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Ten Tips 'Til the Holiday: City Sidewalks

PetSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:30:48 -0800

In many states, it is legal to put down lime-rock salt or calcium-chloride salt to melt the snow on city streets. However, this seemingly innocuous substance is very poisonous to dogs – when pups return inside, and lick their paws, it can cause them to throw up (or worse). Also, its rough texture can cut their little feet and put salt in their wounds, literally . . . ouch! When animals who have walked on salt-covered paths return home, be sure to clean paws off thoroughly or put booties on them before they go outside. Remember trudging through snowbanks in your boots is completely different than pooches wading through the cold stuff up to their bellies! Consider toting a little shovel or pointy-tipped umbrella to clear a trail for your pup to do his business on snowy roads.

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Freezing Temps

PetSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:00:39 -0800

Never force a pet to spend time outside in the winter. Just because a pet has a fur coat, does not mean that their bodies or hair can handle the cold. Many pets love the winter and have thick appropriate coats, but little, short-haired dogs or cats can get frostbitten quickly. Keep the fur between their toe pads clipped down to prevent mini snowballs or icicles from forming between their little toes and consider coating their dry paw patches with a paw de-icer spray or balm. Make sure to take extra care to toast up a pet after outdoor adventures in the freezing weather – keep a pan or washcloth ready with warm water to rinse paws and plenty of towels for drying and cleaning off, too!

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Ten Tips 'Til the Holiday: Driving in the Dark

PetSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:00:29 -0800

As temperatures continue to drop throughout much of the US, and the hours of daylight seem less and less every time you hit the snooze button, these unfortunate changes also present extra risks for your furry friends. Right off the bat, I think it's a good time to bring even those outdoor kitties in. Not only does this season bring about the risk of freezing, but if pets wander off and cannot find their way home, the dangers are great. Snow causes low visibility and dampens sounds which can limit pets' abilities to hear or see cars coming. Plus, rainy and icy roads make it harder to stop quickly if you do see a darting creature in the dark. To hear more about keeping pets safe from cars during the wintertime, read more.

If there are outdoor cats in your neighborhood, and you park a car outside, always tap the hood (and beep the horn) before starting it up. Chilly cats will often climb up to snuggle by the warm engines or surrounding areas of freshly parked cars to heat up or hide from falling sleet or snow.

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Antifreeze

PetSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:00:13 -0800

While people may not be able to easily detect its presence by spying a spill or simply smelling, pets can easily sniff it out. Antifreeze has a very good, sweet taste to pets and, if they spot it, they'll likely quickly lick it up. Even small doses of antifreeze can be lethal so be careful of any spills, and store bottles far out of any pet's grasp. Some types of antifreeze use propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol – propylene glycol is found in many lotions and toothpastes and is less toxic to pets than the former. However, less toxic does not make it safe so, even if you stock this product, take the same precautions as you would for any dangerous chemical!

If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, bring him to the doctor immediately. Vets can perform a variety of tests for this liquid – if a pet has ingested ethylene glycol, they can shine a special light on the animal's muzzle and paws . . . the ethylene makes the affected hair glow under this florescent light and speeds up the diagnosis process.

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Christmas Lights

PetSugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:00:23 -0800

Next up, while decking out the tree, are those pretty twinklers! Unfortunately, Christmas lights still come with electric cords, and while we've already discussed dangers of cords from electronics, these cords are no different. Like babies, puppies often chew when they are teething – this puts them at the greatest risk of bad results from naughty nibbles. Many dogs chew to relieve stress and anxiety and, when stressed, anxious, or just plain curious, they often choose the nearest, least appropriate thing to chomp. To keep them safe, tack cords to the wall behind the tree out of pet's reach when they are not plugged in, and apply a chew deterrent like Grannick's Bitter Apple or Nature's Miracle Best Behavior Pet Training Aid to the wires. These products have a strong smell for pets that will discourage biting or licking. And remember, not only is chewing the cord dangerous, pets could also pull the tree down on top of them if it's not secure!

If you have a favorite anti-chew spray or solution for your pets, share it in your comments below!

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Potted Plants

PetSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:00:44 -0800

Along with hanging plants, adding potted plants or flowers is a common seasonal touch to create a festive holiday home. While some don't appeal to pets at all, others can be very dangerous if nibbled on. The first risk of potted plants actually comes from the cocoa mulch. Many florists use cocoa mulch in potted plants – its chocolatey smell attracts animals, and it is just as lethal to them as the real thing. Before purchasing, check with florists about the contents in the soil.

To read about potted plants that can be dangerous to animals, read more.

Lilies. Eating even very small amounts of this plant can be very dangerous, especially to cats. Many kinds of lilies can cause severe kidney damage if ingested by pets.
Amaryllis. Growing these in your home can put your pups at risk. The bulbs of this plant are considered to be highly-toxic, and other parts could produce intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, and tremors if eaten in large quantities.
Morning Glory.The leaves and especially the seeds of this plant are hallucinogenic and can cause significant, life-threatening central nervous system effects if ingested – if you must keep this plant in your home, make sure it is far out of pet's mouths.
Poinsettias. While not nearly as toxic as many people think, I still wouldn't tempt a kitty by putting this plant within her reach. The sap from this common holiday plant can irritate stomach and eyes of pets.
Other potted plants.I've pulled a couple other festive plants off the ASPCA toxic list as well. Plants like Jerusalem cherry, boxwood, Christmas cactus, and Japanese yew are not safe for pets - once again, don't bring anything near animals unless you're sure it's safe.

Ten Tips 'Til the Holiday: Hanging Plants

PetSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:45:59 -0800

Next up in our ten tips, it's time to deck the halls with boughs of holly (and other seasonal plants)! Check out my earlier posts on pets and plants to recall common, dangerous plants and some home remedies to deter pets from eating safe greens. If there is any question about whether a plant is toxic, don't bring it into your home or consult the ASPCA first. Don't underestimate the range of twitching noses, batting paws, and pure pet willpower! To see some common, hanging seasonal plants that can put your pets in danger, read more.

Holly. Both holly leaves and berries are poisonous to pets. If you are decking your halls (literally), use fake holly if you must. Even if it starts out hanging high, as any pet owner knows, it could easy end up on the ground the next moment. Signs of holly ingestion include intense vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.
Mistletoe. This is another dangerous plant that's even hallucinogenic (if eaten) to humans as well. Kissing under it is fine, but if you hang it up in a household with pets, you could run the risk of causing gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular collapse, erratic behavior, and other problems if pets get a hold of the berries - so hang it high and secure only.
Ivy. Most types of ivy foliage used to drape or wrap on banisters, mantels, or other internal structures will be toxic if nibbled off - it can cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, hyperactivity, and difficulty breathing.
Wreaths. Needles from wreaths (even trees for that matter) can be sharp prickles in your pet's mouth so be certain to vacuum and sweep any dropped items. Also, be mindful of any special decorations or possibly poisonous berries added to the wreath that can just as easily fall off.

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Hanging Tree Decorations

PetSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:00:44 -0800

Our third tip as part of the Ten Tips series involves Christmas decorations. I already talked about the dangers of sneaky snacks and tumbling trees, but I'll discuss the ornaments that go on next:

Tinsel. These shiny strings appeal to kitties and puppies alike. If pets eat this stuff, it can slice up their gastro-intestinal system or ball up and cause an internal blockage. Tinsel and other small items are extra difficult to see on x-rays, meaning that it may take some time to diagnose . . . time that your pet will not likely have.
Hooks. Never use metal hooks to hang ornaments on trees in animal-filled homes. Pets could swallow it (think fishhook) or cut their paws if stepping or batting at these sharp objects. Try tying and looping ornaments on the tree with strings instead.

To see the rest of my list, read more

Ornaments made of materials similar to their toys. Pets cannot distinguish between a furry or rubber pet toy, and a valuable Christmas ornament of the same makings. If you fear the decoration may confuse your pet, don't be a tease, and put it out of his reach.
Breakable Decorations. If your dog decides to take a bite out of a ball that is actually a glass ornament, he'll obviously end up with a mouthful of glass and, if kitty takes a swipe, she can get the same bloody result. If you have fragile or valuable ornaments that you treasure (or animals in the house you're equally attached to), don't put either at risk – stock those ornaments in a box for pet-free times.
"Distractions." Many kitty owners swear by the method of hanging appealing, safe cat toys at the base of their trees – this gives pets easy access to the proper items to play with, and hopefully discourages them from venturing any further!

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Stop the Sneaky Snacking

PetSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:00:40 -0800

There's nothing wrong with decking your halls, but make sure to decorate high out of pet's reach! In a home with furry family members, don't hang candy canes, popcorn, berries, or other food items on your tree, and save those nuts and candies (especially chocolates) in the cabinets. While you're busy cooking up dinner, or sipping eggnog, pets could be up on the table devouring your sitting out snacks!

Most animals have an amazing ability to find their ways onto and into things they shouldn't be messing with – remember, if they can smell when you're eating, they can likely sniff out food in presents, too. Make sure Santa comes right before it's gift-opening time so nosy pets don't get any extra time to scratch-and-sniff their gifts!

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Ten Tips 'Til The Holiday: Choosing a Tree

PetSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:00:07 -0800

Hooray, I bought my Christmas tree over the weekend! And, of course, as PetSugar, I had to purchase the tree from a local animal shelter where all proceeds go to the animals in need. Lucky for me, North shows zero interest in the Christmas tree, but I know that not all pet owners are so fortunate. Some pets are curious to sniff or snack on tree needles, and could get so eager about their investigations, that the tree comes a-tumblin' down. Not good! When picking out a tree, choose a large sturdy one that fits securely in its stand and, if you have a climb-prone kitty, consider tying the top of the tree to the wall to stabilize. Another great option is to purchase a mini Christmas shrub that can sit on a table or cannot be pulled over easily while on the floor.

To see tips on where to place the tree, read more

After getting the tree home, choose a spot that is not in a high-traffic zone. If you have a pet that's curious about the tree, consider putting it in a room with a door to shut so the animals cannot get inside unsupervised or spraying one of these animal deterrents on the branches. One of the greatest dangers – and temptations – on an undecorated Christmas tree is actually the water in the stand. Much like the toilet, thirsty pets may be tempted to take a sip from here, even if there is fresh water in their dishes. Even though it just looks like normal water to you, when sap or fertilizers combine with it, the resulting mixture can cause a tummy upset. Also, like dirty dog dishes, the standing tree water can have harmful bacteria present as well. If you think your dog or cat may be tempted to take a drink, consider stacking big boxes around the tree to provide a barrier.

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