in case you need to make plan changes (for example people with babies, small kids or other pets can change things, including whether you should bring your pet with you).
5.  Bring along pet essentials like food and water bowls, a leash, handy wipes and cleaning stuff and pet waste bags.
6.  I like to bring some special treats with me.  Folks like to feed my dog, so I give them some of his healthy treats to make sure he’s not getting junk.
7.  Pets can make a mess sometimes so I keep a couple of baggies handy for the expected and unexpected messes and also have a lint roller in my pet kit because my dog has been known to shed.
8.  It’s not a bad idea to have a crate handy so your pet can be safely secure if things get crazy.
9.  If you notice your pet becoming tired or agitated, secure him in a closed room or his crate if you aren’t able to take him home.
10.  Don’t let pets wander around cooking food. Not only can it be a problem for the cook, but your pet might accidentally eat something that’s not good for him.
11.  Always be aware of where your pet is during any event.  Pets can become nervous and bolt in unfamiliar surroundings.  Also, like children, there are times when they’ve had enough and it’s time to go home.

Now for some personal peeves I’ve experienced attending events where certain pets should not be.  I’m titling this short list ****If your dog has any of the following problems, please leave him/her at home.

1.  Incessantly barks at other people, dogs, birds, cats, etc.  A barking dog that won’t quiet is distracting and the owners that won’t remove the dog are just plain rude.
2.  An aggressive animal.  If you know your dog – or cat – is aggressive, LEAVE THEM AT HOME.  Period.
3.  Your pet is ill or has not been feeling well.  Besides the obvious point of an ill pet might be a contagious pet, outings can be stressful and can make your pet’s health worse.  Leave an ill pet at home with a sitter and not in a kennel.
4.  The event will have people who are fearful or allergic to pets – See #1 above.
5.  Your pet is having a bad day – everyone does and our pets are no exception.  If you see that your pet is having a bad day, give him/her a break and let them stay home.

If you decide to leave your pet at home while you attend a party or other event, consider the best options for him while you’re gone.

  • If he’s not used to being home alone, you should leave for short periods of time to prepare him/her to being by themselves.
  • If you’ll be gone for any length of time you may want to consider keeping your pet at a kennel.  This is a good option for social animals that don’t stress about being away from home.
  • Additionally, for animals that are going to a kennel and may not be used to small spaces, consider getting a crate ahead of time to prepare the pet.
  • Arrange play dates for pets who might not be used to having other animals around. Send along an item that smells like home for a pet’s stay at the kennel.
  • Kennel spots should be reserved early for the holidays. If you’ve not used a particular kennel before, check into their safety measures, such as video surveillance, fire alarms and sprinkler systems.
  • Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccines, and find out if any others are required for their kennel stay as most kennels will request proof before allowing your pet to stay.

Pet sitters are a good option for animals that do better at home or if you have several pets that you’ll be leaving.  If you decide to hire a pet sitter, here are a few tips:

  • Ask for references, find out what services the sitter provides and do your standard due diligence before hiring.
  • Prepare an emergency card with all of the information the sitter might need including Vet, Emergency Vet, your contact info and a close neighbors contact info, medications your pet needs along with their dosages.
  • Don’t wait till the last minute to introduce your pet to the sitter. Pet sitters should meet the pet ahead of time and be introduced to see if there are any personality issues between pet and sitter.
  • Then, while you are away, make sure to check in with the sitter during a time you know he/she will be there and let your pet hear your voice.

And with all this advice, here is one more for you.

Have a wonderful holiday and a great week that is shared with family, pets and great friends!

Linda

VetLocator.com