Last year I provided a bunch of tips that included info on feeding dogs bones and table scraps, which many people know about, to lesser known issues like hidden toothpicks and skewers that dogs can easily choke on.

Another thing that occurred to me last year is that if you have an influx of people visiting you for the holiday, consider keeping your pets in a separate room away from the commotion and especially from the front door (similar to Halloween and trick-or-treaters). Many extended family members won’t know that Fluffy isn’t allowed outside, or that Spot bolts for an open door, so be proactive and avoid the issue entirely.

When we have family or friends over for a large gathering, the cats and the dogs (with the dogs in their crate) go into one of my kids’ bedrooms. It’s an environment they know and are comfortable in, and it’s the furthest from the front door and even the bathroom, so they won’t get stressed out from noise they’re not used to (and they won’t be “played with” by younger kids). I tape a hand-written sign to the bedroom door saying “Animals Inside, Do Not Open,” and thankfully, we’ve yet to have a problem!

If you’re the one doing the traveling this year, and you plan to bring your pet(s) with you, always check with your hosts first to make sure it’s ok — not everyone is a pet person and just showing up with them in tow could make for an awkward (and possibly resentment-filled) stay.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Thanksgiving Pet Care

Among the questions asked and how they were answered, the results included:

~ 63% of dog owners and 53% of cat owners would be at least somewhat likely to perform CPR on their pet.
~ 65% of women vs. 50% of men say they’d be more likely to perform CPR.
~ 54% don’t have a fire evacuation plan.
~ 41% have had at least one incident requiring an emergency trip to the vet.
~ 30% of dog owners and 22% of cat owners at least sometimes give them bones from table scraps.
~ 20% have a pet first aid kit at home.
~ 16% have pets who’ve had allergic reactions.
~ 7% have pets that have eaten something poisonous.

How far would you go to save your pet? Would you give mouth to mouth? Do you have a first aid kit specifically for your animals at home?

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?

Image credit: pmtorrone

Here are some tips on how to have a safe Trick-or-Treating time:

1. Check your kids’ candy before they consume any. Are they all safe to eat? Is there a brand of candy that has been recalled? Better to be on the safe side.

2. Pack a flashlight. Dark skies can make Halloween nights more interesting, but a skinned knee after tripping over a rock can spoil a kid’s night. Pack a light for visibility.

3. Make sure your kids don’t trip over their costumes. Are Halloween costumes getting more and more elaborate every year or what? There’s such creativity going on with these kids (and their parents!). No matter how gorgeous a costume is, it always counts to make sure they can walk properly in what they’re wearing. Make sure they don’t trip over too-long costumes or cords and strings attached.

4. Put reflective tape on costumes. This way, your little ones will be visible, especially if they’re wearing costumes in dark colors.

5. Accompany your young children. Or have a responsible older sibling guide them. Never leave young kids to go trick-or-treating on their own.

How do you ensure your kids have a safe time trick-or-treating?

Post from: Blisstree

Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

However, some of the ways we live may have to be modified to accommodate an older family member.  Often these include some of the same safety guides we use for children. 

• Ramps instead of stairs
• Gates in front of stairs to prevent nighttime wandering
• Lights that turn off or on automatically
• Hot water temperature lowered
• Faucets that turn off automatically
• Sharp objects out of reach
• Eventually stoves that are unplugged or with burner locks
• Locks on cabinet doors

This is doable to keep your loved ones safe, no matter what the age.

What have you discovered for child and adult supervision and safety?

Post from: Blisstree

Safety for the Young and Old

~ If you hand out candy for trick-or-treating, make sure you pets are secured in a location away from the front door. Even if a constantly ringing doorbell doesn’t bother your cat or dog, an open door can be pretty tempting to some and they may try and dart out.

~ Keep any and all candy out of your pet’s reach. Dogs especially can be pretty determined when it comes to sampling whatever’s around, even if it means reaching up to counter tops or knocking over a garbage can to find a treat for themselves. This includes the wrappers, too.

~ Make sure lit pumpkins and candles are not accessible to your pet, especially cats who can jump up onto higher surfaces and are naturally curious about such things. Not only could your pet injure himself, but there’s the possibility of the candle being knocked over as well.

~ If you dress up your dog for Halloween, make sure any straps are not too tight and can be broken away from if your dog gets caught in something. Make sure the costume has no dangling parts or decorations that can be chewed off and choked on.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Pet Halloween Safety

The video above, hosted by Dr. Kat Miller, a certified applied animal behaviorist at the ASPCA, gives an outline of the whole series, and describes the process and preparation as being similar to bringing home a new baby. She explains what should be done before, during and after bringing your new kitty home, as well as the supplies that will be needed to make for a smooth transition for both you and your cat.

The series has six segments, and includes: How to Cat Proof Your Home, How to Set Up a Safe Location for an Adopted Cat, Local Services for Cats, How to Adjust a New Cat to Your Home, How to Set a Routine for a New Cat, and How to Keep a Cat Safe and Healthy.

Post from: Blisstree

Caring For Your Newly Adopted Cat

Does your dog freak out at fireworks? Our Honey does, but Chip is usually fine after he figures out where the noise is coming from. We’ve several of the techniques below for Honey, including keeping her in her crate with a towel over it and keeping the television on so she’s got other, “regular” noise to distract her.

~ It’s safer to keep your pets at home during Forth of July celebrations instead of bringing him to your neighbor’s party. Keep your pets in the house, rather than in your yard; he’ll be a lot happier indoors, and not tempted to leap over a fence to find you.

~ Dogs can be startled by the loud noise of fireworks. Once the festivities begin, keep your pet in a safe room where he can feel comfortable. If he’s crate trained put him in his crate covered with a blanket to make him feel secure.

~ Block outside sights and sounds by lowering the blinds and turning on the television. Play soothing music in the background to counteract the cacophony during the “rockets’ red glare.”

~ If your pet seems overly anxious, spend some time with your pet, speaking soothingly to help them to relax.

~ Avoid scraps from the grill. While tempting to our pets, any sudden change to your pets’ diet can cause stomach upset. In addition, some certain foods like onions, avocado, grapes and raisins can be toxic.

~ Human products can be dangerous to animals. Avoid spraying your pet with insect repellent and only use special sunscreen that is intended for animal use. Keep your pets away from matches and lighter fluid. They can be extremely irritating to the stomach, lungs and central nervous system if ingested.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Keeping Your Pets Safe on the 4th of July

IMG: The Life of a Home Mom

If you plan on using real eggs:
-  Make sure they are well boiled and refrigerated before.
-  Never leave the found Easter eggs in a room for over a few hours. Once found eat them, use them or put them back in the refrigerator.
-  Toddlers should be watched if you allow them to eat an egg. A child can easily choke if they put the whole thing in the mouth or eats too much yolk at once.

If you opt to use plastic eggs:

-  always be sure to never leave a plastic egg with a baby. Believe it or not they can and probably will stick it in their mouth. (choking)
-  Plastic eggs can crack and have sharp edges, watch out for it.

Easter Toys are often overlooked because they are just items tossed inside the Easter basket. You should always be sure to check and make sure all of them are age appropriate. Some of those baskets can have tiny pieces in them, ie, marbles would be bad for a baby. A Barbie or baby doll may not be something a teen wants. For a family that has a dog/cat/etc you will want to watch out for the grass that is placed inside the Easter baskets. If a dog or cat gets it this can choke them.

These are just a few ways to be safe this Easter. Is there any other ways you can be safe this holiday season?

Post from: Blisstree

Easter Safety Tips

USAID, United States Agency for International Development, a federally funded program that distributes 10 billion condoms to poor countries, in an attempt to help curb the spread of AIDS. They will no longer be distributing American-made condoms.

“Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.

Okay, so they are cheaper, which means that they can give out more, but when you look at the track record of recent Chinese products, do you still think that this is a good idea?

First, there’s the loss of 300 American jobs. A company in Alabama called Alatech was the previous USAID program supplier. In case you haven’t noticed, American families are struggling. We certainly don’t need to cut jobs, we need to increase jobs. Banks and auto makers aren’t the only folks going broke.

Second, there’s the Chinese baby formula scare, the Chinese toy scare, the Chinese __________ (fill in the blank) scare. When it comes to health, welfare, and birth control, do we really think cheaper is the best way to go?

I didn’t give it much thought before, but from now on, when I buy condoms, I’m going to make sure that I’m buying American.

Image credit: All Posters.com

Post from: Blisstree

Condoms – Buy American

So let me be more specific. Ask yourself these questions and then answer them in the comments section:

1. Would you believe your child if he/she told you that your spouse or partner was molesting them? What if your spouse/partner emphatically denied it and it was their word against your child’s?
2. Would you steal money in order to pay for your dying child’s life saving operation? What if you wouldn’t get caught?
3. Would you kill a person who was trying to harm your child?
4. Would you lie for your child if he/she committed a serious crime and you knew that they would go to jail for life, if you told the truth?
5. Would you be willing to let a doctor try an experimental drug on your terminally ill child if the success rate was only a 50% chance and the treatment’s failure meant death? At what percentage would you change your mind?

Just some food for thought. While it is obvious that we would all give our lives for our kids in a heart beat, it is always interesting to ponder how extreme we would be willing to get, in order to preserve their well being, innocence, freedom and safety.

Post from: Blisstree

How Far Would You Go?