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!

The post Memorial Day Weekend Safety for Pets appeared first on Pet Safety Crusader.

Dogs and cats are natural hunters and often go in search of smaller animals as prey, but like humans…they can experience an allergic or inflammatory reaction if not worse when bitten or stung by a venomous creature.  Most injuries occur on the face or in the mouth since cats and dogs snap at or try to catch the flying and crawling critters in their mouths, but they can also sit or step on a stinging insect, arachnid or venomous reptile.

An Ounce of Prevention…

• Keep down the insect population by not leaving food outside, using pet-safe insecticides around the yard and growing plants (such as lemongrass or catnip) or lighting citronella candles (if safe around pets) that cause insects to stay away.
• Clear debris piles and leaves from locations where pets hang out.
• Prevent pets from sniffing under and around sheds, foundations, basements and damp areas, including places where hoses are stored, near water spigots and leaky plumbing — basically cool, dark, damp locations.
• Keep dogs on-leash when hiking so that you can steer them clear of dangerous critters.
• Stick to open paths as heavily travelled areas are less likely inhabited by reptiles.
• Don’t let pets sniff under rocks and logs (it’s where snakes hide out). Do your best to step ON fallen logs rather than over them to cover hiding places underneath and prevent the snake from striking as you and your dog step over.
• Eliminate garbage, wood piles and even ivy from pet play areas. These are favorite locales of mice, and where mice hang out…snakes line up for dinner!
• Look into a “positively reinforced” rattlesnake aversion class to see if it can lessen the prey drive in dogs eager to go on the chase.

When the Worst Happens

If you don’t see the incident occur, but notice some swelling to a body part of licking, you may assume your pet has been bitten and should administer first-aid.  If however, you notice any of the following symptoms, which usually occur within one hour, seek veterinary assistance immediately:  pain, fever or body temperature below 100°F, profuse swelling, rash, breathing difficulty, rapid or irregular pulse, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, muscle tremors or rigidness, paralysis (including of the lungs) or Shock.

SPIDERS

Most spider bites cause little more than painful swelling and should be treated like an insect sting since most spiders are unable to penetrate animal skin. There are a few species in the U.S. that are venomous (inject toxin through fangs) and can cause serious effects within 30 minutes to several hours of being stung. The problem is, unless we see a dead spider, we often don’t know what is causing the distress, so know if you have venomous spiders in your neighborhood and do your doggone best to keep pets away from the areas they nest.

Administer 1 mg Diphenhydramine for every pound pet weighs, and since spider toxin also contains acid, apply an alkaline baking soda or meat tenderizer (containing papain) made into a paste by mixing with small amounts of water.  This may counteract the acidity if you can locate the site of the sting. Apply a cold pack to any swelling, but remove every few minutes to prevent frostbite.  If you suspect the bite was caused by a venomous spider, also restrain movement (movement hastens the spread of venom) and get him quickly to veterinary care, bringing along the dead spider for identification.

SNAKES

Even those without venom (toxic saliva) carry bacteria in their mouths (most don’t brush their teeth and consume rats and mice on a daily basis) which can cause infection in your pet. The physical appearance of each snake species varies, and it may be difficult to tell which species you’ve encountered unless you are familiar with herpetology (the study of amphibians and reptiles).

Venomous vs Non-Venomous Snakes

Here are general guidelines to determine if what you are seeing is venomous, but there are always exceptions to the rule.  Learn to identify snakes in your regions so that you do not mistakenly kill and eco-friendly one or get bitten by a venomous snake…

• A broad, triangular head with a noticeable “neck,” but other species can flare their heads when agitated
• Vertical slits for pupils (hopefully you won’t be close enough to evaluate this!)
• “Pit vipers” have heat-sensing “pits” (thermo-receptors) on their faces between the eye

and nostril which help them locate prey, especially warm-blooded animals.

• Two fangs which leave puncture wounds
• Rattles on some species but they do not always issue a warning as the sound signals prey which could be a tasty meal. Other snakes may rustle their tails in dry debris, but it does not sound the same as a rattlesnake rattling.  Watch this:  https://youtu.be/qRW1-q1SU5U

Venomous snakes can be found in rural and suburban areas. In cold climates most hibernate from November through March. In warmer climates, however they are active year-round, and after mild winters, come out of hibernation early.  Learn which species are indigenous to your neighborhood.

Most snakes can control the amount of venom they inject and may deliver a “dry” bite to a human or large animal. Baby snakes, however, are born with venom and the means to inject it but aren’t yet “fang trained,” so generally hold on longer and deliver all the venom they have at one time. Hemotoxic venom disrupts the integrity of the blood vessels causing swelling as blood seeps into the tissue and prevents clotting. It also breaks down the tissue and “pre-digests” it making it easier for the snake to consume. Neurotoxic venom results in paralysis including that of the respiratory muscles ending in suffocation. Some snakes possess both types.

The degree of severity of any venomous snake bite depends on:

• The species & size of snake
• The size of the animal bitten
• The amount of venom injected

If you are certain it was a non-venomous snake…

Wash the wound with antibacterial soap and observe. If red or warm to the touch, get to the veterinarian for antibiotics or other treatment.

If you suspect it was a venomous snake:

1. Keep animal calm – the faster he moves, the faster the venom circulates.
2. Keep bite wound at heart level if possible as most of us won’t be able to tell degree of damage, yet…If bite is producing localized damage, elevate to prevent or decrease swelling and additional tissue damage, BUT…if the bite is producing systemic symptoms like shock or bleeding, lower the wound.
3. Get to the animal ER at once! Treatment should begin within 30 minutes of the bite, and it takes 30 minutes to mix the antidote.  Some clinics are starting to carry a reconstituted version but make sure they have plenty on hand by calling ahead.

Do NOT cut over the bite and try to suck out the poison.

Do NOT manipulate the bitten area or allow the pet to move about freely.

Do NOT place an ice pack over the bite which will concentrate the toxin causing extensive, irreparable tissue damage.

Rattlesnake Vaccine is not a cure-all but can minimize the severity of the bite. Check with your veterinarian for details.

LEARN MORE IN “THE PET SAFETY BIBLE” available on Amazon!

Please catch my VLOG on this topic: https://youtu.be/8chPYAGOcSU

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For 20 years Denise Fleck’s Sunny-dog Ink motto has been “Helping people to help their pets,” and she has…teaching more than 30,000 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!

The post Snake & Spider Bites appeared first on Pet Safety Crusader.