Spring Into Safety With Your Pets

This is the first in a series of columns to be offered by the Animal Welfare Committee of Hightstown (AWC), an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2005. 

Spring has sprung, and with the change of season,  thoughts inevitably turn to spring cleaning and yard and garden projects. But the milder weather can prove not-so-sunny for curious pets—or their unwitting caregivers.

Before you embark on seasonal chores or yard projects, take inventory of potential springtime hazards for your animal friends. To help you out, the ASPCA and the AWC offer a few seasonal tips that will help prevent mishaps or misfortunes.

• Screen Yourself  - The warmer weather means its time to throw open those windows and enjoy fresh air.  Just make sure that your screens are tightly wedged into window frames and in good shape in order to keep your animal friends indoors.  
• Buckle Up -  While every pet parent knows dogs love to feel the wind on their furry faces, allowing them to ride in the bed of pick-up trucks or stick their heads out of moving-car windows is dangerous. Flying debris and insects can cause inner ear or eye injuries and lung infections, and abrupt stops or turns can cause major injury. Pets in cars should always be secured in a crate or wearing a seatbelt harness designed especially for them.  
• Spring Cleaning Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition in many households, but be sure to keep all cleaners and chemicals out of the way. Almost all cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to pets. The key to using them safely is to read and follow label directions for proper use and storage.  
• Let Your Garden Grow—With Care -  Animal-lovers, take notice—fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides keep our plants and lawns healthy and green, but their ingredients aren't meant for four-legged consumption and can be fatal if your pet ingests them.  Always store these poisonous products in out-of-the-way places and follow label instructions carefully.  Blood and bone meal are popular organic fertilizers, and dogs love the taste of these meat-based products. But ingesting blood meal can cause vomiting, diarrhea and severe pancreatic inflammation, while bone meal can create a cement-like ball in the dog's stomach, potentially forming an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract and requiring surgery to remove.  Tulip, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs can damage a dog's mouth and esophagus, causing drooling, vomiting, severe diarrhea or even abnormal heart rhythms, depending on the amount consumed.

If you suspect your pet may have come in contact with or ingested a potentially poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center at 888- 426-4435.

• Pesky Little Critters - April showers bring May flowers—and an onslaught of bugs. Make sure your pet is on year-round heartworm preventive medication, as well as a flea and tick control program. Ask your doctor to recommend a plan designed specifically for your pet.
• Assess Pest Control Around the House and on Your Pet- Spring means ants. What you may not know is that many ant baits use peanut butter, practically luring dogs to nibble on them. The biggest risk is a gastrointestinal obstruction from swallowing the plastic. To be safe, keep traps off the floor, placing them instead in areas where your pets cannot get to them.
• Easter Treats and Decorations Keep Easter lilies and candy bunnies away from pets—chocolate goodies are toxic to cats, dogs and ferrets, and lilies can be fatal if ingested by these animals.
• Pets as Gifts  While bunnies, chicks and other baby animals are adorable, resist the urge to buy unless you are prepared for the extra care they need as they grow.  As an alternative, consider adopting a rescued cat or dog from a reputable local nonprofit animal welfare organization or shelter.
• Fleas and Ticks Another big risk for your animals is misuse of flea and tick products. You should also learn more about the kind of flea and tick prevention you are using as there has been a lot of concern about the toxicity of some products.  Depending on where you live and what your risks are you may consider some of the natural options for flea and tick control. The National Resources Defense Council gives suggestions on chemical-free ways to keep pet pest free.  Discuss your concerns with your vet so that you can come to the best solution together.

Spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors with your pets and if you take the right steps to keep them safe, everyone will be happy. Watch for our next column on how to help your cat or dog maintain a healthy weight through exercise.  

• Save the date: The 5th Annual PAWS Walk, a great opportunity to enjoy exercise with your dog while socializing with other animal lovers, will be held on Saturday, May 14 at Hightstown’s Association Park.  This year’s event includes a scavenger hunt that is sure to interest kids and pets of all ages.

For more information about the AWC, upcoming events and to view cats and kittens up for adoption, check out our website via www.hightstownborough.com or visit us on Facebook under Hightstown Animal Welfare Committee.