Hazards
Protect your pet from these potential hazards
Human goodies that can be fatal to a dog
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Raisins & Grapes
- Onions
Dogs love trucks!
We all know the saying, but they should either ride in the cab with you or if they must ride in an open vehicle, make sure they are in a kennel, safely tethered to the floor of the truck bed
- Avoid transporting your dog in an open truck bed
- The floor of the truck bed can get extremely hot and may burn the pads of your dog’s feet
- Your dog could slide around, bounce or jump out of the moving vehicle
Some hazards can be seasonal
Be alert and protect your pet from these possible dangers
Spring & Summer
Precautions
- Don’t leave pets in your car! Outside temperatures as low as 72 degrees can heat up a car’s interior an average of 40 degrees within an hour, with 80% of that increase in the first 30 minutes Cracked windows provide little relief from this oven effect
- Cool, fresh water in a tip-proof bowl is a must
- Older and overweight pets, as well as flat-faced breeds (Persian cats, pugs and bulldogs) are more likely to overheat in hot weather
- Provide shelter for protection from extreme temperatures and inclement weather
- Asphalt and concrete can get very hot and burn the pads of their feet
- Exercise your dog in the early morning or evening hours when temperatures are cooler
- Resist the temptation to shave off all of your pet’s hair in an effort to keep him cool Your pet’s coat will protect him from getting sunburned
- Keep your pet well groomed A matted coat traps in the heat, attracts parasites and can cause skin sores
Toxic Hazards
- Coco mulch
- Lawns treated with pesticides and fertilizers
- Standing water in gutters, etc may contain chemicals that are toxic to your pet
- Damp spots or puddles of auto coolant in the garage, driveways or parking lots
Fall & Winter
Precautions
- Pets should be kept indoors when temperatures fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit,
- Puppies and other shorthaired pets should be indoors when temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit
- Regularly check your pet’s water to make sure it isn’t frozen
- Provide a dry, draft-free doghouse if you must keep your dog outside for any period of time
Toxic Hazards
- Check your garage and driveway for antifreeze and other chemicals Antifreeze tastes sweet to pets, but can be fatal
- Use a damp towel to wipe your pet’s feet and underside Ice-melting chemicals can irritate and burn the pads of your pet’s feet and cause serious injury if ingested
Holiday Hazards
Did you know the following can be harmful to your pet?
- Bones
- Fat
- Holiday Plants
- Candles
- Holiday Tree
- Pine Needles
- Ornaments
- Electrical Cords
- Company
- Water Additives used to prolong the life of your Christmas tree
Information taken from the pages of the Dumb Friends League and the American Animal Hospital Association for much of this information
