Hot car dangers for dogs

A comfortable 82 degree summer day can quickly turn into a 109 degree oven in a closed car.  An even cooler 72 degree summer day can turn into a 116 degree oven over the course of an hour, and keeping the windows cracked only slows the heat up marginally.  While it is great to take your dog along for fun summer trips, you should avoid trips would require your dog to sit in the hot car for even a few minutes.  Heat stroke can begin in as few as 10 minutes at those temperatures.  The folks at MyDogIsCool.com have some more resources for understanding the dangers hot cars for dogs.

ABC's What Would You Do did a little experiment to see how strangers would respond to a hot dog in a car.  It seemed that some firefighters even let the culprit off the hook, but some dog loving women and a teenage boy recognized the life threatening situation and called 911.  In the experiment, the dog was not in any danger--in fact, she was an actor!  They had a hidden A/C unit running in the car and a trainer hiding on the floor commanding the dog to bark and pant.   Hopefully the televised experiment will show people the dangers of hot cars, and know that it is ok to call the police if you witness this happening.  Here is the video from the segment on the show:

Safe Summer Swimming

As we head into the heat of the summer, you might be thinking about taking your dog swimming.  If you are like me, I have never BEEN swimming, and my person doesn't even know if I can.  FIDOfriendly has some tips on making it fun and safe.  Notably--don't just throw your dog in the water because some dogs don't actually know how to swim.  Check their website for a full list of DON'Ts, but here is their list of DOs:

• Let your dog escape once they go in.
• Let your dog decide they are done for the day.
• Try using toys/food as a bribe to get in, BUT be sure to REWARD (more treats/play) AFTER the dog gets in even if they pop out.
• Use really, really tasty treats or your dog favorite toy.
• Start with a shallow pool and clear water with no waves or spray.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to make it safe and fun, but if your dog just isn't interested in swimming, that is ok.  

My cousin Madison LOVES to swim, and she is pictured here having the time of her life in the Wenatchee River in Washington State. Madison has some joint problems, so regular swimming is a great way for her to get some exercise without putting extra pressure on her knees and hips.  Plus, she thinks it is fun, which is the most important part.  

Puppy CPR

Some puppies owe their lives to this man, who was not afraid to give them a little mouth to mouth after rescuing them from a burning building. I don't know if this guy had any formal training, but you can contact you local Red Cross Chapter to take their pet first aid course to get certified in dog CPR. Check out the video:

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Safety & the holidays

Lots of new stuff comes into the house during the holiday season. Don't forget to check if this new stuff might be harmful to your dog. Several holiday plants are known to be dangerous to dogs. Make sure the following plants are safely out of reach: poinsettia, mistletoe, holly leaves and berries. Houston Pet Talk has a great list of dangers ranging from plants, to presents, to holiday seasonings. Check out the whole list, but here are a few important ones:

• Tinsel may look nice, but can cause an intestinal blockage if ingested (Same goes for ribbons).
• Beware of loose batteries from all your new gadget gifts--obviously toxic to dogs!
• Keep candles safely away from pets--spilled wax is no friend to skin or coats, and tails do catch fire.
• Glass ornaments may look like balls, but are not safe to play with--so keep fragile ornaments at the top of the tree.

The holidays can also be stressful for dogs. There is so much going on--travel, house guests, trees in the house, and changes in the regular walk/feeding schedule. Check in with the folks at Houston Pet Talk (scroll to bottom) for tips on making the holidays less stressful for your dog.

[Image Courtesy of PhotoBucket--though I DO NOT endorse the idea of wrapping your dog in Christmas lights, in fact, it is probably a pretty bad idea]

Paw pad health in the snow

If you are a lucky dog like me, you got to spend the weekend playing in fresh snow. It was so much fun! But now that the fresh snow is not so fresh, beware of the dangers of salt and chemical ice melt on your paws. Sharp salt is very abrasive on dog pads, and if it gets stuck between your toes is can get irritated. It is not safe to lick those pads clean because you might ingest some yucky and dangerous chemicals. Tell your person to wipe your toes with a warm washcloth or to rinse them in a warm bowl of water after coming home from a walk. For dogs with shaggy toes, ice clumps can form between toes making it very uncomfortable to walk. You may not like it, but booties can prevent this from happening.

The good folks over at About.com have some more helpful tips for your person to keep those paws healthy.

[Image Courtesy of PhotoBucket]

Dog-Safe Thanksgiving Goodies!

Turkey Day is just around the corner! That usually means lots of table scraps for dogs, but WebVet has some important reminders safety for this holiday. Lots of new foods, especially varied mixtures from the fatty buffet of holiday leftovers, can cause stomach upset and diarrhea in many dogs. In addition, you should generally avoid handing out anything containing bones, chocolate, and onions. So, even though our eyes tell a different story, we know that you know what is best for us.

WebVet says that you don't have to completely deprive your dog on this most-delicious holiday. Small amounts of these foods are OK:

• White meat turkey without the skin
• Plain baked or sweet potatoes without the skin
• Steamed carrots, broccoli, or string beans without any butter, sauce or seasoning
• Salt-free canned chicken broth
• Plain canned pumpkin, but not the pumpkin pie filling
• Sliced raw apples

All those things sound yummy enough to me! Well, maybe not the broccoli. If you want to make some home baked treats, check out the whole article for dog friendly turkey and sweet potato cookies.

[Image Courtesy of ihasahotdog.com]

Buckle-up down under, or else!

Not many dogs in Australia will be riding in the car untethered much longer. Authorities have been cracking down on a law that states that Aussies "must not drive a vehicle with an animal on their lap or preventing them from having proper control of the car." Most people would probably test their luck on this one...but not now that the police are handing out $400 tickets to violators. Shop keepers say that dog seat belts are flying off the shelves.

You make your kids buckle up, so why not your pup too? Probably for the best for everybody.

I wear a seatbelt, but most dogs do not: last week I wrote about a survey that said that 62% of dog owners ride with there pup unrestrained. That would not fly down under!

Winter Hiking Safety for your Dog

Just because the weather is cooling down does not mean that your four legged friend would not like to join you for outdoor adventures. It is important for you to remember that there are some special safety considerations for cold weather. Just like cold weather hiking for humans, safety involves common sense and some critical gear. Some things to keep in mind:

• During hunting season, be sure to check if hunting is permitted in the are you plan to hike. If so, take some extra precautions so that your pup is not mistaken for wildlife. Leashes are especially important, even if your dog does not normally hike with a leash. During hunting season, you should keep your pup extra close to stay safe. You should consider an orange safety leash and orange safety vest or at the very least an orange bandana for your dog. Don't forget the orange for yourself too! Of course, you could change your plans and go somewhere with a lower risk of either of you getting shot.
• When hiking in the cold weather, your dog still needs plenty of water to stay hydrated, so don't forget to pack an extra bottle and a collapsable bowl.
• You burn lots of calories hiking, so does your dog. During extended activities, it is important to remember that your dog will need a snack to keep his electrolytes in balance and maintain his energy on the trail. Either pack some extra kibble or treats designed for maintaining energy, such as Zuke's Power Bones.
• If you are in an area with lots of snow, your dog may need special gear just like you. A flashing collar will help you keep track of your dog after he is covered in snow.
• If you are skiing with your dog, it is important to keep your distance. The sharp edges on fast moving skis can slice and achilles or paw pad.
• Your dogs coat is usually enough to keep him warm in the winter if he is on the move, but consider packing an dog jacket in case of an emergency. If you or your dog gets hurt and you have to stay put waiting for help, he won't be generating enough body heat to stay warm. A good one to check out is Lands End Dog Squall Jacket.
• Snow may clump up between the toes of dogs with longer hair and cause irritation. Your pup might try to lick it off, but that will only make it wet and attract more snow. Dog booties can be helpful to prevent this. But make sure your pup is used to wearing them before using them for a long hike!
• Just like you would with any hiking buddy, always stay close and "check in" regularly to make sure you are both feeling good enough to keep going. During snack breaks, give your pup a once over and do a quick paw check.

This post is part of Petside.com's Pet 'Net Safety Event, where pet lovers around the blogosphere are uniting today to share information about keeping your pet safe. Be sure to check their website for links to all the bloggers participating!

Wags to my buddy Lucy for help on this post--she is pictured above enjoying some back-country skiing!

[The Daily Dog Scoop was NOT compensated by the manufacturers of any of the products mentioned today]

Top 10 dog-safe cars

Kelly Blue Book has teamed up with Bark Buckle Up

to rate the top 10 safest cars for dogs. They looked

for things like A/C in the rear, D-rings to tether pups

and crates, and side air bags. Back up cameras also

prevent dogs from being run over when you are in reverse.

Kia Borrego and Subaru Tribeca topped the list, but there

are 8 more to choose from. So, if you are considering taking

advantage of the cash for clunkers program, be sure to pick

a new ride that is safe for your dog too!

MyDogIsCool.com

Check out this new resource: MyDogIsCool.com, which aims to raise awareness about the danger of leaving your dog in a hot car. Did you know that even if it is only 82 degrees outside, a closed car can quickly heat up to 109 degrees? Even if the windows are cracked on an 88 degree day, that still means 105 degrees in the car--Yikes!

This is a project started by the United Animal Nations, which offers other great resources for handling pets during a crisis--natural or manmade.

MyDogIsCool also has a fun photo contest that you might want to check out...or enter yourself!

Top 10 wildlife threats

Veterinary Pet Insurance just released a list of the top ten wildlife dangers to your pet. It looks scary, but they say a lot of the threats are regionally focused, so depending on where you are, you probably don't have to worry about all of these.

The list goes:

1. Snakes (Yikes!)

2. Coyotes (read my earlier post about a dog escaping a coyote attack by jumping on a bus)

3. Raccoons (major carrier of rabies)

4. Squirrels (really? but they look so yummy!)

5. Scorpions (gross!)

6. Javelina (a what? they are very protective of their babies)

7. Porcupines (several dogs in my family have gotten a little too close to these interesting looking creatures)

8. Groundhogs (they will bite their way out if you try to catch them)

9. Skunks (these stinkers prey on rodents, so may go after a small dog)

10. Rats (these scavengers are unlikely to bite your pet, but carry lots of diseases)

Read the ABC news report, for a full description of these threats.

Puppy-proofing your home

Petside has this helpful guide for puppy-proofing every room in your house--from the living room to the laundry room, to the garage, and even your backyard! Sure, I love to have fun exploring, but it is not so fun when I get sick from eating something I am not supposed to have. I used to try to eat the plastic eyes out of my plush toys, but now my person just cuts them out before I can play with them.

If you plan on bringing a new member into your pack soon, check out these tips to keep you house safe and happy (but still fun!) for your puppy.

Stay safe on the 4th!

Today is a big day for parties and BBQs for people in America. Dogs like me love joining the festivities, but it is not always safe.

ASPCA is a great resource for keeping dogs like me safe while you party it up---including not taking us to the fireworks, and not making us wear glow jewelry that we might eat! I don't really agree with the "no handouts" rule, but it is probably for the best, because our bellies get upset so easily...

One to add to the list--please keep some fresh water out for us so we don't overheat in the July heat!