Avoid Pet Memorials: Summertime Safety for Your Pets

Now that summer is here full throttle, you and your family, including  pets, will probably be spending more time outdoors in the yard. But the new season can also bring along dangers for our pets, and the last thing you would want is to have an accident, and subsequent death of one of your beloved pets along with a summertime pet memorial. So, here are some tips to help your family, pets included, to stay safe this summer.

Plant pesticides are not the only thing that can be deadly for your pets. Warmer weather puts everyone in the mood to plant pretty flowers in the yard or garden. However many species of plants and flowers are poisonous to pets. Your veterinarian should have a complete list of plants and flowers in your area that should be avoided. And did you know that mulch often contains cocoa bean shells, which dogs love to sniff out and then chew on. If ingested, the often found within can lead to danger. Check the bags of mulch you purchase to make sure there are no cocoa beans . Also make sure to check the labels of gardening products you purchase for pet safety, or use organic pesticides and fertilizer in your garden. 

Some of the more common flowers that are poisonous include: Amaryllis, Azalea, Chrysanthemums, Cyclamen, Daffodils, Easter cactus, Hyacinth, Lilies, Narcissus, Oleander, and Tulips.  Even your pet parakeet could die from nibbling on a Lilly.

Pets can get allergies too, just like humans. Keep an eye out for itchy skin irritations, ear infections, loss of hair, and even sneezing and a runny nose. And speaking of noses, some pets with pink or white noses can be sensitive to the sun, requiring sun screen if they are outdoors for long periods of time. Make sure to check with your veterinarian if you notice any of these signs.

At night if your pets are outside when it gets dark, make sure you turn the lights on for them. Often older dogs and cats can begin to get blind so they need light, just like their masters, to see better. In garage areas, make sure you check often for spider webs, and mice and rodent droppings, then make sure you call an expert to remove them if necessary.

You should also look around your yard and remove glass, toys, and items such as bottle caps, nails, tires or tools with jagged edges. Also check to see if there are any buckets or children’s toys, like wagons, that could collect water, and if they have, remove all "standing water" from your yard and turn items upside down. Make sure that you change the water often in all ponds or pools.  See to it that any holes dug in your yard are filled up. Check around your barbecue and make sure gasoline, kerosene, or propane is sealed in tamper proof containers away from fire area. The last thing anyone wants is for a pet to escape through a hole in the fence, and get hit by a car – so to prevent this, check fences often. 

It is a good idea to teach all family members to be prepared. Have you put your vet’s number handy for everyone in your family to locate in case of an emergency? Almost every town also has a 24 hour emergency clinic, so post that number where everyone can easily find it. you might also want to teach children how to help treat injured pets.

Should an unavoidable accident happen, or simply the death of an older pet, this too is something that your family should be prepared for. Chat with family members about how they would like to deal with a deceased pet. Have you thought about cremation versus burial? When a pet dies, children often take this news hard, and it can be very helpful to let them participate in choosing a lovely garden grave marker, or a pet urn for their friend.

Then help them through it by allowing them to have a pet memorial service. Teach young children that death is part of life, and although it is very sad, this too will pass.  Encourage them to share their memories and photos on websites especially for grieving lost pets, such as www.peternity.com.

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