Considered the unofficial kick-off to summer, Memorial Day Weekend seems to bring out the summer swimmers, boaters, barbequers and weekend travelers in many of us.  That means things we haven’t been doing the last several months, will again be new, exciting and could even be dangerous for our pets!  Please supervise, supervise, supervise, and keep the following in mind while having fun…

Cook-outs

With their unmatched sense of smell, food grilling outdoors is a treat not to be missed by the canine nose.  Some dogs are even bold enough to grab food from the grill, resulting in 2^nd degree burns to the snout, mouth and paws — an immediate medical emergency!

Charcoal briquettes (soaked with the juices of grilling meats) chomped upon can upset the stomach (if not burn all the way down) but if swallowed whole, they can block the intestines!  Add to that the poisoning implications if they are soaked with lighter fluid.

As for the picnic itself, the salty chips, fried chicken and other highly seasoned foods or greasy foods are not good for dogs or cats.  They don’t metabolize them like we do and can end up with a severe inflammation of the pancreas!  Never give cooked bones and avoid giving dogs foods that contain onions such as potato salad.  Many fruits and vegetables are awesome PAWSome (the raw flesh of peaches, apples, watermelon, bananas, zucchini and carrots for instance – but keep seeds and pits away), but dogs must not consume grapes, raisins, chocolate or food (such as sugarless gum) containing the sweetener Xylitol. These can lead to ailments from minor stomach upset to death!  Also, keep corncobs out of paws reach.  Not only can they be a choking hazard, but also create an intestinal blockage.

Make sure dogs and cats both have a quiet place to retreat to during the noisy festivities, and emphasize to guests the need to not leave doors or gates open for even a second!

Water

Whether your weekend includes a trip to the beach, the backyard pool or a boat trip, there are some Must Dos if Fido tags along.  The best human swimmers can get caught in an undertow or fatigue, and all dogs DO NOT know how to swim, do be sure pets near water are suited up with a properly fitting life vest.  Best yet, The Pet Safety Crusader LOVES the HedzUp Water Collar that keeps your dog’s head out of the water even if he goes unconscious.  Short-necked breeds like bulldogs and pugs, have a difficult time keeping their heads afloat, so the humans who came up with this flotation device, really have our dogs best interest at heart!  Use PROMO CODE: CRUSADER for 15% off!

Since the days are getting warmer, it’s vital you keep pets well-hydrated all day long.  Make sure a water bowl is available, in a shady location, and always filled to the rim.  Drinking salt water can lead to serious dehydration, and lakes and ponds may have bacteria and intestinal parasites that can result in Giardia (massive quantities of vomit & diarrhea that can be passed along to you), Leptospirosis (which severely affects the kidneys), Algae poisoning and other bacterial infections.  Bring along enough water for Fido as well and wash him off quickly if he has been in any body of water, so he doesn’t ingest its contents when he grooms himself, and dry out those ears!

Bugs & Pet First-Aid

If you haven’t already, it is time to speak with your veterinarian about flea, tick and heartworm deterrent.  Although most of us think these problems are confined to certain areas of the country, disease has spread with travelling and relocated pets, and heartworm can be found all the way to the West Coast!   Know how to safely remove a tick.  I count on tweezers by TickEase® to help me do the job, but often start off by placing a cottonball soaked in either dish soap or rubbing alcohol on the tick first to see if he’ll back out of the pet.

Have other first-aid supplies on hand as well in case you need to bandage a cut paw, soothe an upset canine tummy or treat a big sting! All of these skills, and a whole lot more, can be learned in a number of my books or classes offered at www.PetSafetyCrusader.com  The best pet parents stay prepared and bone-up on their skills regularly so that they can go on auto-pilot when Fido or Fluffy needs them most.

Travel & Weather

Make sure pets have properly fitting collars and harnesses.  The super tough ones by DigIt don’t absorb odors and have a special patented buckle and loop to keep ID tags separate from the leash hook!  Which brings me to…ID TAGS & MICROCHIPS.  Make sure tags are securely attached with the most up-to-date info (including your cell phone or number you can be reached at while travelling) and are easy to read.  Also confirm microchip info is correctly in a database.

If you don’t have a doggie seatbelt or kitty carrier that can be safely secured to a car seat, what are you waiting for?  Cars going 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 mph may stop when you slam on the brakes, but your pet will continue at the speed until something stops him – mainly the back of a seat or the windshield!  Never let pets roam freely in a car for your sake and theirs!  Visit www.CenterForPetSafety.org to find products carrying their seal of approval.

Plot out Animal Emergency Centers along your route just in case something isn’t quite right with your furry best friend and research well BEFORE you emBARK.  Many places that claim to be “pet friendly” have a different definition than what YOU believe.  Some only allow pets 20 lbs. and under, some ban certain breeds or species while others, although seemingly welcoming, have no outdoor grassy areas for your pet to answer nature’s call.  Don’t get caught by surprise, ask questions and reconfirm answers.

Don’t take pets into situations they could find upsetting, loud concerts in the park, too large crowds, fireworks or even places without shade and grass.  Having a four-legged travel buddy can be awesome, but you CAN NOT EVER leave him alone in a parked car for even a few minutes.  Even with windows open, a parked car can quickly reach more than 150 degrees resulting in heat stroke, permanent brain damage or death to your pet.

Hot concrete & asphalt can burn precious paws!  If it’s too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for paws.  Walk during the cooler parts of the day and stick to grass and shady areas.  Dog shoes are great on hot surfaces for short periods of time, but since heat is expelled from the pads of the feet, you dog is likely to overheat if his paws are covered for long.

Hot weather brings out snakes of all kinds.  Your best safety device is keeping control of your dog by having him on a leash.  Should your pet get bitten by a rattlesnake, keep him calm and immediately transport him to an animal care center that carries anti-venin.

There is much holiday fun to be had with your best canine or feline by your side, but know their limits, be vigilant to their health and safety needs, and be in the moment with them like they are with you to make precious memories together!

WATCH MY VIDEO VLOG ON THIS TOPIC AT https://youtu.be/dOW6V7rZhnI

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Denise Fleck is an award winning author and freelance writer.  After extensive training, practice, more training and more practice, she developed her own Pet First-Aid & CPR curriculum and has been teaching animal life-saving skills for close to 20 years with many success stories to share.  Additionally she developed a 5 month long Animal Care course for high school students in conjunction with the Burbank Unified School District and Animal Shelter.  She has demonstrated animal life-saving skills on CBS –TV’s “The Doctors,” Animal Planet’s “Pit Boss,” “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life” and countless other shows. To complement her teachings, Denise created a line of Pet First-Aid Kits, posters and books for children teaching animal respect and care!  Visit www.PetSafetyCrusader.com or call (818) 951-7962.

Note:  The articles on this page are copyrighted.  Please do not reprint or use portions for any purpose without written permission from the author.  Request permission for usage by sending an email explaining how you’d like to use the materials and what parts specifically.  Thank you in advance!

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One late summer morning, two Scottish Fold kittens were playfully exploring their fenced yard when Rudy caught Abigail off guard and bounded at her from behind the rose bushes.  As Abby took a tumble landing dazed and confused, a bee buzzed passed her.  The twosome, quickly distracted by this new found fun, attempted to play a game of pounce with the tiny flying creature.  Fun did ensue for a few moments, but it then turned nasty as the bee planted his stinger right onto the tip of Rudy’s nose!  The kitten pawed furiously at his face, and as it began to swell, Rudy started looking more like a bulldog than a fluffy kitty!

Insect Stings

Cats generally paw at and remove an insect’s stinger when bitten, but should you see one through her fur coat (or on her nose, lip, paw or elsewhere), scrape it away with a credit card, popsicle stick or similar stiff object.   Pulling the stinger with fingers or tweezers could rupture the poison sac allowing the toxin to enter your pet’s body.  Administer 1 mg Benadryl per pound of your cat’s body weight (usually comes in 25mg tablets so a smaller half will suffice for most kitties) and apply a cold pack (a bag of frozen peas works well) to any swelling.  Remove it every 3-5 minutes to prevent frost bite. Should severe swelling or any breathing difficulties develop, get to your veterinarian at once.  If anaphylactic shock occurs (a severe allergic reaction), her tongue may swell making rescue breathing difficult, so don’t delay!  Homeopathic Tip:  Meliffica, also known as Honey Bee, can aid the body to reduce burning or stinging pain.  A dose is considered to be 3-5 pellets crushed or liquefied with 6c being given every 4-6 hours.

About Pet First-Aid

Have you ever gotten out of bed just to step on a squishy fur ball, discovered ticks on your gorgeous long-haired cat or couldn’t yell quick enough when she leaped for the hot stove?  Bandaging, removing parasites and treating upset tummies are basic Pet First-Aid skills every pet lover should possess.  Don’t wait until tragedy strikes before you learn animal life-saving skills.  According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 25% more pets could be saved if their humans attempt even one first aid technique prior to getting them to veterinary care.  Knowing what to do at the time of the injury can make a difference — lower body temperature, prevent blood loss, alleviating choking, induce vomiting in poisoning incidents or perform rescue breathing and CPR.

The Sunny-dog Ink  CAT FIRST-AID & CPCR Certificate Course is now available!   The Pet Safety Crusader will take you through a self-guided tour of learning to help a cat in need BEFORE veterinary care is available.  Veterinarians are the experts, but most of us are not lucky enough to have one velcroed to our hip 24/7.  Even if you live with 5 people in your home, odds are that when the cat stops breathing or cuts her paw…you will be home alone and it will be after veterinary hours.  To be a pro-active cat parent or pet professional, you MUST know how to rescue Fluffy or make her feel better BEFORE professional medical care is available.  What happens in those first few moments after the onset of injury or illness, can truly make a difference in your best friend’s recovery.

By Knowing Pet First Aid, YOU can:

• Lower your cat’s body temperature to prevent brain damage or death.
• Minimize blood loss and prevent infection by properly bandaging a wound. Knowing where the critical arterial pressure points are on kitty can be a life saver!
• Alleviate choking with the kitty Heimlich-like maneuver.
• Expel poison from your pet’s system by properly inducing vomiting.
• Be the pump your pet’s heart can’t be, moving life-giving blood and oxygen throughout her body, until you can get her to professional medical help.

Pet First-Aid is by no means a replacement for veterinary care, and CPR (now Cardio Pulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation) is not a cure, but both can make a difference in the life of your feline friend.

In addition to first-aid skills for bleeding, burns, choking, drowning, heatstroke/frostbite, high rise syndrome, insect stings, poisoning, seizures, splinting and cardiopulmonary arrest, some of the topics covered in this course include:

1. Down on all fours and Up on counter tops and shelving

Look at life from your cat’s perspective.  What appears as a neatly kept room from a 5’ 6” to 6’ 2” viewpoint is a completely different scenario 7” off the floor.  If it’s in claws reach, it’s fair game for even the most obedient cat.  Cleaners and fertilizers not absorbed through paw pads will be ingested when kitty grooms, so read labels on products you use to clean counter tops, floors and use in the yard (you may track indoors on shoes even if your cat never ventures outdoors), choosing only pet friendly chemicals.  Add to that the fact that felines jump and climb, so counter tops, books shelves and other high areas where they perch must be danger-free zones and secured so that they can not topple when kitty leaps!

2.  Head-to-Tail check

Look your cat over from head-to-tail every week feeling for lumps and bumps. Notice if her skin his dry, her coat dull or shiny, if there is evidence of parasites (flea dirt or the actual critters), ticks (Do you know the dangers of cytauxzoonosis?), burrs or foxtails.  Anything you find early (especially a lump) may prevent a nightmare from occurring, so bring it to your veterinarian’s attention at onset.  Know your cat’s baseline vitals and pay attention to what she looks like when she stands/sits/jumps and how often she uses her litter box. The more quickly you spot something ‘not quite right,’ the better chance of fixing it.  Never miss annual vet exams as each calendar year brings changes.

3. Pet First-Aid Kit

Just like a carpenter or plumber, pet owners must have the right tool for the job.  So that you are prepared to bandage a wound, pull a tick or soothe an upset tummy, at the very least, have the following items on hand in an easily accessible place:

• 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to induce vomiting
• Eye Wash (saline or purified water)
• 2″ X 2″ Gauze Squares and Gauze Roll
• Triangular bandage to make ring pad or secure kitty to back board
• Adhesive Tape of Self-adhering Bandage
• Cold Pack
• Antibiotic Ointment
• Needle-less Syringe or Eye Dropper
• Digital Thermometer (cats normally run 100.4°-102.5° F)
• Styptic Powder to stop bleeding toe nails
• Scissors & Tweezers
• Antihistamine & Antacid Tablets
• Pumpkin fiber
• Leash to create a figure 8 harness to restrain kitty as well as a muzzle
• Towel or Blanket to wrap kitty
• Phone Numbers/Addresses of your Veterinarian & Animal ER
• Cat First-Aid Handbook

4. Animal ER

Drive there before you need to, so that you know where to enter, what services are offered and how they accept payment.  Don’t just program the number into your cell. When you have an ill or injured cat, you want to know which side of the street it is on and where the closest entrance is.

5. Quality Time Daily

Cats are part of the family!  That’s why we bring them into our hearts and homes, so unplug from electronics and don’t mindlessly pet Fluffy while you’re reading a book. Animals live in the moment, so be present for them!

Click here to learn more about the Cat First-Aid & CPCR Course https://www.petsafetycrusader.com/shop/classes/cat-first-aid-cpcr-webinar/

and WATCH MY VLOG ON THIS TOPIC HERE https://youtu.be/WywQAAO5Tq0

For 20 years Denise Fleck’s Sunny-dog Ink motto has been “Helping people to help their pets,” and she has…teaching more than 15,000 pet lovers animal life-saving skills and millions more on “The Doctors,” CNN, “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life,” Animal Planet and other TV shows.  Denise is a frequent conference speaker, developed a line of pet first aid kits and now offers classes online.  

Note:  The articles on this page are copyrighted.  Please do not reprint or use portions for any purpose without written permission from the author.  Request permission for usage by sending an email explaining how you’d like to use the materials and what parts specifically.  Thank you in advance!

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