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Important Tips

​Tips For Cats & Dogs: 

  • Chocolate and sweets containing chocolate are poisonous to cats and dogs.

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  • Young animals often follow children outside where they get lost. Please teach your children to watch for 'sneaking out' pets. Buy for your pet a collar and a tag. For cats choose break-out collar type. Microchip tagging is also very affordable these days. NOTE: early sterilization will reduce tendency to roam, especially with males.

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  • Puppies and kittens are very curious and explore their environment with their mouth, so remember to animal-proof your house when you bring a new puppy/kitten in. Hazards include not only choke/ingestion hazards like sharp objects or poisons, but also live electrical cords--a shock hazard if chewed on.

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  • Grapes (raisins) have been reported to cause kidney failure in dogs and may affect cats.

 

  • OTC medications, herbs, and supplements for humans are not always safe for cats and dogs. For example, many OTC pain relievers are potentially very harmful to dogs and cats, including ibuprofen (Advil) and acetominophen (Tylenol). Ask your veterinarian whether a given product is safe for your dog or cat, and what dose should be used.

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  • There are GREAT advantages for owners to have their cat or dog spay / neuter before the animal reaches sexual maturity (around 6 months old) and before it starts to develop 'bad' habits. Even when animals are mature they still will benefit from spaying / neutering and there will be less homeless cats and dogs needing our rescue.

 

  • Windows Screens - Doorwall Screens: please don't assume that your pets are secure behind windows or door screens. With a gentle push, most screens will easily pop out of the frame.

 

  • Your pets are not secure on BALCONIES. Dogs and cats often sustain serious or fatal injuries after falling or jumping off a first story balcony.

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  • Check Here for animal food recalls from the FDA

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Tips For DOGS 

  • Please do not leave your dog outdoors for excessive time periods in the winter. During the winter dogs can get frostbite and suffer hypothermia! Dogs with short fur may become chilled especially quickly.

 

  • Antifreeze/coolant is poisonous, and with its sweet taste, it is often ingested by dogs. Clean up any spilled antifreeze/coolant and consider purchasing antifreeze/coolants that contain a safer alternative to ethylene glycol [the active ingredient in most antifreeze/coolant products]. If you suspect that your dog [or cat] might have ingested antifreeze, coolant, or any product containing 'ethylene glycol', immediate veterinary attention is vital--by the time the first symptoms appear (e.g., an alcohol-like intoxication), it may be too late. Call your vet as you are preparing to take your dog there--they may give you immediate instructions (i.e., to induce vomiting). There is an antidote for antifreeze that vets can give to dogs, but it must be given promptly!

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  • Toys and chews can become a hazard... if they are the wrong size they can be choked on or ingested--causing an obstruction or piercing the intestines/bowels. Pick appropriately sized toys and especially, chews (for a rawhide or chew, pick a large enough piece that the dog will not be able to choke or swallow it whole). Periodically examine toys and chews for their condition, and discard items that have jagged edges or that are a choking hazard. For dogs that like to destroy toys, we recommend extra durable toys, like "Kong". Diligence is especially required with dogs that are 'aggressive chewers.'

 

  • Dogs need access to clean water with meals and at all times.

 

  • Regularly check the fit of a dog's collar. If the collar isn't frequently adjusted as a puppy grows, it will become tight or even embedded in the skin. A collar getting looser may be sign of weight loss--possibly a symptom of a medical issue (i.e., infection, parasite, cancer).

 

  • Large or deep-chested dogs are sometimes prone to GDV (Gastric Dilitation Volvulus)--sometimes known as "bloat". GDV is a medical emergency where the dog's stomach distends with air and twists, cutting off the oxygen/blood supply. If you suspect that your dog has GDV, take him to a vet immediately--surgery may save your dog, but only if he is treated right away. Ask your vet about steps you can take to reduce the chance that your dog will get GDV, and how to spot the symptoms (e.g., vomiting, belching large amounts of gas, hard and distended abdomen).

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Tips For CATS 

  • Certain lilies, Poinsettia, and exotic flowers may cause kidney failure if consumed by cats.

 

  • Please do not let your cat outdoors in the winter. During the winter cats can get frostbite and suffer from hypothermia! They seek warmth under parked cars or hide in the engine compartment. If you hear any unusual noises in your car please investigate it as soon as possible. In the past Precious Pets Adoption League rescued two kittens that were found in the engine compartment in two separate incidents.

 

  • Please do not let your cat outdoors. Your cat's health may be at risk since it can get hit by a car, get into poison, and contract FIV, FeLV , fleas, parasites, etc.

 

  • Kittens (cats) need access to clean water at all time. Did you know that 10 % lost of body fluids may be life threatening to kittens?

 

  • If your kitten does not want to eat dry food, try to take a small amount of the dry food (1 tablespoon) and add water to it (about 3-4 tablespoons). The food become soft in an hour and the kitten may like it better.

 

  • Kittens love to play with strings and ribbons, BUT they also like to eat them. Please be aware that once they start swallowing they CAN'T STOP until they ingest the whole string / ribbon. An emergency operation may be necessary to save the kitten's (cat's) life. For safety, keep all strings / ribbons out of cats' reach and supervise play with such 'toys'.

 

  • Cats often graze on house plants. Many plants are poisonous to cats. Check list of 'danger' plants and gift them out to friends without pets. Grow grass for cats indoor (for example "Cosmic Kittyherbs" found in many pet stores).

 

  • Medications or topical flea products made for dogs may be hazardous for cats. Never spray, apply topically, or administer pet products on a cat unless the product's label specifically indicates that it is meant for use on cats or your veterinarian states that it is OK to use on cats. In particular, some topical flea medications made for dogs--including those sold OTC, are toxic to cats. If your cat and dog like to play, you may want to contact your vet before topically applying products on your dog--there have been a few cases where a dog made physical contact with a cat shortly after certain topical flea medication was applied, that the cat became ill just from some of the product rubbing onto the cat from the dog's body.

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