Holiday Pet Safety

From: Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.
A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization

Holidays can create special dangers for your pets. Each year during the various holiday seasons, thousands of pets are seriously injured and/or become deathly ill. It's a busy time ... a time of much planning, shopping, cooking and baking, rushing to and from parties and get-togethers with relatives and friends. Oftentimes we forget about our little four-legged members of the family during the rush and festivities. They are curious and anxious as we, their caretakers are and there are many hazards waiting for their curiosity.


Holiday Safety Tips for Pets:

New Year's brings in a brand new year filled with the promise of hope, prosperity, health, and happiness. But be alert to any pet hazards such as fun noise-makers and confetti which can very easily pose a serious threat to your pets' sense of well-being and health. Noise-makers can frighten your pet causing the pet to bolt out an open door window, or leap to a percarious area in search of safety. Confetti can be ingested, wreaking havoc to the digestive tract. read the entire article.

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Antifreeze Warning

Antifreeze Warning
http://www.cfainc.org/articles/antifreeze.html

Antifreeze can be deadly to pets! The ASPCA and National Animal Poison Control Center have issued the following warning regarding antifreeze and your pet.

Antifreeze has a sweet taste and can be attractive to pets. Ethylene glycol is the most dangerous and also the most common form of antifreeze. Unfortunately, very small amounts can be lethal to pets. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat; less than four teaspoons can be dangerous to a 10-pound dog.

The following are guidelines for pet owners to follow to avoid pet exposures to antifreeze:

Antifreeze Poisoning Prevention Tips

Clean up antifreeze spills immediately.

Check your car regularly for radiator leaks.

Always store antifreeze containers in areas that are inaccessible to your pets.

Never allow your pets to have access to the area when you are draining antifreeze from your car.

Propylene glycol is a less toxic form of antifreeze and should be used instead of ethylene glycol.

If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, contact your veterinarian immediately!

For ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center consultation services contact 1-888-4ANI-HELP.

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Veterinary Drug Summaries

If your pet is taking a veterinary drug, please review the link below that provides summaries on many, if not most of the drugs used today. You will find information on how the drugs work, risks and reactions as well as dosing information.

VASG.Org.
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Rin Tin Tin Endorses the Rabies Challenge Fund

Rin Tin Tin is endorsing The Rabies Challenge Fund! Rin Tin Tin will provide the Rabies Challenge Fund with 1,000 8x10" Black and White “Original Limited Edition Autographed Pictures” to be distributed FREE to those who make a donation of $100 or more to the study. The study, funded by donations, is being conducted by Dr. Jean Dodds and Dr. Ronald Schultz with the intent of proving that the Rabies vaccine protects much longer than 1 year. This is a great holiday gift giving idea! Instead of spending money on unnecessary gifts for your dog loving friends, donate in their honor to a worthy cause that will benefit the health of our pets.

Rin Tin Tin Site.

Rabies Challenge Fund Site.

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Holiday Sale!

Nature's Sunshine is offering a tremendous end of the year sale. Take advantage of great offers and get a free holiday ornament! Get 1 Free NSP Capsicum Holiday Ornament with any Buy 9, Get 3 Free product purchase while supplies last. Stock of ornaments is limited, so order today!

Products on sale from December 21 - 31:

Adrenal Support provides vitamins, minerals, adaptogenic herbs and substances that help nourish the adrenal glands, which can become depleted through stress.

CleanStart® cleansing and detoxifying program contains effective ingredients to support whole-body cleansing through the intestinal system. Available in two flavors.

Colloidal Minerals contains a full spectrum of macro and trace minerals in a suspension to recharge the body's electrical system, support enzyme function and aid immunity.

Immune Stimulator. Arm yourself against immune system attacks with the power of beta-glucans, arabinogalactan, colostrum, reishi and maitake mushrooms, and cordyceps.

LBS II® is an herbal laxative blend that supports proper waste elimination and encourages effective colon cleansing.

Mega-Chel® is a top seller-its array of nutrients supports the entire circulatory system in a host of ways

Probiotic Eleven contains 11 strains of friendly flora to help replenish depleted levels of important probiotics in the gut.

Skeletal Strength® contains calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and other essential nutrients to support the structural system.

Super Omega-3 EPA provides the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA-to support the circulatory system.

Super Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals supplies 100% or more of the Daily Value of 11 vitamins and 7 minerals in a base of healthful herbs and nutrients. Also available without iron.

Thai-Go®, featuring mangosteen pericarp, provides xanthones, bioflavonoids and powerful antioxidants to neutralize dangerous free radicals that can damage DNA.

Vitamin B-Complex capsules. Take extra B vitamins to help offset physical stress and to support the nervous system.

Vitamin E Complete with Selenium is natural Vitamin E with a complete profile of tocopherols and tocotrienols to support circulatory and immune health

Flax Seed Oil contains circulatory-friendly, omega-3 essential fatty acids, plus lignans-known to stimulate immune activity.

Nature's Sweet Life Chocolate. Our sugar-free dark chocolate is packed with beneficial antioxidants and tastes wonderful. Available in Memory/Orange and Plain Dark.

Clearance Items -Save Big While Supplies Last!

Ozone Refrigerator unit- Keep your produce fresh for longer!

Hoodia Trial packs- perfect for helping to prevent holiday weight gain (20 packets).

Specials available online starting Sunday, December 21

Click here to shop.

FDA Warning - Chicken Treats

December 19, 2008

FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats. FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China. FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the chicken jerky product was manufactured in China.

FDA believes the continued trend of consumer complaints coupled with the information obtained from Australia warrants an additional reminder and animal health notification.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be used occasionally and in small quantities. Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.

FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S, is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs which may occur within hours to days of feeding the product: decreased appetite, although some may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html in their state.


FDA Website.

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Holiday Plant Toxicity

Petra A. Volmer, DVM, MS, DABVT, DABT
www.aspca.org

Veterinarians are frequently faced with questions regarding potential plant poisonings, especially around the holidays, when festive plants may be placed in locations accessible to curious pets. This article will help you better recognize plants commonly encountered during winter and spring holidays and treat pets exposed to them. Remember, an owner may not know a plant’s name, and attempting to identify a plant from an owner’s description over the phone is often unreliable.

The most common signs of poinsettia exposure reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) are vomiting, anorexia, and depression (ASPCA APCC Database: Unpublished data, 2001). These effects are self-limiting and require minimal treatment. Therapy is directed at decreasing further irritation to the gut by restricting access to food and water for one or two hours.Read the entire article.

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Spirulina - Immune System

UC DAVIS STUDY SHOWS SPIRULINA BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Adding spirulina to cultured immune system cells significantly increases the production of infection fighting cytokines, say immunologists at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center. Their finding is published in the Fall issue of the Journal of Medicinal Foods.

Spirulina are blue-green algae rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Used as a food supplement for more than 20 years, spirulina grows naturally in lakes with extremely high pH levels, but it is also harvested from large-scale commercial ponds, where purity is monitored before being dried and distributed in tablet and powdered form.

A number of animal studies have shown spirulina to be an effective immunomodulator (an agent that can effect the behavior of immune cells.) In rats spirulina inhibited allergic reactions by suppressing the release of histamine in a dose-dependent fashion. In cats, spirulina enhanced the ability of macrophages to engulf bacteria, and in chickens spirulina increased antibody responses and the activity of natural killer cells, which destroy infected and cancerous cells in the body.
Read the entire study.

Read more about Spirulina.

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Dr. Jane's Holiday Tips

Make the Holidays Safe for Pets
Jane Bicks, DVM

By following some simple tips, you can ensure a trouble-free holiday season for you and your pets.

There are some things from which you should shield your pets during the festive months.

Some common holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs. Don’t keep holly, poinsettias, lilies or mistletoe on or near the floor, where pets have easy access to them.

If you have a live tree in your home, don’t let pine needles accumulate on the floor, as these needles can perforate the intestinal lining of dogs and cats. Additionally, trees should be tethered to a wall or the ceiling to prevent them from falling on pets.

Don’t leave unfamiliar extension cords fully exposed, as these can resemble chew toys, which could result in serious injury to your dog. Never leave lights plugged in when you are not at home.

Don’t allow your companion animals to drink holiday tree water, as it quickly becomes stagnant and can contain harmful chemicals or bacteria. Consider putting up a wire fence to restrict access to tree water, and to gifts (aka, tempting chewing targets).

If you are decorating with tinsel, hang it out of reach of your pets, especially cats, as they are known to eat tinsel, which can result in intestinal distress.

And here are some suggestions for things you should consider doing as the year wraps up.

Do your gift wrapping on an elevated surface, where your pets can’t get into (and consequently eat) string, paper and ribbons that can cause intestinal blockages.

This is a good time of the year to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. This helps to ensure the safety of the home and also avoids alarming your companion animals, as low batteries will often set off alerts that can scare your pets.

Encourage your holiday guests to refrain from feeding your companion animals human food, as this can result in diarrhea, vomiting and illness.

During the stress of the holidays, companion animals may drink more water, so be extra alert to providing this basic necessity.

Post your vet’s phone number in a prominent location, like your refrigerator. This provides easy access to necessary information for anyone visiting your home, should a problem arise.

Thank you for all that you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

Very best regards,
Dr. Jane Bicks


Click here to read Dr. Jane's Newsletter.

Subscribe to Dr. Jane's Newsletter.

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Through a Dog's Ear

In the book Through a Dog’s Ear (Sounds True, 2008), authors Joshua Leeds and Susan Wagner talk about using sound to improve the health and behavior of dogs. Here’s their conclusion about using television and music to keep your dog company while you’re away.

If you choose to leave on a music station, we suggest finding a classical format. In tests conducted by Dr. Wagner, we ascertained that simple and slow classical music is even more effective than raucous crash-and-bang symphonies. Consequently, CDs fitting this description may be most effective for calming and anxiety reduction.

The best thing would be to play an intentionally selected CD rather than the uncontrollable play list of your local station, especially if you have a sensitive dog. Radio programming is driven by advertising dollars and the stations are looking to either stimulate or soothe their human listeners depending on the time of day and traffic patterns. Consequently, a wide array of classical music is delivered with specific intentions that might not fit what you are looking to accomplish for your pup.

From a psychoacoustic point of view, one reason to leave a radio or TV on when you leave your dog alone is to create a filter that masks other irritating sounds. Masking is the process where one sound source essentially hides others within a similar frequency range, This can be beneficial, assuming that the sounds you do leave on do not simply add to the cacophony, irritation, or tuneout level of your pooch.

Whatever you do, don’t leave on more than one sound source at the same time. read the entire article.

Through a Dog's Ear Website.

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Top 10 Cold Weather tips

Top Ten Cold Weather Tips
www.aspca.org

Brrrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.

4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.

6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.

9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.

10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

ASPCA.

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Echinacea

Echinacea, also called Purple Coneflower, has been one of the most scientifically studied herbs, especially in Europe. Echinacea enhances the body’s own defenses (immune system) and preserves and maintains health. The plant and roots have been used as an antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent.

Allen Schoen, DVM states: “Anecdotal reports from holistic clients and veterinarians suggest that it may be helpful in certain chronic infections. Anecdotes suggest that it has been beneficial in the treatment of chronic upper respiratory infections in cats and dogs. Other reports suggest that it may help boost the immune system in chronic skin infections in dogs.”

Jennifer Prince, DVM states: “The active ingredient in echinacea has not yet been identified. It is suspected to work by inhibiting viral and bacterial breakdown of the body's cell walls, which is a necessary step before the bacteria and viruses can replicate in the body. It may also slow the growth of some types of tumors.” Click here to review the entire article.

Mary L. Wulff-Tilford, in her book All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets, states: “…it should not be used for animals with abnormally functioning immune systems. This includes any disease where the immune system actually works against itself, such as …diabetes or feline immunodeficiency virus.”

The Veterinary Botanical Medical Association (VBMA)states: “…not recommended for use longer than 4-8 weeks.”

Read more about Echinacea.

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Exercise-Induced Collapse

'U' Scientists ID Gene Linked To Labrador Ailment

Esme Murphy (WCCO) Scientists at the University of Minnesota say they've figured out why many Labrador Retrievers lose movement in their legs after exercise. The condition, called Exercise-Induced Collapse or EIC, is when dogs hind legs simply stop working and the animal is temporarily paralyzed.

While some dogs are only paralyzed for a few seconds before they recover, others are more severely stricken and in rare cases the dog can die.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital worked for six years before finding the gene that causes the disorder. If two dogs with the gene mate, their puppies will likely have the disorder.

The U of M has developed a genetic test, and so far dog owners have sent in 1,000 blood samples for testing. Some of the samples are from foreign countries including Australia and Germany.

"Now that we have this genetic test anyone can go to their veterinarian and get a small blood sample taken and send it here," said Dr. Ned Patterson, the U of M professor who conducted the research.

Karen Cashman a Scott County breeder, has held off breeding her dogs until the test was developed.

"I'm just so happy that the 'U' came up with this," she said.

None of Cashman's dogs suffer from the paralyzing disorder but two did test positive for the gene.

While five percent of labs have the disorder, an estimated 30 percent have the gene. As more dogs are tested, breeders hope the percentage of affected dogs will decline. The test costs $65 and right now the U of M lab is the only one in the world currently doing this test.
Read the entire article.

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Pet Holiday Gift Ideas

Healthy Pet Net offers some reasonably priced gift baskets for your cat or dog. All of the products are formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks, a holistic veterinarian, are made from the highest quality ingredients and are made in the U.S.A.! View Pet Gift Ideas.

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Plants and Your Cat

Plants and Your Cat
http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html

Plants add the needed finishing touches to any decor. But, if you have a feline, that beautiful plant could become a deadly enemy.

Listed here are plants poisonous to cats that must be avoided if there are cats in your home. Note that lilies(*), in particular, are dangerous to cats. While in some cases, just parts of a plant (bark, leaves, seeds, berries, roots, tubers, spouts, green shells) might be poisonous, this list rules out the whole plant. If you must have any of them, keep them safely out of reach.

Should your feline friend eat part of a poisonous plant, rush the cat to your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you can, take the plant with you for ease of identification. Click here to view the list of plants.

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Essential Oils for Bug Repellents

I had a client ask me recently for a list of essential oils that could be used for specific bug repellents. I like to make up my bug repellents with a massage oil and keep them stored in a dark bottle, labeled for use. Carrier oils keep the essential oils from evaporating as quickly. Caution: Pregnant women should consult with their doctors before using. Below is my recommendation for dealing with the critters naturally!

Ticks: My first choice is Geranium. Others: Palmerosa, bay, Eucalyptus, European pennyroyal, lavender, tickweed (American pennyroyal)

Mosquitoes: Pennyroyal, lemon balm (citronella), thyme, lavender

Blackflies: Lavender, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, cedar, lemon balm (citronella), peppermint

Head Lice: tea tree, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, rose geranium

Fleas: Orange oil, lavender, rosemary



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Holiday Gift Idea

The Rabies Challenge Fund is offering tshirts, mousepads and totes. All profits from the sales go the Fund. What a great gift idea for a pet lover!

The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust will determine the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccines. The goal is to extend the required interval for rabies boosters to 5 and then to 7 years. This project depends primarily upon grassroots gifts for funding the costs of conducting the requisite vaccine trials. Our contributions to date have come mostly from kennel clubs and private individuals. The Challenge fund is a federally registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization [Fed. EIN # 84-6390682].

Click here for details.

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