Common Household Items That Can Be Dangerous for Your Pet

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Common Household Items That Can Be Dangerous for Your Pet

As a pet parent, it’s your responsibility to provide a safe living environment for your pet, and this means taking steps to pet-proof your home and yard to make sure there aren’t any dangers accessible to your furry housemates.

Common Household Items That Are Dangerous for Pets

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications

Most over-the-counter and prescription medications for humans are toxic for pets. If they aren’t toxic, they are not in the proper dosage for animals which makes them just as dangerous. Store your medications and your pet’s medications well out of their reach.

Human Foods

Several of your favorite foods are actually toxic for pets. Store human foods in a secure location and don’t leave treats unattended at parties.

Household Chemicals

Most household chemicals used for cleaning are toxic to animals. This includes disinfecting agents, laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos, and more. Keep these stored in a pet-proof location and keep your pets away from these chemicals while you are cleaning. For example, if you mop your floors, be sure they are dry before you allow your pet to walk over them.

Plants

Several popular indoor and outdoor plants are poisonous to dogs, cats, and other animals. Before bringing a houseplant into your home or choosing plants for your outdoor garden, check this list of toxic and non-toxic plants from the ASPCA.

Insecticides and Rodenticides

These household items contain chemicals that are meant to kill, so it might seem obvious that they are also poisonous to pets. However, it’s worth mentioning that these should be stored well out of the reach of your pets and also used with extreme caution in and around your home.

What to Do If Your Pet Ingest a Poisonous Substance

If you suspect your pet has ingested a poisonous or toxic substance, contact Animal Poison Control and immediately seek emergency veterinary care.

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Step Up Your Pet's Wellness and Preventative Care With a Pet Wellness Plan in Pensacola

In addition to creating a pet-safe home for your dog or cat, you can also give them a long, healthy, and happy life with high-quality wellness and preventative veterinary care. At Olive Branch Pet Hospital in Pensacola, we’ve simplified wellness and preventative care for pets with specially designed wellness plans for puppies, kittens, adult pets, and senior pets. To learn more about your pet’s wellness or to schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact us today.

Keep Your Pets Safe and Healthy Throughout the Holidays

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Keep Your Pets Safe and Healthy Throughout the Holidays

The holidays offer so many opportunities for having fun, celebrating the spirit of giving with friends and family, and practicing gratitude for everything that’s good in life, including our pets! To make sure your pets enjoy the holidays, too, consider the following seasonal safety tips.

6 Tips to Keep Your Pet's Safe During the Holiday Season

1. Food Safety

Remember that the several foods, drinks, and treats that humans love are toxic for pets. This includes chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, xylitol (artificial sweetener), garlic, onions, shallots, chives, grapes, raisins, and several types of nuts – to name just a few. Keep the human feast well out of the reach of your pets.

2. Decorative Dangers

Baubles, tinsel, fake snow, flocking, and electrical cords all pose safety threats to pets. Monitor your pets closely around all of your holiday decorations.

3. Travel Risks

Traveling pets can be exposed to new diseases and might require vaccinations before they leave. Additionally, traveling pets are at an increased risk of becoming disoriented and getting lost. Be sure your pet’s ID tags and microchip information are current before you leave.

4. Party Panic

The noise and new faces of parties can overwhelm dogs and cats, especially if they’re accustomed to a normally quiet household. Create a calm space where your pet can relax quietly and safely during your holiday get-togethers and keep them away from the door when greeting your guests.

5. Gift Wrap and Ribbons

Pets – especially cats – love playing with sparkly ribbons and crunchy gift wrapping paper. These items, however, pose a choking risk to pets and the dyes they’re made with can also be toxic. Instead, distract your pet with a few new toys of their own that they can enjoy safely during the holidays.

6. Poisonous Plants

Lilies, poinsettias, holly, pine needles, mistletoe, and amaryllis plants are all toxic for dogs and cats. If you do get a festive plant for the holidays, choose a festive Christmas cactus that is safe for pets and people!
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Schedule a Pre-Travel Checkup and Microchipping Appointment in Pensacola

If you plan to travel with your pet this holiday season, we encourage you to schedule a pre-travel checkup at Olive Branch Pet Hospital. We can talk with you about vaccines, the pet travel health requirements for your destination or airline, and the benefits of getting your pet microchipped before you leave.
To schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact our veterinary hospital in Pensacola today.

How to Travel with Your Pet

How to Travel with Your Pet

When you have a pet and an upcoming trip, you have to decide between leaving them at home with a pet sitter, checking them into a boarding facility, or bringing them along on your journey. If you choose to travel with your pet, consider the following advice to ensure you’re well-prepared and can enjoy a smooth trip with your four-legged friend in tow.

Tips for Safe and Easy Pet Travel

Whether you’re preparing to leave, hitting the road, or just arriving at your destination, consider the following tips for traveling with pets.

What to Do Before Traveling with Your Pet

  • Pets can become lost much easier when they're in an unfamiliar place. Before you go, update ID tags and get your pet microchipped. If your pet already has a microchip, make sure your current contact information is listed in the database.
  • Different states and countries have different vaccine requirements for pets and different parasites lurking around. Talk with our veterinarian about your pet's vaccinations and parasite preventatives well before you go.
  • Research pet travel requirements. Whether you plan to cross state lines, visit another country, or travel on any form of public transportation, your pet will likely need an official health certificate or vaccination records at the least.
  • If you're concerned about your pet getting carsick or experiencing anxiety on an airplane ride, ask our veterinarian about short-term pharmaceutical solutions.
  • Purchase a travel carrier or crate before your trip, so your pet can get used to spending time in it at home.

Hitting the Road with Your Pet

  • Pack more food, water, and prescription medications than you think your pet will need.
  • Bring along a favorite toy or pet bed for comfort.
  • Schedule plenty of time to stop frequently along the road for potty breaks and exercise at local dog parks.

Considerations for Your Destination

  • Find a pet-friendly hotel (preferably near a dog park) and request a ground-floor room for quick outdoor breaks.
  • Note nearby 24/7 emergency veterinarians, so you're prepared in case your pet needs medical attention.
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Make Sure Your Pet's Travel-Ready – Book an Appointment with Our Pensacola Veterinarian

If you have an upcoming trip and plan to bring your pet along for the ride, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a veterinarian at Olive Branch Pet Hospital. We’ll make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date and provide you with any travel paperwork you might need. Plus, we can discuss prescriptions to combat car sickness or anxiety that could simplify your trip. To learn more, contact our office today.
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Everything You Should Know about Novel Coronavirus and Your Pets

Everything You Should Know about Novel Coronavirus and Your Pets

With all the news and worry surrounding the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many pet owners are left wondering whether their pets could be at risk during the pandemic.

Can Dogs and Cats Contract or Transmit COVID-19?

Although more research is needed, there’s currently no evidence demonstrating that dogs or cats can transmit or contract the Novel Coronavirus.

Feline Coronavirus and Canine Coronavirus Are Not the Same as COVID-19

While there are certain types of Coronavirus that dogs, cats, and other animals can contract, these viruses are not the same as COVID-19 and are not transmissible to humans.

Pandemic Safety: Keep Your Pets and Family Healthy

Although there’s no evidence that shows cats and dogs are at risk of contracting the novel Coronavirus, the AVMA still recommends that pet owners take increased precautions to keep their families healthy.
In addition to stocking up on your own essentials, you should have a supply of pet food and medications in the event you fall ill and need to self-quarantine along with your pets.
It’s also a good idea to restrict your pet’s contact with animals and people living in other households. Pets can neither transmit nor contract the virus, but the virus can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. If your pet comes into contact with sick humans or contaminated pets, you could contract the virus from stroking your pet’s fur.
COVID-19 worries aside, you should always wash your hands before and after playing with your pet because there are plenty of other diseases that can be passed between humans and animals.

Maintain Your Pet's Health with Curbside Check-Ins and Drop-Off Appointments

As the nation and the State of Florida continue to monitor the situation, at Olive Branch Pet Hospital, we’ve adjusted our service protocols to help our clients and staff observe the social distancing recommendations put forth by the White House. To minimize person-to-person contact, while still promoting our patients’ wellness, we’re now offering curbside check-ins and drop-off appointments, and we’ve also increased our sanitation protocols.
For the safety of our hospital staff, we request that you reschedule non-essential pet appointments if you or other members of your family are currently sick. If you are sick and your pet needs immediate veterinary care, we ask that you make our office staff aware of the situation and find another person to bring your pet to his or her appointment.
To learn more about maintaining your pet’s health during the pandemic, we welcome you to contact our office.