Not many pet owners have the lux- ury of being able to keep their pets under watch all the time. There are a number of steps that pet owners can take to help ensure pets are safe around the home when pet owners are not there.

Follow these five tips to help keep your pet safe:

One person’s trash

Dogs and cats alike seem to love the smell, taste and texture of trash, and they will go out of their way to play in that arena while you’re away. The prob- lem is many things in our trash that may seem benign to us can be dan- gerous to pets, including chicken bones, which are choking hazards because of their brittle nature. Take all the trash outside when you leave for any length of time, or place trash- cans out of pet’s reach.

Do sweat the small stuff

Remove small toys, string and other choking hazards such as rubber bands from your pet’s area in your home. They may love these things as toys, but the risk of choking is high. Consider, too, if your pet’s toys are sized appropriately for him. A ball meant for a smaller animal can lodge within a larger one’s throat.

Eight lives and counting

Cats aren’t always as nimble footed and self sufficient as legend has it. Check for places where they can become stuck, such as behind the refrigerator or in fireplace openings, and seal up those openings. Close all toilet lids before you leave the house. Finally, put away those toys you may enjoy with your feline friend that include strings. Left alone with one, your animal can quickly choke.

An idle mind is the devil’s work- shop

Pets enjoy their routines. And if you’re going to be away for an extended period of time, or if you’re going to be away at times of the day when you’re usually at home with your pet, consider hiring a profes- sional pet sitter to help your pet stick to its schedule. It is reassuring to the pet, and can help alleviate some of the mischievous exploring that often leads to disaster. A good pet sitter knows how to think like a pet and can quickly scan your pet’s environ- ment for known dangers.

Before hiring a sitter for your pet, make sure the pet sitter is bonded and carries adequate liability insurance. Finding a pet sitter who is accred- ited through a national association like PSI is also a real plus. Be sure to make time for a face-to-face interview in your home with the sitter and your pets. Conducting an initial interview is an excellent time for you to check cre- dentials and ask important questions.

Disaster and emergency planning can save the day

All pet owners should have a disaster plan and kit for each of their pets. According to Jen- nifer Miler of St. Petersburg, Florida, Pet Sitters International’s 2007 Pet Sitter of the Year™, “Natural disas- ters such as hurricanes and floods, as well as unforeseen man-made di- sasters like chemical spills, can close off a residential area in short order. The key is to be prepared as best as you can and it only takes a small amount of preparation.”

You should be able to pass the “five- minute preparedness test,” meaning in five minutes or fewer, you should be able to get your pets and their emergency kit out of your home.

A Pet Disaster Kit Should Include:

• A copy of your Emergency Disaster Plan
• Pet first-aid kit and book
• Road maps and street guides
• Photocopies of medical records
• Recent photos of your pets
• Pet medication
• A separate carrier for each pet
• Pet feeding dishes
• Pet food – Be sure canned food has a pop-top
• Bottled water – a week supply for each pet
• Extra leashes, collars and harnesses
• Dog stake or cables
• Muzzles
• Gloves – heavy gloves and disposable rubber gloves
• Small or disposable litter boxes
• Kitty litter – scoopable is most convenient
• Disposable garbage bags
• Paper towels
• Liquid soap, disinfectant and bleach
• Blankets and towels
• Flashlight
• Portable radio
• Extra batteries
• Scissors
• Pocket knife
• Pillowcase of Evac Sack
• Pet toys
• Pet treats

To your pet’s health,

Tiffany Mann (formerly Reynolds)
Pet and Home Care, LLC
855-CARE-NOW
care@petandhomecare.com

Bloat can be deadly. Is your dog at risk?

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GVD), commonly known as “bloat” in dogs, is a very serious and dangerous health condition. Bloat occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes abnormally enlarged or distended.

Stomach torsion is the abnormal position- ing of the stomach which is caused by the stomach’s rotation about its axis, i.e. twist- ing of the stomach. Bloat usually leads to torsion, although torsion can occur without bloat. Chronic gastric volvulus (ongoing mild torsion) may not cause typical signs of GDV, but should be suspected in dogs with inter- mittent vomiting, weight loss, mild bloating, rumbling sounds in the bowel (borborygmi) and/or belching.

Facts about bloat:

• Dogs weighing more than 99 pounds have an approximate 20 percent risk of bloat.
• In a study done by the Perdue University Research Group, headed by Dr. Lawrence T. Glickman, the Great Dane was the number one breed at risk for bloat.
• In 1993, a statistical study involving 134 dogs with gastric dilation and volvulus was conducted by the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, Germany. In this study, 66.4 percent of the bloated dogs were male and 33.6 percent were female.
• Most dogs with bloat are between the ages of 7 and 12 years old.
• When combined with the complications of GDV, bloat is a leading cause of death to dogs, second only to cancer. While the exact cause of bloat is still unknown, some evidence suggests a familial association.
• A risk factor associated with death following surgery for bloat is when the dog has exhibited clinical signs of bloating for greater than six hours before seeing a veterinarian.

Information provided by The Veterinary Information Network.

To your pet’s health,

Tiffany Mann (formerly Reynolds)
Pet and Home Care, LLC
855-CARE-NOW
care@petandhomecare.com

Did you know that some of your favorite foods are dangerous to pets?

Treats such as raisins, grapes and avocados can be deadly. When educating the public about poten- tially toxic substances, most of the focus has been on unintentional and preventable poisonings of chil- dren. However, the Animal Poison Control Center estimates that they respond to accidental pet poison- ing cases every year. The Ameri- can Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) encourages pet owners to learn what foods, plants and other substances are harmful to pets.

“It is especially important to realize that what humans eat and enjoy may be toxic to pets,” said Dr. Jack Walther, president of the AVMA. “Grapes, chocolate, raisins, avoca- dos and other seemingly harmless foods can be harmful or even fatal. Pet owners should also talk to their veterinarian about environmental hazards in their area and how to properly use flea control products.”

Clinical signs of poisoning in ani- mals may vary greatly from extreme excitement to severe depression. If you suspect that a pet has been ac- cidently poisoned, phone your veter- inarian and ask for emergency treat- ment advice. Try to determine what the poison is and how much the pet ingested.

Keep meds out of reach

Ensure that your pets don’t have ac- cess to any medications. Some hu- man medications are poisonous to pets. This includes common, over- the-counter and prescription medi- cine, including aspirin, vitamins and sleeping pills.

According to the ASPCA, just one regular-strength 200 mg ibuprofen (Motrin®) pill can trigger stomach ul- cers in a 10-pound dog.

Other commonly used human medi- cations, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and other pain relievers, antidepressants and diet pills can be lethal. Ensure that your home is ‘pet proof,’ with all medicines stored safe- ly out of a pet’s reach and sight.

Common seasonal pet poisons in- clude plants such as lilies, Rhodo- dendrons, nightshade and Japanese yews; chemicals such as fertilizer, rat poisons, swimming pool treatment supplies, pest control products and antifreeze; and animals such as toads or spiders. An extensive list of poisons can be found at www.avma.org.

When it comes to accidental pet poi- sonings, prevention is paramount. In addition to the obvious toxic materi- als, pet owners need to know which outwardly innocent substances may be dangerous to their pets as well.

To your pet’s health,

Tiffany Mann (formerly Reynolds)
Pet and Home Care, LLC
855-CARE-NOW
care@petandhomecare.com

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One of the key elements for disaster preparedness is the Emergency Disaster Kit. The best container for assembling your Emergency Disaster Kit is a plastic storage box with a tight-fitting, waterproof lid. Here is a list of supplies that you will want to consider:
A copy of your Emergency Disaster Plan Road maps and street guides Animal first aid brochure or book Extra leashes, collars and harnesses Dog stakes and cables Muzzles Evac Sack (for cats) Gloves: Heavy gloves and disposable rubber gloves Can opener Utensils (spoon, etc.) Pet first aid kit and generic pet medicines Extra food for dogs and cats Bottled water Food and water dishes Small litter boxes	Kitty litter Pet shampoo Flea spray Paper and cloth towels Blankets Plastic sheeting or tarp Pocket knife Scissors Flashlight Portable radio Extra batteries Assorted plastic bags Fire extinguisher Disinfectant or bleach
Keep your Emergency Disaster Kit in a convenient location. Don’t put yourself in the position to be searching for it in the basement or attic when you need it. In addition to the animal care supplies listed above, you’ll want to have a written list of any personal items that you would want to have on hand. These may include cell phone, palm pilot, camping gear, bicycle, sporting equipment, outdoors clothing, hiking shoes, etc.	This list is an excerpt from the Disaster Planning Guidelines chapter of PSI’s Certification Program. PSI’s Certification Program is designed to provide the knowledge necessary for a PSI member to excel in pet care, health and nutrition, business and office procedures, and added services for pet-sitting businesses.

To your pet’s health and safety,

Tiffany Mann (formerly Reynolds)
Pet and Home Care, LLC
855-CARE-NOW
care@petandhomecare.com