Pet Safety Tips
- Not all pets can swim – carefully monitor your pet near water until you are sure that he or she can swim without sinking.
- Xylitol is a sugar substitute commonly found in chewing gum and can be deadly to pets. This chemical is especially dangerous because it is sweet-smelling and tasting. Be sure to keep pets away from purses or contents of pockets, candy baskets, etc.
- Know your pet’s normal temperature, pulse and breathing rate; gum and inner eyelid membrane color should normally be a healthy pink hue.
- Take a picture of yourself with your pet for purposes of identification. This way, if your pet is lost or stolen, you can prove that the pet is yours.
- Never feed your pet chocolate, moldy cheese, onions, raisins, or grapes, as these are poisonous.
- Many common houseplants (poinsettia, varieties of philodendron) are poisonous to your pet.
- Keep a pet emergency first aid kit handy, complete with emergency phone numbers for your veterinarian and local 24 hour emergency facility.
- Think ahead and have an evacuation plan in case of emergency. Do you know which local hotels accept pets?
- Make sure your pet has an ID tag or microchip – especially when travelling.
- Never give your pet human medication unless it is prescribed specifically by your veterinarian.
- Carry an extra leash in your car to use as a collar/lead or muzzle.
- Watch your pet closely when mulching or gardening, as cocoa-scented mulch can be harmful to dogs if ingested.
- Never leave your pet in a parked car.
