Animals give us so much, including their unconditional love. In exchange, it’s our job to take care of them and make sure no harm comes to them.
Little things laying around like coins, batteries, jewelry, paper clips, rubber bands, buttons, string and more, seem harmless to us but they could become a choking hazard to your pets. Plastic grocery bags can easily become a hazard to curious cats who love to climb in them and play. I can’t tell you how many times I have been unloading groceries and turn around to find my cat, Pooh Bear, all tangled up in a bag with his head through the handles.
Medications, cleaning supplies, plant food and other things found in cabinets could potentially be fatal. Baby-proofing your lower cabinets or placing these types of items in upper cabinets can help prevent accidents. The garbage can is another potential danger, as it could contain something that smells good to pets but isn’t good for them at all. There are several foods that can make your pet sick, which should be avoided. They include, but are not limited to, grapes, mushrooms, raw meat, salt, meat bones, chewing gum, candy, fat trimmings, avocados, artificial sweeteners, garlic, onion, leeks, chives, yeast dough, alcohol and coffee. Most of these foods result in upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea, which might mean a trip to your vet and, sadly, some of these foods could lead to death soon after being eaten.
When it comes to plants, dogs and cats don’t know what’s safe to munch on. Many common plants that we have in our homes, yards or communities can potentially kill your pet within hours. Some fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and certain mulches contain ingredients that can make your pet very sick or worse, so be sure to check the labels to make sure the product is pet-friendly. Among the many flowers and plants that are potentially deadly is Foxglove. While very beautiful with its trumpet-like blossoms, it is very poisonous to dogs, cats and even humans! Cherry, plum and peach trees carry an extremely high level of toxicity in their leaves, pits and basically all areas of the tree, causing respiratory problems, anxiety, staggering, collapsing and even sudden death. All parts of azaleas are poisonous and as little as ingesting 0.2% of an animal’s body weight can result in poisoning. Foxtails are also extremely dangerous for our pets. The barbed seed heads of the foxtail plant can work their way into any part of your dog or cat, from the nose to between the toes and inside the ears, eyes and mouth. The problem with these seeds is they don’t break down inside the body and an embedded foxtail can lead to serious infection for your dog and even death if left untreated. One thing that is so dangerous about these is they can migrate from inside your dog’s nose and make their way to its brain or, if your dog inhales it, can make its way to a lung and perforate it. Foxtails can easily become embedded between toes, so be sure to check for foxtails and the small, barbed seed that could be hiding – you may notice swelling, limping or if your dog is constantly licking them. If your dog is shaking its head a lot, tilting it to the side or scratching more than usual, this could be signs of a foxtail in its ear, and, possibly, one that might be so deep inside the ear canal that you can’t even see it. When it comes to their eyes, if you notice redness, discharge, swelling, squinting and pawing, these all could be signs that your dog has a foxtail lodged in its eye. If you notice any of these things that aren’t normal for your pet, you may want to schedule an appointment with your vet. Be sure to check out PetMD.com, which is a fantastic website that contains information on everything regarding your pets, their safety and health.
Animals give us so much, including their unconditional love. In exchange, it’s our job to take care of them and make sure no harm comes to them. The investment and time you take to make sure your home and yard are safe is easily worth the benefits you’ll receive from your pet. QCBN
By Loree Walden
Loree Walden is the marketing manager for the Yavapai Humane Society.
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