1. Poison Proof Your Home. Check your home for possible poisons and toxins that your pet can get into. Common toxins include antifreeze, rat or mouse bait, slug bait, and insecticides, Make sure you keep all drugs and medications out of reach

2. Plant-Proof Your Home. Plants are an attractive part of home decorating however can be toxic to pets. Be careful what you bring in and monitor if your pet is getting into it. Ingestion of almost every plant can cause signs of vomiting and/or diarrhea in most pets. Plants that are especially toxic are Easter lilies, which can cause fatal kidney failure.

3. Check Collars, Tags, and Microchip. Check your pets neck at least weekly to make sure the collar is not too loose nor too tight and…it is still there. Pets can loose their collar and in many case their “identification” along with it. This is especially important in pets that are growing or losing weight. When you check the collar – make sure there is a tag that is easy to read. Tags can fall off. Consider having a microchip placed for permanent identification.  –it’s a safe painless procedure.  California law now requires animal shelters to scan every dog and cat for an identification  microchip. If you have a cat, be sure to buy a "break-away" collar that can easily break if it gets stuck on something. This will prevent your cat from being strangled by its collar.

4. Keep Dogs Supervised. The safest approach is leash walks only for dogs! This way you can not only monitor what they are getting into but also watch their urine and bowel movements for abnormalities. The next safest things for dogs is a fenced in yard. Monitor the yard and fence frequently for problems such as loose boards, open trash, and other dangers. Keep pets inside in extreme cold or hot temperatures.

5. Keep Cats Indoors. Indoor cats lives a longer, healthier lives than do outdoor cats or cats that go outdoors. Outdoor dangers include dogs, cars, exposure to fleas, ticks, worms, and other cats (that can cause fights or carry infectious diseases such as feline leukemia or feline “AIDS.

6. Don't Let your Dog Ride in an Open Truck Bed. Dogs that are allowed to ride in open bed pick up trucks are the frequent victims of trauma. Sudden starts, stops, and turns can toss your pet onto the highway where it can get hit by oncoming traffic. It is estimated that at least 100,000 dogs die this way each year. Leashing your pet in the back does not protect it as many dogs have been strangled when tossed over the side. If you pet needs to ride in back, let him ride in a crate safely secured to the cab.

7. Keep Head and Paws Inside. Dogs love to stick their heads out open windows however the wind, insects and debris in the air can hit your pet. Many pets are taken to emergency hospitals after something hits their pets' eyes or face. Pets have also been injured during accidents when a sudden start or stop has thrown them causing fatal injuries.

8. Don't Let Cat’s Play with String or Ribbons. Cats love to play with strings and ribbons, however ingestion of those items commonly cause life-threatening problems. These items can be ingested causing a “foreign body” obstruction.

9. Pet Proof Your Home. Prevent common accidents in your home by pet proofing! Protect your pet from electrical cords. Remove access to children’s toys, strings or small objects that can be chewed on or swallowed. Fence off water.  Don’t allow pets near automated garage doors. Kittens and small dogs can be crushed under reclining chairs and rockers

10. Know who to call.  In case of an emergency keep your veterinarian’s number handy as well as the number to after hours emergency hospitals.