| Hartwell Kennels Puppy & Dog Safety |
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German Ivy
Boston Ivy
Christmas Ivy
Some signs that your pet has eaten a plant might include vomiting, frothing, and diarrhea.
Below are other tips from The Puppy Owner’s Manual by Diana Delmar and a couple of
magazine articles:
Car Safety –
• Never leave your dog in the car on a hot or even a warm day. The temperature in a
car can soar to well over 130 degrees in just minutes, and your dog could become
overheated and easily die, even if the windows are cracked.
• On very warm or hot days, leave your dog at home in a cool house rather than take
him in a hot car.
• For trips that can’t be avoided, and are more than an hour, especially in warm
weather, take along a bowl and plastic container of water for your dog. It is best to give
water at room temperature. Be sure to park in the shade and do not leave the dog alone for
more than just a few minutes, without at least checking on it and giving frequent water.
• On long or holiday trips, stop every 2 to 3 hours to let your dog stretch his legs and
relieve himself if necessary. Take enough food for both ways PLUS a few extra meals in
case of emergency or break-down and carry at least a gallon of water.
• A leash should always be used on the dog whenever out of the car. Unfamiliar noises
and environments or other animals could encourage your dog to run off.
• Forbid your dog from sticking their head out the window of a moving car – he could get
eye and ear injuries – or worse, fall out.
• If you need to open the window to provide air, only crack the window, or buy a special
and pet mail order supply catalogs.
• Please try to refrain from allowing your dog to ride in the back of a pickup truck. The
beds on hot days become scorching hot, which can burn the pads of dog’s feet. In some
states, it is illegal to carry a dog loose in the back of a pickup. If you must transport in this
manner, please invest in a special device that enables you to tie the dog in the pickup bed
so he can’t fall out, and only use this device with a harness to prevent choking and neck
injuries - NEVER USE A “COLLAR”. And only transport the dog this way when the sun is not
out and the temperature is not hot.
Air travel –
Special note about Chow Chows and Bulldogs:
Pug-nosed breeds (such as the Chow & Bulldog) often have trouble breathing at high
altitudes and can become overheated easily (especially a concern if traveling in the “cargo”
area). Airlines advise against transporting these breeds by airplane.
Food Safety –
• Chocolate is poisonous to dogs (and cats) of all ages and sizes. Chocolate contains
caffeine and theobromine and dogs metabolize these substances differently than humans.
Giving a dog chocolate can result in vomiting, diarrhea, hyper behavior and even cause
seizures and heart irregularities which can result in death.
• Do not feed dogs (or cats) any bones, especially from poultry. These can splinter
causing blockage and sometimes death. Do not feed any left-over fat drippings. Fatty
foods, spices, and grease can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and/or pancreatitis. Also make
sure to throw aluminum foil used to cook meats in the garbage. A dog (or cat) might mistake
the metal scraps from the foil as food. If ingested, the foil can be razorlike, causing internal
injuries or an intestinal obstruction. Always keep trash cans out of the dog’s reach.
"NYLABONE" brand treats are safe.
• Be careful of hot dishes, pans or containers filled with baked goods that could fall, tip
over, or drip on your dog. Make sure to keep dishes back from the edge of the table or
stove where a dog could possibly reach them. Also be aware of where your pet is to avoid
tripping over them and possibly spilling hot food on them and you.
General Safety –
• Never leave your dog alone in the kitchen with a stove or oven on. Never leave your
dog in the house with a clothes dryer, dishwasher, or other appliances running. (for fire
prevention)
• Never leave the lower sash of windows open, especially if you live above ground level
or have upstairs windows. Even if you have secure screens on your windows, dogs can still
go right through them if they see something tempting.
• Keep your dog from strangling – never, never tie a dog by its collar and leash to or
near steps, a deck, or any other elevated place from which he could fall or jump – this also
includes the backs of pickup trucks. This is one reason we prefer harnesses.
• Do not use continuous-cleaning toilet bowl cleaners – they will poison your dog if he
drinks toilet water containing the chemicals found in these products.
• Always keep a watchful eye out for your dog – make sure they are in the area they are
supposed to be at all times.
• Watch out for your dog around doors (house and cars) – they can get a body part or
even their whole body slammed in a door more easily than you think and get injured.
• Make sure all mini and vertical blinds cords are out of the dog’s reach.
• Make sure all electrical cords are unplugged or out of the dog’s reach to prevent
choking hazards and electrocution and burns.
• Make sure to keep your dog away from highways and roads to avoid injuries and
death.
• Make sure to keep all tobacco products, ashtrays, and lighters out of the dog’s reach.
• If you smoke, please be considerate of your animals when smoking as they can suffer
with breathing difficulties and even lung damage just as humans do. Some may even have
allergies to smoke. Please do not smoke near them or in a closed-up car or room.
Holiday Safety –
• Be aware that holidays and their decorations are especially hazardous to dogs. You
want to ensure the extra houseguests are aware of your dog also.
• Make sure to keep all holiday decorations, ornaments, pine cones, pine needles,
ribbons, garlands, candles, tinsel, lights, and gifts that contain food (especially chocolates)
out of the dog’s reach. If eaten or obtained, most of these can cause serious intestinal
problems or other serious injuries.
• Do not let the dog drink water from a live tree’s base, especially if preservatives have
been added.
• It would be best to consider either blocking off the room the tree is in with baby gates
or doors, put a gate around the tree itself, or get a small tree and put up on a table out of
the dog’s reach.
• Make sure your tree stands on a wide and flat base. Also secure the tree by tying
clear fishing line or string of some kind to the tree and attach it securely to a wall, post,
window latch, or some other secure object.
• If not blocking access completely to the tree, then consider hanging ornaments on the
tree with ribbon or twine instead of metal hooks, which can snag the dog’s mouth if reached.
Hang only metal, wooden, or resin ornaments at the bottom of the tree and glass and fragile
ones at the top.
Note:
Possible signs of choking:
• Pawing at the mouth
• Gagging
• Salivating excessively (or Drooling)
If choking, immediately try to remove any visible object from the dog’s mouth with your
fingers. If the dog (or cat) has already swallowed an object, seek professional help
immediately.
Possible signs of poisoning:
• Vomiting
• Trembling
• Breathing difficulties
• Seizure
• Diarrhea
• Frothing
If poisoning is suspected, watch for above signs and if any signs are present, you should
rush the pet to an animal hospital, or contact your vet, or you can contact the ASPCA’s 24-
Hour Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435, however they want credit card info
first and charge you a fee for just answering a question.
For more tips on pet safety, go to www.aspca.org (We will also post lists of other poisons
and hazards and tips from the ASPCA on our website)
The ASPCA is the “American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.”
Watch out for all of your animals/pets/family members and take very good care of him/her
and they will watch out for you and bring you many years of enjoyment.
Hartwell Ga 30643