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Informative Articles

Dog Training: The Other Ways To Reward And Keep Your Dog Motivated Other Than Food And How To Keep Your Dog To Stay Focus
Keeping the attention of a dog while training is not always easy. Dogs can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the dog and the human alike is vital...

Dog training -training for proper dog behavior
There are many reasons for teaching proper dog behavior, and teaching such behavior has many benefits for both the human and canine partners. Dog behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression, controlling dog...

Dog Training: Uncover Ways To Prevent Your Dog From Unwanted Urination
Problems with inappropriate urination are some of the most commonly encountered by dog owners. As a matter of fact, inappropriate urination and defecation is the most frequently cited reason that owners surrender their animals to shelters. ...

Dog Worming
Dog Worming. Regular worming is essential to protect your dog against internal parasites. This involves giving it preparations in liquid or tablet form. Adult dogs should be wormed at least once a year, and at least once every six months if in...

How to Get Free Pet Tags
Pet health insurance and related products often provide free pet ID tags when you purchase a policy or join an organization. Animal shelters and animal welfare organizations also provide free pet ID tags. An internet search in your area may find...

"Hybrid" dog - Isn't that just another word for Mutt?
Every day we hear more about the new "hybrid" dogs, or "designer" dogs. Each feature is accompanied by pictures of adorable puppies that are examples of this new "breed." Of course they're cute! All puppies are! Should you pay hundreds, and...

Obesity In Dogs
Numerous studies have shown that more Americans are obese today than ever before and, interestingly, we're not the only ones. Not only are Americans fatter than ever, so are their dogs; and the phenomenon can have serious ramifications for both...

Shih Tzu - Socializing And Introducing A New Shih Tzu Puppy
Bringing a new shih tzu puppy into the household is always an exciting and fun time. Everyone wants to play with, cuddle and hold the little ball of fur. The last thing on the minds of most new shih tzu puppy owners is training the new addition,...

Westies Dogs – Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie Dog
Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want the companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have the knowledge...

Why Should You Collect Cat Collectibles?
Let the cat out of the bag! True, you will know various cat collectibles in here. No secret will be hidden, and no cat collectibles you wouldn’t know. Everything is here for you. You needn’t put a mouse as bait…hmmm!!! You sure will find this small...

 
 
 
Pet Safety

Your home might be "kid-proof" but how does it measure up when it comes to safety for your pet? Do you know all the hazards your pet is exposed to? How about what plants are poisonous and what foods should be avoided?

Caring for your pet is more than just making sure he has enough food, water and gets the appropriate veterinary care, it also means providing a pet safe environment so that your furry, feathered or scaly friend can stay safe and healthy. Unfortunately, there are many hazards your pet is exposed to each day that could put them in danger. Being aware of them so that you can keep your pet out of harms way is the responsibility of every pet owner.

Sometimes your guests can be the biggest hazard to your pet. If you have indoor pets, your quests may not realize this and open doors or windows around them that could allow them to “escape” to the great outdoors. Well meaning dinner guests and party go-ers could overfeed your pet and cause him to become ill. Imagine if you had 20 guests and each one fed "treats" to your pet! To insure pet safety when you have guests try keeping the pet in a crate or another room that the quests will not be allowed into. This may actually be more comfortable for your pet too as it may make him nervous to have so many people around if he is not used to it. Instruct your guests not to let the animals outside if they should get into the main house. Make sure your pet wears tags so he can be identified and return should he get out by mistake.

The holidays should be enjoyed by both you and your pets, so keep pet safety in mind when decorating and celebrating. Remember that small objects can cause an intestinal blockage if eaten so be sure to remove all tinsel, Easter grass, confetti, small toys and wrapping paper. Don’t leave candles unattended with pets near. Pet costumes can be cute, but make sure there are no lose strings that could choke your pet or that he can get his limbs caught in. It is best to not leave your pet unattended when you have him dressed up. Make sure electrical cords are kept away for pets especially puppies. They can chew through the cord and get burned or even electrocuted. After decorating for a holiday, make sure to observe your pet around the new decorations for several hours to see if they develop any

 


unsafe habits around certain items - you may need to remove or rethink your decorating if it looks like there could be a hazard. I had a ferret that liked to jump into the tree and grab all the shiny ornaments so I stopped decorating the bottom of the tree to prevent this as I was afraid the glass would break and injure her!

When feeding your pet treats, it is important to know that they should not eat certain foods. In general “people food” should be given to pets sparingly if at all, but some foods can be toxic. Most of the greasy holiday foods that we love to eat are not good for them and overfeeding can make them ill. In particular do not feed them chocolate - it can be fatal especially to cats. So make sure you move those valentine candies, Easter eggs and chocolate Santas out of pets reach. Other foods to avoid are onions, alcohol and poultry bones. In addition, birds should not be fed avocados, dairy products, fruit seeds, potatoes, cabbage, green beans, lemons, rhubarb, grapefruit, plums and, of course, caffeine, chocolate, and alchohol. Any of these can be harmful and even fatal to your feathered friend! Also, keep in mind that the fumes from non stick pans can be fatal for pet birds so keep your bird out of the kitchen, or better yet, switch to cast iron pans.

When decorating with plants either for the holidays or just in general, keep pet safety in mind. There are many toxic plants but common toxic holiday plants include potted bulbs, ivy, holly, mistletoe and greens (contrary to popular belief poinsettia are not overly dangerous but I still wouldn't let my pet eat one!). This is not an exhaustive list so before you bring any new plant into the house please research it's toxicity.

It’s just as important to look out for your pets safety outside as it is inside. Beware that antifreeze is extremely toxic to pets. Keep your pet away from any puddles that might contain it. Rock salt can be irritating to pet paws and also to their stomach if eaten or licked off the paws. Use common sense when practicing pet safety during the winter months.


About the Author

Lee Dobbins is a pet lover, pet owner and webmaster of www.epet-center.com where you can find information on pet health, safety and products.