Holiday Pet Safety--"Ask Zena" December 2009

To read it at Petpaooza.com  click here http://www.petpalooza.com/id66.htm

Ask Zena December 2009


Dear Zena:

We have a 7 month old Lab puppy and we are worried that the puppy will be very curious about the Christmas tree.  Our family usually puts up a real tree for the holidays, is this safe or are we better off getting a fake tree this year?  Are there any other hazards we should watch out for?

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Mary
Scottsville, NY


Dear Mary:

Great question!  Puppies can be very curious but even a pet who has never bothered the tree in the past can, without warning, decide to check out something interesting hanging from the tree.

This year should be interesting for our family also.  My little sister, Phoebe, is going to be almost 8 months old this Holiday season and this will be her first experience with a Christmas tree.  We will definitely be taking some extra precautions this year.  Just remember to please use caution and common sense with any pet this Holiday season.

Here are some safety tips to help keep your pets safe:

First, let's start with some tree safety precautions.

-  Pick a good place for your tree that is not in a high-traffic area.  A corner near an outlet is ideal so that the tree is out of the way and cords won't be lying around.

-  If you decide to have a real tree, prepare the area by placing a plastic sheet or tree bag under the tree so that at the end of the season you can pull the bag or sheet over the tree minimizing the amount of needles that can fall from the tree and prevent them from being chewed or swallowed by your pet.  Make sure to sweep up needles often, ingestion of needles can cause vomiting, gastric irritation, and sometimes needles can even puncture holes in your pet's intestines.

-  Anchor your Christmas tree to the ceiling with fishing line (you won't see it) so that a rambunctious pet won't tip it over and be injured by the tree or broken ornaments.

-  Do not let your pet drink the water from the tree there may be fertilizers or bacteria in the water that will make your pet sick.  Check what preservatives are used and buy only those that are non-toxic. Also, please do NOT put aspirin in the tree water.  An option some people use is a screen to block off the area to the tree, cords and presents.

-  Buy shatterproof ornaments.  My mom bought all new shatterproof ornaments this year and we will keep the bottom branches clear of any ornaments that may tempt my sister Phoebe.  Last year we had a scare when my 2 year old human brother broke a glass ornament and it shattered all over the floor around him.  Mom feels it is just not worth it to worry about it so we will just avoid this whole entire situation.  Also, please do not use hooks on your ornaments, instead use string tied in a knot.

-  SKIP THE TINSEL!!!  There are so many other beautiful decorations out there to take the place of tinsel or even garland.  Ingestion of these materials can cause an intestinal obstruction that may require surgery.  Cats are especially attracted to the bright shiny tinsel so I say just skip it all together.

-  Hide the Cords!  Remember most puppies love to chew.  So, keep cords out of reach or purchase special cord covers that are available at most retailers.

-  Presents...Hide the presents until Christmas.  Pets do not know that they need to wait till Christmas to open the presents.  They are curious and unless you want presents opened or ruined you are better off hiding them away.  Pets can also eat the ribbon or sting on the presents, which is very dangerous.  My mom told me a very sad story about a friend of hers that placed a present from a friend under her tree not knowing that it was a box of chocolates.  Her dog found the present and ate the whole box of chocolates while she was out.  The dog did not make it.  Please do not take any chances.

-  Supervision.  This is the safest way to avoid hazards.  If at all possible do not let your pet near the tree unless supervised.

Here are some other hazards to watch out for:

-  Snow Globes.  Most are filled with anti-freeze, which is poisonous to pets.  Also, watch out for packaging such as Styrofoam, which causes a chocking hazard.  Snow spray can cause problems if inhaled or ingested.

-  Holiday Plants.  Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lillies, if ingested, can lead to health problems.

-  Small Toy Parts.  Put away toys after children open their gifts.  Small parts could be eaten by your pet.

-  Candles.  Keep candles high and out of reach to avoid burns or being knocked over.

-  Wipe Your Pet's Paws.  Ice melts and salts, if ingested, can cause gastrointestinal inflammation.  One way to prevent this from happening is to clean your pets feet when returning from a walk.

-  Anti-Freeze.  Unfortunately, ingestion of anti-freeze is very common in the winter months.  Do not let your pet drink from puddles and clean your pet's paws when coming in from the outdoors.  Anti-freeze has a sweet taste that attracts pets, but it is very toxic and can cause permanent kidney damage.

-  Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.  Not just for the obvious reasons but also for the fact that when the batteries start going bad these devices send out an alert or an alarm at a high frequency, which is very painful to your pet's ears.


Even after all the precautions are taken, you suspect your pet has ingested glass, broken plastic, staples or any other small, sharp object, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, you can call your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24 hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.  Make sure you keep all emergency numbers easily accessible, the last thing you want to do in an emergency is search for a phone number.

I hope this information help you and your pets enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

Keep the questions coming!   I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a fantastic New Year!

Sincerely,

Zena

Happy Holidays!

How to Keep your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving!

Stuff the Turkey, Not the Dog: 10 Things to Hide from Your Pet this Thanksgiving

Written by:  Janine Kahn

We all know how hard it can be to resist those begging eyes and that furry face you can deny nothing on any given day, and on Thanksgiving – with the fragrant smell of that really rich dinner swimming throughout the house – the temptation can be that much worse. But this year, do your dog a favor and keep her away from the items listed below. Pookie Dearest might be miffed for the evening, but her stomach will thank you the next day.
1. Turkey Skin – On its own, turkey skin can be fatty and hard to digest, but on Thanksgiving it’s particularly bad (just think of the butter, oils and spices rubbed into it). If you must share the turkey with your dog, do peel the skin off and cut the meat up into bite-sized pieces. And consider choosing the white meat over the dark for your pooch – it’s a little blander and easier to digest.
2. Cooked Bones - Whether your bird is duck, goose or turkey, do not give the bones to your dog. Any dog cartoon features Fido carrying a bone around in his mouth, but the reality is that a cooked bone is often brittle and sharp pieces can get lodged in your pet’s intestine. And bird bones are hollow and break easily.
3. Gravy/Buttery Side Dishes - This one goes hand-in-hand with the turkey skin. Fatty foods and trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs at worst and diarrhea or vomiting at “best.” ThePoop.com suggests substituting gravy with a little turkey broth if you really want to give your pup a treat.
4. Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap – Dispose of these when you’re done with them. There are two risks here: one, your pet will be licking the fatty substances off the wrappings, and two, swallowing these can cause an intestinal obstruction.
5. Chocolate - Not that we think that you would intentionally feed your dog chocolate (which we all know can be toxic to our canine friends), but since candy is often left out on tables for guests during the holidays, it made the list. Be sure to keep bowls filled with chocolate out of reach.
6. The Garbage Pail – A frustrated pet who can’t get a scrap out of his usually-generous parents may be tempted to dig around the trash bin and find a good number of the items listed above.
7. The Kitchen – Thanksgiving can be the busiest day of the year for the kitchen, and you’ll want to keep your pup out of there. With hot dishes being whisked from one counter to the next, there’s a chance a dog that’s under foot could be burned or cut if something were to shatter.
8. Holiday Plants – Sure it’s Thanksgiving, but a good number of people have already decked the halls with holly by this time. Know that Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees are toxic to dogs.
9. Decorations – Glass ornaments and candles are just begging for trouble. Like the chocolate, keep these out of reach.
10. Guests Who Mean Well – Educate your less pet-savvy visitors (and hey, maybe even send them this list). A child may accidentally feed a dog some chocolate and your great aunt might think she’s being nice by sharing her turkey skin.


Pass it on!!!

Happy Birthday Zena Marie Pugsly!!!!!

Happy Birthday Zena!!!!

8 years old today

To the best dog and friend
anyone could ever have.

I love you!!!!

Ask Zena: House breaking a Pug (or any other stubborn pooch!)

Dear Zena:

We recently got a Pug puppy and I heard that Pugs are difficult to house break. Is this true? Do you have any tips for us on how to house break our Pug puppy? Sincerely, Amy Brockport, NY



Dear Amy:

I chose this question not only because it is a good question but because it is what me and my family are experiencing right now. I recently acquired a new baby sister, Phoebe, she is a Pug also. She is about 12 weeks old and for a puppy she is not doing all that bad with the Puggie potty training. I think what helps is that she has me to follow around and to learn from. Also, if at all possible, my mom prefers to get a puppy when it is spring, summer or fall, definitely not winter. The cold and snow just makes it more difficult to house train a puppy.

Obviously, training your puppy to do its business outside also depends on your family's lifestyle. Not every dog is the same nor is everyone's lifestyle so you will need to choose the appropriate method of house training that suits your dog's personality and your daily routine. Let us begin with your first question, "Are Pugs hard to housebreak?" The answer is neither yes or no. Pugs are somewhere in the middle. Pugs are very intelligent dogs but they also have a stubborn streak, which unfortunately can rear its ugly head during the training process. Just keep calm, keep focused, and stay consistent. Here is some information that can aid you in the training process and help keep you realistic about expectations of your new puppy.

Pugs (and other small dogs) do not have the muscular ability to control their urges until they are about 12 weeks old, so anytime before that, when they have to go, they have to go. This does not mean that you can't start training before then but don't get upset when they have an accident, they just can't control it. Remember, praise is the key. When your puppy does his/her business outside, where they are supposed to, be sure to give them lots of hugs and kisses for doing the right thing (Pugs are attention and affection hogs). Pugs, and other small dogs, do not have the ability to hold it like large breed dogs, their bladders are smaller and they need to go more often. So, if your dog leaves you a present on the floor, which will happen, please choose to be calm and cool about it, scolding them will only teach them to fear you and you don't want that. If your dog does have an accident, please be sure to clean it up with a an odor eliminator (follow the directions on the label carefully) and clean it thoroughly. You may not smell it but your dog (and other dogs) will and chances are they will have a mistake in that same spot again.

There are many different methods to house train your dog, what you choose will all depend on your lifestyle, what may have worked for your friend and their dog may not work for you. Some methods are: • Crate Training - teach your Pug to hold themselves when in their crate - best if you are home some of the day and remember to get a crate that is big enough for them to lie down, stand up, and turn around but no bigger than that. • Paper Training - teach your Pug to go on a designated spot of house training paper - best if you are not home most of the day and do not have help • Schedule Based Training (SBT) - teach your Pug to go out at consistent, regular times - best if you are home most of the day or have help who is home, and you can be absolutely regular with the schedule Pick a method that works best for your lifestyle, as it's critical that you be consistent and set yourself up for success.

Also, learn the behaviors of your dog. By observing your dog's habits you will start to notice certain things that he or she does right before they are about pee or poop. When you see your dog doing these tell tail signs, bring them outside quick and when they do their business outside, give them lots of praise. Remember house breaking does NOT happen over night. Be patient and be consistent, some dogs can take up to 6 months before they are fully house trained. Another secret my mom told me (she learned this from me and my sister Buffy) that sometimes us Puggies like to go outside and play rather then do our business and then come inside and realize "oh, I forgot to pee or poop" and then do it inside. Be sure to watch your dog when they are outside and see if they are really going or if they are too busy playing with the others. You may have to let them out separately. If they are out there alone and too busy sniffing and checking out the sites and sounds of the world, you may have to stay out their with them and take them to a designated spot in the yard and repeat a certain command like, potty or whatever term suits you, until they do their business and then they can play, just keep an eye on them!!!

Well, I could go on and on about this subject so your best bet is to go on the Internet and do some research or pick up a book on Pugs with house breaking tips and look it over and find what method will work for you and your dog. Just remember, you made a commitment to be a parent/guardian to this dog. Don't be like the other 3,000,000 people per year that surrender their dog because they we're not successful at house training them. More often than not, it is the person's fault for not sticking to the method they have chosen and lack the persistence and patients that is needed to do this correctly. Please live up to your commitment.

Thank you Amy, I hope this information helps.

Sincerely,

Zena Marie Pugsly