Fourth of July - Staying Safe!

Fourth of July means many things to us as Americans. Hot dogs, hamburgers, apple pie, and lemonade... parties, sparklers, fireworks and good friends... Where do your pets fit into this picture? Unfortunately, Independence Day is one of the most dangerous holidays of the year for pets. More animals are lost on this holiday than any other. There are ways for you to have a happy and safe Fourth however, and that is what we are going to focus on. Take a look at the following tips which will allow you and your pets to have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

1. Have a Pet Plan - Whether you are hosting a party at your house, or going to a friends, it is important for you to have a plan both for yourself and your pet. The safest and most secure solution to keeping your pet safe is to leave them home. While they may usually be a fun addition to the party, this probably isn't the best one to bring them to. The loud noises and bright flashing lights are often terrifying to pets and can make the most laid back animal bolt in fear.

Animals' Hospital Tip: To make sure that Fido and Mittens aren't overly stressed during fireworks time, prepare a calming oasis for them in your house. Choose a quiet room, preferably one without windows (some dogs have been known to break through them in panic) that leaves them some room to comfortably move around. Put their favorite bed, toys, and maybe a special treat down for them to focus their time and energy on. Turn on a radio or TV to help block out the loud noises. Lastly, don't allow your own worry to affect your pet. Animals pick up on our emotions; if you lock them in a room and you are feeling worried about them, they will pick up on that worry and it will translate into fear. By acting calm and reassuring, you will be translating to them that there is nothing to worry about. Don't forget to leave them water and make sure that the room will stay cool for them!

2. A tired pet is a happy pet - Spend the afternoon playing with your pet. For dogs, a nice long walk will tire them out and prepare them to be calm and relaxed throughout the night. Keep in mind that water is a big deal - keep them hydrated to prevent them from overheating!

3. Hot dogs for your dog? - While it can be very difficult to resist, try not to offer your pets tidbits of foods that they don't usually get. This can upset the delicate balance of their stomach which can cause diarrhea and vomiting. There are also some foods that are toxic to pets. Make sure to avoid the following: onions, raisins, grapes, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, avocado, macadamia nuts, yeast dough, and raw/undercooked meat. To see a complete list of dangerous foods, check out the ASPCA's website. 

If you think that your pet has eaten something poisonous, you should do one of two things.

    1. Call either the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 (There is a $39.00 fee) or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline at (888) 426-4435 (There is a $65.00 fee). Either hotline will be able to give you in depth information on what you should do next.

    2. Contact a local emergency veterinarian for advice. The Animals' Hospital recommends two local emergency veterinarians: VSEC and CARES. 

Animals' Hospital Tip: Want to give your pet a special treat that is also a healthy one? Try this Independence Day inspired recipe that will sure to be a hit!

 4. SPF Safety - Remember that you aren't the only one affected by bugs and sun at your holiday parties. It is important to provide sun and bug protection for your pet, but make sure they are made specifically for animals. There are chemicals in human sprays that may be harmful to pets if they lick them off (which they are prone to do). Don't forget the flea and tick protection! 

5. Stay Alert - Make sure that all food, alcohol, and especially fireworks are out of reach for your pet. Not only can this lead to diarrhea and vomiting, chemicals in fireworks, sparklers, and other fun Fourth of July objects can be very harmful to your pet. Make sure to keep them in places that your pet can't reach. We don't want to see any emergency vet visits this holiday!

Animals' Hospital Tip - Just because it's on a table doesn't mean it's unreachable! Pets can jump, stand on their hind legs, and use chairs to reach things that they really want. Make sure that if it's not for them, it is truly in a place that they can't get to!

6. Pool Party Hazards - Not all pets are natural swimmers, and if your pet has no water experience, a busy holiday is not the best time for them to learn. Wait for a calmer, safer time to introduce your pet to the pool. If your pet is already a strong swimmer, you're not necessarily out of the woods! Too many people in the pool can make it hard to keep an eye on the pooch and you still need to make sure they they are swimming safely! In addition, harmful chemicals can cause upset tummies when ingested, so make sure that they aren't drinking the water.

7. Clean up - Remember that all good things come to an end and what goes up, must come down. Make sure that all festive decor that goes up, comes down and is away from prying eyes, ears, noses, and mouths! Make sure that no food scraps, decorations, or fireworks shells have landed in your yard where your pet can get hold of them. Even used fireworks still have harmful toxins on them, so make sure to clean up properly!

8. Proper ID can prevent headaches - We always recommend having your pet wear a collar with proper identification tags. However, on holidays like this, it is absolutely essential that there be a way for someone to identify your pet. A great place to make an inexpensive engraved tag is Walmart. For about $10-15 you can create a tag with your pet's name and your phone number. At the minimum, include a name and phone number, if you desire you can add your address. This is also a good time to check your pet's tags and make sure that the information is still correct. A tag is useless if the phone number on it is the home phone that you canceled four years ago. Another great option? Micro-chipping! For more information, call our hospital at 215-949-1010 or check out the Home Again website.

Here at The Animals' Hospital, we'd like to wish you all a happy and safe Fourth of July! If you have any questions, please call us at 215-949-1010 and please remember that we will be closed tomorrow, July 4th, 2012.

Happy Independence Day Everyone!

Memorial Day Safety Tips - Celebrating With Pets

Memorial Day Safety Tips - Celebrating With Pets

Nothing says sunshine and summertime more than that first picnic of the year. For many, the summertime fun starts off with a Memorial Day celebration! Barbecues, picnics, pool parties, fireworks, burgers and apple pie… Yummy! Still, before you light the grill, sink your teeth into that first juicy burger, relax by the pool, or wave a sparkler in the air, remember that Fido may not be as “festivity friendly” as our human friends, and that special precautions need to be taken.

As with any holiday celebration, the ASPCA recommends keeping your pets in a safe and quiet place so as not to stress them out during the party. However, we know that many of you love to include your “Fur Kids” in the festivities, so we’ve compiled a list of safety tips that will keep you and Fido healthy, happy, and safe this Memorial Day.

Keep alcoholic beverages up and away from inquisitive noses.

Alcohol can be poisonous to pets, so make sure that all alcoholic beverages are kept out of reach. In the event that your dog does ingest an alcoholic beverage, it is recommended that they see a veterinarian immediately.

Signs & Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include: Fatigue, lethargy, coordination issues, increased urination

Try to resist your dog’s begging advances… Diet deviations result in upset tummies!

Although it may be tempting to provide your dog bits of your burger, hot dog, potato salad, or cupcake, keep in mind that dog’s stomachs function differently than human. By changing your dog’s normal diet without any introduction to the new food, you risk diarrhea, vomiting, and one unhappy pup! Also be careful of toxic foods to pets including: onions, avocado, grapes, raisins, and chocolate.

Animals’ Hospital Tip: Want your dog to be able to indulge in a Memorial Day Treat? In many cases, you can make biscuits out of their dog food by simply adding water and baking. You can also try this super easy recipe:

Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Dog Treats

The perfect snack to cool your pet down after a vigorous play session!

Ingredients:

32 ounces vanilla yogurt

1 cup peanut butter

Directions:

1. Melt the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl
2. Combine the yogurt and melted peanut butter
3. Pour the mixture into cupcake papers
4. Place in the freezer
5. Enjoy!

Use ONLY dog specific bug repellent and sun block.

Never use human insect repellent or sunscreen on your dog. The formulas are not made with regard to the differences in animal and human skin. In addition to skin irritation, ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. If you believe that your dog has ingested bug repellent or sun block, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Keep Fido safe from fire.

Make sure that your pet does not get too close to matches, candles, lighter fluid, grills, fire pits, or fireworks and sparklers. All of these can result in serious burns. In addition lighter fluid and citronella candles can irritate the stomach, lungs, and central nervous system. Before you light that hot grill, make sure that all of your four legged family members are out of the way.

Supervise all water sports.

As a general rule, never leave children or pets unsupervised around a pool, pond, or lake. Just as with humans, not all dogs are natural born swimmers. If your dog has never been swimming before, it is probably wise to wait until you are able to focus your full attention on helping them try out this fun activity. You don’t want a few panicked moments to turn into a lifetime fear of water. In addition, make sure that your pet isn’t viewing the pool as a giant water bowl. Most swimming pools contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea and poisoning.

Keep Fido legal.

If traveling with your pet, make sure to take identification and their health records including their current Rabies certificate. Make sure that they are wearing a sturdy collar and tags that clearly state their name, and a way to contact you in the event that they become loose or lost. Micro Chipping is a great way to ensure that they come home in the event that they manage to lose their collar.

Animals Hospital Tip: Don’t know where your pet’s records are? Give us a call! We can fax or print a copy for you!

Hot cars just aren't cool…

Unlike humans who can sweat to cool off, dogs rely simply on panting to keep their temperature down. Cars can turn into ovens very quickly in hot temperatures, so make sure that your pet does not spend time inside of one alone! It only takes a few minutes for the inside of your car to get excessively hot and turn into a sauna. Avoid heat stroke – keep Fido cool!

Always provide plenty of water.

Just like us, your pet’s thirst will increase in warmer temperatures, especially when they are running around and playing with other dogs or children. Make sure that your pet always has access to a bowl of fresh, cool water to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Be prepared – for any kind of weather!

Rain or shine, your dog needs to be able to get out of the elements. Make sure that there is a shady or covered spot that your dog can utilize to cool down or keep dry!

Prevent a bolting pup – make sure Fido can avoid the crowds and noise.

Not all pets are super social and willing to interact. While your pet may love the hustle and bustle of a family picnic, it is important to provide them a place to get away from the crowd and rest if they’d like. In addition, if your pet is afraid of fireworks or loud noises, it is best to provide a safe, quiet room that they can relax in. No pet owner wants to spend the night looking for a startled dog or cat who has run away out of stress or fear.

Make sure all fences, doors, and gates remain closed.

Memorial Day is a high traffic holiday in which many people will be coming in and out of the house and backyard. Remind your guests that you have a dog and therefore that the gates and doors must remain closed. This will ensure that your dog does not escape your yard and run into the neighborhood, or worse, the street.

Take precautions from unwanted litters.

In the event that your dog is not spayed or neutered it may be a good idea to keep them home from the community picnic. In an event as unpredictable as this, it is impossible to know who else (two legged or four) that will be there. In addition to there being the risk of two unaltered male dogs fighting, there is also always the risk of your unaltered female becoming too friendly with a male suitor. As always, to prevent an unplanned litter, we recommend spaying or neutering!

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous from the picnic table, pool, or yard, please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at (888) 426-4435.

We hope that you and your pets have a happy, healthy, and safe Memorial Day weekend and don’t forget to thank a Veteran!

Easter Fun = Danger for Pets

For most people Easter brings fond memories of egg hunts, baskets and bunnies. But be careful! These Easter staples can be dangerous to your pets' health.

But don't worry, you don't have to give up your favorite traditions to have a safe holiday. Watch out for these hazards, supervise your pets closely and try our substitution tips and everyone can have a Hoppy Easter!

The following seven holiday products are the most common Easter dangers:

Eggs - Dyed and Plastic

Shiny plastic eggs may look like toys to your pets. If they chew and swallow the plastic, it can cause intestinal problems that may require surgery. Fresh, hard boiled eggs are not dangerous, but eggs spoil quickly. If days later your pet finds and eats an egg that was undiscovered during the Easter hunt, it can make them very sick. 

Tip: Keep track of the number of eggs hidden and make sure all are accounted for at the end of the hunt.

Easter Grass

Cats are especially attracted to these shiny shreds, and just like tinsel, ingesting this "grass" may be lethal. Pets can not digest it, leading to the threads getting stuck in and damaging their intestines. 

Tip: A better choice? Try using paper, or even real grass!

Chocolate

Most adults already know how dangerous chocolate is for pets, but it is important children know as well. Make sure to tell your kids that sharing with the family pet could make them very sick. Still, supervision is key. 

Tip: With chocolate bunnies in every basket, and chocolate eggs hidden around the house, it may be best if your pets are in kept in an "Easter free zone" during the festivities.

Easter Lilies

These flowers and beautiful and festive, but should be avoided at all costs if you share your home with pets. Easter lilies are one of the most poisonous plants for pets, especially to cats. Vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite are symptoms of lily poisoning. Cats who take a bite of the flower can die from kidney failure in less than two days if left untreated.

Tip: Try faux lilies for the same look without the risk.

Candy

Chocolate isn't the only tasty treat dangerous for your pet. Too much sugar can also cause digestive upset. Additionally, the foil wrapping around candies can cause internal damage. The sharp pieces may tear your pet's esophagus or intestines. 

Tip: Be sure to keep a close eye on your pet and clean up all wrappings immediately.

Easter Toys

Those teeny tiny baby chick toys and bendy bunnies may be good basket stuffers for your kids, but to your pets they look like a good snack. Small toys are a choking hazard and should be kept away from cats and dogs. Be sure baskets are kept off the ground, or that pets are kept in another room while baskets are being unwrapped. 

Tip: Make sure all toys and parts are too big for your pet to fit in their mouth.

Baby animals

Baby chicks, bunnies and ducks may seem like the perfect Easter basket addition, but think twice! Not only do these cute babies grow up into large, adult animals requiring full-time care, but they often carry Salmonella. This harmful bacteria can be transmitted to your children and other pets.

Tip: Stuffed bunnies and chicks make a much better choice as Easter pets!




The Animals' Hospital of Levittown wishes you and your pets a very Happy Easter! Don't forget to send us pictures of your furkids dressed up for the holiday - we'd love to see them!


Article taken from http://www.petside.com/article/7-easter-dangers.