Are poinsettia plants toxic?

Please pass this around to all your pet friends.

Every year around this season I start getting emails with the same question: Are poinsettia plants toxic? I wanted to discuss this with you now! Many people buy these festive, bright red plants as holiday gifts and to decorate their homes for the holidays. I’m glad people are asking me about this plant before they buy them. It is always a good idea to find out if a particular plant is toxic to pets before bringing one home.  The question of poinsettia safety is so common that we wrote a response to it on our website. For the complete answer to "Are Poinsettias Toxic?"  Poinsettias aren’t the only toxic plant out there this time of year, so I also want to share a list of fall and winter holiday toxic plants. Go to:  http://www.petplace.com/fall-and-winter-holiday-plant-toxicity-in-cats I hope that you and your dog/cat have a wonderful (and safe) holiday!  Merry Christmas to all!

10 Steps for a Dog Safe Holiday Tree

By: Dr. Debra Primovic

The day after Thanksgiving kicks off the Christmas holiday season, and millions of homes sport either real or faux trees – glittering towers of beauty that can pose a threat to your pets. Before you put the tree up, take a few moments to go over some safety precautions.

1. Choose the Right Spot. Pick an area where the tree can be enjoyed by the family but so much in the center activity that it can be easily knocked over. An area by the wall or in a corner is ideal and out of the traffic flow pattern of the house. Try to place the tree near an outlet so you don't have to run electrical cords long distances.

2. Prepare the Area. Lay down plastic sheeting or buy a "tree bag." This is an extra large trash bag used for live trees. Center the tree on the bag. When the season is over and you have removed the tree ornaments, pull the bag over the tree. This will catch the pine needles as they fall from the tree – and prevent them from being chewed or swallowed by your pet.

3. Secure the Tree. Many trees have been sent swaying by a rambunctious dog or puppy. Dogs can knock over a tree by rubbing against or playing under it. Pet can be injured if the trees or ornaments fall and break. You can place the tree in a corner and secure it from two sides to small hooks in the walls. Another trick is to place a small hook in the ceiling above the tree and use clear fishing line from the top of the tree to the hook. Apply gentle tension and tie. The clear line is invisible.

4. Hide the Cords. Electrical cords are a grave danger to pets – especially puppies and that tend to chew on anything. Cords can cause electrocution and serious injury or even death. Secure the cords by positioning them higher than the pet can reach or hiding them with special covers.

               

5. No Hooks. Check your ornaments and replace hooks with a loop of string tied in a knot. Ornaments often fall from the tree and pets may catch their mouths on or swallow the hooks.

6. Choose Safe Ornaments. There is no perfectly pet-safe bulb, as any ornament can be ingested and cause an intestinal obstruction. Pet "safer" bulbs would be plastic or wood. Glass bulbs on the lower limbs can be especially dangerous. If broken, pets can step on them and cut their feet or worse yet – treat the bulbs like a ball and chew on them causing them to break, resulting in mouth or throat trauma and bleeding. Many pet owners have learned the hard way not to place any ornaments on the lower limbs. Ornaments made of food may be especially attractive to pets.

7. Ribbons. Big red velvet ribbons are a lovely addition and may replace tinsel and garland that can be eaten dogs and caught in their intestine. Cats are especially attracted to the bright shiny tinsel and should really be avoided in households with cats. Ingestion of this material can cause intestinal obstruction that may require surgery.

8. Presents. Dogs love to investigate and most don't understand that the presents are not meant to be opened before Christmas Day. Decorative ribbons and string can be ingested, gifts can be destroyed by a playful pet. Consider storing the presents in a safe area until right before the holiday or make sure your pet is always supervised while investigating and searching for his special gift.

9. Sweep and Water. Sweep up the pine needles. Ingestion of needles can cause vomiting and gastric irritation. Keep the tree watered and only turn the lights on when you are at home. Risk of fire is always there with a live tree. Do not allow your pet access to the tree water to drink.

10. Supervise. The safest thing to do is to allow your pet access to the tree only when supervised. Pets that continue to want to bother the tree should be encouraged – using positive reinforcement – to leave it alone. Bitter apple can be sprayed on low branches for persistent chewers.   

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November is National Epilepsy Month

Please take this information to heart. I lost a good friend almost 20 years ago to Epilepsy, "Golden Sampson III" my Golden Retriever companion he was only 4yrs old.  

November is National Epilepsy month, and to help my readers prepare I want to educate them about epilepsy in pets. This is one case where knowing what to do in case of an emergency is incredible helpful so today’s information is very important.

You might have heard about epilepsy as a cause of seizures. (The terms seizure, epileptic fit, and convulsion all mean the same thing.) Epilepsy is a seizure condition that has no underlying cause. Sometimes seizures can happen for a variety of reasons such as organ failure, trauma, brain tumors, and infections. However, with epilepsy these typical causes are absent. It can be difficult to predict when seizures will strike and why.

What cases a seizure? The medical explanation is that a seizure is the physical manifestation of a sudden, excessive electrical discharge of neurons in the brain. This results in a series of involuntary contractions of the voluntary muscles, abnormal sensations, abnormal behaviors, or some combination of these events. In less complicated terms, part of the brain is affected by a random firing of nerves which then causes side effects.

A seizure can look a lot of different ways. (If you have ever seen an animal or person experience a seizure, you know it can be really scary.) Seizures vary between individuals and even between incidents and can last seconds or minutes (although it often seems like a long time). Your dog may fall on his side and may look like he is kicking or paddling. He might salivate, lose control of his bladder, and be unaware of his surroundings.

 What should you do if your dog has a seizure or you see any pet have a seizure? There are very specific things owners should and should not do, and it is very important to be informed. Find out what they are at: Seizure Disorders in Dogs

It is so, so important to know how to react if your dog has a seizure. Please forward this information to any dog-loving friends you might have so they will be prepared just in case.

Have a great day,

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Have You Ever Seen A Dog Give Birth?

Dog Crazy Newsletter  March 01, 2012

Have you ever seen a dog give birth? If you have, then you know that this is an amazing experience Most people haven't, so today I wanted to share two videos that actually show two dogs giving birth! These videos are well done (not too graphic). You have to see them! To see the first birthing video go to: www.petplace.com/dog-videos.aspx?id=121 or click on the image below To see the second birthing video Go to: www.petplace.com/dog-videos.aspx?id=540 or click on the image below After you view the above videos you may want to consider sharing it with your kids and share the miracle of life. Dogs have unique nutritional needs which can be affected by life stage (puppy, adult or senior), differences in personality (high-strung or laid-back), living conditions (sole “child” or one of many pets in the household), environmental factors and activity level. Click Here for More Info & to ORDER The Life’s Abundance Daily Nutritional Systems unite our premium dry health foods with our superior chewable supplements in a single purpose – to provide your canine companion with excellent nutrition, every single day. Not only can you meet their unique dietary requirements, you can take advantage of the savings offered by purchasing these products in a system. If you believe that your dog needs additional nutrition, provide him with the combined nutritive power offered by the Life’s Abundance Daily Nutritional Systems.  The Life’s Abundance Daily Nutritional Systems unite our premium dry health foods with our superior chewable supplements in a single purpose – to provide your canine companion with excellent nutrition, every single day. Not only can you meet their unique dietary requirements, you can take advantage of the savings offered by purchasing these products in a system. If you believe that your dog needs additional nutrition, provide him with the combined nutritive power offered by the Life’s Abundance Daily Nutritional Systems.

Pet Jerky Recall Due to Risk of Salmonella

Pet Chicken Jerky Recall Due to Risk of Salmonella

Posted by Susan Thixton on September 11, 2013 at 8:55 am

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is announcing a voluntary recall of Joey’s Jerky brand Chicken Jerky due to possible Salmonella risk. A total of 21 people in Merrimack and Hillsborough Counties have been identified with the same strain of the illness, but no deaths have occurred. Joey’s Jerky is produced in New Hampshire and the manufacturer, Kritter’s Kitchen Kreations, LLC, has voluntarily recalled all of the product. Joey’s Jerky was sold at the following six stores: America’s Pet in Hudson, Blue Seal in Bow, K9 Kaos in Dover, Osborne’s Agway in Concord, Sandy’s Pet Food Center in Concord, and The Yellow Dogs Barn in Barrington. DHHS is asking people to check if they have any of these jerky treats at home and to discard them.
Through investigation and interviewing the ill people, the DHHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control determined that the jerky treats were implicated in spreading Salmonella. Confirmation through laboratory testing of the jerky is pending at the New Hampshire Public Health Labs.
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes the diarrheal illness Salmonellosis, which can be serious in some patients. Symptoms also include fever and abdominal cramps within 12-72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts from 4 to 7 days. Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections may occur that may move to other body sites and in rare cases can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.
“While uncommon, pet food and treats can sometimes be contaminated with Salmonella, which is why it is so important for pet owners to wash their hands after handling pet food and treats,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS. “I want to commend the manufacturer of Joey’s Jerky for their cooperation in this investigation and the epidemiologists here at Public Health for their excellent work. Salmonella can be a serious illness and the sooner the source of an outbreak is identified the sooner it can be stopped.”
For more information on Salmonella, contact the DHHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496 or visit the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/salmonella.

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) IAMS dry pet food

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P&G Voluntarily Recalls Limited Quantity of Dry Pet Food Due to Possible Health Risk

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily recalled specific lots of dry pet food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. These lots were distributed in the United States and represent roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of annual production. No Salmonella-related illnesses have been reported to date in association with these product lots. http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/pg-voluntarily-recalls-limited-quantity-dry-pet-food-due-health-risk 2 Comments dan says: August 15, 2013 at 9:27 am Another Proctor and Gamble produced food has ANOTHER major recall for salmonella? Something is certainly up. After Natura’s 2 recalls, and 2 extensions within the past 5 months, if I were anyone who could investigate what is going on at their plants, or what they are bringing into their plants, I would put that tops on my list. Reply J Perroone says: August 15, 2013 at 9:52 am Very upset about this latest recall. All my dogs eat Iams natural and I threw away the bag as I keep their food in a container. My one dog has Cushings and she is sensitive to foods. What is up with Iams ? Reply

The Danger of Driving with Dogs!

Dogs love to go for car rides. For many dogs, their favorite words are "bye-bye". I've seen dogs jump, prance, smile and bark with delight at the thought of a car ride. How many times have you seen dogs hanging out the car window? Or on the owners lap looking as happy as can be?

Yes, going for a ride in the car can be fun, but driving with dogs can also be very dangerous to both you and your dog. I recently talked to some owners that were in an accident – caused by their dog – in which they were injured, the car they hit had some severe injuries and their dog was killed. How tragic!

There are some very common dangers and causes of injuries that can be prevented – and if you understand them, it will help keep you and your dog safe.

1. Jumpers – Many dogs love to hang out windows and watch what goes by, enjoying the feel of the air in their hair. Some dogs will jump out of an open car window, even though their owners would have sworn they would never do that. One day – for some reason – something extra excites them and out they go. I've seen everything from mild injuries and abrasions to fractures and even death resulting from dogs jumping into traffic and immediately being hit by another car. For every dog that jumps, the owners say the same thing. "He always rides like that – and never jumped before."

2. Air and eye injuries – Some dogs that hang their head out of an open car window can obtain injures when things that are flying in the air hit their head or eyes. When these objects hit the dog's eyes it can cause corneal ulcers and injuries.

               

3.Airbags – Dogs can be severely (even fatally) injured by airbag deployment. For this reason, many dog seats and harnesses are created for use in the back seat.

4.Distraction – Dogs distract drivers. I've seen excited dogs on their owner's lap moving back and forth from the passenger window to the drivers' window. For one reason or another, they distract their drivers causing an accident. The driver looks at their dog to see what they are doing and wham!

5.Slowed reaction time – With a dog on your lap, your ability to drive and react quickly is impaired. Drivers are often unable to make a quick turn with their dog on their lap. This is a common cause of accidents.

6.Injury in crashes – Pets can be severely injured in crashes and, when they are unrestrained, they can run out of the car and suffer even more injuries. Some have even run away.

7.Foot petal problems – Some dogs (and cats) love to get down by the floor, under the seat or near the foot petals. I've seen several cases where this caused crashes.

Pets riding unrestrained in a vehicle may be cute and fun – until an accident happens. Less than 20% of dog owners use some sort of harness or seat belt to restrain their dog while in a car.

Seatbelts and car seats are especially made to keep dogs safe. We recommend that all dogs be restrained in the back seat during car rides. All pets should have a microchip as well in case they get free during a car ride. Windows should be kept at a lowered point so the dog can get air but can not get their head completely out the window – thus preventing eye injuries and any risk of jumping.
Keep your dog safe.