PawshPaws

Keeping your furry friends away from your beautiful Christmas tree is not always easy. In fact, some trees can eventually be whittled into a Charlie Brown-like tree if you’re not careful.

As if you don’t have enough to do in this time-crunched holiday season, here are some tips for protecting your Christmas tree from pet catastrophes:

Shiny and Bright

Lots of holiday decorations can issue a siren call to curious animals. Tinsel, crinkly wrapping paper, glitter-covered ornaments-all can cause serious problems if chewed or ingested. Keep them out of reach. Similarly, never underestimate a dopey puppy’s inclination to want to chomp on holiday lights or extension cords.

Distasteful scents

Cats have an innate dislike for citrus scents. Try putting an orange- or lemon-scented room deodorizer near the tree, even attached to the trunk. Other home remedies that cat owners have tried: clove oil, peppermint oil, Tabasco sauce (for branch nibblers) and black pepper.

Remember, though, that cats have sensitive nervous systems, and exposure to essential oils can cause serious neurological problems. So make sure your cat does not have direct contact with potpourris, perfumes or any other substances you are using to keep them away from your tree.

Timber!

Dexterous cats are sometimes inspired to climb Christmas trees. Secure your tree to the wall with nearly invisible fishing line.

Dogs can inflict their own special brand of destruction on Old Tannenbaum, from leg lifts to branch tugs. Desperate owners sometimes surround the tree with a metal exercise pen or baby gate.

Zap away

Indoor training mats such as ScatMats use low-power electric pulses similar to static electricity to startle animals and keep them away from areas their owners have deemed forbidden.

If zapping isn’t your idea of kinder and gentler, the SSSCat is a training device with a motion detector that, when activated, beeps and releases a scentless, ozone-friendly spray from an aerosol can. An adjustable nozzle lets you position the direction of the spray.

You can find both of these at Amazon.com, and at many online pet retailers.

Help in a pinch

Here is a low-tech solution that can work for cats and dogs alike, particularly those sensitive to touch: Go to your local carpet or hardware store and buy a length of clear plastic carpet runner-the kind that has little plastic grippers on the underside. Place the runner wrong side up around the tree; the pointy surface should deter the patter of little paws. (It also works on chairs and couches that you want to declare no-snooze zones.)

Fence me in

gates or exercise pens placed around the tree can keep furry intruders out. Cherrybrook (found at http://cherrybrook.com) sells a number of different size pens in gold, silver and black finishes.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

Just as you would with young children who can’t keep their hands to themselves, invest in plastic or nonbreakable ornaments. Position the keepsakes on the highest branches closest to the trunk, or, better yet, pack them away until your critters develop better holiday manners.

The holiday season is a time of celebration with friends and family… furry and four-legged ones included. But colder weather, decorations and parties can create safety hazards for pets. Make sure your holidays stay festive with these simple tips to keep your pet healthy and safe.

Cold weather hazards

De-icing products, salt and ice can get into fur and paws, causing skin irritation or more serious conditions. Thoroughly wipe your pet’s paws and tummy when they come in from the cold. Take care to wipe up any spilled antifreeze – dogs and cats like the sweet taste. Better yet, use pet-friendly antifreeze products.

Keep holiday decorations out of reach

Ingestion of glass, metal, ribbons or tinsel can lead to serious medical emergencies for pets. Also, snow globes and artificial snow contain chemicals that can be harmful if ingested or inhaled.

Place holiday plants high off the ground

Pretty as they are, ivy, holly, mistletoe, pointsettia, lilies and Christmas greens can all be toxic to animals if ingested. Also, don’t allow pets to drink Christmas tree water – it can be harmful, too.

Keep a watchful eye on pets

Everyone loves a party, but sometimes the hustle and bustle can frighten animals and cause them to run away. Designate a quiet, secure “pet room” away from the crowd, and be sure that your pet is microchipped and wearing a collar with current ID tags.

Fight the temptation to feed table scraps

Fatty holiday meats can cause a number of gastrointestinal problems while bones can cause bowel obstructions or choking. And remember, no chocolate for pets! The sweet stuff contains a chemical that is highly toxic to pets.

Watch the door

The hustle and bustle surrounding guests can create opportunities for escape. Know where your animals are whenever the door opens and closes. As a safeguard, make sure your animals wear collars with proper identification.

Don’t Forget Your Feathered Friends

Getting ready for holiday gatherings usually means extra cleaning before guests arrive. Fumes from rug shampoo, furniture polish and oven cleaner can be fatal to a bird if they enter its delicate respiratory system. When using these products, keep them away from birds, and open your windows to let the air flow.

Unfortunately, during Halloween, many cats get spooked and run away from home, never to return.

Additionally, many cats will be abused or abandoned and just show up at someone’s door.  In this event, the cat will adopt this individual as the cat whisperer.

A cat whisper is somewhat similar to a dog or horse whisperer, although cat whisperers relate quite well with cats.  These types of people are unusually lucky and very successful with cats.

Often times, alley cats and black cats will show up at someone’s door and decide to move into their homes.  This can be a result of abandonment, or the cat’s family moving away and simply leaving the cat behind.

Sometimes, the cat may decide that he likes someone else’s home better and decides to move there instead of staying with his owner.

A lot of people will tell you that a cat whisperer can be thought of as a therapist for cats.  Most cat whisperers have not had any type of training… what they know just seems to come naturally to them .

These types of people understand the way a cat thinks and knows how to work with the cat to achieve the results they want.  Even though many people think of a cat whisperer as a therapist, it actually couldn’t be further from the truth.

Cats who have been abused or mistreated, often times won’t respond to anyone but a cat whisperer.  Although others may have tried to help the cat, it will only make matters worse by making the cat feel scared and afraid.

In most cases, these cats will end up in a pound.  This is very tragic, as the cats have already endured more than they ever should have.  A majority of the cats who have been abused were once loved pets.  Along the way, they were abandoned, mistreated, attacked by dogs, and in some cases tortured.

Cats who have been treated unfairly often times won’t trust anyone. They are often times confused, in a lot of pain, and not sure what they should do.  Like humans, cats feel pain.

Those that have been physically abused are a sad sight indeed.  Emotionally damaged cats may appear to be in perfect health on the outside, although their emotions are a wreck.  Emotionally abused cats are much harder to get through to, especially if they were stray cats to begin with.

Cat whisperers on the other hand, can communicate with physically and emotionally abused cats.  Cats know who they will choose to be their cat whisperer, which is normally an individual they sense trust with.

Cat whisperers are common with cats, although most people have never heard of them before.  Even though a cat whisperer may be able to communicate better with cats, it will still take time to heal a cat that has been abused.

With the holidays approaching, many of us have travel on our minds and that brings about the question of what to do with your pet dog while you travel?

Dogs do like to travel, it’s true. Adventurous by nature, they want to check out new sights and sounds. They like to meet and see new people. But this does not mean that traveling with a dog is as easy as traveling with your clutch bag.

Fortunately, these days, there are many options for you to choose from when planning your vacations.

Here are some tips on how to have a worry-free travel experience with your pet dog:

1. Hiring a pet sitter

If you are traveling far away from home without your pet dog, you might want to consider hiring a pet sitter who could take care of your dog full-time. A pet sitter could be a member of your family or a neighbor who could watch over your dog.

Keep in mind that professional pet sitters are becoming more and more common these days and can provide you with the confidence and reassurance that your pets are in a comfortable enviornment while you are away. You could ask your veterinarian or groomer to recommend a professional pet sitter to do the pet-sitting for you.

Furthermore, professional pet sitters come in all different forms these days. Some will come to your home several times a day to care for your pet, others will take your pets into their own home to care for them, while others will stay in your home to watch over your pets while you are traveling. Check around in your area and pick the best option for your needs.

2. Leaving the dog in a kennel

If you choose to leave your pet in a kennel, shop around for recommendations for a good one from friends that own dogs, or your vet.

Go to the kennel before taking your dog and check if animals look well-cared for and that the facility is comfortable and clean. Chat with the staff to make sure that your dog will be cared for properly.

3. Traveling with your dog

Should you decide that you want to bring your dog along with you while traveling, ask your vet for tips on how to best travel with a dog, including problems in the transportation methods. And make sure to ask if he or she could give your dog a certificate of clean health.

If you are flying via airplane, you should have a sturdy carrier for your pet. If not, the airline could ask you to buy a carrier from them. Some airlines allow your pet in the passenger compartment with you. Others put all the animals in the luggage compartment.

If you are riding in a car, the air conditioning should be kept on. Do not leave your dog unattended in a car that is parked. Do not park in direct sunlight even for a brief period of time, as it could drastically raise the heat temperature inside your car that might result in dehydration, heat stroke, or worse.

In addition, the trends for 2009 show us that many hotels across the country are adopting pet friendly policies. Several chains have announced new pet-friendly policies that include everything from oversized pet pillows, plush doggie robes, to check-in gift packages that include a pet toy, dog treat, ID tag, bone and turn down treat. Some even have a licensed dog masseuse on staff. So if you are planning on staying in hotels while traveling, just make sure to plan ahead because not all hotels allow pets.

4. Foreign travel

Traveling with a dog or any other pet in foreign countries can prove to be difficult. Check with your vet for some tips. You might also want to ask the local consulate of the country you are visiting what their requirements arer for bringing your pet along.

Going places with your dog may be a pleasant experience. But you should remember that taking your dog with you anywhere (or any pet), could be a bit difficult.

Halloween can be can be a spooky time for pets. The noise, the costumes and the trick-or-treaters may cause them great stress.

Here are some tips for you to follow to help keep all pets safe this Halloween:

• Protect your pet on Halloween by keeping them indoors. A pet that’s out at night with trick-or-treaters might get spooked by noise and costumes, which could cause them to run off and get lost.
• All cats should be kept indoors at all times. Unfortunately, some people are superstitious of  black cats and will try to scare or harm them. So the best way to protect your pets during  this holiday is to keep them indoors.
• Keep your pet confined and away from the door while you’re greeting trick-or-treaters at your home to prevent them from darting outdoors.
• Your dog may feel that their territory is being invaded by the constant onslaught of visitors. Keeping your dog in a secluded area of the house will help them stay calm and prevent them from growling or possibly biting your visiting ghouls and goblins.
• Don’t force your dog to wear a costume if they don’t want to. Halloween is supposed to be fun for everyone and you don’t want your dog to be miserable. There are other ways they can enjoy the festivities.
• Celebrate Halloween with your pets by giving them goodies that are made especially for their species, like dog biscuits or cat treats.
• Keep your dog away from candy on the floor and tables – If your dog eats candy that is left lying around the house, it could make them sick. In fact, chocolate and raisins can be fatal to dogs!
• In addition, dogs often like to eat candy wrapper because of the candy smell, but they can cause your dog to choke.

Remember, Halloween is a fun time for humans, but not necessarily for pets.  So make sure to follow these tips to keep your pets safe on Halloween and share them with others.