Pawprints - All About Dogs and Cats Blog

The typical Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, an assortment of other vegetables, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Should you let your beloved furry family member indulgein this feast?  After all, what are holidays for? You love your dog. You want to share with him.

There is no good reason why you should not…BUT don’t forget about portions. To a small dog, just three hefty slices of turkey, chicken, or ham is like you eating at least a half an entire turkey, chicken, or ham.

The impact can be more severe than an upset tummy. Vets see more pancreatitis around the holidays than at any other time of the year. Eating very fatty food may cause pancreatitis, and it can be life threatening. Ham is often especially fatty as well as salty ( very bad for your dog).

Keep an eye on your pet. There are lots of cases of counter surfing dogs scarfing huge hunks of meat when their owners’ backs are turned, and their pancreas just can’t process all that fat at once.

Even lean meat can take a toll if everyone at the table contributes. At a large family dinner  little Muffin may be offered “tidbits” by everyone as they surreptitiously sneak her more turkey under the table. By the time the night is over, little Muffin will have had more to eat than anyone else at the dinner table.

Refrain from feeding your pet at the table -  do so only by putting the the food in her food bowl. That way you can control the amount of food.

Also, feeding your pooch from the dinner table can inadvertently trains him to beg for food.

Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with your pet…just be discriminating about the amounts he is offered.

On November 7, Massachusetts citizens voted to prohibit commercial greyhound racing statewide by voting YES on ballot Question 3, The Greyhound Protection Act (pdf).  The Greyhound Protection Act will phase out dog racing in the state by 2010. This inhumane “sport” has already been banned in Vermont, Idaho, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

The greyhound racing industry in Massachusetts has proven itself incapable—or unwilling—to treat dogs humanely. The state’s two dog tracks, Wonderland and Raynham Park, each maintain a population of over 1,000 greyhound dogs. These dogs are confined for 20 or more hours per day to small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. To reduce costs, the tracks feed greyhounds raw meat from dying, diseased or downed livestock that has been deemed unfit for human consumption. In fact, this meat often contains denatured charcoal to discourage human use.

Racing greyhounds regularly endure serious, even fatal injuries. According to state records, more than 800 dogs have been injured on the tracks since 2002. On average, a Massachusetts racing greyhound is injured every three to four days, with over 81 percent of these incidents involving fractures, dislocation, head trauma, seizures, cardiac arrest, paralysis, or instant death. The majority of these injuries also involve broken legs.

Congratulations, Massachusetts, for passing the ban on dog racing!

Christmas Idea: 

Pet parents can decorate their Christmas tree with “create your own’ ornaments featuring their favorite pictures of their fur kids.

These keepsake ornaments make a lovely addition to the family tree, and  also make great gifts for pet lovers. No special skills are required…Just a clear picture of the pet ( cropped to a size suitable for the ornament) And you can preview the finished product before you place the order.

For more information, visit The Pet Boutique at All About Dogs and Cats.

1. Be aware.  Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you’re more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly—a possible indicator of abuse.

2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms :

• Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal’s death.
• Wounds on the body.
• Patches of missing hair.
• Extremely thin, starving animals.
• Limping.
• An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
• Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.
• Dogs who have been hit by cars-or are showing any of the signs listed above-and have not been taken to a veterinarian.
• Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.
• Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.

3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. Every state and province, and even every town is different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact local animal control or another municipal agency.

4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting the investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME—and the police MUST investigate these crimes.

6. Know your state’s or province’s animal cruelty laws. These vary from state to state, province to province, and  from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA’s online database of more than 550 animal cruelty laws—and their penalties—in all 50 states.

7. Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal and local levels. Write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws-and you can send them directly from our website.

8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve - more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered.

9. Teach children  how to treat animals with kindness and respect.  Tell kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day,  a warm place to live, and love and play time. Help children understand that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness.

10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Make a difference. If possible, foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. Find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area:

• Dog Breed Rescue Directory  (USA,  Canada, UK)
• Purebred Cat Rescue (USA, Canada, UK)
• Pet Rescue (USA, Canada, UK) 
• National Shelter Directory (US)

Everyone’s experienced the battle of the bug, but insects aren’t the only critters who regularly invade homes. Mice, rats and other rodents also seek cover in our cozy dwellings. Chemical bait products can be effective agents against these unwelcome houseguests, but they also pose a serious health risk for curious cats and dogs.

In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 7,600 cases of pets exposed to rodenticides—nearly 23 percent of all pesticide-related calls. Anticoagulant rodenticides, which include many types of bait on the market, accounted for most accidents.

Dogs are generally most susceptible to exposure, but cats and other small pets are also at risk. Even domestic rodents can escape from their cages and accidentally eat bait not intended for them. Ingestion may result in life-threatening problems such as bleeding, seizures or damage to the kidneys or other vital organs. That’s why, according to the APCC, it’s important to place rodenticides in an area that is completely inaccessible to pets.

IF you think your pet has ingested rat or mouse bait—or any other toxic substance—please call your veterinarian or the APCC’s 24-hour emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435. For more pet poison prevention tips, please visit their website.

Help honor Adopt a Shelter Dog Month by supporting your own eligible local shelter or rescue organization in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge - brought to you by Petfinder! Prizes will be awarded throughout the Challenge and range from $1,000 weekly prizes to a $25,000 grand prize grant! Plus, you can go back to vote every day and increase your nominated shelter’s chances of winning.

Petfinder is the temporary home for more than 300,000 adoptable pets from nearly 12,000 adoption groups. Learn about adoption and search for your compatible canine on their website.

The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple “Click Here to Give - it’s FREE” button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), pet poisonings from expanding wood glues—and other adhesives containing the substance diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)—are pervasive. In the last twelve months, the APCC has treated nearly 100 cases of pets who’ve ingested expanding glues. Of those incidents, 98% involved dogs and 78% were evaluated at high or medium risk for developing severe, life-threatening clinical effects.

Polyurethane glue—also known by brand names like Gorilla Glue and Elmer’s Pro-Bond—is prized for its ability to bond tightly to wood. If eaten, however, the glue expands in the stomach’s warm, moist environment and forms a softball-sized lump. A dog who eats even a small amount of MDI-based adhesive can experience severe gastrointestinal problems resulting in blockages. This disturbing scenario most often requires emergency surgery to remove the mass.

Pet parents should treat any expanding adhesive as a potential hazard, since the offending chemical MDI is not always listed on product labels. Like all toxic household products, wood glue should be stored in a secure cabinet to prevent your furry beloveds from coming into contact with it. If you suspect your pet has ingested polyurethane glue, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison hotline at (888) 426-4435. And for more information about keeping your pet safe, check out their accessible guide to a poison-free home.

Travelling Tips from the ASPCA

Your summer vacation’s almost here—and for some pet parents, traveling’s no fun if the four-legged members of the family can’t come along. But without thoughtful preparation, going on the road or flying can be highly stressful, both for you and your animal companions. Before you embark on your journey, the ASPCA would like to offer a few helpful hints.

• Please visit your veterinarian before traveling to make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and has all the medications he needs. Also ask about parasites or other health risks native to your destination. For travel outside of the continental United States, additional planning and health care requirements may be necessary. Contact the foreign office of the country you are traveling to for more information.
• Your pet should have a microchip for identification and always wear a collar and ID tag with an address or phone number where you can be reached—that includes cell phone number and destination info.
• Always bring plenty of plastic jugs filled with bottled or tap water from home. Drinking water she’s not used to could upset your pet’s stomach. If flying, freeze water in a bowl the night before. It won’t spill during loading and it’ll melt by the time she’s thirsty.
• Fly your pet in a USDA-approved shipping crate large enough for her to comfortably stand, sit and turn around in. Write “Live Animal” in large letters on at least two sides of the crate, and draw arrows indicating the crate’s upright position. (Of course you should ask the airline if small animals can fly with you in the cabin.)
• If driving, never leave your pet in a parked automobile. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a stationary vehicle can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop.
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The ASPCA experts offer these tips to ensure a loving and safe day for all species this February 14:

• Use caution with roses and other blooms containing thorns, which could prove harmful to pets if played with, bitten, stepped on or swallowed. It’s all too easy for pets to step on thorny stems that fall to the ground, and worse yet if your pet has a tendency to nibble…the thorns can damage both the tongue and throat.
• Many varieties of lilies are highly toxic to cats. Other potentially poisonous flowers may include:  tulips (especially if potted, as the bulbs are the most toxic),  amaryllis (same as tulips), Calla lily (can cause intense oral and gastrointestinal irritation), daisies , chrysanthemums, baby’s breath
• Chocolate in any form contains theobromine and caffeine, both methylxanthines that can cause stimulation of the central nervous system, an increase in heart rate and tremors. Clinical signs—vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, and increased thirst, urination and heart rate—can be seen with the ingestion of as little as two ounces of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog.
• If you are thinking of giving your beloved a new puppy or kitten for Valentine’s Day please keep in mind that bringing a new companion into the home is a big decision. We suggest presenting your loved one with a gift certificate to adopt from your local shelter.
• Many a curious pet has explored an alcoholic beverage left in a glass. If ingested, this could cause vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and coma. Alcohol can even cause death from respiratory failure if a large enough amount is ingested.
• Another potential hazard is gum or candy sweetened with the sugar substitute xylitol, which can cause a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar (known as hypoglycemia).  This can result in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.
• Make sure to keep balloons, cellophane, tape, ribbons, bows and other wrapping items or festive decorations out of your pets’ reach. Choking on any of these items, or ingesting them, may prove hazardous to your pet’s health.
• Candlelit dinners are romantic, just don’t leave the room while the flames are still burning.  Let curious paws find other, safer things to play with.