F E AT U R E S TO RY
Travel Tips Be realistic about whether your cat or dog is suitable for travel. Older or sick pets and pets prone to extreme fear and anxiety are better off at home.
Plan ahead for a comfortable trip:
5. Safe Growing
The backyard might seem like the most natural place for your pet to play – after all, dogs and cats in the wild live off the land, not in houses. However, there is a big difference between being in the great outdoors and being in a suburban backyard. A backyard can be full of toxic dangers! Some popular garden plants can be toxic for pets, including sago palm, rhododendron, and azalea. Cocoa mulch is a big danger as well – just as chocolate is toxic for dogs, so is this cocoa product. Pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizer can also contain toxic chemicals. Even compost can pose a risk; if you use it in your garden, make sure you don’t add things to it that are toxic for pets like coffee, moldy food, and certain fruits and vegetables. To keep your backyard free of these hazards, be careful of the products and plants that you use and avoid the ones that are toxic. Otherwise, use a tie-out stake to prevent your pet from entering areas that would pose a threat.
6. Prevent
“High-Rise Syndrome” Everyone likes to be cool in the summer – pets too! Did you know that every summer there is an increase in pet injuries and fatalities from high falls? This happens because pets who try to keep cool rest on window ledges and balconies to escape the heat of the house, and they end up falling off. To prevent these accidents, keep all unscreened windows and doors closed. If windows and doors have screens, make sure they are secure. Leah Piltz gets outside with her two bunnies each summer, making sure they can’t get into anything toxic when she’s visiting in cottage country – and NEVER leaving them alone in the car during their travels.
Acclimatize your pet to their carrier, and bring amenities such as a favorite blanket or toy. Travel-specific products can make things easier as well. Try travel bowls, seatbelt harnesses, travel carriers and disposable cat litter boxes.
•
Pretty gardens could be pretty hazardous to your pets if they include rhododendron & cocoa mulch!
Did you hear?
Earlier this year a cat went missing at Pearson International Airport in Toronto after its travel carrier came open. Luckily, the cat was found a day later but it’s a reminder that accidents can happen. Be sure to do everything you can to keep your pet safe and comfortable during travel.
• Pet Gear Car Seat Carrier 65208 - $59.99
Make sure your next journey with your pet is made easier for all with the right carrier
Summer 2010 - Pet Valu Companion 17