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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A safe household for pets
Here are some tips for a safe household: Always be aware of the plants you have in your house and in your pet's yard. The consuming of some plants by an animal could be fatal. Keep such plants away from your pet. When cleaning your house, never allow your pet access to the area where cleaning agents are used or stored. Cleaning agents have a variety of properties and while some may only cause a mild stomach upset, others could cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth, and stomach. When using rat or mouse baits, insect sprays, or snail and slugbaits, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. Most baits contain sweet smelling inert ingredients, such as jelly or peanut butter, which can be very attractive to your pet. Never give your animal any medications unless under the direction of your veterinarian. Many medications that are safe for humans can be deadly when used inappropriately, for animals. Remember to keep all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs out of your pets' reach, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, vitamins, and diet pills are common examples of human medication that could be deadly even in small dosages. Never leave chocolates unattended. Approximately one-half ounce or less of baking chocolate per pound of body weight can cause problems for pets. Even small amounts can cause pancreatic problems. Many common household items have been known to be deadly to certain species. Items that are highly toxic even in low quantities include coins, mothballs (one or two balls can be life threatening in most species), pot-pourri oils, fabric softeners, dish detergents, batteries containing acids or alkali (which can also cause corrosive lesions), cigarettes, coffee grounds, and alcoholic drinks. All automotive products such as oil, gasoline, and anti-freeze, should be stored in areas away from pet's access. As little as one teaspoon of anti-freeze (ethylene glycol) can be deadly to a seven-pound cat and less than one tablespoon could be lethal to a 20-pound dog. Before buying or using flea products on your pet or in your household, contact your veterinarian to discuss what types of flea products are recommended for your pet. Read all information before using a product on your animals or in your home. Always follow label instructions. When a product is labelled "for use in dogs only", this means that the product should never be applied to cats. Also, when using a house spray, make sure to remove all pets from the area for the time period specified on the container. If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer or your veterinarian to clarify the directions before using the product. When treating your lawn or garden with fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides, always keep your pets away from the area until the area is completely dry. Discuss usage of products with the manufacturer of the products. Always store such products in an area that is non-accessible to pets. |
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| News | Business | Features
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Our loving pet friends give us happiness and pleasure. As pet owners,
our responsibility is to take good care of them. But...since most of us
are busy with other work, we might not be able to be around our pets all
the time. So we should make sure that we provide them a safe household.
