From the Ahwatukee Foothills News – February 26, 2013

From raisins to onions to acetaminophen, the typical Ahwatukee home is filled with items that can be toxic to pets.

Many pet owners are not aware of products and foods that can be harmful to cats and dogs. Many products and foods located in your home can often make a dog or cat very sick and can sometimes be fatal.

Visits to the vet for pet poisoning can not only be horrifying for you and your pet but can costs hundreds of dollars, sometimes even in the thousands of dollar range.

One of a my clients, a rambunctious female Norwich terrier puppy named Chippy, caused a recent scare for her owner when she gobbled down a gel tab that is used to treat monthly water weight gain — in women, not female dogs!

Chippy’s owner immediately called her vet and was relieved to hear the pill would not be harmful. But had Chippy swallowed acetaminophen or a birth control pill the situation might have been different.

Listed below are some of the foods and products that can make your pet very ill. Please make your home a poison safe home. And if you have a curious puppy like Chippy, consider keeping all pills and vitamins behind a closed door.

Foods to avoid feeding your pet:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Chocolate (all forms)
• Coffee (all forms)
• Fatty foods
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onion, onion powder
• Raisins and grapes
• Salt
• Yeast dough
• Garlic
• Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm weather hazards often found in backyards:

• Animal toxins — toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
• Algae in ponds
• Candles
• Coca mulch
• Most fertilizers
• Flea products
• Many outdoor plants and plant bulbs (a detailed list of these can be found on the Internet)
• Swimming pool treatment supplies
• Fly baits containing methomyl

Medications: Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:

• NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Pain killers
• Cold medicines
• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants
• Vitamins
• Diet pills
• Sleep aids
• Birth control
• Thyroid hormones
• Cholesterol lowering agents

Always keep medications safely out of reach of your pet and never administer a medication to a pet without first consulting your veterinarian.

Cold weather hazards include:

• Antifreeze
• Liquid potpourri
• Ice melting products
• Rat and mouse baits

Common household hazards include:

• Fabric softener sheets
• Mothballs
• Post 1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Be aware of signs of poisoning in your pet, they can consist of (but not limited to):

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling/hypersalivating
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Pale or discoloration to the gums
• Black-tarry stool
• Racing heart rate
• Weakness orlethargy
• Collapse

Always have your vets phone number available, emergency vet phone number available, and the Animal Poison Control Center, which is open 24 hours a day/seven days a week, at 1-800-213-6680.

From the Ahwatukee Foothills News – June 21, 2012

It will be the middle of the summer soon and you will want to get out of the heat on vacation with your family. But what to do with the furry members of your family? Neighbors and friends can be unreliable — and who wants to leave their best friend in a kennel?

A professional pet sitter can be the answer. As the owner of a pet care business for more than 10 years, I offer these suggestions for hiring a qualified pet sitter:

• Ask friends with pets, your local groomer or veterinarian to suggest an experienced and qualified professional pet sitter in your area.
• Interview at least three professional pet sitters before hiring. Find out where the sitter lives, how long they have been in business and whether they are bonded and insured.
• Ask for phone references and check them. A qualified sitter will be happy to give them to you.
• Find out if the pet sitter has a back-up sitter in case of emergency.
• If the sitter has employees, make sure you meet the person who will be coming into your home.

From the Ahwatukee Foothills News – May 31, 2012

Every summer we read the horror stories about pets that are neglected in the dangerous Arizona heat. As a professional pet sitter for more than 25 years, I offer these suggestions for keeping your pet cool and safe this summer:

• Don’t take your pets along on errands in the car — leave them at home. Even when it is 80 degrees outside, the internal temperature of a car left in the sun can exceed 100 degrees. It takes only minutes for pets left in a vehicle on a hot day to succumb to heat stroke and suffocation.
• Avoid walking your dog in the heat of the day. Go out before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Allow your dog to walk in shaded areas and on cool surfaces, like green grass, if possible.
• If you must walk your dogs during other hours, remember that concrete and asphalt can burn a dog’s bare paws. Buy and use dogs booties, which are sold at most pet stores and come in a variety of sizes.
• Always carry water for your pet, even on short excursions outdoors.
• Keep your dog inside if possible. If you are away for long hours, consider hiring a professional pet sitter to drop by and give your pets some attention and a mid-day potty break in the yard.
• If you must leave your dog out, put in a ceiling fan and/or misting system. If you do not have a pool, buy an inexpensive kiddie pool for your dogs. I find they really enjoy rolling around in them and cooling off.
• Always make sure your pets have clean, fresh water available at all times.
• Don’t forget to have fun with your dog on the weekends. Consider a trip to the dog beach and lake at Cosmo Park in Gilbert.
• Frosty Paws (doggie ice cream) is a nice way to treat and cool off your dog. It can be found at your local grocery store.

Follow the above tips and your pets can stay safe and comfortable even on the hottest Arizona summer days.