Please use care when giving any type of bone to your dog, there have been cases of dogs being given certain kinds of bones which can splinter and cause injury and or even death.
One of the tasks people often do in the fall is to add antifreeze to their vehicles. While antifreeze works well for cars, it is deadly to dogs and other animals. A small amount left on the ground can prove to be very dangerous to an animal if he happens to lap it up.
Antifreeze has a sweet taste that is appealing to dogs and it only takes a small dose of antifreeze to be lethal. The initial symptoms of antifreeze poisoning may include vomiting, unsteady on the feet, tremors, depression, thirst and frequent urination. These symptoms can begin as soon as 30 minutes after the antifreeze has been ingested and may last for 12 hours at which time the symptoms will disappear. At this point, the liver will have broken down the ethylene glycol, the active ingredient in antifreeze. Further symptoms may not be noticeable for days and irreparable damage may be occurring. Vomiting may reoccur, as well as loss of appetite, dehydration, inability to urinate, salivation, seizures, mouth ulcers, coma and death.
If you see or suspect your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your animal to your Veterinarian immediately. If your dog has proper treatment within the crucial first 12 hours, complete recovery is possible. In order to prevent the ethylene glycol from being absorbed into the liver, the Vet will administer an IV of ethanol which counters the affect of the deadly ethylene glycol.
When changing or adding antifreeze to your car care should be taken to avoid spilling any or allowing any to remain in a puddle on the ground. Empty antifreeze containers and any rags used should be disposed of properly and containers of antifreeze should be wiped clean and stored out of the reach of pets. There are several types of antifreeze on the market now that are advertised as "pet safe" and serve as an alternative to standard antifreeze. When purchasing and using antifreeze always keep the welfare and health of your pet in mind.
Chocolate contains a xanthine compound, theobromine, that is toxic in sufficient quantities. Examples of other xanthine compounds are caffiene and theophylline. The toxicity from all of these compounds is similar.
It takes a fairly large amount of chocolate to cause problems. In "The Handbook of Small Animal Practice" by Dr. Rhea Morgan, the following data is given:
The toxic dose of theobromine is about 100 to 150mg/kg
Milk chocolate contains 6mg of theobromine per ounce. Semi-sweet chocolate contains about 22mg/oz. and baking chocolate about 35 to 45mg/oz.
From this it is pretty easy to see that milk chocolate poses only a minor threat while the other forms of chocolate can be a bigger problem.
Xanthines affect primarily the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. There is a diuretic effect as well. So the sign seen with toxicity include hyperexitablility, hyper irritability, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased urination, vomiting and muscular tremors or tenseness. Under some circumstances these signs can lead to secondary problems like hyperthermia. In severe cases, seizures or cardiac arrest can occur. Death can result from severe intoxication.
There is no specific antidote for this poisoning. Inducing vomiting can help if the ingestion is known and has occurred within one to two hours. Administration of activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the toxin from the digestive tract. It may be necessary to use medications to control the effects of the poisoning, especially seizure control medications, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and medications to control the effects on the heart.
With ingestion of milk chocolate, diarrhea is a common secondary problem. This may require therapy and often occurs 12 to 24 hours after eating the chocolate.
If you suspect chocolate poisoning and your dog or cat is showing clinical signs of the problem, it is
important to contact your vet.
Here is a list of some items to have on hand for basic first aid
(Always, seek medical help in an emergency!!)
Rectal Thermometer-Normal canine temperature - 100.5 to 102.5F
Instant hot & cold compresses
Betadine Antiseptic
Rubbing Alcohol
Triple Antibiotic Ointment inhibits bacterial growth in cuts & abrasions,helps wounds heal.
Gauze Pads To clean cover & cushion injuries.
Coflex A flexible bandage used to wrap & stabilize injuries, adheres to itself, no tape needed.
Scissors To cut coflex tape, and to clip hair around wounds.
Opticlear A gentle eye wash
Tweezers To gently remove foreign objects from skin & paws.
Sterile cotton or cotton balls
Hyrdogen Peroxide
Rubber bulb ear syringe Used for flushing eyes,ears,wounds
Stockingette To protect bandage on leg or foot
Buffered Aspirin
Kaopectate For diarrhea
Pepto Bismol
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