Home Safety Guide For Pet Owners .....

MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue Inc. (MABTR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation serving the states of Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North/South Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota, Utah, Montana, Idaho, and Arkansas.

September 2015

Home Safety Guide for Pet Owners - Part I To many of the 164 million American pet owners their animals are part of their family.  Pet owners make huge investments in food, toys, and much more to ensure their companions have happy and fulfilling lives.    If you love your pet enough to invest in their care in so many other quarters, you shouldn't let the space they spend their days be the thing that could cause them harm.    We'll talk this month about common household dangers and food safety, and continue next month with tips to pet-proof your home, and what to do to prepare for natural disasters.      Common Household Dangers for Pets The average home is filled with items that could potentially harm a pet. If you toss old razors into your bathroom trash can, your pet could get into it and end up with cuts. If you leave chocolate where a pet can reach it, you're likely heading to the vet soon. When you make the decision to own a pet, keeping them safe becomes a part of your responsibility. You should take the time to research and understand what items you have around that could hurt them. These may include: batteries insecticides fertilizers and plant foods prescription and over-the-counter medications household cleaners detergents antifreeze rat poison and traps razors exposed electrical cords small objects that could be a choking hazard mothballs tobacco kerosene string, dental floss, rubber bands Some of these are everyday items you need to keep around, but you can make a point to store them somewhere where your animals can't reach.    Food Safety Animals, especially dogs, have a way of looking at their owners so sweetly during meals that it seems downright cruel not to pass a little of the food on your plate. It's a natural and kind-seeming desire that can actually cause a lot of harm. Unfortunately, animals can't properly digest all the foods that people eat.  Some foods will cause sickness and could even lead to death soon after they're ingested, and there are others that are bad for animals if consumed regularly.  Most foods can lead to upset stomachs, vomiting, and diarrhea - some of the top causes for vet visits. Learn this list and make sure you keep all of these foods out of your pet's reach to avoid a trip to the vet or worse:  For all pets, it's best to stick with only feeding them pet food. If they get ahold of a piece of human food you drop now and then, it won't usually be an issue, but it's better for their overall health if most of what they eat is the kind of food made specifically for their species.   What To Do If Your Pet Ingests Something Toxic While prevention's always the best goal, sometimes animals will get into things they shouldn't. Your first move should be to call the vet. They'll give you a clear idea of how serious the issue is. If your 60-pound dog eats a small chocolate bar, they'll probably tell you not to worry too much, but if it's a serious emergency they'll let you know what to do. If your vet's not available or you'd rather reach a poison specialist right away, you should call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.