Top 7 Back to School Safety Tips for Your Pet

Your life at the beginning of the school year is busy as a buzzy bee! With clashing schedules, multiple lunches to pack, and more, back-to-school time can lead to situations that put your furry family member’s health at risk. Yep, your pet can get a little lost in the shuffle and not always be near the top of your mind.

Let’s discuss the risks and what you can do to prevent a pet emergency during this busy school year. Ready? Class is in!

PET SAFETY TIPS FOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

Our expert ER veterinarian and Medical Director Dr. Michael Hyder has seven important things to think about to minimize danger to your dog, cat, or any kind of pet. Take note, heed the warnings, and if your pet does experience an emergency, have the nearest VEG hospital saved in your contacts!

1. Keep backpacks and lunch boxes out of your pet’s reach

Small children often leave their backpacks and lunch boxes on the ground, the perfect spot for curious pets to explore! Here’s the problem: the contents of backpacks and lunch boxes, as well as school supplies can include unexpected, but common hazards to your pet’s health.

It is always a good idea to know the potential toxins for our household pets. Backpacks and lunch boxes have quite a few things that pets shouldn’t get into. Paper products and certain foods can be toxic to our pets. Markers, crayons, pencils, and glue sticks commonly stored in backpacks can damage internal organs or make our pets sick if ingested.

That’s why it’s always recommended that these kinds of bags are kept out of reach of our pets. Here are some storage ideas for items that are unsafe for your pet:

• Hang backpacks, lunchboxes, or any school supply containers on a high, unreachable hook or shelf
• Place them in a closed cabinet or closet
• Keep them in an inaccessible room

2. Always supervise young children around pets

From the walk to the bus stop to in-class therapy dogs, a child may have the opportunity to encounter pets throughout their school day. As much as they love dogs, cats, and other pets, young children do not always know how to safely pet and play with them. For the safety of both the child and the pet, little ones should always be supervised when interacting with an animal, bird, or reptile. This will help to avoid either from becoming unintentionally injured.

3. Buy non-toxic school supplies

Buying school supplies that state on the label that they’re non toxic will put your mind at ease if your dog or cat or other pet is found chewing on a crayon or colored pencil, or licking up spilled glue. In the United States, non-toxic school supplies will have a seal that has the letters AP on it, meaning Approved Product. Luckily, most products intended for children have this seal and are non-toxic for both children and pets, but be a sharp consumer and always look for the AP.

Avoid products that have a Cautionary Label on them. Products with this label will have a seal that says CL. Although these products shouldn’t be on any children’s school supplies, they do appear in art and office supplies that are intended for adults.

4. Leave dogs in crate or a dog-proofed room when not at home

Dogs tend to be mischievous, especially puppies or dogs new to their home. Canines are more likely to interact with potentially dangerous or toxic items when their owners are not at home. Although some dogs get into more trouble than others, it is always safest to keep your dog in a crate or a secure, dog-proofed room when you are not home. This is a sure way to avoid coming home to accidents or emergencies.

5. Take extra caution around snack time

Many different foods can be toxic to pets. We recommend being extra cautious around meals and snack time to avoid mishaps. This tip is especially important for dog owners, as every dog owner knows, they turn into beggars in the presence of food! They’re also hip to the fact that little kids are more prone to drop food on the floor too.

Keep a close eye on foods and consider keeping your dog in another room until meal time or snack time is over.

You may be wondering which foods are toxic to your dog. Some of them may surprise you! Although toxic foods differ for dogs, cats, and other pets, here’s a list of common foods that you should keep away from all pets. Keep in mind, some of these items are common in both regular meals and children’s snacks.

Some foods that you should keep away from all pets:

• Sugar free gums and candies (contain Xylitol)
• Chocolate
• Onions
• Garlic
• Grapes and raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Tomatoes
• Apple cores and seeds
• Fruits with pits such as cherries and peaches
• Caffeinated foods and drinks like coffee and tea
• Avocados
• Grapefruit
• Uncooked dough (bread doughs, cookie dough, etc.)
• Mushrooms
• Foods that are expired or moldy

6. Spend time with your pet to avoid separation anxiety

During the summer, your pet may have gotten used to having you and other members of your family around on a more consistent basis. With school starting up again, your family won’t be around the house and spending as much time with your pet as before. This can lead to pets, especially dogs, developing separation anxiety.

To help combat this from happening, make sure to spend some time with your pet when you’re home. Take them on a family walk or play with them in your backyard or in your home. Any activity where your pet will get some one-on-one time with you and the members of your family will be beneficial to their well-being. This will also help your pet get more accustomed to the new schedule with their family being gone during the day. Start these activities on a routine, that way your pet can have something to look forward to during the day.

7. Keep your pet in a safe area during pick-ups and drop-offs

Another pet concern is the possibility of dogs and cats escaping their home or yard when kids are opening up gates and doors to leave or come home from school. To ensure your pets’ safety, keep them in a safe and enclosed area during pick-ups and drop-offs to help keep them from running out.

Bonus tip! Walking your dog on a leash during or after pick-up time is a great bonding activity to add to your routine!

CALL A VEG VET FOR PET EMERGENCIES AT SCHOOL TIME OR ANYTIME

Pets are naturally curious and enjoy exploring new objects and places, especially when they’re at home alone. By remembering these tips, you can help prevent an emergency situation from happening to your pet.

If you do encounter a situation where your pet needs immediate veterinary care, don’t wait. Call our emergency vet right away and take your pet to get the care they need. At VEG, your pet’s health and safety are our top priorities. With locations all over the country that are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, you never have to worry about getting in contact with professionals to help your pet or advise you on what to do next.

When you call VEG, you’ll speak directly with an emergency veterinarian who’s dedicated to helping you and your pet when you need it most. If your pet is experiencing an emergency or needs urgent care, or if you’re looking for additional back-to-school pet safety tips, call our VEGgie team today!