Search Results for: blog pet first aid choking

Tips for Flying with Pets

Every time I fly somewhere I always swear I’m never going to do it again. It’s not so much being in the plane itself, but all the stress that comes with it: baggage check, connecting flights, delayed flights, etc. Attempting to cruise the skies with pets adds another major burden to the process. I have a friend here in Maryland who is a cat lover. She adores getting to cat-sit for friends. But she’s a British citizen who will be going home in a few years, and she won’t get a cat for herself until she does so. It’s all … Continue reading →

Should Foods Come with Choking Warnings?

Warning labels for choking hazards are required on certain toys — especially those with small parts and balls. Here in the United States, it’s a federal law! But there isn’t a similar law on the books for foods that may be choking hazards. The American Academy of Pediatrics — the largest group of pediatricians in the United States — would like to see a similar federal law for foods that may be choking hazards… or see more foodmakers willingly add choking hazard warnings to their labels. Another alternative would be redesigning foods to make them less of a choking hazard … Continue reading →

Common Choking Hazards for Pets

Let’s face it — pets eat some weird things. I’ve caught my boxer mix Lally chewing on things like wicker baskets and even the cord of my vacuum cleaner. My other dog, Moose, is more of a licker than a chewer, but I’ve seen him licking the comforter, the floor, and even the walls. Like I said, weird taste. Younger animals are more likely to sample non-food objects than older ones are — some veterinarians think that’s just the curiosity of the young. Eating strange things may also be a throwback to wild animals that eat the entire body of … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: When His Head Gets Stuck

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Okay, head entrapment isn’t an emergency unless the pet is having difficulty breathing. But it can be a common problem, especially with curious puppies! Cats and kittens have small, rounded heads that can easily slip into and out of tight spaces, but puppies (and full grown dogs) can find themselves trapped after a small change of position. Where can your pet get stuck? Veterinarians have seen pets with their heads stuck between the slats on the back of a chair, in wire or chain-link fences, between the rungs of the banister on a staircase, or even inside jars! When is … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Drowning

Warmer days ahead means your pet may intentionally (or unintentionally) end up in the water. If your dog or cat does end up in the pool or another body of water, you don’t have to worry about their swimming ability. Dogs and cats are born with the ability to swim! The problem comes if the animal is unable to get out of the water. Steep pool sides and no close land (like if your dog jumps off a boat in the middle of a lake) means your pet may get tired before he can get out of the water. If … Continue reading →

When Selective Hearing Goes Too Far

“Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!” I yelled at my six-year-old as she whizzed down my parents’ newly paved one-lane private road. “Get off the road and onto the grass!” I demanded as a white convertible edged dangerously close to her. “STOP!” It was the last word I uttered before the car eventually slowed to a stop and I grabbed my defiant little scooter off the road and placed her squarely in a time-out. “But, Mommy, I didn’t see that car,” my teary-eyed daughter blubbered as I set the timer for six minutes. “And you didn’t hear me screaming at you?” I asked, defying Supernanny’s … Continue reading →

What a Hairball Looks Like

It looks a lot like poop, doesn’t it? For the first six years of living with Mr. Meow, every time I found one of these piles I thought he’d had an upset belly and hadn’t made it to the litter box in time. It wasn’t until 2005 that I learned what it really was: a hairball. “That’s a hairball?” In 2005, shortly after we moved to Nashville, the neighbor across the street befriended us. Her little boy loved Murphy and always begged her to stop by so he could say hi. Usually in the afternoons after they came back from … Continue reading →

The Fox in the Woods: A Lesson in Rabies

The other night when I took Murphy for a walk, we ran into Sophie (a husky/Shepard mix) and her mom Nila. Sophie is one of Murph’s dog pals (actually, I tease him she’s his girlfriend) who’s always happy to see her boyfriend. (Nila’s usually happy to see us too, but she doesn’t jump around and carry on with glee like Sophie does.) Since we were both just starting our walks, we decided to walk together. That’s when Nila told me that Ms. Tina, who’s Lady’s mom (Lady, a beagle, is Sophie’s best friend and Murph’s other good buddy) knocked on … Continue reading →

Animal Abuse: Chaining Is Unsafe For Everyone

Chaining a dog to an object for a long period of time is unsafe for the animal. It can also be a danger to humans and other animals! Why is tethering unsafe for humans? Dogs who are tethered can become very aggressive. It is natural for a dog to feel protective of his territory! Instinct gives a dog (and a person) a fight or flight response to threats; a chained dog does not have the option to run. Chained dogs may feel forced to attack unfamiliar people to protect their territory. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that nearly one-fifth … Continue reading →

Animal Abuse: Chaining

According to the Humane Society of the United States, chaining is the inhumane practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, often in the owner’s backyard in order to keep the animal under control. Chaining (or tethering) has been condemned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Humane Society. Why is tethering unsafe for a dog? Dogs are social animals. They thrive on interaction with humans and animals; dogs who are chained are often left alone and in one spot for long periods of time. … Continue reading →