Pet Picnic Perils

The Animal Medical Center

Picnics are fun, but can be

hazardous to pets


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.

Chip and snack bagsOne 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.


Onions and garlicLabor 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.


Corn cobsKeep 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.


Cocoa mulch


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.

Yew trees and shrubsYew (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.


Swimming poolsNot 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..


Rattlesnake bitesBoth 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.


RabiesWildlife 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.


Escaping from the house or yard

without a collarAs 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.


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!


Pet Picnic Perils

Lifestyle

Transcript of Pet Picnic Perils