The U.S. Fire Administration keeps statistics on residential fires. For the latest year on record, the US saw 374,300 fires, making this a fairly common danger that everyone needs to plan for.
We especially need to plan ahead for how to rescue and care for our pets in the event of a fire (or any emergency requiring evacuation). Animals won’t know how to safely leave, and they certainly can’t follow a home emergency plan. Here are four pet fire safety tips:
Get a rescue alert sticker: Place these stickers on a front-facing window or glass door. This will alert rescue workers of the presence of pets. Get one from the ASPCA.
Arrange a safe haven: Plan for a place for pets to stay if you have to evacuate.
Make identifying your pet easy: Keep identification on your pet and have them microchipped, in case they escape during an emergency.
Pet Fire Safety in the News
A recent story out of Colorado Springs highlights that prevention is the best way to ensure pet fire safety. Here are the details:
“Authorities have released a video of a dog starting a house fire by turning on the stove in the middle of the night. The incident happened when a Colorado couple awoke to a high heat alert from their Apple HomePod last week, only to find a fire blazing in their kitchen. Colorado Springs firefighters responded to the fire in the early morning hours of June 26. Investigators discovered the surprising cause of the blaze after reviewing home security footage. The video shows the couple’s curious pup inspecting the stove and accidentally turning it on, which ignited some boxes on top. Fortunately, the owners were able to extinguish the flames, and the man was treated for smoke inhalation.”
Thankfully, this incident wasn’t any worse than it was. But watching that dog try to get the food boxes sitting on the stove is scary. It’s a reminder for all pet owners that fire safety is a 24/7 occupation. Of course, those boxes should never have been placed on the stovetop. But what other lessons can we learn and apply in our own homes? Take a walk around your home with your “safety goggles” on and see if you spot any areas for improvement.
Summer is the Top Season for Lost Pets.
Keep Yours Safe and Sound
While many of us know that more pets go missing on July 4th than any other day of the year, the entire summer season carries risk for your pet to escape or become lost. People and their pets are spending more time outside, traveling together and hosting gatherings. With these changes in routine, your pet has more opportunity than usual to slip away.
Let’s review 15 other steps to prevent a lost pet this summer.
Prevent a Lost Pet:
5 Steps to Take Outside
Your outdoor oasis is only complete when your pet can safely venture outside with you!
Check your fences to make sure there’s no place your dog can escape. Our clever canines can sneakily dig holes under the fence, or boards can become loose.
If your let your cat outside, supervise them. It only takes one accident or predator for a roaming cat to go missing.
With the rise in coyotes around the Cincinnati area, an invisible fence may present a safety risk to your dog. Plus, some dogs are determined enough to endure the shock and break through the barrier.
Leash your dog or cat if you’re going to spend time with them in an un-fenced area like the front porch. You never know when something may grab their attention or frighten them, causing them to bolt.
If there’s a likelihood of fireworks in the area, keep your pets inside, with the doors and windows securely closed.
Prevent a Lost Pet:
5 Steps to Take When Traveling
Vacationing with your pet can be fun for everyone! It’s important to prioritize safety, because reuniting with a lost pet far away from home is especially difficult.
Put together a car emergency kit for your pet, which includes leash, food, water bowl, water and important medications. An extra leash it important just in case your car breaks down (or your pet has to “go” unexpectedly during the drive).
Always bring a pet carrier on trips, so you can safely contain your pet whenever your attention isn’t on them, for instance, stopped at gas stations or checking into a hotel.
Plan for water safety at the beach or on a boat. Put a properly-sized life jacket on your pet, keep them leashed and always supervise them. It’s not uncommon for dogs to go missing around water, and we want to prevent tragedies.
Don’t leave your pet unattended in a car! Even on a pleasant day, the heat can quickly be fatal. Plus, someone may have rescued your pet while you were away. See our article “Danger Zone: How to Help Pets in Hot Cars.”
If you’re staying at a rental home with a fenced-in area, thoroughly check for any place your pet might escape. Don’t leave them unsupervised out there, because it’s not a familiar place to either of you.
Prevent a Lost Pet:
5 Steps to Take When Hosting a Party
For many, having friends and family over is a true summer tradition. And the season is filled with holidays perfect for parties. Follow these tips for keeping your pet from escaping in all the excitement.
Constantly opening and closing doors are a big temptation to cats and dogs alike. Alert guests to watch for your pet and enter and exit quickly, along with firmly closing the door behind them.
The same advice goes for outside gates. Keep an eye on your gates to make sure they are closed.
If things get noisy, pets may try to escape the chaos. Give your pets a designated safe place where they can get some peace and quiet. Perhaps make one room of your home off-limits to people.
Check in with your pet regularly. You’ll be able to gauge their mood and attitude, along with making sure they are still safe.
If you’re having a difficult time keeping track of your pet, feel free to keep them on a leash by your side. They may also find this comforting.
For more tips on pet prevention, visit our article “National Lost Pet Prevention Month.” And if you’re interested in learning more about microchipping your cat or dog, contact us.
Sunny Days are Here Again: Review What to Do (and Don’t) for Pet Health
Your pets want to enjoy an amazing summer with you. We at Companion Care Animal Hospital want to help everyone out with these simple tips. Here are the DO’s and DON’Ts of summer safety.
DO: Summer Safety Tips for Pets
Follow these tips for helping your pet enjoy a safe and happy summer.
Provide pets with cool, fresh water at all times
Keep pets up-to-date on vaccinations and medications
Keep pets indoors in air-conditioning during the heat of the day
Walk your dogs early in the morning or late in the day, when temperatures are cooler
Limit jogging and bicycling with your dog
Apply a zinc-free sunscreen to pets with little to no hair
DON’T: Summer Safety Tips for Pets
Avoid these dangerous and risky things!
Leave pets unattended in cars!
Leave dogs outdoors unattended
Let pets near gardening products, pesticides or fertilizers
Walk dogs on hot sidewalks or asphalt that burns their paws
At 125 degrees F, skin destruction can occur in 60 seconds. An egg can fry in five minutes at 131 degrees F. Please, keep your pets off asphalt, even in “nice” weather.
Avoid a “Hot Dog Summer!” Visit our Summer Pet Safety Resources for more guidance on keeping things cool in the months to come.
It’s been a record-setting hot month here in Cincinnati. Pets need special protection against high temperatures.
The SPCA of Texas has plenty of experience with the heat (a week ago, the US National Weather Service baked cookies in a Midland, TX parked car). Let’s take some guidance and follow these tips.
How to Prevent Heat Stroke
Always provide plenty of fresh, clean water for your pet. This is especially important both before and after walks (or anytime spent outside).
If you’re outside, spend time in shade as much as possible.
Limit the time you spend outside during the heat of the day. Mornings and evenings are cooler (for you and your pet!)
Keep pet’s paws off of the pavement, either by choosing grassy areas or putting booties on their paws.
Don’t bring your pet to pet-friendly outdoor restaurants on hot days. Patios heat up, and your dog is closer to the ground. If you do go, bring your own water bowl.
Let the AC run in your car for a few minutes before climbing in with your pet.
Summer is in full swing, and hotter days are ahead. Check out these important summer safety tips to keep your pets healthy this season.
Summer Safety Do’s
DO provide pets with cool, fresh water at all times (both outdoors and indoors)
DO keep pets indoors in the AC during the heat of the day
DO walk your dogs early in the morning or in the evening, when the temperatures are cooler
DO limit jogging or bicycling with your dog
DO apply sunscreen to your pets if you’re going to be in the sun, especially those with short hair.
Summer Safety Don’ts
DON’T leave pets unattended in cars
DON’T leave dogs outdoors, unattended on a chain or tether
DON’T let pets near gardening products, pesticides, fertilizers or tools
DON’T walk dogs on hot sidewalks or asphalt that burns their paws
DON’T leave pets outside during fireworks/firecracker displays
Hot Asphalt Awareness
It doesn’t take much sunny weather to make asphalt dangerously hot. When the air temperature is comfortable, it can still burn exposed paw pads.
Air Temperature
Asphalt Temperature
77 degrees F
125 degrees F
86 degrees F
135 degrees F
87 degrees F
143 degrees F
At 125 degrees F, skin destruction can occur in just 60 seconds. At 131 degrees F, an egg will fry in five minutes. During walks, keep your dog off asphalt (or protect their paws with booties).
Heat Stroke in Dogs
Heat stroke affects any human or animal. It’s when the body temperature dangerously overheats. Dogs are especially susceptible to heat stroke and need their humans to watch out for them.
Normal: 100.5 – 102.5 degrees F
Heat Exhaustion: greater than 104 degrees F
Heat Stroke: 107-109 degrees F
Early Signs of Heat Stroke
When a dog’s body temperature approaches 104 degrees F, they will show these symptoms:
Heavy panting
Difficulty breathing
Excessive thirst
Unsteadiness and staggering
Lethargy
Intense Symptoms of Heat Stroke
After 15 minutes or more of suffering heat stroke, a dog’s symptoms will become much more serious.
Both cats and dogs are sensitive to the heat of summer. They don’t sweat freely like humans, so they rely on panting, rest and hydration to stay healthy in hot weather.
“Water is the main component of healthy, living cells of the body. Without water, your [cat or] dog’s body will not function properly. More specifically, your [cat or] dog will dehydrate.”
In a given day, your pet needs about one ounce of water per pound of body weight.
Rescue Dogs 101 provides this great chart to estimate how much water your pet needs (cats need the same amount of water per pound of body weight, so an eight pound cat should drink about half a bottle of water per day).
Why Might Your Pet Drink Less?
If your pet seems inclined to drink less than the recommended amount, there are a few reasons:
Your pet eats wet food and receives much of their daily water intake from food (no need to worry)
Your pet is in an unfamiliar place, or the water doesn’t smell familiar
If excessive thirst seems to happen regularly, contact your veterinarian to check for several possible causes, such as kidney disease, infection or cancer
How to Encourage Your Pet to Drink Enough Water
Try these tips to get your cat or dog to stay hydrated:
Provide bowls of fresh, clean water in your pet’s favorite places (including outdoors)
Regularly clean your pet’s water bowls
Check the bowl often to see if it needs a refill
On hot days, take rest breaks during play to prevent overheating and dehydration
Bring a bowl for water on long walks, hikes or car trips
What Better Time than the Dog Days of Summer to Understand the Signs and Dangers of Dehydration?
On a normal day, your cat or dog should drink one ounce of water per pound of body weight. So, a nine-pound cat should drink nine ounces, and a 35-pound dog should drink 35 ounces. On hotter days, or if your pet is more active, they should drink more.
PetSafe has a great pet hydration infographic that shows how many “glasses” of water pets should drink.
Signs of Dehydration in Cats and Dogs
Dehydration is serious for animals and can ultimately result in death. Know the symptoms of dehydration:
Loss of appetite
Loss of energy
Sunken eyes
Depression
Panting
Dry, tacky gums
Vomiting
What to Do if You Suspect Your Dog or Cat is Dehydrated
Perform the skin test and call your veterinarian if your suspect dehydration. Here’s how to do it:
Gently grab a loose fold of skin on the back of the neck or in between the shoulder blades, and release
If the skin snaps back into place, your pet should be OK. It the skin slowly returns to place, your pet could be dehydrated and may need to be checked out.
Certainly, prevention is the best approach to dehydration. Always make sure your pet has easy access to fresh, clean water. Enforce rest time after playing or spending time outside, so your pet becomes aware they should drink. And pay attention to how much your pet is drinking by observing how often you need to refill their water bowl.
Have questions about dehydration and your pets? Contact us.
Learn Fire Safety for Pets Today and Practice All Year Round
Each year, an estimated 500,000 pets are impacted by house fires. To help increase fire safety awareness, the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services joined forces to name July 15 National Pet Fire Safety Day.
Here’s one story to show how important it is to plan for pets when considering fire safety.
“That’s something Lia Wentworth of Maryland knows well. One Sunday morning she and her family left their Labrador Retriever ‘Justice’ home alone. They didn’t realize they left a pot of boiling water with plastic baby bottles on the stove. When the water evaporated, the bottles began to emit a toxic smoke. No one knew Justice was in trouble because there was no flame. Luckily, the Wentworth’s had a monitored smoke detector and the firefighters were alerted. Their prompt response saved Justice’s life.”
Pet Fire Safety Tips
American Humane provides these tips for preventing, preparing for and during a fire.
Here are a few more pet fire safety tips to plan for:
Don’t leave pets unattended near open flames. Pets are curious and may get too close to fires in appliances, candles, fireplaces or fire pits.
Practice your fire escape routes with your pets, so you’ll be ready if an emergency arises.
Keep pets’ collars and leashes near entrances to your home, so you can easily grab them.
Make sure to keep your pet alert sticker or window cling updated with an accurate number of pets in your home
Free Pet Rescue Pack from ASPCA
If you sign up for the ASPCA’s mailing list, the organization will send a free Pet Safety Pack that includes:
We’ve already had a taste of summer heat in 2021, and the “dog days” of summer will be here soon. Follow these pet safety tips, and enjoy a great summer with your dog!
Summer Walk Safety
Taking a walk with your dog is fun and great exercise, but summer heat can be a real danger.
As temperatures rise, avoid taking your dog on asphalt (even just across a parking lot!). When asphalt reaches these temperatures on a sunny day, dogs can quickly suffer from heat stroke and burned paws.
Air Temperature:
Asphalt Temperature:
77 degrees
86 degrees
87 degrees
125 degrees
135 degrees
143 degrees
Know the Signs of Heat Stroke
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are life-threatening condition in dogs, defined as reaching a body temperature of 104+ degrees Fahrenheit. Other serious damage can include organ failure, seizures, coma and bleeding disorders.
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, call your veterinarian right away:
Heavy panting, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst
Bright red tongue and mucous membranes, which turn grey as shock sets in
Unsteadiness and staggering
Lethargy
Thick saliva, drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea
Prevention is Cool
It’s much better to prevent a heat-related emergency with your dog. Here’s how to keep your dog from over-heating in the summer:
Provide plenty of fresh, cool water at all times
Take walks in the early morning or evening, when the temperatures are cooler
Let your dog rest inside in the A/C during the heat of the day
Keep you dog up-to-date on vaccinations and medications
NEVER leave a dog (or any living creature) in a parked car. On even a mild day, temperatures rise dangerously and quickly in cars
If you have any questions about your pet’s health, please give us a call at (513) 829-8989.
Cicadas Aren’t Poisonous, but Can Still Cause Trouble for Cats and Dogs
We know that cats are natural born killers of small creatures… and dogs, well, some of them will try to eat anything. Here’s a video of one cat’s great cicada hunt.
With the cicada summer of 2021 nearly upon us, should you worry about your pet’s natural interest in these insects? And what happens if your cat or dog eats cicadas?
Catching an Occasional Cicada Isn’t Harmful for Pets
Information from an article by Kentucky author Megan Wollerton says:
“Periodical cicadas aren’t poisonous to pets and other animals, Jonathan Larson, an extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky, tells me via email. ‘If your pet snatches a cicada while in the yard or on a walk, they will more than likely be fine. However, overindulgence on anything is bad, and this holds true with cicadas and pets.’
“Larson says the cicadas can potentially cause an allergic reaction and be a choking hazard to pets. ‘If your animal feasts on piles of them while they are outside, they can end up with upset stomachs, vomiting or diarrhea.’ He also cautions pet owners to consider what might have been sprayed on the ground above the cicadas during their 17-year development.”
Symptoms of Eating Too Many Cicadas
Pets that eat too many cicadas can become quite ill. The exoskeleton is difficult to digest. Pets may experience:
Mild to severe stomach upset
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Bloody diarrhea
Choking on wings or exoskeletons
An allergic reaction
How to Protect Your Pet During the Brood X Cicada Season
Fortunately, the cicada risk will only last around six weeks, and it’s easy to prevent any serious harm from coming to your pet.
From now until about late June, keep an eye on your pet when they are outside. Don’t allow them to gorge on cicadas. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, call your veterinarian right away.
Have questions about cicadas and your pet? Contact us.
