Pet Information ~  Warnings & Tips

 Donations

~ Caution ~

Be informed about how your donations to pet causes are used by the Humane Society of the United States (or really any organization).  You may think twice after watching these reports and articles on HSUS.

Please send your donations to “your local” pet causes/shelters as they always need your help and you are helping the pets/animals in your community.

Keywords to use to research this issue:  report on the HSUS

Some links on this story.

http://www.vidoosh.tv/play.php?vid=4360

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humane_Society_of_the_United_States

http://humanewatch.org/

This below article was found on the website of the American Shih Tzu Club
http://americanshihtzuclub.org/peta_hsus

Do You Know The Real PETA and Humane Society of the United States?

We all need to understand the basic difference between the "animal welfare" groups and "animal rights" groups. Although the names might sound like they have the same objectives, there is a big difference. Animal welfare groups are working to see that all animals are treated humanely. Animal rights groups are working to see that all ownership of animals comes to an end.

Please click on the link above to read the full article.

Rat Poison
A True Story

~ Warnings ~

In Florida (where I used to live), there are citrus trees everywhere.  My neighbor has orange trees that produce the sweetest and juices oranges ever.  Not only do humans love this fruit but there are also fruit rats that enjoy it too. 

Well, my neighbor hung rat bait poison in his tree one year.  Rat poison is specifically made to entice an animal to eat it and there are different types of poison and each poison will affect the animal in a different way.

When I take my dogs outside in our fenced in yard they stiff around and investigate the yard and do what dogs do.  Well one day I noticed my littlest dog (Booboo) laying in the grass and eating something.  I went over to see what it was and since I did not recognize what it was I took it away from him.  I laid it on the picnic table and continued to sit outside with my dogs trying to figure out what it was.  Then I noticed that Booboo was throwing up.

I went over to investigate and it was the same stuff he had been eating on.  All of a sudden it dawned on me what it was.  I immediately called my vet to let him know I was on my way over and took Booboo (and the poison with me).

My vet recognized the type of poison it was and knew just what medical treatment Booboo needed for it.  The medical treatment used will depend upon the type of rat poison that is ingested by the animal.

Since I don’t use or buy rat poison I asked my vet how Booboo could have gotten hold of it.  He explained to me that the rats will often carry it off the tree to eat it somewhere else and that the rat probably dropped it in my yard.  He also said that birds will sometimes do the same thing.

So this little story is just a heads up for all pet owners.  Just because you don’t buy or use rat poison doesn’t mean that it won’t end up in your yard posing a serious health problem for your pet.

PS:  I spoke with my neighbor and he was appalled and said he would never use it again as he also has a small fur-baby that he loves dearly.  Sammy is his constant companion and goes everywhere with him.

Fast Eaters

~ Tip ~

For those pets that tend to inhale their food rather than eat it there are several things you can do to slow them down.  I have two dogs that inhale their food, Sugar one of my Shih Tzus and Tali a Chow mix.  I add non-edible items to their food bowls that are appropriate for each dog’s size such as the Bounzer Balls and/or the Classic Kong rubber toys made by Kong (http://www.kongcompany.com/worlds_best.html).  (Note:  I don’t add so many toys that it becomes frustrating for them to eat, just enough to slow them down).

The toys come in several sizes and I use ones that are big enough that no way could they accidentally swallow or choke on it while eating. I also choose odd shaped Kongs, never round; as this makes it even more unlikely they could choke on it.   My dogs have to push these toys around and out of the way trying to find the food which makes them eat their food slower.  They are made of rubber and clean easily.  PLEASE READ URGENT WARNING BELOW.

Dangerous Pet Toys or Products

~ Warnings ~

A word of URGENT WARNING:  In case you have not heard about the pimple ball manufactured by Four Paws.  Please Google it or click on this link:  http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/09/pet_food_recalls101.html.  If you have this ball don’t just throw it away, DESTROY it so no other animal can be hurt and please warn others about it.  “Because of the construction of this toy ball, a dog can have its tongue sucked into the ball and cannot get it out.  This has led to tongue amputation”.

Other Warnings of Interest

Companies we thought we could trust have exposed our pets to very painful deaths.
http://www.hartzvictims.org
http://www.10news.com/news/18943783/detail.html
 
Pet toys are tainted with lead or toxins:  http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/pet_food_recalls73.html
This is a real problem not only for the health of the pets but for all of us who have babies or small children, even adults as we handle the toys also.  These toxins can be absorbed through our skin and/or the babies who put them in their mouths.

Tainted pet food caused untold heartache and misery for thousands of pets and their owners.  http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

The FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers
http://www.fda.gov:80/cvm/CVM_Updates/ComplaintsChicJerky.htm

Dog treats lead to deaths:  http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/

Oprah’s Golden Retriever chocked to death on a ball.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20046895,00.html

Please Google (Keywords: dangerous, pet, dog, cat, food, toys, products) for more information on other toys or food products that could be dangerous to your pets.  I try to do this every so often just to keep informed.  And share, email the links to all your other friends who love animals or have small children.

Teeth

~ Tips ~

My dentist told me to never eat ice as the teeth get cold and hairline fractures could occur and the tooth enamel can be damaged which of course can lead to many problems.

I apply that same practice to my dogs, I never give them ice.  But for those that do, I would think that moderation is the key.  It may also help if the ice is soft ice (slightly melted) versus frozen hard ice.

Medicine

~ Tips ~

When I have to give my dogs medicine that is in pill form I wrap it in some luncheon meat, a piece of cheese or peanut butter (most cats love liverwurst).  The pill is swallowed and I don’t have to fight with them to get it down.  Sometimes they catch on, so I take two treats and give them the pill treat first while holding the second treat right in front of their eyes.  They are so focused on getting that second treat that they swallow the first without even knowing.

Another one of my dogs (Patti) has to take liquid medicine every so often for her allergies.  I went to the drugstore and got one of those medicine droppers they make for babies and children and it works great, even giving the measurement of the medicine.

I follow it up with a really special treat so that she will associate something good with having to take the liquid medicine as it usually does not taste to good.

Comfort Scent

~ Tips ~

When I have to take my dogs to the vet and I know they are going to stay there for treatment I always take my used bath towel with them.  This way it has my scent on it and it brings them a little bit of comfort in a strange environment lessening some of their stress, especially if they have been put to sleep for a medical procedure.

For those of you who are getting a new puppy or kitten you can also supply to your breeder a towel and let them get the scent of the mother and siblings on it.  That way when you bring your new baby home it has a scent reminder to comfort it in its new environment.  Place it in the pets’ sleeping area.

Grooming Requirements
for
Picking the Right Pet

~ Information ~

Please before bringing that cute pet home that you fell in love with and just had to have because it was so cute and fluffy, research the breed so that you won’t be disenchanted or unhappy with it or with the work and/or expense that may be involved in the care of it.

You can Google the “breed type and grooming” to find information that will help you make a decision that is right for you and the pet.  Talk with your vet, a breeder or a groomer to discuss all aspects of what might be required to properly care for it.  You and the pet will both be the happier for it.

Take the Shih-Tzu breed for instance (although I am sure this will apply to some others breeds as well).  Do you have hours to spend on grooming this breed?  They are considered a high maintenance breed.  I speak from experience because I currently have two of them and before these two I had five of them (Tasha and her four babies).

Did you know that this breed’s hair grows continually and they absolutely have to be groomed and maintained on a regular basis?  Not only their body hair, but the hair that grows on the bottom of their feet between their paw pads and in their ear canals.

Ear Hair:  In the ear canals; the hair must be kept plucked out as it will mat, stop air circulation, trap ear wax and who knows what else.  Nasty painful ear infections (or worse) can develop.  You can’t just cut it back, it literally has to be pulled out to keep the ear canal clean and allow air to circulate.

Body Hair:  The body hair must be brushed and combed to keep the hair from matting up and it will mat all the way down to the skin trapping everything.  The dog will be absolutely miserable and in pain.  I once saw a story of this on the show Animal Cops.  This little dog’s hair was matted two inches thick and had to be shaved off.  Once shaved it exposed the open and oozing sores on this poor little dog’s body.  The owner was charged with cruelty to an animal.

Feet Hair:  The feet/paw pad hair must be kept clipped back as all kinds of stuff can collect there and mat up in the hair which not only will cause sore tender feet but can cause serious health problems with infections that may develop making it difficult for the pet to walk.

Spending a little research time before can result in you finding that perfect pet for you to spend time with, for you to love and care for and for you to receive back their unconditional love and devotion from.

Cat or Dog Toenail
Trimming

~ Information ~

Depending on activity level, a dog’s toenails must be maintained on a regular basis as they grow continually (just like ours) and if not trimmed regularly your dog will end up walking on their toenails (which is painful) instead of the pads of their feet.

There are many websites that advise on how to trim the toenails, but remember (just like us) if you cut into the quick of the nail, the nail will bleed and the pet will experience pain.  Your vet or groomer can also do this for you or can show you how.  It must be done frequently depending on your pet’s activity level.  The more active they are, the more they will naturally wear the toenails down.

Cat toenails can also be trimmed, but again do not cut into the quick as it is painful.  I used regular fingernail clippers on the cats I had (Callie, Toby, Ginger & Snowball) before they crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Pet Clothes & Costumes

~ Warnings ~

Pet clothes or costumes may lead to heat stroke and death for pets.

When I lived in Florida I sometimes attended (as a vendor) some of the events pet/animal rescue groups organize to raise money for their rescue programs.  At one event I attended in late October a woman came into my booth with her young teenage daughter and their Pomeranian in one of those doggie tote bags.

This little dog already had its own natural thick fur coat on but was also dressed with;

• A diaper with a plastic outer layer (like a Pampers for dogs)
• Then a nylon crinoline slip
• Then a polyester dress
• Then stuffed in the doggie tote which of course was made out of polyester.

This poor little dog was in distress and on the verge of having heat exhaustion or heat stoke right in my booth as the temperature was around 80 degrees that day (in Florida) AND they were totally oblivious to their pets’ suffering.

I managed to keep my voice calm and let them know that their pet needed help right away.  They didn’t even have any water with them for the pet but fortunately I did.  We stripped the clothes off and dabbed some of the water on the pet’s stomach to cool down its body temperature and gave it sips to drink.  I don’t know the end to this little dog’s story as they left soon after as I encouraged them to seek medical attention for it ASAP.

That experience led me to think about the fate of the thousands of pets who are treated like a child’s baby doll and to write this article.

Google “pet clothes or costumes and you will come up with millions of website results.  Dressing pets in clothes/costumes has become the vogue thing to do by children and grown-ups alike. 

Google for the dangers of dressing a pet and you come up with only a few search results.

My hope is that this small article will cause others to pause and at least think about the consequences to the pet of this pet fashion craze, and maybe spare another animal from suffering and possible death.

Dog’s Anal Sacs

~ Information ~

I’m sure you’ve seen a dog scoot its butt around on the ground, floor or carpet.  One carpet cleaning company even does/did a TV commercial showing a dog doing this as a advertising tool for sales (which I did not find amusing as a pet who does this is uncomfortable or in pain as this could be a sign of a problem that needs veterinary attention).

Should you notice your dog licking his rectal area or scooting his/her butt around on the floor, it may indicate that the anal sacs are full, impacted or infected.  If anal sacs aren’t expressed and the dog can’t express them on its’ own, then they may rupture.

Some dogs need their sacs expressed and some don’t.  Discuss this subject with your vet and have your vet check things out for your dog’s comfort and welfare and teach you what to look for.

There are many websites providing information on this subject which you can read and educate yourself on the subject of, but I highly recommend that you discuss this with your vet and have your vet teach you how, as doing it the wrong way could injure or be very painful for your pet.