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March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month

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March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month. According to the Pet Poison Hotline, fifty percent of the calls they receive are situations where an item that was not toxic to a person was ingested and was toxic to pets.

Categories

Let’s take a look at the top categories of potential toxins and identify ways to keep your pets safe:

  • Xylitol. This is a substance in many sugarless products that is toxic to pets. It can be found in anything from sugar-free gums, mints, and even peanut butter. Symptoms that you may notice include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, tremors and seizures.
  • Medications. Human medications can have lots of adverse impacts on your pets. From red blood cell damage to neurological problems, make sure to keep all human medications safely stored away from pets and small children. 
  • Flowers. With Easter around the corner, lilies are one type of flower that pets should not be exposed to as they can be toxic. If you have tulip or daffodil bulbs, keep an eye out for pets that like to eat them. These can also cause illness. 
  • Chocolate. In keeping with our Easter theme, those chocolate bunnies can be bad news. The real danger is in the darker and more bitter chocolate as it contains a chemical compound related to caffeine. If you pet ingests these types of chocolates, or you think it might be possible, watch symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, and seizures. Death is a possibility to seek medical attention promptly if you think your pet has eaten chocolates. 
  • Pest Control and Fertilizers. You might be preparing for vermin and gardening, but keep your materials out of the pathway of your pets. Some items can be fatal in small doses, so don’t take any chances.

If you do need immediate assistance with possible poison situations, contact your local veterinarian’s office or reach out to either the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 or contact the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

I Wanna Be A Pirate For Halloween!

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Halloween is a time of candy and fall weather. It’s also the time when we get to dress our pets up in costumes they may (or may not) want to be in.
 
Who doesn’t love all of the videos and pictures of pets in hilarious and adorable costumes? And while your pet may be into it, there’s some reporting from NPR that outlines things you might want to consider before dressing your pet up.
 
If your pet is one that is used to being handled and dressed in clothes, Halloween costumes are probably not going to be pushing the limits of their comfort. But, if your pet isn’t really one to tolerate being clothed, adding a costume to the mix may create discomfort, or under certain circumstances, injury.
 
According to a survey NPR cited, “more than three-quarters of owners plan to put their pet in a costume this year, and more than half plan to take their dog out trick-or-treating.” That’s a high proportion of pets wearing costumes and being exposed to human candies, like chocolate, that might be fatal.

What To Look For

Not sure about how your pet feels about that adorable costume? Check their mannerisms and body language.
Rena Carlson, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recommends that you look for specific signs. For example, “Are they panting, pacing or restless? Do they have a soft face? Are their lips nice [and] soft, or are they grimacing a little bit? What are their ears doing? Are their ears back? Can you see the whites of their eyes when you normally cannot? All of those are signs of stress.”
Consider less restrictive costumes like using a tag to match Scooby Doo or other small adjustments that the dog won’t mind. And remember that for some dogs, the extra attention because of the costume is a completely worthwhile trade-off.
 
Whatever you opt to do, keep in mind how your pet responds and react accordingly. For those of you with costume friendly pets, please share your photos.

Those Final Days of Making Summer Frozen Treats

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Time is short for those finals moments of summer treats. Why not take advantage of the last of the hot, steamy summer days and make your pet  a scoop of ice cream?
 
Your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite human batch of frozen goodness. So, we will give you some ideas and methods to make your own. 
 
We’ve assembled these ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. And making it yourself will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.
 
First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at HGTV have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and baby food. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt you can use an alternate. Click this link to get the recipe.
 
Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. The AKC has options that extend beyond traditional peanut butter ice cream. Check out the various options they have available at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/diy-frozen-dog-treats/.
 
Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. Be especially cautious with peanut butter as the additive xylitol can be fatal to your pet if ingested. If you have questions about your pet’s health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian. 
 
We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the decreasing number of hot summer days ahead of us.