Archive for the 'Pets' Category
Water Safety
With the summer season upon us you can never be too cautious around water or read too many articles on water safety. Most children love water and are like bugs to a zapper when it comes down to it. So vigilance is the watch word while your child is around enough water to drown in, which is less than an inch of water. This includes places you wouldn’t normally think of: puddle, bucket, bowl, and toilet.
What to be watchful of around the swimming pool:
1.) Watch your child at all times. For young children don’t be more than arms length away so you are readily available to grab them.
2.) Pool drains. The suction from a pool drain can be strong enough to hold an adult by the hair or body underwater let alone a child. Drain covers that are missing are usually the cause of this problem.
3.) Swimming pool water should have the proper chemical balance of chlorine. Too much chlorine can burn your child’s skin not enough and the water is ripe for bacteria and pollutants.
4.) Make sure your child walks and not runs around the edge of the pool. One slip is all it takes.
5.) Water wings or a life preserver is a must for young children that don’t know how to swim yet. Don’t rely solely on yourself to keep your child afloat. There is no such thing as too safe.
6.) If you have a pool in your backyard make sure it’s enclosed with a fence that is at least four feet high and has a lock on the gate. Make sure that unless you’re in the pool with your child that it remains locked.
7.) If you have a little plastic wading pool, make sure to drain it and store it in an upright position after each use. Never leave the water in it unattended or overnight. The water isn’t chemically treated and could grow bacteria.
8.) Always carry a cell phone with you to the pool just in case of emergencies.
If the unthinkable happens and your child goes under for longer than a moment, here are the steps you’ll need to take calmly and quickly:
1.) Pull your child out of the water
2.) Carry the child with their head lower than their chest
3.) Wrap the child in a warm dry towel or blanket
4.) Call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room (even if the child appears okay they could have water in their lungs which could cause lung damage and pneumonia)
5.) If the child is unconscious, check for breathing and a pulse — if not breathing start CPR while someone else dials 911.
The rule of thumb around the water is: Never leave your child unattended.
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Choosing the Perfect Pet (part 2)
If your answer to the lifestyle question was travels a lot then you’ll need a low maintenance pet like a cat, rodent, reptile, or fish. A pet that you can leave enough food and water for short trips and for longer trips have a friend come over every couple of days to refill the supply. These types of pets won’t miss you like a dog will when you’re gone.
Cats. When choosing a cat, you’ll also want to pick one in its adolescence. They aren’t as rambunctious as kittens and less likely to claw and bite while playing. And when you have a small child, the cat is bigger and less fragile in little hands. Adopting is best for a family cat but if you want purebred, Ragdoll cats come highly recommended by experts as being very gentle, laid-back, and friendly. Other things to consider: males are more tolerant of young children than females and indoor domesticated cats are a necessity. Feral, or undomesticated cats, won’t be happy as an indoor family pet and you can expect a lot of scratches in demonstration. Always check with the adoption provider if the cat gets along with children.
Rodents. Caged animals such as rabbits, rats, hamsters, gerbils are fun pets for children to watch but not really handle. They also are messier than cat with cage clean up but have the convenience of cats in not needing constant affection or constant watch while on your travels.
Reptiles. Reptiles have the ease of only needing to be fed every few days but you have to be careful of breeds — turtles can carry salmonella. You also have to be comfortable feeding the animal live crickets or in the case of snakes rats and mice. Depending on your child this can be a neat thing to watch or traumatic so make sure you know your child’s tolerance and feed the animal after your child is in bed if needed. Reptiles are less messy than the rodent breeds but no where close to cuddly.
Fish. Fish are by far the easiest animal to take care of. While they don’t have any “play” value they can be entertaining for kids to watch. They would also enjoy sprinkling in the fish flakes. Tanks do need to be cleaned but if you have a good filter system it doesn’t have to be very often.
A happy pet is a well-placed pet. Make sure the pet you choose, is right for your family, and you can’t go wrong.
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The Summer of A*#-Whoopins Part 3: Crippling News
So, anyone else tired of my continuous drama this summer? I am. But, what the hell, let the royal emotional a** kicking continue!
Jackson on Easter, 2002
Our sweet dog, Jackson stopped being able to walk about four days ago. He went from walking (albeit, like an old man, but walking nonetheless) down the street with us to only being able to take two to five steps and then collapsing. Hoping that it was just arthritis kicking in, we took him immediately to the vet to get it checked out. Apparently he has a neurological disorder that is going to keep him paralyzed for good. They are not sure if it is cancer or if a disc is blocking the spinal cord - they could not tell anything after X-rays or blood work. So, we decided yesterday that we would bring him home and care for him as best as we could - as if we have an elderly family member who needs our help (which is, afterall, the case). The vet doesn’t recommend that we take on the task of trying to care for a dying elderly dog, especially since we have two very active kids to focus on. But, how can we not? Jackson has been with us for twelve years - his entire life. Granted I have only been around for five of those twelve years - he was my husband’s bachelor-days dog - but he has been my dog too and our kids’ dog their entire life. Since I have no idea how to care for invalid animals, I am having to do my research. We have decided that we will keep him home until we think that he is in any pain or becoming any sicker (he is having difficulty expressing his urine - not a good sign). While we have him home though I want to make sure we are doing things right for him.
Home care for a pet that can’t walk or eliminate is a task certain pet owners have chosen to tackle with the help of Pampers, pet wheel chairs, egg crate mattresses and ramps. Families will even acquire portable oxygen tanks for pets with compromised respiration. Some people react with fear of medical procedures and needles. Others have great interest in learning how to administer to their pets for convenience and needed financial savings. The most important ingredient to look for in oneself, in the staff and in the pet owner is willingness. Hold a staff meeting and ask the question if being a compassionate veterinary care giving facility is truly O.K. with the nursing staff. Put one special staff member as the appointed support person for a certain pet and its owner. Ask the client to direct phone calls and concerns to their designated staff member or support team. Staff can handle most of the home care problems and the doctor can see the pet on regular rechecks to answer major questions such as changes in prescription medications.
Though most of the information I am finding is advocating hospice care for dying pets, not an option for us, it is still riddled with good tips on how to cope and, physically, how to help your pet get on with their daily functions and how to make them more comfortable.
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Sunny Vs. The Furniture
Our beloved old kitty cat, Sunny, has taken up a new hobby. He loves to rip apart our new furniture. I have been lenient on him because, as we live on the third floor, he has been unable to go outside for the last year. For the first ten years of his life he was primarily an outdoor cat. He only came inside to eat and cuddle. So, I have been more acceptable of his icky behavior for a long time since he has had such a severe lifestyle change (who wouldn’t be a little weird, right?).
But, my days of understanding are near an ending. Our new couch is starting to get fuzzy in places it ought not to be fuzzy and out new (antique) armchair is his new target. I have looked up some sites with suggestions to remedy this. There are some keepers (rubbing some catnip on something they can claw), but mostly there are suggestions that need to be lost (trimming your cat’s claws?!?!? declawing?!?? putting an inflated balloon on whatever you don’t want them to claw at? huh?? do i really want big balloons taped to all my furniture?). Of course declawing is completely out of the question - I feel like that is one of the most inhumane things you could ever do to a cat. Until we move into the new house (he’ll be a free outdoorsman again) - we are going to have to be creative. Any suggestions?
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Creating A Dachshund Wheelchar
I love it when people not only have a good idea, but they share it too. A smart pet owner had a Dachshund dog that needed a doggy wheelchair, so he made one himself. You can make your own Dachshund wheelchair by following his excellent directions at instructables.com.
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Have A Pet Plan For Pregnancy Or Illness
Amy Eller in The Herald-Sun reports:
You should have plans for pet care in case you become ill unexpectedly. Daily routines with your pets can become struggles if you are not up to your physical best. Walking the dog, trips to the vet or groomer, and changing the litter box are all things we take advantage of when we are well. If you suddenly become ill and cannot do these things, who will help you out? It is important to discuss this possibility with friends, family and neighbors.
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