• Mushroom toxicity
• Fourth of July safety
• Animal bite prevention
• Make time for your pet

Mushroom toxicity
We recently had a case of mushroom toxicity here at East Hilliard Veterinary Services.  Daisy, a senior Golden Retriever, decided to taste test a backyard mushroom.  She soon started vomiting and became weak and wobbly.  With veterinary care, this story had a happy ending and she is doing fine now but mushroom ingestion doesn’t always end happily.  The only safe mushrooms are the ones you buy at the grocery.  Mushroom toxicity can be and often is fatal.  Do not allow your pets to eat backyard mushrooms.  Walk your pet’s exercise area, including mulched areas like flower beds, and remove any fungi growing there before you let your dog outside.  If they do eat a backyard mushroom, seek veterinary attention immediately. 

Firework Safety
Your dogs and cats have extremely sensitive hearing.  The noise of fireworks can actually cause them pain.  Pets often do unexpected things when exposed to loud noises so we recommend that you always keep dogs and cats inside when fireworks are being set off.  Turn on the radio or television (at the usual volume) to lessen the sound of the fireworks.  Close the curtains to reduce the bright flash.  Pet doors need to be blocked and all windows and doors closed so your pet cannot escape.  Panting, yawning, pacing, and vocalizing can all be signs of stress.  When your pet is stressed by fireworks it is best to not try to console it.  If it is hiding, don’t try to coax it out.  It has found a secure place and will come out when it feels it is safe.  If your pet is extremely stressed, don’t leave it alone.  Stay calm and continue with your normal activities around the house.  Yelling at your pet or trying to “correct it” for its behavior will only make things worse.
Make sure your pet has identification in case the fireworks display causes enough fear for it to run away.  A collar with ID tags is a good idea.  Permanent identification with a microchip is the best way to ensure your pet can get back home to you quickly. Collars can be lost but the microchip is always there.  All humane organizations, veterinary clinics, and many police departments have microchip scanners.  Microchipped pets are quickly identified and returned to their families.  (For more information on microchipping go to our April 07 newsletter.)

Dog Bite Prevention
Any dog can and will bite if it is provoked.  We hope everyone can accept this fact.  Even the most docile dog will bite if it is pushed far enough.  Incredibly, some owners actually promote aggression in their dog or allow signs of aggression to go unchecked or even unrecognized.  Dog bites in the United States are a serious problem.  About 800,000 people annually need medical treatment and many more bites go untreated.  Statistically, dog bite injuries are higher in children than adults.  In the adult population, the elderly and home service providers such as mail carriers and meter readers are the most common victims. 
What can you do to prevent your pet from causing harm? 

• Carefully consider your pet selection.  Never obtain your puppy on impulse.  That cute, little, irresistible puppy in the pet store should stay in the pet store. 
• Do your homework before you get a dog, and include your veterinary clinic as a source in your collection of information.  Most veterinary clinics have a veterinarian or staff member that is versed in animal behavior and can give you valuable information. 
• Wait until your children are at least four – five years old before you get them a dog.  Most children that age can understand how to properly interact with a dog.
• Ensure that your new dog understands and properly responds to basic obedience commands.  Avoid wrestling or tug-of-war games with your dog. 
• Get your pet neutered.  Neutered dogs are three times less likely to bite.
• Socialize your dog.  Gradually expose them to a variety of people and situations but never allow the dog to be teased or feel threatened.
• Health care is important.  How a dog feels affects how it behaves.  A dog that is sick or in pain is more likely to bite. 
• Be a responsible pet owner.  Obey leash laws.
• Spend time with your pet.  Frequent exercise reduces the chances of a dog developing behavioral problems.  (For ideas on what to do with your pet, see the following article.)
• Be alert – know your dog.  Watch for the sometimes subtle signs that your dog is unhappy or feeling aggressive.  Don’t allow the situation to continue to develop.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family?

• Never leave a baby or a small child alone with a dog.  Teach your children to be careful around pets.  Children should never approach strange dogs.
• Be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations.
• Don’t run past a dog.  Their natural response is to chase and catch.
• Never disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies.
• If a dog approaches, stay still and avoid eye contact.  Most often it will go away when it determines you are not a threat.
• If you are threatened, stay calm, don’t shout or scream, don’t run, avoid eye contact, and try to stay still or back away very slowly.
• If you fall or are knocked to the ground, roll into a ball and cover your head and face.  Bite wounds to your hands and arms will not be as potentially serious as wounds to your head or face.

Make time for your dog
Keeping your dog mentally stimulated helps immeasurably in reducing behavioral problems including aggression.  Today’s busy schedules can make finding time for your dog difficult.  We understand, but every dog needs training, exercise, and some daily one-on-one time with their family.  Daily play time, walks, grooming and training time can all stimulate your pets.  These sessions don’t have to be long.  Grooming can be done while you’re watching television.  Training can be done most anytime you are home; cooking a meal, cleaning the house, anytime is a good time for a few sit-stays and down-stays.  Teach your dog to “go get”.  Treats or favorite toys can be hidden while the dog is distracted.  Then tell them to go get your ___ (fill in the blank) and watch them search the house.  The old “shell game” is a favorite of many dogs.  Using three clean, empty cans, hide a small treat under one and let the dog find it, repeat.  Or try putting a treat in one hand, then let the dog choose which hand has the treat by nudging it with their nose or gently touching it with their paw.  Safe edible treats are great when you don’t have the time play with them directly.   Stuffable toys like Kongs® can keep a dog entertained for quite a long time.  Check their website for ideas on what to stuff into the Kong®.  Kong® now has a battery operated Kong dispenser called KongTime® that can give your dog a pre-stuffed Kong® at timed intervals during the day.
There are a lot of little ways every day that you can help mentally stimulate your dog.  There is a saying, “A tired dog is a good dog.”  It is very true.  Not so much because your dog is tired but because you’ve mentally stimulated them making them happier, calmer, and better behaved members of your family.

Really Old Cats
Recently, Cat Fancy magazine held an oldest living cat contest.  And the winners are…..
Baby – age 36 from Duluth, Minnesota
Tommy – age 30 from Ellisville, Missouri
Beets – age 27 from Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Cleo – age 27 from Wentzville, Missouri
All we can say is WOW!

Visit the Newsletter Archive