First rule for animal safety in summer time or any other time, be sure they have access to clean water.
July 4th cautions for pets and other safety information.
Note: This is not the "Official" pootie diary for today.
Please keep your fuzzy friends safe, and keep yourself safe so you can care for them. Contained in this diary is safety information, with many links for more information. As usual when talking of animals around here, there are LOL pics. Hopefully, there will be something for everyone.
FIREWORKS SAFETY
Lots of great information at this link for July 4th animal safety, especially dogs.
http://www.ilovedogs.com/...
Here is an excerpt of helpful some information at that link.
Firework Safety - Restrict your pet’s access to the immediate or adjacent area where fireworks are being set off. Keep your pet indoors in a quiet, cool, isolated part of your home. Put on your pet’s favorite television program (Animal Planet, anyone?) or play music to mask firework sounds.
If needed, confine your pet to a comfortable crate to prevent them from escaping through open doors, lunging at windows or eating inappropriate materials, which can happen if your pet becomes stressed or anxious.
Another point to consider can be found here:
http://www.houstonspca.org/...
Frightened outdoor dogs have been known to jump high fences and dig holes to escape the sound of fireworks. Indoor animals should be kept away from large glass windows or doors because they are highly capable of crashing right through when scared.
VEHICLE SAFETY
Number one rule in vehicle pet safety is never leave your pet alone in your vehicle - in summer the heat can and does kill, the interior temperature can exceed the outside temperature very quickly even if windows are left somewhat open. In the winter the reverse is true, the vehicle can hold in the cold and can cause frost bite or even death. In some communities, pet owners face penalties for leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle. The person responsible can be fined and/or face consequences that are more severe.
The ASPCA site has a lot of information on a variety of topics This is the link to the one on automobile safety.
Here are a couple of examples of the many tips that can be found there:
During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars for warmth and protection. But a car’s fan belt can kill or injure an animal when the motor starts. If you are aware that there are outdoor or feral cats in your neighborhood, please bang on the hood of the car and wait a few seconds before turning on the engine.
Whether you’re going around the block or across the country, the ASPCA recommends that you keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. Make sure it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in.
Hug your kids at home, but belt them in the car. ~Author Unknown
FOOD and POISON SAFETY
Many things can be toxic to animals. Some that just make the animal sick when consumed in small doses and can be fatal in large amounts, some are just fatal at any dose. Size of the animal is a factor at what amount the toxin will be fatal. Here is a list of some of the items, mostly outdoor plants, that can be harmful to animals.
Mushrooms
Grapes
Raisins
Lilies
Black walnuts
Sago palm
Azalea
Castor bean
Onions
Chives
Avocado
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
Daffodils
Alcohol
Marijuana
Just in case your pet eats something poisonous here is one national Poison Control Center number:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number (888) 426-4435. The service is available 24/7 and may cost a $65 fee. You will need a credit card, if you are charged a fee.
Keep the poison control phone number easily accessible. Animals, especially dogs chew almost anything.
The ASPCA website has additional information on poisons and what to do if your pet eats a poisonous substance.
http://www.aspca.org/...
One section "What To Do If Your Pet Is Poisoned" has information regarding what type of information to have ready regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.
Also, at the ASPCA "What To Do If Your Pet Is Poisoned" site, there is a very helpful list for preparing an emergency first-aid kit for your pet. Most items will need guidance from a vet on when and how to use them.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a good web resource for plants that are toxic to animals here:
http://www.library.illinois.edu/...
As indicated above, alcoholic beverages can be poisonous to pets. Securely cover or remove any alcohol when your pets (or anybody pets) are around without proper supervision. There are many serious symptoms that can result, up to death.
Please advise family and friends DO NOT feed your animals table scraps, and follow the advise yourself.
Decorations used on the 4th of July, as well as other holidays and celebrations, can be a problem for pets. Keep those things out of the animal's reach, especially when he/she/they are unsupervised.
If you are concerned about flea collars and other parasite control, there may be some information you can use at:
Natural Ways to Control Fleas and Ticks, which can be found at Mother Nature Network.
http://www.mnn.com/...
This site has a long list of plants know to be toxic to animals. The plants that are poisonous can be indoor or outdoor plants, so check the garden as well as the house. In addition to the plants on the list, other plants may also cause an allergic reaction in some animals.
MISCELLANEOUS SAFTEY INFORMATION
http://www.att.net/...
Link to: Top Ten Summer Safety Tips for Pet Owners
Prepare and prevent, don't repair and repent. ~Author Unknown
Rule # 22 Some animals are best not kept in the house.
Some of the same precautions can be used for toddlers and for pets, like moving or covering electrical cords and placing plastic inserts in unused outlets, and securing cabinets and cupboards, moving or removing toxic plants, and keeping decorations and alcohol out of reach.
This site has a long list of plants know to be toxic to animals. The plants that are poisonous can be indoor or outdoor plants, so check the garden as well as the house. In addition to the plants on the list, other plants may also cause an allergic reaction in some animals.
When using essential oils, be cautious around your pooties and woozles, as some oils are toxic to animals.
There is more information on this at the Natural Pet Care site.
REFERENCES
There is a wealth of information on the sites listed below, much more than can be covered in a Pootie-Woozle Safety Diary. Not all of the topics at the following links were covered in the diary.
The Animal Rescue site has a lot of information for pets. There is something for everyone at their web site. The link here is to their Safety Tips page. Link.
Just a few of the many safety categories covered at the Animal Rescue web site are: Safety Tips. Accidental Falls, Disasters, Household Chemicals, Older Dogs, Animals in Distress, Dogs & Exercise, Snakebites, Bird Emergencies, Flying With Pets, Plastic Hazards, Car Safety, Poisonous Plants, Wild Animals, Cat Longevity, Horse Emergencies, Pool Safety, Halloween Hazards
Wildlife safety precautions:
http://www.scif.com/...
Pets with babies safety tips:
http://www.parents.com/...
Natural Pet Health:
http://www.natural-pet-care.com/
Among the many things found at this site is a section on Tips For Emergency Preparedness for Pets
http://www.sniksnak.com/ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc/
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Credits and Thanks
Many thanks to icanhascheezburger.com, source of the LOLpics.
Thanks for all of the things this Pootie-Woozle community does to make this world a better place.
Visit sites below to donate food to animal shelters at no cost to you.
Other sites where you can click to give support to animals and many other good causes:
http://clicktogive.com/...
http://www.care2.com/...
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