Patch Picks For Safe Pets

Skip the trip to the animal hospital to get your dog’s stomach pumped (not to mention the $1,000-plus bill) and bone up on some reminders from local pet experts. During National Animal Safety and Protection Month, consider these suggestions for creating a home environment where pet and owner alike will thrive.

Crate with Caution
Francine Barnes, one of the partners that owns 50-year-old Carriage Hill Kennels on Waukegan Road, says the crate is a great way to keep your dog safe when you're not around. Curious animals like puppies and kittens can find lots of trouble when they go unsupervised; she's known kittens to get tangled in drapery cords and puppies to choke on the wood molding they decided to teethe on. But the crate can be a hazard, too, if an active puppy gets its tags caught in the wire mesh. Take care to remove your pet's collar before crating it for the night or other extended periods of time. If you avoid tags by having your pet microchipped, October is a good time to make sure your current address and contact information is in the database.

Garden With Care
Just because it grows outside doesn’t mean its safe for pets. Glenview resident Deena Jorgensen, owner of the K-9 Kandy all natural dog treats sold at the Glenview Farmers Market, said additives in mulch can be deadly for dogs. Gardeners should also watch out for certain plants, including some varieties of lilies, trumpet vines and hostas.

Travel Safely
"We live in an area with extreme hot and cold weather, and in this area a lot of people like to take their dogs out with them," notes Matt Kriser, president and owner of Deerfield's 10-year-old Barking Lot. But it takes just a short time for locked cars to become dangerous for dogs—even in what seems like temperate fall weather. "It might be 75 degrees outside, but inside the car it gets to be 85-90 degrees quickly, and that can kill a dog,” Kriser says. “Even cracking a window doesn't do it. You think you're going to run into a store for five minutes to get a soda, but your car can heat up in seconds."

Tummy Trouble
Many of the North Shore Pet Chef's clients worry about allergies and digestive issues, according to owner Rob Freeman, a resident of Highland Park. And for good reason. It’s important to watch what your pets eat—both what you put in the dish and what they find around the house. "It’s easy to leave chocolate out on a table where a dog can reach it, especially around Halloween,” Freeman says. “To a dog, it smells good because it has a lot of sugar in it, but dogs are at risk for diabetes and cancer just like people because of the foods we let them eat." Human foods that can be toxic for dogs include chocolate, guacamole, alcohol, onions, garlic, caffeine, grapes, dairy products, macadamia nuts, peaches and plums.

Watch Your Purse
Many of the items you carry in your purse or briefcase are important for keeping you safe and healthy throughout the day, but they can be deadly to pets, warns Jan Johnson of Northbrook's new Wags on Willow pet boutique. "You might have medications or sugar-free gum in your purse, and people just drop them on the floor when they come into a house," she says. Also look out for lunch leftovers like grapes, chocolate and other human foods that pets might find in a child's backpack.

Ask the Experts
When in doubt, seek out expert advice. The staff at the Wilmette Pet Center can help care for your dogs and cats, but also small animals, fish and birds. Did you know that reptiles, betta fish and parrots react to the changing seasons—even though they live inside? Find out how to help your pets transition safely from the long hot days of summer to the shorter, cooler ones we're seeing now.