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At last, Veterinary Care that Won't Break Your Bank
Many young urban, upwardly-mobile professionals simply don't have time for a family. For them, their pet dog or cat is a huge part
of their lives. For the elderly, pets may be the only family members they come in contact with on a daily basis.
So if a pet becomes sick or injured, the emotional damage could be huge. But that emotional damage could pale when compared
to the ensuing veterinary bills.
In 2004, pet owners spent upwards of $12 billion on veterinary care. That number is expected to grow between 25%-30% per year.
As the American pet population continues to increase, that trend isn't likely to change any time soon.
Technological advancements in medicine have given veterinarians the ability to vastly improve quality of life or even save a pet's life.
Advances in medical treatment for pets come with increased costs. Dogs and cats get cancer and other illnesses that often can be
treated just like humans. But chemotherapy treatment for a pet can cost thousands of dollars. Common accidents like ingestion of
a foreign object can require surgery costing more than $1,000.
One recent survey reported that 84 percent of pet owners in the US consider their pets to be their "children." And, nearly 75 percent
say they would be willing to go into debt for their pets' well being. But far too often, pet owners must choose between saving their
pets' life and paying the mortgage next month.
So what is a pet owner to do? Thankfully, there is a new trend in pet health care that seems to be on the rise in the United States:
Pet Health Insurance.
"Insurance is a win-win situation for veterinarians, for the public and for the pet," said Dr. Alan Schreier of Pleasantville (N.Y.)
Animal Hospital. "The pet can receive the medical care he needs, the veterinarian can do his job and feel good about it, and the
people who own the pet can save the animal and not have to say, 'Oh my God, I'm going to have to put my pet to sleep because I
don't have the money.'"
Pet Health Insurance could be a welcome relief for pet owners, but is it cost effective? There are a lot of factors that pet owners
need to know before buying pet health insurance. Some of these factors include the age of the pet, type of animal, and the breed
(some breeds are more prone than others to have medical issues). You can get more information on pet health insurance online
at http://www.pet-insurance.info.com.
Far too often if a pet is involved in a catastrophic accident the pet owner may have them euthanized when they could be treated,
albeit expensively. A study by the veterinary trade journal DVM Magazine found pet owners start to consider having their animal
euthenized when bills reach an average of $576. This is a tragedy that could be avoided with pet health insurance.
Many young urban, upwardly-mobile professionals simply don't have time for a family. For them, their pet dog or cat is a huge part
of their lives. For the elderly, pets may be the only family members they come in contact with on a daily basis.
So if a pet becomes sick or injured, the emotional damage could be huge. But that emotional damage could pale when compared
to the ensuing veterinary bills.
In 2004, pet owners spent upwards of $12 billion on veterinary care. That number is expected to grow between 25%-30% per year.
As the American pet population continues to increase, that trend isn't likely to change any time soon.
Technological advancements in medicine have given veterinarians the ability to vastly improve quality of life or even save a pet's life.
Advances in medical treatment for pets come with increased costs. Dogs and cats get cancer and other illnesses that often can be
treated just like humans. But chemotherapy treatment for a pet can cost thousands of dollars. Common accidents like ingestion of
a foreign object can require surgery costing more than $1,000.
One recent survey reported that 84 percent of pet owners in the US consider their pets to be their "children." And, nearly 75 percent
say they would be willing to go into debt for their pets' well being. But far too often, pet owners must choose between saving their
pets' life and paying the mortgage next month.
So what is a pet owner to do? Thankfully, there is a new trend in pet health care that seems to be on the rise in the United States:
Pet Health Insurance.
"Insurance is a win-win situation for veterinarians, for the public and for the pet," said Dr. Alan Schreier of Pleasantville (N.Y.)
Animal Hospital. "The pet can receive the medical care he needs, the veterinarian can do his job and feel good about it, and the
people who own the pet can save the animal and not have to say, 'Oh my God, I'm going to have to put my pet to sleep because I
don't have the money.'"
Pet Health Insurance could be a welcome relief for pet owners, but is it cost effective? There are a lot of factors that pet owners
need to know before buying pet health insurance. Some of these factors include the age of the pet, type of animal, and the breed
(some breeds are more prone than others to have medical issues). You can get more information on pet health insurance online
at http://www.pet-insurance.info.com.
Far too often if a pet is involved in a catastrophic accident the pet owner may have them euthanized when they could be treated,
albeit expensively. A study by the veterinary trade journal DVM Magazine found pet owners start to consider having their animal
euthenized when bills reach an average of $576. This is a tragedy that could be avoided with pet health insurance.
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I never yell at my dog. Never.
Well, okay. There's one exception. And that exception is if: I'm already working with the dog at such a far distance that he can't audibly hear me. And usually this is the case only if I'm teaching the dog to respond to hand signals.
Why don't I ever raise my voice if I'm working with my dog, otherwise?
Because the only thing that raising your voice achieves is to communicate to your dog that you really DO NOT have control.
And since I train with a modified working dog approach, I want my dog to know that I'm ALWAYS in control. Because I'm the "Alpha dog."
Now, if I issue a command, and the dog I'm training does not respond to that command... then I will stop to figure out why he didn't respond. If it's because he didn't understand the command, then I need to go back to basics and do more repetitions. If the dog is simply not responding because he's being stubborn or head-strong, then I'll make my correction more motivational.
But one thing that many observers will realize about the way I work with animals is that my commands are practically whispered. Never yelled or screamed.
In fact, your commands should only be loud enough for your dog to hear. No louder.
So... do you want to know how to spot an amateur dog trainer? He's the one yelling at his dog.
A word or two on consistency and teaching your dog to "come."
If I'm teaching a dog to come on command, it's my job to convince the dog that he MUST come EVERY time I call him. But if he thinks that I'm only going to make him come every other time... or only under certain conditions... then I'll never get the dog to be 100% reliable.
So, where am I going with this line of reasoning? Well, just remember that you should NEVER give a command that you cannot enforce, until your dog is 100%. And you'll know when he is 100% when his responses to commands are immediate! Even when you're asking him to respond around the most tempting of distractions!
Do you want to be able to take your dog anywhere, and KNOW that he'll listen to you... even if tempted by another dog, a cat, or even a piece of food??? Then check out: "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History!" By Adam G. Katz, Owner of South Bay K-9 Academy and Dog Problems.com. For more information, go to:Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
About the Author
Author, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!“ which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
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Did you know that more than one million
north americans will be bitten by dogs
this year, and about one million dog bites
will go unreported.
Its sad but most of the victims will be children.
These dog bites will come from animals known
to them. Unleashed dogs will account for most
of the bites inflicted.
north americans will be bitten by dogs
this year, and about one million dog bites
will go unreported.
Its sad but most of the victims will be children.
These dog bites will come from animals known
to them. Unleashed dogs will account for most
of the bites inflicted.
What Makes Dogs Bite
Not being educated and pet owners not being
committed on training their pet is what leads
to most of these dog bites. We must realize
that dogs don't normally become a part of our
families already trained.
Why Then Do Dogs Bite?
1.They will bite if scared, angry, or threatened.
Even a dog thats friendly will bite.
2.If he feels he's cornered or crowded.
3.They will protect what they think belongs to them.
Like their food, toys.
4.Dogs will protect their space such as sleeping area,
yard, porch, cars and home.
5.Dogs are predatory by nature and love to chase
and attack.
6.A stray dog may feel upset being lost or hurt and
bite with alot less provocation.
7.A dog being startled may lash out and bite.
How to Prevent Bites
8.Teaching young children to be careful around pets.
Don't allow children to play rough or allow pupies to
bite. Not even play biting.
9.Teach your children never get close to strange dogs.
10.Leave a dogs things alone like food, toys, bones,
ect.
11.Most injuries are caused by getting too close to a
dogs face with your own.
12.Refain from running past a dog. They love to chase.
Avoid getting a dog excited or aggressive, by yelling
and screaming.
13.You never want to pet a dog thats eating, sleeping
or careing for its puppies.
14.Stay away from dogs that are tied up or in cars.
15.You should always ask permission from a pet owner
to pet his dog. Even if he's present and the dog's on
a leash.
16.Refrain from swinging your arms or things you have
at a dog. It may think its an invitation to bite.
17.You should never pet stray dogs or ones running loose.
Its great to have a dog go on a hike or walk on a trail
with you but we humans need to treat dogs with respect.
Just remember to teach your children how act around dogs,
it will keep them safe.
About the Author
Val and Robin Shortt are experienced campers and own three outdoor websites For more tips like these and to register for their Free newsletter visit:Good Night Camping Equipment
If you haven’t already found one, or worked with one in the past, you need to find a vet. Pick one you feel comfortable with, and who answers your questions in full, completely and gives you answers you can understand. You don’t need a vet who talks down to you, or acts like you’re too dumb to understand what they’re saying!
Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals (as opposed to one who treats large and small – like horses, cows, cats and dogs.) Your community may only have vets that do a little bit of everything – and there’s nothing wrong with that, if that’s all that’s available, but I’ll remind you – you usually go to a specialist for your health issues, don’t you?
If you’re new in the community, or haven’t needed a vet before – word of mouth is a great way to start looking for a new vet. Ask everybody you can get your hands on – co-workers, friends with pets, local humane societies or shelters. Ask questions: are they happy with their vet? Do they like the way they’re treated when they take their dogs in?
If your dog is a particular breed, check with the local or state breed associations to find out who they use, or local breeders. This can be especially useful if you buy a puppy from a local breeder, because the vet will have seen your puppy and know at least some of his history.
You may want a holistic vet. Go to their website at www.ahvma.org and check out their referral directory. Or contact them via phone at (410) 569-0795
You may also be interested in a veterinarian who has been trained in acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture XE "Acupuncture" Society. Log onto their website XE "International Veterinary Acupuncture Society" at http://www.ivas.org or call 970-266-0666.
Once you have a referral from someone you trust, here are some questions to ask:
1. What services does the vet offer?
Is it a one-doctor office, or a multi-doctor practice? As vets try to streamline services many are consolidating practices and forming partnerships and group practices. There’s nothing wrong with this – just be aware that you may not always see the same vet. And find out if they offer 24 hour emergency services, or if he or she is affiliated with someone in the area who does. Like everything else in life, illness or accidents don’t always happen between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2. Does the vet offer a full surgery suite with on-site lab work? X-rays? Ultrasound?
If the vet has to send all lab tests to an outside agency to be processed, you may be getting popped with additional charges because those tests aren’t being performed or processed in-house.
3. Get a fee schedule.
Cost is usually one of the biggest considerations for dog owners, and it should be lowest on the list of importance, at least in my mind. Not because cost isn’t important – of course it is, but - if you have a vet that you’re happy with – who gives your dog the best care you can possibly find in your area – does paying a little extra for that care really matter in the long run?
4. Check out the physical characteristics of the facility.
Is it clean, or does it smell? Are the ads or magazines in the waiting room current? (That may not sound important, but if the staff and doctors aren’t keeping up-to-date on the latest and greatest information, this may not be the place you want to bring your dog.)
5. Communication – by that I mean how well does your vet communicate with you?
Will he or she explain the condition or illness in terms that you can easily understand, or do they try to confuse you with high-tech or medical jargon? A good vet will go over treatment options with you, explain necessary tests, review x-rays or test results, give complete and clear instructions for home care or further testing requirements, etc.
Take your time to do a complete and thorough evaluation before choosing a new vet. Your dog’s life literally depends on what choice you make. Make it a careful one.
http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj
Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals (as opposed to one who treats large and small – like horses, cows, cats and dogs.) Your community may only have vets that do a little bit of everything – and there’s nothing wrong with that, if that’s all that’s available, but I’ll remind you – you usually go to a specialist for your health issues, don’t you?
If you’re new in the community, or haven’t needed a vet before – word of mouth is a great way to start looking for a new vet. Ask everybody you can get your hands on – co-workers, friends with pets, local humane societies or shelters. Ask questions: are they happy with their vet? Do they like the way they’re treated when they take their dogs in?
If your dog is a particular breed, check with the local or state breed associations to find out who they use, or local breeders. This can be especially useful if you buy a puppy from a local breeder, because the vet will have seen your puppy and know at least some of his history.
You may want a holistic vet. Go to their website at www.ahvma.org and check out their referral directory. Or contact them via phone at (410) 569-0795
You may also be interested in a veterinarian who has been trained in acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture XE "Acupuncture" Society. Log onto their website XE "International Veterinary Acupuncture Society" at http://www.ivas.org or call 970-266-0666.
Once you have a referral from someone you trust, here are some questions to ask:
1. What services does the vet offer?
Is it a one-doctor office, or a multi-doctor practice? As vets try to streamline services many are consolidating practices and forming partnerships and group practices. There’s nothing wrong with this – just be aware that you may not always see the same vet. And find out if they offer 24 hour emergency services, or if he or she is affiliated with someone in the area who does. Like everything else in life, illness or accidents don’t always happen between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2. Does the vet offer a full surgery suite with on-site lab work? X-rays? Ultrasound?
If the vet has to send all lab tests to an outside agency to be processed, you may be getting popped with additional charges because those tests aren’t being performed or processed in-house.
3. Get a fee schedule.
Cost is usually one of the biggest considerations for dog owners, and it should be lowest on the list of importance, at least in my mind. Not because cost isn’t important – of course it is, but - if you have a vet that you’re happy with – who gives your dog the best care you can possibly find in your area – does paying a little extra for that care really matter in the long run?
4. Check out the physical characteristics of the facility.
Is it clean, or does it smell? Are the ads or magazines in the waiting room current? (That may not sound important, but if the staff and doctors aren’t keeping up-to-date on the latest and greatest information, this may not be the place you want to bring your dog.)
5. Communication – by that I mean how well does your vet communicate with you?
Will he or she explain the condition or illness in terms that you can easily understand, or do they try to confuse you with high-tech or medical jargon? A good vet will go over treatment options with you, explain necessary tests, review x-rays or test results, give complete and clear instructions for home care or further testing requirements, etc.
Take your time to do a complete and thorough evaluation before choosing a new vet. Your dog’s life literally depends on what choice you make. Make it a careful one.
http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj
About the Author
Author, "Dog Training Secrets!"
To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit: http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj
There are lots of ways that people choose a new family dog. Some may search the newspaper for advertisements from breeders who are selling new puppies; others find breeders via listings on the internet, while still more may simply purchase a puppy from a local pet store. Perhaps the best method, however, in terms of being helpful to society in general is to adopt a dog from a local animal shelter.
Adopting a dog brings a new friend into your life. It also helps to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless dogs in your area. Unless the shelter is a “no kill” facility (and these are sadly few and far between), it will also save a dog’s life. Animal lovers everywhere champion the adoption of dogs from shelters as opposed to any other method of bringing home a new pet for this reason alone, but there are other reasons to choose the adoption option.
Adopted pets have had their shots
Shelters often have information about a dog’s temperament
Adopting a pet frees space in the shelter for more dogs
When you adopt a dog you can be sure that the staff at the shelter has had the dog examined by a vet for diseases and parasites and that the dog has had its shots. This is not always true of dogs acquired by other means such as kids giving away “free puppies” from a box in front of the local grocery store or PetsMart.
The dogs at a shelter are not just strays and often are turned in to the shelter by former owners for various reasons. When this happens, the shelter collects as much information about the dog as possible, including whether its good with children, how much it barks, how playful or obedient it is, whether its housebroken, and other important details. While it’s true that this information is only as good as the honesty of the former owner, most of the time it is fairly accurate.
Animal shelters provide a valuable service to the community that they serve by keeping the streets as free of stray animals as possible. Because many of them do this with little or no public funding or governmental support, they are very limited in the number of dogs they can have in the shelter at any given time. The only way that they can bring in more stray animals is if they remove the ones they currently have. This is done through adoption or euthanasia. Obviously they would prefer to have the dogs adopted rather than killed. Adopting a dog could very well save its life and allows the shelter to bring in another dog in its place.
Adopting a dog brings a new friend into your life. It also helps to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless dogs in your area. Unless the shelter is a “no kill” facility (and these are sadly few and far between), it will also save a dog’s life. Animal lovers everywhere champion the adoption of dogs from shelters as opposed to any other method of bringing home a new pet for this reason alone, but there are other reasons to choose the adoption option.
Adopted pets have had their shots
Shelters often have information about a dog’s temperament
Adopting a pet frees space in the shelter for more dogs
When you adopt a dog you can be sure that the staff at the shelter has had the dog examined by a vet for diseases and parasites and that the dog has had its shots. This is not always true of dogs acquired by other means such as kids giving away “free puppies” from a box in front of the local grocery store or PetsMart.
The dogs at a shelter are not just strays and often are turned in to the shelter by former owners for various reasons. When this happens, the shelter collects as much information about the dog as possible, including whether its good with children, how much it barks, how playful or obedient it is, whether its housebroken, and other important details. While it’s true that this information is only as good as the honesty of the former owner, most of the time it is fairly accurate.
Animal shelters provide a valuable service to the community that they serve by keeping the streets as free of stray animals as possible. Because many of them do this with little or no public funding or governmental support, they are very limited in the number of dogs they can have in the shelter at any given time. The only way that they can bring in more stray animals is if they remove the ones they currently have. This is done through adoption or euthanasia. Obviously they would prefer to have the dogs adopted rather than killed. Adopting a dog could very well save its life and allows the shelter to bring in another dog in its place.
About the Author
This article courtesy of http://www.better-dog-training.com
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The Pro's Never Yell Or Scream Commands At Their Dog
17 Tips That'll Safeguard You and Your Family From Dog Bites
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5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vet For Your Dog
5 Ways Your Dog Senses The World Differently From You
Adopting A Dog
Do dogs sense things differently than humans do? Well, yes and no. Dogs share the same basic senses with us: they see, hear, touch, smell and taste. But the level of their senses is different – an important distinction when you’re trying to figure out just what your dog is doing.
Sight
It was once thought that dogs were “color-blind” – only able to see shades of black and white with some grey, but scientific studies have found that’s not true. Dogs can see in color – ranging from blues and greens to greys and crèmes, and of course, black and white. It’s been estimated that humans can distinguish somewhere between 7 and 10 million different colors. (We don’t even have names for that many colors!)
Picture courtesy of Dr. P’s site: http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/dog.htm
But dogs have it all over humans in detecting motion – that’s one reason they can detect a cat up a tree at a much greater distance than you can! And their night vision is typically better than ours – dogs have an additional reflective layer in the eye called the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light back into the receptor cells of the eye, which not only increases their night vision, but gives them that spooky appearance of eyes glowing in the dark.
Hearing
When your dog is barking like crazy in the middle of the night, don’t just assume he’s lonely and wants you to get up and keep him company. He may be listening to something that you can’t hear, that’s extremely upsetting to him – like a burglar breaking in your basement window.
Dogs can hear at four times the distance humans can – that means you might hear something from a 100 yards away your dog could hear from a quarter of a mile away. Their ears are also better designed to gather more of the available sound wave – they have 15 different muscles that move their ears in all directions, plus they can move one ear at a time – and independently of the other to absorb even more information!
Touch
Dogs also have a well-developed sense of touch, surprising perhaps under all that fur, although this sense is much less sophisticated than a human’s. Puppies are born with sensory receptors in their faces so they can find mama even if they’re separated before they open their eyes. But they also can sense touch all over their bodies, just as humans can. One reason your dog flops down on the couch next to you and tries to snuggle up on a hot day (or any other day for that matter!) is because he likes the comfort of feeling that you’re right there!
Smell
We can’t even come close to our dog’s ability to smell things. It’s been estimated that a dog’s sense of smell is 100,000 times more powerful than a human’s. Scientists think that humans have about 40 million olfactory receptors, versus 2 billion for your dog! That’s part of the reason dogs make such good trackers, and can trace scents across all sorts of distractions – like across roadways or through dense woods.
Dogs also use their sense of smell as a communications tool – when they’re running around the park with their nose to the ground, sniffing everything in sight, they’re actually reading the calling cards of everyone – dogs, humans, cats, squirrels, and anyone or anything else, that has been there before him. Which is why he may not pay attention to you when you first get to the park – he’s trying to see if any of his buddies have been there before him!
Taste
Just as with humans, taste is closely linked to the sense of smell – the main difference is humans won’t eat something that smells bad; while dogs are the opposite – the smellier the better. Dogs will gulp first and ask questions later.
While humans many times won’t eat something that doesn’t look appealing, let alone doesn’t smell good, dogs are more concerned with smell, than taste. They frequently gobble down food before they have time to chew it, let alone taste it. But that’s ok – it’s why when we clean out our refrigerators our dogs think it’s time for treats.
So the next time your dog engages in some puzzling behavior, whether it’s barking for no reason, or ignoring you at the park, he might not be trying to irritate you – he’s just responding to a different level of senses than you are. Take a moment to look around and try and figure out what’s triggering his behavior before you get mad. Your dog could be trying to tell you something!
http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj
Sight
It was once thought that dogs were “color-blind” – only able to see shades of black and white with some grey, but scientific studies have found that’s not true. Dogs can see in color – ranging from blues and greens to greys and crèmes, and of course, black and white. It’s been estimated that humans can distinguish somewhere between 7 and 10 million different colors. (We don’t even have names for that many colors!)
Picture courtesy of Dr. P’s site: http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/dog.htm
But dogs have it all over humans in detecting motion – that’s one reason they can detect a cat up a tree at a much greater distance than you can! And their night vision is typically better than ours – dogs have an additional reflective layer in the eye called the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light back into the receptor cells of the eye, which not only increases their night vision, but gives them that spooky appearance of eyes glowing in the dark.
Hearing
When your dog is barking like crazy in the middle of the night, don’t just assume he’s lonely and wants you to get up and keep him company. He may be listening to something that you can’t hear, that’s extremely upsetting to him – like a burglar breaking in your basement window.
Dogs can hear at four times the distance humans can – that means you might hear something from a 100 yards away your dog could hear from a quarter of a mile away. Their ears are also better designed to gather more of the available sound wave – they have 15 different muscles that move their ears in all directions, plus they can move one ear at a time – and independently of the other to absorb even more information!
Touch
Dogs also have a well-developed sense of touch, surprising perhaps under all that fur, although this sense is much less sophisticated than a human’s. Puppies are born with sensory receptors in their faces so they can find mama even if they’re separated before they open their eyes. But they also can sense touch all over their bodies, just as humans can. One reason your dog flops down on the couch next to you and tries to snuggle up on a hot day (or any other day for that matter!) is because he likes the comfort of feeling that you’re right there!
Smell
We can’t even come close to our dog’s ability to smell things. It’s been estimated that a dog’s sense of smell is 100,000 times more powerful than a human’s. Scientists think that humans have about 40 million olfactory receptors, versus 2 billion for your dog! That’s part of the reason dogs make such good trackers, and can trace scents across all sorts of distractions – like across roadways or through dense woods.
Dogs also use their sense of smell as a communications tool – when they’re running around the park with their nose to the ground, sniffing everything in sight, they’re actually reading the calling cards of everyone – dogs, humans, cats, squirrels, and anyone or anything else, that has been there before him. Which is why he may not pay attention to you when you first get to the park – he’s trying to see if any of his buddies have been there before him!
Taste
Just as with humans, taste is closely linked to the sense of smell – the main difference is humans won’t eat something that smells bad; while dogs are the opposite – the smellier the better. Dogs will gulp first and ask questions later.
While humans many times won’t eat something that doesn’t look appealing, let alone doesn’t smell good, dogs are more concerned with smell, than taste. They frequently gobble down food before they have time to chew it, let alone taste it. But that’s ok – it’s why when we clean out our refrigerators our dogs think it’s time for treats.
So the next time your dog engages in some puzzling behavior, whether it’s barking for no reason, or ignoring you at the park, he might not be trying to irritate you – he’s just responding to a different level of senses than you are. Take a moment to look around and try and figure out what’s triggering his behavior before you get mad. Your dog could be trying to tell you something!
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About the Author
Author, "Dog Training Secrets!"
To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit: http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj
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10 Things In Your Home That Can Kill Your Dog
Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there
are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household
substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog's reach.
1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your
dog and is very appealing to him. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Symptoms of
toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. Make sure to keep your antifreeze out of your
dog's reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
2) Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is
especially dangerous. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death does occur
with smaller amounts ingested. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and increased
activity. This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has
eaten chocolate.
3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog's reach.
Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog
has ingested bleach and contact your veterinarian immediately.
4) Tylenol: As little as two regular strength Tylenol tablets can kill a small dog. Dogs lack the proper liver enzymes to break down
acetaminophen. Signs of toxicity include drooling, lethargy, and abdominal pain. If you suspect your dog has ingested Tylenol, call
your veterinarian immediately.
5) Watch Batteries: If your dog ingests a watch battery, it can cause a potentially fatal ulceration in the stomach within 12 hours. All
other alkaline batteries are toxic to dogs as well. Symptoms of toxicity include drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy. If you
suspect your dog has ingested a watch battery, contact your vet immediately.
6) Moth Balls: Moth balls are very dangerous to dogs. They contain an insecticide that causes central nervous system excitement
and seizures. When metabolized, ingestion of moth balls can lead to liver failure. Symptoms of poisoning by moth balls include
vomiting and seizures. If your dog has consumed moth balls, do NOT induce vomiting. Seek veterinary care immediately.
7) Fabric Softeners and other detergents: All sorts of household detergents are toxic to dogs at one level or another, but fabric
softeners fall into the highly toxic category. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, burns to the mouth, drooling, muscle
weakness, and even coma. Do NOT induce vomiting if your dog has ingested any detergent. Contact your veterinarian immediately.
8) Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include
vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by
mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.
9) Peach Pits: With most fruits, the pits and the seeds are toxic to dogs. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and lethargy.
If you suspect your dog has eaten a peach pit or the pit or seeds of any fruit, take him to the veterinarian immediately.
10) Household Plants: Many common and popular household plants are highly toxic to dogs. A partial list of toxic plants includes
poinsettias, lilies, ferns, devil's ivy, aloe, and ivy. Symptoms of poisoning due to ingestion of toxic plants include vomiting and
central nervous system excitement. Many of these plants are fatal if ingested. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you
suspect your dog has eaten a toxic houseplant.
With diligence on our part, we can help prevent our dogs from getting into substances that are toxic to them. Many veterinary school
websites offer lists of things that are toxic to dogs and what you should do if your dog ingests such things. As always, if you think
your dog may have eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the closest emergency
clinic.
Dog Article courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com
are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household
substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog's reach.
1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your
dog and is very appealing to him. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Symptoms of
toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. Make sure to keep your antifreeze out of your
dog's reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
2) Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is
especially dangerous. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death does occur
with smaller amounts ingested. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and increased
activity. This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has
eaten chocolate.
3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog's reach.
Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog
has ingested bleach and contact your veterinarian immediately.
4) Tylenol: As little as two regular strength Tylenol tablets can kill a small dog. Dogs lack the proper liver enzymes to break down
acetaminophen. Signs of toxicity include drooling, lethargy, and abdominal pain. If you suspect your dog has ingested Tylenol, call
your veterinarian immediately.
5) Watch Batteries: If your dog ingests a watch battery, it can cause a potentially fatal ulceration in the stomach within 12 hours. All
other alkaline batteries are toxic to dogs as well. Symptoms of toxicity include drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy. If you
suspect your dog has ingested a watch battery, contact your vet immediately.
6) Moth Balls: Moth balls are very dangerous to dogs. They contain an insecticide that causes central nervous system excitement
and seizures. When metabolized, ingestion of moth balls can lead to liver failure. Symptoms of poisoning by moth balls include
vomiting and seizures. If your dog has consumed moth balls, do NOT induce vomiting. Seek veterinary care immediately.
7) Fabric Softeners and other detergents: All sorts of household detergents are toxic to dogs at one level or another, but fabric
softeners fall into the highly toxic category. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, burns to the mouth, drooling, muscle
weakness, and even coma. Do NOT induce vomiting if your dog has ingested any detergent. Contact your veterinarian immediately.
8) Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include
vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by
mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.
9) Peach Pits: With most fruits, the pits and the seeds are toxic to dogs. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and lethargy.
If you suspect your dog has eaten a peach pit or the pit or seeds of any fruit, take him to the veterinarian immediately.
10) Household Plants: Many common and popular household plants are highly toxic to dogs. A partial list of toxic plants includes
poinsettias, lilies, ferns, devil's ivy, aloe, and ivy. Symptoms of poisoning due to ingestion of toxic plants include vomiting and
central nervous system excitement. Many of these plants are fatal if ingested. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you
suspect your dog has eaten a toxic houseplant.
With diligence on our part, we can help prevent our dogs from getting into substances that are toxic to them. Many veterinary school
websites offer lists of things that are toxic to dogs and what you should do if your dog ingests such things. As always, if you think
your dog may have eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the closest emergency
clinic.
Dog Article courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com
