Fourth of July Safety Tips

Why Fireworks and Pets Don’t Mix

Monday, June 30, 2014 - 2:15pm

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Who doesn’t love the Fourth of July? It’s a weekend for block parties, barbeques, belly-flops in the pool and parades—all best when enjoyed with friends and family, and even better when you have the day off to celebrate with your pets! Have fun, but remember that certain traditional Independence Day activities might not be so fun, or so healthy, for the four-legged members of your household: yes, we’re talking about fireworks.
Fireworks are loud, and the crowds that go to see them can be scary, too. Animal shelters nationwide are flooded with runaway pets on the Fourth; studies show that nearly one in five lost pets went missing because they were fleeing the sound of fireworks or other loud noises. Losing a pet is not only heartbreaking, it’s also very dangerous for the animal, especially if he or she ends up roaming busy streets.
The best way to keep your pets safe is to make sure they don’t go missing in the first place: Please resist the urge to take your pets to go see fireworks. Instead, keep them safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home. Double check leashes and collars and make sure your pet’s ID tag is up to date. Be mindful when opening outside doors. And if the unthinkable does happen, the ASPCA’s new app is here to help: Utilizing the latest field research, this free tool provides users with an individual search plan based on their pet’s behavior and individual circumstances so they can search quickly and effectively to recover their lost pet.
Please read the rest of our advice for a safe and festive Fourth!

Fourth of July Safety Tips

For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• 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. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
• 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.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

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Pennies Can Harm Your Dog!

Keep your loose change in a safe place where your Dog Can't get to It.

This Tip provided by:

	TODAY'S PET TIP Toxic Pennies
Pennies minted after 1983 have a high amount of zinc, which is toxic to dogs. If a penny is ingested, the stomach acids will erode the copper coating and expose the zinc center. The zinc can then be rapidly absorbed into the system. Zinc toxicity results in a potentially fatal blood disorder in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the pet becomes anemic. Zinc toxicity in dogs may result from ingestion of as few as 1 to 3 pennies. Learn more

Dealing with Ticks - How to Safely Remove a Tick

Ticks are really bad in many parts of the country.

Yesterday, a friend of mine forwarded a chain email on to me... you know, one of those emails that usually sounds really interesting unless you know the topic. And like many – the information was just plain inaccurate and actually dangerous. This one was about how to remove ticks. My friend wrote to me: "This sounds so easy - why didn't you tell us about it?" Well, I didn't tell you because it isn't true.

In this particular case, the email was recommending treatments that were not only ineffective but could even injure the pet. If you receive emails like this please, please do your homework first!

Ticks are a big problem but you don't want to replace one problem with another.

Today I'd like to talk about ticks and safe ways to remove them. I've seen several theories on how to remove ticks but most aren't effective. To find the best solution it's best to go to the experts.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has publicly stated: "Folklore remedies such as petroleum jelly or hot matches do little to encourage a tick to detach from skin. In fact, they may make matters worse by irritating the tick and stimulating it to release additional saliva, increasing the chances of transmitting the pathogen. These methods of tick removal should be avoided. In addition, a number of tick removal devices have been marketed, but none are better than a plain set of fine tipped tweezers."

So how do you remove a tick?  Here's the real answer.

This is a short step-by-step description on how to do it. The procedure is simple and easy - and trust me, it does not involve matches or lighter fluid.

Does Your Dog Have an "ear infection"?

Otitis Externa in Dogs

By: Dr. Debra Primovic

Otitis externa, commonly referred to as an "ear infection", is an ear condition characterized by inflammation of the external ear canal. It is particularly prevalent in dogs with long, floppy ears. Ear infections represent one of the top 10 reasons dogs present to veterinarians and may affect up to 20 percent of dogs.

Infections are caused by fungus, bacteria or parasites. Laboratory tests can help to determine the underlying cause of the infection.

Several factors may predispose dogs to ear infections, including:

Long floppy ears

Abnormal ear conformation or anatomy

Water or hair in the ears

Allergies

Trauma

Tumors

               

Foreign material in the ears

Parasites

Autoimmune disease

Generalized skin disease

Ear infections can occur in dogs of any age breed or sex. Dogs predisposed to otitis externa include those with genetic predispositions to abnormal ear canals, such as the Chinese shar-pei chow chows and English bulldogs; breeds with hair in the ears like poodles and terriers; dogs with pendulous pinnae such as the cocker spaniel and Springer spaniels; or outside and working dogs that are exposed to water or foreign bodies. Infections are most common in humid environments or during the summer months.

What to Watch For

Common signs of an infection include:

Scratching or rubbing the ears

Head shaking

An abnormal odor or discharge from the ear

Pain when you manipulate the ear

Redness and swelling of the external ear canal

Keeping your pet’s ears clean is a necessary part of keeping your pet healthy. Ear Care Formula Really Works!         Cleans ears and eliminates odor.     Dissolves ear wax.     Removes dirt and debris.     Soothes like only aloe vera can.     Contains no alcohol and will not sting.     Leaves ears dry, which keeps nasty ear debris at bay.     Safe and gentle enough for puppies and kittens. Ear Care Formula contains a special botanical blend and gentle cleansers specifically developed to keep your pet’s ear's healthy.

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Have you ever thought your vet was wrong?

Have you ever thought your vet was wrong?

No one is without fault and mistakes do happen. I certainly hope it has never happened to your dog.

Has it? Take our poll. I'm interested in the results and your comments.

As I mentioned I do believe that mistakes happen, but there are a few things you can do to help your vet do a better job.

1. Keep good records – especially if your pet has a chronic problem. When did he start on a certain medication? When did the dosage change? How did he respond? Here's some great information:  How to Keep Track of Your Dog's Vital Information

2. Ask questions. If you don't understand something – ask questions. Be informed. Ask your vet for a link to read more information on a website they trust. A great resource is our very own Petplace.com.

Looking at human medicine and my experiences with my own health and my family's health – you really get better care if you are involved and ask questions.

Have a great day!

P.S. How long do expired medications last?  Get the Answer Here. 

Our Dogs

"In a perfect world, every dog would have a home and every home would have a dog."   Author - Unknown Our dogs are special and we are committed to providing our special friends with high quality health foods, effective nutritional solutions and supplements, treats with a healthy purpose and luxurious pet care products created to beautify and pamper your pup. Click Here for Pet Safe Products from Life's Abundance

Home Care for the Dog with Diarrhea

Related Articles

• Should I take my dog into the vet for diarrhea?
• Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs
• Acute Diarrhea in Dogs
• Dehydration in Dogs

Diarrhea is a common problem seen in veterinary clinics. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons people take their dog to the vet.

What Is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is the act of having abnormally loose or liquid stools. This can also be associated with an increased frequency of bowel movements. Some dogs will have a large amount of liquid or abnormally loose stools once and others will have semi-formed stools frequently with straining.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Diarrhea results from excessive water content in the feces and it is an important sign of intestinal disease in dogs.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of many different conditions. It can be caused a number of problems including:

A change in the dog's food

Eating garbage or food that does not agree with their system

Eating indigestible objects

Infectious agents including bacterial, viral or parasites

Systemic problems such as pancreatitis, kidney disease or liver disease

It can affect your dog by causing extreme fluid loss, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and/or acid-base imbalances.
For a full list of possible causes – go to Acute Diarrhea in Dogs. Pet owners commonly ask, "What can I do at home?"

Home Treatment of Diarrhea

Specific treatments of diarrhea are dependent on the cause. Here is the general approach to dealing with a dog with acute diarrhea:

If your pet has diarrhea once then has a normal bowel movement without further diarrhea or has a normal bowel movement and is acting playful, then the problem may resolve on its own.

If you can identify it, always eliminate any predisposing cause such as exposure to trash, abrupt change in diet and eating plants.

If your dog has diarrhea and vomiting (gastroenteritis), we recommend that you see your veterinarian – don't attempt home care.

If diarrhea occurs several times and you cannot take your dog to your veterinarian (which is recommended), then you may try the following:

- Administer only prescribed medications by your veterinarian.

- Stop feeding your dog for the first 12 to 24 hours.

- If there is no vomiting, provide plenty of fresh clean water or oral rehydrating solutions to help prevent dehydration.

               

- Temporarily change the diet to something bland. Bland diets can be made at home or prescription type diets can be obtained from your veterinarian. A bland digestible diet such as: Hill's prescription diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat is usually recommended. You can make a homemade diet of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source). Feed small amounts at a time. Don't over feed as it may induce vomiting. Feed a meatball size portion and if there is no vomiting for a full hour, offer a small amount more. Give small amounts frequently – every 3 to 4 hours for the first day. You can gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency as your dog tolerates.

- Feed a bland diet for 2 days.

- Then gradually return to regular dog food over the next day or two. At first, mix in a little of your dog's food into the bland diet. Feed that for one meal. Then feed a 50/50 mix for one meal. Then feed ¾ dog food and ¼ bland diet for a meal. Then feed your dog's regular food.

- Leash-walk your pet to allow observation of bowel movements while watching for normal urinations and any vomiting that may occur otherwise without you knowing.

- Observe your dog's general activity and appetite. Watch closely for the presence of blood in the stool, worsening of signs or the onset of vomiting.

- Have your pet examined by your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

- Some veterinarians recommend Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate (for dogs only!) ® The active ingredients are generally subsalicylate and Bismuth. Two tablespoons of Pepto-Bismol contain almost as much salicylate as one aspirin tablet (which is toxic to cats). Do NOT give cats Pepto-bismol or Kaopectate! The subsalicylate, an aspirin-like compound, can decrease diarrhea caused by intestinal infections. The bismuth agent is a chalk-like compound designed to coat the lining of the stomach and intestines. This helps some pets with diarrhea. The typical dose administered to dogs amounts to approximately two teaspoons (10 ml total) per 10 pounds per day, ideally split between two to four doses. This be found at most pharmacies and does not require a prescription. It is often used for one to two days. DO NOT USE IN CATS.

- Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian. Please do not administer to cats without first consulting with a veterinarian to avoid toxicity.

- This is important! If the diarrhea continues at any time or the onset of other symptoms are noted, call your veterinarian promptly. If your pet is not eating, starts vomiting, acts lethargic, has continued diarrhea or any other physical abnormalities mentioned above, it is important to see your veterinarian. Your pet needs the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your pet is having the clinical signs mentioned above, expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

When Is Diarrhea an Emergency?

If the diarrhea continues after your pet eats or if your pet acts lethargic, doesn't want to eat and/or starts vomiting, then medical attention is warranted. Please see your veterinarian!

Great Links for More Information

For more details about diarrhea, go to Acute Diarrhea in Dogs, and Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs (duration longer than 1 or 2 weeks)".

Related topics – go to Vomiting in Dogs, Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs and Dehydration in Dogs.

Disclaimer: Advice given in the Home Care series of articles is not meant to replace veterinary care. When your pet has a problem, it is always best to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. But in some cases, it is not always possible to seek veterinary care. You could be traveling, it could be after hours and there are no 24-hour clinics near you, or maybe you simply can't afford it. Whatever the reason, when your pet has a problem, you need answers. Most vets will not give you any information over the phone – they will tell you to bring your pet in for an office visit. So, when these difficult situations arise, many pet owners don't know what to do – and they end up doing the wrong thing because they don't have sound veterinary advice. When your pet has a problem and you can't see your vet, the information in this series of articles can help guide you so that you will not inadvertently cause harm to your pet. However, this information is not a replacement for veterinary care.

What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking

When the unexpected happens it's time to think fast. If your dog began choking, would you know what to do? When a person chokes, someone must perform the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge any object blocking the airway. In the case of a choking dog, the process is surprisingly similar. 

When a dog is choking, you can do a modification of the Heimlich maneuver. Today I'd like to give you some tips on performing this lifesaving process. Hopefully you will never have to use it, but it's best to be prepared. 

Take a minute now to learn how to do the step-by-step procedure for dogs. This article gives you a full detailed list of instructions. I recommend printing it out and posting it somewhere that's easy to find. You might even want a copy of it for your wallet or purse.  Go to: Heimlich For Your Dog 

The procedure is fairly easy, but remember to be aware of your dog's relatively small body size in comparison to humans. Never distress a healthy dog by “practicing” on them; you could hurt them in doing so. 

Here is a brief summary of the steps necessary for performing the Heimlich maneuver on dogs; read Heimlich For Your Dog for the full method. 

STEPS TO PERFORM THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER FOR DOGS: 

1.  Clear Blockages2.  Position Animal3.  Place a fist just underneath the ribs4.  Compress the abdomen 5.  Check the mouth 

The canine Heimlich is just one of the top first aid skills to know for dog safety. Do you know the others? Make sure you’re ready to offer effective first aid to your dog. Read: Top 10 Things to Know for Dogs 

I hope you and your dog never experience such a scary incident, but if they do you should be prepared. Information like this can save their life. 

Until next time, 

Dr. Jon

P.S. Did you know that there is a canine version of CPR as well? Learn about it here: Canine CPR 

Never give your dog Raw Hide Bones because they can't be digested and may cause a blockage in the digestive tract!

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