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Archive for November, 2009
Don’t be a turkey on “Turkey Day”
Holidays can be extremely fun for humans, but often are a dreadful experience for pets. Help keep your pets safe by keeping the following in mind this Thanksgiving.
Holiday treats, such as rich, fatty scraps, bones from pork and poultry, alcoholic beverages, chocolate and other sweets and candies can be harmful or toxic to pets.
These foods have been linked to pancreatitis in pets. Signs and symptoms of an inflamed pancreas include vomiting and abdominal pain, and severe pancreatitis requires emergency medical care and treatment.
Following these hints will help keep pets out of danger, while still enjoying the food, fun and festivities that accompany the holidays.
Riding with Rover
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), more than 10 million Americans bring their pets with them while traveling. Before embarking on the open road with your pets this holiday season, be sure to keep the following safety tips in mind.
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Keep pets secured in crates or carriers.
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Make frequent stops for your pet to rest, relieve itself and stretch.
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Keep your pet on a leash when stopped. You never know how he/she will react in a new place. You don’t want Fluffy or Fido to run away or into traffic.
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Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle. A parked car can quickly become unbearably hot or cold inside within minutes, causing heatstroke, hypothermia and even death. Your pet can also become a prime target for theft.
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If you plan to feed your pet while on the open road, avoid overfeeding. If your pet isn’t accustomed to motion this could spell disaster! It is best to give the main meal at the end of the day or when you reach your destination.
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Don’t let your pet hang his/her head out the window. Road debris and other flying objects can injure you pet and there is always the possibility that your pet could fall out.
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Remember, each pet has its own personality and will react in varying degrees to stress. If your pet isn’t ready for travel consider leaving your pet in the comforts of their own home under the care of a professional pet sitter.
Survey of independent pet-sitting business owners reveals biggest holiday pet safety hazards
A recent survey of Pet Sitters International’s nearly 8,000 member businesses found that the biggest pet safety hazard consistently witnessed by pet sitters during the holidays is a pet’s access to dangerous materials in the home that can be easily ingested.
Other hazards noted were electrical appliances left on in the home, a pet’s access to dangerous plants, holiday food and decorations and issues related to weather.
Most professional pet sitters can quickly identify hazardous and potentially harmful material in the home and are proactive in communicating these hazards to clients. Some of the most frequently recommended cautions are:
- Holiday treats, such as rich, fatty scraps, bones from pork and poultry, alcoholic beverages, chocolate and other sweets and candies can be harmful or toxic to pets.
- Pine tree water can be poisonous, so be sure to cover open tree stand bases. The tree should be secure to the wall with strong wire or twine because a toppling tree can cause serious injuries to dogs and cats.
- Keep these poisonous holiday plants away from pets: the berries of the mistletoe, holly, hibiscus, Christmas roses and the poinsettia.
- Many holiday decorations are hazardous to pets. If decorations are not pet-friendly, keep them, as well as lights, out of a pet’s reach. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that house fires increase considerably during holidays.
- Remember, the most common pet-related emergency that occurs over the holidays is the consumption of human pharmaceuticals. Make sure all prescription and non-prescription drugs are safely stored.
Marsha Wheaton, owner of Dog Mom at Your Service in Traverse City, MI, encourages pet owners to plan ahead and take the necessary steps to keep a pet’s routine.
“Keep life as normal as possible,” Wheaton said. “Make sure pets get regular walks, cut out all the extra treats and don’t let your pets get pushed aside with all the hustle and bustle and added activities.”
For more information on holiday safety or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, please visit www.petsit.com.
A little extra care reaps great rewards
November has been designated Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month to help promote the many advantages of adopting an older animal.
Older pets are often neutered, house-trained, current on shots, extremely loyal and are usually overlooked at animal shelters.
If you are looking to add an older furry member to your family, remember that with older age comes a little extra care.
PSI member Debra Milton, owner of Four Paws Pet-Sitting Services in Douglasville, GA, offers the following advice on caring for senior pets:
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Spend a bit more time checking the senior dog for new lumps and bumps on its body, review the eyes for signs of glaucoma and check their urine and feces for any signs of blood, etc.
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The senior dog’s teeth may not chew as well as they did when they were a younger dog so pet parents may want to adjust their diet with smaller size dry pellets or crush the pellets up if they are large or gradually change to a wet food.
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Use special bedding for senior dogs, like beds with heat for the winter and/or bedding with cooling sheets for the summer months. And, use liners to protect bedding from incontinence issues.
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Discuss with your vet the times of day that would be slower at their clinic for you to bring in your senior dog. This will create less stress on the pet, the pet parents, office staff and other patients in the vet’s common areas such as reception and waiting areas and exam rooms.
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When traveling, remember to protect your vehicles with potty pads, blankets or seat covers for possible incontinence issues.
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Keep a closer eye on children that may be around the senior dog – especially toddlers and young children that may not have been exposed to dogs in general and especially senior dogs.
Good things don’t always come to those who wait
Whether it’s holiday travel, a day at grandma’s house or simply an extended shopping trip—something will inevitably keep pet owners away from their home and pets during the holidays.
For pet owners with holiday plans, time is running out to book a professional pet sitter. Professional pet sitters often begin booking for the holidays two to three months in advance. Waiting until the last minute to try to find a pet sitter may result in missed events with family and friends or having to rely on someone that may not be the best provider for your pet.
PSI offers its free Pet Sitter Locator to pet owners wanting to find the best care for their pets during the holiday season. The ZIP code-driven search tool offers enhanced features, enabling pet owners to conduct a criteria-based search in less than one minute. Discriminating pet owners can search PSI’s database of nearly 8,000 independent professional pet-sitting businesses for custom-tailored services ranging from daily dog walks to caring for pets with special needs. Users can refine their searches even further by specifying credentials such as bonding, liability insurance and pet first-aid training. PSI also offers a one of a kind Pet Sitter Interview checklist to help pet owners evaluate their pet’s caregiver.
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