Protecting our Pets from Products that we use every day

We, as humans, sometimes forget that things or substances we use everyday are actually hazardous to our four-legged friends. While we would NEVER think about eating or drinking chemical cleaners, our pets actually find some of them tasty, and, given their naturally curious nature, can get themselves in trouble. It is our responsibility, as their owners, to protect them from these situations.

In that vein, I would like to spotlight some of these items throughout the next few months. As with all medical issues, prevention is always better, and cheaper, than treatment!!



Metals

Iron: ingestion of any iron metal can cause iron poisoning. Items that have been reported to the Pet Poison Hotline as having been ingested by dogs or cats include: Hand/foot warmers, prenatal vitamins, iron supplements, and fertilizers.

Lead: lead poisoning can affect our pets also, Items reported include paint, batteries, fishing sinkers, leaded glass, ceramic, pottery, plumbing items, solder, linoleum, buckshot and bullets.



Zinc: zinc poisoning is yet another threat to our pets. Remember, for all of these items listed here and above, ingestion can lead to toxicity OR obstruction. Items containing zinc that have been reported include coins, pennies, metallic nuts, staples, galvanized metal, zippers, toys, zinc oxide and diaper rash creams.


Garage Items

Antifreeze: all antifreeze products, including those labeled “pet –safe” can be harmful to our pets. Pet-safe products will cause gastrointestinal upset, while all the others will cause much more severe problems, including death. Antifreeze solutions are usually sweet smelling and sweet tasting, which actually tempts the dogs and cats to drink them, so safe storage is essential.

Mouse/Rat Poisons: these poisons actually cause death by not allowing the blood to coagulate. Depending on the amount that the pet ingests, it could do the same to your pet. Be very careful when placing these poisons so that they are not in an area where your pets, or someone else’s, can get to them.

Gasoline products: Items such as gasoline, kerosene, motor oil,
tiki torch fluid, transmission and brake fluids are all harmful to our pets.

Pesticides: Once again, careful storage and application of these products is essential in order to protect our pets from ingesting them.

Gopher bait: since this poisonous to gophers, it is also poisonous to our pets.

Windshield Wiper Fluid: Proper storage and clean up of any spills is essential.

Protecting our Pets from Products that we use every day

We, as humans, sometimes forget that things or substances we use everyday are actually hazardous to our four-legged friends. While we would NEVER think about eating or drinking chemical cleaners, our pets actually find some of them tasty, and, given their naturally curious nature, can get themselves in trouble. It is our responsibility, as their owners, to protect them from these situations.

In that vein, I would like to spotlight some of these items throughout the next few months. As with all medical issues, prevention is always better, and cheaper, than treatment!!

Household Items

Acids: battery fluid, toilet bowl cleaners, vinegar, metal cleaners, drain cleaners. These acids can harm our pets both through the skin and if ingested.

Alkalis: bleach, automatic dishwasher detergent, oven cleaners, lye,drain cleaners. These products typically have little taste or odor, so larger ingestions may occur. As with acids, alkalis can harm both topically and internally.

Batteries: dry cell batteries, such as 9Volt, D, C, AA, AAA, are the most common types that are ingested, but button/disk batteries run a close second.

Detergents: soaps, fabric softeners, deodorizers.

     


Firestarter logs: These logs are made of compressed wax and sawdust, which will cause obstructions in the stomach when mixed with saliva and stomach acid. They also can contain heavy metals, which cause metal toxicity when ingested.

Fluoride: toothpaste and mouthwash. ALWAYS use pet approved toothpastes with your pets, NEVER human formulas.

Glow jewelry: these popular jewelry items contain a clear-to-yellow oily liquid called DBP, which can be ingested or can cause skin irritation.

Gorilla Glue and other types of wood or construction glue. When the chemicals in the glue mix with the stomach acids, the glue expands into a very large, foam firm foreign body obstruction.

Hand Sanitizer: Most hand sanitizers contain ethanol, which is highly toxic to both cats and dogs.

Liquid Potpourri: The liquid base causes chemical burns to the mouth. Liquid potpourris are most dangerous to cats due to their grooming habits.

Matches: These contain sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate, all of which can cause metal toxicity. The danger of ingestion is relative to the amount ingested.

Mothballs: This pesticide can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin or ingested.

Paintballs: Although uncommon, paintball ingestion can be life-threatening to our pets.

SuperGlue: Need I say more.

Tinsel: While not “poisonous”, tinsel is extremely dangerous to dogs and cats when ingested. It wraps around the tongue and/or internal organs, creating major problems internally.

Protecting our Pets from Products that we use every day.

Some of you may have read the article in Sunday’s Kansas City Star Magazine about things that pet do and why they do them. I found some of the topics rather interesting!

What I did notice, though, was the number of things that we use every day that are actually toxic, or even poisonous, to our pets. In that vein, I would like to spotlight some of these items throughout the next few months. As with all medical issues, prevention is always better, and cheaper, than treatment!!

Gardening Items

Mulch, while lovely to look at and very helpful against weeds, can be toxic to our pets. When eaten in great quantities, mulch can cause major stomach issues, including blockage.

Cocoa bean mulch is made of discarded hulls or shells of the cocoa bean, which are by-products of chocolate production. The tempting “chocolate-like” smell often attracts dogs and may encourage them to eat mulch. Processed cocoa bean hulls can contain theobromine and caffeine, the two toxins of concern in chocolate. Unfortunately, determining the amount of toxins in mulch can be difficult as it varies greatly from product to product. Many varieties contain very low amounts of the toxins and are as dangerous as dog owners are often led to believe; however, varieties with higher toxin concentrations can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and in extreme cases, death. Since it is not always apparent how much of the toxin the mulch contains, it is best to keep dogs a safe distance away, to always supervise your pet while outside, or to not use the mulch at all.

While fertilizers are typically fairly safe for pets, those that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron may be especially tasty – and dangerous to dogs. Large ingestions of the meal-containing products can form a concretion in the stomach, potentially obstructing the gastrointestinal tract and causing sever pancreatitis, and those that contain iron may result in iron poisoning. Also, ingestion of pesticides and insecticides, especially if they contain organophosphates (often found in rose care products), can be life-threatening, even when ingested in small amounts.

Available in a variety of forms (pellets, granular, powder and liquid), slug and snail baits contain the active ingredient metaldehyde, which is highly poisonous to dogs and cats. When ingested, metaldehyde produces clinical signs of distress within one to two hours, including salivation, restlessness, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and life-threateningly high body temperature. These baits are highly toxic and without immediate veterinary attention, symptoms can last for several days and can be fatal.

Gardeners love their compost; however, it can be toxic to pets and wildlife so please keep it fenced off. As the organic matter decomposes, it is common for molds to grow, some of which produce hazardous tremorgenic mycotoxins. When consumed by an animal, moldy food or compost ingestion can result in sickness and physical distress in as little as 30 minutes. Symptoms include agitation, panting, drooling, vomiting, tremors and seizures. Prompt veterinary treatment with appropriate supportive care usually results in a good prognosis.


Watch for the next installment…..Household items that may harm our pets.

Top 10 Things To Do Before Bringing Your New Cat Home

Congratulations, the cat's out of the bag! You've just entered into a wonderful relationship that's bound to be filled with fun and affection. By starting off on the right foot—that is, by being well-prepared for your new arrival—you can move through that rocky adjustment period most new relationships go through and get right down to the lovin'!

1. Make Sure Everyone In The House Is Prepared To Have A Cat

Talk to your family members before bringing a new cat home. Make sure everyone knows that the fun begins only after kitty feels safe and her needs are met. Once you're sure everyone is ready for feeding, litter changing and grooming, you can divvy up chores among family members so everyone is prepared to care for kitty before she arrives.

2. Do You Know What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You?

The average cat has a vocabulary of more than 16 different sounds, including purring, howling, hissing and meowing—not to mention a wide-range of playful and serious body language. Taking a glance at our Cat Care section will help you understand your cat's behavior before you're faced with her mysterious cat calls, pouncing and nocturnal romps.

3. Stock Up On Supplies Before Kitty Arrives

Have all of your cat's needs ready so she can get right down to the business of making herself at home. Kitty will need:

• A litter box and the brand of litter she's been using
• Food and water bowls and the food she's used to eating
• A sturdy, rough-textured scratching post—at least three feet high—that allows her to stretch completely while scratching
• Safe, stimulating toys. Hint: If you give her toys that make noises, you'll know when she's playing.
• A bed lined with a soft, warm blanket or towel
• Grooming tools: a high-quality brush and nail clipper are a good start

4. Identity Is Key

Proper identification is a necessity. If your kitty is indoors-only, an ID tag or implanted microchip will help ensure she'll be returned to you if she gets out and can't find her way home. A safety collar with an elastic panel will allow your cat to break loose if the collar gets caught on something. We caution against letting cats outdoors, but if you do—or if a window or door is left open—a safety collar and an ID tag may be what bring your missing cat home.

5. A Room Of One's Own

Choose a low-traffic room your kids and other pets don't frequent—this will be your cat's safe space to sniff, eat, scratch and play while she gets her bearings. Arrange her food and water bowls, bed and litter box—and scatter her toys around. You can even clean off a windowsill for her and have soft music playing. She'll appreciate the chance to feel out her new family from inside her haven.

6. Routine Behavior

Give your cat a little structure to lean on. For the first few weeks, provide him with the same kind of food and feeding schedule he had before living with you—and give him the same brand of litter, too, for a familiar scent and feel on his paws. Later on, if you wish to switch to different products, you can make a slow transition.

7. What's New, Pussycat?

With a whole new life in store for her, Kitty will need some time and space to check out her surroundings and all of her new play things. Give her time alone in her room to get comfortable before you come in to play with her. If you have other pets, it's a good idea to leave your new cat in her own room for a few days will allow the other animals in the house to get used to her sounds and scent. (Hint: Watch from the door to see how she leaves her carrier. Whether she pussyfoots into a dark corner or zooms out into the room, you'll know how she feels about her new surroundings.)

8. Introducing Kitty To The Pack

Go slow at first. A cat may need seven to fourteen days to relax into her new environment. If you have kids, let them introduce themselves one at a time. Hold up on the meet-and-greets with friends, neighbors and relatives until your kitty is eating and eliminating on a normal schedule. If you have other pets, don't let your new addition have free run of the house. This is the territory of the animals who have lived with you already. Allow all of your pets to meet in the new cat's territory—and make sure you're there to supervise.

9. Cat-Proof Your Home

When your cat is ready to explore the rest of her new home (for short excursions at first), be sure to get rid of stray items she might chew on or swallow, like toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. Pens and pencils may need to be kept in drawers. You may also have to tape wires to baseboards and put caps on outlets.
Put away harsh cleaning products, human medications and household poisons, and rehome any houseplants that might be toxic to her. Make sure foods that aren't healthy for a cat's tummy are placed securely out of reach.

10. Visit The Vet Within Her First Week

Last but not least, bring your new feline to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption. Make this appointment even before you bring your kitty home.

Obscure Cat Breed of the Month: LaPerm

LaPerm is a cat that was “accidentally” bred on a farm in Oregon in 1982.  The farmer noticed that his barn cat had one completely bald kitten in her litter.  It had very large, wide-spaced ears and a blueprint pattern on her skin that mimicked a classic tabby patter.  She stayed bald until about 8 weeks of age, at which time she grew very soft, curly hair. By the age of 4 months, she had a full coat of curls.  The farmer just accepted this kitten as a unique mutant and didn’t think much of it.  However, over the years, the farmer noticed that more and more kittens were being born bald and then developing the same type of curly coat.  These cats, she also noticed, were some of the friendliest cats she had ever seen.  She began to breed these cats exclusively and that is how the “LaPerm” breed was established.

LaPerm cats come in either long or short hair, in any color imaginable.  Most are born bald, but some are born with a curly down that they lose within the first two weeks and then grow back again.  All of the LaPerm cats have one thing in common: their indisputable people oriented personalities. 

This breed of cat is highly valued for its affection and trainability.  Because their ultimate goal in life seems to be to please their owners, owning a LaPerm would seem to be a wonderful experience.

For more information, reach out to www.cfa.org.   If anyone reading this owns a LaPerm, we encourage your input and/or pictures!

Obscure Dog Breed of the Month: Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear is a bichon-type dog related to the French Bichons and the Italian Bolognese.  This is the “Official Dog of Madagascar”, and has even been honored on a postage stamp in 1974.

Cotons, from the French word for cotton, have a very cottony or fluffy haircoat rather than silky.  They have a long topcoat which, when left long, resembles a bale of cotton.  Accepted colors for this breed are white, white & black, or tri-colored; however, the all white dogs are preferred by show breeders.

This breed is very friendly, gentle, affectionate and alert.  They are very sociable and get along great with children.  Since they are small, they make a great apartment dog for someone in that situation that wants a small, loyal friend.  They are also great watchdogs due to their attentiveness.  Their most endearing “trick” is their tendency to jump and walk on their hind legs. 

If you own a Coton de Tulear, please feel free to let us know about them or post pictures.  For more information about this cute breed, reach out to www.dogbreedinfo.com.

Trent: New Veterinary Assistant

We are proud to highlight Trent, Veterinary Assistant. Trent graduated from the University of Colorado, Denver with a BA in Fine Arts. He enjoys music, art and the outdoors. His cattle dog, Cash, is an avid Frisbee dog!