How to Cope with a Disabled Pet

A reader wrote this story about saving a kitten and asked me to publish it on CoCo the Blogging Dog. Even though we're all about dogs, suppose it wouldn't hurt to talk about cats on occasion. Here's the story about Peebo, a true story of a cat rescued from a dumpster.

Jenna acquired a new kitten last month. Only a month old and crying in our neighborhood dumpster, she rescued him from this situation. The kitten had two broken hind legs, it seemed that it had been broken for long time and had miraculously healed.

Taking him to a vet, she found out that he will be permanently lame since the broken bones had already set. She also found out, he was no ordinary stray cat, but a Siamese half-breed. She named him Mephiboseth, after the name of a lame prince told in the Bible, and why not? He had a pedigree.

For the first few days, Mephiboseth longed for his mother, but, Jenna’s cat who had a false pregnancy decided to adopt this new kitten. Mephiboseth or Peebo for short did not let his two useless hind legs immobilize him in any way.

He dragged them behind and went about his feline business like a mermaid or a seal, making good use of his two healthy front legs. Jenna did not need to fix up the house to conform to his pet’s disability. Early on, she saw he can climb, run and play just like the ordinary older kittens. In fact, he had a sort of street smart character.

He wasn't afraid of the dog that was fifty times bigger than him, he hissed at the other cats whenever they were mean to him and fought a good fight for the treats I handed out at the cat mob during my home office coffee break. Peebo is a tough, smart and sweet kitten whose cuteness factor charmed everyone at home.

If he wasn't lame, he'd be a Garfield. There was just one problem. His physical condition gave him bladder and bowel problems. He had no control over it. Twice a day, there was a messy accident, sometimes even on top of the furniture. Peebo gave Jenna some warnings, though. Before he would 'go', he meowed like crazy. But sometimes, Jenna wasn't around to wick him outside to do his business.

Watching Animal Planet one time, Jenna saw a show about baby chimps that had nappies on. She knew there wasn't a small enough disposable diaper for a kitten, so she made her own. Being a McGyver when it comes to my pet's needs, she cut out plastic shopping bags, lined them with paper napkins and put them on Peebo, taping the sides with masking tape.

It worked! His tail stuck out from a hole on the back, he looked real funny as he went about his way around the house. That was a month ago. Last week, she noticed Peebo was running faster than usual. He chased the other kittens around and clawed his way up an open window.

He never did that before, and then she noticed, he was using one of his hind legs as a lever. Peebo can sit up, and outside, he can do his toilet normally. He didn't need the diapers anymore.

Compared with her other cats, Peebo is bigger and heavier built; he's already almost as big as Rags' five-month old kittens. Such a waste to have those genes cut off, but being a responsible owner, it is something she should consider in the future.

Things to Remember When You Take In Stray Pet

One rainy day, a pregnant dog suddenly walked in to Amanda’s backdoor as if it had found a new home. She fed the dog, and afterwards it curled up on the livingroom floor to take a nap - as if nothing could be more natural. Fortuna and Morgan, Amanda’s two cats didn't like the idea at first, and Bismarck, her dog thought the new stranger was too bossy. Happily, they eventually adjusted well to each other. She called her new adopted stray dog Bonnie and the dog showed her gratitude by becoming a faithful friend.

Amanda wasn't the only one around their neighborhood who had taken in strays, her next-door neighbor had taken in a large, full-grown, male dog a year ago and he became their best friend and house guardian. Further a field, a teenager took in a turtle he found lost in a drainage ditch. He had taken it to her for identification and tips for its care.

Amanda’s boss takes in stray cats all the time, she could afford it. Her home is a haven for homeless cats which she feeds and cares for. She has learned a lot from her and has applied it to Bonnie. Today, Bonnie and her five puppies are a part of Amanda’s family and she's already teaching the young ones new tricks and training them to be housebroken.

Even Amanda’s pastor had taken in a homeless puppy a few days ago. She saw a new person in this usually stern and disciplined man when he showed how concerned he and his whole family was to their newest member. He asked her for care tips, bought food and accessories for Snoop-Doggy-Dog (that's what they named her!), and even searched for a worthy vet in their town to give the pup her shots.

Some people prefer pets brought from pet shops or breeders, but sometimes fate brings them to you and they turn your lives around. There are a lot of people out there who can relate to this, superstitious people before see this as a good omen. They believe these animals are heaven sent or are angels in disguise. Whatever it is, they've come to you for a purpose and here are tips for those of you who were or will be chosen by a pet.

• Remember that not all strays are tamed or are used to human company. It's best to go slow until you know they are friendly and won't bite.

• Until you're absolutely sure a stray is house-trained, do not allow free run of your home. Feed the animal in a confined but comfortable area of your home - remembering to provide fresh drinking water at all times.

• Some stray pets may be lost, if you think the animal you found may belong to someone else, you should do something to contact its owner. Asking around or advertising in homemade posters may help.

• Check the animal for parasites, signs of diseases or injuries before you allow the animal any contact with your current companions. A professional veterinarian's services may be required if you have plans of taking it in, and especially if the animal is injured.

• Other pets may not like the idea of an intruder coming to their territory. Take time and patience to introduce your new adopted pet to the former residents.

• Not all strays will turn out to be a lovable, caring pet. Some will just be content to get free eats at your doorstep everyday. If you don't mind being its 'soup kitchen', go ahead and provide for it.

Are You Aware of a Dog’s Evolution?

The dog is the first animal known to have been domesticated, and it's estimated to have taken place about 15,000 years ago. Researchers say that humans observed the keen hunting skill of canines, and began to work together. This led to a cooperative effort - the dogs helped the humans catch prey, the humans shared it and gave the dogs shelter. It was mutually beneficial. So in a way, canines allowed themselves to become domesticated.

But did you know that the dog may be able to boast of an ancestry that goes all the way back to the Triassic Period, which is about 231-213 million years ago?

The earliest known mammal-like reptile that lived during the early era of the dinosaurs was called Cynognathus; it was the ancestor of all mammals today. Its name in Greek means "dog-jaw". It belonged to the order Therapsida or the therapsids which lived in South Africa and South America. From fossils found, Cynognathus was about the size of a large pig; it had fur and walked in all fours. Cynognathus was a carnivore and it preyed on dicynodonts, herbivorous reptiles that were plentiful during the period.

Cynogs probably hunted their 10-foot prey in packs or family groups the way modern wolves did. They had teeth that were designed for grasping, slashing, and tearing their victims. They were formidable predators, but could not have been very fast because their legs were tucked outwards their bulky bodies like a lizard's instead of under the way a dog does.

Although there aren't much scientific proofs of how Cynogs lived, paleontologists speculate that they laid eggs in nests and probably suckled their young with milk that oozed from primitive teats like the modern echidna and platypus. Their fossilied skulls showed that they had a large brain, which meant they were intelligent creatures.

In some paleontology specimens, Cynognathus fossils showed impressions of pig-like hair and whiskers on their dog-like snouts that had a wet nose. Their skulls also indicated that they had mammal-like-ears. Therapsids and Dicynodonts became extinct at the end of the Triassic Period. The drastic changes in the weather and plantlife brought an end to this canine ancestor.

Forty million years later, in the Eocene Period, a small, weasel-sized animal appeared. Miacis was the true mammalian ancestor of all dogs and cats. It was furry, with a long body and tail and short legs. It probably lived in trees like the martens and ferrets of today, hunting small reptiles and birds or scavenging nests for eggs. It may have also been an omnivore and ate fruits and edible plants.

Miacis may have been a nocturnal creature and gave birth to a litter of two to six babies. Their skulls show that they had large brains and delicate bones, which meant they were intelligent, nimble and fast. From Miacis, came the family of canines such as the jackals, foxes, wolves, wild dogs and even bears.

The ancestral wolf of Eurasia made their pact with the early humans during this-period. Wolves followed the nomadic two-legged beings and sniffed around campfires. Humans probably fed them scraps and many became friendly and tame, they began to follow their new pack from campsite to campsite.

Pups born to semi-wild wolves became tamer with each generation, and they spread with their human companions all over the world. They crossed landbridges, or on boats across waters. They were a helpful addition to the traveling families because they helped with the hunting and became loyal friends and companions.

Several archeological sites from the Neolithic Age showed skeletal remains of dogs found buried with human bones. It showed that early man gave their canine pals a decent burial. These sites tell a story of hunters and their dogs killed during the hunt and their bodies lovingly entombed with each other to be joined in the next life. Many cave drawings also depicted dogs and humans hunting, the megabeasts like mammoths, bears, great elks and bison.

Blue-Green Algae Toxicity

As blue-green algae blooms or reproduces in ponds, lakes, or bodies of standing nutrient rich water - it creates a toxin called cyanobacteria. This toxin can be present at any time of the year, but especially in the mid to late summer and early fall. Dogs have died after swimming, playing, and ingesting the water in affected ponds. While it's difficult to know if a pond is infected with toxins without doing laboratory testing, there are a few signs that you can look for.

Never let your dog swim or go near water that looks cloudy, has a strong odor, has a green or blue shade, in water that has foam or scum, or where visible algae is present.

After ingesting water from blue-green algae toxin infected water, a dog can display serious signs within minutes. From mild signs that include skin irritations, skin lesions, vomiting, and diarrhea - to life threatening signs including convulsions, loss of consciousness, paralysis and respiratory failure. Though the ponds may be a tempting place to play and explore - you might consider keeping them safely away from any bodies of water that are questionable.

National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in October

National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in October is a great time to consider adopting a homeless dog from the shelter. Out of 5000 shelters in the US, 5-7 million pets are turned in each year, and 3-4 million of them are euthanized. With the economic crisis, this year has not only been difficult for the shelters, but the dogs they are trying to rescue. If you've been thinking about adopting a faithful companion into your life, there are all sizes of dogs, different types breeds and temperaments, all waiting for a second chance right now. If you're unable to adopt a dog for National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in October, there are other things you can do that will make a positive impact.

No-kill shelters are always in need of volunteers to foster a dog. This is something that I have first hand experience with, and it can be very rewarding. What you are doing is buying some time for a dog, providing a safe place to stay, and possibly working out some behavioral issues. One of my fondest memories was working with a rambunctious foster dog, apparently on a seek and destroy mission, chewing and eating everything in his path. He was extremely destructive, but had a heart of gold, and was such a sweet dog. All he needed was direction, consistency, but was intelligent and learned fast, then off to a wonderful lifetime home he went.

If you're unable to bring a dog into your home for National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in October, you can celebrate by providing assistance to a dog shelter in your local area. Dog shelters are always happy to accept a donation, but there are plenty of other ways they could really use your assistance. You can volunteer to socialize and walk the dogs waiting to be adopted, or even feed and clean out cages. Dog shelters always need clerical staff to help adopt out dogs, attend events, and fill out paperwork. You could also start a neighborhood drive to collect blankets, towels, dog food, grooming supplies, or whatever else the shelter is in need of.

Whatever your talents and strength may be, you can put them to good use helping homeless dogs for National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in October.

Causes Of Dog Aggression

Unexpected dog aggression can be an unnerving experience for a loving dog owner. The caring owner is completely baffled about how their "baby" could suddenly show aggression toward friends, family, other dogs, and even the dog's owner/caretaker. Understanding why a dog becomes aggressive can give you the answer as to what action you should take to get the dog back to its usual loving self.

Is your dog submissive to you and to other dogs or does your pet "run the show". A dog of either personality type can become aggressive. However, each personality type tends to have different causes of that aggression. Often, the personality type is not apparent to the owner who is too close to the situation and it takes the intervention of a professional trainer to diagnose the problem. There are several different types of canine aggression that are often closely connected as causes of individual instances of aggression.

Often, dogs become aggressive when they feel threatened in some way. This threat could take several forms. The dog may be possessive and defending an object it feels belongs to him. This could be food, a toy, a bed or any other object the dog has come to value. Dogs with a submissive personality are less at risk for this type of aggression, but often more dangerous when possessive aggression manifests itself. They are, however, easier to correct and bring back into line.

Another type of dog aggression is territorial possessiveness. Dogs are very territorial creatures and if they feel that their territory is being invaded by members of another pack, then they will protect their space. Dogs who "run the show", who think of themselves as the pack leader rather than their owner, are typically more at risk of this type of aggression. They feel the need to protect the pack's territory from invasion. In the dog's mind their territory could span anything from their own home or yard to the whole neighborhood where they are walked and may have marked the boundaries.

A third type of dog aggression is caused by the animal's instinct to protect itself and its pack. Even the smartest dog is prone to misunderstanding the intentions of other dogs and people it is not familiar with. The pack leader feels a stronger need to be the protector of the pack. However, even a submissive dog may step up when they feel the threat is sufficient and their pack leader (you) is in danger.

Dog aggression can quickly escalate to a dangerous situation for you, your family, your friends and other pets. Even the most minor instances of canine aggression, such as snapping or growling at you for forcing it out of your chair, must be dealt with early on. Aggression will only become worse once the dog establishes a new baseline limit for what it can get away with. Before you have a problem, you should learn positive methods that you can employ to make sure your dog regards you as its leader so you can work to control that aggression. Once your dog reaches the point of snapping at people or other dogs, though, the time has come to seek competent professional assistance.

Tips on Training Your New Puppy

Few times are more exciting for a family than getting a new puppy. Every member of the family wants to hold and play with the puppy. This is a fun time for everyone, but also a time when you really have to lay the foundation for socializing and training your new puppy if you do not want problems later on. Correct training and socialization is much easier than correcting behavioral problems such as aggression later on.

The time between 2 and 12 weeks of age is a crucial period for a puppy. At this age puppies are extremely impressionable and learning at a fast clip. This is when your puppy learns to trust or fear other people, other dogs and other animals. Allow your new puppy to feel safe and secure in its new environment. This can be accomplished with a lot of holding, stroking and petting at first to establish your bond.

Once the puppy feels safe in its environment, it is important that you expose it to as many social situations as you can safely. On the other hand, this is also a time to begin laying the foundation for ground rules around the house. A well disciplined puppy will always feel safer and be less prone to problems than a puppy which has developed bad habits running wild around the home.

This does not mean that you should ever spank your puppy or yell at it. Your tone of voice and body language will be more than enough to convey your message to your puppy. Now is the time to set boundaries such as not climbing on the furniture or chewing your shoes. There is no need to yell. A firm sharp exclamation of "Stop" along with positive reinforcement when the puppy complies will do the trick much better than physical abuse or violence.

Chewing will most likely be a problem right off the bat with any puppy. Puppies need to chew and if you do not provide them with something acceptable to chew on then they will find their own chew toy. Most likely it will be one you would rather they not chew on. If you catch your puppy chewing on an inappropriate item, just firmly tell them "no" and replace the object with something acceptable to chew on. Your puppy will be teething and their instinct to chew needs to be directed toward appropriate targets.

A new puppy owner must also understand that training a puppy is going to require an investment of time, attention and patience. Constant repetition and consistency will pay off in the future with a well behaved, happy dog.

First Aid For Dogs

First aid training for dogs is a vital skill for a pet owner. Dog owners are some of the most caring people in the world. Many would come close to a nervous breakdown if harm should come to their dog. Unfortunately, part of the tremendous love owners feel for their dogs involves seriously overestimating the dog's ability to understand the risks around it and avoid injury. Even more troublesome, most dog owners would have no clue what to do if their dog becomes injured.

The first step an owner should take to prepare to provide first aid for their dog is to put together a first aid kit and keep it somewhere handy. Among other items this first aid kit should include day and night contact numbers for the dog's veterinarian, directions to the veterinarian's office and the number for the local poison control center. Locating these numbers quickly in the event of an emergency could save your dog's life.

Other items which should be included in the first aid kit mirror much of the contents of a normal kit for humans such as bandages and gauze of different sizes, scissors, tweezers, cotton balls, cotton swabs, a rectal thermometer, and disposable gloves. For dogs, it helps to have a thick towel handy in case you need a stretcher. You should also include a rehydrator such as Pedialyte and a dense high calorie supplement designed for dogs. Medicines you should have available include diphenhydramine hydrochloride (An allergy medicine safe for use in dogs. You should clear the proper dosage with your veterinarian ahead of time), antibiotic ointment, eye and ear wash, sterile saline, hydrogen peroxide, cortisone spray and activated charcoal. Having the tools you need handy can make the difference between an emergency and a tragedy.

Some of the most common pet injuries involve insect bites - Stings from bees, hornets, yellow jackets or fire ants. Dogs can not tell us how badly a bite may be bothering them so we have to be vigilant when the dog has been anywhere a bite might have occurred. A reaction to a sting normally happens within 20 minutes. Any dog that has a strong reaction to a sting should be monitored closely for the next 24 hours. There is a danger of anaphylactic shock.

If you notice your pet start scratching excessively, or biting at a particular area you should check for an insect sting. You should give the dog first aid as soon as possible. Find the location of the sting and attempt to locate the stinger. Insect stingers often break off and remain attached to the victim. Pulling these stingers out with tweezers often causes more venom to inject into the sting so you should gently scrape with a credit card, driver's license or some similar piece of plastic to dislodge the stinger. A paste of baking soda and water can be applied for quick relief. If that does not work, diphenhydramine may need to be administered in the proper dose.

Another major source of pet injury is chocolate poisoning. Dogs love getting into chocolate, yet a dose as small as 1 oz. of milk chocolate or .1 oz of baker's chocolate per pound of bodyweight could easily be toxic. At the least, lower doses can cause difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea and increased body temperature. If you suspect that your pet has ingested a large quantity of chocolate, you should induce vomiting by administering 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with a syringe and get the dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

These are just a couple of potential dog emergencies in which preparation can make the difference between recovery and death. Knowing the right action to take in case of an injury to your dog can save you a world of unnecessary grief. Talk with your veterinarian and make sure you are prepared before the danger presents itself.

Composting Dog Poo At Home

Have you ever wondered how you could make your own dog poo composter at home? You might think this takes "going green" just a little too far - but it does have it's benefits. It's easy and inexpensive to make a dog poo composter, and you can recycle the compost as a fertilizer for decorative plants, or let it decompose and enter the subsoil. Dog waste is biodegradeable by itself, yet we are wrapping it in plastic, and sending it to an airless landfill - where it may outlive us all. City Farmer has simple dog waste composter step-by-step instructions, if you would like to try making your own.

To make your own dog poo composter, the materials you will need:

* Plastic garbage bin
* Drill
* Shovel
* Hand saw
* Rocks
* Septic starter

Use the saw to cut a hole in the bottom of the plastic garbage bin, and drill a few holes in the side of it. Take the shovel and dig a hole large and deep enough for the plastic garbage bin to fit in, with the top rim sticking out above ground. Throw a few rocks in the bottom for drainage, and you've just made yourself a dog poo composter. You use the septic starter the first time you add dog poo into the composter. The dog poo will degrade and decompose, sifting down to the bottom, and through the holes on the side.

Note: If you do use this as a fertilizer in plants, it's important to remember not to use this on plants that you eat - only decorative plants. Dog feces can carry bacteria such as E.Coli, and possibly parasites - so use caution.

For more information, City farmer has step by step instructions for the dog poo composter, along with pictures here...

http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/PhotoAlbum22.html

Vegetarian Diet For Dogs?

If you're a vegetarian, changing your dog over to an all veggy diet would ease your conscience - but may not be beneficial for the health of your dog. Dogs are by nature meat eaters, and are scientifically classified as carnivorans, in the Canoidea superfamily. They are direct descendents of Canis lupus - with canine teeth, well-developed baculum, and the urge to hunt to prove it. Dogs cannot survive without consuming a regular supply of protein - while carbohydrates are part of a dogs diet naturally, are not a requirement for survival.

There are vegetarian dog food diets that include protein. For instance, dogs require 22 amino acids, the essential amino acids that need to be consumed include arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. They may get the supplementation they need, but it kind of reminds me of a person living off top o ramen for a long time, that takes multi-vitamins every day. Sure, it can be done - but is getting your main nutrition from supplements going to cause problems down the road?

V-Dog is a vegan dog food that's advertised to be complete and nutritionally balanced, and these ingredients indicate what you may find in a vegetarian dog food. V-Dog Ingredients: Wheat, Whole Corn, Soybean Meal, Quinoa and Oats Wheat Middlings, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Oil, Beet Pulp, Pasta, Rice, Peas, Dicalcium Phosphate, Brewers Yeast, Whole Flaxseed, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides, Rosemary, Parsley, Mineral Supplement (Iron sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Vitamin Supplement (Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Vitamin B12 supplement, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D2 supplement, Folic Acid), Mixed Tocopherols

Wheat is the main ingredient!? Now, in natural circumstances - a wild dog in a wheat field, wouldn't even recognize the wheat as being food. Though, if an unfortunate rabbit happened along, the dog would most likely see that as dinner. The only wheat the dog would eat, is the wheat that was in the rabbits stomach at the time. That may seem cruel, and really it is. Something I've struggled with as an animal lover, but the prospect of living off nutritional supplementation, doesn't seem like an attractive solution either. I've decided to end this post with a recipe for vegetarian dog biscuits, but 9 out of 10 dogs surveyed, agree that it's best served with chicken.

Vegetarian Dog Biscuits

2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup Powdered Milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. brown sugar
3/4 cup Vegetable Broth
1/2 cup carrots -- optional
1 egg

Preheat oven to 300F. Mix all ingredients into a ball and roll out to about 1/4" thick. Cut with bone-shaped cookie cutter, or strips, or a cutter shape of your own choice. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 30 minutes at 300F.

H.RES. 749 National Animal Rescue Day

H.RES. 749 is a new legislation that has been introduced into the House Of Representatives that will make the first Saturday in October National Animal Rescue Day every year. The goal of this legislation and National Animal Rescue Day, is to create awareness and educate, to provide better support to our shelters, and to increase animal adoption.

H.RES. 749 National Animal Rescue Day Resolution

Expressing support for designation of a National Animal Rescue Day to create awareness, educate, increase animal adoption, and increase financial support for animal rescues throughout the United States.

Whereas between 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 cats and dogs are put into shelters every year and between 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 are euthanized;

Whereas there are between 4,000 to 6,000 animal shelters throughout the United States in need of pet supplies, medical supplies, blankets and towels, cleaning supplies, food, and educational materials about owning a pet, as well as information on how to provide the best pet match for a family;

Whereas increased knowledge and awareness of animal rescue programs throughout the United States will significantly reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized and reduce the number of animals returned to a shelter who have been rescued;

Whereas a National Animal Rescue Day will reduce the problem of pet overpopulation, provide animals with good homes, and create awareness as well as financial and educational resources for the problems animal shelters face each day; and

Whereas the first Saturday in October would be an appropriate day to designate as National Animal Rescue Day and celebrate it through events, festivals or Pawtographs signings which will increase revenues and pet adoptions throughout the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the designation of a National Animal Rescue Day to create awareness for animal rescue programs throughout the year, address the challenge of overpopulation through continued spaying and neutering of adopted pets, and bring Americans together as a Nation to support this common goal.

If you're interested in sending a letter of support to your representative, you can do that easily by signing the petition below.

H.RES. 749 National Animal Rescue Day petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/852343457

National Spokesdog Competition

The name Cesar Millan tends to create a strong reaction among those passionate about dogs. At one extreme he is criticized for using cruel outdated dog training methods, and the other side seems to look upon him as if he were the messiah of dogly wisdom. This post may be more interesting for those that find themselves in the latter category. Cesar Milan is sponsoring the National Spokesdog Competition to try to raise money for animal shelters and rescue organizations.

You can enter your dog to win the National Spokesdog Competition for free by submitting a photo. There are four categories to choose from which are Best Pack, Most Outrageous Feat, Best Picture Face, and Most Hilarious Costume. The top 3 finalists in each category will win some pretty impressive prizes, including Petco giftcards. While it's free to enter the contest, the National Spokesdog Competition requires a $1 donation for each dog you vote for.

While the voting will influence who wins the top three finalists of each category, it won't have any bearing on which dog wins the Grand Prize. All entries in the National Spokesdog Competition will be evaluated by Cesar Millan to choose the Grand Prize winner, who will appear with him in a public service campaign. You have until October 17, 2009 to upload your picture, voting for the pictures will end October 31, 2009, and all winners will be announced November 15, 2009.

For more information: nationalspokesdog.org

Mars Veterinary Dog DNA Test Kit

Mars Veterinary is a division of Mars Incorporated, the maker of Milky Way, M&M's, Twix, Skittles and Snickers. Mars is also in the commercial pet food business, producing brands such as Whiskas and Pedigree. Now Mars Veterinary has introduced a convenient dog DNA test kit, that is inexpensive and simple to use. With this particular DNA test, a veterinarian is not required. You simply order the kit, swab your dog's mouth for saliva, and send it back in the pre-paid envelope. Within three weeks, you'll receive a detailed report showing your dog's ancestry. Sounds great, right?

While the Mars dog DNA kit would be fun, after further research, I'm going to have to pass. Mars Incorporated owns Symbioscience as well, a division of Mars that conducts unnecessary animal experiments. These animal experiments have been related to chocolate consumption, and conducted on mice, rats, and rabbits. These experiments are not required by law, in fact they are almost unheard of in the food manufacturing industry. The experiments supported include injecting cocoa ingredients into the jugular veins of guinea pigs' to evaluate effects on blood pressure, force tube feeding rats chocolate ingredients and then dissecting, and force feeding rabbits high cholesterol-high cocoa diets and then dissecting muscle tissue.

This is ridiculous, do we really need to torture animals for chocolate?

I've read complaints as well that allege Mars Incorporated has not been completely upfront, though I'm unable to confirm this as fact. Animal activists have claimed that Mars was saying they do no animal research, even when they were shown to be supporting these experiments. These experiments first and foremost have caused needless suffering for many animals, and are not required or even encouraged by laws or regulation. While the dog DNA test kit is an interesting product, I'll look elsewhere for the above mentioned reasons. Does anyone know if Hershey's makes a dog DNA kit?

Boycott China - Protest Cruelty To Dogs

The International Fund For Animal Welfare, is reporting that the government of China is planning to brutally kill dogs, in preparation for China’s National Day on October 1st. Citizens have been notified that they need to kill their own dog, if it is over one foot high, or on the dangerous breed list. The police have formed dog beating squads, and if dog owners fail to comply, their dog will be beaten to death, and they will be fined.

Besides the killing of pets, the police squads will beat to death any stray dog found on the streets. This news is actually not surprising, considering it comes from a culture in which eating dogs and skinning dogs for fur is fairly common. There will be no sad pictures, or disturbing videos -to be honest, I just can't deal with those. But please join me, let's boycott China, forever.

Let's face it, it seems like China has taken over America. Not with guns and soldiers, but with piles and piles of junk, and shoddy, dangerous merchandise. If you walk into a Walmart and pick up the first thing you see, I can almost guarantee you that the label is going to say, Made in China. What to do when almost everything is made in China? All we can do, is do our best, and start reading every label. What I'm proposing here is let's start by boycotting dog products made in China, this would include dog food, dog accessories, dog toys, and dog treats. Dog owners are extremely powerful. What if every dog owner in America stopped buying dog toys from China, do you think they would listen? I do.

Since I'm on the subject of dog toys, let's start with that. If you start reading the label on dog toys, you may be shocked, as almost all of them are made in China. Why not make your own? Dogs love old socks, knotted dish towels, and tennis balls. Penn tennis balls are actually made in the US, and you can even cut a slit in the ball to hide a piece of kibble. The Make and Build Dog Stuff blog has many ideas for making your own dog toys, and many other items. If you still like the idea of store bought toys and supplies, consider checking out the Americans Working pet section for many pet manufacturers in the United States.

You can look up the dog food you are feeding on the Pet Food List. This is a directory that has almost every type of pet food being sold. You can find out where your dog food is made, and where the ingredients come from. I'm committed to boycotting China regardless, but I really hope you'll join me. Say goodbye to lead contaminated toys, and poisoned food - let's stop supporting a country that's so cruel to dogs, and start right now by boycotting all dog products from China. Are you with me?

Pet Food Bank Directory

Pet Food Bank Directory - If you are struggling to buy pet food for your dog, you may be able to get assistance in your area. At this point, most every state has a pet food program for dogs. There are still a few that don't. If that's your case, you may try contacting the Humane Society, Meals on Wheels’ or animal rescues for help.

Nationwide
Meals on Wheels’ We All Love Our Pets (WALOP)
Website: eldercare.gov

Alabama
Friends of Cats & Dogs Foundation in Birmingham, AL
Website: fcdf.org

The Animal Friends Humane Society in Decantur, AL
Website: animalfriendsinc.org

Greater Huntsville Humane Society in Huntsville, AL
Website: petfinder.com/shelters/AL43.html

Alaska
Alaska SPCA in Anchorage, AL
Website: alaskaspca.org/Home.asp

Arizona
Animal Guardian Network in Cave Creek, AZ
Website: animalguardiannetwork.org/

Western Arizona Humane Society in Lake Havasu City, AZ
Website: havasuhumane.org/

Lost Our Home Pet Foundation in Scottsdale, AZ
Website: www.lostourhome.org/our-services/

Arkansas
NAFA's Animal Food Pantry in Jonesboro, AR.
Website: nafacares.org/

Out Of The Woods Rescue and Referral in Little Rock, AR
Website: ootwrescue.org/

For Pets' Sake Best Friends Program in Springdale, Arkansas
Website: for-pets-sake.org/

California
Actors and Others for Animals in North Hollywood, CA
Website: actorsandothers.com/

The SPCA Pet Food Bank in Monterey, CA
Website: spcamc.org

Heather's Pet Food Bank in Santa Cruz, CA
Website: santacruzspca.org

PAWS/LA in Hollywood
Website: pawsla.org
Email: info@pawsla.org

Helen Woodward Animal Center in Santa Fe, CA
Website: animalcenter.org/

North County Humane Society & SPCA in Oceanside, CA
Website: nchumane.org/about/home.php

Marin Humane Society in Novato, CA
Website: marinhumanesociety.org

Pets Are Wonderful Support in San Diego, CA
Website: pawssdc.org

SPCA in Sacramento, CA
Website: sspca.org

Colorado
Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado Springs, CO
Website: pikespeakpetpantry.org

Connecticut
Milford Animal Control in Milford, CT
Website: milfordct.virtualtownhall.net/public_documents/MilfordCT_Animal/S00F57982-01428738

Delaware
Faithful Friends in Wilmington
Website: faithfulfriends.us/

Delaware Humane Association in Wilmington
Website: dehumane.org/

Florida
SPCA of Central Florida in Orlando, FL
Website: orlandopets.org/

Humanitarian Animal Relief Program (HARP)in Port Orange, FL
Website: harpforpets.com

Humane Society of Tampa Bay, FL
Website: humanesocietytampa.org

Georgia
Save Our Pets Food Bank in Atlanta, GA
Website: saveourpetsfoodbank.org

Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen in Lilburn, GA
Website: daffyspetsoupkitchen.com

Hawaii
No Pet Food Bank Found

Idaho
Idaho Humane Society in Boise
Website: idahohumanesociety.org

Humane Society of Palouse in Moscow
Website: humanesocietyofthepalouse.org

Illinois
Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, IL
Website: treehouseanimals.org

Animal Welfare League Pet Food Give-A-Ways in Chicago Ridge, IL
Website: animalwelfareleague.com

Indiana
Brown County Humane Society in Nashville, IN
Website: bchumane.org

Iowa
Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter in Oskaloosa
Website: petfinder.com/shelters/smas.html

Kansas
Capital Area Animal Response Team in Topeka, KS
Website: shawneecaart.org

Kentucky
Hope for Pets in Mt. Washington
Website: hopeforpets.org

Louisiana
No Pet Food Bank Found

Maine
York County Shelter in Alfred
Website: yorkcountyshelterprograms.org/yorkcountyshelterprograms.org/Home_Page.html

Furry Friends Food Bank in Bangor
Website: eaaa.org/furryfriends.shtml

Bar Harbor Food Pantry in Bar Harbor
Website: barharborfoodpantry.org/index.php

Catholic Charities of Maine in Caribou
Website: ccmaine.org/info.php?info_id=38

Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb
Website: lcas.me

Maryland
Frederick County Humane Society Pet Food Bank in Frederick, MD
Website: fchs.org

Massachusetts
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society in South Deerfield, MA
Website: dpvhs.org

Michigan
Cascade Humane Society Pet Food Assistance in Jackson, MI
Website: cascadeshumanesociety.org/programs/

Minnesota
Northeast Community Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN
Website: neclchurch.org/outreach.aspx

Mississippi
Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport
Website: hssm.org

Missouri
Spay Neuter Kansas City in Kansas City
Website: snkc.net

Northland Pet Pantry in Kansas City
Website: northlandpetpantry.com

Montana
Kootenai Pets for Life Pet Food Assistance in Libby, MT
Email: kootenaipetsforlife@yahoo.com

Nebraska
Way Cool Dogs handles Kearney, Holdrege, Grand Island, and Hastings
Email: nlhouser@gmail.com

Nevada
Feeding Pets of the Homeless in Carson City
Website: petsofhomeless.org/

New Hampshire
Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH
Website: cochecovalleyhumanesoc.org

New Jersey
Oakland Veterinary Hospital Pet Food Bank in Oakland, NJ
Website: oaklandah.com

Animal Alliance in Belle Mead, NJ
Website: animalalliancenj.org/

New Mexico
ACTion Programs for Animals in Las Cruces, NM
Website: actionprogramsforanimals.org

Espanola Valley Humane Society in Espanola
Website: evalleyshelter.org/

New York
Buffalo Companion Ani-meals in Buffalo, NY
Website: bflocan.org/animeals.html

(Lollypop Farm)The Humane Society of Greater Rochester in Fairport, NY
Website: bflocan.org/animeals.html

All About Labs - Will provide food for labs or any other dogs.
Website: allaboutlabs.org

Long Island Cares Food Bank in Hauppauge, NY
Website: licares.org/General/About_LIC/About_Us.htm

North Carolina
Wayne County Humane Society in Goldsboro, NC
Website: goldsboro-wchs.org

North Dakota
No Pet Food Bank Found

Ohio
Angels for Animals in Canfield, OH
Website: angelsforanimals.org/

RASCAL Pet Food Pantry in Dublin, OH
Website: rascalunit.org/Rascal_Charities/Pet_Food_Pantry.html

Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Animal Shelter in Oklahoma City
Email: petfoodbank@okc.gov

Oregon
Pro-Bone-O in Eugene, OR
Website: proboneo.org

Oregon Outback Humane Society in Lakeview, OR
Website: oregonoutbackhumane.org

Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood, OR
Website: catadoptionteam.org

Willamette Humane Society in Salem, OR
Website: willamettehumane.org

Pennsylvania
Humane Society in Harrisburg, PA
Website: humanesocietyhbg.org/index.php?pr=Crisis_Assistance

Animal Friends in Pittsburgh, PA
Website: thinkingoutsidethecage.org/site/PageServer

Pet Pantry of Centre County in Pleasant Gap
Website: petpantry.yolasite.com

Rhode Island
No Pet Food Bank Found

South Carolina
Humane Society in Columbia, SC
Website: humanesc.org

South Dakota
No Pet Food Bank Found

Tennessee
Williams Animal Center in Knoxville, TN
Website: knoxpets.org

Nashville Humane Association in Nashville, TN
Website: nashvillehumane.org

Fayette County Animal Rescue in Rossville, TN
Website: fayettefcar.com/

Texas
Helotes Humane Society Pet Pantry in Helotes, TX
Website: hhsanimals.org

Pet Food Bank of Austin & Travis Counties in Austin, TX
Website: greyhoundrescueaustin.com/gra/food-bank.htm

SPCA of Polk County in Livingston, TX
Website: spcaofpolkcounty.org/Programs.htm

Utah
The Humane Society of Moab Valley in Moab, UT
Website: moabpets.org

Vermont
Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington,VT
Website: feedingchittenden.org

Virginia
Precious Paws Pet Food Pantry in Bristol, VA
Website: hollyhelp.org

Washington
Whatcom Humane Society Pet Food Bank in Bellingham, WA
Website: whatcomhumane.org/php/index.php?outreach

Seattle Humane Society Pet Food Bank in Seattle, WA
Website: seattlehumane.org

Washington DC
Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, DC
Website: warl.org

Capital Animal Care in Washington, DC
Website: members.petfinder.com/~VA146/index.html

West Virginia
Promise Animal League in Falling Waters, WV
Website: petfinder.com/shelters/WV114.html

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Humane Society Furry Friend Food Program in Milwaukee, WI
Website: wihumane.org

Wyoming
Black Dog Animal Rescue in Cheyenne, WY
Website: bdar.org/

Rattlesnake Avoidance Training

Rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs, is an entirely new phenomenon that I've only recently discovered. I may have been in the dark about this type of dog training for all eternity, if I had not been pulled in by word of a protest against animal cruelty. As I search for more information, I find that the protest is for snakes? It turns out that in rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs, live snakes are used. They are not tortured, dogs don't maul them, they live pretty much as pet snakes do, with the difference in that, they occasionally come in contact with dogs, in order to train the dog to stay away from snakes.

Now because I don't get all riled up about snakes the same way that I would about dogs, there are PETA types that lovingly refer to me as a specieist. I've decided to come clean, right here and now, and just admit it, yes, I am a specieist. I don't value the life of a fly the same way that I value human life, and if I had to choose between the life of a snake or a dog, the dogs going to win out every time. One reason for that, is that I'm fully aware that if I were just a little smaller, the snake would swallow me whole for dinner without a second thought. On the other hand, a dog is unmatched for loyalty to humans, and even proven to feel empathy.

In certain areas, dogs may be highly likely to come in contact with a rattlesnake. For this reason, it's easy to understand why rattlesnake avoidance training may be necessary. It could save your dogs life. HOWEVER, I have concerns about rattlesnake avoidance training, that are not related to the treatment of snakes, but dogs. In every rattlesnake avoidance training program I've looked into, they use shock collars as their training method. What the training seems to consist of is exposing dogs to snakes, and when they go near, applying a low level electronic shock. The training seems to be highly effective, dogs will associate going near a snake with an unpleasant stimulus, and they stay away.

While I'm against shock collars, and would never use them, I can still understand the position of those who have opted to put their dog through rattlesnake avoidance training. Luckily I'll never be forced into making that decision, since I'm not in an area that's infested with dangerous snakes.

Pet-Tabs Multivitamin Alert

Pet-Tabs is a multivitamin made by Pfizer, and is widely sold at pet stores like Petsmart, and pet supply stores online. Consumer Labs (consumerlabs.com) is an advocate organization that tests products out on the market for safety. In 2007, they reported that Pet-Tabs contain 1.4 micrograms of lead each tablet, in 2009 testing shows that Pet-Tabs now contain 6.45 mcg a tablet. This is a relatively small amount of lead, however it's possible that it may build up over time. Exposure to lead in any quantity may pose a risk, but acute lead poisoning can occur in a single dose of 10 to 15 mg/kg, or chronic lead poisoning with doses in the 5 mg/kg body weight per day range. You may have seen this floating around the blogosphere...

PET-TABS CONTAIN LEAD

PET-TABS ALERT

by Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D.,
Coton de Tulear Club of America President,
www.cotonclub.org

August 5, 2009

DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG ANY PET-TABS. THEY ARE CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS!

I cannot emphasize enough the extreme danger these multivitamins represent. Quixotically, they are not being recalled and the FDA has taken no notice of the results of testing published by ConsumerLabs.com. ConsumerLab, a paid subscriber testing service, tested Pet-Tabs Complete Daily for Dogs in 2007 and again in 2009.

They found very high levels of lead contamination in the product: 1.41 mcg (in 2007) and 6.45 mcg (in 2009). The latter is nearly 13 times above the level mandated as safe by the state of California.

Dr. Russell continues: Pet-Tabs are perhaps the most widely sold dog and cat vitamin supplement. We’ve used them (albeit not for many years). Pet-Tabs are sold by PetsMart, Doctors Foster and Smith, and virtually every pet shop, and on-line pet store in the nation. Pet-Tabs are made by the giant Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation, one of America’s leading opponents of health care reform and industry inspection and regulation.

Pet-Tabs are sold under another corporate name: “Virbac” www.virbacpets.com

ConsumerLab tests mostly human products. Sadly, this report and the previous years’ report confirming lead contamination in Pfizer/Virbac Pet-Tab supplements calls into serious question the safety and efficacy of these giant corporations’ entire product lines. ConsumerLab tests mostly human products. There is no other information (such as why or how this supposed animal health care product has been laced with toxic levels of lead for years).

LEAD POISONING
Lead can be absorbed through the skin or, in the case of these supplements, ingested and absorbed. Clinical signs can be gastrointestinal and/or neurological. Many dogs or cats who are chronically ill, have upset stomachs, anorexia (food avoiders), blood disorders, kidney disorders (degeneration of the glomeruli and tubules), immunological problems, reproductive problems, or are suffering abnormal behavioral signs could have suffered chronic, catastrophic lead poisoning through supplements.

Before this revelation of supplement poisoning, the most common known cause of lead poisoning in people and dogs was contact with lead based paint or old car batteries. Other common causes of lead poisoning include ingestion of lead shot (fatal to many wild birds and sometimes served up in food that is hunted) and handling lead painted toys and ceramic ware. During the past 6,000 years humans have mined and redistributed lead on the planet to the extent that each of us has approximately 1,000 times the lead in our system (as measured in our bones) than prehistoric North American Indians.

Puppies absorb lead more readily than adults and are at greatest immediate risk for signs of lead poisoning, but lead poisoning can prove debilitating, even fatal for mature pets as well. If your dog suffers from the diffuse signs of lead poisoning or if your dog or cat have been exposed to Pet-Tabs, the CTCA recommends you have its blood tested for lead concentration. Children in the household should also be tested should your pet prove contaminated.

CTCA RECOMMENDATIONS
I would avoid all vitamin and mineral supplement products sold under labels by either Pfizer or Virbac. These include labels such as “Pet-Tinic,” and “Lixotinic,” and “Liqui-Tinic,” which are generally sold for large animals. Save any bottles of these products in a sealed Zip Loc bag. Label the bag well, stating “DO NOT USE - POISON!” You may need a sample of this product should your dog or cat become symptomatic. You will need to save the original packaging and product should Pfizer/Virbac be subject to a Class Action suit.

REFERENCES FOR VETS
Veterinarians normally do not first associate gastrointestinal, immunological or even neurological signs with lead poisoning. Given America’s current largely untested, unregulated food, supplement, and pharmaceutical supply, perhaps they should. Should your vet need additional information about lead toxicity, its diagnosis and treatment, I suggest the following available, up-to-date references:

Michael E. Peterson, Patricia A. Talcott (editors), “Small Animal Toxicology, Second Edition,” Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, MO. 2006 Ramesh G. Gupta (editor)
“Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles,” Academic Press, New York, NY. 2007.

WHAT VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS ARE SAFE?
That question is analogous to asking: “what food is safe?” It’s a crap shoot to be sure. ConsumerLab tested only three pet supplements; one was “Halo Purely for Pets VitaGlo Daily Greens.” It did not contain lead, but it contained less than half its advertised vitamins. “21st Century Pet Nutrition Pet Chews Plus” was “approved” since it did not contain lead and its ingredients were as labeled. Our veterinarian believes that one-half a Centrum Senior (human vitamin) is safe and effective for a dog the size of a Coton de Tulear. But without widespread government tests of our food, drug and supplement supply, who knows?

We have been using ProPet 8-in-one Vitamin supplements without problems, but chronic, gradual poisoning is not something we’d necessarily see. As noted: it is a gamble. And one that no one in this country should have to take.

NOTE: you have permission to cross post this article. If you do so, please leave the article intact.
copyright 2009 Dr. R. J. Russell the CTCA

To sum up the statements made by Pfizer maker of Pet-Tabs, back in 2007 they stated that 1.4 micrograms of lead per tablet is a safe amount, that they hadn't broken any regulations, and that there had been no reports from Pet-Tabs customers complaining of lead poisoning. For this new testing in 2009, in which Pet-Tabs tablets seem to have six times more lead than two years ago, the company has made no official statement that I'm aware of.

Dog Food Alert - Fluoride Contaminant

While no specific dog food brands have been listed, the EWG has published a warning about possibly unsafe levels of fluoride in dog foods. Eight major national brands were found to have high levels of fluoride. Scientific studies have not been conducted yet in dogs, to determine if excessive levels of fluoride are dangerous. For humans though, it can cause bone cancer, weak bones, and neurotoxicity. If excessive levels of fluoride in humans can cause adverse effects, it seems reasonable to at least consider, that it may be harmful for your pet as well.

There are currently no fluoride limits or regulations in dog food by the government. For this reason, it's unlikely that you'll see a recall for this. If you do feed your dog commercial food, you'll probably be safe (at least from fluoride contamination) by avoiding two ingredients. Test have shown that the ingredients, "bone meal" and "animal byproducts" have the highest concentration of fluoride. For those still purchasing commercial dog food, it might be a good time to consider making dog food at home.

Should I Switch Dog Food Brands?

Most dog owners make the assumption that there is some government agency out there protecting the quality of the commercial dog food they buy every week for their pet. Nothing could be further from the truth. The poisonous dog food scare from China should have already destroyed this myth. Dog food production is even less controlled than human food and even human food production is not very well protected.

The fact is that every dog food manufacturer uses ingredients obtained from outside sources over which they have little control. In addition, harsh processing methods may further destroy some nutrients, leaving harmful imbalances of others less susceptible to the heat. If you feed your dog commercially produced dog food, neither the manufacturer nor you can absolutely identify what chemicals and levels of nutrients your dog is receiving. At best, someone took a representative sampling from one batch and developed the nutrition label from there. This is no guarantee that the bag of dog food you purchase at the grocery is the same as the sample batch.

If your dog is eating the same brand of dog food every day, there is a strong chance that it may be ingesting too many chemicals and too few nutrients. This applies even if you are using premium brands of dog food! The accumulation of these chemicals may be doing serious harm to your pet. Your pet may also be receiving too much or not enough of many vital nutrients.

If you must stick with commercially produced dog food, it might be a good idea to start alternating brands to avoid these difficulties. Although this is nowhere near a complete solution, a variety of foods at least gives your dog a fighting chance against the chemical barrage.

Another solution may be to start making your dog food at home. This is not as difficult, time consuming or expensive as it might appear at first glance. In fact, it can be less expensive than some premium brands of dog food. If you decide to start cooking your dog's food at home, it is extremely important that you complete the necessary research to make sure you are giving your dog complete balanced nutrition. Recipes can be purchased which are designed to help you accomplish that easily. In the end you may find that this route is best for both your dog and you.

Military Working Dog Retirement

Even military dogs need to retire at some point - for the dogs that have given their life to serve, we owe them a debt of gratitude. Whether you agree with the idea of the use of military dogs at all, one thing I think we can all agree on, is that these dogs need a plan for the golden years. In the past, the government policy was to only allow law enforcement to adopt military working dogs, but this has changed. With the passage of Public Law 106-446, it allows the public to adopt DOD dogs, with former handlers getting first priority.

If your thinking about adopting a dog, there are many non-military dogs in need, right now at your local animal shelter. If you would like to adopt a retired military working dog, they are actively searching for potential adoptees to step up, but the requirements are much more stringent. These are special dogs - Military working dogs are athletes that are used to strenous activity, and have been trained to be aggressive. They do not want the public adopting these dogs to be used as home protection, but are looking for responsible, knowledgeable dog lovers who would provide a loving home.

The Military Working Dog Foundation is helping to adopt military working dogs to law enforcement, former dog handlers, service dogs for people with disabilities, and caring responsible members of the public.

Ibuprofen Toxicity In Dogs

This is a warning about Ibuprofen toxicity in dogs, never give ibuprofen to your dog.

In relatively low doses Ibuprofen can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and gastro-intestinal bleeding, and can even result in liver, kidney damage, seizures, and even death. While no dosage in safe, even 200 mg in a small dog or 50 mg per pound can cause a severe reaction. Common brand names of Ibuprofen, include Advil, Caldolor, EmuProfen, Motrin, Medipren, and Nuprin. There are over the counter drugs that are perfectly safe for people, but can be deadly for your dog. Toxic effects of a single dose of ibuprofen may become noticeable anywhere from 8 hours, up to five days. If you suspect your dog has ingested Ibuprofen, the best advice would be to get veterinary care immediately, as prognosis is good with early treatment.

Tylenol Toxicity In Dogs

Tylenol is a pain-killer that can cause liver damage in dogs. Buffered aspirin is different, than tylenol or ibuprofen. While Tylenol is known for being highly toxic to cats, it's important to know that it can't be given to dogs in any amount either. A dosage greater than 50-70 mg per pound, can cause life threatening symptoms. To be specific it's acetaminophen that's the problem, Tylenol is just a brand name. Acetaminophen can be found in liquid solutions, tablets, capsules, and has other brand names such as Acephen, Actamin, excedrin, Feverall, Q-Pap, Percoset, Tactinal, Tempra, Tylenol, Uniserts, and Vitapap.

Even though many dog and cat owners are aware of acetaminophen toxicity, Tylenol poisonings are still unfortunately, fairly common. Many dogs have ended up in emergency with owners who are completely aware Tylenol is toxic, would never actually give it to their dog, but simply left it within reach. Dogs like to chew, play, and explore, and inevitably everything winds up in their mouth. Anything that poses a risk such as over the counter drugs, vitamins, prescription drugs, chemicals, insecticides and whatever else, need to be safely stored away.