Stuffed Animals

Those solutions are certainly solutions, and they do work. However, flea and tick treatments, both over-the-counter ones and prescription ones, usually contain toxic chemicals. Not only can those chemicals potentially poison your pet, they can also harm you and your family. Even when you apply them following the instructions provided, pesticides such as tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur can be deadly if you are in contact with them on a regular basis. Think of little Susie picking up Fluffy and hugging her tightly, cooing in her little whiskered face how much she loves the kitty. Do you seriously want to have toxic chemicals radiating their fumes just inches away from little Susie’s face?

The Natural Resources Defense Council has a mission to protect wildlife and animals of all kinds, and to ensure that life on earth exists in a health environment. Their new report on pesticides for the flea control and ticks strongly recommends that the FDA should ban some pesticides from being used in pet products, and the NRDC advises consumers to closely scrutinize how safe products on the market are, before using them on their pet.

The NRDS examined the listed ingredients of over 100 flea and tick treatments, to compile a report about which chemicals they contain and how toxic those chemicals are. The report details which chemicals have been scientifically linked to allergies, asthma, and even cancer in humans, and which are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. Every product is categories in the report according to its possible risks. Young children and pregnant women are especially at risk, and should try to avoid all pesticides that may be used on animals. Spot treatments, in particular those containing phenothrin and cyphenothrin, may pose a hazard to both people and pets because they are very concentrated.

In some cases, particularly severe infestations, chemical control is unavoidable. In these cases, consumers can choose a safer treatment and avoid extremely toxic chemicals by following the recommendations on the NRDC’s list. But for regular ongoing prevention of flea and tick problems, there are several safe and effective natural solutions.

Regular vacuuming, coming, and bathing of your pet can greatly reduce the spread of fleas. Fleas caught in brushes and combs can be drowned easily in soapy water. Baths control fleas easily, and any soap will get rid of the fleas – you don’t need a chemical-laden flea soap to do the trick. Your pet’s bedding should be washed in warm water at least once a week. Fleas have a tendency to accumulate and breed in pet bedding, so when you gather up the bedding to put it in the wash, take care not to fluff the bed or shake it, to avoid spreading any flea eggs or larvae that might be secreted in the bedding. When you vacuum, bags should be thrown away immediately to prevent the fleas from being able to escape and re-infest the area. For a severe infestation, a professional carpet cleaning using a steam cleaner will do the trick. Read the rest of this entry »

Help Fido and Fluffy celebrate the season safely by protecting them from these holiday pet health hazards:

* Mistletoe, holly, poinsettias and Christmas lilies all make lovely holiday decorations but are all toxic to pets when ingested. Mistletoe causes gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. Holly and poinsettias can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and lethargy.

* When using holiday plants to decorate your dining table, move them to a location where pets can’t reach between mealtimes. Hang mistletoe where pets can’t reach it; berries are highly poisonous, and highly attractive to cats. Don’t allow pets to remain in the room with your Christmas tree without supervision. Even eating a few pine needles can cause a puncture in pet intestines!

* Tape down or otherwise secure electrical cords for holiday lights to prevent chewing on them and unplug tree lights before leaving home.

* Secure your Christmas tree to the ceiling to keep it from falling on pets. Don’t let pets drink water from the tree holder. Even fresh water can contain fertilizer residue, and stagnant water is full of bacteria. If you use tree water preservative, be sure to buy one that’s labeled non-toxic in case pets decide to quaff while you’re not looking. And NEVER use aspirin as a preservative in tree water. Ingesting aspirin-laced water can cause serious illness and even death.

* Keep tinsel and other ornaments well out of pet range. Cats in particular like to play with tinsel, and some will eat it, which can block intestines. Pets can mistake ornaments for toy balls to pets, and shards from broken glass ornaments can cause injury to mouths and paws. Swallowed, they cause major injuries to stomach and intestinal tract.

* If pets persist in trying to play with ornaments, blow up a few balloons and hang on lower branches and stick around until your dog or cat snares one. The sharp sound of even one balloon breaking is often enough to convince even the most determined pet to leave tree decorations alone.

* Once gifts have been opened, have children put their new toys away, especially those with small parts that can cause choking and intestinal blockage in dogs and frequently need to be removed surgically.

* Most pets love snoozing on a warm hearth. Always use fireplace screens, even when you think the fire is completely out. Keep candles out of pet reach and extinguish when leaving the room.

* To reduce stress, maintain pets’ routines. Walk your dog as you always do. Serve pets’ meals at regular times. Make sure fresh water is always available for them.

* Remember that holiday foods that are fine for people can make pets seriously ill. Macadamia nuts can cause muscular weakness, depression, vomiting, disorientation, tremors, abdominal pain and muscle stiffness in dogs. Chocolate can be fatal; ingesting as little as 1/4 ounce can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increase thirst, urination and heart rate.

* Call your veterinarian immediately if you think your pet may have ingested something toxic. If unable to reach your vet call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.

Julie S. Crawshaw is a freelance writer, animal lover and the author of Talking With Animals, available at http://www.howtotalkwithanimals.com.

Visit http://www.howtotalkwithanimals.com/books.html for more articles about interacting and communicating with animals.

As you can see even if you do not live where there have been disasters, you and your pets could still be at risk. Here are some simple guidelines from the Humane Society and the ASPCA to get you started to keep you and your cat or dog safe should any disaster happen.

1) Prepare: Gather supplies

Food & Water

Make sure you have at least 3 days (or more) of water and food in a air-tight, waterproof container. Be sure to rotate these with regular water and foods to keep them fresh. Remember your pet dishes.

Medicines & Medical Records

Order an extra supply of medicines you take on a regular basis as well as those your pets need. Add them to your waterproof container. Make copies of medical records and vaccinations for you and your pet and put them in zip lock bags in your container.

First Aid Kit

Get a first aid kit for your family. For pets, most veterinarians recommend cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; an antibiotic ointment, flea and tick prevention, latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution. Include a flashlight and pet first aid reference book, too.

Collars, ID Tags, Harness & Leash

Even indoor pets should always have on a collar with an ID tag preferably with your cell phone number on it as well as a rabies tag. Include a backup collar and ID tag in your emergency kit, just in case. Make sure their harness and leash are comfortable and secure for exercise in close quarters. (Since recent studies show that microchips can cause cancer in pets, avoid those.)

Pet Crates or Carriers

Have your pet’s carrier handy and put together so you can move quickly. Test it for safety, sturdiness and comfort (can your pet turn around in it and stand up easily?). If you have more than one animal crate, get a collapsible luggage dolly and use bungee cords to secure them to it. Do NOT let your pets out unless on a leash or confined!

Sanitation

Have extra litter and a disposable litter box for your cat. For dogs pack newspapers and paper towels as well as disposable wipes and plastic trash bags. Include a small container of bleach or other disinfectant. Hint: bleach can also be helpful for purifying water–16 drops of regular household bleach per gallon of water and let set for 30 minutes before drinking.

A Picture of You and Your Pet Read the rest of this entry »

There is often a fine line between lovingly caring for our sick canine friends, and doting on them. We can relate to how awful it is to be sick, and try to be reassuring, particularly when serious illnesses are involved. Perhaps in a sense we are overcome with how much we love our pets, and desire them to be healthy. The problem is, dogs don’t know this. Being very sociable animals, they simply love the attention, and don’t really understand why all that extra attention stops when they get better. We can create needy, and insecure dogs when we make a big fuss over their illness.

Understanding how dogs react in the wild can provide some clues as to how we should treat them. It also shows how strong they are, and capable of dealing with illnesses in their own way.

Dogs need a safe place they can recuperate and rest by themselves. In the wild, dogs would often take themselves off somewhere where it is quiet and warm, with access to fresh air and sunlight. They also fast instinctively, so a loss of appetite is not necessarily something that needs to be feared or fixed with force feeding, unless your vet suggests otherwise, based on their examination. Yes, a loss of appetite is a sign of illness. And if your dog doesn’t eat for a few days, he should be taken to the vets, but once a vet has made appropriate recommendations, it’s good to understand that this will heal itself as your dog does.

Dogs don’t need extra petting when they are sick. That is something that tends to reassure their human owners more. Just by providing a safe environment, that is free of drafts, and that is clean and protected from noise and interruptions, we are providing what our pets need in times of illness. If they want to go outside to get some sun and fresh air, and provided the vet feels that is okay (taking into account the possibility of infection if they have an open wound), then let them. But don’t try and force them to go outside.

Whether or not we can actually turn our pets into hypochondriacs, I don’t know. Some people do believe this, and perhaps it is true in severe cases. But it is important to be aware of signs of illness, and not simply assume that your dog is play-acting. Read the rest of this entry »

Therapy that involves dogs, known as Animal-Assisted therapy, is used in many different settings in several different countries. The dogs can be involved in helping with fine motor control as the patients move their arms and fingers to pet and brush the dogs as part of their therapy process. Large muscle therapy is also completed when the patients take the dogs for walks or on outings to parks and recreational areas.

There is little hard scientific evidence as to how or why dog therapy works so well with many patients. Many therapists believe that the unconditional love of the dog helps patients gain self-confidence and self-esteem. There is another school of thought that caring for or spending time with a dog something that often brings patients back to their childhood or to a more positive time in their life. Regardless of exactly how or why dog therapy works so well with patients is not as important as the fact that it really does work.

Dogs can also be used as a friend for many patients. Elderly, shut in and isolated patients come to see visits from their therapist and their dog as a chance to interact with another living thing. Dogs are very non-judgmental and are always happy to see the patient, which is very positive for the patient both emotionally and socially.

Therapy dogs are not a specific breed or type of dog, nor do they have to a certain age or size. Usually therapy dogs are medium to large sized dogs but there are many small dogs that make excellent therapy dogs. Many organizations that use therapy dogs have volunteer owners and dogs come to the hospital or care facility and work in conjunction with the health care professionals and trained therapists on staff. Read the rest of this entry »