2. Picnics are fun, but can be
hazardous to pets
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To help keep your pets
safe this Labor Day
weekend, we have
created this slide show
of the risks associated
with picnic food,
wildlife, lawns and
gardens.
3. Chip and snack bags
One picnic peril is empty chip and snack bags. As your dog or cat tries
to clean up the crumbs at the bottom, their head can block air flow and
they can suffocate within a few minutes.
Never let your cat or dog
have access to airtight
chip and snack bags.
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4. Onions and garlic
Labor Day would be un-American without hamburgers on the grill.
Onions and garlic make burgers tasty, but can make them dangerous
for your dog or cat.
Onions, cooked or raw,
can damage your pet’s
red blood cells, causing
anemia.
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5. Corn cobs
Keep trash cans tightly covered as many dogs love to snack on salty,
buttery corn cobs. The red box outlines a stuck corncob in a dog’s
intestine.
This x-ray shows a
dog who ate a corn
cob from the trash
and needed surgery
to remove the
obstruction.
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6. Cocoa mulch
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Cocoa shell mulch is beautiful to look at but dangerous if consumed by your
dog, due to the theobromine in chocolate.
Ditto for the chocolate
cake or brownies on
the picnic table. Keep
chocolate in all forms
away from your dog.
7. Yew trees and shrubs
Yew (Taxus sp) are common garden trees and shrubs. Be sure your
dog does not snack on one of these attractive plants while you are
playing crochet on the next lawn.
Dogs and cats
consuming yew will
have tremors,
difficulty breathing
and even seizures.
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8. Swimming pools
Not all dogs are innate swimmers and they can drown if they fall into a
swimming pool while you are busy flipping burgers.
If your dog can’t swim,
have her wear a
lifejacket..
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9. Rattlesnake bites
Both dogs and cats can suffer from rattlesnake bites. Veterinarians see
more dogs than cats with snake envenomation. Bites on the head and neck
are most severe. Cats are most frequently bitten on one of the front legs.
Know what venomous
snakes are found in your
area, and if your pet is
bitten seek emergency care
immediately.
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10. Rabies
Wildlife such as raccoons, skunks and bats carry rabies. As the
interface between rural and urban areas blurs, the potential for our pets
to have contact with a rabid wild animal increases.
Protect your pet
against rabies.
Make sure their
vaccinations are
up to date.
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11. Escaping from the house or yard
without a collar
As picnic guests go in and out of the house, your pet has ample
opportunities to escape. Be sure your pet is wearing a collar with ID
tags and has a microchip.
This cat has a
beautiful collar, but
the purpose of a
collar is to hold an ID
tag. Put your dog or
cat’s collar on before
guests arrive.
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12. Most important of all!
REMEMBER: Accidents happen. Don’t waste time in
an emergency. Keep the telephone number and
address of the closest animal ER handy. Rapid
treatment can save your dog or cat’s life!
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