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Each month
Dr Suzie writes a helpful article about pets.
Check back each month.
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Spring is just around the corner. While colorful flowers are easy on the eyes, they pose potential danger to dogs and cats. The following information on how to pet proof your garden about six common spring plants and their toxicities is courtesy of dvm360.com -
Spring Toxin No. 1 - Tulips and Hyacinths
Tulips contain allergenic lactones, and hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is concentrated in the bulbs, as opposed to the leaf or flower. Pet owners should prevent dogs from digging up, then eating these bulbs. When ingested, the bulbs can irritate the mouth and esophagus.
Typical signs of toxicity include profuse drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. With large amounts of bulb ingestion, more severe symptoms, such as an increase in heart rate and changes in respiration, may be seen. These severe cases require immediate treatment.
There is no specific antidote for bulb ingestion, but your pet's prognosis is good with the right veterinary care, including rinsing the mouth, giving anti-vomiting medication, and possibly adminstering subcutaneous fluids.
Spring Toxin No. 2 - Daffodils
Daffodils contain lycorine, an alkaloid that triggers vomiting. Ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and possibly even cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory problems. Daffodil ingestion may result in severe symptoms that require immediate treatment and supportive care.
Spring Toxin No. 3 - Lilies
There are dangerous and benign lilies. The dangerous lilies can be deadly. Peace and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs of illness, such as tissue irritation in the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus, which in turn cause minor drooling. The potentially fatal lilies are true lilies, including Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies. These are all highly toxic to cats. Even small ingestions, such as eating the pollen or just two to three petals or leaves, can result in kidney failure.
Cats that consume any part of a lily require immediate medical care to effectively treat the poisoning. If you see your cat eating a lily, you should immediately take your cat and the lily plant to your veterinarian.
Spring Toxin No. 4 - Crocuses
Some crocuses bloom in the spring, while others bloom in the fall. The spring plants, which are more common, can cause general gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. These should not be mistaken for autumn crocus plants, which contain colchicine.
The autumn crocus, also known as Meadow Saffron, is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and respiratory failure. These signs can begin immediately after ingestion or may be delayed for a number of days. Regardless of when the signs begin, the pet should be taken for medical treatment immediately after ingestion. You should take the plant as well.
Spring Toxin No. 5 - Lily of the Valley
This plant contains cardiac glycosides, naturally occurriing substances, that when ingested can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias and possibly seizures. If your pet has eaten this plant they should be taken to your veterinarian for examination.
Spring Toxin No. 6 - Fertilizers
People growing spring flowers often keep fertilizers nearby. Ingesting most fertilizers only causes minor gastrointestinal irritation. But some fertilizers can be fatal to pets that eat them if the pets aren't treated. It's best to keep all lawn products in labeled, tightly sealed containers that are our of your pet's reach.
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Website article for December:
While visions of sugarplums dance in our heads . . . our holiday traditions of candy and good cheer may not be so cheerful to our pets. Food, drink and plants that make our lives special sometimes can be harmful, even deadly, for our four-legged friends. The following information is provided by Merial.
Dangerous "People" Foods
In 2009, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center took over 17,000 calls regarding pets ingesting, and being poisoned by, "people" food. Foods that are dangerous for your pet include:
Chocolates, coffee and caffeine
Alcohol
Avocados
Macadamia nuts
Grapes and raisins
Yeast dough
Raw/undercooked meat, eggs and bones
Xylitol - a sweetener in many products
Onions, garlic and chives
Milk
Salt
Dangerous Plants
Another nearly 8.000 calls were made to the ASPCA regarding pet poisoning caused by common houseplants. Here's the ASPCA's list of the top 17 plants that may harm your pet:
Lilies
Sago palm
Tulip/narcissus bulbs
Azalea/rhododendron
Oleander
Castor bean
Cyclamen
Kalanchoe
Yew
Amaryllis
Autumn crocus
Chrysanthemum
English ivy
Peace lily
Pothos
Schefflera
Poinsettia
Top Ten Poisons
Surprisingly "people" food and plants aren't the top issues when it comes to pet poisoning. In 2009, the ASPCA Animal Control Poison Center received over 140,000 calls about pets exposed to poisons. Here are the top ten for 2009:
Human medications: 45,816 calls
Insecticides: 29,020 calls
People food: 17,453 calls
Plants: 7,858 calls
Veterinary medications: 7,680 calls
Rodenticides: 6,639 calls
Household cleaners: 4,143 calls
Heavy metals: 3,304 calls
Garden products: 2,329 calls
Chemical hazards: 2,175 calls
Thank you for being part of our family. May you and all your pets have a safe and happy holiday!
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With Halloween just around the corner, please take precaution with your pets;
6 Halloween Dangers for Pets - Here are the biggest Halloween pet hazards to watch out for, courtesy of dvm360.com and Pet Poison Helpline.
Chocolate - Why it's dangerous: Chocolate is more poisonous to pets than any other candy. Chocolate contains methylxanthines, chemicals similar to caffeine that can quickly sicken dogs. In general, the darker the chocolate, the more poisonous it is.
What to watch for: Symptoms in dogs that have ingested chocolate include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or agitation, increased thirst, and elevated heart rate, and, in severe cases, seizures.
Candy - Why it's dangerous: It's hard enough for a human to stop at just one piece of candy, so imagine how difficult it is for a pet. Large ingestions of sugary, high-fat candy can lead to pancreatitis, which may not show up for two to four days after the pet ingests the candy.
What to watch for: Pets that have ingested candy may show signs such as decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and even kidney failure or organ damage.
Candy Wrappers - Why they're dangerous: The candy itself isn't the only threat. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers can cause life-threatening bowel obstructions, which often require surgical intervention.
What to watch for: Symptoms in pets that have ingested candy wrappers include vomiting, decreased appetite, not defecating, straining to defecate, or lethargy.
Raisins - Why they're dangerous: While good-intentioned neighbors may hand out raisins as a health alternative to candy, very small amounts of raisins (or grapes) can cause kidney failure in dogs and cats. Some dogs develop idiosyncratic reactions at any dose -- in other words, ingesting any amount can cause serious damage.
What to watch for: Pets that have ingested raisins may show signs like vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, and severe kidney failure.
Glow Sticks and Jewelry - Why they're dangerous: Pets love to chew on things they're not supposed to, and cats in particular seem to love these items. Over the past year, 70% of Pet Poison Hotline's calls relating to glow sticks and jewelry involved cats. In addition to the choking hazard, the contents of glow sticks can cause pain and irritation in the mouth.
What to watch for: Keep an eye out for mouth pain, as well as profuse drooling and foaming at the mouth.
Costumes - Why they're dangerous: Owners may love the costume, but does their pet? Some costumes can cause discomfort in pets, and any metallic beads, snaps, or other small pieces (particularly those made of zinc or lead) can result in serious poisoning if ingested. Finally, don't ever dye or apply coloring to a pet's fur, even if the dye is labeled non-toxic to humans.
What to watch for: Make sure the costume doesn't impair the pet's vision, movement or air intake.
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October 2010
Canine Influenza
Canine influenza is a fairly new disease of dogs spread by a Type A influenza virus that originated in horses. It is not transmissible to humans, but can be easily spread from dog to dog. The primary symptoms are cough, runny nose and fever, and can cause severe lung disease and pneumonias in about 20% of cases. Canine influenza is spread by nose to nose or direct contact, coughing on objects and another dog contacting the contaminated object, and even by people going between infected and uninfected dogs.
Cases of canine influenza have been confirmed recently in the area of Austin, TX as it slowly spreads throughout the nation. There is a vaccine available, though and can be a part of your annual vaccination requirements.
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September, 2010
Dental care is important for your pets health. Lack of dental leads to tooth infections, abscesses, kidney disease and subsequent heart disease. Routine dental cleanings prolong the health of dogs and cats just as dental cleanings do for humans.
To prolong the time between dental cleanings pet owners can ensure their pet stays on high quality pet food which offers high quality meats, limits corn and wheat and adds good bacteria for digestion. You can also brush your pets’ teeth. The toothpaste must be an enzymatic pet toothpaste and done with a toothbrush, finger brush or fingers. It is not as important to pumice every surface as we do when we brush our own teeth. Brush the tooth and gum line, especially the outer surface of the upper teeth, and leave some toothpaste back in the cheek pouch so it continues to work after brushing. Brushing needs to be performed a minimum of every other day to be effective. If brushing is difficult or you can’t do it regularly, you may want to consider dental chews which have a mouthwash embedded in them for dogs or dental treats for cats.
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