Lessons Learned the Hard WAy...

[mzkim]

Originally Posted by Ann

Never use a cardboard box to put your puppy in. I had a friend who lost a puppy who was kept in a cardboard box until she could get a crate. The puppy jumped up and was choked to death in a crack of the box. She was devestated as were we all. Always use a crate for your little one.

Some try to chew their way out too!

[ssguzzy828]

thanks for all this information. The best way i think is to do what the dr told me when i had my first baby. Get down on your hands and knees and look for possible dangers a baby/toddler cna encounter. It works you would be suprised how many cords and plants and furniture etc can be a danger. I strongly suggest gates in a home for the doggies it gives you piece of mind especially if you have a yorkie that bolts for the door when its opened (like macy). I also have to be careful with legos. my kids love em but they are small enough for these lil guys to choke on.

[MeganS]

when you have them outside always have them on a leash and harness. it is so much easier to grab them if a big dog comes out of no where. if you see soemthing wrong with your dog don't wait until you have time to take them to the vet bring them right away!

[Luvmypupster]

Thanks for starting this thread Pat. I have belonged to various dog forums for several years and have repeatedly heard of other puppies that have met the same fate from similar accidents. It sure doesn't hurt to repeat the warnings and remind those of us whom have had our dogs for a while. The only time I use a harness or collar is when taking them on walks. It's so scary to know that they can actually be hung from an item most people feel will help identify them should the become lost. Don't know if anyone has mentioned the dangers of bras hanging from doorknobs. I knew of a lady whose little one would play tug of war with hers and she found her twisted and hanging from it one day. She was very lucky and found her before she was injured. I guess the cardboard box and the dryer deaths are new ones to me. Along the lines of the cardboard box tragedy is something I always worry about and that’s making sure that I have the door engaged and shut properly on the crate. I always check it several times for fear of Mia trying to nose her way out and becoming hung in it. I really don't think training is always the key to avoiding accident.

[YorkieRose]

A member mentioned the tags getting caught in things like floor heat registers etc...tags are so necessary outdoors, but I cannot tell you how many pet owners have told me stories of how their Yorkies were injured trying to get loose when a tag got stuck in something.

One wearing tags indoors got tangled in the bedspread fringe..the end of the spread wound around her neck so tight they had to cut it off.

We are not all pen lovers..but when we are not home they need a safe area..free of these things.

I had one girl, Blanche get her foot caught in the nylon thread in her dog bed. Her foot was swollen 3 times its size that morning. It was okay after the circulation was returned..but she slept a night in pain I am sure.

[lyricandme]

Thanks for the great post! I think all of us new moms and dads can take all the pointers you have to offer! I feel like I am following a toddler around all of the time just making sure he doesn't get into something else!

[Jkatt]

Very Good advice guys! I have had Duke for a month now and he had a collar on. Well after I read some of these I took it off of him and he will only wear it on walks now!
Thanks,
Janet & Duke

[babi1542]

Thank you for all this valuable information! Let's make sure to put it in a place where we can all see it!

[Joy]

This is an excellant thread and I appreciate all the Warnings written here so far.. We can never be to careful of these little ones.
Maybe this is a good idea also...
When we take our pups for walks... if we see a larger dog coming in our direction we always pick them up and let the larger dog have the right of way.. Some people think it is cute to let the larger dog check out the smaller ones.. I dont think it is so cute and would rather offend someone than take a chance of any accident happening.

[ollielvr]

Thank you all for this wealth of information. I know alot of us have children. Anyway, be sure to keep the door in your childs room closed. My little guy has found that room the most fun in the whole house. Kids forget to pickup sometimes and I can't tell you how many toys my little guy has tried to drag out of there. Balloons are very dangerous too.

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

This was a wonderful thread...but it is sad that so many have lost their little lives in order to have learned these lessons..but hopefully this will prevent even more!!!

After reading this, we realized the dangers of the collars we keep on the girls...we decided to only have them wear them when we are actually her with them, that is the only time they are going to run away anyway...and when they are alone we are going to take them off...I can not even imagine coming home and finding anything like that!!!

[simonandhallie]

I just thought of this and wanted to share because it scared me so bad. Simon and Hallie have car seats and when it was cold I would put a blanket in there with them. One day after traveling Hallie was barking and Simon was crying so I pulled over. Simon had gotten his leg tangled between the blanket and clip (the one to keep them in the seat). It was wrapped so tight arouned his little leg it cut through his skin and I had to cut the blanket and clip to get him out of it. He was Ok but I was not. Be careful of anything that can get tangled around their little legs.

[Hannah]

I used to put Jackson in one of those zippered Bali carriers. There is a little tether with a clip for his harness. One time he had somehow flipped in it and the harness twisted around his neck. I couldn't tell because the carrier was totally shut. I opened the flap where they stick their heads out and saw him. If I hadn't, I don't want to think about it!

[whispersmom2]

Once again, Pat has directed us toward the voice of reason and helped us make something positive out of such sadness. Thank you, my friend.
Pat knows of one of my boys that had been in his new home 8 days when his neck was closed in the footrest and crushed his larynx. Never put the foot rest down without counting noses. Crawl out of the chair if you have to, but do not close it. Also, I put a tennis ball under the rocker/recliner in our family room (where we are with our babies all the time) so the rocker/recliner cannot be rocked and trap a baby.
I constatly tell my husband to look where his feet are before he starts to take a step after standing for a while. He has on numerous occasions almost fallen when he got tangled in one of them. We do the Yorkie shuffle--and I wear slippers or soft shoes all the time inside.
If you must keep a collar on your dog while inside, get one from the cat section that has a quick release or elastic portion so the puppy will not suffocate..
When travelling, ALWAYS either secure your baby-we all do, right?- or make sure there is a harness and leash in your car with an addy tag attached. I worked ER and we had to send animals to the pound for safe-keeping when their parent was involved in a serious accident and one of us could not bring him home or call a relative. I never travel without NutriStat, treats or dry food kibbles, bottled water. My "accident" kit is a half used roll of paper towels, plastic bags(2), and travel size pk of baby wipes. I roll them all up and stick them inside the cardboard roll..small and useful..
When a pup/dog loses conscience and you don't know why, okay to assume it is hypoglycemia and squirt a pea size ball of nutri stat under the tongue. Too much sugar in emergency is better than too little.

[Luvmypupster]

Just thought of another caution. I hate to even say it because you would think that everyone would be aware of leaving dogs in cars but living here in Texas we here horror stories every year about children or pets being left in the car in the heat and dying. The temperature inside a car sky rockets very quickly and a death can occur in just a few short minutes. Just heard on the news the other day where a daddy left his baby in the car and the child died.