Summertime Pet Safety

Summer is in full swing! For many of us, that means barbecues, cookouts, beach bonfires, and other outdoor affairs. But what’s a lot of fun for humans can present dangers to our pets, so before your next big backyard bash, add these pet-safety pointers from our friends at Petcentric.com to your pre-party checklist – it just might save you a trip to the vet. The summer-party staples your pets should avoid start with the…

Picnic or Barbecue party. Most prepared human food isn’t good for pets the rest of the year either, but it’s especially important to keep little snouts out of the potato salad and other rich dishes. Pancreatitis, an all-too-common and sometimes fatal inflammation of the pancreas, can proceed from eating “greasy, spicy, fatty foods” – all mainstays of barbecues. And while you might follow the rules and not give your pets cookout food, your guests might not know better. Plus, parties can get chaotic, and many pets will take advantage of a busy backyard to perform a little quality control on the deviled eggs. So, while it might sound cold-hearted, your pet (and you) may have a better time if she’s in a cool air-conditioned room with a bowl of water, a little of her own kibble, and the door closed with a sign on it asking your party guests to let your furry friends have their own private party in peace.

The aftermath. Post-BBQ trash will likely contain bones, which are very harmful to pets, particularly cooked bones that splinter more easily. Bone fragments can pierce your dog’s palate and other soft internal tissues like his stomach or intestines. Garbage will likely also contain sloshed alcohol, Styrofoam plates, pointy plastic utensils, and human food that’s started to turn. Keep your dog away from barbecue refuse and make sure trash-can lids stay on tight.

Fire — and fire-starters. Anything you use to get the grill going – matches, lighters, lighter fluid – should be locked away. Matches contain phosphorus, which is poisonous if ingested, and the tiny amount on each match may not harm your pet, but better safe than sorry. Lighter fluid is dangerous across the board: eating it, inhaling its fumes, even getting it on the skin or fur. And we all know that dog whose tail knocks over glasses and sweeps shelves clean of picture frames. No one wants a tail to get toasted! Keeping pets secured safely inside is a good idea any time you have open flames as décor, whether it’s tiki torches, candles in paper bags, or a simple fire pit in the back yard. Most pets understand fire, but accidents (and tails, as we mentioned) happen.

Bug preventives. Citronella candles, bug coils, bug zappers, bug spray, insect oils, smudges – all these things can burn, zap, or poison your pet.

 If your pet is bothered by outdoor insects, ask your vet about a bug spray specifically formulated for pets. Human formulations should live in a secure cabinet.

Fun in the sun. This isn’t to say that your dogs shouldn’t enjoy your guests, or the summer sunshine – but you should keep an eye on both situations. For yard parties, using a tie-out or runner cable can let your dog enjoy the party without you having to worry about a pet slipping out of an open gate or door as guests come and go.

Sunscreen. Daylight parties probably mean strong sunshine, and pets can suffer the effects of too much sun exposure the same way we can. Ask your vet about a pet-safe sunscreen that will prevent skin cancer on delicate ears and elsewhere, and make sure your pet has enough water. Familiarize yourself with the signs of heat stroke in animals in case your pet gets overwhelmed by hot and/or humid weather.

Booze. Never give your pet alcohol, and make sure he’s not lapping out of glasses that contain it. It can affect your pet’s mental state and depress his respiration, and toying with a pet by giving him beer or other booze “as a joke” is putting your pet at risk and is not funny at all if you really care about your pets. Get rid of empties promptly, or keep your pet out of temptation’s way entirely by setting him up indoors.

Dogs eat entire chickens in seconds, and cats get out in a flash; it happens, and nobody’s perfect. If you think your pet has ingested something harmful or otherwise fallen afoul of your fiesta, call your vet or local animal hospital and ask what to do next.

Got any pet-safety tips you’ve picked up at your own barbecues? Please click an icon below to share your comments and this article on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

Should I Really Brush my Dog's Teeth?

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandA dog’s dental health depends a lot on its breed and diet. But dogs can get gum disease from plaque on their teeth. And gum disease and tooth decay can start early in a pup’s life, so the sooner you attend to your dog’s teeth, the better.

Ideally, you should brush your pup’s teeth each day with a soft bristle brush and a special veterinary enzymatic toothpaste. This comes in flavors such as beef, so your dog will think of it as a treat. Simply push the skin back from your pup’s mouth and use a back-and-forth motion on the outside of your dog’s closed teeth. The pooch never even has to open his jaw!

If you have trouble, talk to your veterinarian. He or she may recommend an anti-plaque mouthwash or a bio-adhesive film instead.

Share This Map & Help New York Dogs & Cats!

We are proud to announce that our Google Maps now covers New York! Our Google Maps makes it easy to realize how many shelters and rescues work in the greater New York area. Click on the pins and find out what shelters and rescues operate in that area. Then follow the links to see the pets available. It’s easy to use and easy to share.

New York Businesses that Support Pet Adoption

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New York Dog & Puppies Rescues & Shelters

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New York Cat & Kitten Rescues & Shelters

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Signs of Dog Affection

Our friend over at Petcentric just posted this short and sweet article on the signs your dog will use to show you and other humans their affection! They can’t pet us or give us belly rubs, but they can certainly communicate when they’re happy and how much they love us! Author Andrea explains the five signs her two dogs use to show their appreciation to her and her husband, and gives easy-to-understand examples. There’s the wag, the sniff, the lick, the sigh (that was a new one I hadn’t thought about before!), and the smile. You can read how dogs demonstrate these five signs in her full article here. Can you can identify which of the signs your dogs or dogs you meet display with you? Share this article and let your friends know by using the icons below!

Shelter Me Episode Sneak Peek with Pop Star MAX!

Shelter Me, the uplifting PBS film series about pets and the people who help them, is sharing a very special sneak peek of a new episode with us! In Episode 9, “The Art of Kindness,” Lights Down Low singer MAX hosts concerts at animal shelters to help promote adoption. In this clip, you’ll see the amazing work MAX is doing across the country and why he believes spreading the message of pet adoption is so important. Check it out here!

Be sure to tune in to PBS this summer to watch the full episode. You’ll meet a famous painting pooch named DogVinci who helps to teach kids about creativity and sells his paintings to raise money for animal shelters. The episode also highlights a senior dog adoption fair that helps give exposure to pups that are often overlooked. We can’t wait for you to see the entire episode! You can also watch past episodes online now.

Shelter Me is presented by the Petco Foundation and produced by Steven Latham Productions. Learn more about Shelter Me here.

Looking to adopt a pet of your own? Get started here! 

So cute! Sleeping adopted puppy and baby

sleeping-puppy-babyBlogger Jessica Shyba created a viral phenomena with her amazing photos documenting her son and their newly adopted puppy snuggling during their naps together. Our friends over at Petcentric write, “Jessica’s eye for coo-worthy moments between her son, Beau, and sleeping dog, Theo, (and the rest of the family) have spawned an Instagram account that has exploded in popularity through the hashtag #theoandbeau.” Through Jessica’s artful photography, you and her 454,583 other followers can keep up with the puppy and baby as they grow up together. She’s also publishing her favorite photos as a book, available for pre-order now, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Santa Cruz SPCA, where they rescued Theo. We think that makes these photos even cuter!

To-do list before a trip with your dog

pet-travel-tipsWhat’s on your packing and to-do list before a trip with your dog? Traveling with your dog can be an incredibly fun and memorable experience, if you’re well-prepared. But forgetting an important necessity or failing to take one of these steps ahead of time could turn that relaxing vacation into a travel nightmare! Check out these super-useful tips from our friends at PetParents shared for every well-prepared dog owner needs when traveling with their pooch.

Top Toxic Spring Plants for Pets

cartoon-top-toxic-spring-plants-petsSpring is here and we’re loving the great weather and flowers blooming all around us! But, some of those gorgeous plants are actually toxic to pets. Did you know that these Spring plants are toxic to pets? SHARE to keep other pet lovers in the know!!! You can like and share this and more great cartoons and images on our Adopt-a-Pet.com Facebook page here (cartoon from our fabulous friends Redandhowling)