Colder Weather Pet Safety Tips

The colder weather is upon us, Clear The Air would like to share some cold weather safety tips for your pets from the ASPCA.

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer.

Winter walks can even be dangerous from exposure to ice-melting agents if they are licked off bare paws.

Here are some helpful tips for keeping your pets safe this winter from the ASPCA:

• Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
• Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
• Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
• Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
• Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
• Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

Information provided by ASPCA: Cold Weather Pet Safety Tips

Taking Your Pets With You On A Road Trip?

Road Trip! When traveling with your pets it is important to take extra precautions to make sure they have a good time too.

Clear The Air would like to share these tips to keep your pets safe while you enjoy your trip.

1. Prepare – If your trip isn’t right away, prepare your pets with short trips in the car to get them ready for the big day.

2. Pack – Bring your pet’s favorite toys and blanket to help calm them on the long trip. Also pack all the supplies you will need for you pet including their food, water, dishes, bedding, leashes, litter boxes, and any medications they need.

3. ID Please – Don’t forget to bring your pet’s identification. Make sure the identification contains your current contact information and it’s attached to a sturdy collar. This will be helpful in case they do get lost.

4. Be Safe and Secure – Pets are the safest in a carrier. Bring carriers for your pets to ride in while you are driving and make sure they are secured in your car. Sharp turns and sudden stops can cause your pets and their carriers to fall over and they can get hurt. Make sure the carriers are well ventilated and big enough for them to move around comfortably in.

5. Take A Break – Be sure to make several stops along the way so pets can get out of the car and go to the bathroom. Make sure pets are wearing their identification and are on a leash for their safety.

6. Bring Your Pets With You – If you need to stop for a snack, gas, or a meal, always take your pets with you. Don’t ever leave pets in the car even if it’s only going to be a few minutes. If you can’t take pets inside with you, take turns sitting outside with your pets so they are not left alone.

Pet Friendly Ways To Celebrate Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is May 10 and Clear The Air would like to share these purrfect ways to celebrate all mothers!

Purrfect Mother’s Day Ideas: Pet-Friendly Activities

With Mother’s Day around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the special women in your life who are mothers. And if you know a dog or cat mom, she deserves to celebrate Mother’s Day, too, though it can be challenging to find pet-friendly activities for these mothers and their fur babies. Here are a few pet-appropriate ideas for treating pet parents in celebration of Mother’s Day, in fur-friendly style.

Pet-Centric Bistro Lunch

There are many establishments that cater to animal owners and welcome patrons of the four-legged variety. The website BringFido.com allows you to search for a dog-friendly places in your area, whether a pub, sidewalk cafe, coffee shop or trendy eatery, the fur babies are welcomed at an outdoor table.

Booking a reservation at one of these restaurants will guarantee a good time for mom and her wet-nosed companion. Mimosas and Milkbones, anyone?

Dinner and a Furry Flick

As quaint as a furry bistro may be, finding pet-friendly dining establishments can be a tedious task in certain areas, so an alternate plan is to treat your pet mama to a night in. Create a pizza that both mom and fur baby can enjoy. Use organic flour, instant yeast, salt, organic sugar, extra virgin olive oil, and warm water, to make a pizza dough safe for dog consumption. Top it off with dog-safe toppings, like spinach, shredded carrots, artichoke hearts, pineapple, green beans, broccoli or sweet potato. Avoid onions and mushrooms, which do not agree with the puppy constitution.

As for the film, the most recommended movies to enjoy with your pets, according to PetMD, are Scooby Doo, Best in Show, 101 Dalmatians, Lady and the Tramp, and coming in at the top of the list, Homeward Bound. Cuddle up with mom and pooch and let the laughter, barking and meowing commence.

Dog Park Picnic

If you’re not in the mood for a bistro, but still want to get parent and pet out of the house for the special day, plan a trip to an animal-friendly park in the area. The proud mama can let her babies run around before settling down for a picnic meal of packaged gourmet sandwiches from a local deli and freshly homemade dog food for your four-legged companions.

To make this outing extra special, give the gift of edible delectables. Decadent chocolates or chocolate-covered strawberries not only make a great gift, they’re also the perfect dessert to top-off an outdoor picnic meal. Don’t forget to sign the card from both you and Fido.

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate those special ladies who pour love into everything they do, who give more than they receive, and who always think of their loved ones first, whether those loved ones have two legs or four. So make sure those caring mothers get a little special treatment of their own this year, from you and the fur babies.

Success Story From The Humane Society

Do you have a happy success story about a pet you adopted? Comment on our blog!

The San Diego Humane Society helps many homeless animals find their new home. There are many senior cats in need of forever homes! Since November is adopt a senior pet month, here is a success story about Sia, a senior cat, who is very happy with her new family.

Sia’s Story:

I am attaching a picture of the lovely lady we adopted almost 1 1/2 years ago from SDHS on Airport Road. The senior pets are a passion of mine and I encourage people all the time to give one of these beautiful animals a chance and a home. They are typically easy to care for and just appreciate having a comfy place to nap, some food, and a little lovin.’

We adopted Sia (aka Saipao) in May 2013 and she was almost 15 years old. She will be 16 in November and is going strong. There are many days that I don’t think she realizes how old she is!

As you can see, she is a beautiful Blue Point Siamese and she has brought nothing but joy into our lives. There hasn’t been one day with her that we have regretted getting her.

I hope by sharing her story that we can encourage more people to take a senior pet into their homes – you will never regret giving them peace and love in their final days/years!

David & Gina D.

Keep Your Pets Safe On Halloween

Halloween is a fun time of year for the family, but the noise and excitement of the night may not be as much fun for your pets. It is important to take extra steps on Halloween to make sure your pets stay safe. Here are some Halloween safety tips from Clear The Air:

• Keep all Halloween candy and wrappers away from pets to avoid choking or poisining. Chocolate and xylitol (a sweetener in candy) can be very toxic for animals. Have some pet treats on hand to give your pets so they don’t feel left out.
• Keep your pets inside for their safety even if you are going to be home. Stay with your pet if they need to go outside to use the bathroom to avoid anything harmful that could happen due to a cruel Halloween prank.
• Find a quiet place in the house for your pets to stay when the trick-or-treaters will be constantly ringing the door bell and making noise. The loud noise and constant strangers at the door may stress your pet out. Also you don’t want your pet to run out the house while the door is constantly being opened up.
• Halloween decorations should be used where your pets won’t be able to get to them. Pumpkins with candles should not be placed on the floor because they can be easily knocked over or can burn a curious pet.
• Pet costumes should be non-restrictive and should not have any dangling accessories that pets can choke on if they came off. Supervise your pet while they are in their costume.  If your pet doesn’t seem to be comfortable in a costume then it’s a good idea to just let them go as themselves for Halloween.
• Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags in case they get separated or scared and take off. This can be a good time to think about getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already. It can help bring pets home quicker if they get lost.

Successful Story From The San Diego Humane Society

Another sweet cat finds her forever home!

The San Diego Humane Society helps many homeless animals find their “furrever” home. Here is yet another success story about Sophia (now called Amelie) who is very happy with her new family:

Here’s her story:

My cat Scheherazade died about six months ago. She’d been my little friend for 17 years, and I was heartbroken. She and I were simpaticas, and I didn’t think I’d ever want another pet. But I received an e-mail from the Humane Society saying they were having a special on “Ninja Panthers” (i.e., all-black kittens), and there was one that looked just like Scheherazade when she was a kitten. It was a male, and I immediately thought, “Dante! I’ll call him Dante!” I called to find out if he could be held until I got there, but someone had just taken him home.

My husband said, “Let’s just go down there. I’m sure they have other kittens.”

We went to the Gaines Street campus, and the adoption counselor asked what we were looking for in a kitten. I said I wanted an affectionate one. She let us play with all of them and told us a little bit about each. There was one, though, a little gray female called Sophia, that was sweet, playful, and affectionate–just a bundle of charm. My husband said, “I like that one.” I agreed, and we brought her home.

I can’t tell you what a delight she is. She was so well socialized that she was right at home with us in just over an hour. I work from home, and she loves to help–typing and sorting papers are her favorite–and she loves to play and to cuddle, and she’s so well behaved. I couldn’t ask for a better or more perfect friend than our little Sophia (now called Amelie). I think Scheherazade would be pleased that we found her. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Diane

How To Make Your Home Safer For Your Pets

• Flea Control – Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop controlling fleas on your pets and in your house. Flea protection should be used all year long. The cooler weather will allow you to control the fleas easier. Your veterinarian can help you with a flea prevention plan that is best for your pet to use all year long.
• Put Away School Supplies – Back to school items, such as glue and glue sticks, can be dangerous for your pet if large amounts are ingested. Keep those pencils, pens, markers and other school essentials away from your pets. Pencils and pens can cause blockages if they are swallowed by your pet.
• Remove Wild Mushrooms – Fall is the perfect time for wild mushrooms to grow. Most are not toxic, but the poisonous mushrooms can be fatal to your pet. If you think your pet has eaten wild mushroom, call your veterinarian immediately. Symptoms can range from gastrointestinal problems to hallucinations.
• Avoid Rodenticides – During the colder months, rodents look for warmer places to shelter. Rodenticides can be toxic to pets and cause bleeding disorders.  Consider using alternative ways to get rid of rodents around your house. Also bee cautious letting your pets roam around your neighbor’s yard if they have used rodenticides to control their rodent problems.
• Protect Heat Sources – Pets can be burned by portable heaters and fireplaces. Fireplaces should have screens in place to protect your pets from being severely burned. Don’t leave pets unattended around portable heaters when they are being used.

Dogs Or Cats?

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Clear The Air came across Dr. Mercola’s article about the differences between dogs and cats and we would like to share it with our readers:

• Dogs can be trained quickly, some in a matter of minutes, to obey basic commands like ‘come’ and ‘sit.’
• Most cats are difficult if not impossible to train to respond to directives.
• Cats can be house-trained in an instant as long as they have access to a litter box. There’s really no training to it, in fact. It’s instinct.
• Most dogs take considerably longer to housebreak, and some just never get all the way there. Unlike with Fluffy, housebreaking a pup is usually a hands-on, time intensive project.
• Dogs are social beings. They want to be with their pack, wherever their pack may be.
• Cats are solitary by comparison and their primary attachment (when forced to choose) is to their territory rather than other two or four-legged animals.
• Dogs have 42 teeth.
• Cats have 30.
• Cats can jump and climb, giving them more options when they need to hunt for food, or when they feel threatened.
• Dogs are earthbound, so they need their pack to hunt effectively. And when a threat triggers their fight-or-flight response, they are more likely to react with aggression because their ability to flee from a predator is limited.
• Dogs are scavenging carnivores, which means although they are primarily meat-eaters, if necessary they can survive on plant material alone (remember, surviving is different than thriving).
• Cats are obligate or strict carnivores. Kitties cannot sustain life without eating meat in some form.
• Dogs in the wild catch their prey by running it down. They are long distance runners, not sprinters.
• Cats creep up on their prey and catch it by surprise. They are sprinters, not distance runners.
• Cats cannot be fasted and should not be dieted down too quickly. Kitties don’t efficiently burn fat reserves as an energy source. Instead, without food, their bodies break down non-fatty tissues for energy. This can lead to a life-threatening liver condition called hepatic lipidosis.
• Dogs are much better at using their fat reserves and can tolerate a lack of food for much longer than cats.
• Cats have retractable claws that stay sharp because they are protected inside the toes.
• Dogs claws are always extended and become blunt from constant contact with the ground when they walk.
• A dog’s memory is only about five minutes long.
• Kitties can remember up to 16 hours.

Read entire article about dog and cat differences from Dr. Mercola here.

Summer Heat Safety Tips For Your Pets

We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but the ASPCA warns being overeager in hot weather can spell danger.

Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.

• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Parked cars can heat up extremely rapidly even with the windows open!
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats.
• Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat.
• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

What Others Are Saying About Clear The Air’s Odor Eliminators

Did you know we offer a 100% guarantee that our product will eliminate any odor?

Clear The Air produces amazing results when it comes to eliminating odors. See what others say about our products:

Our cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes and has since contracted a bladder infection. To our complete annoyance, this caused him to not use the litter box and instead was using the carpeting. I bought this before the problem got completely out of hand and it worked like a charm. The directions say to let it sit overnight before vacuuming but of course I couldn’t wait that long and it still worked. Will be getting more of this product for future needs. ~Norah

It magically absorbs pet odors from my carpets, even in high heat and humidity. It’s great for between shampooings. Just sprinkle, let it sit overnight and vacuum. ~Jayne

I have tried 4 or 5 different products trying to get the old urine smells our of our carpet from my black lab’s potty training accidents. Nothing had worked. I thought I’d try this product, and since there was a money back guarantee, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. I followed the instructions, sprinkled it on the carpet right before we went to bed, and then vacuumed it up the next morning, and just like that, the smell was gone! Finally my house smells fresh and clean again! 5 Paws up for Clear the Air! ~Ace’s Mom

I have a house full of pets and someone is always leaving me a “surprise” Ive tried everything and nothing has worked or even come close to working except this! It TOOK the smell out of the carpet, not cover it up with perfumes. Ive even used it on my furniture just to freshen it up. And it really does work on wood floors too! I love this stuff!