Holidays are a day of showing love and affection. For many dog owners, it is hard to resist giving our beloved pet a little treat on a holiday and few things say I love you as well as chocolate.
Unfortunately, what giving a well-intentioned gift of chocolate to your dog actually says is, I am poisoning you.
How much poison is OK?
Coca, a major ingredient in chocolate, contains theobromine-and that is the poisonous part. The concentration of theobromine varies by the type of chocolate, with white chocolate having very little and dark chocolate having as much as 10 times the concentration that milk chocolate has.
So how much is dangerous? A mere 52 milligrams of theobromine per pound of a dog's body weight can be deadly. Per pound of a dog's weight, that is about 1 ounce of milk chocolate and about one-tenth of an ounce of dark chocolate.
But remember, that is when it reaches potentially fatal levels. There are many things that can happen at lower levels.
Not deadly-but certainly not good
Additional effects of theobromine poisoning include:
Hyperactivity
Agitation
Tremors
Seizures
Vomiting
Diarrhea
The asterisked words are red flags to contact your veterinarian immediately. If the dog is not vomiting, then induce vomiting. (Keeping a bottle of syrup of ipecac on-hand is always a good precaution.)
There is no specific antidote for theobromine poisoning.
While a Great Dane is unlikely to die from eating a few chocolate kisses, it is important to remember that some dogs are more sensitive to theobromine than other dogs. Even a large dog may have a life-threatening reaction to a relatively small dose of the poison. With small dogs, it is easy to hit deadly levels while ingesting what to a person may seem like a small amount of chocolate.
Hoard your stash
It is also important to remember that dogs are gorgers. If a dog takes a box of chocolates or finds a stash of chocolate bars, it is likely to eat the entire thing in one gluttonous meal. For that reason, it is important to your dog's safety that chocolate be kept inaccessible at all times.
There are many foods that are toxic to dogs. For this reason, it is best to feed dogs food and treats that are made specifically to meet their dietary requirements. But with certain holidays comes a desire to share a human treat with our dog, and chocolate is such a pleasure for so many people.
Remember, if you love your dog, then do not give it poi
dogs .......................
Monday, April 15, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
3 Surefire Tips in Dealing With Your Dog During His Training
Having a pet and taking good care of it is not an easy task. Pets such as dogs need to be trained and disciplined. They need to be well behaved in every situation they are put in such as when they meet new guests in the house. This is where this dog training guide and the tips on how to train your dog in a gentle manner so they may thoroughly learn to discipline themselves comes in.
It is not a good idea to have your pet suffer in pain during dog training.
Not only does this hurt him, it may also cause him not to follow your instructions all the more. Your dog could rebel against you and your orders if you tried to harm him during the course of his training. The question now is this: how do you, the dog's master, train him well enough so that he would learn from the training? Here are some ways on how to go about a dog training guide that is gentle and yet thorough in training pet dogs:
Acquire a decent understanding of your pet's attitude or behavior. It is important that you understand how your pet behave before you begin training him to follow basic commands or even to behave. Dogs are like humans. They need to be understood as well as they have feelings, too. Your dog would be with you for a long time so you must learn to accept your dog the way he is. The dog's behavior can be easily understood by observing them, how they respond. Once you have a thorough understanding of how your dog behaves then you can begin with the training.
Do not inflict harm on your pet dog. If your dog committed something that is not good in your eyes, it is important that you do not deal too harshly with him. Dogs need someone who can understand them, not someone who can add more to their stress when they are already in a lot of it. Dogs can be frisky when they are stressed after all, it's much the same way with their human counterparts or masters. It's best not to give them more stress lest you would want them to be even harder to manage.
Be patient with your dog's training. An important trait that one has to have when dog training is patience with the dog being trained. This is often an integral reminder to most owners who subject their dogs to the training guide. If you are seeing through your dog's training then as his master and trainer in one, you have to be patient in teaching him how to behave. The dog will not learn anything from you or from any dog trainer that you employ for his sake if you constantly blow up on him for not understanding and following commands properly.
Your dog will be a more well-behaved and disciplined pet when you subject to proper dog training. You can learn the art of training dogs on your own by taking the challenge to train your own pet or you can employ someone else to see through your dog's training. It is all up to you as to how you would like your dog trained. You just have to make sure to treat your dog nicely throughout his training so he would learn well.
It is not a good idea to have your pet suffer in pain during dog training.
Not only does this hurt him, it may also cause him not to follow your instructions all the more. Your dog could rebel against you and your orders if you tried to harm him during the course of his training. The question now is this: how do you, the dog's master, train him well enough so that he would learn from the training? Here are some ways on how to go about a dog training guide that is gentle and yet thorough in training pet dogs:
Acquire a decent understanding of your pet's attitude or behavior. It is important that you understand how your pet behave before you begin training him to follow basic commands or even to behave. Dogs are like humans. They need to be understood as well as they have feelings, too. Your dog would be with you for a long time so you must learn to accept your dog the way he is. The dog's behavior can be easily understood by observing them, how they respond. Once you have a thorough understanding of how your dog behaves then you can begin with the training.
Do not inflict harm on your pet dog. If your dog committed something that is not good in your eyes, it is important that you do not deal too harshly with him. Dogs need someone who can understand them, not someone who can add more to their stress when they are already in a lot of it. Dogs can be frisky when they are stressed after all, it's much the same way with their human counterparts or masters. It's best not to give them more stress lest you would want them to be even harder to manage.
Be patient with your dog's training. An important trait that one has to have when dog training is patience with the dog being trained. This is often an integral reminder to most owners who subject their dogs to the training guide. If you are seeing through your dog's training then as his master and trainer in one, you have to be patient in teaching him how to behave. The dog will not learn anything from you or from any dog trainer that you employ for his sake if you constantly blow up on him for not understanding and following commands properly.
Your dog will be a more well-behaved and disciplined pet when you subject to proper dog training. You can learn the art of training dogs on your own by taking the challenge to train your own pet or you can employ someone else to see through your dog's training. It is all up to you as to how you would like your dog trained. You just have to make sure to treat your dog nicely throughout his training so he would learn well.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Dog Attacks - Safety Tips From A Letter Carrier
Dog attacks on letter carriers are the stuff that legends are made of. They are not just myths! How do I know? I found out the hard way; I asked my letter carrier.
One day I noticed that Mike, my letter carrier, was wearing a pepper spray on his belt that was neatly tucked into a holster. That started the conversation. I asked if I could see it and immediately noticed that it was out of date. He told me he didn't know that it had expired. I had to explain to him that it wasn't the pepper spray that deteriorated, but it was the propellant. Believe me when a dog is attacking, you don't want to have a fizz coming out of the end of your pepper spray.
We started discussing why the USPS issues pepper sprays to letter carriers in the first place. As I found out from Mike, they are the first line of defense for them against dog attacks. There are more dog attacks and dog bites on letter carriers than any other group of people aside from children under the age of five.
Every year in the United States over 5 million people are attacked by dogs with close to 1 million of them requiring hospitalization or emergency room treatment. Every day 1,000 people get hospitalized with a dog bite and many of those are small children under five.
Mike shared with me some horrific tales and some advice on how to avoid dog attacks. So from Mike's 25 year plus experience as a letter carrier, here are his top tips.
1. Never smile at a growling dog. He sees that as a sign of aggression.
2. If you see a dog that is penned up in a yard or tied to a stake or some solid object, he is more likely to be aggressive than one that is roaming free. So be wary.
3. Never reach over a fence to pet a dog. Many dogs can easily jump a 3 foot fence.
4. Learn to read a dog's body language. If a dog is running at you with a loping gait, he wants to play. If the dog approaches you with its body straight and stiff with his head, shoulders and hips all in line, he is in an attack mode.
5. Always carry something with you that can be used as a blocking tool; a stick, a cane or some such device or in a pinch your shoe will work. Better the dog attack your shoe than bite your arm or your leg.
6. And like the USPS always carry a product for your self-defense, such as a dog pepper spray, with you when you are near an area where you know dogs hang out.
I used to carry the telescopic stun baton and had to use it on a couple of occasions. But now I carry the Mace pepper gun because it has a range of 25 feet.
One day I noticed that Mike, my letter carrier, was wearing a pepper spray on his belt that was neatly tucked into a holster. That started the conversation. I asked if I could see it and immediately noticed that it was out of date. He told me he didn't know that it had expired. I had to explain to him that it wasn't the pepper spray that deteriorated, but it was the propellant. Believe me when a dog is attacking, you don't want to have a fizz coming out of the end of your pepper spray.
We started discussing why the USPS issues pepper sprays to letter carriers in the first place. As I found out from Mike, they are the first line of defense for them against dog attacks. There are more dog attacks and dog bites on letter carriers than any other group of people aside from children under the age of five.
Every year in the United States over 5 million people are attacked by dogs with close to 1 million of them requiring hospitalization or emergency room treatment. Every day 1,000 people get hospitalized with a dog bite and many of those are small children under five.
Mike shared with me some horrific tales and some advice on how to avoid dog attacks. So from Mike's 25 year plus experience as a letter carrier, here are his top tips.
1. Never smile at a growling dog. He sees that as a sign of aggression.
2. If you see a dog that is penned up in a yard or tied to a stake or some solid object, he is more likely to be aggressive than one that is roaming free. So be wary.
3. Never reach over a fence to pet a dog. Many dogs can easily jump a 3 foot fence.
4. Learn to read a dog's body language. If a dog is running at you with a loping gait, he wants to play. If the dog approaches you with its body straight and stiff with his head, shoulders and hips all in line, he is in an attack mode.
5. Always carry something with you that can be used as a blocking tool; a stick, a cane or some such device or in a pinch your shoe will work. Better the dog attack your shoe than bite your arm or your leg.
6. And like the USPS always carry a product for your self-defense, such as a dog pepper spray, with you when you are near an area where you know dogs hang out.
I used to carry the telescopic stun baton and had to use it on a couple of occasions. But now I carry the Mace pepper gun because it has a range of 25 feet.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
How to Keep Your Dog Healthy With These 3 Easy Tips (And He Will Love It!)
Keeping your dog healthy and alert is key in a long and happy life, and you do want to keep your dog healthy, don't you?
Here are 3 Easy Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy for a Life Time!
Veggies - Ditch the soft chewy treats in a bag at the grocery store and buy your dog some carrots! No, seriously... buy your dog some veggies! Cut up carrots, celery and green or other colored peppers make a delicious treat for your pet that he will love. It eliminates the sugar from his diet that is pumped into those soft and chewy dog treats, too! Don't forget that sugar is cancer food and your dog (and you) should eliminate it from your diets! In addition, if your dog needs to drop a few pounds, as many do these days, eating celery actually burns calories and most dogs love the crunchy texture.
Multi-Vitamins - A good multi-vitamin every day is important for a long healthy life. Just as we should supplement our diets with a good multi-vitamin, so should your pooch! Most diets today are made up of processed foods that are missing many vital vitamins and nutrients. Avoid the soft and chewy versions. Sugar is usually a top of the list ingredient and necessary to keep that soft and chewy consistency. There are easy to give yummy crunchy vitamins that your dog will look forward to as a treat. A good multi-vitamin is important especially if you feed your dog grocery store dog food which may have more by-products and fillers as ingredients.
Omega-3 - Omega-3 supports heart health and reduces inflammation in your dog's body. Inflammation is the key trigger in most disease, for us and for our pets. As cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs today, reducing cancer causing inflammation is key in keeping your dog healthy. You should look for supplements containing Omega-3 only. Avoid giving your dog additional Omega-6 or a combination of Omega 3 & Omega 6. There is usually enough Omega-6 added to commercial dog food and you don't want to overdo the 6. There is a great Salmon Oil softgel (500 mg) that dogs love. You can give it to them as a treat or cut it open and squeeze the oil on their food. Many dogs will just take the capsule and eat it as a treat. Check with your vet for proper dosing for your dog's body weight.
These three easy changes in your dog's snacks and supplements will help him live a long, healthy life, and the veggies may help him drop a few pounds as well!
To Your Dog's Good Health!
Here are 3 Easy Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy for a Life Time!
Veggies - Ditch the soft chewy treats in a bag at the grocery store and buy your dog some carrots! No, seriously... buy your dog some veggies! Cut up carrots, celery and green or other colored peppers make a delicious treat for your pet that he will love. It eliminates the sugar from his diet that is pumped into those soft and chewy dog treats, too! Don't forget that sugar is cancer food and your dog (and you) should eliminate it from your diets! In addition, if your dog needs to drop a few pounds, as many do these days, eating celery actually burns calories and most dogs love the crunchy texture.
Multi-Vitamins - A good multi-vitamin every day is important for a long healthy life. Just as we should supplement our diets with a good multi-vitamin, so should your pooch! Most diets today are made up of processed foods that are missing many vital vitamins and nutrients. Avoid the soft and chewy versions. Sugar is usually a top of the list ingredient and necessary to keep that soft and chewy consistency. There are easy to give yummy crunchy vitamins that your dog will look forward to as a treat. A good multi-vitamin is important especially if you feed your dog grocery store dog food which may have more by-products and fillers as ingredients.
Omega-3 - Omega-3 supports heart health and reduces inflammation in your dog's body. Inflammation is the key trigger in most disease, for us and for our pets. As cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs today, reducing cancer causing inflammation is key in keeping your dog healthy. You should look for supplements containing Omega-3 only. Avoid giving your dog additional Omega-6 or a combination of Omega 3 & Omega 6. There is usually enough Omega-6 added to commercial dog food and you don't want to overdo the 6. There is a great Salmon Oil softgel (500 mg) that dogs love. You can give it to them as a treat or cut it open and squeeze the oil on their food. Many dogs will just take the capsule and eat it as a treat. Check with your vet for proper dosing for your dog's body weight.
These three easy changes in your dog's snacks and supplements will help him live a long, healthy life, and the veggies may help him drop a few pounds as well!
To Your Dog's Good Health!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Does Your Dog "Bow" to You?
I am constantly learning everyday about pet behavior, body language, and communication by interacting with the animals I care for. One behavior I started noticing with the dogs I work with within the last year is them "bowing to me". At first when I saw "Friday" a Heeler/Malamute, "Special Needs Behavioral" dog I care for do it, I thought he was just stretching. Then I notice he does it every time I walk into the house. It got me wondering, and I let it sit in the back of my mind. Then I noticed it this week when I would get the leash to take "Murphy" a Standard Poodle, out for a walk he was doing the same bow. I decided it was time to look into this behavior and body language to further understand what these dog were trying to communicate to me & why.
Upon looking into it I found that this dog behavior is called the "Play Bow" (back-end in the air with head and paws lowered to the ground). This behavior is also seen in wolves & coyotes and is a powerful social tool among all dogs. It communicates that their intentions are friendly and that they are ready for a rousing round of chasing and romping. The position is non-threatening as the head is extremely low.
This signal is extremely important because so much of dog play consists of aggressive behaviors and dominant postures. The play bow tells a dog's playmate, "Anything that comes after this is play, so please don't take it seriously."
The play-bow probably evolved out of a submissive crouch, but the signal has become an unmistakable way to indicate a desire to play, no matter where the dog is in the social hierarchy. A more dominant dog may even allow himself to be chased in the interest of fun, may encourage play by lying down and allowing a subordinate dog to "attack" him.
However, it is interesting to note that dominant dogs are not as successful in soliciting play. A general sense of aloofness may be part of the reason. Or perhaps they come across as insincere when they invite another dog to play.
Under-socialized dogs may not understand the play-bow, or know that all actions following the bow are meant in fun. Instead they may feel threatened and may bite. Fortunately, most dogs do understand dog diplomacy.
I was extremely happy to learn this information because that "play-bow" is powerful stuff! It means the dogs are happy to see me & associate me with having fun! As an added bonus my "behavioral issue" dogs like "Friday" also understand hierarchy and respect me.
Shannon Cole owns "Shannon's Pet Sitting" in Chicago's NW Suburbs an in-home, bonded, insured, Better Business Bureau Accredited pet care service specializing in pets w/ behavioral problems, medical needs & senior pets.
Upon looking into it I found that this dog behavior is called the "Play Bow" (back-end in the air with head and paws lowered to the ground). This behavior is also seen in wolves & coyotes and is a powerful social tool among all dogs. It communicates that their intentions are friendly and that they are ready for a rousing round of chasing and romping. The position is non-threatening as the head is extremely low.
This signal is extremely important because so much of dog play consists of aggressive behaviors and dominant postures. The play bow tells a dog's playmate, "Anything that comes after this is play, so please don't take it seriously."
The play-bow probably evolved out of a submissive crouch, but the signal has become an unmistakable way to indicate a desire to play, no matter where the dog is in the social hierarchy. A more dominant dog may even allow himself to be chased in the interest of fun, may encourage play by lying down and allowing a subordinate dog to "attack" him.
However, it is interesting to note that dominant dogs are not as successful in soliciting play. A general sense of aloofness may be part of the reason. Or perhaps they come across as insincere when they invite another dog to play.
Under-socialized dogs may not understand the play-bow, or know that all actions following the bow are meant in fun. Instead they may feel threatened and may bite. Fortunately, most dogs do understand dog diplomacy.
I was extremely happy to learn this information because that "play-bow" is powerful stuff! It means the dogs are happy to see me & associate me with having fun! As an added bonus my "behavioral issue" dogs like "Friday" also understand hierarchy and respect me.
Shannon Cole owns "Shannon's Pet Sitting" in Chicago's NW Suburbs an in-home, bonded, insured, Better Business Bureau Accredited pet care service specializing in pets w/ behavioral problems, medical needs & senior pets.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Interesting Facts About Beagles
General Information
The beagle is a dog breed of medium size. It is an autonomous, energetic, devoted and smart dog. It comes together nicely with kids as well as other dogs. Its roots are those of a hunter and it is generally a bit aggressive towards other small animals.
Historical background
This breed comes from England since several hundred years ago (around 1800). It occurred by the cross breeding of various hounding breeds. As a matter of fact, the beagle has been associated with King Authora's Camelot and William the Conqueror.
The rich British people used beagles to hunt by creating packs of them. Beagles arrived at the United States in the half of the nineteenth century, however at the time they did not look like as they look nowadays.
Temperament of the beagle
Beagles are mildly tempered dogs, not very aggressive but not apprehensive either. They are amicable, trustful, a bit strong-headed, companionable and inquisitive. Beagles get along great with kids and this explains why they are one of the most popular pets for families. They are compassionate and frisky, but simultaneously brave and protecting of loved ones.
Beagles and their nose
Beagles are infamous for their nose and super-strong smelling sense. They have about 220 million smell receptors (whereas man has about 5 million) and for that reason they are quite often used for detecting drugs.
As a potential beagle owner, you should be aware of this fact and realize that when this dog catches a smell, it will be resolved to check it out. Thus, beagles are not appropriate to take with you when you go jogging since they will constantly stop and smell around!
Beagles and food
Beagles love eating and they are usually very protective about their food. As a matter of fact, it will eat until it explodes, so ensure that only proper amounts of food are given to it. Moreover, it can find inspired ways to reach food that might be placed in various stores inside the house.
The beagle is a dog breed of medium size. It is an autonomous, energetic, devoted and smart dog. It comes together nicely with kids as well as other dogs. Its roots are those of a hunter and it is generally a bit aggressive towards other small animals.
Historical background
This breed comes from England since several hundred years ago (around 1800). It occurred by the cross breeding of various hounding breeds. As a matter of fact, the beagle has been associated with King Authora's Camelot and William the Conqueror.
The rich British people used beagles to hunt by creating packs of them. Beagles arrived at the United States in the half of the nineteenth century, however at the time they did not look like as they look nowadays.
Temperament of the beagle
Beagles are mildly tempered dogs, not very aggressive but not apprehensive either. They are amicable, trustful, a bit strong-headed, companionable and inquisitive. Beagles get along great with kids and this explains why they are one of the most popular pets for families. They are compassionate and frisky, but simultaneously brave and protecting of loved ones.
Beagles and their nose
Beagles are infamous for their nose and super-strong smelling sense. They have about 220 million smell receptors (whereas man has about 5 million) and for that reason they are quite often used for detecting drugs.
As a potential beagle owner, you should be aware of this fact and realize that when this dog catches a smell, it will be resolved to check it out. Thus, beagles are not appropriate to take with you when you go jogging since they will constantly stop and smell around!
Beagles and food
Beagles love eating and they are usually very protective about their food. As a matter of fact, it will eat until it explodes, so ensure that only proper amounts of food are given to it. Moreover, it can find inspired ways to reach food that might be placed in various stores inside the house.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Dog Proofing Your Living Space
Dogs are truly man's best friend. They provide us with so much joy. They cheer us up when we are down and are always so happy. There are many joys and responsibilities of owning a pet. One of the really important things to do is to be aware of the safety of the environment that we are providing our pet. So, pet proofing our homes is vital for them.
Some helpful insights or hints are necessary to help you create the right environment for your pet.
A great way to see how safe your home really is, is to look at it from your dog's line of vision. Anything that they could knock over, chew or destroy becomes a target. It is important to remove these temptations. These can include hanging wires, blinds or shade cords, plant and so many more things. Thus, it is important the we get informed.
1. Plants Are Not Pet's Best Friends
Our homes are surrounded with flowers, plants and foliage. Although they accentuate and decorate our living spaces, they do not always agree with our pets. Plants are very accessible snacks that dogs may find themselves chewing on and ingesting. So, if you have plants or are considering buying them, research to find out which ones are the most pet-friendly.
Flowers as well can be problematic. Lilies, tulips, poinsettias and chrysanthemums, for example are a few that toxic to dogs. So, make sure that vases or flowered plants are not placed on low lying coffee or end table, but rather up on the counters away from your dogs reach.
2. Medications Need To Be Tucked Away
Many home have medication, whether it been over the counter or prescription meeds. Just as it is important to keep medications out of the reach of small children, it is just as vitally important to keep them away from your pets.
From aspirin to cough syrup or heart medications, these all need to be stored in a safe and controlled area. Many people keep meds in bottle or containers on low level nightstands or counters. This means that your dog can jump up and have access and very quickly problems can escalate. So, make sure that all your medications are tucked away into a safe location, where your dog cannot gain access.
3. Foods That Are Dangerous and Should Be Avoided
Our homes and pantries contain many different types of foods. However, not all of those foods are good or safe for your pets. So, it is important as a pet owner to be aware of the foods can be very dangerous for our pets.
Two of the most common ingredients use in cooking are onions and garlic. However, both these foods can be toxic to dogs. Symptoms can start from vomiting, diarrhea, weakness which can be lead to organ failure. So be very careful about feeding your dog foods containing these ingredients.
Fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, raisins and avocados are considered dangerous and can lead to vomiting, lethargy, as well as kidney failure.
Caffeine and caffeine related foods, such as coffee and chocolate are toxic to your dog. In addition to caffeine, chocolate contains other chemicals that are toxic to dogs.
It is really important that foods that are considered dangerous for your dog be tucked away in cupboards, that are not openable by your pet. In addition, it is vital your whole family is aware, especially small children that can drop snacks, grapes or raisins on the floor and your dog is usually right there to pick up the scraps.
4. What is in Your Trash Can?
Trash cans are curious places for our pets. However, they can also be a very dangerous place for you dog as well. So it is crucial that your trash can has a lid that is securely fastened and not easily accessible. If your garbage can does not have a lid, keep it in a cupboard that can be locked or fastened so that your dog cannot get in.
Trash can have smells and aroma that will automatically attract your dog. In addition, to containing sharp objects and food waste that can injurious and harmful for your pets. So it is important to keep it concealed.
6. Window Treatments Are Not Meant To Be Toys
Many of our homes have window blinds or shades with hanging cords. Truly there is nothing more alluring to your pet. These cords can be dangerous and even fatal to our pets and small children if they become entangled in them. It is important to have these cords away from the ground, tucked up and away. If you are thinking about purchasing new window fashions, consider purchasing cordless cellular shades and blinds.
7. Hanging Cords or Wires Are A No-No
Now days, our homes are filled with technology, from computers and printers to cell phones and tablets. As a result, we have many cords, wires and chargers that recharge our devices. It can be easy to forget how these dangling cords can become a chewable toy. So it is important to remember this when recharging our devices, before you need to buy replacements.
8. Protecting Your Doors from Claws and Paws
Our dogs go from the inside to the outside many times during the day. When we keep our doors open, they have easy access. However, may times our doors can become damaged or destroyed from our pet's scratching paws and claws. An answer to this problem is to install a pet proof screen door. They are manufactured with heavy duty fiberglass mesh that will resist ripping, tearing and destruction. These pet screens are more than seven times stronger than conventional fiberglass screens. So even the most tenacious of pets will not be able to destroy or damage your screen.
Some helpful insights or hints are necessary to help you create the right environment for your pet.
A great way to see how safe your home really is, is to look at it from your dog's line of vision. Anything that they could knock over, chew or destroy becomes a target. It is important to remove these temptations. These can include hanging wires, blinds or shade cords, plant and so many more things. Thus, it is important the we get informed.
1. Plants Are Not Pet's Best Friends
Our homes are surrounded with flowers, plants and foliage. Although they accentuate and decorate our living spaces, they do not always agree with our pets. Plants are very accessible snacks that dogs may find themselves chewing on and ingesting. So, if you have plants or are considering buying them, research to find out which ones are the most pet-friendly.
Flowers as well can be problematic. Lilies, tulips, poinsettias and chrysanthemums, for example are a few that toxic to dogs. So, make sure that vases or flowered plants are not placed on low lying coffee or end table, but rather up on the counters away from your dogs reach.
2. Medications Need To Be Tucked Away
Many home have medication, whether it been over the counter or prescription meeds. Just as it is important to keep medications out of the reach of small children, it is just as vitally important to keep them away from your pets.
From aspirin to cough syrup or heart medications, these all need to be stored in a safe and controlled area. Many people keep meds in bottle or containers on low level nightstands or counters. This means that your dog can jump up and have access and very quickly problems can escalate. So, make sure that all your medications are tucked away into a safe location, where your dog cannot gain access.
3. Foods That Are Dangerous and Should Be Avoided
Our homes and pantries contain many different types of foods. However, not all of those foods are good or safe for your pets. So, it is important as a pet owner to be aware of the foods can be very dangerous for our pets.
Two of the most common ingredients use in cooking are onions and garlic. However, both these foods can be toxic to dogs. Symptoms can start from vomiting, diarrhea, weakness which can be lead to organ failure. So be very careful about feeding your dog foods containing these ingredients.
Fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, raisins and avocados are considered dangerous and can lead to vomiting, lethargy, as well as kidney failure.
Caffeine and caffeine related foods, such as coffee and chocolate are toxic to your dog. In addition to caffeine, chocolate contains other chemicals that are toxic to dogs.
It is really important that foods that are considered dangerous for your dog be tucked away in cupboards, that are not openable by your pet. In addition, it is vital your whole family is aware, especially small children that can drop snacks, grapes or raisins on the floor and your dog is usually right there to pick up the scraps.
4. What is in Your Trash Can?
Trash cans are curious places for our pets. However, they can also be a very dangerous place for you dog as well. So it is crucial that your trash can has a lid that is securely fastened and not easily accessible. If your garbage can does not have a lid, keep it in a cupboard that can be locked or fastened so that your dog cannot get in.
Trash can have smells and aroma that will automatically attract your dog. In addition, to containing sharp objects and food waste that can injurious and harmful for your pets. So it is important to keep it concealed.
6. Window Treatments Are Not Meant To Be Toys
Many of our homes have window blinds or shades with hanging cords. Truly there is nothing more alluring to your pet. These cords can be dangerous and even fatal to our pets and small children if they become entangled in them. It is important to have these cords away from the ground, tucked up and away. If you are thinking about purchasing new window fashions, consider purchasing cordless cellular shades and blinds.
7. Hanging Cords or Wires Are A No-No
Now days, our homes are filled with technology, from computers and printers to cell phones and tablets. As a result, we have many cords, wires and chargers that recharge our devices. It can be easy to forget how these dangling cords can become a chewable toy. So it is important to remember this when recharging our devices, before you need to buy replacements.
8. Protecting Your Doors from Claws and Paws
Our dogs go from the inside to the outside many times during the day. When we keep our doors open, they have easy access. However, may times our doors can become damaged or destroyed from our pet's scratching paws and claws. An answer to this problem is to install a pet proof screen door. They are manufactured with heavy duty fiberglass mesh that will resist ripping, tearing and destruction. These pet screens are more than seven times stronger than conventional fiberglass screens. So even the most tenacious of pets will not be able to destroy or damage your screen.
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