PETCARE TIPS

• Keep poisonous plants away from pets.
• Deodorize your pet's bedding by sprinkling with baking soda, wait 15 minutes and vacuum. Baking soda is nontoxic.
  
• If you don't have time to give your pet a bath, try a dry bath. Rub baking soda into their fur and brush it through and out.
  
• If you have indoor pets, be sure to keep electrical cords, cleaning products, medications, plastic bags, etc. out of reach.
  
• Never give your pets bones. They can splinter and cause serious injury. Offer them treats and chews made for them.
  
• Chocolate is toxic to pets. Also sweets can upset their digestive system.
  
• If you suspect pet urine is in your home but you can't find it, use a black light in the dark. Urine and feces residue will glow in the dark with this light.
  
• Pets get allergies too. If your pet scratches or chews more than normal, see your vet.
  
• Use precautions when treating your yard with pesticides and herbicides. Keep your pets away from these. If they do come in contact with these, wash your pet thoroughly and call your vet.
  
• If your dog is trying to dig under the fence, fill the hole with concrete or bricks.
  
• If your dogs and cats don't mind being vacuumed, it's an easy way to get rid of loose hair. Use an upholstery attachment and avoid the face and ears.
  
• If you have a longhaired pet, trim the hair between its toes to prevent dust and mud from collecting between the toes.
  
• To rid fleas from your carpet, in a bowl add one tablespoon of dish washing liquid to one quart of water, but don't create bubbles. Place the bowl in the area where the fleas are. Then place a lamp near the bowl and shine the light on the bowl with the rest of the room dark. The fleas will jump into the water in the bowl. The next morning empty the bowl and repeat each night for two weeks.
  
• If you own a dog and a baby arrives, be sure to give your pet its own special time with you each day. Your pet needs to know it hasn't lost your affection.
  
• Don't encourage aggression. Playing rough and encouraging play biting may lead to aggressive behavior.
  
• Don't let your dog roam. They could get into fights, injuries and other harmful things.
  
• Never leave dangerous objects like pins, needles, etc within reach of your pet.
  
• Clip your dog's nails every few weeks or as often as necessary to maintain that length. This will prevent the quick from growing too long and prevent the nail from bleeding.
  
• Place a tea strainer in the tub drain when bathing your pet to prevent shedding hair from clogging the drain.
  
• To keep your pet from chewing on the furniture, put a little oil of cloves on the furniture with a cotton ball. If the smell doesn't keep them away, the taste will.
  
• Never trim a cat's whiskers. The whiskers act as sensors that help them to get around in tight spaces.
  
• The best way to stop two cats from fighting is to pour water on tm.
• To stop a dogfight, turn the water hose on them.
  
• Never leave your pets in a hot car. In the summer time it gets very hot in a matter of minutes.
  
• To keep your dog free from fleas, try feeding your dog garlic. Fleas don't like garlic. When given to the dog often it keeps the odor on the skin. Fleas will not bother with that dog.
  
• For a new puppy that is having a hard time sleeping, wrap a towel around a warm hot water bottle and place it in his bed.
  
• Pets with short hair or white hair can sunburn. Keep them out of the sun for prolonged periods of time.
  
• Does your dog have behavior problems? Increase your dog's exercise, try long walks, jogging, playing in the back yard or whatever the two of you enjoy doing together. Make the exercise regular and vigorous. Your pet's energy has to go somewhere. Remember that a tired dog is almost always a good dog.
  
• While cleaning with cleaning agents, don't allow your pet access to the area where you are using the cleaning agents. Also, store cleaning products where pets and children can't reach them.