Daily Health Bits

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 09:55 AM | Permalink

Attention pet owners- deck the halls, but in the best interest of your pets!  Now is the time of year for frivolity and beautiful décor, but did you know that many of the common holiday decorations can be harmful to your pets?  here are some tips for the health and safety of your pet.

·        Be cautious when decorating with holly and live mistletoe. Holly can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if eaten by your pet. And should he sample mistletoe, he could suffer gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. Opt for artificial plants made from silk or plastic.
·        Lovely lilies are commonly used in holiday floral arrangements, but many varieties—including tiger, Asian, Japanese show, stargazer and the Casablanca—can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested.
·        Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria—and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.
·        Keep small ornaments and lighting wires out of the reach of pets.  Your cat or dog doesn’t know the difference between holiday decorations and toys, and will express curiosity when seeing something new to play with.  Keeping these items out of reach could eliminate accidental ingestion and electrocution.
·        Keep holiday goodies out of your pet’s reach.  We all know the dangers of chocolate and other people food to animals, so don’t even tempt them with a plate of cookies within paw’s reach.
Make sure your Christmas tree is weighted down, to avoid any accidental mishaps the likes of which we experienced last night.  An animal could pull a tree down on top of them causing injury, break glass and the like.

Source: ASPCA.org

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 08:50 AM | Permalink

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 04:26 AM | Permalink

My husband and I can spend hours just playing with our dog.  She has such a calming affect on us, and has helped us get through a rather "trying" year.  We always say what joy she brings to our life, and scientific studies prove that spending time with your pet before taking on a stressful challenge may help keep your emotions under control.  The presence of a pet proved to be an even better stress buffer during difficult times than the presence of a close friend or family member.  Researchers speculate that spending time with a pet may be especially calming because of the perception that pets are not evaluative.  I guess "unconditional love" does more good than we even know!

 Daisy Star Burreson

Source: www.realage.com

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 10:31 AM | Permalink

For years we've heard of the dangers of secondhand smoke to humans, but now studies are revealing that it also poses a threat to our furry and feathered little friends too.  Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs and lung cancer in birds.  One reason cats are so susceptible to secondhand smoke is because of their grooming habits.  They constantly lick themselves and are licking up cancer-causing carcinogens that accumulate in their fur.  It also exposes the mucous membranes of their mouth to the same carcinogens.  Long nosed dogs have a great surface area in their noses that is exposed to carcinogens, and short nosed dogs have more incidences of lung cancer, because their shorter nasal passages aren't as effective at filtering the carcinogens before reaching the lungs.  Birds are hypersensitive to any type of pollutant in the air and can develop pneumonia or lung cancer.  Another risk factor is due to the curiosity of pets, and the possibility of poisoning from eating cigarettes or tobacco.  If you must smoke, it is best to do so in a specific area that is physically separated from the home and dispose of all tobacco products correctly. 

Source (interview with Dr. Carolynn MacAllister of Oklahoma State University published in Science Daily 9/3/07)

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 09:20 AM | Permalink

I have to celebrate today, because our bulldog, Daisy, is our "firstborn" and brings an insurmountable amount of joy to our lives.  We were fortunate enough to get Daisy from the Southern California Bulldog Rescue, an organization that we are proud to be a part of and support personally and professionally.  Our experience with the rescue was phenomenal.  They accepted our application for adoption, and did a homecheck to make sure we were suitable "parents".  We waited in anticipation and then got the call that we could pick up our little girl.   We were coached every step of the way, from her medication needs to physical needs to checking in on us to see how the transition was going.  We encourage everyone we know to adopt dogs from a rescue, as they save abandoned dogs and dogs that are in danger of euthanizing at shelters and pounds.  The volunteers who work at the rescues give so much of their time and their hearts, and without them, these little dogs wouldn't stand a chance. 

I would like to pass on some information I read in Body + Soul Magazine in the promotional section titled Natural Pet Care.  They recommend watching out for the following four ingredients that are in many of the dog and cat foods on the market today, which could make your pet sick. 

1. Rendered meats- Commonly listed as "meat meal" or "chicken meal", these ingredients are the results of a process that uses extremely high temperatures to cook the meat industry's waste products and leftovers.
2. Growth Hormones- Synthetic hormones often end up in pet food after being administered to livestock and poultry.  Little is known about the hormones' effects on pet health, but several studies have linked growth hormones to serious consequences in humans.
3. Antibiotics- Can interfere with your pet's immune system and may make your pet resistant to antibiotics should they be needed to treat illness.
4. Artificial colors- Allergies, asthma, and even cancerous growths may be triggered by consumption of artificial colors which are sometimes derived from toxic substances.

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 06:35 AM | Permalink

As a concerned pet owner, I contacted the Animal Poison Control Center to find out what "people foods" are dangerous for our dog.  Of course, you're not really supposed to feed them scraps at all, but the following is a list of foods that you may want to print out and keep on your refrigerator or in a place where you'll see it.  Also, it is a good idea to keep your veterinarian's number in a place that is easy to find, and the number for the Animal Poison Control Center, in case of accidental ingestion. 

Here is the list of DANGEROUS foods:

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol

For more information, please refer to the Animal Poison Control website.

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 04:32 PM | Permalink