March is Poison Prevention Month – Part One
1. Foods - alcoholic beverages, chocolate ( especially dark or bakers chocolate ), coffee, onions, grapes or raisins, avocado, macadamia nuts and gums containing xylitol.
For a household pet safety checklist please visit the ASPCA Poison Control website. For a more comprehensive list of potential toxins, please check out the Pet Poison Hotline website.
Tree Cat-astrophe Sidestepped
A friend recently asked me how to keep her new kitten out of the Christmas tree. I jokingly told her to hang the tree upside down from the ceiling. Not the most useful of replies, but I don’t have the most experience in that department.
I haven’t had a traditional Christmas tree in years. I had a living tree in a pot (a ficus) that got strung with miniature lights and paper decorations for years. Part of that was because I was a poor college student already with said ficus, and another part was because I didn’t trust my cats not to make a mess/hurt themselves/otherwise get into mischief.
My cats like to climb in the fireplace and roll around in the soot. They go crazy when they hear the bag of wrapping paper come out, because they know that kitty crack (aka curling ribbon) comes with wrapping paper. They like to bat at candle flames.
So, yes, I do let my feline friends dictate what the holiday looks like in my house. And that leaves me ill equip to give advise on Christmas trees and kittens. It turns out that my flippant response wasn’t all that far off the mark.
Here is what is recommended to “pet proof” your Christmas tree:
- Anchor the bottom securely
- Anchor top of tree to ceiling (use fishing line)
- Use a lidded base for the tree, so you can add water and not have pets fishing in it. (Still water can breed bacteria)
- Beware of “icicles” or other stringy tinsel
- Cover cords with barriers (such as “critter cord”) to avoid chewing
- Hang any glass or breakable ornaments high out of reach of paws and wagging tails.
- Keep edible gifts hidden away until they are to be opened.
- Watch for dried pine needles, they can cause stomach upset.
The tree is the most obvious “danger zone,” but also to be taken into account are holiday plants (holly, mistletoe, lilies, and the lesser but often thought of poinsettia), increased foot traffic, potpourri – both liquid and sachets, unattended food and drinks, and snow globes.
For more tips on holiday pet safety visit the ASPCA website.
Photos of Kiss courtesy of lillyblossom.com. Photo of Pretty © s.c.spencer.
Alert: Hot Dog Warning
The following Public Service Announcement is brought to you in part by RedRover, MyDogIsCool, and the sweltering staff at North Portland Veterinary Hospital.
Heat stroke is a very serious problem that can occur when weather gets nicer (or temperatures climb). In Portland we are lucky to not have to deal with heat issues all that often. However, that does mean that we need to study up on what to do in these oddly hot days. And what makes for a “hot day” you wonder?
| How Long Does It Take For A Car to Get Hot? | ||
| Outside Temperature* | Time It Takes To Heat Up… | Temperature* Inside Vehicle |
| 75 | 10 minutes | 100 |
| 75 | 30 minutes | 120 |
| 85 | 5 minutes | 90 |
| 85 | 7-10 minutes | 100 |
| 85 | 30 minutes | 120 |
| 90 | 20 minutes | 120 |
| 100 | 15 minutes | 140 |
*Temperature measured in degrees Fahrenheit.
The greenhouse effect will raise the temperature inside a vehicle quickly. Hot doggie breath (remember: panting is how dogs cool themselves — they cannot sweat) will add to the humidity making high temperatures feel even hotter. Poor pup, trying to cool off only compounds the problem. Having the windows cracked, or parking in the shade even, will have very little impact on the inside temperature.
Heat Stroke Study Guide
If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, call the local animal control agency, police or 911 right away. In Multnomah County, call 503-988-7387 and select option 1 if you see an animal is in imminent danger. If you have less pressing concerns about an animal’s welfare, you can contact Oregon Humane Society’s Investigations team.
If possible, you can also try to find the dog’s owner. Signs an animal is in distress include:
- Excessive panting
- Excessive drooling
- Increased heart rate
- Trouble breathing
- Disorientation
- Collapse or loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- Respiratory arrest
At least 14 states and many municipalities have laws that specifically address the problem of animals left in cars in extreme temperatures. These laws often authorize law enforcement officials to enter a vehicle and remove the animal. Even states without these provisions may consider leaving an animal in an enclosed car to be animal cruelty.
In Portland, you must call police or animal control to retrieve the animal, attempting to do so independently may be construed as a crime.
Friends of Columbia Park – Family Bicycle Safety Fair
Looking for some outdoor family fun this weekend? Saturday, April 17th from 10am to 2pm there’s a Spring Bicycle Safety Fair at Columbia Park Cottage. There will be games, bike tune-ups, helmet sale, teddy bear clinic, and free popcorn. Dust the cobwebs off your bike, inflate your tires, add/remove training wheels, refill your water bottles, and trek on down to Columbia park to join your neighbors and friends from North Portland and Saint Johns for this event. For more information or to volunteer for this event, check out the Friends of Columbia Park or call 503.867.1606. See you there!
