If you are one of those lucky pet parents who received or adopted a puppy or kitten for Christmas, you are well aware that they are now getting to “that age” where all bets are off and it’s time to go crazy. For you, this is both a very fun and very frustrating period. For your fur baby it is an exciting and dangerous stage of development.
Whether you are a first-time pet owner or an old hat who needs a refresher course on dog and cat adolescence, these pet safety tips will help you out from here going forward.
Collars
A collar lets the world know that your pet has a caring home, should he or she slip out as the little ones are wont to do. But collars can also be a hazard.
Check your pet’s collar weekly, for tightness. As your puppy or kitten grows, the collar can grow into its neck. You should be able to slip at least two fingers under the collar with ease. Cats should wear break-away collars to prevent strangulation if they get hung up while jumping and climbing.
A collar with tags can help strangers alert you if they find your pet, but collars get lost. Microchipping is a great backup.
Toys
Never let your kitten or cat play with string or yarn. They love it and it is very cute, but when swallowed it can be deadly.
As for the toys you buy at the store, don’t trust them. Yes, one would assume that if they are sold as pet toys they must be safe, but that is just not true. Some pet toys are choking hazards. Others can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages if swallowed. This requires emergency surgery. Like with toddlers, supervision is a necessity with young pets, and often with older pets, too.
Be Weather Aware
You already know better than to leave your pet in a hot car, even for a few minutes. You may not know how quickly a pet can develop frostbite when it is very cold or there is a severe wind chill. Cats can stay inside and use the litter box, but dogs have to go outside sometime. You just have to keep an eye out and when it’s bitterly cold make sure those trips outdoors are very brief.
Of course, you should always make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water and shade available outside in the warmer months.
Read more Pet Safety Tips from AccidentAttorneys.org.
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