Pets
6 Pet Safety Tips Every Owner Needs To Know
Taking a few simple precautions and being prepared can help keep your furry family members safe from harm.
This article is sponsored by Ring.
Pets are part of the family, and like with any other family member, we want to do whatever we can to help keep them happy, healthy and safe. In honor of May being National Pet Month, here are six pet safety tips every owner should know.
1. Keep poisonous household items out of reach from pets.
Much like small children, dogs and cats have a way of getting into cabinets and gaining access to things they shouldn't. That's why it's so important to keep toxic household products and medications out of pets' reach or securely locked away.
If at any point you suspect your pet has been exposed to any poisonous substances, contact your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), common household products that can be poisonous to pets include:
- Bleach
- Carpet fresheners and shampoos
- Essential oils
- Fabric softener sheets
- Grout
- Household cleaners
Many plants can also be poisonous to pets. The ASPCA provides a list of poisonous plants, but it's important to note that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats. Your best bet? Stick to pet-safe plants in and around your home, and keep them out of reach from your pets.
2. Keep toxic “people foods” away from pets.
While it can be tempting to share the occasional table scrap with your furry friends, it's important to ensure you're not giving them "people food" that's going to make them sick (or worse). According to The Humane Society, some of the most common foods that can be dangerous to animals include:
- Alcohol
- Avocados
- Candy (particularly candy containing the sweetener Xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and cats)
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Grapes and raisins
- Gum
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Nuts
- Yeast dough
Pets should not be given raw or undercooked meat, or any kind of animal bones (which pose a choking threat and could become lodged in your pet's digestive tract). Keep a close eye on pets who like to counter surf and swipe a bite when they think you're not looking, too.
And as always, if you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic food, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
3. Don’t let your pets wander.
Loose pets may encounter any number of threats, from other animals to oncoming cars. Preventing your furry friends from wandering into harm’s way is a key tenet of responsible pet ownership.
Cats: Because outdoor cats are at risk for premature death and disease, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that cats be kept indoors. If you already have a cat that's accustomed to spending time outdoors, experts recommend reducing the number of hours it spends outside and keeping your next cat exclusively indoors.
Dogs: Even the most obedient dogs can get distracted and run away, which is why the American Kennel Club recommends dogs remain leashed or inside a secure fence. Installing a fence can be costly, but it's a pet owner's best defense against a dog getting lost or hit by car.
When your pets are outside in your securely fenced-in yard, Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus can help provide them — and the rest of your family — with complete protection. With motion-activated LED floodlights, 1080p HD video and a built-in security siren, Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is ideal for helping you keep an eye on large outdoor areas like the backyard or driveway.
With Floodlight Cam Wired Plus, if something happens within steps of your property, you’ll be the first to know. Using the Ring App, you can check on home at any time from anywhere, and get real-time video and audio with the Live View button. You can turn on the lights and speak directly to your pups, which is especially useful for telling them to stop barking (and listening to see if they do).
If your furry friends like to lounge on the porch, Ring Video Doorbells help you to see, hear and communicate with them. You can customize your motion settings to get real-time notifications on your phone or tablet. This way, even if you're not home, you can stay updated on your pets' activity and have peace of mind when they're back inside safely.
Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) works on any home and allows you to enjoy sharp HD video, motion detection and easy DIY installation.
If your home has existing doorbell wiring, Video Doorbell Wired is a great option. The smallest wired doorbell camera from Ring yet, Video Doorbell Wired includes all the essentials — like HD Video, Night Vision, Two-Way Talk, Quick Replies and advanced motion detection. But because it's powered by your existing doorbell wiring, you'll never have to worry about charging a battery.
And of course, Ring Video Doorbells are also great for allowing you to answer the front door from anywhere and help keep tabs on your home when you’re away. If someone’s at the door — such as the dog walker or a package delivery person — you can chat with them in real time from the Ring App, even if you’re on the go.
4. Microchip your pets.
A microchip is a tiny identification transponder, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted in your pet's skin. When scanned, the microchip transmits its unique identification number to the scanner. In the event that you're separated from your pet and their microchip is scanned, the information that you provided to the manufacturer's microchip registry can be used to contact you.
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends microchipping your pets, even if they don't go outside. Because in the event you are separated from your dog or cat, it’s far more likely your pet will be returned to you if they’re microchipped.
According to the AVMA, the most common reason that microchipped animals are not returned to their owners is an incorrect or disconnected owner telephone number in the microchip registry database. That's why it's important to register your pet's microchip and keep your contact information updated.
In addition to being microchipped, the AVMA recommends that all pets wear collars with proper identification. License tags, rabies tags and personal visual identification are all components of a comprehensive pet identification program.
5. Make sure your pets know these essential commands.
Some tricks are just for fun, but other commands are truly necessary in helping keep pets safe. According to Vetstreet.com's resident trainer Mikkel Becker, dogs need to know how to:
- Come when called.
- Stay.
- “Drop it.”
These crucial commands are imperative to the pet's individual safety and the safety of other people and animals they come into contact with.
If a dog is oblivious to a potential threat around her, such as oncoming traffic or an aggressive animal, the ability to reliably come when called can potentially be life-saving. The same is true for a dog who will stay: following this command could prevent a pet from running across a busy road or into harm's way.
A dog that understands "drop it" will let go of a potentially dangerous item in her mouth. This is beneficial if your pup gets hold of a potential choking hazard or something you'd just rather her not chew.
You'll need to demonstrate and teach these commands to your pups in person, but you can continue practicing them when you're not at home with help from Ring Cameras. Stick Up Cam Plug-In with Pan-Tilt lets you see, hear, and speak to your pets from anywhere.
Stick Up Cam Plug-In plugs into standard outlets for nonstop power and nonstop peace of mind. Pan-Tilt Mount upgrades a Stick Up Cam from a stationary 130 degree field of view to a 360 degree pan coverage and 117 degree tilt coverage for a more complete view of your surroundings. Scan the room from corner to corner and can check on loved ones or see where pets are scampering around.
Indoor Cam also helps provide versatile protection and personalized peace of mind, letting you stay connected to home and respond in real time from anywhere. Thanks to Live View with Two-Way Talk, you can practice tricks with your pets or tell the family you're picking up pizza.
Feel safe knowing your home’s privacy is protected with thoughtful features that put you in control of what Indoor Cam sees — and when you want it active. You can even save what your camera records (think of all those cute pet videos!), link cameras to your Ring Alarm and more, with a Ring Protect subscription for as low as $3.99/month per device.¹
6. Have an emergency preparedness plan that includes pets.
When creating in-case-of-emergency plans for your family, make sure to include your pets. Be sure to include these important details:
- Identify a friend or loved one available to take care of your pet should you be away.
- Know where your local animal hospital is located.
- Assign a family member responsible for locating your pet and bringing them to shelter with your family.
When building an emergency kit, make sure to include items such as food, water, medicine and medical records, a first aid kit, extra collar with ID tag, sanitation supplies and a photo of you and your pet to prove ownership.
You can also set up a Pet Profile with your contact information on the Neighbors App. Create a Pet Profile that includes recent photos and important details about your pet, such as medical needs or familiar commands. If your pet goes missing, you can instantly create a Lost Pet Post with this information with just a few taps and alert your community to be on the lookout for your pet.
Looking for more ways top help keep your furry friends safe? Check out Ring for pets!
1Video History, Saving, and Sharing: Your Ring videos in the cloud are stored temporarily, up to 180 days. Changing your video storage time will only affect videos that are recorded after you adjust your storage time setting.
