Pet Poison Awareness Part 2

While some human medications can be used safely in pets, always consult your veterinarian first. Never assume that medications which are safe for children or babies are also safe for pets. Here is a list of some of the most common causes of medication toxicity,

Tylenol (even a single, small dose can be fatal to cats)

Ibuprofen

Naproxen

Aspirin

Diet pills

Adderall (used to treat ADHD in children)

Sleep aids

Decongestants

Anti-anxiety medications

Anti-depressants

Anti-convulsants

Marijuana

If you suspect your pet has ingested a medication, call your veterinarian immediately. If poisoning is suspected, take the medication packaging with you to the vet. Most importantly, be honest with your veterinarian and staff about what your pet may have ingested.  Accidents happen. We are not there to judge you. Knowing what your pet may have eaten saves precious time and avoids the expense of unnecessary diagnostics.

Pet Poison Awareness Part 1

Every year, thousands of dogs and cats are rushed to the vet after ingesting poisonous plants. While the following list is by no means all-inclusive, we will focus on plants commonly used for South Florida landscaping and holiday decorating.

Holly, Poinsettias, and Amaryllis

These Christmas favorites are very attractive to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and ulcers. Keep out of your pet’s reach and call your vet immediately if you think they may have eaten some.

Carnations, Baby’s Breath, and Chrysanthemums

Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day like a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers. But these particular varieties, whilst very popular, can cause illness in cats and dogs.

Asters, Lilies, and Tulips

These cut flowers are popular at Easter, but contain toxins that can sicken our pets.  Keep these springtime favorites well away from curious pets.

Common House Plants

Spider plants, Dieffenbachia, Scheifflera and Pothos Ivy all contain toxins that can sicken our pets. Additionally, castor beans, while rarely grown indoors, are often used to make ornamental jewelry sold as souvenirs in Africa and the Caribbean. The ingestion of just a single bean can lead to organ failure and death! It is best to avoid bringing any jewelry made of beans or seeds into your home.

In The Garden

Oleander, Sago Palms, and certain species of Lantana can be be deadly if ingested by our pets. While some Lantana species are beneficial to our environment, the variety with multi-colored flowers and small purple berries should be avoided. In addition to being a problem for our pets, they are an invasive species that should not be planted in South Florida.

While many mushrooms are harmless to our pets, identifying individual species requires years of training and expertise. The false morel is highly toxic, and the bright yellow flowerpot mushroom is poisonous as well. Since mushrooms can literally pop up overnight, and pets seem naturally drawn to them, it is wise to be on the lookout for them, and to teach our pets to leave them alone.

If you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic plant, bring the plant with you when you take her to the vet. If your pet is NOT in distress, you can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. A nominal fee is usually charged for this service.

March Pet of the Month

Our Pet of the Month for March is Sunny! Sunny is a 13 year old dachshund with an adorable overbite that rival’s Grendel’s! And like a typical dachshund, she loves to eat and isn't picky. Congratulations, Sunny! Tell all your friends - you’re our Pet of the Month!

Dental Care At Home

If you’re like most pet owners (myself included), you’ve probably realized you could do a better job of keeping your pet’s teeth healthy and clean. While good habits take a while to become routine, a little diligence can go a long way towards preventing long-term health problems and expensive trips to the vet.

Once your pet’s teeth have been professionally cleaned, try to establish a routine that will help them to stay that way. Since your pet’s gums may be slightly sore after a professional cleaning, we always recommend waiting a week before attempting to brush his teeth at home. In the meantime, start using a water additive to keep plaque and tartar from accumulating. When it’s time to start brushing, be sure to select a toothpaste that is specially formulated for pets. Human grade toothpastes are not meant to be ingested, and pets are not able to spit it out like we do. Choose a toothpaste with an enzymatic cleansing agent and most importantly, make sure your pet likes the taste! Lift the lip at each quadrant and gently brush the teeth and gumline. Since the enzymatic cleansers actually digest bacteria, it is not necessary to vigorously scrub as we do when we brush our own teeth. Be sure to give your pet lots of praise so he associates brushing with making you happy. When we brush our own dogs’ teeth, we always end the exercise by letting them lick the toothbrush clean. It freshens their breath and makes them feel like they’re getting a tasty treat!

Since it takes several weeks for a routine to become a habit, aim for a brushing session every day. While three times a week is likely to get you the results you want, striving for a daily cleaning allows for normal lapses in said routine. Life is hectic. Go easy on yourself

Click here to watch a video of Grendel getting her teeth brushed!

http://sabalchaseanimalclinic.com/videos/brushyourdogsteeth.html

Is My Pet’s Mouth Really Cleaner Than Mine?

If you born any time before the Clinton administration, you probably remember hearing the expression “An animal’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s!”  If you’ve ever stopped to wonder whether or not this is true, allow me to clarify once and for all.

It’s not!

Spinal Tap is not a real band, there is no such thing as a jackelope, and an animal’s mouth is absolutely not cleaner than a human’s. Like humans, our pets deal with routine dental problems such as plaque, tartar, gingivitis, and tooth decay. But unlike humans, our pets don’t brush or floss on a daily basis. Left untreated, dental problems can lead to life-threatening medical conditions such as kidney disease, systemic infections, and congestive heart failure.

If you’ve never given your pet’s teeth much thought, you may want to have a look. Carefully lift the upper lift up towards his nose. If he pulls his head away, or won’t let you touch his face, do not try again. He may be experiencing pain or discomfort, and he may bite you if you inadvertently hurt him. Let your veterinarian do this for you. If your pet complies, look at the gums. They should be pink as opposed to red. Look for any chips or breaks, bearing in mind that these are not always obvious to the untrained eye.  While some light staining on the teeth is not unusual, generally speaking, the teeth should be white. Hard brown clumps mean it’s time for a cleaning. Finally, if your pet is comfortable, lean in and have a sniff. If his breath conjures images of green vapor, it’s definitely time for a trip to the vet!

And don’t look for jackelopes in the waiting room!

February Pet of the Month

Our February pet of the Month is Bandit! 

Little Miss Bandit was left with her siblings to fend for themselves at three months old! Luckily, her mom and dad saved them all, and even found them homes, but they couldn't say goodbye to Bandit.

Now she is living in luxury, and was even reunited with her mommy kitty, whom her owners also kept!

Congratulations, Bandit, and tell all of your friends- you're our Pet of the Month!

Breaking Bad Habits

Every January,  we ask ourselves how we can do better in the New Year. While often daunting, and not always kept, New Year’s resolutions can encourage us to embrace good habits, and break the bad ones. For pet owners, the New Year can also be a time to take an honest look at some of our pet’s bad habits!

A trainer once told me that his favorite challenges for new clients was “Name something your pet does that you know is naughty, but you let him get away with because it’s cute.” His favorite example was the owner of a West Highland Terrier who growled at her whenever she got into bed with her husband. She thought it was funny. The behavior escalated until the night the dog bared his teeth and lunged at her face. The end result was $10,000 worth of reconstructive surgery. If you don’t think your pet has any bad habits, examining those naughty, but “funny” or “cute” behaviors is a great place to start.

Unwanted behaviors nearly always escalate. Anxious barking can become destruction. Poor leash etiquette can cause injury to humans. Nipping can turn into biting. Now is the time to take an honest look at your pet’s behavior, and don’t despair if you don’t like what you see.  A Certified Professional Dog Trainer can help you get your dog’s behavior on track - and most of them are great with cat behavior as well!