#1 NEUTER YOUR PET Unless you are a professional animal breeder, have your pets spayed or neutered. These procedures will help your pets live longer, healthier lives. They will also eliminate unwanted and unplanned litters of kittens and puppies. Millions of unadopted spring puppies and kittens have to be destroyed by overburdened animal shelters every year
#2 VACCINATE! Warmer weather brings out more house bound pets and more wildlife which can carry rabies, distemper and other contagious diseases. Make sure your dogs and cats are protected. Visit your veterinarian and get your pet vaccinated. There are vaccines that will help reduce the risk of distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, kennel cough and rabies.
#3 START OBEDIENCE TRAINING Spring time is a great time to begin obedience training fore your puppy or young dog or to brush up training for your older more mature dog. An unruly out of control dog is a danger to himself and others. Good citizenship requires that dog owners have their pets under control whenever among other dogs and people. An obedient dog is a happy and healthy pet.
#4 SCREEN YOUR WINDOWS! Its great to feel the fresh air and gentle breezes entering your home through opened windows. But make sure your windows are screened. Thousands of pets are killed or seriously injured each year in falls from opened windows in single family suburban homes and large urban apartment buildings.
#5 LEASHES, DON'T GO OUT WITHOUT ONE If you are going outdoors with your pet, make sure it is on a leash. Your pet must be under control at all times when it is out among other people and pets. The firm grip you maintain on the leash is the best safeguard you have to insure that your pet doesn't spar with other animals or gets loose and runs away. Your pet should also always wear a collar with an identification tag.
#6 NEED A JOGGING PARTNER? Running with your dog can be great exercise for both of you. Keep your dog's age and over all health in mind when you choose a distance and course. Be careful not to stress your pet to the point when it is injured. Keep away from hot tar or paved surfaces that can cause burns to your pets foot pad.
#7 STOP FLEAS & TICKS The same Lyme disease (carried by ticks) that ravages healthy people can do enormous damage to pets. Check with your veterinarian for new, easy-to-use flea and tick products. Only use the flea and tick products recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter products can be toxic and pose dangers to your pets.
#8 CAR SICK PETS Car sick pets can make a long car ride an excruciating journey. Make thing easy on everyone. Don't feed your pet for 8 to 12 hours before an extended car trip. You can give water up to two hours before. Plan several stops along the way to let your pet and other passengers relieve themselves. Bring some water from home and give just enough to your pet to quench its thirst.
#9 USE PET ID TAGS Avoid the heart ache that comes when a pet is lost. Make sure your pet has an identification tag on its collar. The tag should have your daytime and home phone numbers or email address. Use the implanted ID chip system too. It can help your identify pet if it is turned into an animal shelter. Tens of thousands of pets are lost each years. Unfortunately too many are euthanized because they lack ID and are not adopted.
#10 PET FIRST AID KIT Most serious injuries to pets occur in the spring and summer months when we spend more time outdoors with them. Be prepared if an emergency strikes. Have a well stocked first aid kit handy. can be the difference between life and death.
#11 PLAN VACATION TRIPS If you plan to travel this summer and bring your pet along make sure you plan ahead. Nothing will ruin a vacation faster than finding out as you check in that your hotel doesn't allow pets. When booking accommodation make sure your hotel or vacation resort permits pets. Check with and make arrangements well in advance with your airline, train or bus line. AAA and other travel services have lists of hotels and transportation systems that are pet friendly.
#12 A BUMPY RIDE One of the most dangerous places for pets is the back of a pickup truck. Pets can be thrown from the truck if the driver has to make a sudden stop or turn, or they can be hit by shifting cargo or flying debris. Dogs and other pets should ride in the cab either in a pet carrier or secured by a pet safety belt.
#13 STILL WATERS AREN'T SAFE Children aren't the only ones who drown when left unsupervised in backyard pools. Pets are also vulnerable. Never leave your cat or dog alone at or near a pool.
Summer
#14 FIREWORKS Americans love to celebrate July 4th with a bag, but all that noise can make wrecks of our pets. Exploding fireworks, loud booming music and other noises are terribly frightening to pets. Keep your dogs and cats inside in a room farthest away from the fireworks or noise. Never let pets near exploding fireworks which can burn and severely injure them.
#15 HEAT KILLS! Never leave a pet or a child alone in a car in hot weather. Even temperatures in a car parked in the shade with a window open can quickly soar to 120 degrees. That kind of heat can cause brain damage or kill a pet from heatstroke.
#16 DRINK LOTS OF WATER Whether your pet cavorts outdoors all day or spends a leisurely day inside, make sure you have plenty of fresh clean water easily available for your dog or cat.
#17 DON'T IGNORE SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION If your pet is in a hot, confined area for any period and becomes hot to the touch, its gums, tongue or ears are pale with a grayish tinge, it pants heavily or shows other signs of distress, cool it down gradually by spraying it with cool water or rub its pads with alcohol. If the pet's suffering continues without relief, take it to a veterinarian as quickly as possible. It may be suffering heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
#18 FIND SHADY ACRES Have a shady protected area for your dog if it spends time outdoors. Never leave a pet out in the midday heat without water and shade. Leaving any pet in direct sun light for long periods of time is cruel and can be deadly.
#19 BEACH BUDDIES When you're at the beach and putting on the sun screen don't forget about your pets - they can get sunburned too. Noses and ear tips are vulnerable to the summer sun rays and many pets with light colored fur suffer burns and skin cancers. Too much sun can also cause dehydration. Salt from sea water can irritate dogs' paws and infect their ears. After a day at the beach give your dog a good bath to rinse off the salt water and cool him.
#20 STOP HEARTWORM The mosquitoes that spread heartworm will be out there just waiting to infect the unprotected pet. Make sure your dog is tested for heartworm and takes the preventive medication that will help him avoid this debilitating and fatal disease.
#21 POISONS IN THE GARDEN Many plants and most fertilizers and insecticides will poison your pet, if ingested. Don't allow your pet to run freely off the leash, especially in wooded areas. Make sure it doesn't eat outdoor plants, and contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet licks up fertilizer or pesticides.
#22 PET MEMORIAL DAY The second Sunday of September has been designated Pet Memorial Day. It is a good time to reflect on the good time you have shared with a loyal canine or feline companion. Thousands of pet lovers who have buried their pets in pet cemeteries take this opportunity to visit the grave site and participate in memorial services like the one held at the Bide-A-Wee Pet Memorial Park in Wantagh.
#23 WINDOW GUARDS With the arrival of warm weather you'll be tempted to open your windows and let in summer breezes. Each year thousands of pets are injured or killed from falls from open upper story windows. Window guards or heavy duty screens can help you enjoy fresh air and protect against tragedy.
#24 NOT SO EASY RIDER Taking your pet along for a bike ride isn't a good idea. Even if secured in a basket, cats can become terrified and stressed by the calmest bike ride. Having your dog trail along on a leash may put it through a more strenuous trip than it can handle. A frightened or distracted dog can pull you over. Worse is a dog trailing along without a leash. It can get can caught up in confusing traffic patterns and get injured or killed by vehicle traffic.
#25AVOID OUTDOOR GARBAGE That great walk in the park can turn into a frantic trip to the animal hospital if your pet gets at the garbage basket. Peach and other fruit pits, poultry bones, food wraps, and other tasty undigestables can lodge in a pets throat or block an intestinal tract. Always have your pet on a leash when outdoors, especially when you walk or job by a garbage can.
Autumn
#26 FLEAS Fleas will make life miserable for you and your pets. When fleas bite, they suck blood which causes itching and irritation. Fleas also spread diseases and a variety of medical problems. So don't suffer, make sure your home is flea free. Make sure your pets wear flea collars and check with your veterinarian for the flea control products he recommends for your pets. Vacuum often and put a flea collar inside your vacuum bag.
#27 BEWARE HALLOWEEN WATCH YOUR STEP The costumed young ghosts and goblins that will be ringing your door bell this Halloween can unnecessarily frighten and terrify your pets. Plan ahead. If you know your pets don't react well to noise, keep them in a room farthest away from all the action. Give them a favorite toy to play with and a comfortable bed or cushion. Play some classical or other calming music in the background to drown out the cacophony outside.
#28 TRICK OR TREAT If your kids are going trick or treating, discourage them from taking pets along. In all the excitement and confusion of going house to house it is easy for pet to get loose and get lost. Costumes on pets aren't a good idea either because they can get tangled and choke or otherwise injure or pet.
#29 CANDY'S NOT SO DANDY It's hard to resist the lure of holiday sweets, but keep them away from your pets. Chocolates can be harmful, even toxic to dogs and cats. Hard candies can pose a choking hazard or block intestinal tracts. If you feel guilty about indulging while your pets watch, have some of their favorite treats on hand so they don't go for the candies.
#30 Socialize Your Pet Dogs and cats are social animals who crave human companionship. Be a good neighbor and socialize your pet.
#31 THANKSGIVING DINNERS Resist the urge to feed table scraps from your Thanksgiving feast to your pets. Ask your guests to refrain too. Make sure your trash containers are secured and pet proofed. Those tasty poultry and steak bones can splinter and perforate stomach and other internal organs. Indulging in too much of the other holiday goodies can cause diarrhea and intestinal upsets in the best behaved dogs and cat.
#32 PET THERAPY Thousands of volunteers bring the special companionship that only dogs and cats can provide to the residents of nursing homes and patients in hospitals across the country. The residents and patients look forward to the visits and the pet therapy volunteers and their dogs and cats find them just as rewarding. Consider joining the pet therapy program at your local shelter. It's a great way you and your pet can help someone in need.
#33 USE SAFE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS Christmas and Hannuka lights and decorations are tempting targets for dogs and cats. Thousands of pets are injured each season when they chew on electrical cords or break glass tree ornaments. String, ribbon, and tinsel can get caught in a cat's or dog's intestines. Avoid glass ornaments and other breakable decorations. Secure those lights and electrical cords.
#34 PETS DESERVE XMAS GIFTS TOO Don't forget about your pets during the holidays. They give you so much love and companionship during the year, don't they deserve something special at the holidays. The holidays are a great time bring home a special new toys, scratching post or padded bed for your favorite canine or feline friend. The new toy could be just the thing to distract them from playing with your new holiday decorations.
#35 DON'T GIVE PETS AS GIFTS A puppy or kitten is a major responsibility that many pets lovers simply aren't able to take on. So please don't surprise a person or family with a pet. After the novelty wears offs in a few weeks and the reality of busy work and school schedules sets in, most pets given as gifts wind up in animal shelters. If someone on your gift list is interested in a pet, why not offer to take them to a local animal shelter and help pay the adoption fee if they find a dog or cat they would like to bring home.
#36 INCLUDE PETS IN HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES Pets are part of your household and family during the rest of the year so why exclude them from holiday festivities? Banishing your pets to the isolation of the basement or a locked bedroom every time guests come to your home only invites the kind of destructive behavioral problems that are difficult and time consuming to correct. If your pet enjoys being with people and isn't intimidated by boisterous conversations, introduce him to guests and let him absorb as much of the festive atmosphere as he feels comfortable with.
#37 BEWARE OF POISONOUS HOUSE PLANTS The holidays bring out a festive array of decorative plants. Although we enjoy them, they can be a problem for pets who chew on them or eat them. Poinsettias and mistletoe are particularly dangerous.
#38 NEWS YEARS RESOLUTIONS The New Year gives you a wonderful opportunity to assess your relationship with your pets. They give you so much warmth and companionship. In the year ahead, return the favor by spending more quality time with your pet. Make sure you take them on a visit to the vets.
Winter
#1 COLD KILLS A dog or cat left outside in severe cold weather can die quickly from exposure. Except for exercise and walks, all dogs and cats are safer indoors during the winter. Bring your pets inside when temperatures start to dip near freezing. Make sure they have a warm draft free place indoors with a dry mat or blanket that they can lie on. Give them plenty of fresh water and appropriate amounts of food.
#2 OUTDOOR DOGS NEED SPECIAL PROTECTION Large breed dogs that live outdoors need the protection of a dry, draft-free doghouse. It should be large enough for the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but cozy enough to help him retain body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turn away from the winds and the opening covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic. Even outdoors must be brought inside in severe temperatures.
#3 COLD CARS ARE DANGEROUS Leave your dog or cat in an unattended car out in the winter cold and be prepared to treat them for hypothermia. Small short coated breeds can particularly susceptible. If you have to leave a pet alone in a car, then you’re better off leaving them back at home. Pets in unattended cars can also be lost or stolen.
#4 AVOID ANTIFREEZE POISONING Antifreeze tastes sweet to unsuspecting pets but it’s a deadly poison. This is an especially insidious danger because once swallowed antifreeze poisoning is difficult to diagnose and treat. It only takes Don’t let your pet drink from puddles in the street.
#5 DOES FIDO NEED A SWEATER? If your dog shakes and shivers during walks on a cold day, he may need a sweater. Regardless of size, many short coated dogs are very sensitive to cold. This is especially true in older dogs. A properly fitted canine sweater can help your dog retain precious body warmth and enjoy their time outdoors.
#6 ROCK SALT/DE-ICERS CAN BURN A thick layer of petroleum jelly on your dog’s foot pads can prevent the burning and irritation your dog or cat can experience when they walk outside on sidewalks that have been treated with salt or chemical deicers. Whenever your pet gets back from a long walk, make sure you wipe its paws clean of any residue before it licks them and irritates its mouth. Keep your pets’ nails trimmed and shave the hair between the toes. It’s a good way to prevent foot problems and make treatment easier if they do occur.
#7 AVOID ICY DANGERS A good grooming is essential if you plan to let your pet frolic in the snow and ice. Long haired breeds that roll in the snow can get ice stuck to their fur. The ice and snow pack in the fur can cause severe chills and lead to dangerous respiratory infections. When you get back home, the ice and snow will melt all over your rugs and furniture creating a damp and unhealthy home atmosphere. The long hair between their toes can cause snow to get impacted painfully in pets’ paws.
#8 DON’T EAT SNOW Outdoor exercise and play can make any pet thirsty, but don’t let them lick or eat snow or ice. Ingesting snow can cause a terrible stomachache. And the salt, deicers and other contaminants can cause diarrhea and other more serious ailments. When out in the snow, keep your dog on a leash. Bring along a ball or other toy that you can use to distract your pet.
#9 CHECK UNDER THE HOOD Before you start the engine on your car or truck on that frigid winter morning, bang on the hood or blow the horn. Cats and other small animals including birds often seek the warmth of car and truck engines overnight. They will crawl under the hood for protection from the winds and cold. Many are maimed or killed each winter when they get caught up in the fan and fan belts.
#10 WATCH THAT DIET Outdoor dogs and those dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors need more food during the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. However, if your dog is a home body and doesn’t spend much time exercising during the cold weather months it might start to gain unneeded weight. Be careful not to overfeed your pet. Quick weight gain is unhealthy. Obesity in pets leads to serious medical problems and a shortened life span.
#11 PREVENT CABIN FEVER Now that the summer and vacations are over, your pets will be spending more time home alone. Bored, un-stimulated dogs and cats are most likely to cause problems and develop separation anxiety while you're away at school or work. Prevent problems by putting out your pet's favorite toys when you leave for the day and put them away when you get home. Leave a radio on to a talk or news station while you're out. And most of all, spend some quality time with your pet when you do get home.
#12 DON’T SWALLOW INDOOR POISONS Don’t let your pet become a tragic statistic. Cleaning fluids, detergents, household solvents, even nail polish can smell and taste sweet to your pet. Once swallowed they can be deadly. Secure all of these products in a place your pets can’t get at. If you suspect your pet may have ingested a toxic product contact your vet immediately. Have his day time and after hours phone readily available.
#13 VISIT THE VET With the warm weather approaching, this is a good time to schedule your pets annual visit to the veterinarian. By taking some simple preventive steps now, you can avoid dangerous situations and help protect your pet from falling victim to them.
