Pet First Aid Guides and Holiday Safety Tips by Sunny-Dog Ink.

One of my BIGGEST fears is a medical emergency happening with one of my pets and me not being trained to handle it.

Sunny Dog Ink was founded by Denise Fleck who is a former film studio publicist with Paramount Pictures. One of her specialties is specialty is teaching a 5-hour PET FIRST-AID & CPR CLASS that she has developed after training with 8 different national organizations. She is also happy to share skills in HOW TO BE A BETTER PET PARENT, PET DISASTER PREPAREDNESS and CARING FOR SENIOR PETS. She also assisted Homeland Security with their K9 Border Patrol First-Aid Program and has developed her own line of Pet First-Aid Kits. She is also the author the Quickfind Books’ Pet Care Series.

She recently sent me Cat Fisrt Aid & CPR and Dog First Aid & CPR.

Each guide is split into sections and features quick access tabs. Both guides cover checking vitals, dealing with emergency situations, birthing difficulties, bleeding injuries, choking incidents, insect and snake bites, intestinal upsets, poisoning, administering cpr, seizures and building a first aid kit.

Review:

I absolutely LOVE these guides! I am a relativity new pet parent and there is some great information in these guilds about what to do in certain situations and the proper way to admister CPR to both dogs and cats. I am going to follow the first aid kit building suggestions because we sadly don’t have a well stocked pet first aid kit.

The pocket guides are $6.95 each and can be purchased on her online store! 

Denise was kind enough to provide us with some AMAZING holiday tips on keeping your pets safe!

Make a List and Check it Twice To Keep Your Pets Safe
By Denise Fleck
Copyright Sunny-dog Ink. All rights reserved.

Put yourself in your dog or cat’s paws…at the end of each year, boxes are dragged from the attic. A tree (seen by males as their “outhouse”) is brought indoors! Shiny balls dangle, the scent of baked goods fill the air and humans arrive singing greetings. Although exciting, these sights, smells and sounds can be stressful to our four-legged friends, and their perspective on how to deal with this upheaval may prove dangerous.

Location! Location! Location!
When choosing where to place the tree or candle display, THINK! Blocking the window Fido watches the mailman from or the window sill where Fluffy takes her afternoon nap is not safe. Choose an out-of-the-way location and anchor the tree to a wall or ceiling hook in the event kitty might use it as a feline jungle gym. Once secured, leave the tree undecorated for a few days to acclimate your pets to it. A quick squirt with a water bottle each time they comes near might lessen interest. Cover tree water with foil or a plastic lid (with an “X” cut in it for the trunk to go through), or prevent your pet from getting to the base altogether by positioning a decorative picket fence around it. Preservatives that keep trees looking their best, as well as sap and bacteria that leach into the water, could result in severe stomach upsets or worse if consumed by your pet.

Critter-proofing
Once ready to decorate, make sure ornaments don’t become an extension of your pet’s toy collection. Cats are attracted to shiny balls, ribbons and tinsel. Sadly, veterinarians report increases in emergency treatments during the holidays since animals often ingest these objects. Never tempt your pet by placing food under the tree or by hanging dog biscuits, candy canes or popcorn garlands. Take care with homemade dough ornaments as most recipes call for a large amount of salt which could prove fatal if ingested.

As for the pet’s gifts…remove tags and cut nylon whiskers off stuffed toys as they can scratch your best friend’s eyes when he plays. Squeakers, stuffing and plastic buttons can be swallowed, so supervise pets around new playthings.

Avoid the Shock
Chewing on wires may make it necessary for YOU to perform rescue breathing or CPR on your pet. Are YOU prepared? Treat yourself and your pet to a pre-holiday gift by enrolling in a Pet First-Aid & CPCR Class (Yes! There is now a second “C” for Cerebral emphasizing the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. Learn more at www.SunnyDogInk.com). Tape wires to the floor or baseboards or conceal them under a tree skirt. Better yet…never leave them plugged in when pets aren’t attended.

Boughs of Holly, and…
Holiday plants must be out of sniffing range. Poinsettias, holly berries & their leaves, pinecones and mistletoe can cause diarrhea, cramps and intestinal blockages. Call your veterinarian or Poison Control immediately if a pet ingests anything harmful. As few as two petals or leaves from lilies can prove fatal to feline family members. Pay attention to any changes in a pet’s behavior: Is he unusually thirsty, lethargic, vomiting or lacking an appetite? These symptoms could signal poisoning or another medical emergency. Familiarize yourself with the quickest route to your Animal ER in the event your veterinarian is closed when trouble strikes.

P-A-R-T-Y!
Holiday gatherings bring an influx of people who can disrupt a pet’s stable environment. Despite your busy schedule, do not deviate from your his normal routine — exercise, potty breaks and mealtime. Play with pets before guests arrive. (Pet Sitters, Is this is a special service you could offer — holiday pre-party walks or boarding?) Not only will four-legged kids adore the attention, but you might tucker them out enough so they settle down before guest arrive. Do take care if your walk takes you on ice, and afterwards, wash paws of melting salts so none will be ingested when licking.

To keep pets quietly entertained, stock up on toys to fill with reduced-fat cream cheese or peanut butter (read labels to avoid food containing xylitol, an artificial sweetener toxic to pets). Pets too can pack on the pounds during the season, so exchange dog biscuits for fresh apple slices, broccoli, carrots or well-cooked green beans.

Humans Need Rules Too
When guests arrive, kindly instruct them not to feed pets. One hors d’oeuvres or cocktail sausage from even a few humans can leave a dog or cat with an upset stomach. Resist serving items with toothpicks that could end up inside your furry garbage disposal. Never leave food unsupervised and don’t share rich gravies, sweets or alcoholic beverages with your pets. Caffeine and energy drinks may cause seizures; Macadamia nuts have a neurotoxic effect and chocolate covered nuts are a double whammy! Cooked bones can perforate intestines; raw yeast dough can cause alcohol poisoning; fatty and salty foods (ie: ham or chips) could inflame the pancreas while snacking from the garbage — moldy foods and rotting apples — could prove fatal! Take care with chafing dishes. Not only are they hot, but the canned fuel warmers look like canned food to a curious cat or dog. And…require visitors to leave animals alone when they are sleeping or eating. You can’t blame a canine for biting when his nap or dinner is threatened by even the smallest human!

Remind overnight guests to keep suitcases zipped or the doors to their room shut. Inquisitive noses will investigate scents brought in by out-of-towners and could get their paws into medications. Dogs can smell a spoonful of sugar in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, so they won’t have any trouble sniffing out chocolate or gum (which often contains canine-fatal xylitol) in a suitcase.

When the Temperature Drops
Hydrate pets like it was summer time! Like us and the planet Earth, dogs and cats are 70% water and need a good fresh supply year round. Although we think of heatstroke as a hot weather ailment, pets with fuzzy coats can become overheated or dehydrated when you crank up the indoor temperature. Humidifiers may help older and short snouted breeds most.

Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks. Regardless of the season, pets should not be outside without supervision. Frostbite happens since pets don’t speak up as their body parts get numb. By the time discovered, skin is often hard and dark and requires hospitalization. Tumble a towel or blanket on the warm setting in your dryer and swaddle frigid animal in it. Offer warm non-sodium chicken broth and seek veterinary attention.

If you care for an outdoor pet, you may need to increase his caloric intake (check with your veterinarian) to allow him to generate sufficient body heat lost during cold winter days. Make sure he is protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough for him to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in body heat. The floor should be raised several inches off the ground and covered with straw and blankets. It should face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

Before starting your car, bang on the hood to scare off cats or wildlife that may have found refuge near your warm engine. Set up a bundle of straw in a safe dry spot where feral cats can warm their paws.

Should you pet ingest antifreeze or other poisons, make sure you know what to do or call the ASPCA’s Poison Control for assistance (888) 426-4435.

Back inside, smokeless logs (consisting mostly of sawdust and wax) can cause bowel obstructions if ingested, and many contain lighter fluid. Make sure a screen covers the front of all fireplaces when not in use, but especially when sparks are flying.

New Year’s Eve fireworks frighten many animals causing them to flee. Even worse than ending up at an animal shelter, many dogs and cats run directly into the path of a car. Always know where your pets are and make sure doors, gates and windows are closed as people enter and exit. Also confirm that micro-chip info is up-to-date and that pets wear ID tags that are easy to read.

Most Important Tip of All
Pets are Part of the Family! That is why we bring them into our homes and our hearts. Remember that when you have a dog or cat, you have a furry four-legged toddler for life who depends on you to keep him safe. Be in the moment with your pet daily, love him unconditionally and plan ahead for the unexpected by being prepared to help when he needs you most.

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