It’s Health and Wellness Wednesday! There are some medications, while helpful to humans, can be harmful to our canine friends. Unfortunately, everyday, well-meaning pet parents accidentally poison their dogs with medications they believed would help them. While you should never give your pet any medication without veterinary approval, there are certain medications you should absolutely never give: 1. Aspirin. “Aspirin toxicity (salicylate toxicity) is poisoning that occurs following the ingestion of aspirin or aspirin-containing products. Aspirin can be especially dangerous when mixed with other drugs such as steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There is a much higher risk of toxicity. Aspirin interferes [...]
“Brands. Bag codes. “Best-By” dates. As the Diamond Dog Food Recall of 2012 continues to unfold, it’s become increasingly difficult for a concerned dog owner to keep up with all the changes.” The following is a list of all the brands currently associated with the Diamond Dog Food Recall: 4Health Apex Canidae Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Country Value Diamond Diamond Naturals Kirkland Signature Natural Balance Premium Edge Professional Solid Gold Taste of the Wild Wellness More information go to: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/diamond-dog-food-recall-summary/
April showers bring May flowers!!!! Some flowers can be toxic to our four-legged friends if eaten, but under proper supervision, dogs can enjoy their beauty too. Below is a list of poisonous flowers: Amaryllis Aster Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) Boxwood Cala Lily Carnation Chrysanthemums Clematis Cyclamen Daffodil (Jonquil) English Ivy Freesia Gladiolas Holly Hyacinth Hydrangea Kalanchoe Peony Morning Glory Poinsettia Pothos Ivy Scheifflera Tulip
Eating poisonous plants is one of the most common ways that many pets, especially dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles and tortoises, ingest toxic substances. And since there are few effective treatments for toxic plant ingestion, a small mistake in the garden can be catastrophic to your pet and your family. Plants That Are Reported To Be Toxic to Dogs, Cats or Rabbits Azalea Bittersweet Caladium Clematis Crocus Day Lily Death Camas Easter Lily Ferns Foxglove Hyacinth Iris Lily of the Valley Morning Glory Oleander Rhododendron Tiger Lily Tulip
March 18-24, 2012 Is National Poison Prevention Week Household pets are naturally curious and often can’t resist smelling or tasting items in the home or yard. Knowing which household and garden items are particularly dangerous to pets can go a long way to ensuring their safety. Here are a few tips: Tidy up your living room. Many things commonly associated with your main living space can poison pets like toxic house plants, potpourri or other frangrance products, chewing gum, or smoke cessation gums. Keep your kitchen garbage can shut with a tight fitting lid or hidden in the pantry. Many human foods [...]
April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and a great time for pet owners in Arlington, VA to learn how best to handle pet accidents and emergencies. Animals can’t tell you when they aren’t feeling well and many hide signs of illness until a problem is well advanced. Knowing what is normal for your pet and being able to recognize changes early can make a huge difference in treatment success. In Arlington, VA, the warm weather and longer days are (hopefully) here. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and this means we have more outdoor activities to enjoy: [...]
Does My Dog Really Need a Seat Belt? BY DR. MARTY BECKER Quite a few of us are old enough to remember when cars didn’t have seat belts. The comic Stephen Colbert, one of 11 children, jokes that his mother “would just open the back of her Town & Country and stack us like cord wood: four this way, four that way … Then she would roll up all the windows in the wintertime and light up a cigarette.” It’s funny, because in those days no one knew any better than to let children ride loose in the car. That would [...]
Nearly 70 percent of cats ages 3 and older have symptoms of dental disease. Many of those cats will never receive any home dental care, and the condition of their teeth will worsen every year for the rest of their lives. There are two keys to ensuring you cat doesn’t suffer the effects of poor dental care. First, make sure your cat gets her regular dental exam with her veterinarian and schedule an appointment to have her teeth cleaned and scaled so you have a clean slate. Second, start a program of home care. A lot of cat owners don’t think their cats [...]
In Alexandria, VA, winter weather has arrived. And this means snowy, icy, and freezing temperatures. For those of us that don’t like this weather, our idea of spending time inside is more desirable. In the cold weather we are forced to exercise and find more activities to do indoors. What do we do with our favorite four-legged friends when taking them outside to play is just unbearable? Well, regardless of the temperature, dogs still need the exercise. Dogs need as much exercise in winter as they do in summer, so daily walks and outdoor play remain a must. Exercise is [...]
Holiday decorations and trees can be dangerous for you pet. Ribbon, yarns and string can catch the eye of your pet. The shiny tinsel on your tree is very attractive to pets and if ingested it can cause blockages. Tree needles can be toxic and cause mouth and stomach irritation. Even needles and the wire of artificial trees could pose a problem. Be sure your pet is not chewing on branches or eating fallen needles. If you have a live tree try be careful of the water. The water in the tree stand often harbors potentially harmful bacteria. Fertilizers, insecticides, [...]
