Emergency Phone Numbers

A First Aid Kit For Your Pet

How To Assess Your Pet's Condition

Potential Food Toxins for Your Pet

We may find some of the items on this list very tasty, but the following items on this list can be very toxic to our furry friends.

Chinese Chives- hemolytic anemia

Onions- hemolytic anemia

Garlic- hemolytic anemia

Raisins- kidney failure

Grapes- kidney failure

Macadamia nuts- neurotoxicity

Apple Cores- cyanide poisoning

Apricot, Cherry, Peach, and Plum Pits- cyanide poisoning

Avocado- heart and lung damage

Broccoli- isothiocynate toxicity and GI irritation

Raw Egg Whites- depletion of biotin

Mushrooms- liver and neuro toxicity

Nutmeg- hallucinogenic

Green Skinned Potatoes- solanum alkaloid toxicity

Tomatoes and Tomato Plants- atropine toxicity

Xylitol (artificial sweetner)- induces hypoglycemia and potential liver failure in dogs

Chocolate- theobromine toxicity

Cocoa Mulch- theobromine toxicity

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of the previous items please contact your veterinarian.

Chocolate And Your Pet

Chocolate may be America’s favourite flavour. We like chocolate candy, ice cream, chocolate drinks, chocolate cakes, just about anything with chocolate. We may want to share our favourite treat with an eager pet but it is best to think twice and reach for the dog biscuits instead.

Why Is Chocolate Bad? Sometimes we eat chocolate plain. Sometimes we eat it baked into cakes, mixed into ice cream, etc. The first problem with these sweets is the fat. A sudden high fat meal (such as demolishing a bag of chocolate bars left accessible at Halloween time) can create a lethal metabolic disease in pets called pancreatitis. Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are just the beginning of this disaster. Remember, in the case of pancreatitis, it is the fat that causes the problem more than the chocolate itself.

The fat and sugar in the chocolate can create an unpleasant but temporary upset stomach. This is what happens in most chocolate ingestion cases. Chocolate is, however, directly toxic because of the theobromine. The more chocolate liquor there is in a product, the more theobromine is present. This makes baking chocolate the worst for pets, followed by semisweet and dark chocolate, followed by milk chocolate, followed by chocolate flavoured cakes or cookies. Theobromine causes:

* Vomiting

* Diarrhea

* Hyperactivity

* Tremors

* Seizures

* Racing heart rhythm progressing to abnormal rhythms

* Death in severe cases

Toxic doses of theobromine are 9 mg per pound of dog for mild signs, up to 18 mg per pound of dog for severe signs. Milk chocolate contains 44 mg / ounce of theobromine while semisweet chocolate contains 150 mg per ounce, and baking chocolate contains 390 mg per ounce. It takes nearly 4 days for the effects of chocolate to work its way out of a dog’s system. If the chocolate was only just eaten, it is possible to induce vomiting; otherwise, hospitalization and support are needed until the chocolate has worked its way out of the system.

If you think your pet may have consumed chocolate please contact your veterinarian.

Sprayed By A Skunk?

Ouch! Quills!

The Top 10 Human Drugs That Poison Pets

Last year the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) handled almost 90,000 cases of pets exposed to their owners medications. Pain relievers, such as over-the-counter ibuprofen, were the leading cause of poisoning. Potential dangers to your pet could be sitting on your nightstand or kitchen counter. The following is a list of the top ten human drugs that are poisonous to pets.

-NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs)

-Antidepressants

-Acetaminophen

-Methylphenidate (for ADHD)

-Fluorouracil (used in the treatment of cancer)

-Isoniazid (used in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis)

-Psuedoephedrine (used as a decongestant)

-Anti-diabetics

-Vitamin D derivatives (aids in the treatment of osteoporosis)

-Baclofen (used for the treatment of spastic movement)

Any medication should be kept in a bathroom cabinet preferably where the door can be shut and pets are sure not to get at them. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet may have ingested medication that has not been prescribed to your pet.

Toxic Plants For Cats & Possible Symptoms Of Poisoning

Toxic Plants For Dogs & Possible Symptoms Of Poisoning

Treating and Preventing Heat Exhaustion

Unlike you and I, dogs cannot sweat a lot to cool off. They can only get rid of heat primarily through their tongues and airway. So dogs are in frequent danger of overheating, especially when the weather becomes humid and evaporation off the tongue is slowed down. Heat stroke can permanently damage a dog’s thermoregulatory system, predisposing them to further heat problems- all the more reason to recognize overheating and stop it before it progresses to heat stroke.

Prevention

Dogs can react to heat in different ways. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-nosed dogs like pugs, bulldogs, and boxers), older, obese, and pregnant dogs are more prone to heat stroke. Young active dogs, especially large breeds and dogs with thick coats are prone to exertional hyperthermia - overheating from exercise. Always pay attention to your dog and you dog’s mood, because even a healthy dog can have an off day.

Hydrate:
Offer water at the signs of panting, and avoid exercise if your dog isn’t drinking enough. Encourage you dog to “pre-drink” in anticipation of a long walk. Avoid letting your dog drink from puddles as they can pick up diseases transmitted from other animals, so always carry clean water for yourself and your dog.

Time Your Walks:
On hot days exercise your dog only before sunrise or after sunset.

Watch What You Wear:
If you’re wearing a t-shirt or tank top, remember your pal probably needs a rest.

Rest Early:
Stop at the earliest signs or overheating -panting or slowing down- and wait until your dog cools off.

Seek Shade:
Dogs seek shade instinctively when it’s hot. The sun alone is enough to overheat a dog, especially one with a thick, dark coat or a health condition. Rest and walk in the shade as much as possible, and never tie a dog in the sun or leave it in the yard without shade.

Get Wet:
Wet down your dog’s coat, take them for a swim, or spray them with the garden hose.

Beware Of The Car!!!
NEVER leave your dog in a car in the sun. Even in cool weather, the temperature in a car can climb above 48C (120F) in 20 minutes.
Don’t put your dog right into the car after exercising. Cool off both the car and your dog first. Turn on the air conditioning or open the car windows to keep the temperature moderate while you drive.

Signs Of Overheating

Overheating, or hyperthermia, happens when there is a build up of body heat and your dog’s body temperature climbs above the normal maximum of 39.3C (102.5F). Hyperthermia begins as heat stress and progresses to heat exhaustion and then, if untreated, to heat stroke, which can be fatal. Here are signs, from mild to severe.

- Heavy panting, tongue extended
- Slowing pace
- Shade-seeking
- Intense thirst
- Red gums (Due to increased blood flow to the mouth)
- Rapid heart rate, bounding pulse, followed by weak pulse due to dehydration
- Rapid, laboured breathing, heaving chest
- Anxiety and confusion
- Staggering and falling
- Fainting
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Seizures
- Coma

Treatment
- Move to a cool shaded area.
- Encourage drinking.
- Gently hose with cool water or, better, submerge in cool water, keeping water away from the dog’s airway if it’s anxious and panting.
- Check temperature every 15 minutes, and keep cooling down to 39.3c (102.5F) being careful not to go any lower.
- Transport to a veterinarian while keeping the dog cool with ice packs and water.