Winter is approaching quickly. What should you do to keep your pet warm?

Although a lot of us pet lovers choose to keep our pets indoors where it is nice and cozy, sometimes the pups just have to stay outside.  Many people believe that because pets have fur that they cannot become hypothermic or get frost bite, but this is definitely not true. The normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 99.5-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit and when their body temp drops way below this, hypothermia is possible. Here are some important tips for keeping your pet safe and warm this winter:

• To help keep your pet warm, bring him into the garage or basement that has lots of blankets or get a dog house or shed with good insulation and one that is waterproof. A thick layer of hay covered by blankets is a good way to add insulation and there should be a piece of thick plastic covering the entrance of the dog house to block heavy winds. Be sure to check blankets often to make sure they have not become wet and frozen. If your pet is very young, old, thin or sick, they are especially in need of keeping warm and need the most protection.
• If you feed and give water to your outdoor pets in stainless steel bowls, it is a good idea to use plastic bowls in the winter time because they tend not to get as cold or frozen as easily.
• If you find that your pet is acting a little more hungry in the winter time this is because more food adds more “fuel” that helps keep them warm so be sure that they have a hardy helping of food when winter strikes.
• Pets should have a comfortable and clean, dry shelter to stay in especially if your pet spends the majority of its time outdoors.
• Check to make sure your shelter for your pet does not have any leaks and that falling rain cannot splash inside of the dry shelter.  It is important to place it in an area where water does not accumulate.  Bottom line, keep your pet high and dry!
• Continuous rain will usually decrease the frequency of your important walks with your dog. In order to compensate for less outdoor time, play with your pet more indoors either chasing a ball or playing tug of war just to get your pet the exercise he’s used to.
• Pets should always have access to adequate shelter and under no circumstance should you leave your pet tied up in the rain.

• Should there be an emergency you must have an escape or evacuation plan mapped out for your pets.  Prepare a first-aid kit for your pets in case they become wounded and never abandon them during a disaster.

Keeping Halloween Safe For Your Pet

Halloween is a fun time for kids and adults, but it can also be scary for animals if you’re not careful. Any holiday brings an increased risk of harm and health problems for animals when candy and decorations are involved, but Halloween can be especially risky for a number of reasons. We encourage everyone to have a safe and fun holiday, but please keep the safety and well-being of your pets in mind!

Here are some tips to keeping your pet safe during the Halloween season:

1. Never leave your dog outside unattended – this is a generally safe rule to follow, but it is particularly important on Halloween. It is a sad truth that disturbed individuals have been known to injure and even kill pets on Halloween. No matter how safe your neighborhood may be, Halloween often brings out the pranksters and vandals, so don’t take any chances and keep your dog inside with you where you know he is safe.

2. Most people will agree that there is nothing cuter than a dog in costume.  However, as appealing as your dolled-up pup may be, it is important to always keep your dog’s happiness, safety and comfort in mind.

If you are going to put your dog in costume, make sure it fits properly and does not pose a risk of strangulation. Remove any loose accessories that could be choked on such as ribbons or buttons. If your dog seems even the slightest bit uncomfortable, please reconsider your costume choice. A ballerina beagle may look adorable, but your dog does not know why he is wearing the getup and may do whatever it takes to get out of it, including chewing through the fabric.

3. Everyone knows the best part of Halloween is the candy, but unfortunately this is one of the main reasons that vets see an increase of sick animals around this holiday. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and will likely notice the increase of sweets in the house. Keep all types of candy away from your dog!

Most people already know that chocolate is toxic to dogs and can make them very sick. But chocolate is not the only sweet treat that poses a risk. Sugar-free candy contains a chemical called Xylitol that can make dogs severely ill even in small doses. Candy foil and wrappers can be just as harmful, as they can cause choking or a blockage in a dog’s digestive tract. If you have kids, let them know that the dog cannot share their Halloween treats.

4. If you put up Halloween decorations, be sure to keep them well out of your dog’s reach. Dogs gravitate towards things that are shiny, small and/or inedible – all of which can cause serious health problems! Candles, lights and cords are a huge safety hazard for all pets. A curious dog that gets too close could be burned or electrocuted. A wagging tail can knock over a candle and start a fire in no time at all! Instead of putting a candle in your pumpkin consider using a small battery-powered light, which is safer and lasts longer!
5. Make sure your dog is in a safe, secure place when the trick-or-treaters come knocking at your door. The continuous knocking or ringing of a doorbell combined with the constant opening and closing of the door will offer plenty of opportunities for your pet to dart out and run away. 

In addition, strangers arriving in spooky masks can be very frightening and could cause even the friendliest dogs to behave aggressive or territorially as a result of stress and fear. To avoid unnecessary stress or unpleasant confrontations with the neighborhood children, I suggest keeping your dog in a separate room. Try leaving a radio or TV on to drown out the sound of the many visitors.
6. No matter what your friends said in college, a drunk dog is NOT a happy dog. Never ever give any amount of alcohol to any animal. If you think it would be funny to see your dog intoxicated, think again. Alcohol is essentially poison to dogs and can cause symptoms including but not limited to: vomiting, disorientation, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and death. If you have a party make sure you clean up any leftover drinks, as some dogs are attracted to the sweetness of beer and wine.

While keeping your family safe during Halloween is always a must, keeping your pets healthy and safe is also essential. If you have kids, I recommend sharing these tips with them so they can learn how to be responsible and keep their beloved pet safe while enjoying the Halloween festivities.  Please safe, be smart and have a very happy Halloween!

Dangerous Plants You Should Not Have Inside or Outside Of Your Home If You Have Pets

Plants can be a beautiful way to spruce up your home and garden, but if you share your home with a dog or cat, you’ll want to choose your plants carefully. The leaves, seeds, berries and bulbs of some common plants can be poisonous to pets.

Many flowers, such as hyacinth, oleander and hydrangea, can cause stomach irritation when ingested by your cat or dog. Wisteria, lily of the valley, morning glory and narcissus are other common plants that have parts that could be poisonous such as seeds, pods, roots, bulbs and flowers, and therefore should be avoided when landscaping your yard.

Vegetable and fruit gardens should also be treated with caution. The leaves of rhubarb, shoots of potatoes and seeds of apples can be extremely poisonous to dogs and cats. Instead, try planting beets, honeydew melon or zucchini squash, none of which will pose a threat to your precious pets.

If you’d like to bring your garden inside, tuberous plants are great to include in any fresh-cut arrangement. While some members of the tuberous family are completely poisonous, such as iris and lilies, others can be safe when handled intelligently. As long as their bulbs are discarded, tulips, daffodils and buttercups are a beautiful and safe way to bring nature indoors.

In the spring, be sure not to plant azaleas, primroses or geraniums, which are entirely poisonous to dogs and cats. Consider planting impatiens, sunflowers or petunias instead, as they are all safe and will add color and beauty to your outdoor space.

Floral decorations are not solely relegated to springtime, however. The winter holidays are a popular time to celebrate with seasonal plants, so be mindful as you decorate. Cats and dogs should stay away from holly and mistletoe–both of which contain poisonous berries–and English ivy and poinsettia plants, whose leaves, flowers and stems are toxic.

Does your Pet act sad?

Keeping Your Dog Safe In The Summer Heat:

Summer is the season most of us look forward to for outdoor activities, but dogs don’t do as well in hot weather as people do. Sometimes it’s kinder, and far safer, to keep your dog at home. But whatever you do and wherever you go, keep these tips in mind:

Be aware that not all dogs handle heat in the same way. Dogs build up heat as a function of volume and lose it as a function of surface area. This means that larger dogs with rounder bodies have less surface area for their size, and build up heat faster.

In addition, dogs lose heat through evaporation from their nasal passages and tongue. This means that dogs with flat faces are less able to lose heat. As a rule, the bigger the dog and the flatter the face, the more prone they are to overheating. Overweight and old dogs have an even greater risk, as do dogs with thick fur.

Fur coats can be hot. Fur provides some amount of protection from the sun, but thick fur prevents body heat from escaping and promotes overheating. It’s a myth that shaving a dog’s coat makes him hotter. Shaving it to the skin can make him vulnerable to sunburn, but cutting the fur to about one inch can help him stay cooler. If you don’t want to shave him, brush as much undercoat as you can out, and be sure no solid mats are there to trap heat and moisture.

Don’t exercise your dog when it’s warm. He wanted to run, so you took him jogging. You only noticed he was in trouble when he started to stagger, then fell. His breathing is rapid, his gums red, and he has thick, profuse saliva. He’s in full blown heat stroke, and you must act fast to save his life. See later in the article for instructions.

Unfortunately, veterinarians see far too many dogs in this situation every year, many of which succumb. Dogs overheat before people do so even though you may be just a little warm, your dog can be lethally overheated. On warm days, exercise your dog first thing in the morning, late at night, or only where he can cool off in water. And beware of hot asphalt!

Keep your dog out of parked cars. You only meant to be gone a minute. But once in the store, you got distracted, you forgot just how hot it was outside, and by the time you came back, a crowd was around your car. This time you were lucky. A broken window, the scowls of onlookers, but your dog is alive. Next time he might not be.

Studies show that the temperature inside cars can heat to lethal temperatures within 30 minutes even if the weather outside is relatively cool. Regardless of outside air temperature, cars heat up at a similar rate – gaining 80 percent of their final temperature within 30 minutes. Cars that start at a comfortable 72 degrees F (22 degrees C), for example, soar to a deadly 117 degrees F (47 degrees C) after 60 minutes in the sun. Cracking the windows scarcely affects the temperature inside.

Nobody keeps statistics on dog deaths from being left in cars, but about 30 to 40 children die in parked cars each year. Considering that dogs aren’t allowed in most places children are, and that dogs overheat more quickly than children, it’s likely that hundreds of dogs die in closed cars every year.

Be prepared for travel emergencies. You’re driving with your dog on a hot day, enjoying the air conditioning. Suddenly the car dies. As you wait for help, the temperature is rising, and your dog is starting to get overheated. If you have water, offer some to him, and pour some over him. Next time, prepare by bringing a cooler with ice and a small car-battery-powered fan. Soak your dog and a towel in ice water, have him sit on the towel, and aim the fan at him. Air blowing over your dog’s wet skin and fur cools him just as your sweat in a breeze cools you.

Provide for comfort at home. You left your dog in the yard, but the day turned out hotter than you expected. Next time, provide for your dog’s comfort before you leave. Be sure he has a place that’s shady all day long. Buy a kiddy pool and fill it with water so he can soak in it and cool off. If possible, aim a fan at him from a sheltered place so he has a breeze. If your dog is left inside, you may need to run the air conditioning, or at least a fan. If the weather is very hot, you may need to find a way to guard against electrical outages while you’re away. Some pets have died when the electricity, and thus air conditioning, unexpectedly went off during the day.

Spring can be just as hot. Just because it’s spring (or fall) don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Many people who are aware of summer heat hazards fail to take the same precautions in spring, when their dogs may still be wearing their thick winter coats. Don’t be caught off guard!

Cooling a Hot Dog. Don’t plunge an overheated dog into ice water. This causes the peripheral blood vessels to contract, actually trapping the overheated blood at the body’s core — just where it does most harm. Instead, cool the dog slowly by placing him in cool water, or by draping him with wet towels and aiming a fan at him. Offer him plenty of cool water.

If you have a thermometer, cool him until his temperature reaches 103 degrees F (39 degrees C), then stop, as it will continue to decline. As soon as you have him cooling, race him to the veterinarian. Even if he appears to have recovered, he needs to go to the veterinarian because some delayed but deadly effects can still occur even days later.

Not All Dogs Can Swim! Although swimming is a great exercise in warm weather, make sure your dog can swim first! Some breeds, such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and Pekingese, have the swimming ability of cinderblocks. And even good swimmers can drown in backyard pools if they don’t know where the steps are to climb out.

Dogs and UV Rays. Dogs, especially light-skinned dogs, can get sunburn and melanoma. If you dog likes to sun worship, rub sun block on his belly and the top of his nose, the most common sites for sunburn.

Keeping Pets Safe In The Snow.

If you live in an area that has harsh winters and are familiar with snow plowing trucks, you know just how vital they are to keeping the roads clear. After they clear the roads they spread salt and or a sand/salt mixture to prevent cars from loosing traction. Also you might treat your own walkways and driveway with salt as well to provide a safe walking area. The salt used in these areas is sodium chloride which does its job melting the snow but also can be a hazard to any pets that ingest it or come in contact with it. It can cause irritation on your dogs paws if they are walking through salt treated areas. If they lick their paws or enjoy eating the snow, the ingesting of the sodium chloride can possible cause vomiting, diarrhea and in some cases even death. There are things you can do to prevent this from happening, like keep them away from the snow by the roads where the salt will be the highest concentration. Once inside, rinsing them off wherever they might have come in contact with the salt treated areas. On your own walkways and driveway, using sand for traction, will not melt the snow but will provide a salt free, safe area for them to play. If you think that your pet has ingested the sodium chloride, and they have signs of sickness, seek medical attention right away. You can still have fun with your dog in the snow. Just know the facts, and keep a watchful eye on their surroundings and all should be fine.

How To Keep Skunks Away From Your Property

Skunks are slow animals, and being omnivorous will eat about everything they can find. As most people know they have a bad reputation because they spray a foul, pungent odor as a defense if they feel threatened. The fact that they are the size of a average house cat they can move around residential and suburban areas easily, in search of food. Pet food is obviously going to be something they will eat if they come across it, and it is easy to get to. Obviously this can be a problem, and if they spray your pets or children that is a whole other problem. Here are some tips to keep skunks out of your yard and away from your property.

1. Skunks are nocturnal, and will avoid well lit areas, so setting up motion detectors lights is a good deterrent.
2. There are skunk repellents available, that you can sprinkle on the ground around pet food. Be careful not to get it in the pet’s food.
3. Make sure any pet food containers outside are properly sealed, like in a big metal trash can with a well secured lid to prevent the smell of food from escaping. Also make sure the skunk can’t knock it over, using wire, rope, or any kind of tie down would help in securing it.
4. Skunks like to hang out under porches, so checking under porches for an unwanted skunk is a first start, if there is none under there sealing off any holes or openings would be wise. This will prevent any skunks from ever setting up shop under your porch.
5. Clearing rock and wood piles will prevent skunks from hanging around, because they like to hang around such piles. Any fallen trees or brush should be cleared as this attracts them as well.
6. Tall grass and weeds, just like brush and fallen trees is attractive to skunks because it allows them to move around easily and undetected.
7. If a skunk keeps hanging around after your have done all of these things, it would be wise to call an exterminator to see if they can trap it and relocate it somewhere far away.
8. If the worst happens and the skunk sprays your pet, your child or yourself well then you have a smelly problem that gets rubbed all over your furniture and house. A great solution for that is our Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Skunks. This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral can be sprinkled directly on your pet, as well as inside and out side to eliminate skunk odors. Clear The Air does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area. Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odor are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean. Clear THe Air is made form an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for the Planet Earth. It is safe around children and pets even if eaten. Granules are totally safe for all lawns and vegetation. No need to remove granules from your lawn or vegetation, as they provide an excellent time-released nitrogen fertilizer.