The Pet Sit Blog

Is your pet well-taken care of?

October 27, 2009

Posted in: Uncategorized

A recent Associated Press-Petside.com poll found that just 20 percent of pet owners have a pet first aid kit.  Even more disturbing is what else the poll uncovered.  Pet owners routinely engage in activities that can lead to pet accidents and injuries.

The poll also found that 25 percent of pet owners give their pets bones from table scrapes and 11 percent leave pets unattended in their vehicles.

Keeping these facts in mind, October is National Animal Safety & Protection Month and a perfect time to make a few small changes to help ensure your pet’s safety.

• Get or make a pet first aid kit.  Keep a list of important phone numbers (veterinarian, emergency animal hospital and poison control) with the pet first aid kit and make sure it is easily accessible.
   
• Learn simple first-aid procedures, as those can sometimes make the difference between life and death. Knowing how to apply pressure to a source of bleeding and place a temporary bandage is vital to your pet’s safety.
   
• Familiarize yourself with the list of foods that are dangerous to animals.
   
• 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.
   
• Make sure your pets will be taken care of in the event that something happens to you.  The Pets At Home Vehicle Window Cling is much like the animal rescue stickers for homes, only it is used on automobiles to alert emergency personnel that the injured party has pets at home.