There is danger throughout your home. Curious pets naturally investigate, and they often find trouble. Below is a guide for keeping your home safe for your pet.
Clean it up
The kitchen, where many families spend most of their time, contains numerous cleaners and chemicals. Keep glass cleaner, bleach, ammonia, oven cleaner, drain openers, and disinfectants safely stored out of a pet’s reach.
Take the garbage out
Do not give your pet chicken, pork or rib bones which splinter and easily lacerate the digestive tract. These fragile bones may also get stuck in the stomach or intestines. For crafty explorers, consider a safety lock on cabinet door where cleaners or garbage is housed.
Party time !
Chocolate is toxic to your pet. Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant which can cause a fast heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, and even seizures. Sweets, cakes, cookies and other delights can upset a pet’s tummy resulting in diarrhea and/or vomiting.
Shocks and Burns
Electrical wires and cords are attractive chew things for teething puppies and mischievous kittens. Keep cords out of reach, use decorative covers or deterrent sprays to prevent fire or electrocution.
Green thumb ?
Many plants are toxic if ingested or even licked a little. Some common examples include lilies, philodendron, dieffenbachia, elephant ear, eucalyptus, spider plant, azalea, ivy, amaryllis, African violet, begonia, geranium, oleander, boxwood, Jerusalem cherry, holly, poinsettia and mistletoe. A complete list of toxic plants may be found on the ASPCA website, www.ASPCA.org.
The medicine cabinet
Tylenol, aspirin, other pain relievers, antihistamines, sleeping pills, and prescription medications are deadly substances. Keep all medications and supplements out of pet’s reach. Other concerns in the bathroom include depilatories, razors, toothpaste, sunscreen, hair products and cosmetics.
What’s lurking in the garage?
Antifreeze smells and tastes sweet. Naturally, pets’ curiosity gets the best of them. Store antifreeze in a safe location, tightly sealed. Thoroughly clean up drips or spills after use. A safe alternative is Sierra, a non-toxic antifreeze. Rat poisons are colorful treats to pets. This deadly toxin is designed to taste good. How can anyone resist? The very safest option is not to keep rat poison in or around your home or garage.
Don’t underestimate your pet
He or she will likely try anything including investigating fans, coffee pots, hot irons, rubber bands, plastic bags, pantyhose, balloons, sewing needles, string, mobile phones, chargers and remote controls. The consequences are countless including burns, suffocation, and intestinal obstruction.
Animal Poison Control 1-800-548-2423 is staffed by veterinary toxicologists and available 24/7.
Remember, what goes in must come out. Sometimes, via surgery.
Mia K. Frezzo, DVM
While you are busy making your festive plans for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, please don’t forget to include your pets. The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things you should not share with your little best friends. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make holidays a happy time for everyone.
Some of the more common holiday hazards include: Bones: The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don’t feed them to your pet. Beware of steak bones, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract or cause lacerations to the digestive tract.
Fat
Those wonderful potato latkes (watch the hot oil!), gravies, and poultry skin can cause severe gastrointestinal upset as well. Chocolate, macadamia nuts, and raisins are also toxic to pets.
Holiday plants
Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky white sap and leaves can certainly cause severe gastric distress. With so many hybrid varieties available each year, the best approach is to keep the plants out of your pet’s reach.
Electrical cords
Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
Candles
Lighted candles should never be left unattended. Even more importantly, do not leave candles at kitty’s eye level or within puppy’s chewing zone. Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces and feet.
Pine needles
Check around holiday trees and boughs frequently. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet’s intestines or cause an obstruction.
Holiday tree
Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a tree-climbing cat or large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall, using strong cord or rope. Avoid adding preservatives, sugar, and aspirin to the water in the tree stand.
Ornaments
Sharp or breakable ornaments, dreidels, and even aluminum foil should be kept out of reach. String objects, especially tinsel and ribbons, are to be safeguarded at all costs. They are thin and sharp and can wrap around intestines or ball up in the stomach.
Stress and company
With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets. Make sure your pets wear collars and tags and are microchipped in case of escape. Ask guests to keep an eye out for pets under foot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people. Provide a special quiet place with a blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to when the festivities get too stressful.
Boxer & Dane
288 River Road
North Arlington, NJ 07031
(201) 600-6980
Best Friends Pet Care
269 Red Schoolhouse Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
(845) 371-4000
Boca’s Play N Stay Dog Center
98 Forest Street
Jersey City, NJ
(201) 536-8888
Camp Bow Wow
95 Greenwood Avenue
Midland Park, NJ
(201) 882-0186
Camp Bow Wow
53 Midland Ave
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
(201) 797-3647
Doggie Paradise
145 Paterson Avenue
Wallington, NJ
(973) 574-8855
Fardale Kennels
346 Forest Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
(201) 891-1310
Hal Wheeler’s Pet Center
Route 23 North
Cedar Grove, NJ
(973)256-0694
Morris Animal Inn
120 Sand Hill Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 539-0377
Manor Crest Boarding Kennels
492 Paramus Rd.
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 444-2814
The Art of Raising a Puppy
by the Monks of New Skete
Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog
by Carol Lea Benjamin
Good Owners, Great Dogs
by Brian Kilcommons
How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks
by Ian Dunbar
Don’t Shoot the Dog
by Karen Pryor
Manners for the Modern Dog
by Gwen Bohnenkamp
Help! My Dog Has an Attitude
by Gwen Bohnenkamp
Super Puppy
by Peter Volmer
The Perfect Puppy
by Benjamin L. Hart and Lynette A. Hart
Most of these books are readily available in large bookstores or local libraries.
