Dangers with House Plants

Just as there are hidden dangers in our dog’s environment from the foods we eat, there are also dangers in many of the plants we keep to decorate our homes and property.

The following list is taken from ASPCA’s website and is not a complete list of the plants that could potentially be hazardous to your dog. For a more complete list, visit the ASPCA’s website.

Plants Poisonous to Dogs

Plant	Description/Possible Problems
Sago Palm	All parts of Cycas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or “nuts” contain the largest amount of toxin. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.
Lilies	Members of the Lilium spp. are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the poisonous component has not yet been identified, it is clear that with even ingestions of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.
Tulip/Narcissus bulbs	The bulb portions of Tulipa/Narcissus spp. contain toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/Rhododendron	Members of the Rhododenron spp. contain substances known as grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander	All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic, as they contain cardiac glycosides that have the potential to cause serious effects—including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.
Castor Bean	The poisonous principle in Ricinus communis is ricin, a highly toxic protein that can produce severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen	Cylamen species contain cyclamine, but the highest concentration of this toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant. If consumed, Cylamen can produce significant gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting. Fatalities have also been reported in some cases.
Kalanchoe	This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew	Taxus spp. contains a toxic component known as taxine, which causes central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination, and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure, which can result in death.

Hidden Dangers in People Food

The fact that dogs love to eat is no great mystery. They especially love “people” food. Our food is full of all sorts of great flavors and smells that most dogs usually go crazy for, and would rather eat than their normal, daily canine cuisine.

Many people love giving their dog an extra-special, food treat from time to time. They love seeing the excitement on their dog’s face after handing him a nice piece of juicy steak for example, and watching him lick the plate clean. While giving your dog a scrap or two here and there (as long as it’s not directly from the table) isn’t necessarily an issue, you must pay attention to the types of food you are giving him and/or, allowing him to find on his own.

While “human” food is certainly tasty to our dogs, it can also be dangerous, especially to the smaller dogs.

You can do your best to prevent or minimize the potential for accidents in your home by taking a look around to make sure there are no toxic food substances left where your dog can get to them. Remember to remove food from counters or tables that your dog can reach. Make sure your trashcan is secured from your dog’s perusal.

If you bring your dog to a neighbor, friend or family member’s house, do a quick check around to make sure there are no dangers present there either, especially if they don’t own dogs or if they have children. Always keep an eye of what your dog is getting into and what other people are feeding your dog. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure when dealing with common household dangers.

If in doubt of whether something is harmful or not, always err on the side of caution. Be safe, and keep it away from your dog.

Dangerous People Foods for Dogs

The actual effects that these compounds can have on your dog are dependent on a number of factors. Always consult your vet immediately if you know or suspect your dog has eaten one or more of the items on this list or any other dangerous item.

Food/Item	Description/Possible Problems
Chocolate	The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for your dog. Dark chocolate has 2 to 5 times more theobromine, the component of chocolate that is toxic to dogs, than milk chocolate, which makes it more dangerous to dogs. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, approximately 1.3 grams of baker’s chocolate per kilogram of a dog’s body weight (0.02 oz/lb) is sufficient to cause symptoms of toxicity. Your best bet is to keep all types of chocolate away from your dog.
Onions and Garlic (Raw, Cooked, Dried, etc…)	Onions and garlic are others dangerous foods that cause sickness in dogs, as well as other animals. Onions contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate.  Onions are more of a concern than garlic;  however in sufficient quantities, garlic can be dangerous as well. Dogs affected by onion and garlic toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. Keep your dog away from all sources of onions and garlic, including dried, raw, cooked and mixed within other foods.
Grapes and Raisins	Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Depending on the size of the dog, a very small amount of raisins can be lethal.
Macadamia Nuts	Both raw and roasted macadamia nuts are dangerous for dogs. The actual toxic compound isn’t known; however dogs that ingest enough of these nuts can develop tremors, weakness or paralysis of the skeletal muscles and hindquarters. Difficulty rising, swollen and painful limbs are also apparent in affected dogs.
Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Tea and Tea Bags, Cola and other soft-drinks	Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and, as is the case in humans, high levels can affect the heart and nervous systems.
Tomatoes and Tomato Plants, Rhubarb	Contain oxalates, which can be problematic for the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. In high amounts these compounds can cause problematic.
Raw Fish	Can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. If fed regularly, can cause problems to the dog’s overall diet resulting in vitamin deficiency, which can cause other health problems such as loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Milk and Some Other Dairy Products	Some dogs do not have the lactase enzyme to break down the lactose in milk and other dairy products. Can cause diarrhea.
Mushrooms	Can contain toxins that may impair the liver and kidney. Shock and death are possible.
Sugary Foods	Same problems as in humans. In large amounts can lead to obesity, tooth decay and diabetes.
Alcohol	Same problems as in humans. In larger amounts can cause stomach problems, diarrhea, coma, death.
Bones from poultry, fish or other meat sources	Could lead to esophageal or intestinal blockage or laceration.
Cat food	Cat food contains a very high level of protein and is not recommended to be given to dogs.
Seeds from Apples, Cherries or Peaches and similar fruit	The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans.
Avocados – The fruit, the pit and the plant	These are all toxic. Difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart are possible.
Table Scraps (in large amounts)	These shouldn’t comprise more than 10% of the dog’s diet. If table scraps are given, please make sure to remove any bones present as well as the fat. Large amounts of table scraps can lead to unbalanced nutrition levels, allergies and other health problems.
Yeast Dough	Can expand and create large amounts of gas in the digestive tract causing pain and, in very severe cases, rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Nutmeg	Can cause seizures, tremors or death.

Please note: This is not a comprehensive list of possible food dangers. Common sense and a little research before you give your dog something in question are a must.

Close Encounters of the Aggressive Kind – Part 2

Aggressive Encounters – Review of Part 1

In Part 1 of our series on aggressive dog encounters, we discussed several different safety protocols to follow in order to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe from possible aggressive or fear-related attacks by dogs you may not know very well, or not know at all. The main points to remember during an encounter with a stressed or potentially dangerous dog, are to remain as calm as possible, and try to diffuse the situation to the best of your ability.

Do not run away from the dog!

This will most likely invoke a chase response from the dog, and one in which you are likely to lose.

By learning and following the points discussed in Part 1, you’ll be better equipped to prevent potential attacks, and limit the amount of damaged sustained, should an attack occur.

Approaching Aggressive Dogs

In this section, we will discuss the topic of properly greeting and handling known dogs that have had a history of aggressive tendencies. Treatment plans for modifying aggressive behavior will not be discussed in this article.

The main talking points will revolve around safety information to better handle or prevent aggressive encounters, either to yourself or to friends and/or family members by dogs you are very familiar with. For articles regarding treatment plans for the modification of behavior problems concerning various types of aggression, please search our website for more information.

The first thing owners of aggressive, or potentially aggressive dogs must do is set the dog up for success at all times. What this means is that owners of these types of dogs must refrain from any activities that are known to provoke an aggression response in the dog.

If the dog is reactive towards house guests, then the dog must be removed and prohibited from any areas guests may enter during their visits. Rooms or locations where the dog is being held must locked to prevent accidental escapes.

If you read our article on Canine Behavior Problem Solving, you learned about environmental triggers and their effect on behavior problems. Do your best to eliminate or reduce potential aggression-invoking triggers and properly manage the dog’s environment to help him avoid all dangerous situations.

If you are unable to remove the possible problem triggers from the dog’s environment, then the dog must be removed from the environment for the time being, until all potential triggers are no longer present.

Ensure that you are doing your best not to reward/encourage inappropriate or aggressive behavior. In other words, don’t fuel the fire. If you know that your dog becomes aggressive with certain types of toys, or when he is allowed to engage in certain activities, then those toys must be removed from the dog.

Also, all activities that encourage or foster aggressive behavior must be abruptly stopped until the dog has learned to release any and all “problem” toys or learned to stop all problematic activities upon owner request.

If the dog reacts unfavorably to being removed from a certain chair or section of the house, actions must be taken to prohibit the dog from gaining access to these “very valuable resources” until the dog has learned to move from them when requested.

Common sense and sound judgement is crucial when learning to handle potentially dangerous dog interactions. Under no circumstance must you place yourself, or anyone else in harm’s way when trying to handle your pet’s aggression. Always err on the side of caution.

One of the mistakes most owners will often make during their everyday interactions with a reactive or aggressive dog, is not portraying a positive, calm and confident attitude around the dog. Sound leadership skills and being able to convey those leadership skills to your dog, showing him that you have things confidently in order, will help him understand his role in the home. Not being able to communicate these skills to your dog can reduce the chances of you being able to change his or her behavior.

Dogs are masters at reading body language, whether it be human’s or another animal’s. Dogs do what works and they have an uncanny ability to read the uncertainties in the way we present ourselves and use those uncertainties to their advantage to get the most out of a given situation.

The fact that dogs use this information for their benefit has nothing to do with being sneaky or deceitful. It has to do with learning how to survive by reading their environment to obtain the things they require and escape from the things that may do them harm. Through many, many generations of evolution, dogs have learned to take what their environment gives them to aid them in those two life-preserving necessities.

As mentioned above, owners must do their best not to encourage, enable or permit their dog to engage in inappropriate behavior. This does NOT mean that the dog must be physically abused or punished in order to prevent him from behaving inappropriately. Doing so can have serious consequences.

The main point to take away here is that the more a dog is allowed to perform a certain behavior that it deems rewarding, the better it becomes at doing it, and the more apt it is to continue it in the future. Prevention is crucial any behavior modification program.

Aggression Handling Challenges

Owner’s whom have dogs that aggressively challenge, or threaten them in any way, which include acting aggressively to obedience commands (down, sit, etc..), or aggressively defending treasured resources (food, toys, couch, etc.), should take note of the safety protocols discussed in Part 1, and try to diffuse the situation to the best of their abilities.

Do not fight fire with fire! Doing so can cause a few moments of frustration to turn into much worse. The owner should very calmly, with voice commands try get the dog to relax. Again, this is only if the dog does not respond to those vocal signals with even more aggression.

If the owner cannot calm the dog down, the best thing to do in that situation, would just be to turn away from the dog and ignore him. If the aggression is due to something the dog is possessive over, once the dog relinquishes the object or area, as mentioned above, he must not have access to it again, until he can safety release the object on command. 

If the dog is acting aggressively out of demands for a particular resource (barking, growling, etc. to obtain something he doesn’t already have) do not give in to the dog’s demands and reward him for his improper behavior by giving him what he wants. Doing so will only teach the dog that acting inappropriately is a sure-fire way for him to get whatever he desires. Don’t let the dog manipulate the situation.

If the dog wants something, then he should learn to perform a proper behavior in order to get that object. It’s give and take. He should be made to sit or lie down before getting his nightly food or before being allowed to go outside. The dog should realize that you hold the keys to him obtaining the things he needs, and the only way to get those things is to behave properly.

If owners are consistent and steadfast in their handling efforts, most dogs will ultimately defer to the owner’s requests at some point. Each dog will vary in the amount of time it takes them to learn how to properly get the resources they are looking for.

If, in the worst possible scenario, the dog bites someone, the safety protocols discussed in Part 1 must be followed. Do not try to pry the part of the body that has been attacked from the dog, and do not struggle with the dog.  Go limp and do not add any resistance to the dog’s grip. Also, do not challenge the dog. Once he has loosened his grip, the person whom was attacked should quietly move away from the dog and seek medical attention.

Although anger is a normal reaction after being the victim of a dog bite, the person being attacked must not engage in any retribution-seeking activities by physically punishing the dog. This can only make matters worse.

Final Thoughts

In learning how to handle or deal with aggressive dog situations, the most important things to take away are to try stay as calm as possible and think with a clear mind, do not do anything to incite an attack, and always use your best judgement and common-sense in every situation. You need to judge every situation and determine what the most viable course of action may be, while at the same time, trying to be as mindful as possible to the safety protocols discussed in this article.

There are occasions, however; where drastic situations will call for drastic measures, which will require you to abandon some or all of the practices discussed here. If a dog has grabbed-hold of a child, then your first priority is to get that child away from dog without risking further injury to the child. Again, every situation will be different, and if faced with a life or death situation, there are times where drastic measures are all that one has to prevent or stop a fatal attack.

If you are currently dealing with an aggressive dog and are, in any way, uncomfortable or fearful to work with your dog in any of the manners described throughout either part of this article, please consult a qualified animal behaviorist and/or your veterinarian immediately. Aggressive dogs must be handled properly, and under no circumstances are you to place yourself, or anyone else at risk when dealing with these types of dogs.

Close Encounters of the Aggressive Kind – Part 1

Being confronted by a large, unfamiliar dog, whether it’s the neighborhood “Houdini” whom manages to pull a vanishing act on his owners from time to time, a friend or family member’s new “home-guardian”, or that massive barking ball-of-fur standing in between you and your dog’s new chew toy at the local pet store, can be somewhat unsettling. In fact, depending on the dog and the situation, it can be downright scary.

Thankfully though, most interactions with stray or unknown dogs usually pass by without incident and actually are very friendly. There are those rare cases however, that can really bring about some very anxious moments of uncertainty, and/or pose a significant risk to yourself, and anyone or anything that may be with you.

The keys in preventing a serious attack are being able to read and understand the various signals the offending dog may be sending your way, and knowing which behaviors, on your part, can either provoke or prevent an attack. Being able to react properly can also help minimize the damage sustained if an attack somehow cannot be prevented.

Typical body positions or gestures for dogs that may be on the brink of attack can include, but are not limited to wide, firm, forward-looking body stances, barking and/or growling, pupil dilation, hackles raised (hair on neck and tail), ears erect and possible tail raising or wagging. It’s important to note that each dog will have it’s own unique characteristics for handling stressful or perceived threatening situations, and may not show all of the signs listed above.

Many people make the assumption that if a dog is wagging it’s tail, it’s indicating that he or she is friendly or means no harm. This is not always the case. Dogs carry their tails in many different ways for a variety of different reasons, and not all of them indicate friendship or lack of a cause for concern. A dog’s tail wagging is indicating that he is ready to act in some way, and it may or may not be friendly. For more explanations and visual interpretations of canine body language and aggression, check out our article on Watching Your Dog for Signs of Stress.

The first section of this article will discuss the proper protocols to follow when confronted by dogs whom you may be completely unfamiliar with, as well as those you may have seen before, however; have virtually no knowledge about. In part II, we’ll discuss how best to interact with those dogs you are very familiar with and consider trustworthy.

An Imperfect Stranger

Dogs that are unknown present the biggest set of challenges when it comes to human confrontation. These issues stem from little or no knowledge of the dog’s temperament, mental or physical condition, and also, prior vaccination record. Stray dogs pose the greatest amount risk for this category due to the complete lack of historical data concerning previous aggression issues and communicable diseases.

Therefore; it’s vitally important to proceed with caution with any stray or free-ranging dog, and to be mindful of the following points to help minimize the chances of being attacked.

Do Not’s

• Do not fight fire with fire. Acting aggressively towards a reactive dog is likely only to incite an attack. Yelling, screaming, stomping feet, throwing objects, or antagonizing the dog in any way may cause a bad situation to get much worse by intensifying the dog’s aggression. Also be mindful of young children who may be fearful of large or unknown dogs and scream out of fear. The high pitches of a young child’s screeching may cause an aggressive dog to attack due to effects of being frightened by the sound.
• Do not stare the dog down directly or make persistent eye contact. Dogs can interpret eye contact as being threatening, which may provoke an already aggressive or frightened dog to attack.
• Do not square-off against a fearful or aggressive dog. This may be interpreted as an offensive position and could intensify the dog’s anger or fear. When greeting a strange dog, try to stand slightly to the side but always be mindful (without direct eye contact) of the dog’s position. By standing at a slight angle to the dog, you are sending him somewhat of a calming signal which indicates that you mean him no harm. Avoid abrupt movements.
• Avoid aggressively petting or wrestling when greeting unfamiliar dogs. Also never place your face near a strange dog’s mouth. Young children should especially be made to abide by these rules. They should also be taught to never place their face near the mouth of any dog, be it known or unknown.
• If possible, avoid approaching nervous, frightened or aggressive dogs. If you must approach, do so calmly and slowly and avoid approaching directly from the front, or from behind. Try to approach using an arc-like movement. Quick, deliberate movements directly toward dogs that are unsure of themselves can be viewed as threatening and make it appear as if they are about to be attacked. By moving in a slow, calm, arcing movement, the appearance of a possible threat is minimized.
• Do not run. This will more than likely trigger a chase response in the dog, and one in which the dog is likely to catch you. Unless you are 100% positive, beyond the shadow of a doubt, absolutely sure that you can make it to a safe location within a few steps, you must never, never run from a dog that has approached you. By doing so, you will also have to take your eyes off the dog. This is never a good idea.
• Never corner a fearful, nervous or agitated dog. By taking away all of dog’s options to escape from a stressful or frightening situation, it may feel it has no other chance for safety but to attack and defend itself. Dogs that are frightened or nervous should be left alone. This is especially true for young children.
• Do not tease a strange dog under any circumstance. This is especially true with food or toys.

Do’s

• Always ask the owner (if one is present) if it’s safe to pet their dog. Public encounters with unfamiliar dogs should always be initiated by obtaining the owner’s permission to greet and pet the dog. This is imperative for young children. Young children should be encouraged not to play with strange dogs unless accompanied by a responsible owner, and must be taught to always ask permission before greeting any strange animal.
• Be mindful of a dog’s territory. Dog’s may become extremely defensive of their belongings and territory. If you encounter a strange dog, whom you know may be defending his or her home property, always proceed with caution. Try to walk another route or, if you must pass through the dog’s territory, do not do anything to incite further aggression. See item 1 in the DO NOT section above.
• Always be mindful of a strange dog’s location relative to yourself, especially those that seem aggressive or worrisome, by watching his movements and positions without making direct eye contact. Monitor the dog by using the corner of your eyes or looking at him without looking directly into his face or eyes.
• Try to stand tall but do not tower over dog. Keep arms and hands down low by your side and keep your movements slow and smooth.
• If approached by a dog that seems dangerous, backup slowly without turning your back on the dog and as stated in number 3 above, always be mindful of the dog’s location and possible intentions. Talk calmly and smoothly to the dog only if it seems as if it may be helping the situation. If the dog intensifies in fear or anger, stop all communication. Move slowly and directly to a safe location. Avoid running or making abrupt movements.
• Always be mindful of your actions. Pet and greet strange dogs (with owner’s permission) in smooth, calm movements. Ask the owner if there are any areas the dog does and does not like to be touched and always obey the owner’s instructions.
• Young children should always refrain from touching or playing with dogs while the dog is eating or playing with a toy. This goes as well for when the dog is sleeping, nervous, frightened, isn’t feeling well due to an illness or being overexerted from the heat or strenuous activities.
• When greeting a dog, just keep your hands down by your side and let him sniff the back of your hand. Let the dog approach on his terms. Always be mindful of the owner’s instructions for petting. See number 6 above. Avoid petting or patting the top of the dog’s head. Unless otherwise instructed, pet the dog under the chin or on the belly and try to pet in the direction the fur is going.

  The dog will appreciate that much more than a few pats on the head. Always be mindful to keep your face or those of your children away from the dog’s mouth while petting him. Refrain from petting strange dogs that are fearful or are unsure of themselves.

What to Do if Attacked

• Do not incite further aggression by yelling or screaming. This may make matters worse. Remain silent and as calm as possible.
• Do not pull away from a dog that has bitten you. This is always very difficult to practice, because the first reaction is to try and pry, whichever part of the body the dog has bitten, loose from his mouth. Doing so can cause severe damage to that area, because the dog’s initial reaction is to tighten his jaws and pull in the opposite direction. The majority of damage sustained in dog bites is caused from trying to pull free of the dog’s bite.
• As difficult as it may be, try to remain as calm as possible. When the dog releases grip, try to follow all the points mentioned above to try to get away, as well the following.
• If escape is not possible, fall quietly to the ground, and, using your arms and hands, curl up into a ball to protect your head and face. You can also perform this procedure if you had fallen in the process of escaping from a threatening dog. Young children should become especially familiar with this position in the event they are attacked.
• If a child is attacked, the same rules apply with regards to trying to wrestle the child away from the dog. This is where the majority of damage can be caused. In this case, you need to resort additional measures to get the child to safety. Previous rules discussed here may need to be ignored. You need to get the dog’s attention away from the child; therefore, look for whatever you have at your disposal to accomplish this. If you have something you are able to throw over the dog or wrap around him, use it. If you are able to wet the dog with a hose or pale of water, do so. Remain quiet and calm in the process and instruct the child to assume the position described above. Do whatever you can to distract the dog and get the child to safety, without getting into a battle of strength with the dog.

Above all, the best advice to give when either approaching or being approached by an unfamiliar or worrisome dog is to use common-sense. If your instincts tell you that the dog isn’t to be trusted, then chances are, that’s what you should base all your decisions on, whether the owner tells you the dog is friendly or not.

Always be mindful of young children and strange dogs. Before even asking whether or not a strange dog is friendly, perform your own assessment.

• How does the dog look?
• Does he appear nervous?
• Does he appear to be stressed, possibly from an illness or from some other external factor?
• Is he barking or growling or doing anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable?

Once you’ve done your own external evaluation and feel the dog is approachable, always ask the owner’s permission, and again decide for yourself if the dog is friendly or not. Children should never be forced to approach or pet a dog if they’re reluctant or scared.

Be mindful of the points discussed in this article and you’ll be better equipped to handle those rare and unfortunate encounters with a much more confident outlook. For more on handling and dealing with known or familiar dogs, see Close Encounters of the Aggressive Kind – Part 2.

Safe Summer Dog Days

Keeping Your Best Friend Safe During the Warm Summer Months

Whether it’s enjoying cookouts in the backyard, taking a refreshing swim after work, or going for a relaxing, leisurely walk; summertime activities present us and our canine companions, a multitude of options to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Although the warm weather does provide us with ideal conditions for a variety of fun and recreational outdoor activities, it can potentially set the stage for a host of dangerous situations for your pet. To get the most fun out of your summer, while keeping your pet safe from these potential pitfalls, check out this list of tips to make sure both you and your pet have a fun and safe summer season.

1. Use caution when traveling with your dog in the car. Never leave him alone in the car for any period of time. The high temperatures that are reached inside a car during the summer months are extremely dangerous for your dog, especially for the shorter-nosed breeds, such as Pugs and the various Bulldogs.
2. Try to walk your dog either in the early morning or later evenings, so that he is not over-exerting himself during the extremely hot portions of the day. If you must be outside with your dog, make sure you have plenty of water for him and give him the opportunity to take frequent breaks in the cooler shady areas. Also, be wary of the hot ground you’re walking on as it can burn your dogs pads.
3. Always keep an eye on your dog when she’s around any body of water. Make sure you have appropriate life-vests on your dog and keep gates around backyard pools closed and locked.
4. When taking your dog for a walk, always try to keep him away from investigating puddles of water that may have collected on streets, roads and fields. They can be full of bacteria, pool, lawn or automotive chemicals, and other potentially dangerous contaminants.
5. Summer weather usually brings out the do-it-yourself-er in all of us. Remember to keep pool, lawn and garden chemicals, paints, solvents and all other toxic substances off floor-level and out of your dog’s reach.