Lessons From Your Dog

The people closest to me know that I am very compassionate when it comes to animals. I have been around animals my entire life and have had an assortment of different kinds of pets growing up. I worked with an adoption/rescue center for about 5 years until it was too much for my heart to handle. Humans can be so cruel sometimes...

Our pets offer many life lessons...Here are some that are so true about the lessons we can learn from our dogs, our companions.

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is
the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret

Dogs can smell a good or bad person a mile away

Dog Owners Beware: Raisin & Grape Toxicity

If you own a dog, you may not be aware that giving your dog as few as 7 raisins or grapes can be extremely toxic causing renal failure.

After I received an email regarding this, I did some investigating and found it to be true. If a dog eats raisins or grapes, aggressive treatment is needed as well as fluids and close monitoring for survival.

Be careful leaving raisins and grapes in places where your dog can help themselves to these delicious treats.If you suspect your dog did ingest raisins or grapes, contact your vet immediately.

Also toxic to dogs are onions, chocolate and macadamia nuts. Chocolate contains Theobromine. This chemical is used to make all kinds of chocolate and can also be found in cocoa mulch, which is sold in garden stores. This is lethal to not only dogs, but to cats as well. Please read the ingredients of your mulch purchase before using outdoors.

See below the email I received and a link to snopes to read further.

Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , Ohio

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject
We had her bring the dog in immediately.

In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 ( 1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids.

Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids. At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily . He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting.

Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220.. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk.

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern.

Snopes article

Gardening: Poisonous Trees & Plants for Dogs/Cats/Humans

This time of year brings most of us outside to enjoy the warmth and sunshine. We are now doing outdoor house projects and working in our yards: weeding, planting, raking etc. Perhaps you are getting your house ready for a "Open House" or creating more "Curb Appeal" but,

If you are a dog owner like myself, I should point out that when you're deciding on what trees and/or plants to plant in your yard, BEWARE of what is poisonous to your dog.
Also, certain Household plants can also be very harmful.


See Below For Names and Symptoms~

TREES & VINES and SYMPTOMS:

Apple (stem and leaves)
shock, mouth inflammation, rapid increase in breathing
Yew(American, English, Western)
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Apricot
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Almond
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Peach
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Wild Cherry
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Japanese Plum
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Ficus (Cuban Laurel)
stomach upset
Cherry
rapid breathing, shock, mouth irritation, increased heart rate
Balsam Pear
Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle-Leaf)
stomach upset, irritated skin
Oak
Varied effects
Philodendron
(Devil's Ivy) upset stomach, convulsions, asphyxiation, death
English Ivy s
stomach upset, hyperactivity, labored breath, drooling, fever, thirst increase, pupil dilation,
staggering
Jasmine
convulsions, death
Vine
pupil dilation, upset stomach, drooling, heart failure
Matrimony Vine
varied effects
Virginia Creeper
varied effects

HOUSEPLANTS and SYMPTOMS:

Asparagus Fern
vomiting, respiratory problems, kidney failure, tremors, abdominal pain
Caladium
mouth irritation, stomach upset, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, death
Colocasia (Elephant's Ear)
mouth irritation, stomach upset, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, death
Deiffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
mouth irritation, stomach upset, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, death
Philodendron (Saddle Leaf, Split Leaf)
Mouth swelling, irritation
Poinsettia
mouth irritation, stomach upset
Mum (Pot and Spider)
Skin irritation
Umbrella Plant
vomiting, respiratory problems, kidney failure, tremors, abdominal pain
Aloe Vera
diarrhea
Mistletoe
Varied effects

Plant Fertilizer: Fertilizers are dangerous to pets, if ingested.
Store these in plastic bags and in a place where it is inaccessible to your pets.

Plants Poisonous to Cats

Plants Poisonous to HUMANS



Source: About Dogs

Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-426-4435

WARNING for DOG & CAT Owners

I am a huge animal lover and my baby is a Black Lab/Shepherd.
The latest news had me concerned, but luckily, we weren't affected.

In case some of you haven't yet heard on the News or read about it online, I wanted to bring to your attention a manufacturer recalled 51 brands of dog food and 40 brands of cat food over the weekend after its products were linked to kidney failure and death in 10 animals.

The products were wet-style foods packaged in cans and pouches. They were sold at national retailers including Wal-Mart, PetSmart and Safeway.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Experts advise owners to call their veterinarian if a pet has eaten recalled food and shows symptoms of possible kidney failure. An animal could be in trouble if it:
• Stops eating
• Appears tired and lifeless
• Seems excessively thirsty
• Urinates much more than usual
• Vomits
• Has diarrhea
• Seems to have abdominal pain
Source: The FDA; veterinarian Laurie Miller of the Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Va.


Recalled Cat Product Information
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708 PRODUCT LIST

Recalled Dog Product Information
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708 PRODUCT LIST


Here's another bit of information that you should know:
A sugar substitute, Xylitol, is found in a variety of sugar-free and dietetic cookies, mints and chewing gum is proving highly toxic, even fatal, to snack-snatching dog