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Ask Yvette

Long weekends are a big part of summer fun. But they can bring hazards to pets. Keep your pets a little safer with these tips.

The start of summer brings out the weekend warriors. As gardening season gets started, keep your pets in mind when purchasing plants. Some are toxic to animals. Young animals are often vulnerable since they tend to explore their environment with their mouths. The Toronto Humane Society offers a list of plants that you should be aware of at http://www.torontohumanesociety.com.

Remember to exercise caution with other gardening items. Cocoa beans are used to make mulch and matting for gardens. Pets are often attracted to the fragrant chocolate smell. But it can make your pet ill. Fertilizers and sprays can also tempt pets. Keep them out of reach. Remember that natural does not mean safe. Some products that are safe for humans are dangerous to pets. Their unique physiological makeup means their bodies react differently. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and keep sprays, fertilizers and other items out of reach.

Warm weather often means that children are running in and out of the house. Pets can quickly dart out the door. They can quickly run into traffic. Set house rules to ensure routines are followed. Doors should be closed securely. Young children often forget to check the security of a door. It can be helpful to install gate closures that automatically swing shut. As a secondary precaution, teach pets to wait for permission to exit. Although not a guarantee, it is a habit that is worth teaching. Safety aside, it also makes life more pleasant.

Use a leash. Even if your dog is perfect, fear can undermine the best training efforts. Summer brings a wide variety of novel and potentially frightening experiences. Fireworks frighten many animals. They bolt in terror. The noise is loud and unpredictable. Hot air balloons are another item that commonly frightens pets. Putting effort into training is commendable. But no amount of training can predict a fear response. And you can't predict when kids will set off fireworks, or a balloon will appear overhead. You should socialize animals so minimize fear responses. But just like people, animals will occasionally startle. A leash gives you something to hold onto when bad things happen.

Visit your veterinarian. Summer weather brings a wide variety of animals out of hibernation. Generally, most will stay away from people. But some do not. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm, which is potentially fatal. The treatment is difficult on pets and can be expensive. Many heartworm prevention medications also work to prevent fleas, ticks and worms. Animals such as bats, mice and skunks can transmit rabies. With the recent rabies scare in Ontario, it makes sense to ensure your pet is current on their vaccinations. Speak with your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is vaccinated in a way that meets the animals' health needs.

Finally, remember that warm weather can affect animals quickly. They spend the summer in a fur coat. Excessive heat, hot cars, lack of shelter and water can kill your pet. Use common sense. If it's warm for you, it's likely hot for your pet. Limit exercise to cooler times of the day. Monitor food and water consumption. Exercising before or after eating or drinking can be dangerous. This is especially concerning if you have a breed that is prone to bloat.

Safety doesn't happen by accident. It doesn't take a lot of time, but it is worth the effort.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

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