First Aid & Care For Your Pets

It's hard to believe that we have been teaching pet first aid for over 12 years.  I cannot even begin to count the number of pets' lives that have been improved or saved because their owner or Pet Care Professional was trained in Pet CPR & First Aid.  Over the years that we have been promoting, educating and encouraging pet owners to "Know Your Pet's Health" in order to Achieve optimal wellness for their dogs and cats.

What I want to make pet owners and Pet Care Professionals aware of are the hidden dangers that exist for our pets in the foods and products that we consume and have in our homes.  It makes sense that what we eat, as long as it is healthy, should also then be OK or even healthy for our pets.  As a broad stroke, this is generally true but the exceptions can be deadly.

Due to each of the following items, someone recently attending our class has lost a pet or spent thousands of dollars on medical care.  So with this thought in mind, I wanted to give a timely reminder of the following hidden dangers to your pets.

•  XYLITOL:  Xylitol is a naturally occuring sweetener found in diet and low-cal foods.  Xylitol has been
   linked to causing severe and rapid liver failure in dogs.  The numbers of cases are on the rise as Xylitol
   can be hidden in products that we think would be good for our pets.  Although we do recommend giving
   pets supplements, you must read the ingredient list.  Xylitol is widely used in children's chewable
   vitamins, breath fresheners and chewing gum.  DO NOT give your pet's human vitamins without reading
   the label for Xylitol or consulting your veterinarian.

•  RAISINS & GRAPES:  The direct link or reason that raisins and grapes are toxic to our pets has not yet
   been provin.  However, there have been enough deaths from acute kidney failure to cause the AVMA
   and Animal Poison Control to put grapes and raisins on their Top 10 list of foods to keep away from pets.
   Although the amount of raisins/grapes that can be toxic is not known, it is better to be safe than sorry.
   Do not feed your pets raisins/grapes, even if you have been for "years" with no ill effects.  The toxicity
   could be accumulative and the damage to the kidneys not apparent.

•  ONIONS & GARLIC:  Onions and garlic both contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate.  All forms of onion
   can be a problem including raw, cooked and dehydrated.  A single large exposure or repeated small
   exposures with onions can be dangerous.  The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the
   onion.  Garlic contains less thiosulphate so larger amounts would be needed to cause illness.  (Note:
   Many dog treats contain garlic, but the amount is so small so as not to be a health/safety concern.)

•  HOUSEHOLD & YARD PLANTS:  We all hear about the dangers of poinsettias around the Holidays but
   there are numerous other plants in our homes that can be deadly to our pets.  In my book, "Knowing
   Your Pet's Health, A Guide For Optimal Wellness From Snout-To-Tail", I list 60 plants that can be
   poisonous to your pets.  Cats can be especially vulnerable because they have the ability to get up on
   shelves and tables where plants that may be hazardous to your pet's health.

•  HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS:  In the last issue I wrote about how our pets live in a more toxic part of the
   environment and are exposed to higher levels of toxins than we are.  Go back and read the last article
   that I wrote.  If you have taken our PetSaver Training, go to page 17 of the PetSaver Program and
   read about the 40+ products that we use in our homes that are poisonous to our pets and can shorten
   their lives.  Be more aware of the products you bring into and use in your home for you and your pet.