Pets Help us Live Longer, Healthier Lives

Pets can have an incredible affect on their owners, no matter what type they are. Be it a fish, bird, cat or dog, they can help people to live longer and healthier lives. For anyone who has owned a pet, you understand the benefits to having a pet in your life.

Shelters are bringing animals into nursing homes and hospitals because of the incredible healing power of the animals. Doctors are amazed at the impact animals have on patients. Some unresponsive patients have become responsive just because an animal is in the room. Researchers say this is because of less complex communication between animals and humans, as well as the unconditional love that animals give. This relationship can also help to reduce stress and lower the heart rate and blood pressure in patients.

Having a pet as a companion can also help elderly people live longer. In cases where a person has out-lived a spouse, a pet can help ease the loneliness, giving that person a reason to live longer. The pet gives them someone to care for and interact with, thus giving more meaning to life.

If you are interested in adopting a pet, contact your local Humane Society or animal shelter. There are many animals in these places that need your unconditional love and would like to be a part of your family.

Help Pets Cope with Fireworks

Your pets can have a hard time during Fourth of July celebrations with loud fireworks and other commotion. These loud fireworks can have lasting effects on your pets if you don’t handle the situations and their reactions correctly. Below are a few tips to help you and your pets make it through another loud Independence celebration.

Exercise your pet during they day when it is less likely that there will be fireworks going off. Take your dog for a walk in the morning or have some vigorous play time with your cat.

Never walk or let your pets out while fireworks are being set off. The loud noises could startle them, making them very nervous and hard to control. If your dog gets off the leash while walking, they may start running for cover which could put them into more danger. If you have an outdoor cat, keep it inside, as it too could run off.

While your pets are inside, keep your windows and curtains closed to block out the view of the fireworks. This will help to not alarm them when the fireworks light up the sky. It is also good to keep your TV on, or have music playing to drown out the loud noise of the fireworks.

Don’t get angry if your pet wants to hide in a corner or under furniture. This is natural protective behavior that should not be broken. Never try to coax your pet out of their hiding spot, as they may become defensive.

If your pet is having a very difficult time coping with the added excitement, you can contact your vet. There are many options when it comes to helping your pet relax, but you don’t want to give them over the counter pet medication unless you have talked to a professional.

Pet Safety and Household items

Keeping your pet safe is the most important aspect of pet ownership. Our pets depend on us to keep things that can be harmful to them away from their curious paws. Each year the animal poison control center reports on the most common calls they receive due to pet poisoning. Below are several reasons that the animal poison control center receives phone calls.

Human Medications – These items can be extremely dangerous for your pets. Human medications are formulated for the size and ailment of the person taking it. Since animals are much smaller, even tiny amounts of human medications can have toxic effects. Although veterinarians prescribe some human medications for pets, certain medications like Tylenol are very toxic, especially for cats. Keep these medications out of reach or in a safe place. This is the most common reason the animal poison control center is called.

Insecticides – Chemicals that are used to get rid of bugs are very harmful to pets. Keep flea, tick and ant killers on high shelves in the garage to be sure that your pet cannot get into them.

Veterinary Medicines – While these are specially made for your pets needs, an overdose can be harmful. Be sure you are giving your pet only the amount that the vet prescribes, and keep the medicine out of reach when not in use. This is critically important for flavored medications that may be appealing to your pet as a treat, causing them to ingest a very large quantity.

Household Plants – Pets eating common household plants leads to frequent calls to the poison control center. Plants such as Mistletoe, Aloe Vera, Hydrangea and others can be very harmful. For localized poisonous plant information, contact your vet.

Cleaners, Chemicals and household products – Items such as kitchen cleaners, paint, glues and other common products can be very harmful to pets. Keep these items high in a cupboard or in a garage so your pet doesn’t have easy access to them.

Antifreeze – Most people are aware of the dangers of antifreeze but many do not realize that it requires only a very small amount to be ingested before toxic effects occur. Clean up any spills immediately and keep bottles of antifreeze out of the access area of your pets.

If your pet should get into any of the items above, seek medical attention immediately. Call the poison control center and get to your emergency vet as soon as you can. For more information on the Animal Poison Control Center please visit www.apcc.aspca.org/ or call (888) 426-4435

Human treats are not the best form of reward.

We all like to treat our pets. Sometimes we even give them a little taste of what we humans are eating. Be careful, even natural fruits and vegetables contain toxins that pets can not tolerate. Grapes, raisins and onions contain toxins that will build up in a pet’s system over time and have very harmful effects. Eating grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure and onions can destroy the red blood cells leading to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. These effects can be seen shortly after consumption of grapes or raisins in some cases so be careful not to share this fruit with your pet.

Chocolate and candy can be especially dangerous for pets. Theobromine in chocolate can elevate the heart to beat very rapidly which could cause death if your pet is exercising or overly active. Many varieties of gum contain a chemical called Xylitol, which is a common sweetener. This additive can cause a sudden drop in the animal’s blood sugar which can lead to seizures and loss of coordination. If left untreated, the pet could die. It can also cause liver failure. Many people carry these types of gum in their purse, which is often left accessible to dogs. Safeguard your pet’s health by keeping this out of reach.

Not all human foods are bad for pets. There are some foods that make very good treats for your pets. Below is a common list of human foods that are ok for your pet. As always, it is still a good idea to get your vet’s approval before feeding human food to your pet.

Vegetables
• Carrot sticks
• Green Beans
• Cucumber slices

Fruit
• Apple slices
• Bananas
• Watermelon with no seeds

Grains
• Plain cooked bread with no nuts or raisins
• Plain cooked pasta
• White rice

**White rice and boiled lean chicken is often recommended when your pet has temporary gastrointestinal problems