Keep Pets Safe This New Year’s Eve!

New Year’s can be fun for all family members!

Check out some helpful tips from the ASPCA about celebrating New Year’s safely with your pets:

Keep an Eye on the Alcohol (and Other Substances) – New Year’s Eve is a unique holiday, and it’s one time of year when a large number of pets get into alcohol. Alcohol ingestion in pets can lead to depression, unsteady walking, vomiting, and in severe cases, a serious drop in blood pressure and body temperature. Just one mixed drink can be fatal for a small dog. What’s more, pets (dogs in particular) love to sniff out seasonal chocolates that may be filled with alcohol—so be sure to keep any and all alcoholic substances safely out of paws’ reach.

Be careful of fireworks – While the Fourth of July is biggest holiday for fireworks, the APCC does receive a large number of calls about these potentially frightening noisemakers on New Year’s Eve. Not only will you want to ensure that your pet has a safe, comfortable place to find sanctuary away from the booming sounds of fireworks, but you should also remember that dogs will eat anything—even if does not seem like it would taste good! Be sure to monitor poppers, noisemakers and explosives before, during and after displays, and always keep a close eye on your pet to prevent any potential problems.  

Don’t be Taken by Surprise – You may be planning a night out with family and friends to celebrate the oncoming New Year, which means that your pet might be home alone with loud, confusing noises coming from outside. Before you go out, do a quick double check around the house to make sure that all exits are secured, and do what you can to make your pet feel comfortable and safe in your home. Don’t Forget to Have Fun! 

While we want you to be prepared for any potential dangers, we also want to make sure you have fun with your favorite furry friends as you wave goodbye to 2017 and say hello to 2018. Below is a list of activities you can try with your pet for a fun celebration:

• Don your dapper apparel. Dress up with your pet to make for a very Instagram-worthy New Year’s Eve. 
• Cuddle up for a movie marathon. This is the perfect activity for those looking for a comfortable night in. 
• Have a baking party. Invite some of your friends and their furry friends over and have fun baking some pet-friendly treats. 
• Watch the ball drop together! What better way to ring in the New Year than with kisses from your favorite furry friend? 

Stay safe this holiday season, and if you fear that your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous ingredient or object, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888)-426-4435 right away.

Credit: ASPCA

What’s The Best Tech For You, Your Pets, and the Environment?

Do you need help controlling litter box odors or keeping an eye on your pets while you are gone?

Clear The Air would like to share some of the best technology for you, your pets, and the environment.

When you think about technology that can save you time or make your life easier, tech for your pets is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But there are many options available that can help you reach your goals while taking care of your pets and the environment. Here are a few ideas that all savvy pet owners can benefit from trying out.

Keep Your Furry Friend in Your Sights

Most people who have dogs consider their canine to be a part of their family, and the same sentiment often applies to cats too. So it’s understandable that one of the main fears of having a pet is them somehow getting away and you not being able to find them. You can easily put this fear to rest by using a GPS tracker to keep tabs on your pet’s whereabouts.

The Paw Tracker is an intuitive, lightweight tracker that can be clipped directly onto your furry pal’s collar. The tracking system is linked to your smartphone and you can quickly see the location of your dog or cat anytime you get concerned. Make the whole system environmentally friendly by clipping the Paw Tracker to an eco-friendly collar like one from Earth Dog and by using your smartphone of choice.

Freshen and Clear The Air

Ask any cat lover what the biggest downside is to owning these lovable companions and they’ll almost always answer, “litter boxes.” Although a necessary part of having a cat, the smell is unpleasant and cleaning them can be a hassle. The good news is technology has produced a solution.

Try the Litter-Robot, an automatic self-cleaning litter box that eliminates the need to scoop out the clumps in the litter box yourself. It helps you save pounds of litter and will also significantly reduce how much trash you throw out each year. Of course this doesn’t solve the odor problem, so you’ll want to couple the Litter-Robot with the Clear the Air Cat Urine Odor Remover Bundle. Our product is non-toxic and biodegradable, and therefore safe for the planet. Using these two items in tandem ensures that you will have a much more pleasant experience with the least fun aspect of cat ownership and the environment will benefit at the same time.

Upgrade Your Food and Water System

The daily chore of feeding your kitties and pooches can sometimes be difficult. You get stuck at work late one day, and they’re meowing and howling by the time you get home. Or you need to go on a short trip but have no one who can come by and refill your pets’ food and water bowls. Or maybe you’ve been told by your veterinarian that your furry best friend needs to lose a little weight for her health. Once again, technology to the rescue.

Have you considered an automatic pet feeder? The Automatic Pet Feeder from Toppy Pets is made from eco-friendly plastic and takes care of your creatures’ most basic needs when you’re not able to. Simply want to slow down your dog’s eating time, and help her get a little weight off? Try the Simply Pets A-Maze-In-A-Bowl Slow Feed Dog Bowl, which is made from eco-friendly bamboo fibers and helps manage canine obesity.

Whatever your goals and needs are for your cats and dogs, there’s likely a device that can help you achieve them. Give these products and systems a try and feel good about the benefits to you, your furry children and the environment.

Taking Your Pets With You On A Road Trip?

Road Trip! When traveling with your pets it is important to take extra precautions to make sure they have a good time too.

Clear The Air would like to share these tips to keep your pets safe while you enjoy your trip.

1. Prepare – If your trip isn’t right away, prepare your pets with short trips in the car to get them ready for the big day.

2. Pack – Bring your pet’s favorite toys and blanket to help calm them on the long trip. Also pack all the supplies you will need for you pet including their food, water, dishes, bedding, leashes, litter boxes, and any medications they need.

3. ID Please – Don’t forget to bring your pet’s identification. Make sure the identification contains your current contact information and it’s attached to a sturdy collar. This will be helpful in case they do get lost.

4. Be Safe and Secure – Pets are the safest in a carrier. Bring carriers for your pets to ride in while you are driving and make sure they are secured in your car. Sharp turns and sudden stops can cause your pets and their carriers to fall over and they can get hurt. Make sure the carriers are well ventilated and big enough for them to move around comfortably in.

5. Take A Break – Be sure to make several stops along the way so pets can get out of the car and go to the bathroom. Make sure pets are wearing their identification and are on a leash for their safety.

6. Bring Your Pets With You – If you need to stop for a snack, gas, or a meal, always take your pets with you. Don’t ever leave pets in the car even if it’s only going to be a few minutes. If you can’t take pets inside with you, take turns sitting outside with your pets so they are not left alone.

Keep Your Pets Safe This 4th of July!

The 4th of July is full of outdoor activities with your family and pets!

Clear The Air wants to remind you to keep your pets safe while you enjoy the holiday. Here are some food and water safety tips from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) to make sure everyone has a fun day.

Food Safety

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea. Foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
• Keep matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles, insect coils and tiki torch oil products out of reach. Ingestion can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.

Water Safety

• Don’t let pets drink pool or ocean water. Drinking a large amount of sea water can lead to elevated sodium levels for dogs, which can cause nausea, vomiting, lethargy, tremors and potentially seizures. Pool water, on the other hand, can lead to low sodium levels. Signs of ingestion often start with nausea, vomiting and lethargy, and can progress to depression, unsteadiness, and even coma and seizures. Have your pet take breaks from playtime and drink lots of fresh water throughout the day. If a pet is exhibiting any neurological signs, get into a veterinary clinic immediately.
• Keep your pet away from ocean critters. Star fish, sea urchins, jelly fish and squid are just a few of the creatures that can pose risk for our pets. If your pet is in or near the ocean, keep a close eye on him or her, and make sure they stay in more shallow water.
• Avoid Algae. “Red tides” in the ocean are caused by a reddish-brown algal bloom that can be toxic to sea life, humans and our pets—leading to anything from eye and breathing issues to stomach upset, confusion or seizures. Blue-green algae can be found in fresh water like lakes or ponds, and ingestion can cause a serious problems like liver disease or affect the nervous system. Before letting your pet get in any water, check the area for postings and/or the presence of algae. If you see anything suspicious, it would be better to stay on dry land.
• Practice pool safety. When pets get into the containers of the pool chemicals before they have been diluted, it can lead to burns—both on the skin with prolonged contact, or in the mouth and stomach if ingested. If you have caught your dog ingesting any pool chemicals, give a small amount of water or milk to dilute and then call APCC or take to a local veterinary clinic for evaluation.

Halloween Safety For Your Pets

Halloween is an exciting time of year, but the excitement might be a little too much for your pets. It is important to take simple precautions on Halloween to keep your pets safe.

Clear The Air would like to share these safety tips:

• Don’t give your pets any candy and keep the candy bowl out of their reach. Chocolate, xylitol (a sugar substitute), and wrappers can be very dangerous for pets.
• Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags even if you don’t plan on taking them out. They could accidentally get out while the door is constantly opening and be scared off by Trick-or-Treaters coming to your house.
• The loud voices, constant door bell ringing, and knocks on your door can stress out your pet. Keeping your pets in another room during Trick-or-Treating time will help your pets feel safe.
• As a precaution, bring your outdoor pets inside to keep them safe from any cruel Halloween pranks.
• Keep Halloween decorations away from pets. If you are going to display your pumpkins with candles, put them where you pets can’t reach or accidentally knock over.
• Keep the costumes simple! Make sure they fit and are comfortable for your pet. Check for any loose pieces that you pet may be able to chew off and supervise them while they are dressed in costumes.

How To Keep Pets Safe This Thanksgiving

When everyone sits down for Thanksgiving dinner your furry family members are going to be begging for a taste of what you are eating. You can include your pets, but be aware that not all Thanksgiving foods are safe for your pets. Clear The Air would like to share the following information from Reader’s Digest to keep your pets safe this Thankgiving:

• Turkey and other meats should be boneless and cooked.
• Sage should not be used on anything that is fed to pets. Cats are especially sensitive to this herb, it can upset their stomach and cause central nervous system depression.
• Raw bread dough should not be given to your pets because it can rise in your pet’s stomach and cause severe discomfort or more serious health problems.
• Cake batter should also not be given to pets because it can cause a salmonella infections. If you want to give your pets a treat, have kitty treats and dog biscuits ready to go for dessert time.
• Don’t go overboard on any of the Thanksgiving foods that you give your pets. If you are going to share human food with your pets, give them very small portions to avoid stomach pains, diarrhea, or pancreatitis.
• Clean up after yourself and make sure all wrappers are safely thrown away out of your pets reach. When pets lick the wrappers they may also ingest some of the wrapper which can cause serious intestinal problems.
• Watch where you walk when you are carrying hot foods through the house. Make sure your pets aren’t running at your feet. You and your pet can be severely burned if you were to trip while carrying a burning hot dish.

Keep Your Pets Safe On Halloween

Halloween is a fun time of year for the family, but the noise and excitement of the night may not be as much fun for your pets. It is important to take extra steps on Halloween to make sure your pets stay safe. Here are some Halloween safety tips from Clear The Air:

• Keep all Halloween candy and wrappers away from pets to avoid choking or poisining. Chocolate and xylitol (a sweetener in candy) can be very toxic for animals. Have some pet treats on hand to give your pets so they don’t feel left out.
• Keep your pets inside for their safety even if you are going to be home. Stay with your pet if they need to go outside to use the bathroom to avoid anything harmful that could happen due to a cruel Halloween prank.
• Find a quiet place in the house for your pets to stay when the trick-or-treaters will be constantly ringing the door bell and making noise. The loud noise and constant strangers at the door may stress your pet out. Also you don’t want your pet to run out the house while the door is constantly being opened up.
• Halloween decorations should be used where your pets won’t be able to get to them. Pumpkins with candles should not be placed on the floor because they can be easily knocked over or can burn a curious pet.
• Pet costumes should be non-restrictive and should not have any dangling accessories that pets can choke on if they came off. Supervise your pet while they are in their costume.  If your pet doesn’t seem to be comfortable in a costume then it’s a good idea to just let them go as themselves for Halloween.
• Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags in case they get separated or scared and take off. This can be a good time to think about getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already. It can help bring pets home quicker if they get lost.

Happy Fourth Of July – Keep Your Pets Safe!

Did you know the Fourth Of July is the biggest day of the year that pets get lost?

The animals shelters receive the most lost and scared pets on the Fourth Of July than any other day of the year.

Please keep your pets safe at home and read our blog to make sure you are doing everything for your pet’s safety:

• Don’t leave your pets outside. Even if your pet is used to being outside, the loud noises from fireworks may make them break free from their restraint or jump the fence if they are trying to find safety from the noise.
• Keep alcohol away from pets. Pets can become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma or even die from respiratory failure.
• Leave your pet at home if going to watch fireworks. The combination of too many people and loud fireworks will cause your pet to freak out and do anything they can to seek shelter. Do not lock them in the car either!
• Microchip your pet and make sure he or she has ID tags. If your pet does manage to get loose, an ID tag with your name and phone number on it will help your dog find his way back home. You also want to make sure your pet is micro-chipped.
• Never use fireworks around your pet. Lit fireworks will not only scare your pet but they can cause severe burns, trauma to the face or paws and even death. They also contain toxic substances even when unused.
• Don’t feed your pet from the table. Avoid giving your pet table food while you are barbequing or enjoying a backyard party. Onions, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt and more are all hazardous to your pets.
• Oils, citronella candles, insect coils and other insect repellant products are toxic to your pet. Inhaling these toxins can result in respiratory illness such as pneumonia and indigestion which can harm your pet’s nervous system.

What do you do to keep your pet safe and secure on the Fourth? Comment on our blog.

How To Care For Pets In The Cold Weather

Cold weather tips all pet owners need to know.

The east coast of the nation is experiencing extreme cold weather conditions. During these conditions it is vital to make sure your pets are inside and warm.

Clear The Air would like to share some cold weather tips from the Humane Society:

• Keep pets indoors and warm – Don’t leave dogs or cats outdoors when the temperature drops. Regardless of the season, short-haired, very young, or old dogs and all cats should never be left outside without supervision. Dogs and cats are safer indoors, except when taken out for exercise. During walks, short-haired dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater.
• Help neighborhood outdoor cats – If there are outdoor cats, either owned pets or community cats (ferals, who are scared of people, and strays, who are lost or abandoned pets) in your area, remember that they need protection from the elements as well as food and water. It’s easy to give them a hand.
• Give your pets plenty of water – Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen.
• Protect paws from salt – The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth.
• Avoid antifreeze poisoning – Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze (and all household chemicals) out of reach.
• The best tip of all: keep your pets with you – Probably the best prescription for winter’s woes is to keep your dog or cat inside with you and your family. The happiest dogs are those who are taken out frequently for walks and exercise, but kept inside the rest of the time.

Read entire article at the Humane Society’s website.

7 Ways To Keep Your Pets Safe On The Fourth Of July

Pet safety for the Fourth of July.

The Fourth of July is a lot of fun but to your pets it can be a very scary time. This is the biggest time of the year that pets go missing and it is usually because of the loud noise of fireworks that scares them off.

Please keep these helpful tips in mind to keep your pets safe this holiday:

1. Keep your pets indoors at all times. Even if your pet is used to being outside, the loud noises from fireworks may make them break free from their restraint or jump the fence if they are trying to find safety from the noise.
2. Don’t let your pet drink alcohol. Pets can become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma or even die from respiratory failure.
3. Leave your pet at home if going to watch fireworks. The combination of too many people and loud fireworks will cause your pet to freak out and do anything they can to seek shelter. Do not lock them in the car either!
4. Ensure your pet is properly identified. If your pet does manage to get loose, an ID tag with your name and phone number on it will help your dog find his way back home. You also want to make sure your pet is micro-chipped.
5. Never use fireworks around your pet. Lit fireworks will not only scare your pet but they can cause severe burns, trauma to the face or paws and even death. They also contain toxic substances even when unused.
6. Avoid giving your pet table food while you are barbequing or enjoying a backyard party. Onions, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt and more are all hazardous to your pets.
7. Oils, citronella candles, insect coils and other insect repellant products are toxic to your pet. Inhaling these toxins can result in respiratory illness such as pneumonia and indigestion which can harm your pet’s nervous system.

Do you have any tips to keeping your pets safe on the Fourth of July? Please comment on our blog!