Animal Poison Control Center [offsite link]
A unique, emergency hotline providing 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance to veterinarians and animal owners. The Center´s hotline veterinarians can quickly answer questions about toxic substances found in our everyday surroundings that can be dangerous to animals. There is a $45 consultation fee paid by the animal owner, veterinarian or product manufacturer.

First Aid and Emergancy Care
Canine medical emergencies... first aid, CPR, Heimlich,etc.

Seat Belts for Dogs?
With their seat belts fastened, dogs can no longer roam around the car. The harnesses secure and restrain, but they do not totally restrict movement. The dogs can sit and watch the scenery or they can just as easily lie down and sleep comfortably.

Summer Dangers - Foxtails, Giant Toads & Mushrooms
Though many may pet owners have not heard of at least two of these summer hazards, they can all mean serious illness or death for the dog who comes in contact with them.

A Safe and Sound Halloween for Dogs
Halloween night can be stressful for pets. No matter how much you like to include your dog in family activities, it's one time that dogs should probably be excluded from family fun.

A Safe Home for the Holidays
Keep the safety of your pets in mind when decking the halls. If you know the risks and take a few precautions you can avoid holiday hazards.

Air Travel – How Safe is Your Pet?
This recently has come into the headlines when this past August, seven of 14 puppies traveling from Tulsa to Chicago died. The death was linked to the high temperatures in the plane’s cargo. With 122 canine deaths reported from 2005 to 2010, how safe is flight travel for your pet?

ASPCA [offsite link]
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals exists to promote humane principles, prevent cruelty, and alleviate fear, pain, and suffering in animals. The site features humane education, information on animal care, lobby for animal welfare, national shelter outreach and more.

Being a Good Pet Neighbor [offsite link]
How would you rate your pet as a neighbor? A barking dog can be a neighborhood annoyance. Are you aware of local laws regarding a dog owners´ responsibilities? Cleaning up after your dog reflects your consideration for others with or without "pooper scooper" laws. Many towns require dogs to be walked on a leash. Roaming dogs may be picked up and owners must pay fines to reclaim them. Read more ...

CAR - Companion Animal Recovery [offsite link]
CAR helps recover all pets but has the most success recovering those identified with a microchip encoded with an unalterable ID number. The "chip" is implanted just under the skin in the scruff of the neck and is read by a scanner. Ask your vet for information about getting a permanent microchip id for your pet. Participating vets will give you an AKC-CAR enrollment form and collar tag at the time a microchip is implanted. Report lost or found pets here too.

Car Travel Tips [offsite link]
Top ten tips for safe car travel with your pets

Chilly Dogs - Staying Safe & Warm in Winter
In average winter temperatures most dogs enjoy going outdoors and they need their walks and exercise. Dogs can stay warm with their built-in fur coats or the protection of their jackets and sweaters. BUT.... that's not the case when temperatures take a dramatic plunge.

Cocoa Bean Mulch [offsite link]
Cocoa bean shells, a by-product of chocolate production, are sold as mulch for landscaping. Some dogs find the mulch attractive and eat small to large quantities, producing symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea to muscle tremors, seizures and even death. Cocoa bean shell mulch should not be used in landscaping around unsupervised dogs or dogs with indiscriminate eating habits.

Cold Weather and Winter Care for Dogs
Here's a few tips to help keep your dog safe and sound through the long winter months.

Common Household Dangers [offsite link]
Your dog is a trusting animal by nature. As a dog owner it is your responsibility to make sure your dog´s environment in the house is free from harm.

Dangerous Toys [offsite link]
Many household items that become pet toys can be dangerous or even fatal to your dog. Some store-bought pet toys can also cause problems if not used correctly. This article points out potential toy hazards.

Doris Day Animal League [offsite link]
The Doris Day Animal League is a nonprofit, national, citizens lobbying organization formed to focus attention on issues involving the humane treatment of animals. Working with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate both in Washington, D.C., and their home states and districts, the League´s goal is to pass laws to reduce the suffering of animals anywhere they are mistreated

Electronic Collars [offsite link]
An electronic collar is no different than a leash-just much more versatile.With a leash, you have the capabilities of tugging lightly enough so the dog totally ignores it -- or jerking so hard (chasing a cat) that if you are strong enough, have good timing & good technique -- you may stop him in his tracks. An electronic collar is no different. Modern technology has evolved these collars to the point that you can match any dogs temperament.

Emergency Pet Preparedness [offsite link]
If a fire, flood, earthquake, storm, or other disaster would ever strike your community and you would have to leave your home suddenly, would you be prepared? By taking time now to store emergency food, water, and other essential supplies, you can provide for your entire family, including your furry loved ones.

Etiquette for Dogs and Owners
It's easy to forget that not everyone likes dogs. Some people have had bad experiences, some just aren't animal people. Observing some rules of etiquette with your dog won't just help prevent from creating more bad experiences for people, but it might just help to change some minds about canine c

Fireworks And Your Pet
We all love ‘em. We ooooh and aahhh as the night sky lights up with brilliant displays of light and sound. However, this is one place and time you shouldn’t share with your canine companion. Please follow the suggestions below to make your celebrations great for both of you!

Household Poisons for Dogs
This page contains a list of household products that are poisonous and toxic to dogs. By arming yourself with what is harmful to your pet, you all can have a safer environment. Knowing what to do in case of an emergency can make all the difference in the world.

How Does Your Garden Grow? Toxic Time Bombs on The Home Front [offsite link]
In Springtime we turn our thoughts to the garden and what goes into it. The average homeowner probably doesn´t know what is in those neatly packaged products designed to keep the turf and garden weed and pest free. What does this have to do with canine health you may ask? Plenty! Read this informative article.

How To Find A Lost Cat Or Dog [offsite link]
Hope you´ll never need this adice, but this article from PetRescue.Org fully describes the steps you need to take find a lost pet.

Missing Pet Network [offsite link]
The MPN is a group of volunteers sponsored by the USDA Animal Care Office, who help people find missing pet animals. They accept no money, make no endorsements, and use no advertising on MPN web pages.

Moving Your Dog to a New Home [offsite link]
Moving to a new home can be stressful for your dog. Advance planning, patience and affection can help your dog adjust quickly to his new home.

Outside Dogs [offsite link]
Making a dog stay outside is a costly waste. If he’s for protection, do you put your valuables and your kids out in your yard? Most dogs kept outside cause far more nuisance complaints from barking and escaping than any deterrent to intrusion. Such complaints cause teasing, antagonism, release and poisoning. With your dog a helpless victim...read more...

Paintball Is No Game For Dogs [offsite link]
Most pet owners are not aware that these paint-filled pellets can be potentially harmful to their canine companions.

Pet Microchipping
Microchipping is becoming more and more popular among pet owners. A safe, painless implant can mean the difference between a happy homecoming and shelter euthanasia for a lost dog.

Pets and Disaster - Be Prepared [offsite link]
From The American Red Cross - "In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost, or worse. So prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home." read more....

Planting a Dog Friendly Garden
Make sure your beautiful yard doesn't present a danger for your dog; keep in mind some of these guidelines when planting flowers and vegetables within your dog's reach.

Plants Toxic to Animals [offsite link]
This is the toxicology homepage of the Veterinary Medicine Library at the University of Illinois. It lists poisonous plants on one page by common names and on a separate page by scientific names. On both pages the plant names are clickable links to color photos of that plant. There are also links with each picture to see additional pictures that, depending on the plant, shows how it looks before or after flowering; pictures of early growth, color variations, etc.

Plants Which Are Potentially Poisonous [offsite link]
Every pet owner should know what plants are in and around his/her house. Here´s a list of some of the more common poisonous plants. This is not an all-inclusive list.

Poisonous House Plants [offsite link]
Find out if you have any of the houseplants listed and how toxic they are.

Poisonous Plants of the Southern United States [offsite link]
Click on a name to see a picture of the plant, and read about the toxicity, symptoms and treatment.

Preparing Your Dog for the Dogsitter
Leaving your dog with a sitter for even a long weekend can be worrysome not only for you, but for your pup. Help put your mind at ease -- and allow yourself to enjoy your vacation -- with some tips on how to make the separation anxiety less for everyone.

Protect Your Pet from Common Household Dangers [offsite link]
Many common household items can pose a threat to animal companions. Even some items specifically meant for pets can cause health problems. To protect your pet, use common sense and take the same precautions you would with a child. Although rodent poisons and insecticides are the most common sources of companion animal poisoning, other less common but potentially toxic agents should be avoided. Read more from the Humane Society of the United States...

Safety Concerns About Pet Chews [offsite link]
Even though they give pooches a long-lasting treat, keep them amused when you are too busy to take a walk, and can help in reducing dental problems, they have latent dangers as well.REad more ....

Safety Rules for your Dog [offsite link]
Dogs are loving family members. Just as we do our best to look out for our children, we need to practice safety precautions for our precious pets. Here´s ways to reduce the risk of harm to your dog.

Safety Tips for Dogs [offsite link]
From the American Dog Trainers Network - "While holidays such as Christmas, New Year´s Day, Easter, and The Fourth of July, can bring us much celebration and joy, they can also offer some potential hazards to our pets. Here is a partial list of things which are potentially dangerous to your pet."

Seat Belts for Dogs?
With their seat belts fastened, dogs can no longer roam around the car. The harnesses secure and restrain, but they do not totally restrict movement. The dogs can sit and watch the scenery or they can just as easily lie down and sleep comfortably if they want too.

Spring & Summer Safety - Lawn & Garden Hazards
It´s time to treat the lawn, spray the trees and plant a garden. If you're a dog owner, please read this before you begin.

Thanksgiving Dangers for Dogs
Thanksgiving is a time for family, but part of the responsibility of hosting Thanksgiving dinner is making sure that it's a safe time for all. That includes our canine friends, and learning to recognize dangers before they become a problem.

Tips to Prevent Dog Bites [offsite link]
All dogs can bite regardless of size or breed. The key to preventing dog bites starts with responsible ownership. Read more from the AKC...

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Why does my dog eat grass? Is there something wrong with him? These are frequently asked questions and although there are several theories why dogs eat grass, veterinary experts agree that it´s just normal canine behavior. Read more...

Winter Paw Care for Dogs
Even paws covered in heavy fur get cold when they get wet. Exposure to ice, snow and salt can be a hazard to even the toughest paws. Well-made boots can keep a dog´s paws warm and dry in rain, ice, and snow and protect them from the harmful effects of salt and de-icers.

Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.

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