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KEEPING YOUR PETS OUT OF HARM'S WAY AT HOME --
KNOW THE RISKS
When expecting a child, parents usually "child-proof" their homes to minimize the child's exposure to potential threats and hazards. The same should be done before bringing a pet home – and pet owners should always be mindful of the adverse effects certain household products can have on their pets. Furthermore, just because certain products have been manufactured specifically for pets, that doesn't mean they can't be harmful, too. For example, some insect-control products, such as over-the-counter flea and tick remedies, may be toxic to pets. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), prescription flea and tick control products are much safer and more effective.
Pain killers, cold medicines, antidepressants, vitamins, and diet pills can all be toxic to animals. Make sure your pets can't get access to your bottles of pills or tubes of ointments. Keep them in cabinets and drawers that your pets are unable to get into.
There are many foods that should be off-limits to your pets, so be careful when you're cooking or eating in front of them. Pets can choke on chicken bones, fish bones, etc. -- so keep these out of your pets' reach. Don't let your pets eat onions or onion powder, dough that contains yeast, coffee grounds or coffee beans, salt, macadamia nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, rhubarbs, avocados, or anything with mold growing on it. Don't let them lap up your alcoholic beverages! Chocolate may be a heavenly food for us humans, but it is poisonous to dogs, cats, and ferrets.
Some household plants are poisonous to your pets, such as azalea plants, geraniums, lilies, mistletoe, and poinsettias. Cedar and other soft wood shavings, including pine, can threaten the health and well-being of small pets such as hamsters and gerbils. You may be surprised to find out that rawhide doggie chews can be dangerous to your pets. They pose a choking hazard, and they also may be contaminated with Salmonella, which can infect not only your pets, but you and other people who come into contact with the chews as well.
Rubber bands, string, yarn, thread, and even dental floss can cause blockages in intestines or strangulation if your pet swallows these items or gets tangled up in them. Toys with removable parts can pose a choking hazard to animals, just as they do to small children.
Chemicals used on lawns and gardens, such as fertilizer and plant food, can be easily accessible and fatal to a pet, so be careful when you let your pets out in the yard. Antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol can be fatal to animals even if only a small quantity is ingested. For example, one teaspoon can kill a 7-pound cat. Antifreeze that contains propylene glycol does not pose as much of a risk for animals if ingested in small amounts, according to HSUS.
Although it is impossible to anticipate every possible risk, awareness of the dangers posed by the items included in this extensive list will bring you one step closer to keeping your pets safe and healthy.
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QUOTABLE PET PERSPECTIVES:
"It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being."
-- Henry David Thoreau
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
-- Anatole France
"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
-- George Eliot
"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet."
-- Colette
"The more I know about people, the better I like my dog."
-- Mark Twain
"It's funny how dogs and cats know the inside of folks better than other folks do, isn't it?"
-- Eleanor H. Porter
"Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs had better get used to it."
-- Robert Heinlein
"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
-- Immanuel Kant
Are you dating someone who's having a hard time accepting your pets? If so, this book is a must-read!
When Pets Come Between Partners: How to keep Love - and Romance - in the Human/Animal Kingdom of Your Home
By Joel Gavriele-Gold, PhD
Visit Dr. Gold's Web site at http://www.drjoelgold.com/
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ADOPTING A PET
There are so many ways to adopt a new pet, sometimes you just don't know where to start. The process can be overwhelming. Here are just a few suggestions to help you get started in your search:
* Check the classifieds in your local newspaper
* Ask people at your workplace whether they know of anyone who's trying to place a rescued pet
* Visit veterinarians' offices -- they usually have flyers posted describing animals that are up for adoption
* Most large pet store chains have adoptions centers within their stores
* Visit any of the following Web sites (this is just a small sampling of the many sites out there):
http://www.petfinder.com/
http://www.petsmart.com/adoptions/
http://www.petadoption.net/
http://www.mediapartnersforpets.com
http://www.citycritters.org
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Allergic to Your Pet? Here are Some Tips
Many pet owners refuse to give up their pets – whom they consider to be family members -- even if they are allergic to them. Even in cases where their doctors have suggested "removing" pets from the household, many patients refuse and would rather suffer with the allergies than part with their pets. There are steps you can take to reduce your allergic symptoms:
• Keep at least one room off limits to your pet(s).
• Use air filters throughout your home, and place HEPA filter bags in your vacuum cleaner.
• Bathe your pet every week.
• Clean your home frequently to remove dust and dander.
• Avoid using curtains, blinds, and carpets, which accumulate and retain dust. Window shades and hardwood or parquet floors are easier to keep dust-free.
• Be aware that your allergies can be caused by several offending agents (such as molds and spores, cigarette smoke, pollen, and certain foods), so focus your efforts on avoiding or reducing exposure to all allergens you are sensitive to, not just pet fur and dander.
• A variety of medications – both prescription and over-the-counter – are available to combat allergies.
• Allergy shots (immunotherapy), when administered on a regular basis, can improve symptoms in the long term.
So, before giving your pet up for adoption, try to combine these approaches -- house cleaning, medications, and immunotherapy – and see if you can't minimize your allergies to a manageable level.
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A Veterinary Hospital That Lets You Stay Overnight With Your Pet
One of my cats had to have surgery done on her leg at the veterinary hospital a couple of years ago, and I asked the vet if I could visit her during her 5-day stay. I was told no, because it would only make it worse for my cat to see me for a brief visit and then have to watch me walk away again. Admittedly, there was some wisdom in that – but those 5 days were long and anxiety-filled for me, and undoubtedly for my cat, too. When I finally did pick her up, it was a joyous reunion, and I was extremely relieved that her surgery and recovery had gone smoothly.
But I have since discovered a veterinary hospital that does allow you to visit your pet, and if my cat ever needs to stay at a hospital again, I'm secure in the knowledge that I have this option open to me. At the Center for Specialized Veterinary Care in Westbury, New York, you can actually stay overnight with your pet! Check out their Web site, at www.vetspecialist.com, to see the rooms available to you, complete with recliner, sink, TV set, phone, a workstation that includes cable modem hook-up, and a portable cage for your pet.
Since its inception in March 2003, this state-of-the-art facility has been offering a wide array of medical services for a variety of animals, and prides itself on taking a compassionate, caring approach to caring for your pet using high-tech diagnostic methods and treatments. If you stay with your pet during his or her hospital stay, you can be there for more than just moral support. In some cases, you can help with administering medications, rehab sessions, and other therapies.
The Center provides advanced veterinary cancer care; advanced diagnostic ultrasound imaging, CT, and MRI; cardiology treatments, dentistry, neurosurgery, ophthalmologic care, orthopedic surgery, management of dermatologic conditions, and more.
As an added bonus, the Center offers free pet transportation! This service is provided by Ambuvet (www.ambuvet.com) in cases where emergency services are required and for pre-arranged appointments with a specialist when you have a referral from your veterinarian.
Visit the Center for Specialized Veterinary Care at 609-5 Cantiague Rock Road in Westbury, New York, or call 516-420-0000. It's easily accessible, less than a mile from Exit 40W off the Long Island Expressway (Route 495).
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Taking a Stand: Reporting Animal Cruelty
Cruelty to animals is punishable by law in every state in this country, and yet it still goes on everywhere. You may feel helpless in a situation where you see or hear of someone abusing an animal, but there are steps you can take if you know the right agencies to contact. Find out the name of the agencies in your area that are responsible for investigating and enforcing anti-cruelty codes -- usually the local police department or local shelter or animal control agency.
Provide a clear written statement of what you witnessed, giving dates and approximate times if you can. The more detailed an account you give, the most helpful the information will be. Try to photograph the abusive situation and date your photos. Obtain brief factual statements from other witnesses to submit along with your account. If you have witnessed it yourself, another option is to go to your local police commissioner and swear out a warrant to summon the accused person to court.
Keep records of whom you have contacted at the agency, shelter, or precinct and on what dates, what has been communicated, and what the outcomes of the communication are. Follow up if you haven't received a response about the action they have taken within a reasonable time, and contact a different agency if the first one does not attempt to resolve the situation.
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We'd love to hear your stories. If you have any anecdotes to share about the following topics, we'd love to hear from you!
- Your first pet, and how you got him or her
- Your experience with the adoption or rescue of a pet
- Disastrous date or relationship with a person who didn't like animals or didn't like being around your pet
- Going through a pet's illness or a pet's death
- Your confrontation of a person who neglected or otherwise abused an animal
- The most rewarding experience you ever shared with a pet
- A positive experience at the vet that you were particularly impressed with
- The most frivolous item you've ever bought for your pet
- The funniest thing your pet ever did
- A story about a trip you took with your pet
Please email your anecdote to us at
vjp@partneringwithpetlovers.com.
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