Challenges

Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe When Disaster Strikes

The tragedy of last month’s Japanese tsunami reminded us yet again that disasters can strike at any time. After all of the devastating footage, we were relieved to see any good news. This video of an owner reunited with her beloved dog affected all of us.

This story also made us think about our own pets. Is there anything we as pet owners can do to prepare for extreme weather or other unexpected events? We’ve researched this important issue, and compiled some key steps that you can take to keep your pets safe.

ID Your Pet
ID tags are always a good idea, even in everyday situations. Should your pet become separated from you, an ID tag with the pet’s name, your name and your contact information will help rescuers find you as soon as possible. If your pet has any urgent medical needs or conditions, it should also be explained on the pet’s tags.

Microchips offer a more permanent tagging solution for pet owners. These chips, implanted under the animals skin, contain registration numbers that can be obtained via a handheld scanner. Shelters and animals hospitals across the country can then contact a registry, and uncover owner contact information and pet medical information. Microchipping is increasingly popular among pet owners, and the process of inserting the chip is quick and does not even require anesthesia. If you are interested in learning more about microchips, contact your veterinarian.

aspca_stickerPet Alert Sticker
In addition to tagging your pet, you can also tag your home. Pet stores, as well as the ASPCA, offer Rescue Alert Stickers (like the one shown at the right) that you can place on your window to alert rescue workers to the animals in the house and the contact information for your vet. To order a sticker from the ASPCA, fill out the form found here.

Pet Emergency Kit
Another important preparedness tip is to create an pet emergency kit that you can quickly grab in the event of an evacuation or other emergency. The website Pet and Animal World has put together a detailed list of items to be included. The entire list can be found here. The ASPCA has a similar list found here. Some of the key items to include, according to these and other experts, are:

Bottled water
A week’s worth of food (canned and/or dry)
Portable food and water dishes
Travel crate or carrier, or sturdy leash for bigger pets
Litter and disposable litter boxes – aluminium roast pans will work (cats only)
Current photos of your pet(s)
Toys and blankets, to help keep the pet calm in new environments
Medical records
Extra supply of any medications

We encourage you to visit the ASCPA’s website to learn more about disaster preparedness tips, especially for those of you with birds or smaller animals (gerbils, hamsters, etc.) who want additional information about those pets. We also value your feedback on this issue. Have you been through an evacuation or other extreme situation? What steps did you take to protect your pets? Do you have any advice for your fellow pet owners? Tell us in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.

New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Dog

We’re approaching the end of January. How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Need an extra boost to keep it up during the rest of 2011? Why not include your dog in the action?

The DogWatch Hidden Fences team thinks that dogs make everything more fun – and we’ve come up with some ideas to energize your resolutions with the help of man’s (and woman’s) best friend!

Exercising with a dogExercise With A Smile

Starting an exercise routine is a perennially popular resolution. Dog owners who take on this task can not only improve their own health but also the health of their pet. Bring your dog along on your walks and runs.  Your dog will get some much needed extra exercise, and their happy faces will encourage you to fight through those tough hills and that painful last mile.

If you prefer to exercise indoors, incorporate some fetching games into your warms up and cool downs. It will help you start and end your workout on a happy note. Furthermore, by including your dog in your routine, it will give you one more reason to stick with it. You don’t want to disappoint Max or Bella, right?

Flex Your Mind Muscles

If you’re anything like us, you love curling up on the couch next to your sleeping pup. While we all love these precious moments of relaxation, sometimes we also crave some fun activities that challenge us to think in new ways. These activities range from reading that new novel your co-worker raved about, mastering the New York Times crossword puzzle, or building that bookshelf that is still in pieces in the basement.

How do you find the time for these tasks? Get the whole family involved, including the family pet. Establish “puzzle hour” or “reading night,” and ask that everyone disconnect from their phones and computers and TVs during this brief period of relaxing “brain time.” As for the dog, give her her own learning activity. Stuff a KONG toy with her favorite snack, or place treats inside a “puzzle” toy (read about some examples here). She’ll be occupied and energized – just like the rest of the family.

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Ho Ho Ho! Holiday Safety Tips for Pet Owners

Dalmatian by a Christmas TreeHappy Holidays from Dog Tails! All year, we’ve enjoyed sharing our stories and advice with you, our fantastic audience of passionate pet owners. We hope our blog has kept your informed about and, of course, entertained by all things canine (and feline, too)!

In our last post before Christmas, we pulled together one last list of tips to keep your pets safe during the end-of-season holiday madness. Noise, food, decorations, guests, travel – these next two weeks have it all! Follow our final list of tips for 2010, and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year with your wonderful pets!

The Food

Holiday feasts are not only tempting for us, but also for our pets. Be sure to keep an eye out for unattended plates or serving dishes left within reach. Also, don’t forget to watch the trash and any drinks – your pets can get in trouble exploring these things, too!

Extra caution is needed for specific, dangerous foods containing chocolate, xylitol, bones, alcohol or grapes. (For more information on good and bad people food for pets, check out this previous blog post and the ASPCA website.)   As we discussed in our Thanksgiving tips, leftover treats should be kept to a minimum and limited to foods that your pets have tried before without incident. (Nobody enjoys a Christmas trip to the Vet!)

To avoid food-related surprises altogether, purchase or prepare special holiday-themed treats (like these for dogs and these for cats). Inform your guests that table scraps are off-limits for Fido and Fluffy, and instead, have proper treats available so you can include your pet in the holiday festivities without risking any unintended consequences.

The Tree

The Christmas tree is a holiday tradition for many – but it can be a nightmare for dog owners. The ASPCA reminds you to securely anchor your tree to make sure it does not fall, especially if your pet likes to play near it. If you have a real tree, keep your pet away from the tree water. It may contain fertilizers, and if it stays stagnant, it can upset your pet’s stomach and cause diarrhea.

Also, keep your pet away from the tree’s strings of lights. Some dogs are tempted to chew these cords, which can cause a serious electric shock. Check for signs of chewing each day, and do not let your pet play in the tree area if these signs appear.  If you need more than a stern warning to keep your pet away from the tree, you may want to consider using an electronic indoor boundary to ensure the safety of both your pet and your tree.  Indoor boundaries also work well for other indoor areas (such as the kitchen counter!).  Check the Indoor Boundaries section of the DogWatch website for more information.

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Boos and Barks: Halloween Safety Tips for Dog Owners

It’s the scariest time of the year…and we wouldn’t have it any other way!  Halloween is the time for ghoulish decor and frightful costumes.  Trick-or-treaters love the spooky sounds and scary makeup.  However, there is one member of the family that might not understand the fun spirit behind all the “Boo”-rific happenings – the dog.  Halloween can be a difficult day for dogs and their owners, with all the new visitors, strange sounds and unhealthy but irresistible chocolate candy.

dog halloweenTo help you and your furry friend make it safely through this scariest of holidays, the DogWatch Hidden Fences Team has compiled a list of safety tips for dog owners.

1) Keep your eye on the candy!!

As a rule, dogs and Halloween candy don’t mix.  Most dog owners know that chocolate is potentially fatal to dogs.  Less well know is xylitol, an artificial sweetener often found in candy – it is equally hazardous.  (Cats should stay away from these ingredients as well.)

The best way to avoid an emergency trip to the vet is to keep the candy out of the dog’s reach at all times, and educate your kids and your trick-or-treaters.  You may want to keep a bowl of dog treats by the door.  That way, your dog can enjoy his own, much healthier treats, and not miss out on the fun!  Plus, you can give a treat to any neighborhood dogs who stop by with the costumed kids.

2) Costumes should be fun for all.

Everyone loves a dog in a Halloween costume, right?  Well, everyone except perhaps the dog itself.  While some dogs love the attention that comes with a cute outfit, others are miserable in the extra garb.  We suggest trying out the costume prior to the big day so you can make sure it fits properly (i.e. not to tight or otherwise restrictive) and so you know how Fido will react.  If your dog shows signs of discomfort, take off the costume.  It will make the night less stressful for all.

3) Prepare for many little visitors.

For most families, Halloween night means an unusual amount of doorbell ringing and little strangers at the door.  This commotion causes many dogs to react by barking and acting out.  Consider placing your dog in another room with the TV on to drown out the noise.  If your dog doesn’t mind visitors and wants to join the fun, that’s great – yet it is still a good idea to keep a leash on, in case she makes a run for the door.

For those taking your dog with you to trick-or-treat, remember to keep an eye out for falling candy.  Also, for those of you in warmer climates, make sure your dog doesn’t overheat in his costume during the long walk.

As always, we’d love to see pictures and hear stories about your Halloween hijinks.  Share your photos and fun times on our Facebook page!  We hope you all have a happy, spooky and safe Halloween!

Photo by daveynin via Flickr.