Holiday Plant Safety
As Posted by Seer
Flowers and plants add beauty to any holiday, and they make great holiday gifts. But if your family includes pets, you may want to learn which plants are safe and which ones you need to avoid.
Remember that ingesting bulb plants often cause the most severe illnesses. Here are a list of some popular winter holiday plants and their potential toxicities.
Holly (Ilex sp.). This plant, commonly found around Christmas time, can cause intense vomiting and diarrhea. Mental depression can also occur.
Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp). Ingestion can result in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, tremors, drooling and abdominal pain.
Mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.). This plant, another Christmas plant, can also cause significant vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, this plant has been associated with difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, collapse and, if a lot is ingested, death has occurred. Some animals may even show erratic behavior and possible hallucinations.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia). This plant can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting. It has a low level of toxicity and is overrated as a toxic plant. Many people consider it basically non-toxic.
Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, Easter cactus (Schlumbergera or Zygocactus). In dogs, if large quantities of this plant are ingested, vomiting, possibly with blood, diarrhea, possibly with blood and mental depression have been reported. With small ingestions, typically there are no signs of toxicity. These plants are considered low toxicity plants.
For the full discussion and some less common toxic winter holiday plants: http://darknessclosesin.ning.com/group/fabulousfelines/forum/topics/holiday-plant-safety
Christmas Puppies Are a Very Bad Idea
As Posted by Anca van Niekerk ADMIN
This year, I'm giving you ample warning: If you're thinking of a Christmas puppy, just stop it, right now. No matter how much your children want one, the holidays are just about the worst time possible for most families to get a dog.
Christmas puppies are often a parent's headache by February, when the animals are still not house-trained, the kids are tired of the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet, and it's still too cold and dark outside for dog-training after work and school. Too often, these animals are a shelter's problem by summer, when their cuteness is long gone and their untrained boisterousness has lost any semblance of charm.
Despite the warnings of those in the know, every year parents give in to the begging of their children and pop for a puppy. It's too easy to imagine the Christmas puppy as the most precious Norman Rockwell snapshots ever, the puppy in a box, the puppy with a ribbon, the puppy giving such a perfect kiss to the oh-so-happy face of a child.
The attraction is understandable: Who doesn't love a puppy, and who wouldn't want to delight a child? But there are reasons why shelters, rescue groups and responsible breeders are uniform in their advice to think twice about a Christmas puppy.
Puppies are not toys. They are living, breathing (not to mention eating and urinating) beings who need a lot of attention. Who has time for a pup during the holidays, that stressful season of socializing and shopping? With a houseful of guests and a holiday dinner to prepare, who will make sure the puppy isn't being mauled by overly enthusiastic children and guests? Who has time to get house-training started right?
Let's back up a little and look at another Christmas reality. Many reputable breeders and shelters flat-out won't cooperate with your Christmas puppy lust. The sellers who have puppies for Christmas delivery are often motivated by money. Such breeders are not likely to cut into profits with pesky screening for genetic diseases, nor are they likely to care about the importance of socialization. These attitudes may cost you in the long run, both in dollars and in heartbreak.
But say you find the right puppy anyway. It's still a bad time to get a puppy. Doubt me? Try house-training a puppy when it's cold and stormy. Are you really so keen on the idea that you want to be out on winter nights, shivering while a puppy carefully contemplates whether he'd rather sniff or pee?
What about the rest of the training? The first few months of a dog's life are crucial: Bad habits are far easier to prevent than they are to break later. Will you really feel like training your pup when the holidays are over, the days are short and the kids are back in school? And how will you socialize your young dog?
Dogs who grow up unhouse-trained, unmannered and unsocialized too often never get a chance to grow up much at all. From summer to fall, I get dozens and dozens of letters from people who are tearing out their hair over their now-adolescent Christmas puppy. Some people work with the dogs, but many just dump them. Sad for the families; tragic for the dogs.
Dogs can be great for children, and children can be great with dogs. But Christmas is not the best time to launch such a promising relationship. Somebody has to be the grown-up here, and if you're the parent, it should be you. Wait until late spring or early summer to find the perfect pup and get your pet off to a great start.
Gina's Web Pick
This is the time of year when poinsettias start showing up, and people start worrying about how safe they are around pets. The good news: You can enjoy this seasonal foliage without concern -- or without much concern, anyway. Poinsettias may cause minor stomach irritation if enough of the plant is ingested.
Curious about what's poisonous and what's not? Check out the directory of plants put out by the University of California, Davis. You'll find an exhaustive listing broken up alphabetically, and referenced not only by how dangerous a plant is, but also by the kind of damage it does.
The Scoop
Do you have a pet who likes to rummage in the bathroom wastebaskets or kitchen trash bin? This behavior is very rewarding to the pet who indulges in it, and so it's a very hard habit to break. You can try to booby-trap the cans by buying motion-detector noisemakers, or mats that give animal trespassers a small electric shock.
An easier, kinder and more reliable way to solve the problem is to simply remove the temptation. For some pets, a lidded trash bin will solve the problem. For others, you'll need to put the bin behind the door of a cabinet or pantry. Sometimes changing your behavior is the most efficient way to change your pet's behavior -- and the strategy is easier on you both.
From Gina's Mailbag
Q: I had dogs growing up, but haven't had one in my adult life -- just haven't had the time. My wife and I are in our 40s, and we have a young daughter, age 7. She really wants a dog. Our house has a very small yard, and we're not home much. Although I would prefer a big dog, my wife argues that a small dog would suit us better. Can you recommend a breed? -- T.S., via e-mail
A: If you're not home much, you might rethink getting a dog at all. Although many dogs -- if not most -- do fine with owners who are home after work and on weekends, if you're the kind of family that spends a lot of weekends gone and a lot of nights out, you'd be well-advised to wait to get a dog until your lifestyle suits one.
Dogs are pack animals, and your family is their pack. They don't do well spending most of their lives alone. Those animals who have such lives are miserable and prone to behavior problems such as digging, barking, chewing -- anything to fill those lonely hours.
If you're willing to commit to the time and energy it takes to properly care for a dog, then I can think of a handful of breeds that may fit the bill.
First on my list would probably be the pug. The breed is the largest of the toy dogs, weighing up to 20 pounds or so, and is a sturdy, easygoing companion with a face anyone's mother could love. Two breeds that are a little bigger but similar in looks and temperament: Boston terrier and French bulldog.
If you're looking for a small dog with a big-dog attitude, think Pembroke Welsh corgi. These short-legged dogs don't need much space, but like all herding breeds they like to stay busy and mentally engaged.
Another busybody with a big-dog attitude is the border terrier, considered by the experts to be one of the less pugnacious of the tough-minded terrier breeds.
Don't rule out a mixed breed, either. Although it's hard to predict the size of a shelter puppy -- one friend of mine adopted a puppy who was predicted to be the size of a fox terrier, but ended up at 85 pounds -- you can reliably find a properly sized dog by adopting mixed breeds as adults.
For your situation, skipping the puppy stage has a real benefit. If you take your time and work with shelter and rescue groups, you should be able to come up with a dog with maturity and some training who'll fit right into your family without all the time-consuming fuss demanded by a puppy.
Q: Please solve an argument my roommate and I are having. She has a cat, and I'd rather she not. But I can tolerate the beast, except for the litterbox smell. My roommate says cleaning the litterbox once a week is enough; I say it's not. Who's right? -- S.C., via e-mail
A: Ideally the box should be scooped every time the cat uses it, or a couple times a day at least. Realistically, daily attention is probably fine.
Aside from the issue of smell, tell your roommate that by neglecting this chore she's flirting with a bigger problem: a cat who skips the litterbox. Cats don't like dirty bathrooms any more than people do, and your roommate's pet may start looking for a cleaner place to go if this stinky situation isn't remedied.
Date Published: 12/10/2013
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=306&S=1
12 Festive Munchies You Should Never Feed Your Dog or Cat
As Posted by Queen Aradia Perkins
The holiday season is in full swing and merriment is all around. There are parties, family members dropping in, friends stopping by, and so many other reasons to celebrate. You know what happens when people get together, don’t you? Food happens, of course. Oh, so much food.
Your pets love this because it means endless snacking opportunities for them. Even if you’re not handing goodies under the dinner table to your dog or cat, your Uncle Jack or Cousin Mirabelle might be doing it. That’s why this time of year, it is critical to keep a sharp eye on what your furry friends are eating and drinking.
A wide variety of holiday treats are downright toxic and could harm or kill your pets. Here are some of the worst offenders:
1. Grapes, Raisins and Currants
Grapes and raisins
Surprised? Grapes, raisins and currants are a conundrum, because some cats and dogs will eat them and experience no ill effect, while others develop kidney failure and sometimes die. No one has determined why all pets don’t have the same reaction. However, the ones who react badly become very ill.
Grape or raisin toxicosis will typically cause vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, dehydration and decreased urination. Even pets that survive an initial bout of toxicosis can have persistent kidney disease afterward. Truly, it’s not worth the risk. Keep grapes and raisins away from your dog or cat — even as an ingredient in cookies, cereals, chicken salads and so on.
2. Onions, Garlic and Chives
We’re lumping these items together on this list because, as tasty ingredients, they end up in so many festive dishes. Think about it. Onions, garlic and chives end up in stuffing, gravies, pizza, pasta dishes, side dishes, soups, chips, dips and even baby food.
Don’t forget that we’re also talking about the powdered forms you use in your cooking. Onion powder, garlic powder, dried chives, dehydrated onions — it’s all dangerous. In fact, these forms can be even worse because they are so much more concentrated. Onions, by the way, include anything in the “onion family” such as shallots and scallions.
Cats and dogs suffer equally here. A compound in these foods called “thiosulphate” damages pets’ red blood cells. Dogs and cats can develop anemia several days after eating any of these foods, though onions seem to be the biggest threat overall. Problems can even develop over time, after eating small doses regularly. Japanese breeds of dogs, such as the Akita and Shiba Inu, are particularly vulnerable. Watch for orange- or red-tinged urine and lethargic behavior.
3. Wine, Beer and Basically All Alcoholic Beverages
Your cousin Zippy might think it’s a royal hoot to give your dog enough beer on New Year’s Eve to make him tipsy like everyone else at the party. Don’t let him do it. What the alcohol is doing to your dog is no laughing matter. For example, the hops in beer are poisonous to your dog. Similarly, avoid letting your dog clean up that spilled wine on the kitchen floor. The grapes and alcohol content are toxic for him.
Cats likewise shouldn’t imbibe. Keep them away from lapping at drinks they might find attractive because of their dairy content — spiked egg nog, White Russians, that sort of thing. Two measly teaspoons of whiskey can put a 5-pound cat into a coma. A third teaspoon can kill her.
Drinking any alcoholic beverages can result in extreme fever leading to multiple organ system failure. The worst case scenario here is coma and death. Truly not so funny, is it? Watch for restlessness, excessive panting, tremors and seizures.
4. Chocolate
Yes, you know this already, but chocolate must be part of this list. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which are methylxanthines. Methylxanthines are toxic to dogs and cats. The darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is.
You don’t want a real life “death by chocolate.” Keep it well away from pets. If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten chocolate and is showing symptoms like panting, vomiting, or diarrhea, get to the vet immediately. Heart and nervous system damage may otherwise result.
5. Avocados
No guacamole for your fur kids. Avocados contain persin, which doesn’t sit well in doggie and kitty stomachs. It can cause heart congestion, diarrhea and vomiting. It won’t kill your dog or cat, but it will make them very uncomfortable if they eat too much. Note that for other pets like rabbits, birds and horses, avocado is much more problematic and should be avoided. It can cause everything from respiratory distress to death.
6. Walnuts, Almonds and Macadamia Nuts
Of all the nuts, avoid feeding macadamia nuts to your dog. They can cause neurological problems ranging from disorientation, muscular weakness and vomiting to tremors, lameness or even a total inability to walk. Other troublesome nuts include walnuts, which can cause bowel obstructions and digestive distress, and almonds, which are hard for dogs to digest.
Even nuts that are safe for dogs turn into serious problems if they’re moldy or too fatty. The mold may contain toxins, while high levels of fat may cause pancreatitis.
7. Mushrooms
Depending on the type consumed, mushrooms can be fatal to dogs. We put them in a lot of holiday foods, from pizza to stuffing, so remain watchful. Some mushrooms contain deadly toxins, while others may result only in an upset stomach.
Don’t gamble if you believe your dog has eaten mushrooms, whether from cooked food or raw from an outdoor source. Watch for jaundice, lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, disorientation, and drooling. Get your dog to a vet, and try to bring one of the mushrooms she ate with you to help determine what type of treatment is needed.
8. Xylitol
Xylitol is a sweetener used in sugar-free gum, baked goods and other foods. While it might help you stay slim, it can be deadly to your pets. In cats and dogs, Xylitol causes insulin levels to spike rapidly and blood sugar levels to plummet. The result can be liver failure. Watch for seizures, disorientation, loss of coordination and lethargic behavior.
9. Bread Dough
Never let your dog or cat have raw bread dough. The yeast will cause the dough to rise inside their little furry tummies. Yeast multiplication can also cause alcohol intoxication. Either way, this is a recipe for gastrointestinal distress at best. At worst, well… let’s just say you really don’t want to be the cause of a distended or ruptured stomach, do you? It happens.
10. Fatty Meat Trimmings and Turkey Skin
Fat and trimmings from meat can cause intestinal upset and digestive problems. Cooked turkey skin can have a host of things that are toxic to your pet. If you cooked that turkey using problematic oils, spices, and marinades, your dog might have difficulty digesting the skin. Eating it puts him at risk for pancreatitis. Watch for abdominal pain, vomiting and lethargy.
11. Raw Fish
Perhaps one of your party guests will bring over some sushi or some salmon to put in your smoker for a special treat. Raw fish presents a real hazard to dogs. Some fish, notably salmon and trout, carry a parasite called Nanophyetus salmincola that can infect and kill a dog if not quickly diagnosed and treated.
If the parasite is ingested, symptoms to watch for include a high fever, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, weight loss and discharge from the eyes and nose.
Cats should stay away from raw fish, too. It contains an enzyme that destroys thiamine, an essential part of a cat’s diet. Raw fish? Just say no.
12. Caffeine
Caffeine is one of the compounds in chocolate that makes it toxic to pets. Even on its own, caffeine can poison a dog or cat. There’s no reason to let your best pal drink soda, energy drinks, coffee or tea. Don’t let them do so and caffeine poisoning won’t be a problem. Remember to keep pets away from the garbage can as well, or they might eat coffee grounds, tea bags, or other dangerous trash.
If your cat or dog exhibits any odd symptoms after a party at which food and drink flowed freely, don’t ignore the warning signs. Rapid medical attention may be warranted. Just hoping Fido or Ms Whiskers will “get better” in a day or so might be sealing their fate.
The best advice of all is to keep your pet well away from human food. It’s not good for them and often is incredibly harmful. You won’t have to worry about it if you never feed it to them. Relax, enjoy your holiday season and snuggle happily with your faithful furry friends.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/12-festive-munchies-you-should-never-fe...
5 Ways to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree
As Posted by Anca van Niekerk ADMIN
For the first time in almost 20 years, there are cats living under my roof again. Actually, they are kittens. And they are eyeing the Christmas tree we brought home over the weekend with equal parts wide-eyed wonder and mischievous delight. To keep the peace — and maintain my sanity — I looked up a few tips on helping kitties and Christmas trees co-exist. Here are a few that have worked for us:
1. Choose your tree wisely. If you think your kitty is likely to climb and knock over the tree, pick a smaller tree this year that will cause less damage when toppled. Or you might want to settle for a small tabletop tree that can be closed off in another room when the cats are out and about.
2. Put up road blocks. Depending upon the size of your tree — and your kitten — you may be able to place obstacles around your tree that will keep kitty away. Remove chairs and tables that might serve as a launching pad to help your cat jump higher into the tree. And try wrapping the tree base with aluminum foil as most cats don't like to dig their nails into this.
3. Spray some stink. There are a number of spray repellents you can use to keep cats away from your tree. We have been using Bitter Apple spray with some success. Other choices include citronella or citrus oils sprayed directly on the tree, or a diluted vinegar solution sprayed on the tree's base.
4. Decorate judiciously. It won't matter how much stink you spray on your tree, if it is covered with sparkly, dangly baubles, your cat will be hard-pressed to resist. Don't hang any breakable or edible decorations on the lower half of the tree. And if possible, keep the lowest branches of the tree free from all ornaments and potential temptations. Skip the tinsel this year as cats will be far too tempted to eat it when it inevitably hits the ground.
5. Contain cords. Dangling electrical cords are an invitation for a kitty to play and bite. Tape cords to the wall from the outlet to the tree to keep them — and your cat — out of harm's way. And remember to unplug lights when you are not at home.
http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/blogs/5-ways-to-cat-proof-your-chris...
St.John's Day, which replaced the more ancient celebrations on Summer Solstice with a Saint's Day. In a Victorian book of spells and incantations, I found this divination which is supposed to be performed on Midsummer's Eve, around sunset. An odd number of women (three, five or seven) go into a garden and each picks a sprig of red sage. They put these into a basin of rosewater setting on a stool in the middle of a room they have set aside for this purpose. Then they tie a line from the stool to the wall and each woman takes off her shift and hangs it, inside out, on the line. I assume this leaves them naked. Then they sit, silently (no matter what happens), in a row on the other side of the stool. Around midnight, each one's future mate will take her sprig out of the water and sprinkle her shift with it.
