From cyclones up North, extreme heat down the east coast, to floods down south, mother- nature is currently playing havoc with what is supposed to be Australia’s most enjoyable part of the year (weather wise).
In emergencies we prepare as best we can to ensure our family is safe. For pet owners this also means considering their most trusted family members – their pets. Key things to remember when considering your pets’ safety includes ensuring they can be identified if they become lost or are hurt during a disaster. Always keep ID tags and/or microchip registrations up to date. Given that natural disasters bring along with it infection, illnesses and the like, ensure your pets are up to date with all the necessary vaccinations and keep a first aid kit with relevant vet information on hand. Always ensure you have water on hand too – this is just as imperative for animals as it is for humans.
Always keep well aware of evacuation procedures in your town –whether that is through your neighbours, televised announcements or information hotlines. Doing all these things will give everyone, including your family pet/s a better chance of survival.
The hot sticky Australian summer months can be difficult for us so imagine how your pet feels. This summer, when you are enjoying the warmer days, take into consideration the following things to ensure pets are well looked after. This way, fun in the sun can apply to everyone.
- Keep pets well hydrated – that means, always keep enough water in their bowls. If you are going out, take enough water for the two of you.
- Don’t leave your pets in cars – even with the windows open, cars will heat up quickly particularly in the middle of the day.
- Take particular care if your pet is ill, very young, elderly or fair. All of these factors make coping with the sun even more difficult.
- If walking your pets try not to let them drink from puddles in the street – these can contain chemicals which are hazardous to a pets health. Always take water with you.
- If it is a very hot day consider taking your pet inside – availability to shade changes throughout the day and humidity, such as that found in most parts of Australia, can be very dangerous for animals.
As we do with children, before we buy toys for our pets we need to carefully consider the type of toy we are introducing. Given that a large percentage of toys are manufactured overseas and imported to Australia we are at a loss (right now) to control which toys are found on our store shelves. And this can be a problem, particularly when many have been found to include lead. Symptoms of lead poisoning can be indistinguishable but can include a slight loss of appetite, behaviour changes that include twitching, and whining while sleeping. Only a vet can diagnose lead poisoning so if you are in doubt, take your pet for a check-up.
When considering toys for your pets remember the following:
- Toys should be played with while under your supervision
- Use the correct size toy. Small toys for large pets don’t go hand in hand
- Don’t buy toys that can be swallowed whole as these are choking or gastrointestinal hazards
- Check toys often to ensure there is no damage to them. Throw out any broken toys immediately.
- Remember that no toy is 100% safe.
As Christmas fast approaches, parents everywhere are seriously considering putting a new pet into their children’s stockings. The problem is that pets, regardless of which type, are for life, and not just for the Christmas period. Thousands of animals are dumped during the festive season, in time for most families to go away during the summer holidays.
Instead of buying a pet, why not consider adopting a pet. There are thousands of pets around Australia that need someone’s undivided attention and when better to give that than during the season of giving. The number of people adopting pets has doubled over the last ten years and most of those individuals are doing it to add value and meaning to their own lives. Fortunately, research suggests that those animals that are adopted tend to have good basic manners and temperament and are either already toilet trained or eager to learn.
Welcome to Pampered Pets. This is our first post to launch our new website!
From cyclones up North, extreme heat down the east coast, to floods down south, mother- nature is currently playing havoc with what is supposed to be Australia’s most enjoyable part of the year (weather wise).
