Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Hero Dog
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Dangers To Your Dog
If you have a dog ... PLEASE read
Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , OH
This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my
emergency service until 7AM .
I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but
hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately.
In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me -
had heard something about it, but . Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National
Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at 1 & 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.
The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and
creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney
function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids.
Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with
no urine production after a liter of fluids. At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal
failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output
overnight as well as overnight care.
He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was
on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN
was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood
pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220 ... He continued to
vomit and the owners elected to Euthanize.
This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a
toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk.
Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know
give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure
should give rise to immediate concern.
Onions, chocolate, cocoa and macadamia nuts can be fatal, too.
Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do. This is worth passing
on to them.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Why Do Dogs Eat Grass
| Written by Pet Library Editor | |
| Nearly every dog eats grass sometimes, and some dogs eat it all the time. You would think that veterinarians would have a pretty good idea by now of why they do it. But they don't, mainly because no one has figured out how to ask dogs two important questions: "Do you like the taste?" and "If it tastes so good, why do you throw it up?"
Dogs May Have A Craving For Greens Dogs are remarkably flexible in their tastes. They'll polish off a bowl of dried dog food, then walk over to see if there's anything good in the trash. If they're still hungry, they'll wander upstairs to see what's in the cat's box. Basically, they'll eat, or at least sample, whatever they find in front of them. There's a good reason for their liberal tastes. Unlike cats, who evolved solely as hunters, dogs survived by scavenging. When they couldn't catch live prey, which was a lot of the time, they'd eat the ancient equivalent of roadkill. They didn't care too much if had been lying in the sun for a week or was half-buried under old leaves. It was food, and they weren't going to pass it up. When meat wasn't on the table, they'd root around for tender leafy stalks, or roots, or an old polished bone. They simply weren't fussy, and dogs today haven't gotten any fussier. They're predisposed to like just about everything. In addition, there's some evidence that dogs get cravings for certain foods. It's possible that dogs occasionally get a hankering for greens, just as people sometimes go to bed dreaming about mashed potatoes and meat loaf. It's not as strange as it may sound. Grass was part of their ancestors' regular diets. Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat meat as well as plants. They don't need grassy nutrients any more because most commercial dog foods are nutritionally complete. But dogs aren't nutritionists. They don't know or care that they've already gotten their vitamin or mineral quotients from a bowl of kibble. Their instincts tell them that grass is good, so they eat it. Besides, there's a world of difference between satisfying the minimal nutritional requirements and having a great meal. And for many dogs, a mouthful of grass clearly tastes great. It's like a salad - they eat some, then want more. Even dogs who usually don't eat grass will head straight for the nearest patch when they're feeling sick. They'll gobble a few mouthfuls, retch, and then throw up, or at least try to. Veterinarians still aren't sure if dogs eat grass because their stomachs are upset or if their stomachs get upset after they eat grass. However, many vets suspect it's the former, because dogs who are energetic and perky seem to be able to eat grass without getting sick afterward. It seems likely that there's something in grass that does stimulate the urge to vomit. The stomach has all kinds of neuro-receptors that respond to what dogs ingest. They react to acidity, chemical content, and textures. The texture of the grass has something like a tickle effect on the stomach, which may induce vomiting. This tummy tickle may explain why healthy dogs can eat grass without getting sick. They take a mouthful, chew it thoroughly and swallow, then reach down for some more. Dogs who are sick, however, appear almost desperate for the grass. They don't chew it carefully or savor the taste. They gobble it. Without the chewing, those prickly little stalks hit their stomachs all at once. This may be what stimulates the urge to throw it all back up - along with whatever was irritating their stomachs in the first place. They can't stick their fingers down their throats or ask for syrup of ipecac like people can, so eating grass is something that works. And once dogs find something that works, they tend to stick with it. Watch Out What Grass Your Dog Is Eating Unless your dog is in the habit of regurgitating grass on the dining room floor, there's no reason to worry about it. Dogs have been eating grass for thousands or tens of thousands of years, and there's no evidence at all that it's bad for them. That isn't the case, however, when grass has been treated with insecticides, herbicides, or other chemicals. Most products say on the label whether they're dangerous for pets. In any event, you should certainly keep dogs away from grass soon after chemicals have been applied. Most products break down fairly quickly, but they can be quite dangerous if your dog eats them while they're fresh. Serve Sparky Some Broccoli It's just a theory at this point, but some veterinarians believe that dogs eat grass because they're not getting enough fiber in their diets. You may want to buy a higher-fiber food - pet foods for "seniors" generally have the most. These foods can be expensive, however, so you may want to look for other ways to supplement your dog's diet. Most dogs don't care for raw vegetables, but you can run some broccoli or green beans through the blender, adding chicken or beef broth for flavor. Or add a sprinkling of bran to their food. |
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
THE TALKING PARROTS
"What do they say?" the priest inquired.
"They only know how to say, 'Hi, we're prostitutes. Want to have some fun?'"
"That's terrible!" the priest exclaimed, "but I have a solution to your problem. Bring your two female parrots over to my house and I will put them with my two male talking parrots whom I taught to pray and read the bible. My parrots will teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible phrase and your female parrots will learn the joys of praise and worship."
"Thank you!" the woman responded.
The next day the woman brings her female parrots to the priest's house. His two male parrots are holding the rosary beads and praying in their cage. The lady puts her two female parrots in with the male parrots and the female parrots say "Hi we're prostitutes, want to have some fun?"
One male parrot looks over at the other male parrot and exclaims, "Put the beads away, brother. Our prayers have been answered!"
President Term - President's Pets
Mss Beazley, Scottish Terrier
Bill Clinton
1993-2001
Socks the cat who did not get along with Buddy, the chocolate Labrador Retriever .
George Bush
Millie, Springer Spaniel and Ranger, one of Millie's puppies
Ronald Reagan
1981-1989
Lucky, Bouvier Des Flandres who had natural ears and was sent to the ranch as she grew too big, and who was replaced by Rex, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel
Jimmy Carter
Grits, dog given to Amy by her teacher that was later returned and Misty Malarky Ying Yang, Amy Carter's Siamese cat
Gerald Ford
Liberty, Golden Retriever who had a litter of pups while at the White House, and there was also Shan, Susan Ford's Siamese cat.
Richard Nixon
Checkers, Richard Nixon's dog while vice president, and while he was at the White House there were Vicky, the Poodle,Pasha, Terrier and King Timahoe, an Irish Setter
Lyndon B. Johnson
Beagle and Little Beagle and Him and Her, also beagles. Blanco, a white Collie and the famous Yuki, mongrel dog.
John F. Kennedy
Charlie, Caroline Kennedy's Welsh terrier Tom Kitten, a cat and Robin, a canary. Bluebell and Marybelle, parakeets and Macaroni, Caroline Kennedy's pony. Tex and Leprechaun, ponies, and Debbie and Billie, hamsters. Pushinka, Shannon, Wolf, and Clipper– dogs Butterfly, White Tips, Blackie and Streaker– Pushinka and Charlie's pups. Also Zsa Zsa, a rabbit, and Sardar, Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy's horse
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Heidi, Weimaraner dog
Harry S. Truman
1945-1953
Feller, the unwanted dog
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Major, German Shepherd, Meggie, Scotch Terrier, Winks, Llewellyn Setter, Tiny, English Sheepdog, President, Great Dane, and his faithful and loyal famous companion, Fa la, the Scottish Terrier. There was also Blaze, Elliot Roosevelt's Mastiff
Herbert Hoover
King Tut, police dog, Big Ben and Sonnie, Fox Terriers.Glen, Scotch Collie, Yukon, Eskimo dog, Patrick, Wolfhound, Eaglehurst Gillette, Setter Weejie, an Elkhound, and Pat, police dog.
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin and Grace Coolidge literally had a zoo at the White House. Most famous and beloved was the white collie, purchased from Thomas and Olive shover who owned "Shomont White Collies". They also entertained and cared for: Peter Pan, a Terrier, Paul Pry, an Airedale, that was originally named Laddie Buck. And Rob Roy, a white Collie, originally named Oshkosh. Also popular was Calamity Jane, a Shetland Sheepdog. Tiny Tim, a Chow, Blackberry, also a Chow, and Ruby Rough, a brown Collie. They also had Boston Beans, a bulldog, King Kole, a police dog, Bessie, a yellow collie, Palo Alto, a bird dog, and Nip and Tuck, canaries. Snowflake, was also a white canary and Old Bill was a thrush. Enoch, was a goose and they had a Mockingbird belonging to Mrs. Grace Coolidge. Finally there was Tiger, an alley cat, Blacky, another cat and Rebecca and Horace, raccoons. We must not forget Ebenezer, the donkey and Smokey, a bobcat. Given to them by dignitaries from other countries there was also: lion cubs, wallaby,a pigmy hippo, and a bear
Warren Harding
Laddie Boy, an Airedale was a famous pet of Warren Harding and he also had Old Boy, an English Bulldog and there were Canaries belonging to Mrs. Florence Harding.
Woodrow Wilson
Old Ike, the tobacco-chewing ram and Sheep that grazed on the White House lawn during Wilson's administration.
William Taft
Pauline Wayne, last cow at the White House
Theodore Roosevelt
1901-1909
Bleistein, Roosevelt's favorite horse: Renown, Roswell, Rusty, Jocko, Root, Grey, Dawn, Wyoming, and Yangenka, were all horses. General and Judge, were carriage horses, Algonquian, was Archie Roosevelt's calico pony and Pete, a bull terrier was a favorite pet. There was also Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Retriever, Jack, Kermit Roosevelt's terrier, Skip, a mongrel, Manchu, Alice Roosevelt's spaniel, Emily Spinach, Alice Roosevelt's snake; snakes belonging to Quentin Roosevelt, Eli Yale a Macaw also belonging to Quentin Roosevelt, Tom Quartz, cat, Slippers, cat, Josiah, badger, Dewey Senior, Dewey Junior, Bob Evans, Bishop Doan, and Father O'Grady, all guinea pigs
William McKinley
Mexican double-yellow-headed parrot
Benjamin Harrison
Harry S. Truman
Feller, the unwanted dog
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
1933-1945
Major, German Shepherd, Meggie, Scotch Terrier, Winks, Llewellyn Setter, Tiny, English Sheepdog, President, Great Dane, and his faithful and loyal famous companion, Fa la, the Scottish Terrier. There was also Blaze, Elliot Roosevelt's Mastiff
Herbert Hoover
1929-1933
King Tut, police dog, Big Ben and Sonnie, Fox Terriers.Glen, Scotch Collie, Yukon, Eskimo dog, Patrick, Wolfhound, Eaglehurst Gillette, Setter Weejie, an Elkhound, and Pat, police dog.
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin and Grace Coolidge literally had a zoo at the White House. Most famous and beloved was the white collie, purchased from Thomas and Olive shover who owned "Shomont White Collies". They also entertained and cared for: Peter Pan, a Terrier, Paul Pry, an Airedale, that was originally named Laddie Buck. and Rob Roy, a white Collie, originally named Oshkosh. Also popular was Calamity Jane, a Shetland Sheepdog. Tiny Tim, a Chow, Blackberry, also a Chow, and Ruby Rough, a brown Collie. They also had Boston Beans, a bulldog, King Kole, a police dog, Bessie, a yellow collie, Palo Alto, a bird dog, and Nip and Tuck, canaries. Snowflake, was also a white canary and Old Bill was a thrush. Enoch, was a goose and they had a Mockingbird belonging to Mrs. Grace Coolidge. Finally there was Tiger, an alley cat, Blacky, another cat and Rebecca and Horace, raccoons. We must not forget Ebenezer, the donkey and Smokey, a bobcat. Given to them by dignitaries from other countries there was also: lion cubs, wallaby,a pigmy hippo, and a bear
Warren Harding
Laddie Boy, an Airedale was a famous pet of Warren Harding and he also had Old Boy, an English Bulldog and there were Canaries belonging to Mrs. Florence Harding.
Woodrow Wilson
Old Ike, the tobacco-chewing ram and Sheep that grazed on the White House lawn during Wilson's administration.
William Taft
Pauline Wayne, last cow at the White House
Theodore Roosevelt
Bleistein, Roosevelt's favorite horse: Renown, Roswell, Rusty, Jocko, Root, Grey, Dawn, Wyoming, and Yangenka, were all horses. General and Judge, were carriage horses, Algonquian, was Archie Roosevelt's calico pony and Pete, a bull terrier was a favorite pet. There was also Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Retriever, Jack, Kermit Roosevelt's terrier, Skip, a mongrel, Manchu, Alice Roosevelt's spaniel, Emily Spinach, Alice Roosevelt's snake; snakes belonging to Quentin Roosevelt, Eli Yale a Macaw also belonging to Quentin Roosevelt, Tom Quartz, cat, Slippers, cat, Josiah, badger, Dewey Senior, Dewey Junior, Bob Evans, Bishop Doan, and Father O'Grady, all guinea pigs
William McKinley
Mexican double-yellow-headed parrot
Benjamin Harrison
Dogs and billy goat belonging to grandchildren
Grover Cleveland
Canaries and mockingbirds belonging to Mrs. Frances Cleveland and her Japanese poodle.
Chester A. Arthur
No trace of any pets with Chester A. Arthur nor little information remains regarding his administration.
James Garfield
Kit, Molly Garfield's mare and a dog named Veto.
Rutherford Hayes
Pedigreed Jersey cows, the first Siamese Kitten to reach America, Hector and Nellie, Shepherd dogs, one goat, four canaries, two hunting pups, and one spaniel type dog named Duke. Also four kittens, one Mockingbird, and several Carriage horses.
Ulysses S. Grant
Jeff Davis, wartime mount, Cincinnatus, saddle horse, Egypt and St. Louis, carriage horses,Julia, a racing horse, Reb and Billy Button, Shetland ponies, Jennie and Mary, Nellie Grant's mares, Butcher Boy, a horse and a Parrot and Gamecocks belonging to Jesse Grant, and Faithful, Jesse Grant's Newfoundland.
Andrew Johnson
It is known that President Johnson left flour out at night for a family of mice playing in his room during his dark days of impeachment.
Abraham Lincoln
A Pig, Their beloved childhood pet, Fido, and Ponies belonging to Tad and Willy Lincoln. A white rabbit and Nanny and Nanko, Tad Lincoln's goats. Jack, Tad Lincoln's turkey, Jip, Lincoln's' dog and also cats and dogs.
James Buchanan
Zachary Taylor
Old Whitey, a wartime mount and Also a shortlived canary that they called Johnny Ty who died shortly after they tried to pair him with a mate only to discover it too was a male. Zachary Taylor provided a home on the White House grounds for Old Whitey. There was a serious problem for Whitey, however. Many of the visitors to the White House pulled a hair or two from Whitey’s tail for a souvenir.
James K. Polk
It is said Polk learned to ride before he could walk and had a great love of horses, but no Presidential Pets are discovered to date.
John Tyler
The General, a horse, and a pair of Italian Wolfhounds that he imported for his wife, Julia. The grey hound named Le Beau came from the consul of Naples "to grace the White House lawn". When The General died, Tyler had a grave dug on his estate, Sherwood. Over the grave, he had a headstone placed with the following inscription: “Here lies the body of my good horse ‘The General.’ For twenty years he bore me around the circuit of my practice, and in all that time he never made a blunder. Would that his master could say the same! John Tyler.”
William Henry Harrison
Billy goat and a new Durham cow for the White House.
Martin Van Buren
A pair of Tiger cubs given to him by the Sultan of Oman which Congress bade him to send to the zoo.
Andrew Jackson
Sam Patches, his wartime mount, and Emily, Lady Nashville and Bolivia, racing fillies. Truxton,a champion race horse and other ponies.
John Quincy Adams
An Alligator given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette and Silkworms belonging to Mrs. Louisa Adams
James Monroe
Spaniel belonging to Maria Monroe
James Madison
Green parrot belonging to Mrs. Dolley Madison
Thomas Jefferson
Mockingbird and two Briards, a gift from General Lafayette.
John Adams
Favorite Horse, Cleopatra. He built the first White House Stables and had Juno and Satan, Abigails two dogs.
Samson, Steady, Leonidas, Traveller, Magnolia and other stallions. Nelson and Blueskin, horses used during the Revolution, and a Horse given to Washington by Gen. Braddock. Drunkard, Mopsey, Taster, Cloe, Tipsy, Tipler, Forester, Captain, Lady Rover, Vulcan, Sweetlips, and Searcher, all hounds; and five French hounds. Rozinante, Nellie Custis' horse, and a Parrot belonged to Mrs. Martha Washington
1857-1861
A herd of Elephants from the King of Siam and a pair of Bald Eagles, and a Newfoundland named Lara.
Franklin Pierce
No animals were known to have resided at the White house during his tenure.
Millard Fillmore
Monday, November 3, 2008
God's Response
This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month.The day after she died, my
4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she
missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that
when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.'
Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially f or you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God
Friday, October 31, 2008
Joke
neighbor peered over the fence. Interested in what the
rosy-cheeked youngster was up to, he politely asked, “What
are you up to there, Tim?”
“My goldfish died,” replied Tim tearfully, without looking
up, “and I’ve just buried him.”
The neighbor was concerned, “That’s an awfully big hole for
a goldfish, isn’t it?”
Tim patted down the last heap of earth then replied, “That’s
because he’s inside your cat!”