England, Naturally

inspiration to heal our green & pleasant land

A Book to Keep Your Dog Safe

Filed Under: Animal Friends, Home Comforts, In The Garden Tagged With: ,

for dog's sake book Amy Luwis

For Dog’s Sake is a beautifully illustrated book to keep your dog safe. Artist Amy Luwis takes a serious subject and makes it fun. Learn to spot signs of healthy and not-so-healthy dogs. Take the online dog safety quiz (sign up to Amy’s newsletter to read the first 25 pages for free). The book covers:

Common Household Dangers

  1. MDI Glue
  2. Trash
  3. Common Choking Hazards
  4. Deadly Handbags
  5. Household Plants

The Backyard, Garden & Shed

  1. Rock Salt & Salt-Based Ice-Melting Products
  2. Outdoor Flowers & Plants
  3. (also see make your garden safe for pets)

Dangers in the Great Outdoors

(also read tips to keep dogs safe in the sun)

  1. Foxtails
  2. Mushrooms
  3. Perils of Puddles
  4. Sticks
  5. Stings & Insect Bites
  6. Spider Bites
  7. Snake Bites
  8. Water Hemlock/Spotted Parsley

Foods Toxic to Dogs

See Can I Give My Dog? & better pet food. Many foods should not be given to any pets due to toxic ingredients including: 

  1. Alcohol
  2. Alliums (garlic, onion, scallions, leeks, chives, shallots)
  3. Caffeine
  4. Chocolate
  5. Grapes & Raisins
  6. Nuts (esp. macadamia nuts)
  7. Nutmeg
  8. Raw Salmon
  9. Raw Yeast Dough
  10. Xylitol (sweetener)
  11. Many mushrooms & raw/green potatoes are toxic
  12. Jackfruit
  13. Fruit Pits & Seeds

Proceed with Caution

  1. Avocados
  2. Bones
  3. Dairy
  4. Fatty Foods
  5. Salt
  6. Sugar
  7. Tomatoes (green tomatoes esp. are toxic)

Hidden Dangers

  1. Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (bloat)
  2. Collar Asphyxiation (use a safety collar)
  3. and a non-hanging tag
  4. Rat Bait
  5. Socks
  6. Corn on the Cob
  7. Allergies
  8. Seaweed (expands in stomach)
  9. Heatstroke

Holiday Safety

  1. Christmas Dangers
  2. Easter Dangers
  3. Halloween Dangers
  4. 4th of July Dangers

Safety First

  1. First Aid Kit
  2. Heimlich Manoeuver for Choking
  3. Bleeding

Overall, this is a book to keep your dog safe, without scaring you. Preventive Vet has good tips for dogs (and cats). Smokey Paws (UK) and Pet Oxygen Masks (US) provide free oxygen masks for fire emergencies.

It’s good to know the 10 hazards to avoid near dogs:

  1. Over-the-counter medications
  2. Human food
  3. Human prescriptions
  4. Chocolate
  5. Plants
  6. Household toxins (paint etc)
  7. Veterinary products
  8. Rodenticide exposure
  9. Insecticides
  10. Garden products