I’m sure many of you are decorating and getting ready for the holidays and I would like to remind you of the dangers of for our pets during the holidays. Remember to think of pet holiday safety just like you would for a small child. Dogs and cats are curious of shinny objects, lights, tinsel, ornaments, and the Christmas tree itself whether it is a live or artificial tree. Many cats like to climb a tree just like if they were outside and dogs will check the trees out also. If they chew on the tree or lights that can be very serious. You can train a pet to stay away from the tree and other decorations. That is done the same way as you would teach them the “leave it” command. Christmas plants are also dangerous for our pets so if you love to decorate your homes with poinsettias, holly and mistletoe you need to take caution with these toxic plants and keep them away from your pets. If you see any evidence these plants have been chewed on, call your veterinarian immediately for further instructions. I have a list of poisonous plants on my website if you would like to check out other toxic items for animals. https://www.pawsitivewellnesscenter.com/pet-safety.html Many foods are also dangerous for your pets like chocolate, Xytilol, raisins and more. Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee, and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest. Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death. Under no circumstances should your pet be given any alcohol. If you suspect that your pet has ingested alcohol, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately or go to your local emergency veterinarian hospital. When you call ASPECA (888) 426-4435. it can take longer to get the information and that time can be important with many poisonous substances. Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days. Nuts, including almonds, pecans, and walnuts, contain high amounts of oils and fats. The fats can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets. Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 12 to 48 hours. Milk and dairy products are not good for our pets either Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset. The alternative to cows milk is goats milk for it doesn’t contain lactase so the animals are able to break it down and actually benefit from the healthy nutrients especially goat milk kefir. We love to buy our pets presents but be cautious with so many dog toys and treats on the market, it’s hard to know what to choose and to find healthy and safe gifts for our dogs. One of the main concerns is toxins in plastic and one of the prime examples are BPA’s If you are planning to buy toys for your pets, it would be good to use toys made of non-toxic, ‘baby safe' materials that are durable and made of natural materials. The most dangerous toys are the cheap, plastic ones made in China, where the absence of regulations poses a serious danger to your pet’s health. Watch for toys that have pieces that can be broken off and swallowed.
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Many people are hesitant to feed raw chicken or turkey bones to your dogs. I was for a long time also. I have read enough now to know that if the chicken and turkey bones are raw (NOT COOKED AT ALL) they are totally safe for your dogs. I have been feeding the drumstick, neck and wings from the turkey and chicken now for over a few years and my dogs are fine. The stomach acid of our dogs is much more acid and it will digest the raw bones if the dog is able to crunch them. Femur leg bones and marrow bones are not good for they are too hard and can crack a tooth which can be very costly with the orthodontist bill. Your dog needs bones that they can actually grind with their teeth for that is also a great cleaning action on the teeth.
Granted my dogs are Golden Retrievers and a larger breed but you can feed the smaller dog these bones in smaller amounts. This Thanksgiving I bought them their own turkey and fed them everything over a period of days. Yes, that includes the back and neck. They enjoyed it and at the holidays you can find great deals on whole turkeys. Give your dogs a treat for Christmas when turkey's are still a great price. I just attended an online webinar on animal wellness and learned so much. I was most impressed by Dr. Jean Dodds on thyroid conditions in our animals. One of the most common endocrine diseases of dogs is Autoimmune Thyroiditis/ hypothyroidism. For older cats the most common endocrine disease is Hyperthyroidism. One of the main causes of this condition is the role of soy and excess iodine in foods. Some common signs of the disease are behavioral issues, subtle weight gain and recurring infections. Dr. Dodds is also an advocate of feeding the Species Appropriate Raw Diet. A major concern with thyroid conditions in our dogs is related to the use collars worn for walking our dogs since the collar when pulled on during the walk rides directly on the thyroid area and puts pressure on that gland. This is something to avoid for the safety of the neck and thyroid. Dog CollarsAnother presenter dog trainer, Alecia Evans, discussed the issue of using any collar on our dogs while walking with them. We do need to have a collar on our dogs to hold pet ID information including chip numbers & contact information. I have research using collars for walking and tried many different types of collars to keep the dog from pulling during the walk. I have found a harness to be more effective to reduce pulling over the other collars (see illus. below). I did like Alecia's information on the harness she developed over years of training because it doesn’t confine the dogs shoulder movement which is a concern with many harnesses that clip in the front with a strap crossing the chest. This type of harness does confine the shoulder movement of the dog and can cause shoulder issues over time. The harness doesn't affect the thyroid gland either. I want to pass this along if anyone is concerned about their dogs neck being damaged from pulling with a collar. If interested check out her website. I have no interest in the purchase of the harness. I just feel it is a great tool for walking our dogs safely.
I feel this information is excellent and worth sharing for anyone considering getting a puppy. I have learned so much from Dr. Peter Dubias, DVM through many of his courses and blog. This is worth your time to listen to before getting your puppy. by Dr. Peter Dobias DVM When I started writing this article, I thought about listing the 10 most common mistakes dog lovers make with puppies. My list turned into 30 or 40 points and I realized this article will be the starting point of many more conversations, whether it is in these pages or online.
Hip dysplasia, vaccinosis, too many prescriptions drugs, poor bone growth, chronic diarrhea, cruciate ligament tears, obesity, epilepsy, organ failure, autoimmune disease, cancer and premature loss are often the outcomes of well-intended deeds and poor advice that people get about puppy care. I hope the following 10 points serve as a springboard and inspire you to go deeper in your learning. Your actions will make a huge, positive difference in the life of the dog you love. Enjoy! Check out more By Dr. Karen Becker Many people believe the love they have for families and friends is best expressed through food, so serving cake, pie, biscuits and gravy and mounds of meat is considered a love language. Family recipes are sometimes thought to be part of the glue that helps holds loved ones together. Unfortunately, the concept is also extended to pets. In fact, the newest statistics show that over the past several years, pet obesity is getting worse, not better. The sad fact is, obesity continues to be the greatest health threat facing pets today. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's (APOP) 2016 clinical survey, nearly 54 percent of dogs and 59 percent of cats were deemed clinically overweight or obese, using the Pet Body Condition Score (BCS). A BCS of 4 equates to overweight, and BCS 5 is obese. According to the organization's website: "That equals an estimated 41.9 million dogs and 50.5 million cats are too heavy, based on 2016 pet population projections provided by the American Pet Products Association (APPA)."1 Since 2012, APOP's percentages for overweight and obese dogs have shown a steady climb from 52.5 percent to 53.9 percent in 2016. Over the same time frame, there was a slight dip in the percentages for 2013 for cats, but then they climbed and even exceeded the highest numbers ever with a total of 58.9 percent being obese and overweight. What Does Excess Fat in Dogs and Cats Mean for Their Health? In 2014, the American Animal Hospital Association submitted guidelines for managing the weight of dogs and cats, and noted several related diseases and conditions that may occur when these animals are overweight or obese, such as: Skin disorders, Respiratory problems, Kidney dysfunction, Metabolic and endocrine disorders, Orthopedic disease, Certain cancers, Chronic inflammation and Diminished quality of life. But that's not all. Numerous other diseases are claiming the lives of pets due to obesity, and many are related to the strain placed on their bones and joints, circulatory systems, nerves and organs, such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, congestive heart failure and intervertebral disc disease. Not surprisingly, any of these by themselves can make your pet feel miserable, but the worst thing is a reduced life expectancy. Obesity can kill animals just as it does humans. Read more... If you're unsure what your pet is supposed to weigh, you can check the list of ideal weights for pets at Pet Obesity Prevention.3 Weight charts have lots of limitations, so ideally, if you don't know if your pet is overweight, ask your vet. You should be able to feel your pet's ribs:
Dog Vaccinations /
By Dana Scott from Dog Naturally Magazine You know the rabies vaccine is one of the most dangerous vaccines you can give your dog. But unfortunately, if you live in the United States or parts of Canada, the rabies vaccine is required by law. Maybe you try to mitigate the potential by asking for a thimerosal-free vaccine because you know that thimerosal is about half mercury by weight … and mercury is really (like really) bad for your dog. If this sounds like you, then you really need to read on because you might not be getting what you paid for … Why You Should Say No To ThimerosalThimerosal is a mercury-based vaccine additive that’s been used as a preservative for decades. Way back in 1935, five years after thimerosal was first added to vaccines, Eli Lilly (the creator of thimerosal), declared that thimerosal was completely safe. But the vaccine manufacturer Pittman-Moore wrote to them and said: “We have obtained marked local reaction in about 50% of the dogs injected with serum containing dilutions of Merthiolate (Thimerosal). Merthioiate is unsatisfactory as a preservative for serum intended for use on dogs.” (Director of Biological Services, Pittman-Moore Company, letter to Dr. Jamieson of Eli Lilly Company dated 1935. U.S. Congressional Record, May 21, 2003, E1018, page 9). Since then, over 160 studies have also shown the dangers of thimerosal. Read more...
Great talk on cancer in Dogs with Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib.
A must listen if you love your dogs and want the best for them! This is great information for pet parents who are adopting an in intact puppy. I would love the rescue organizations and shelters to study this research. I wish I had this information when I had to decide at what age and what procedure to use to spay my two dogs. The new methods of spaying and neutering are much healthier for our pets and well worth checking out when altering your pets. I, like most people, was strongly urged by many veterinarians to have my dogs spayed before six months so they wouldn't go into a heat. Since then I have read many studies on spaying or neutering pets and the information is eye opening. Of course there are other ways to get hormone support if your pet has been altered. I am not promoting Dr. Becker's product but I want you to know that there are options for pets that have already been altered. The information in the video about altering our pets and losing the benefits of their natural hormones is excellent. The research information from Dr. Karen Becker is in the YouTube video below. March is Poison Awareness Month so let's be cautious with our pets!
Are you aware of all the poisonous plants to your pets that are in your surroundings and food? Created by Proflowers. This amazing website of Rodney Habib, Pet Nutrition Blogger, is now available with exceptional information. He is a blessing to all of us pet parents who want to keep our furry friends healthy and happy. Do check this article on immune system healing herbs and all of this other information. I have followed him for years and have learned so much...
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