Articles & Tips

IF A DOG WAS YOUR TEACHER, you would learn stuff like.....

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest -- practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Pet Poison Safety Tips

Please follow these guidelines to protect your companion animals from being exposed.

Be aware of the plants you have in your home and yard. The ingestion of azalea, oleander, mistletoe, sago palm, Easter lily or yew plant material by an animal can be fatal.

Never allow your pets to have access to the areas in which cleaning agents are being used or stored. Cleaning agents have a variety of properties; some may only cause mild stomach upset, but others can cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth and stomach.

When using rat, mouse, snail or slug baits, or ant or roach traps, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals. Most baits contain sweet smelling inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut butter or sugar, that can attract your pets.

Never give your companion animals medication unless you are directed to do so by a veterinarian. Many medications that are safe for humans can be deadly for animals. For example, one 500mg acetaminophen tablet can kill a cat weighing seven pounds.

Keep all prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of your pets' reach, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, vitamins and diet pills are all examples of human medications that can be lethal to animals, even in small doses. For example, one 200mg ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a dog weighing 10 pounds.

Never leave chocolate unattended. Even small amounts can cause problems.

Many common household items can be lethal to animals. Mothballs, potpourri oils, coffee grounds, homemade play dough, fabric softener sheets, dishwashing detergent, batteries, cigarettes, alcoholic drinks and hand and foot warmers are all highly toxic, even in small quantities.

Automotive products such as gasoline, oil and antifreeze should be stored in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat weighing seven pounds; less than one tablespoon can be lethal to a dog weighing 20 pounds.

Before buying a flea product for use on your companion animal, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Read all of the information on the label before using a product on your pet or in your home. Always follow the directions.

If a product is for use only on dogs, it should never be used on cats; if a product is for use only on cats, it should never be used on dogs.

Make sure your companion animals do not enter areas in which foggers or house sprays have been used for the period of time indicated on the label.

Make sure your pets do not go on lawns or in gardens treated with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until they have dried completely. Always store such products in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.

If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, ask the manufacturer and/or your veterinarian for instructions.

Information provided by ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center 1717 Philo Road, Suite 36 Urbana, IL 61801 (888) 426-4435

List of Poisonous Plants

The following plants may be poisonous to your pet:

Aloe Vera, Amaryllis, Apple (seeds), Apple Leaf Croton, Apricot (pit), Asparagus Fern, Autumn Crocus, Azalea

Baby's Breath, Bird of Paradise, Branching Ivy, Buckeye, Buddhist Pine

Caladium, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Ceriman, Charming Dieffenbachia, Cherry (seeds and wilting leaves), Chinese Evergreen, Christmas Rose, Cineraria, Clematis, Cordatum, Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Croton, Cuban Laurel, Cutleaf Philodendron, Cycads, Cyclamen

Daffodil, Devil's Ivy, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena Palm, Dragon Tree, Dumb Cane

Easter Lily (especially in cats!!!!), Elaine, Elephant Ears, Emerald Feather, English Ivy, Eucalyptus

Fiddle-leaf fig, Florida Beauty, Floxglove, Fruit Salad Plant

Geranium, German Ivy, Giamt Dumb Cane, Glacier Ivy, Gold Dust Dracaena, Golden Pothos

Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy, Heartland Philodendron, Hurrican Plant

Indian Rubber Plant

janet Craig Dracaena, Japanese Show Lily (especially in cats!!!), Jerusalem Cherry

Kalanchoe (Panda bear Plant)

Lacey Tree Philodendron, Lily of the Valley

Madagascar Dragon Tree, Marble Queen, Marijuana, Mexican Breadfruit, Miniature Croton, Mistletoe, Morning Glory, Mother-in Law's Tongue

Narcissus, Needlepoint Ivy, Nephthytis, Nightshade

Oleander, Onions, Oriental Lily (especially in cats!!!)

Please Lily, Peach (wilting leaves and pits), Pencil Cactus, Plumosa Fern, Poinsettia (low toxicity), Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Pothos, Precatory Bean, Primrose

Red Emerald, Red Princess, Red-Margined Dracaena, Rhododendron, Ribbon Plant

Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Satin Pothos, Schefflera, Silver Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, String of Pearls, Striped Dracaena, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant

Taro Vine, Tiger Lily (especially cats!!!), Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves), Tree Philodendron, Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia

Weeping Fig

Yew

Dr. Jill Richardson, Veterinary Poison Information Specialist ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center, 1-888-4ani-help www.napcc.aspca.org.

We can Microchip the Puppy for you for $35.00.

Microchips

Home Again, one of the makers of microchips for pets, has a website that keeps count of pets that have been chipped. Last time I looked, there had been 3,567,715 pets chipped and 308,647 lost pets had been recovered because of Home Again chips.

Microchips are a great method of permanent identification for your pet. Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice. They are injected under the skin, between the shoulder blades. Most awake pets will tolerate this just fine. The microchip is coded with a number that can be read by a scanner. Once your pet has the chip in place, you submit your paperwork to the manufacturer of the chip to be entered in the database. If your pet is ever lost, the microchip can be scanned and you can be reunited. Most animal shelters and veterinary clinics have scanners and check all abandoned pets for a microchip. If your pet is registered, don’t forget to change your contact information if you move.

Check out www.avidid.com and www.homeagainid.com for more information.