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Pet Safety

Things all pet owners should know

A disturbing new trend: Protect your Boston Terrier!

I recently discovered this warning from a fellow Red Boston Terrier breeder, Tammy in Oklahoma. In her own words:

Protect your Boston Terrier.  This info was sent to me via a man who works in Petco. He sees alot of canines everyday and when a lady customer noticed his BT on his name tag, this was the story she told him.  

 

 I wanted to tell you about something extremely disturbing a customer told me today.  She felt it was her duty to tell me about this, and I feel like it's my duty to tell you (I'm notifying my four other Boston Terrier-owner friends of this as well).  The customer noticed my Boston's picture on my name tag and said that she had her Boston stolen from her front yard recently.  She let her dogs (2 Bostons & 2 Pugs) out to potty, and they were very well-trained & would never consider leaving their yard.  One of her Bostons was taking a long time to pick a spot, and she had a phone call and let the other dogs back in and left the remaining Boston outside for a second to finish his business.  She came right back outside, and he had vanished,  She knew he was probably stolen, but she put up signs all over her neighborhood, and was shocked by the response she got.

 Many people called her (several who lived on her block) that said their Bostons had been stolen as well and told her to report it to the police.  The police had a horrible conclusion.  First of all, it wasn't a random thing since nearly all the dogs recently stolen in the area were Bostons and not just any "purebred-looking" dog; this breed itself was being targeted.   Second, since most, if not all, these dogs were simply pets and were spayed or neutered, it was not likely they were taken by a puppy mill for breeding purposes.  Their fate was most likely far more horrible.

 It turns out that in illegal dog-fighting rings (which are very prevalent this area of the country), Boston Terriers are now considered the perfect "bait" for training Pit Bulls to fight, for three reasons: 

 1)  They look like small Pit Bulls, so young Pits in training will learn to go after dogs that have that similar shape and build while not getting harmed in the training process since the Boston is much smaller.

 2)  Bostons, unlike many other small breeds, have a lot of Bulldog characteristics and are thus willing fight back until death.  Therefore, unlike other "bait" dogs, they do more than simply stand there and let themselves get torn up and will better prepare the Pits for fighting--again, without posing too much danger of the "trainee" getting hurt since the much-smaller Boston doesn't stand a chance.

 3)  This is the perhaps the most stomach-churning.  Fighting dogs are trained to go for the neck and throat of the opponent, and  the white collar of the Boston allows a training dog's owner to more easily tell how much damage his charge is able to inflict.

 I thought you should be aware of this trend since Bostons are apparently being sought-after as bait dogs. Maybe you should also let other Boston owners and your puppies' buyers be aware of this--not to scare them, but because it's much better to be safe than sorry.

 

Always be careful when leaving your pets unsupervised, especially when they are still puppies/kittens and in the learning phase. They are like babies, wanting to put everything in their mouths. I can't tell you how many times I have saved my dogs from choking, and it is scary! I went and took a Pet First Aid/CPR class after it happened for the 2nd time. I just hope to be around if it ever happens again!

Though a lot of dangers are obvious and avoidable, you might be surprised at some of the lesser known things that can be harmful to our furry friends. Here are some things you should be aware of.

DANGERS IN THE HOME: 

  • Electrical cords.
  • Sharp objects and sharp edges. Eye injuries are especially common in the "bug-eyed" breeds.
  • Open doors and windows can lead to escape.
  • Toilets. Drinking the water can be very unhealthy, especially if cleaning agents are present.
  • Balconies can lead to dangerous falls.
  • Washers and dryers. Pets can crawl inside while you're not looking if doors/lids are open.
  • Fireplaces.
  • Loud Noises. Spook many animals and can cause panic and escape.
  • Candles. Curious pets may get burned or cause fires by knocking them over.
  • Fabric Softner
  • Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Cold/Flue medicine, Anti-depressants, Vitamins, Diet pills.  
  • Moth Balls
  • Fly Bait
  • Rat and Mouse Bait
  • Bleach, Disinfectants, detergents, Lime/scale remover, Drain Cleaners, Oven Cleaner Spray.
  • Home Insect Products
  • Lead
  • Lighter Fluid
  • Anti-Cancer Drugs
  • Solvents
  • Tobacco Products
  • Balls(ones that are very small and/or with a smooth outer coating)
  • Batteries
  • Bread twist ties
  • Buttons
  • Coins

  • Cotton swabs
  • Glass
  • Hair Pins
  • Jewelry
  • Nylons
  • Paper Clips
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Socks

  • Rubber-bands
  • String/Yarn/Dental Floss
  • Towels
  • Wax

DANGEROUS PLANTS

  • Algae
  • Aloe
  • Amaryllis
  • Andromeda Japonica
  • Asian Lily
  • Asparagus Fern
  • Australian Nut
  • Autumn Crocus
  • Azalea
  • Belladonna
  • Bird of Paradise
  • Bittersweet(American and European)
  • Black Locust
  • Branching Ivy
  • Buckeye
  • Buddhist Pine
  • Caladium
  • Calla Lily
  • Castor Bean
  • Ceriman
  • Clematis
  • Cordatum
  • Corn Plant
  • Cycads
  • Cyclamen
  • Daffodil
  • Daylily
  • Devil's Ivy
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Dumbcane
  • Easter Lily
  • Elephant Ears
  • Emerald Fern
  • English Ivy
  • Eucalyptus
  • Ferns
  • Fiddle-leaf philodendron
  • Gold dust dracaena
  • Florida Beauty
  • Foxglove
  • Glacier Ivy
  • Gladiolas
  • GoldenPothos
  • Heavenly bamboo
  • Honeysuckle
  • Hurricane Plant
  • Hyacinth
  • Hydrangea
  • Iris
  • Jerusalem Cherry
  • Jimson Weed
  • Kalanchoe
  • Lantana
  • Lilies(all)
  • Lily of the Valley
  • Lupine
  • Marble Queen
  • Morning Glory
  • Mother-in-law
  • Mountain Laurel
  • Narcissus
  • Needlepoint Ivy
  • Nephthysis
  • Nightshade
  • Oleander
  • Panda
  • Peace Lily
  • Philodendron
  • Poison Hemlock
  • Precatory Bean(Rosary pea)
  • Privet
  • Red Emerald
  • Rhododendron
  • Ribbon Plant
  • Sago Palm
  • Satin Pothos
  • Schefflera
  • Striped Dracaena
  • Sweetheart Ivy
  • Tulip
  • Water Hemlock
  • Wisteria
  • Yew
  • Yucca

DANGERS OUTSIDE THE HOME

•  Pets sticking heads out of moving vehicles. Can cause eye injuries from flying debris. Goggles are a must.

  • Antifreeze/Coolant. Even small amounts can be toxic!
  • Fire Pit/Grill.
  • Slug/Snail Bait
  • De-Icing Salts.
  • Deck Lattices. Pets can become stuck and can strangle.
  • Fences/Gates. Damaged openings can lead to running away. Many pets dig out.

  • Compost(particularly moldy)
  • Gasoline
  • Oil
  • Pesticides
  • Cocoa bean shell mulch fertilizer
  • Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs
  • Heat exhaust/Hypo-thermia

Dangerous Foods

  • Bones. Turkey, chicken and other small animal bones. They splinter and can cause serious internal damage. May also cause choking.
  • Avocados
  • Chocolate. Especially dark chocolates.
  • Coffee(all forms)
  • Onions and onion powder
  • Garlic
  • Grapes
  • Raisins
  • Macadamia Nuts
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Moldy/spoiled foods
  • Salt
  • Fatty Foods
  • Xylitol(sweetener found in gums, candies, etc)
  • Tea Leaves
  • Raw Yeast dough

HOLIDAY DANGERS

  • Plants such as: Christmas Rose, Holly, Lilies and Mistletoe.
  • Ribbons.
  • Bubbling lights. Some contain toxic chemicals!
  • Fire Salts
  • Angel Hair(spun glass) is irritating to skin and eyes and can cause intestinal problems if ingested.
  • Christmas Tree water. Contains preservatives resulting in stomach upset.
  • Decoration Hooks.
  • Styrofoam.
  • Ornaments.
  • Tinsel.
  • Balloons and confetti
  • Fake Grass
  • Small toys and easter eggs
  • Fireworks
  • Halloween Pranks. Especially to black animals.

DANGERS WITH PET CHEWS/BONES

Pet chews can be great! They help prevent tarter and plaque build-up, and also helps satisfy the dog's natural urge to chew. Choosing the appropriate chews can be tricky. I have learned the hard way to always supervise my pets while they are enjoying a bone or chew. Often times small pieces break off the object, and can easily be swallowed and/or lead to choking.

 

Some chews are too hard, such as natural bones and cow hooves, and can cause teeth to break and/or wear severely.

 

 

I always use CET Hextra chews for my dogs and cats. They are coated with chlorhexidine, which kills bacteria for up to 12 hours. The chewing motion polishes teeth. They are  rice based, and easily digested if swallowed.

 

     

Also, Pressed Bone Rawhide chews are great, especially for aggressive chewers and bigger dogs.

 

 I do not like knuckle bones. If swallowed they can cause an obstruction. There have been cases of large dogs swallowing them whole! Care must be taken to get the appropriate size bone for the dog, and supervise the chewing. 

 

Greenies can be good, but I have heard of several pets choking, and others have developed diarrhea. Dogs love them though!

 

Rolled rawhides are good. Won't hold-up too long with an aggressive chewer, and can unroll and get really soggy. If swallowed it can be a problem.

 

Keep a close eye on them, whatever you decide to offer, and be prepared to take it away when it gets too small.

Boston Terriers are not built for outdoor life. They are not well suited for winter and extreme weather conditions. They have very short coats, and can lose warmth very quickly.

On the opposite end, Boston Terriers also don't do well in hot weather. They are susceptible to over heating/heat stroke. Care needs to be made that they are not left out in the heat for long periods of time. Plenty of fresh, clean water should be available at all times and a cool, shaded area should be provided. Misters are great to have, and can drop the temperature in a certain area by up to 20 degrees. My dogs LOVE their wading pool, especially after working up a sweat.

Some of the information used was from the 2006 "101 Things You Didn't Know Could Harm Your Pet" booklet by Petshealth Care Plan.

http://www.petshealthplan.com 

Pet Insurance is a wonderful thing!!!!

Email Rachel at: cocoa_boston@yahoo.com with any questions or comments.