Our pets are family. We often treat them like our children, so keeping your pet safe should be a priority! We treat our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Duncan and Border Collie Aurora (and two cats) in this house like royalty. Whether you are a new pet owner or an owner needing a refresher, these pet safety tips will help you be the best owner possible!
Understanding Your Pet’s Basic Needs
Your pet’s number one need, and the best way to keep your pet safe, is to provide them with their basic necessities. This is usually a no-brainer. However, some people do not give their poor animals food, water, love, or exercise.
Ensure You’re Buying The Right Food
When your pet is young, like a kitten or a puppy, you must feed it puppy or kitten formula until it is 9 to 12 months old. Some pet owners choose to feed their dogs a raw food diet. Raw food benefits some dogs; it can give your dog a shiny coat, higher energy levels, and great skin!
Dogs and cats also enjoy treats; they can become annoying and beg for them! We had to stop giving Duncan and Aurora treats after they went outside because they begged to go outside to get a treat! You can get treats at the store, but items from your grocery list make great treats! We have to say this: be aware of your pet’s allergies before feeding these items to them.
Treat ideas for dogs include carrots, peanut butter, fresh blueberries (frozen blueberries make an awful mess), and bananas.
Treat ideas for cats include salmon, spinach, eggs, chicken, and banana.
Water
Be sure to provide your pet with clean, preferably filtered water. Another often overlooked task is to clean their dish every day. I follow a pet psychic on TikTok, and she said the #1 thing pets say when asked in the afterlife about things they enjoy is having a clean dish (and water that isn’t too cold!).
Exercise Your Furry Friend!
Pets require exercise (yes, even your kitties) to be happy. Not only is it good for their bodies, but when you play with your pet, it builds a bond, and they become more confident! Also, mentally challenging games help expel their energy. This will give you a tired and happy furbaby at the end of the day!
Without exercise, cats and dogs can become miserable, very unhealthy, overweight, and lethargic! Our rescue cat, Waffles, was part of a cat colony (a group of roaming and homeless kitties). As a result of living outdoors for so long, Waffles wants constant stimulation. If she doesn’t get playtime, she tends to intentionally knock things over and become a terror!
For dogs, playing fetch, walking, running around and chasing you, hiding and seeking, and tug-of-war are great ways to expel physical energy. To get their brain in tip-top shape, hiding pieces of cheese or treats and letting them sniff them out is one of the best ways to challenge your dog! Our border collie (this breed has tons of energy) loves this game. She is happy and ready to cuddle after this. Some owners also like dog puzzle games or bowls to give their dogs a mental workout!
For cats, letting them chase a string (supervised), cat toys, or climbing on a jungle gym for cats is great fun! Some people will use a cat exercise wheel similar to a hamster wheel or even leash them up and take them for a walk.
Keep Your Pet Safe & Healthy With Vet Visits
Dogs and cats need regular checkups to ensure they’re healthy, check for bumps or lumps, and have routine vaccinations. Vaccinations are vital to prevent your dog or cat from getting terrible illnesses like rabies. Deworming and tick medications should be given every three months to keep the creepy crawlies away!
This statement may sound elitist, but that is not my goal. But please reconsider owning a pet if you are having trouble with finances. I know things happen; we have all been hit with unexpected expenses. But if you are too strapped to afford a vet bill for a medical issue, please consider pet insurance or rehoming your pet. The monthly cost is generally low with companies like Trupanion. If you are in an emergency, ask for help from a local veterinarian college or a loan from a loved one. Some vets also offer payment plans for big bills as well.
Potential Threats to Pet Safety and Health
Chances are, if you are here, you want to be a good pet owner and are concerned about what is hazardous to your pet. Some household items can be deadly to your pets! So, to keep your pet safe, here is what you need to know.
Keep Your Pet Safe From Toxic Foods
You should avoid giving your pet a few items. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, and nuts are dangerous for your pet. If you suspect or know that your animal has eaten these foods, call the vet and possibly visit.
Pesticides & Fertilizers
Some garden items can be harmful to your pet. When you use fertilizer, a good rule of thumb is to allow your pet to roam the area 48 hours after you use it.
Keep Your Pet Safe From Wildlife Encounters
One of the biggest dangers we worry about is animal attacks. Since we live in a rural area surrounded by woods, our dogs are never allowed alone outside, especially Duncan, who, at 13 pounds, could be easily scooped up by a coyote or big bird of prey. Coyote Vests are an excellent investment if you have a small dog!
My father told me that sometimes coyotes will entice a dog to follow them into the woods by playing with them, luring them away from the safety of their yard, and then attacking them. With so many wooded areas being cut down, wild animals are more desperate than ever to eat. So always keep an eye on your pet while they’re outside!
Ticks & Fleas
This is another huge problem we have every year. Trust me; ticks, in particular, are a gross problem. One night, I was sitting down with our Cavalier, petting him, and I felt what I thought was a large skin tag or mole. I started feeling it and parted the hair to see what it looked like. It was a fully engorged tick!!! Disgusting. I was beside myself, but my husband was there to pull it out. I recommend you refer to the internet when you need to know how to remove a tick. If you do it wrong, the head could be left in, leading to infection. Be sure to call your vet in case you need to keep the tick for testing for Lyme Disease. I know, it’s so gross.
You can get medicine from the vet to ward off pests like fleas, ticks, and worms. I recommend doing these treatments every three months. The ticks will fall off of them due to the meds!
Heatstroke
Dogs are especially prone to heatstroke in the summer or hot weather. Watch for signs of heatstroke, and make sure your dog has lots of water. Never leave a pet outside in the hot weather!
Drowning
We live in a beautiful area, but it is also hazardous. We have a river in full view of our home and a raging downward stream on our property. This puts our dogs in danger of drowning if they are left alone or leave their fenced-in play area. This is another reason why we never leave our dogs unattended outside, and if they go for a walk to the river, it’s with us.
You can get lifejackets for dogs, and we recommend them if you allow your dog to go in the water to swim.
Prevent Escape & Keep Your Pet Safe
This is every good pet owner’s worst fear. When your pet escapes from your home or its outdoor enclosure, it is at risk of being harmed by another animal, taken, or run over by a vehicle. Please keep an eye on your dogs while they’re outside. Also, if you know people will be in and out of your house a lot (e.g., during a party or moving), keep your pets locked in a crate or in a room to be safe!
Consider purchasing or building an outdoor enclosure to keep your pet safe. Also, try to keep your cats inside at all times. Allowing your cat outside significantly shortens its lifespan and makes it vulnerable to threats.
When to Go to the Vet…
The age-old question of every pet owner is when to take your pet to the vet. We have compiled some signs that it’s time to seek medical attention for your pet:
- You suspect they have ingested something toxic
- They have been injured. Even if it’s a minor injury, we recommend calling the vet to check with them
- Significant changes in eating or drinking habits
- Lethargic behavior: not playing, won’t get up to go outside, they’re not excited about things they usually love
- Eye problems: red or cloudy eyes, or they seem to be having difficulty seeing.
- Frequent vomiting in one day or vomiting for several days in a row
- Frequent Diarrhea or loose stools (some people use pumpkin as a remedy)
- Seizures
- Sudden Collapse
- Difficulty breathing
- Bleeding from any office
- Sudden aggression or behavioral changes
You know your pet best. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong with your furbaby, get them checked out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Keeping Your Pet Safe Is All About Awareness & Attention
Your best tool for successful pet ownership is to be aware of any changes in your animal’s behavior or health, watch out for dangers or hazards, and give them all the love they deserve. One thing that pet owners often overlook is the importance of attention. Pets need love and attention to survive and be healthy. Being home as much as you can with them ensures that they have a watchful eye on them at all times.
Our pets would do anything to make us happy; please be a good owner and do the same.
Be aware, and stay safe!
Found this article useful? please share it with your friends!
And to stay up to date with our latest content, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!
