Sharri's Snapzshotz: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Pet Poisons: The Top 10 Suspects for Dogs - And for Cats

To go along with my last post-directed at our four-legged friends. I thought I would post this article (the link with the credit and full article is at the bottom if you would like to read more, or subscribe to her newsletter)

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.

Link to full article

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Advice for Pet Owners

If you are like me, you love your little (or big) four-legged friends.

I wanted to share this article with you from a holistic vet,

Dr Karen Becker, about pet health.

Many Diseases Can Be Prevented By Following These 5 Recommendations

Pet guardians can prevent many of these conditions from befalling their furry charges by following a few common sense recommendations for raising a healthy, long-lived pet, including:

Feed a balanced, species-appropriate diet that is anti-inflammatory. The right nutrition can prevent or alleviate diet-related skin allergies and infections (including hot spots), ear infections, gastrointestinal issues, and bladder and urinary tract disease.

Keep your dog or cat lean and fit. A pet in excellent physical condition is less likely to develop debilitating arthritis and degenerative joint disease.

Brush your pet's teeth daily or several times a week to prevent or control buildup of plaque that leads to tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral conditions. Follow through with professional veterinary cleanings as needed.

Keep your dog’s immune system healthy by eliminating unnecessary vaccines.

Stay on top of all changes in your pet’s health by performing regular at-home wellness exams, and scheduling twice-yearly wellness visits with your veterinarian.

When you consider the money pet owners spend on veterinary treatment for preventable conditions, it’s easy to see there are also financial benefits to helping your dog or cat remain healthy. Link to full article.