Dog Articles

Pets and Coronavirus

Coronavirus and COVID-19 has changed the world for everyone … and that includes our cats and dogs!

While it still doesn’t appear that dogs (or cats) can actually become infected with this novel coronavirus and develop the COVID-19 disease*, your pets can still be at other heightened health and safety risks during this time of self-isolation while we’re all working together to try and flatten the curve. [*Update: Apr. 8, 2020 — New cases and studies appear to show that cats (and ferrets, but not dogs) may be able to become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. There is still no evidence or suggestion though that any pets can pass the virus or infection on to people. For an updated analysis of these new findings, please see our "Pets and COVID-19" podcast and article.]

This article will help you keep your pets as healthy and safe as possible in your home during this time of changed routines and #coronaquarantine. Not only will this help your pets, but it’ll also help save you additional stress (and costs) during this difficult time.

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Topics: Dog Safety, Cat Safety, Xylitol, Pet Suffocation, Rodenticides, Household Dangers, Coronavirus

Have you decided to start living a healthier lifestyle? If you’re contemplating the ketogenic or “keto” diet to accomplish your goals, or are already on it, there are some things you should be aware of to best ensure that you don’t endanger the health and safety of your pets while you’re improving your own.

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Topics: Dog Safety, Cat Safety, Xylitol, Foods that aren't good for dogs, Dog Food, Foods that aren't good for cats, Cat food

Like many health-conscious people these days, Melissa Wardrop is eating healthier and watching her and her family’s consumption of sugar. She’s also a very considerate person, both generally and also in terms of taking her friends' sugar-free eating habits into consideration. Sadly, it was the two “thank you” loaves of sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free zucchini bread she baked for her friends that led to the loss of her beloved family dog, Lucy, a beautiful and sweet 5 year old Lab.

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Topics: pet safety, Dogs, Xylitol, Xylitol Products, Dog Treats, #IfOnlyIKnew

For the most part, peanut butter can be awesome for dogs and most dogs LOVE it! Peanut butter is great as an occasional "high value" treat, it’s useful for hiding pills, and it can even be used to distract your dog while giving them a bath or trimming their nails.

While most peanut butter brands are safe for dogs, not all types of peanut butter are safe and not all amounts of peanut butter are safe, either.

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Topics: Xylitol, Dog, Peanut butter, Dog Health & Safety

 
It’s been said that what you don’t know can’t hurt you, which is a silly thing to say, especially if you’re talking about your dog.

If you’ve read anything on Preventive Vet before, you’ll know that some of the biggest dangers to your dog are the things that you're not aware of yet. After all, you can't prevent what you're not aware of!

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Topics: pet safety tips, Xylitol, Xylitol Products, Chewing, Pet Suffocation, Chip Bags, Dog toys, puppy proofing

Getting Xylitol Out of Gum Would Help Thousands of Dogs

Xylitol is a "sugar alcohol" sweetener that's becoming an increasingly common sugar substitute all across the country. Though it's found in a great many products (700+ and counting!), sugar-free and "sugarless" gums are, by far, the most common source of xylitol poisoning in dogs. You can help change that.

With just a share and a signature, you can help #GetXylitolOut of gum and protect thousands of dogs each year. We've even found a dog-safer replacement sweetener that the gum campanies can use — it's called erythritol, and it may even be better for your teeth, too!

Now we can do more than just raise awareness about the dangers of xylitol. We can actually get rid of one of the biggest xylitol dangers to dogs! Please sign our Change.org #GetXylitolOut petition and read on to learn more about this problem and to see what else you can do to help.

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Topics: Dog Safety, Dog Health, Xylitol Dogs, Xylitol Gum, Xylitol, Xylitol Products, Is Xylitol Safe, pet health

As xylitol is being used in an increasingly wide range and number of products, more and more dogs are getting sick from eating this “all natural” sugar substitute.

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Topics: Dog Health, toxicity, Xylitol Dogs, Xylitol, Xylitol Products, Poison control

Xylitol: More Dangerous Than Chocolate, Yet Less Well Known About

Do you know what xylitol is? Are you (fully) aware of the danger it poses to dogs? You wouldn’t be alone if you answered “no” to either, or even both of these questions. In our ongoing Pet Safety Awareness survey over 50% of the respondents weren’t aware of xylitol or the danger it poses to dogs until they took the survey! By comparison, you’d be hard pressed to find a dog owner who isn’t aware that chocolate can be toxic to dogs. Right?

Yet xylitol can be far-more-dangerous to dogs than chocolate! The picture below shows the minimum amount of dark chocolate that could cause death in three different weights of dog — compared to the minimum number of pieces of xylitol-containing sugar free gum that could have the same devastating effect.

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Topics: Dog Safety, toxicity, Dog Emergency, Xylitol Dogs, Xylitol Gum, Xylitol, Xylitol Products, Is Xylitol Safe, Blog, Seizures, Liver Failure, Hypoglycemia

Day 12: Houseguests

I know, it seems a bit curmudgeonly to declare “houseguests” as a pet hazard. After all, it's Christmas! And isn't this holiday about nothing else if not spending it with friends, family, and loved ones?

It is indeed — both for you and your pets. From the perspective of the health and safety of your pets though, it truly is important for you to be aware of all the dangers that your friends, family members, and other loved ones will most certainly (albeit inadvertently) expose your pets to during this year’s Christmas festivities.

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Topics: Dog Safety, Cat Safety, pet safety, toxicity, Xylitol, holiday pet safety tips, Hepatic Lipidosis, Vomiting, Poison control, Christmas pet hazards, Pet safety and houseguests, Diarrhea, Batteries

Gifts, holiday foods, and food preparation materials aren’t the only dangers your pets are likely to face during the holiday season. Along with the presents, wrapping, and large meals common this time of year, this is also often a time for a revolving door of house visitors and overnight guests. And whether those guests are neighbors and friends popping in briefly from down the street, or friends and family coming to stay from across the country, many will inadvertently bring with them toxins and other pet hazards that could ruin your holiday. With some important awareness and some simple precautions, you’ll be able to welcome your friends and family warmly and with open arms, without compromising your pet’s safety and well-being.

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Topics: Dog Safety, Cat Safety, pet safety tips, pet safety, Lilies, Xylitol, holiday safety, Cats, chocolate toxicity in dogs, Dog, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, Christmas pet hazards, Pet Hazards at Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Safety, Christmas pet dangers, Pet safety and houseguests, Poinsettias