Don't leave your dog in the car, as temperatures can rise dramatically. Here's a
flyer, from the SPCA of British Columbia, that lists the dangers of heatstroke and
emergency treatment.
Best time for exercise is when it's cool--early morning or evening
Don't let your dogs stand a long time on hot asphalt--their pads can easily burn
Make sure your dogs have plenty of shade and cool, clean water
Avoid areas where you suspect insecticide has recently been applied
Fireworks can scare and burn dogs. Please keep yours inside on Independence Day!
The fifth of July is the busiest day at Albuquerque-area shelters because of animals that have run away from home in their panic
to escpae fireworks. Unfortunately, not all animals make it to the shelters, some are hit by cars or otherwise injured. Make sure
your animals are safe this year by taking these easy steps recommended by the Animal
Humane Association:
when you leave the house, make sure that your animals are safe in a sheltered, quiet area of the home,
preferably without windows, and with a radio or television playing at normal volume.
don't leave them unattended when they're outside -- desperate animals find ways out of yards if they are
panicked, and dogs can strangle themselves on leashes or chains when frightened
don’t take your dog to a fireworks display or other noisy event. And don’t leave your dog in the car at a holiday
event either – even with the windows cracked, the heat can kill and the fireworks can cause panic.
if you have a new animal and are unsure what their reaction will be, assume they will be frightened and act
accordingly.
make sure all animals have well-fitting collars with current identification and rabies tags. We also recommend
having microchip identification inserted (available from vets and shelters).
if an animal does become nervous (pacing, whining, hiding, crying, etc.), distract her by playing or doing an
enjoyable activity. Petting or verbally reassuring the animal may reinforce nervousness.
if an animal is lost, visit area animal shelters as soon as possible and file a lost report. Animal Humane Association
offers a free, computerized lost and found service that can be completed by phone (255-5523), in person (615 Virginia Street SE),
and online at www.ahanm.org/lostfoundform.shtml.
[April 30, 2009] The FDA has issued a voluntary recall notice
of American Nutrition's Baked Dog Treats, due to their peanut butter content.
[April 20, 2009] The NM Department of Health has reported plague
activity in a dog and rabbit in NM. Plague is an infectious, and possibly life-threatening, disease, usually transmitted by
handling an animal bitten by a rodent flea carrying plague bacteria. They remind people to avoid approaching or touching sick or
dead wildlife which may carry infected fleas.
[January 13, 2009] Beware of the "pimple ball" by Four Paws. This toy has been linked to
tongue amputation in dogs, because there is only one hole in the ball, which allows a vacuum
to be created if the dog's tongue gets stuck in the hole. Please check that you don't have this toy, and dispose of it if you do!
The product has since been redesigned, and a
recall, with instructions for
replacement, has been issued by the company
[October 1, 2008] In case you haven't heard, sugar-free products (gum, mints, etc.) are usually sweetened with Xylitol, which
is very toxic to dogs. Be sure to keep all
your sugar-free items safely away from your dogs. Here is the
Snopes article.
[September 10, 2008] If you're planning on doing some end-of-summer gardening, make sure that your mulch isn't toxic to dogs. Cocoa mulch,
sold at stores like Home Depot, smells and tastes great, but it contains chocolate (cocoa bean shells), which is potentially fatal for dogs. For more
information, read the Snopes article.
Easy Brush Toothbrush
the chew-it-yourself toothbrush for dogs. Bristles embedded in the ends of a plastic bone makes toothbrushing easy!
How to Trim Your Dog's Nails
Pet Center's excellent guide on how to trim your dog's nails, with close-up photos of the nail and the
quick, so you know just what to do.
Are Swiffer Wet Jets Harmful to Dogs?
The ASPCA has
investigated the rumor that Swiffer Wet Jets can cause liver damage and death in dogs. According to ASPCA toxicologists, "These
ingredients are safe to use around pets when used according to label directions and would not cause liver damage at product
concentrations." For more information about this rumor, check out
Urban Legends or
Break the Chain.
Troubled about the latest scary animal story that flies across the net? Before you panic, check out
Urban Legends to separate the wheat from the chaff.
A List of Household Hazards
from the American Veterinary Medical Association. If you
believe that your dog has ingested any of these, DON'T WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO DEVELOP, immediately contact the
New Mexico Poison Center at 272-2222.
Mesothelioma in Dogs
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, and it has recently been found to affect dogs and cats.
This website is a wonderful resource to learn more about it.
Pet Education
Drs. Foster & Smith's website for all sorts of information
Pet Place
adoption & behavioral info, babies and pets, and other great stuff.