Pet Health

SOME SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO PROTECT PETS

“It’s coming out of her butt,” my brother explained about the wrapping ribbon his cat had ingested — and the reason he couldn’t make it to my birthday dinner that night. “I need to take her to the hospital.”

“Strings can be really dangerous,” said Stan Heyman, DVM, of Northside Veterinary Clinic. “Cats love to play with stringy things.”

He and his assistant Anita Sanchez recalled a client who brought in her cat not realizing that it had eaten a piece of yarn with the needle still attached. “Anything sharp like that can puncture through areas and open it up to a bacteria,” Heyman says. “It can cause serious infections and even death.”

Recently, a client arrived at the practice with her dog, Riley, a Labrador/pit mix, who had eaten a fish hook because “it had shrimp on the end of it.” The hook moved from his stomach to his intestines, which required extensive surgery. The dog survived, his owner said, but “it was an expensive surgery.”

Bones can also be dangerous for dogs. “They can break into sharp pieces and cause gastrointestinal problems,” Heyman explained. The vet believes in giving bones as treats — but only the “right kind of bones.” Cow and bison knucklebones are best, he said, while steak, rib and chicken bones should be avoided because of their tendency to splinter. He’s also not a fan of rawhide treats for dogs because they “get slimy and offer no benefit to the animals.”

Heyman and Dr. Andy Cameron of Cameron Veterinary Clinic agree that rat poison and traps — even in chew-proof containers — are some of the most dangerous things found around the home. Cameron tells his clients to check whether previous tenants have left any of these products around the house. “Pet owners may not even realize it is there, but the animals can sniff it out.” The poison contained in the traps can easily kill dogs and cats as well as rats.

Human medications — both prescription and over the counter — can also be deadly if ingested. Both experts advise storing medications where pets cannot get to them. Food items that are harmful to pets, such as chocolate and anything that contains xylitol or other artificial sweeteners, should also be locked away.

Another important part of home safety is knowing your pet. If your dog or cat eats off the ground, keep the floors clean and pick up any dropped strings, rubber bands, plastic or food bits they might eat. If your pets are garbage divers, place locks on lower cabinets or move your food or trash to an area animals cannot access.

Heyman said he has “seen pretty much everything imaginable” in the stomachs of dogs and cats. He even recalls pulling an entire bra out of a dog’s behind because the owner left it lying around.

If your pet does ingest something foreign or potentially hazardous, seek medical advice immediately or call the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.

Outdoor awareness

While the ingesting of dangerous items is a major concern for in-home pet safety, when you step outside the door you need to think about the type of fencing that contains your beloved pet. “There’s no one thing that’s perfect for every dog,” Heyman said. “I’ve seen dogs scale chain-link fences and jump over 5-foot walls, especially when other dogs are in heat. If your dog is determined to get out, or get to something, it will.” Escaped dogs are often killed by cars or attacked by other dogs, Cameron said.

Cameron strongly advises having your pets microchipped and keeping tags current. “We get stray animals in the clinic regularly,

and those with a microchip or tags with a phone number are quickly reunited with their owners.”

The kind of leash you use can also be important. The retractable type, the vets said, can make managing dogs a challenge, and dogs often get tangled in them.

Last — but not least — on the list of household dangers for pets are snacks in plastic bags. According to Preventive Vet magazine, 90 percent of pet owners are unaware of the dangers posed by plastic snack bags — until a pet gets its head stuck in one and suffocates. Keep snack bags out of reach or store them in covered bowls or containers that cats and dogs can’t get their heads in.

Taking proactive steps to prevent a “could of, would of, should of ” scenario is easy and takes little time and energy. Anyone who has ever lost a furry family member to an avoidable tragedy would agree.

Don’t be one of them.