Tag: safety

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5 Tips for Pet-Friendly Living

This article was written by Pia De Los Reyes from Siege Media

Our pets hold a special place in our hearts, and if home is where the heart is, your living space should be the best possible place for your pet to live a happy and healthy life. Whether you live in a small apartment with your pet or are lucky enough to live in a spacious home with many animals, turning your space into a pet-friendly environment is easy with these simple steps. 

1. Cover heated surfaces

When cold weather arrives for the autumn and winter, the use of radiators and heaters becomes more frequent in our households. Although it’s important to make sure your pet stays warm when the temperatures drop, they can also get burned on the hot surface of a radiator. Make sure to cover these surfaces with a heat resistant guard so that you and your family don’t accidentally brush up against it and get hurt.

2. Carve out their own space

Much like human beings, pets appreciate their own personal space. Set aside a quiet spot or corner in your house or apartment where your pet can relax. Place their bed or crate there and make sure it’s away from high traffic areas in case they want to rest in peace. If your animal stays in a cage, try adding in fun elements to their space like greenery to make it feel like home.

3. Put away breakable decor

Pets and breakables do not mix well. To keep your pet safe and save your prized possessions from shattering into many pieces, it’s wise to put away any breakable decorations behind closed doors. This can mean displaying items in a glass cupboard or just restricting your pet from areas like the dining room where there might be fragile items like fine China. 

4. Protect your furniture

If you let your pets roam free over your home, chances are you’ll want to consider protecting your furniture. Young animals like cats and dogs may have accidents while being litter-trained or house-broken, and you’ll want to make sure that you spray a natural deterrent to keep your pet from ruining your favorite couch. Additionally, pets might scratch up your furniture too, so try protective wraps or slip covers to preserve your furniture. 

5. Hide hazardous materials

An important part of a pet-friendly home is one that is safe for your pet. You may have cleaners or detergents in your home that are toxic to an animal when ingested, so make sure to keep those products out of your pet’s reach. You don’t want your pet to get poisoned just because you left the bathroom cleaner out, so it’s also worthwhile considering switching to more natural cleaning methods. 

We hope you use these tips to create a pet-friendly home environment that allows your pet to live their life to the fullest. Your pet might not be able to say thank you, but they will surely appreciate the care and thought you put into turning your home into a safe and loving place for them to be. For more tips on making pet-friendly accommodations, check out the infographic from The Zebra below.

tips-for-pet-friendly-living
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How to Stop Your Cat From Chewing Electrical Wires

Recently one of our cat started the behaviour of biting wires out of boredom. He bit our Dyson Vacuum wire and Xiaomi Robot wire. I did not notice the broken wire and wanted to charge my Xiaomi Robot, when I switch on the socket, it created a big spark of fire and short circuit the entire house causing the electric to trip outside our electrical riser. And my wife was so scared because I was super near the fire, and I could have gotten electrocuted.
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So I am here to highlight how to prevent your cat from biting wires, because its very dangerous.

When cats chew on wires, plastic bags or other foreign objects. These behaviour may be caused by an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); or health-related / environmental factors. EG: Dental issue, a way for the cat to relieve stress; etc. No matter what is the reason behind it, it is extremely dangerous for cats to chew on electrical cords, it could cause short circuit to your house; damage your appliances, or worst electrocuted. 

Fortunately, there are a few ways you can address this kind of behaviour.

Reasons for Chewing

It might be a mystery why cats choose electrical wires to chew on. The reasons for cord chewing may include:

Stress

Stress can prompt a wide range of odd behaviors. In these cases, the chewing serves to relieve anxiety and simply makes the cat feel better emotionally.

Boredom

When a cat isn’t having enough stimulation or exercise, it will cause boredom and that will result stress may cause it to seek other outlets.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) usually involves chewing and gnawing behaviour.

Although cord chewing may be the primary OCD behaviour you observe in your cat, you may spot other symptoms as well. There doesn’t seem to be an explanation for why some cats develop a particular combination of OCD symptoms.

  • Overgrooming, characterised by a cat licking and chewing its fur so vigorously that it starts to fall out in spots, is also common.
  • Obsessively sucking, licking or chewing on fabric.

Dental

Cats that have pain in their mouths caused by dental problems may indulge in gnawing behaviour in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. So it’s important to visit a veterinary for dental care. EG: Checkups and cleanings.

Pica

A nutritional deficiency called pica is associated with eating odd materials. When a nutrient is missing from its diet, a cat will seek to replace it, but may choose inappropriate items to ingest. Some cats that suddenly begin targeting inedible objects.

How to Stop Chewing

Take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup if it displays inappropriate chewing behaviour so that any underlying health problems can be discovered and addressed. In the meantime, take steps to keep your cat safe.

  • Cover electrical cords by running them through wire protector. You can also make them less appetizing by using bitter spray.
  • Offer the cat alternatives to chew, such as cardboard. 
  • Reduce anxiety to help eliminate the need for chewing. Consider trying a synthetic kitty pheromone (Feliway) to relieve stress and soothe your cat. Otherwise, make sure your cat’s litter box is spotless and that it has enough toys and playtime with you to stave off boredom.

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Keeping beach outings fun and safe

@_missygigi_

The sun’s out, and now that we are able to visit the beach again, many of us are excited to bring our dogs to the beach! However, it is very important that us dog owners maintain good hygiene for the benefit of both our furkids and ourselves.

There have been recent reports on four individuals who visited Sentosa and developed skin irritation. And we know that our furkids are also susceptible to such infections. Here are our 5 tips to ensure that you and your furkid have a fun & safe beach outing.

1. Watch what they drink

Sometimes furkids end up drinking saltwater when they’re playing around in the sea. Drinking of salt water can lead to diarrhoea and an upset tummy so do be careful and keep a close eye on your pup while he plays in the water. 

Make sure you bring plenty of fresh water to keep your furkid hydrated. Pack along a collapsible bowl or a water dispenser in your bag the next time you visit the beach.

2. Wash up thoroughly after your outing

With Covid-19 still prevalent, we all have to continue being vigilant and maintaining good personal hygiene that keeps both hooman and furkids safe! 

For hooman, if you are having a picnic by the beach do remember to sanitise your hands before eating. Wash your hands regularly as well and clean up before heading home(especially if you took a swim).

Similarly for our furkids, bathe them thoroughly before heading home – use soap for a more thorough cleanse. Dogs may get a build up of sand and salt in their fur that can cause skin irritation. So remember to scrub them down to avoid any skin irritation or flare ups. 

3. Prevent sunburn

Our furkids are susceptible to sunburn just like us and it can cause a risk of skin cancer. Breeds that have light skin & fur or have a short coat are more prone to getting sun burnt. Take special care around the ears and nose as these areas are more sensitive. 

Avoid staying in the sun for too Long. My recommendation is for sunlight exposure to be less than an hour. If your pup is prone to getting sunburn, find a shady area and let your pup rest in the shade intermittently while playing in the sun. 

4. Look out for open wounds

We have all heard that salt water is good for wounds right? Yes that is true! But sea water is not equivalent to salt water. In addition to salt, seawater also contains bacteria which can be harmful. These bacteria can lead to the wound becoming infected.

Before your pup goes running into the sea, check his body for any open wounds. Dogs with open wounds are not recommended to go Swimming in sea water. 

Have some fun in the sand instead, keep the wound dry and Ensure proper follow up care. If the wound is serious, bring your dog to the vet for proper treatment.

5. Jellyfish alert!

Earlier this year, there were reports of people getting stung by the deadly box jellyfish at various beaches in Singapore. This creature has been spotted at Sentosa, Lazarus Island, East Coast Park and St John’s Island. The boxed jellyfish is a venomous marine creature whose sting can be fatal to both dogs and humans.

It is very very crucial to be vigilant when visiting the beach and swimming in the water. Look out for any possible sightings of the boxed jellyfish and keep your furkid away from the water. If you spot one of these jellyfish, warn those who are swimming of the danger. 

If you or your furkid gets stung by a boxed jellyfish, go to the vet or hospital immediately to get treated. For emergency first-aid, soak the stung area in seawater, vinegar or a 70% alcohol solution. If the tentacles are still stuck around your furkid, pull off the remaining tentacles with a stick or towel but be careful not to rub them or touch them with your bare hands.

With these tips, you will be ready and equipped for your next beach outing! With preparation and caution, you can both enjoy a great day at the beach. Do remember to maintain social distancing and be responsible while having fun.