IMPORTANT INFORMATION for Pet Parent regarding the use of HAND SANITIZERS AND YOUR PETS.  I am re-posting this because I know people are using more hand sanitizers and I want people to know the dangers of them for our pets!
Today I had a very traumatic experience with my 1 year old Golden Retriever. After our morning walk, I stopped at the grocery store and upon returning to the car I put a large squirt of hand sanitizer on my hands and rubbed them together as a precaution of the corona virus contamination.  Immediately after doing that my dog, being a curious 1 year old, started to lick my hands and I said "leave it" but she had already licked the sanitizer from my hands.  Right away she started to gag like she wanted to throw up and I was suspicious for I know Isopropyl Alcohol is dangerous to dogs.  The writing on the small spray bottle was hard to read but I did see active ingredient of 64% ethyl alcohol.  My fur baby kept trying to gag and so I stopped for her to drink some water, but she continued to gag and get really close to me while I was driving.  I knew she was afraid and I assumed her mouth and throat were burning for drinking alcohol is dangerous to pets.  This was a rather high concentration of 64% which wouldn’t be found in alcohol beverages!
As soon as I got home I gave her my food remedies, organic coconut oil & honey, to coat the throat. I use when I have a dog upset because they might have swallowed something that was irritating their throat and digestive tract.  I also fed her an entire can of organic solid pack canned pumpkin mixed with some chopped vegetable mixture of parsley and other dark green veggies that I feed them daily.  I let her eat what she wanted to get the alcohol diluted in her system.  She is a 55 pound dog.  After getting the food in her she finally stopped gagging and did settle down. I was fortunate to be rather close to home to feed her food to dilute the alcohol in her throat and digestive tract. My dog is fine now but I want people to be aware of the dangers of the hand sanitizers for I know the main ingredient is alcohol of some form. 
A hand sanitizer needs to have at least 60% alcohol to kill germs.  This particular sanitizer contained 64% ethyl alcohol along with essential oils.  It does say for external use only but I never thought my animal would want to lick it from my hands.  That is why I am writing this blog so you also can be aware of the dangers of hand sanitizers with your pets since we are using more sanitizers with the concern of the corona virus.
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I know Isopropyl alcohol should never be in any product used on your pet but ethyl alcohol was even worse since she licked it off my hands.
 
Here is some information on Ethanol which is commonly known as ethyl alcohol, but it also goes by the names pure alcohol, grain alcohol, and drinking alcohol. It can be described as a colorless liquid which can be soluble in water. It also has a slight odor and somewhat sweet when diluted. However, when undiluted or concentrated, it has a very strong taste and leaves a burning aftertaste.
Ethyl Alcohol is the alcohol found in alcoholic drinks such as beer, brandy, or whiskey. It is made from the fermentation or chemical breakdown of sugars by yeasts. It is made from plants and grains such as corn, wheat, barley.  Ethanol can be produced by milling the grains and then fermenting them with yeast. During the fermentation process, the starches of the grains are turned into alcohol. Then, there is also a distillation process.
 
Pure ethanol will irritate the skin and eyes. Nausea, vomiting, and intoxication are symptoms of ingestion. Long-term use by ingestion can result in serious liver damage. 
 
The information on ethyl alcohol is from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol#Safety

Don't forget all the things associated with Easter that are harmful to your pets! Pet proof your home to have a safe Easter weekend with your pets.​

Especially in households with younger children, it is very import to pet-proof your house for Easter festivities! Between sneaking chocolate from baskets, eating candy wrappers strewn across the house, and mistaking fake, plastic grass for the real deal... Easter weekend is an ingestion hazard waiting to happen. 

The best place to start is by avoiding all fake, plastic Easter-basket-grass as it can be lethal when consumed by an unsuspecting pet (not to mention it's very hard to recycle!). Here are some favorite go-to replacements are:

•  If you have a lawn use fresh grass if it isn't fertilized with chemicals.
• The healthiest alternative would be kale! Now this is a basket-filler you can encourage your pets to eat.
• The grass-free-alternative... recycled paper! 

Also, while the toxicity of chocolate to dogs and cats is well-known, there's another silent killer at many Easter affairs - lilies. Lily flowers are toxic when eaten by cats and should be avoided in households with roaming felines. 

As with all holidays, I always recommend pet-proofing your GUESTS as well as your house to avoid incidents and to reduce the stress on your pets.

Especially with less-frequent guests, give visitors a quick run-down of your pet-rules-of-the-house - i.e. keeping outside doors closed, not feeding the pups from the table, don't chase or handle the animals, unless advised how to. 

However, in any situation with many visitors to your home, your pets will inevitably have heightened anxiety and stress. In these situations I've found two products to be incredibly effective in keeping my pets happy and relaxed - Diffusing doTERRA Essential Oils and playing calming music.  They can both calm your pets!

Here is a bit of advice for keeping your pets safe.  Has your pet ever eaten something they shouldn’t that could block their digestive track and cause major complications if they develop a blockage in their digestive track?  I have had this happen twice with one of my dogs that thinks things are a treasure to keep and eat instead of letting someone else have them.  I experienced this with this dog years ago when she decided to swallow a leather baseball cover instead of letting the other dog that she was playing with keep it.  The leather cover stitching broke on the ball and she managed to get the cover off the ball that was in his mouth.  Needless to say we took an emergency trip to my vet who just happened to have a cancellation that morning and induced vomiting to remove the cover.  If the cover would have entered the digestive track she would have had to have surgery to remove it.  This happened close to my vet so I was lucky.
Yesterday this same dog decided to play keep away with the packaging of chicken which consists of the Styrofoam tray and the pellet type lining that is use to absorb the juices to keep them from leaking while packaged.  She was outside and wanted to play keep away and swallowed the packaging and pellet substance instead of giving it up.  It was my fault for being careless of were the packaging was left for disposing of it.  I knew she was going to have to vomit this up but I was miles from a vet or emergence clinic and it was past regular office hours.  I decided I would have to use a technique that I knew about to induce vomiting in pets.  Amazingly it worked and the unwanted substance was out of her and on the ground within 10 minutes.  I was so happy and I want to tell you about this method of inducing vomiting.  Hopefully you will never have to use it but I feel it is something you should know.  What will induce vomiting is a 3% solution of Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide.  IT MUST BE FOOD GRADE!  The dosage is generally 1 tsp/10# weight in dogs.  I mixed it with some raw chicken and water.  I was also told that it should be a unopened bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide to be effective.  I always keep an unopened bottle just for this purpose.
You can google it to find out more details for cats.  Make sure it hasn’t been two hours since the animal ate the unwanted substance.  Look for more details online for dangerous substances that should not have vomiting induced.  You should never induce vomiting with brachycephalic pets (pets that have a smooshed face and are more at risk for inhaling vomit into their lungs. Brachycephalic breeds include the following: English bulldogs, Pekingese, Shih-Tzus, Pugs, etc. You can check the link below for more precautions.
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-toxins-poisons/inducing-vomiting-your-dog

Parts of this information is from Dr. Karen Becker, DVM
I have experience chocolate poisoning from a family pet and it was scary.  We spent Christmas Eve and early into Christmas Day in the Emergency Veterinarian Clinic with my son's Golden Retriever about 6 years ago and it sure made me more cautious about keeping an eye on what food is around that we might not even thing twice about being a concern for our pets.  This sweet counter surfing dog ate a majority of some rich dark chocolate brownies.  She couldn't have had a more dangerous snack for this was the most serious type of chocolate poisoning.
The vets had to pump her stomach and then get charcoal into her stomach to absorb any of the chocolate that wasn't discharged by vomiting.  After that she had to be watched very closely to make sure she didn't have any other reactions which made for a very long night.  Luckly there was an emergency clinic close and she was cared for immediately so she did fully recover.
Please watch your Pets Closely especially if you have children in the household!

By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
According to veterinary journal dvm360, here’s the extent of what most pet parents know about the dangers of chocolate: Chocolate + Dog = Big trouble. This is actually a good, if simplistic way to frame the issue.
Dogs are much more often the victims of chocolate poisoning than cats, because dogs like sweet-tasting things, and they’re indiscriminate eaters. They make up 95 percent of chocolate emergency calls according to the Pet Poison Helpline, and in some dogs, even the wrappers from candy can result in secondary obstruction in the stomach or intestines.1 But why, exactly, is one of our favorite treats such a problem for furry family members?
Chocolate Poisoning PrimerChocolate is made from the roasted seeds of the Theobroma cacao or cocoa tree. The seeds have certain properties that can be toxic for dogs (and cats), including caffeine and theobromine, which are naturally occurring stimulants. Both theobromine and caffeine stimulate the central nervous system and heart muscle. They also relax smooth muscles, especially the bronchial muscles, and increase production of urine by the kidneys.
Studies show dogs are especially sensitive to theobromine compared to other domestic animals. This is because they metabolize the substance very slowly, which means it stays in the bloodstream for an unusually long time. This may also be true of cats, but because kitties don’t commonly overdose on chocolate, there isn’t a lot of research on feline chocolate toxicosis.
Even small amounts of chocolate can cause adverse reactions in pets, and the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. Baker’s chocolate, semisweet chocolate, cocoa powder and gourmet dark chocolates are more dangerous than milk chocolate.
Other sources include chewable flavored multivitamins, baked goods, chocolate-covered espresso beans and cocoa bean mulch. White chocolate has very little theobromine and won’t cause poisoning in pets. Though not commonly seen, the worst of the worst is dry cocoa powder, which contains the highest amount of theobromine per ounce — 800 milligrams per ounce versus Baker’s chocolate at 450 milligrams per ounce.
How Much Is Too Much?“It’s the dose that makes the poison,” according to the Pet Poison Helpline. For example, a few M&Ms or a bite of a chocolate chip cookie are unlikely to cause a problem for your dog. Standard guidelines for chocolate poisoning in dogs include:2

• For milk chocolate, any ingestion of more than 0.5 ounces per pound of body weight may put dogs at risk for chocolate poisoning.
• Ingestion of more than 0.13 ounces per pound of dark or semisweet chocolate may cause poisoning.
• Almost all ingestions of baker’s chocolate can result in poisoning and are considered emergencies.
• Young animals, geriatric animals and animals with underlying disease must be treated more conservatively as they’re more at risk for poisoning than healthy adult animals.
• Due to the large amount of fat in chocolate, some pets may develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) after eating chocolate or baked goods containing chocolate.

Continue reading here:
​healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/02/23/chocolate-poisoning-in-pets.aspx?utm_source=petsnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=artTestHP_A4&utm_campaign=20180213Z1&et_cid=DM185914&et_rid=212713734

 
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.
 

I have read this before and it is great to know.  I also read to make sure the Hydrogen Peroxide was a fresh unopened bottle for the best effect.  It is recommended to have a small unopened bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide in your pet first aid kit with a teaspoon measuring spoon for emergencies.

Today's topic is a lovely one – how to make your pet throw up! By Dr. Karen Becker

I realize it sounds like a terrible subject, but I actually get the question quite often at my Natural Pet animal hospital. A lot of clients want to know, 'How and when do I make my dog throw up' if I think he's swallowed something dangerous?

If this isn't something you've ever considered, my opinion is it's better to be safe than sorry. It's better to have the knowledge before or if you need it, rather than need it and not have it in the middle of a crisis with your beloved companion.

If you do happen to have a dog or cat prone to sampling weird stuff around your house or yard, view this video so you'll know exactly what you need to do in an emergency, which will include having hydrogen peroxide on hand to induce vomiting.

Should I Automatically Make My Pet Throw Up, No Matter What?

Let's say you actually see your dog or cat consuming something she shouldn't. Do you automatically induce vomiting?

Not necessarily.

An animal might, for example, come up the stairs from the basement with something in his mouth. Or maybe you see your dog in the yard or behind the garage chewing on something.

Sometimes kitties consume houseplants. You might see chew or tooth marks on a plant, or notice some of the leaves looked stripped or shredded.

You don't necessarily need to induce vomiting in these situations, depending on the circumstances.

When Should You NOT Induce Vomiting?

Circumstances in which you should not make your pet throw up include:

·        When he's already throwing up. Don't induce more vomiting in an already vomiting animal, because you can incite a worse vomition response.

·        If your pet has lost consciousness and/or if she's very weak or has trouble standing. Do not induce vomiting in this situation because aspiration pneumonia, which can result when an animal inhales vomit into its lungs, can become a secondary problem.

·        If your pet has swallowed bleach, a drain cleaner, or a petroleum distillate. These chemicals can cause burning as they are swallowed, and secondary additional burns as they come back up. Don't induce vomiting if your pet has swallowed a caustic substance.

·        If it has been over two hours since your pet ingested a potential toxin. Once a substance enters your pet's small intestine, vomiting will not clear the stomach of that toxin. Inducing vomiting in a dog or cat that has already digested a potential toxin won't be effective in ridding her body of the substance.

When Should You Absolutely Induce Vomiting?

·        When your pet has consumed antifreeze within the last two hours.

·        When you've called your veterinarian, discussed the specific circumstances around your pet's swallowing a potential toxin, and your vet instructs you to induce vomiting.

Hydrogen Peroxide to Induce Vomiting

I recommend (and probably your own veterinarian will as well) the only substance you use at home to make your pet throw up is hydrogen peroxide.

I'm talking about three percent hydrogen peroxide – the kind you purchase at any pharmacy. Do not use the stronger, concentrated peroxide found in hair color, use only the three percent kind.

The dose is one teaspoon (five milliliters, or cc's) for every 10 pounds of body weight.

The hydrogen peroxide must be given orally to your pet. At my clinic, especially if the patient is a dog, we mix it with a little vanilla ice cream to make it palatable. I don't advocate feeding ice cream to dogs, of course, but in a situation where it's necessary to make a pet vomit, hydrogen peroxide hidden in sugary ice cream usually gets gobbled up with no argument.

You can also try using a little bit of honey if there's no ice cream on hand.

Sometimes, however, we just syringe the stuff down an animal's throat. With kitty patients, it's usually easier and more effective to syringe it.

If your pet is a dog, after you get the hydrogen peroxide down, you should walk her around for a few minutes to get her moving, which will help the hydrogen peroxide do its work.

Cats, of course, are a little harder to get moving, but getting them in motion will encourage absorption of the hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is an irritant to the gastrointestinal tract, so it typically induces vomiting of stomach contents within 15 minutes of use. If your pet doesn't vomit within 15 minutes, you can give him a second dose. However, if another 15 minutes pass and he still hasn't vomited, don't give him a third dose of the hydrogen peroxide. It's time to call your veterinarian.

Veterinarians use specific drugs to induce vomiting in pets – apomorphine is used for dogs, and xylazine is used for kitties.

These medications are by prescription only and can only be administered by a veterinarian. They can be much more effective at inducing vomiting than hydrogen peroxide. So if your pet isn't throwing up from your at-home hydrogen peroxide treatment, you should seek veterinary care immediately.
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This article is a must read to keep our pets safe from being poisoned. 
I know pet owners are aware of some but do familiarize yourself with all listed.  Please also watch your children with the family pet.
By Dr. Becker

Earlier this year, the Pet Poison Helpline released the top 10 household items that caused pet guardians to call for poison consultations during 2013.

According to the Helpline's Associate Director Ahna Brutlag, DVM, the list of cat toxins didn't change from last year, but a new item made it to the top 10 list for dogs: canine joint supplements. These supplements have "limited toxicity" according to Dr. Brutlag, but a few cases of liver failure following a massive overdose have been reported.

If you know or suspect your pet has ingested or been exposed to a toxic substance, call your veterinarian, a nearby emergency animal hospital, and/or the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. You can also download their Pet Poison Help iPhone app here.

Top 10 Dog Toxins in 2013

1. Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both classified as methylxanthines. These compounds can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potentially death. The more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Bakers and dark chocolate are the most toxic, and milk chocolate can be dangerous if ingested in large amounts.

2. Xylitol

Xylitol, a sugar substitute common in sugar-free chewing gum and many other products, can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia and liver damage in dogs.

3. NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, Motrin and Aleve, can cause GI ulcers and kidney failure.

4. Over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications

Many of these preparations contain acetaminophen (a painkiller) and pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine (decongestants) and are highly toxic.

5. Rodenticides

Rat and mouse poison can contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to dogs. Aside from eating the poison itself, dogs can also become sick from eating a rodent that has ingested poison. Exposure to rat and mouse poison can cause bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

6. Grapes and raisins

These foods, even in small amounts, can cause kidney failure in dogs.

7. Insect bait stations

The danger here is primarily bowel obstruction when a dog swallows the plastic shell that contains the bait.

8. Prescription ADD/ADHD drugs

These drugs are amphetamines that can cause tremors, heart problems, seizures and death in pets.

9. Glucosamine joint supplements

These supplements are often flavored to appeal to dogs. Overdoses usually produce nothing more dangerous than diarrhea, but in rare cases, liver failure can result.

10. Oxygen absorbers and silica gel packs

Oxygen absorbers are found in packages of pet treats, beef jerky, and other consumables, and they contain iron that can cause iron poisoning in dogs. Silica gel packs are the small white packs found in new shoes, purses and backpacks.

Top 10 Cat Toxins in 2013

1. Lilies

The variety of lily determines whether it is relatively harmless or potentially deadly. Non-toxic varieties include the Calla, Peace and Peruvian, and typically cause irritation of the upper GI tract. Toxic lilies -- including the Tiger, Asiatic, Stargazer, Casablanca, Rubrum, Day, Japanese Show and Easter lily -- can prove deadly for your cat. Just a tiny amount of any portion of these plants can cause kidney failure.

2. Household cleaners

General-purpose cleaners are relatively safe (all-natural products are a much better choice), but concentrated products like drain or toilet bowl cleaners can cause chemical burns.

3. Flea/tick spot-on products for dogs

Never use a canine flea/tick product on your cat. Depending on the ingredients in the product, just a drop has the potential to kill a cat within hours.

4. Antidepressants

Cymbalta and Effexor topped Pet Poison Helpline's toxic antidepressants list in 2013. For some reason kitties are drawn to these medications, which can cause severe neurologic and cardiac effects.

5. NSAIDs

Cats are more sensitive than dogs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. And because kitties are so sensitive, veterinary-specific NSAIDs should be used with extreme caution, if at all.

6. Prescription ADD/ADHD medications

Just as with dogs, these drugs, which are amphetamines, can cause tremors, heart problems, seizures and death in cats.

7. Over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications

Many of these preparations contain acetaminophen (a painkiller) and pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine (decongestants). Acetaminophen is especially toxic to cats – it damages red blood cells and causes liver failure.

8. Plants containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals

Peace lilies, philodendron and pothos can cause oral and upper GI irritation, foaming at the mouth and inflammation when ingested.

9. Household insecticides

If you use insecticides on your indoor plants (which I definitely do not recommend, since they are environmental toxins), make sure to keep your kitty away from plants after application until the products have dried or settled.

10. Glow sticks and glow jewelry

Many cats enjoying gnawing on glow sticks and glow jewelry. These items contain dibutyl phthalate, a chemical that can leak out and burn your cat's fur and tongue.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/05/30/top-10-pet-poisons.aspx?e_cid=20140530Z1_PetsNL_art_1&utm_source=petnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140530Z1&et_cid=DM45514&et_rid=536412148 
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