What can we do to prevent our pets from becoming a drowning victim? These are some worthy suggestions:

1. Do not make the assumption that your dog is able to swim.

2. Keep a close eye on your dog especially if he or she is older. They cannot swim quite as long or as far as they were once able to.

3. Never throw a dog or cat in water. This will cause them to panic from the surprise.

4. Purchase a canine floatation device (CFD) or pet life jacket for your dog or cat. If they are going to be near water, put it on them. Often a pet may fall off a dock or out of a moving boat without our knowledge.

5. Solar blankets and pool covers look like solid surfaces to your pet. If your animals are around the pool, it is a good idea to remove them if possible to avoid them walking onto it.

6. Install a pet safety gate near the pool area.

7. Make sure that your pet is not able to get into your neighbor’s pool area.

8. Install a pool alarm for a pond or your pool.

9. Don’t let your pet play around fast flowing water.

10. Do not allow your pet to go near frozen lakes & rivers.

Seeing your pet drown and the awful guilt that is associated with it can be overwhelming and very difficult or impossible to recover from. I strongly encourage you to have a look around your property for obvious water hazards. Whether it is summer or winter, you need to drown proof your home as well as your vacation property NOW. If your pet is going to be anywhere near water, make sure they are wearing a canine floatation device or pet life jacket.

Jake writes articles on the dog life jacket and about how to find a designer dog life jacket on the internet.

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Your pooch want to have fun, and often wants to leave the confines of your lawn. Dogs are just like that. But unfortunately the case is that their playfulness may get them seriously injured if they end up running out into the street and in front of an incoming car. They could also run out of the yard and get lost while playing. There are hundreds of awful things that could happen to your dog if it accidentally got loose, and without a fence it could very well happen.

An underground dog fence is something you will have to train your dog to stay away from for it to work effectively, but once they have gotten used to it, the fence will be extremely useful. The fence is set up via an electric wire that runs under the boundaries of your yard along with a collar for your pooch to wear that receives the electricity.

When the collar happens to come near the wire, a small shock is sent to your dog and they can’t pass. This could give them a big surprise, but it is not something that will hurt them for any extended period of time. Collars that choke have the same kind of short-term effect when used properly and it can be easy to teach your pooch not to leave the lawn or even get near the installed underground electric fence.

This kindof fence is also less expensive to get installed than traditional yard fences, which can run you into the mid-to-upper hundreds to thousands fairly easily. Underground fences will only cost you a few hundred dollars at the maximum and there is not much labor required to get them set up.

Ensuring that your pet is safe should be yournumber one priority. These kinds of fences are completely safe, and if you make sure to train your dog they will be completely glad to remaining inside the lawn and entirely avoiding the electrically charged area. All in all, it is a far more humane alternative to wrapping a leash around a tree trunk, as well as being much more open and attractive by having your yard open for passerby to see into and for you to see out of. An underground dog fence is humane as long as you decide to train your dog.

If your pooch tends to attempt to escape the yard, you may have to invest in more than your traditional fence. An underground dog fence can give you the peace of mind that your dog will be safe and sound in your yard.

Are you aware of the wide range of common household items and products that can be hazardous to your dog’s health? Although it is not all-inclusive, this article is intended to help you recognize some of the common hazards found in the home.

Home Cleaning Products

Household cleaning products should be safely stored and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Product labels usually include warning statements such as “keep children and pets away from the area until it is completely dry”. Cleaning products containing chlorine bleach can cause chemical burns when skin contact is made. If swallowed the effects can be deadly. Stomach pain, vomiting, excessive drooling and vomiting are typical symptoms when these products are ingested.

Cleaning products should be stored in their original packaging if they can be resealed. If resealing is not possible, transfer the products to a properly labeled container that can be securely closed.

Herbicides, Insecticides and Other Pest Control Products

Flea and tick control products intended for external application should be kept safely out of reach to avoid ingestion or over exposure. As with cleaning products, read label directions carefully before using as these are poisonous chemicals that must be used only as directed.

Mouse and rat poisons must be kept well sealed and in a secure location out of your dog’s reach. These compounds, if swallowed, can cause serious organ injury and may be lethal.

Gardening chemicals (herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides, etc.) must also be used safely in order to ensure your dog’s health. When applied to lawns, keep all pets away from the treated area until it is considered safe according to the manufacturers directions. Lawn and garden chemicals that stick to your dog’s paws may cause severe skin reactions. If the dog later licks his paws the chemicals may be ingested.

Food Hazards

A number of foods that are not only safe, but that are even considered healthy choices for humans, can be dangerous or even deadly to dogs. Keep the following foods out of your dog’s diet:

Chocolate, Yeast Dough, Chewing Gum, Persimmons, Grapes/Raisins, Alcohol, Onions, Coffee & Grounds, Tea, Potato Peelings, Nutmeg, Mushrooms, Garlic, Avocados, Nuts, Salt, Raw Eggs or Fish, Most Bones, Baking Soda/Powder, and Sugar Free Foods Containing Xylitol.

Keep household garbage in securely closed trash cans. For some reason dogs seem to find garbage in plastic trash bags absolutely irresistible and they can easily rip them open in search of “goodies”. However, rotting food can be harboring nasty bacteria and molds that could cause your dog to suffer from food poisoning.

Health & Beauty Products

Unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so, never give your dog medications that are used to treat humans. To avoid accidental poisoning, keep all medicine in tightly closed, secured containers well away from your pooch. Particularly hazardous over-the-counter medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, antihistamines, cold medicines, vitamins, diet pills, and topical creams/ointments.

Other bathroom products such as toothpaste, skin lotions, and some soaps can cause stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea so keep them out of reach as well. Also, keep toilet lids closed so that your dog does not drink toilet bowl water that has been treated with cleaning chemicals.

Toxic Plants

Some plants typically found in homes and in the yard can be hazardous to a dog’s health. A few of the common plants that may be dangerous include:

Chrysanthemum, Schefflera, Lilies, Tulip and Narcissus Bulbs, Oleander, Azalea, Rhododendron, English Ivy, Sago Palm, Cyclamen, Yew, Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Pothos, Hibiscus, and Hydrangea

A complete data base of both toxic and non-toxic plants is available at the ASPCA website. It is a terrific searchable tool for researching the plants your pets may ingest. Please visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ to access their system.

Miscellaneous Hazards

– Mothballs can be toxic to dogs particularly those containing naphthalene. They can result in blood cell damage, swelling of brain tissue, seizures, coma, and even death.

– Ethylene glycol antifreeze and coolants can be fatal, even is very small quantities. Although less toxic, propylene glycol antifreeze can still be dangerous.

– Paints and Solvents

– Mothballs can be toxic to dogs particularly those containing naphthalene. They can result in blood cell damage, swelling of brain tissue, seizures, coma, and even death.

– Strings, ribbons, and similar items can damage your dog’s intestines and could be fatal if not surgically removed.

– Tobacco products

– Strings, ribbons, and similar items can damage your dog’s intestines and could be fatal if not surgically removed.

WHAT TO DO IN A POISONING EMERGENCY

Do Not Delay! Time is very critical for successful treatment of accidental poisoning. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-425-4435. Be ready to provide your dog’s age, weight, breed, and any symptoms. Have the product container or a sample of the plant at hand so that the poison can be correctly identified and an appropriate treatment can be recommended.