Best Puppy Tips: Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets

Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Best puppy tips: top 10 plants poisonous to pets may come as a surprise to a lot of people, and these plants are quite common in gardens across the country. The effects of these plants can be serious, and some have resulted in the loss of pets. Realizing that many homes feature these plants and some are very popular worldwide, I felt compelled to share these details as it would be important to be aware of these dangers.

I’m not suggesting that you should panic and run to your garden with a shovel and dig up any plant on this list, but it sure helps to have the knowledge of the consequences if your pet happens to come into contact with one of them.

Golden Retriever. Best Puppy Tips: Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets

Golden Retriever. Best Puppy Tips: Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets

One practical step may be to be sure that your dog’s food bowl is nowhere near a plant that may shed its petals or foliage. Dogs are not as sensitive as cats when it comes to eating, and will just scarf down whatever is in the bowl.

Use common sense and if you’d rather be fully protected from harmful plants that may cause sickness (or worse) to your pets, perhaps a review of what you have planted in your garden is in order.

Best Puppy Tips: Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets

Autumn Crocus

1. Autumn Crocus

Azalea

2. Azalea

cyclamen

3. Cyclamen

Daffodils

4. Daffodils

Dieffenbachia

5. Dieffenbachia

Kalanchoe

6. Kalanchoe

Lilies

7. Lilies

Oleander

8. Oleander

Sago Palm

9. Sago Palm

Tulips

10. Tulips

To give you an example of one of the above listed plants poisonous to pets, the Sago Palm, which I see in many gardens and parks in my area, the dangers of this plant to a dog are alarming.

A veterinarian Steven Garner said,

“Among things that can kill pets it ranks higher than snake bites, car injuries and rabies and is on par with distemper, parvo heart and kidney disease and cancer,” he said. “The seed pods are the most toxic and only have to be mouthed by a dog or picked up by a kid to cause toxicity. Children have been found poisoned from casual contact.”

“The toxin attacks and kills liver cells and shuts down the digestive and excretory system.”

“Some animals, usually small ones with large exposure doses present with fulminating liver disease, hemorrhage and shock within 24 hours of ingestion,” Garner said. “These animals are difficult, but not impossible to save.”

“I have seen hundreds of Sago poisonings in my practice history and the frequency seems to be increasing,” Garner said. Source

httpv://youtu.be/g-ONmPoeF0E

A comprehensive list of all toxic and non-toxic plants can be found here at the ASPCA.

Take these best puppy tips: top 10 plants poisonous to pets and make the right choices in your garden for your pet, and be mindful when taking your dog for walks to parks or forests where some of these plants may be growing wild. Sago palm is particularly nasty, and, if you are in the process of planning your garden, then it may be advisable to look over this list carefully when considering your plant choices. Or, if you already have some of these in your back yard, it just may be a good time to rethink to protect your pet from future harm.

Best Puppy Love Researchers Say Produces Oxytocin in Pet Owners

Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Best Puppy Love Researchers Say Produces Oxytocin in Pet Owners

Best Puppy Love Researchers Say Produces Oxytocin in Pet Owners

Best puppy love researchers say produces oxytocin in pet owners. So what is oxytocin and how does it affect us? According to Wikipedia, oxytocin is basically the “love hormone.” It’s linked to bonding and maternal feelings. In fact, the same feelings people feel for their children.

This is extremely interesting to me, and I often hear dog owners say, “He won’t bite. He never bites anyone,” and the dog turns around and bites a visitor for no apparent reason. I’ve experienced this myself when I called on a client to discuss business and after much assurance that the Rottweiler wouldn’t bite, and that it was safe to enter the house, the dog exploded like a demon and flew at me in uncontrollable aggression.

The owner of the dog was mortified that his darling Fido had done what he described as “uncharacteristic,” and “completely unexpected.” I could see the fear in the dog eyes, and my gut feeling was that he was not to be trusted. There are more complicated aspects to that sort of behavior, but I’m focusing here on the much the same response a parent would have about their child. It’s that protective, maternal and blinded-by-the-bond relationship that can often cause a pet owner to underestimate their dog’s response.

Best Puppy Love Researchers Say Produces Oxytocin in Pet Owners

The following story describes such pet/owner relationships:

BULL terrier breeder Norm Jessup dotes on his dogs like children. They sit on chairs beside him and nuzzle into his shoulders seeking affection while he sips a cup of tea.

These dogs once held a fearsome reputation with their sloped ”Roman noses”, sunken eyes and powerful jaws – attributes bred over generations for fighting bulls. He embraces his animals with a father’s warmth.

Research has proven that in these tender moments dog owners produce a hormone called oxytocin – the same hormone which helps parents bond with their children. But experts, such as animal behaviorist Dr Linda Marston, believe this bond can blind owners to their dog’s dangerous potential.

”It’s like that rosy glasses effect,” she says. ”People see their own dogs, generally speaking, in a much more positive light than other people might see them because they love them.”

Researchers at Azabu University in Japan found that a dog’s gaze is enough to increase their owner’s oxytocin level.

And that feeling is probably mutual. Dr Marston says dogs experience similar feelings in the close company of their owners. ”When your oxytocin levels go up so do the dog’s.”

Jessup keeps his six dogs in a secure network of cages at his Pearcedale home on Melbourne’s outskirts. He watches closely when he lets them out.

Jessup says the bull terrier breed has suffered from bad publicity and insists they are friendly and gentle. ”They are a strong-looking dog and I can imagine people being a bit scared. But their nature isn’t that way unless they’re in the wrong hands,” he says.

Animal behavior experts believe irresponsible owners of dogs with a violent heritage may be incapable of judging when their animal is a threat due to their close relationship.

Let’s face it, there are dogs that look intimidating, especially when they’re being led down the street by an outwardly aggressive looking owner who allows his dog to lunge at people, growl and bark incessantly at people passing by. If oxytocin is playing a part in this unhealthy relationship between dog and owner, it raises the issues that won’t go away despite all efforts to try to sell people on the idea that a Pitt Bull is a cute and cuddly puppy.

Unfortunately, these dogs have been demonized mostly by the owners who train them to be aggressive and encourage that sort of unruly and frightening behavior.

More often than not, the problem lies with the owner, and not the dog. I’m sure you’ve seen a vicious Chihuahua, and you may also know someone with a Pitt Bull who wouldn’t hurt a flea. It all depends on the input, the training and the environment in which the dogs lives.

Dr Marston opposes banning particular dog breeds but believes owners must understand the purpose for which their dog, including the bull terrier, was originally bred.

”They had to go in and hang on to a bull’s nose even though it had a rampaging huge animal attached to the end of it until they brought the bull down by effectively suffocating it.”

He admits the dogs evoke fear in others. ”Sometimes I see people move away. I’ve even overheard a parent say ‘don’t go near those dogs they’re dangerous’,” he says. ”I just think they’re misinterpreted.”

Brimbank Superintendent Graham Kent says some criminals treat aggressive dogs as status symbols and use them to terrorise people in crimes such as enforcing drug debts.

He has supervised investigations of dog attacks and instances in which vicious dogs were used as weapons. ”We sometimes see people walking around the suburbs with these dogs. They’ll have their dog on display and they’ll have their tattoos on display. It’s a bit about a show of force and intimidation,” he says. ”You can’t help but think it might be a status symbol.”

Jessup fears ”incorrect publicity” about bull terriers will result in them joining Victoria’s dangerous dogs list alongside pit bulls. ”The bull terrier over the years has carried the tarnished name that it’s an aggressive dog but it’s not,” he says.

Jessup and Vartanian insist their bull terrier breeds make great pets. But Jessup says owners and breeders should have to meet rigorous standards of education and safety. ”In the wrong hands any dog can be an issue,” he says. Click here to visit the original source of this post

Best puppy love researchers say produces oxytocin in pet owners, and that’s often because people like to treat their dog like a person, and the relationship develops into an imbalanced and unnatural bond. I’m not saying we shouldn’t love our dogs, it’s hard not to as they grow as part of our families and lives. The point is that to ignore all the dog’s attributes as an animal is going to potentially backfire. Loving our puppies is human and we should love and care for them, and it’s our responsibility to train them well—much like you need to parent your kids. Oxytocin should, however, be controlled by remembering that your dog is a dog and not a person.

Best Puppy Safety Tips for Holiday Festivities

Written by Senior Editor Peter Ghr

Best Puppy Safety Tips for Holiday Festivities

Best Puppy Safety Tips for Holiday Festivities

During the festive season it’s always good to be reminded of the best puppy safety tips for holiday festivities and beyond. With unfamiliar visitors, extra noise, late nights, and a shift in regular schedules can be enough to cause your puppy a measure of insecurity.

Taking time to be mindful of the disruption to your pet’s schedule will help them be assured and aid in normalizing what would otherwise be a disruptive period. Of course, it’s not always possible to completely devote every attention to your puppy, but as habitual members of our households it can sometimes be more difficult for them to part from the norm than you may realize.

Best Puppy Safety Tips for Holiday Festivities

As much as possible, maintain your pet’s usual routine with feeding and exercise. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit – they’ll be much more content if you incorporate their daily needs into your overall holiday planning.

Keep poisonous plants out of reach of your pets.

Poinsettias, mistletoe and holly are the most common offenders, as well as lilies that are harmful to cats. A complete list of plants should help narrow it down.

Watch out for any liquids other than the clean, fresh water you provide for your pet every day, or made-for-pets gravy.

No unattended alcoholic beverages. That includes eggnog and spiked punch.

The most dangerous liquid to keep out of your pet’s way is antifreeze – it tastes sweet but can be lethal. It’s also sometimes an ingredient in snow globes.

Keep the garbage can lid securely closed, or even in another room away from your pets.

If any of your family members or guests take medications, be sure to keep pill boxes and medicine bottles tightly closed and secured out of a pet’s reach. Zipped plastic bags, locked medicine cabinets are all good protection where both kids and pets are concerned.

If you have a live Christmas tree, the water in its stand may contain fertilizer or preservatives not good for Fido.

Beware of electrical cords that can trip a pet – or a human – and catch fire, cause a lethal shock, or be tempting to a puppy as something else to chew. Use duct tape to keep wires in place.

No lit Menorah or Christmas candles in wagging tails’ way. Set them (the candles) in stable candle holders, up on a table, and blow them out if you leave the room.

Keep a good supply of healthy pet treats handy so you won’t be tempted to sneak your pet human treats like: chocolate that can lead to digestive upset, cooked bones that can splinter internally, or spicy or high-fat foods like gravy that can lead to pancreatitis.

Need a better way to keep Rover or Muffin occupied? Try dental chews and similar treats that take several minutes for your pet to work on. Fill a Kong or other toy that’s more or less indestructible with healthy, digestible treats to ease a lot of an excited dog’s nervous energy.

Give your cat her own new holiday presents – toys with catnip, a big ball to chase. And of course, lots of playtime.

Before guests arrive and endless chaos ensues, give your pets plenty of quality time. Plenty of exercise before the party will help hold down a pet’s level of excitability.

Reserve a “time-out” room, crate or carrying case for your pets while guests are arriving, and let Fluffy and Spot out once the constant door-opening and closing has subsided. Or if your pet is comfortable with the action, keep a leash on to reduce the chance of your pet escaping when no one is looking. Click here to visit the original source of this post

The best puppy safety tips for holiday festivities start with common sense. Parties can generate a level of excitement that can be unsettling for your pet, so stay sensitive to their needs and provide them with as much normalcy as possible to keep their daily regimen as structured as possible.