Paul Mann Fetch! Pet Care

The holiday season has arrived! This means delicious food left and right and gorgeous holiday decorations set up in every corner around the house--from nutcrackers and Santa's to mistletoe and poinsettias.

But did you know that some of our delicious food and gorgeous decorations may be harmful for our beloved pets? In the joy of the holiday season, the hazards to our pets may slip our minds. Some pet owners may not even know what is hazardous and what is not.

Well you're in luck because I am here to let you know about potential hazards.

Dangerous Foods

With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner (I can hardly wait for all that food), delicious treats will be around every corner for our pets to sneak a bite. But what should they not be allowed to eat on these festive days?

It's well known that Turkey bones are out. The bone itself is so soft that if eaten by a dog, the bone will splinter and may damage their digestive tract. And of course chocolate is a no-no for both cats and dogs. But did you know onions and garlic are also dangerous? For the reason why and a list of other dangerous foods and explanations, visit Fresh Pets Thanksgiving Safety Tips or Dogster.

Dangerous Plants

A pretty common holiday plant that may be harmful to our pets are poinsettias. Though gorgeous they may be, Poinsettias are known to give our animals extremely upset stomachs which lead to vomiting and/or diarrhea if ingested. So should you have poinsettias in the house? I say yes! They are a great symbol of the holidays, but just make sure they are out of reach of your furry companions or that you keep an eye on them if they head that way.

Others that are known to be dangerous are Holly and Mistletoe, so keep an eye out for those during the holidays. If you want more information on poisonous plants check out Dogster.

I hope you will find this information useful as you begin to prepare for the holiday season. And if you know of any other harmful plants or foods for our pets, please feel free to share in the comments section.

I wish everyone a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!

As always..

For the Pets,

Paul Mann, Founder and CEO

Fetch! Pet Care

Fetch! Pet Care is celebrating November as Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month.

Think of a pet that is already trained and doesn't chew or scratch everything in sight--a pet who will love you unconditionally. That's what you get when you adopt a senior pet.

Some people worry that a senior pet comes with problems, but according to Hazel Blumberg-McKee of Tallahassee, FL, there are no disadvantages. "In most cases they've had a home and they want one again." She adopted eight-and-a-half-year old Sadie, and has never regretted it. "An older animal is easier to deal with. And Sadie is still playful. She plays fetch and gallops all over the place."

At animal shelters and rescue groups everywhere, there are loving, healthy senior pets like Sadie, looking for that one special home to cherish them for the rest of their life, and they don't ask for much: just a warm place to sleep, good meals and plenty of love.


JC Pet Suppliers has a great post discussing the benefits of adopting an older dog.

• - Older dogs are generally housetrained. Adopting a puppy requires hours of potty training and cleaning up accidents – a more mature dog already knows his house manners.

• - Older dogs sometimes have a calmer, more mellow disposition. With old age comes patience and focus. An older dog will learn more quickly and focus well because they have mellowed.

• - Older dogs generally aren’t teething. Puppies tend to explore with their mouths and chew anything within reach to soothe the pain of teething.

• - Older dogs know what “no” means. Generally, older dogs have been taught “no” and understand its meaning – they will learn quickly what they can and cannot do and where they can and cannot go.

• - Older dogs require less attention. Although snuggling, scratching, petting and playing are always accepted, more mature dogs can be just as content laying still and keeping watch over the house, unlike puppies who may require more constant attention and looking after.

During Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, take the opportunity to get acquainted with the older pets available at your local shelter or visit the shelter online at www.petfinder.com.

For the Pets,

Paul Mann, Founder and CEO

Fetch! Pet Care

I love chocolate. There, I said it. I really love the stuff. But I know that chocolate is very hazardous to my pets. And with Halloween right around the corner (and my 6 year old son’s eagerness to trick or treat and get the goodies), I’m going to be extra vigilant about keeping an eye on the chocolate in the house. I found this article on the Dangers of Chocolate for pets – I thought you might want to read it.

Getting a piece of chocolate might delight your dog, but the sweet treat can be highly dangerous. In fact, it can be fatal. Even if you don't intentionally feed chocolate to your pooch, it's always possible it will find a piece on the floor. So it's important to be diligent about not dropping chocolate, and also aware of the risks, symptoms and treatments needed if this ever happens.
Reason of toxicity
An ingredient in chocolate, theobromine, is toxic to dogs. Cocoa beans naturally contain theobromine, so it is found in all chocolate. Another dangerous ingredient to dogs that is naturally in chocolate is caffeine.
Size, Age and Health
Size, age and health play a big role on how dangerous the chocolate consumed will be to the dog. According to talktothevet.com, "The good news is that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine (100-150 mg/kg) to cause a toxic reaction. Although there are variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration."
Dogs vs. Cats
According to veterinarian Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, "Because of their indiscriminate eating habits, dogs are far more commonly affected than cats."
First Symptoms
According to Gwaltney-Brant, "Clinical signs usually occur within six to12 hours of ingestion. Three initial signs include polydypsia, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and restlessness."
Types of Chocolate
According to petplace.com, different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine. White chocolate contains the least, and baking chocolate (ground cocoa beans) contains the most.
Death
Dangerous symptoms may follow the first symptoms, so it is important to contact your veterinarian immediately. These symptoms include: seizures, arrhythmia, hyperthermia, and coma. Respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmia are the main reasons why eating chocolate can be fatal to dogs.
Treatment
Induced vomiting, and controlled fluid consumption are most likely the treatments a veterinarian will employ for a dog suffering from chocolate toxicity. The dog will need to be under heart monitoring and constant supervision, as well.

So remember, during this fun holiday season, please be aware of goodies you have around the house and keep your pets at the for front of your mind.

For the Pets,

Paul Mann, Founder & CEO

Fetch! Pet Care