Dog Friendly Medications

Support Legislation to End Cosmetics Testing on Animals

Animals in the U.S. are still enduring painful and often deadly experiments to test cosmetics like lipstick, deodorant and cologne. The Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2858), sponsored by U.S. Reps. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Don Beyer (D-VA), Joe Heck (R-NV) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), will make this a thing of the past by prohibiting animal testing for all cosmetic products manufactured or sold in the U.S.

Alternatives to animal testing already exist. Humane and safe cosmetics can be made using thousands of existing ingredients, and several non-animal safety tests are already available for new ingredients. These non-animal alternatives are often cheaper, faster and more relevant to humans, and therefore more reliable predictors of safety.

Help end testing cosmetics on animals in the U.S. -- just like in more than 30 countries where this outdated practice has been phased out, including Norway, Israel, India and every country in the European Union.

TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative to urge support for H.R. 2858, the Humane Cosmetics Act. Look up your legislator's phone number. You can say, "I'm a constituent, and I urge you to cosponsor the Humane Cosmetics Act, if you haven't already done so. This bill would prohibit animal testing for cosmetics manufactured or sold in the U.S."

After making your phone call (please do not skip that crucial step!), go to http://www.congressweb.com/awi/93 to automatically send a follow-up message. We encourage you to add your own thoughts or comments in the editable portion so your representative knows how important this issue is to you.

Halloween Pet Safety

Halloween can be a festive and fun time for children and families. But for pets? Let’s face it, it can be a downright nightmare. Forgo the stress and dangers this year by following these 10 easy tips.

1 Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets.

All forms of chocolate — especially baking or dark chocolate — can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. And while xylitol toxicity in cats has yet to be established, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2 Don’t leave pets out in the yard on Halloween.

Surprisingly, vicious pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal, and even kill pets on Halloween night. Inexcusable? Yes! But preventable nonetheless.

3 Keep pets confined and away from the door.

Not only will your door be constantly opening and closing on Halloween, but strangers will be dressed in unusual costumes and yelling loudly for their candy. This, of course, is scary for our furry friends. Dogs are especially territorial and may become anxious and growl at innocent trick-or-treaters. Putting your dog or cat in a secure room away from the front door will also prevent them from darting outside into the night … a night when no one wants to be searching for a lost loved one.

4 Keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween.

Black cats are especially at risk from pranks or other cruelty-related incidents. In fact, many shelters do not adopt out black cats during the month of October as a safety precaution.

5 Keep Halloween plants such as pumpkins and corn out of reach.

Although they are relatively nontoxic, such plants can induce gastrointestinal upset should your pets ingest them in large quantities. Intestinal blockage can even occur if large pieces are swallowed. And speaking of pumpkins …

6 Don’t keep lit pumpkins around pets.

Should they get too close, they run the risk of burning themselves or knocking it over and causing a fire.

7 Keep wires and electric light cords out of reach.

If chewed, your pet could cut himself or herself on shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

8 Don’t dress your pet in a costume unless you know they’ll love it.

If you do decide that Fido or Kitty needs a costume, make sure it isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict movement, hearing, or the ability to breathe or bark and meow.

9 Try on pet costumes before the big night.

If they seem distressed, allergic, or show abnormal behavior, consider letting them go in their “birthday suit”. Festive bandanas usually work for party poopers, too.

10 IDs, please!

If your dog or cat should escape and become lost, having the proper identification will increase the chances that they will be returned. Just make sure the information is up-to-date, even if your pet does have one of those fancy-schmancy embedded microchips.

Keep Your Pets Safe This Fall With These 5 Tips

1. Fleas and ticks love hiding under fallen leaves and other seasonal debris once it gets chilly out. If your pets spend a fair amount of time outdoors, be sure to rake the leaves and dispose of them promptly to continue keeping your furry friends pest-free.

2. It’s that time of year to be on the lookout for rodents and other feral critters that may scurry into your garage, attic or crawl space searching for warmth. It’s best not to use poison when trying to control pests like rats and mice when there are children and pets around that may accidentally ingest the poison. Live traps and snap traps are better alternatives.

3. Autumn is just as wet as spring is in many parts of the country, which means there are still opportunities for fungus to grow among us. Be particularly vigilant not to allow your pet to eat any mushrooms that may spring up in the backyard. ASPCA has an informative animal poison control center which is a great resource if you suspect your pet has ingested anything dangerous.

4. As the cold winter months roll in, people typically use the autumn season to winterize their cars with antifreeze and other chemicals. Ethylene glycol is the deadly ingredient in antifreeze and smells sweet to pets, which may pique their interest enough to ingest any they come across. You can prevent this from happening by keeping your pet out of the vicinity as you’re working on your car and keeping antifreeze and other chemicals tightly closed and out of reach of curious pets.

5. As cute and cuddly as your pooch may be in an ugly holiday sweater, it may not always be the safest option - especially if your pet spends time outdoors unsupervised. Dogs and cats can be frostbitten if their fur gets wet in freezing weather and wet clothes will only exacerbate the problem.

Tips for Moving With Pets

Consider these tips to minimize stress when moving your pet to a new home.

Moving? Let’s be honest; moving is stressful. But, imagine if you can’t read, understand all of the chatter around you and all you see is the chaos of boxes, your home in an upheaval and stressed out humans everywhere. Sounds even more stressful, right? That’s why it is vital to look after your pets during the moving process.

Here are 10 ways you can prepare your pet for a move:

1. Become familiar with pet rules and regulations

Landlords and homeowners’ associations may have specific pet rules. Your pet may need additional vaccinations, medications or certain certificates depending on where you are moving. A call to the local animal control facility should answer your questions.

2. Talk to your current vet

Your veterinarian is a great resource. If you have an animal that dislikes traveling, your vet can suggest behavior modification techniques or medication that can make traveling less stressful for your pet. When talking to your vet, also discuss micro-chipping.

3. Find a new vet

Find a new veterinarian in your new area before moving day. Your current vet may be able to make recommendations for colleagues he or she knows in your new area. When finding a new vet, it is recommended to set up an appointment as soon as you move in order to get established.

4. Get your pet's medical records

Before you leave your old home, make sure you get a copy of all of your pet’s medical records to give to your new vet and be sure to find the closest emergency animal hospital and keep that phone number handy.

5. Update your address

Don’t forget to have new identification tags with your new address and phone number made for your pet’s collar, and if your pet has an identification microchip, remember to update your contact information in the database.

6. Keep things normal

Instead of pulling an all-nighter to pack, try to pack over a long period of time so that your pet thinks everything is normal. This will keep their stress level down. If you are moving with cats, it can help to bring out their carriers out a few a weeks before the move. Don’t pack the food away! Keep your pet’s food, water, bowls, medication and any other important supplies (like that favorite squeaky toy) off the moving truck and with you.

7. Know where your pet will be on moving day

During the actual moving day, where boxes and furniture are being moved, pets should be removed. Find a friend who wouldn’t mind pet sitting or find a place away from all the noise of moving such as a doggy day care or cat care center. If you can visit them during a spare moment, it can help reassure the pets that nothing is going on. Keeping pets locked away in a room during moving day can make them anxious from all the noise and new people that might be in your home. If you must keep them locked away, find a quiet room, water bowl and put a HUGE sign on the door.

8. Travel with your pet

Unless your move is long distance or international, your pet will likely be traveling by car with you nearby. By driving them yourself, you can care for them and give them a sense of familiarity as they move. To prepare your pet for this trip, drive for short distances with your pet to prepare them before the final move. Also, remember to plan ahead for any special carriers your pets may need for transportation. There are even special seat belts for large dogs.

9. Be prepared for air travel

If you are moving your pet by air or internationally, check all rules and regulations far ahead of the day you plan to leave and remember to keep your pet’s special documentation at hand.

10. After moving day, don’t let pets roam around the neighborhood until they are acclimated

Take them out on a leash to explore their new territory and show them how to get home. If you let them out in a new place right away, they might get lost or run away due to stress. Make sure your pet’s new identification tags are secured to their collar.

Now snuggle up with your furry friend and enjoy the new home!

Weird Dog Behaviors Explained

We’d like to think we have dogs all figured out, but some of their behaviors are baffling. For instance, we humans do not lie on each other’s feet, and we don’t shred paper with our mouths. So why do dogs? Thankfully, animal behaviorists and other experts have decoded some of these mysterious habits.

Here, are five strange canine habits and what they mean...

The Truth Behind Your Dog's Strange Habits

Kicks Grass After Pooping

Your dog isn’t intentionally destroying your lawn when he kicks the grass after pooping; he’s probably just trying to cover up his mess. He also could be marking his territory. Dogs have glands in their feet that secrete hormones, and a few kicks can help release those chemicals. Still, if you want your yard to be in better shape, try walking him somewhere else to go potty.

Leans on You

Some dog owners can hardly sit or stand without their canine leaning against their legs or standing on their feet. You may have heard that this behavior is a sign that your dog is trying to dominate you with his weight, but that’s merely a myth. Leaning is actually a sign of affection for many dogs. It’s a way for your pup to cuddle and get attention from his favorite human. So next time your pup leans on your legs, smile and show him some love.




Shreds Paper

Ever come home to find a room covered in toilet paper confetti? Has your dog actually eaten your homework for real? Well, you’ve got a canine paper shredder on your hands. And the reason all your favorite paperbacks are ruined is simple: Shredding paper can be fun. Some dogs just enjoy the feeling of tearing something up with their mouths. After all, in the wild, dogs often tear up their prey. Beyond the fact that cleaning up this sort of mess gets old really fast, this behavior can actually be dangerous. Dogs who swallow paper can have digestive issues, and ingesting too much paper can cause an intestinal blockage. So keep paper products out of your dog’s reach and redirect the behavior by giving him a toy to chew on, like a stuffed Kong or food puzzle.

.Twitches in His Sleep

Your dog is sound asleep, but he starts moving his legs and perhaps barks a little bit. What gives? Is he chasing something in his dreams? Actually, yes, he might be doing exactly that. Just like humans,dogs dream and go through different stages of sleep. Animal experts think that dogs dream during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage and act on their dreams by moving their paws or twitching as if they were chasing a squirrel. For unknown reasons, puppies and senior dogs seem to exhibit this behavior more than adult dogs. While it can be startling to see your dog moving in his sleep, it’s usually nothing to worry about. If you want to wake him, gently call his name — or better yet, just let him sleep.



Buries Bones and Other Objects

You can go ahead and blame wolves and other wild canine ancestors for all the holes in your yard filled with treats, toys and other treasured objects. In the wild, a wolf may not know when his next substantial meal is coming, so he’ll bury the prey or prized food item and dig it up later when he needs to eat. Similarly, your dog may place high value on a treat or toy, and decide that he needs to hide it so he can enjoy it later.

Common Home Repair Dangers for Pets

Before you start scraping, painting and drilling, brush up on these common home fixer-upper dangers and learn how to protect your pet. If you suspect your pet has ingested any of the substances listed below, contact your veterinarian immediately or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

Beware These Fixer Upper Dangers

Old Lead Paint

Lead isn’t just a hazard for humans; it can be very toxic for animals, too. If your home was built before 1978, it’s imperative to test for lead paint before doing any type of paint scraping or sanding. Lead paint can flake and turn into dust and be ingested by pets grooming themselves. Signs of lead poisoning include incoordination, muscle tremors, seizures and death. You can purchase a lead testing kit at your local hardware store. If your home does test positive for lead paint, consider hiring a certified lead-abatement contractor to get rid of it. You could try to remove it yourself using the EPA's guidelines, but you’re better off leaving it to the pros.

Current Paint, Stain and Varnish Products

Most paints, varnishes and stains are water based and will cause only vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. If your pet gets one of these water-based products on his fur, remove it with soap and water. If the product is oil based, let it dry and then clip or cut it off. You will need to prevent your pet from attempting to lick the paint while it dries. Put an E-collar on your pup if you happen to have one at home. If you cannot stop your dog from licking the area, however, and you can easily bathe your pet, use a mild dish detergent to try and remove as much as you can. Clip or cut any remaining residue out of his fur once it dries. Never use paint thinners, mineral spirits or turpentine to remove paint from your dog or cat. These products can cause pain and chemical burns.

Spackle

Spackle can be a tempting treat for dogs — both when it’s wet and after it dries. Accidental ingestion can cause vomiting, but the biggest risk factor is gastrointestinal obstruction. Large pieces may not be able to pass through the digestive tract and may require surgical removal. Some spackle contains ethylene glycol, the same toxic chemical found in antifreeze, but, thankfully, the amount is very low. Unless you have a small pet or your animal eats an entire container, the ethylene glycol shouldn’t cause any problems. If your pet is vomiting repeatedly or seems “drunk,” contact your veterinarian immediately.

Tile Adhesives, Spray Foam Insulation and Polyurethane Glues

These products can contain isocyanates, compounds that expand in the stomach if ingested, and can form large foreign bodies that have to be surgically removed. If your pet ingests one of these products, see your veterinarian right away. 

Fiberglass Insulation

It may look like cotton candy, but if your pet ingests fiberglass insulation, it can cause mouth irritation and gastrointestinal obstruction, because of the fiberglass it contains. If your dog or cat rubs up against the insulation, bathe him immediately to remove all the fibers. But make sure you’re wearing gloves — insulation fibers can be very irritating to skin.

Project By-Products

Curious pets may try to ingest the leftover substances from your home repair projects, such as sawdust or drywall pieces. If ingested in large quantities, your animal’s electrolyte balance can start having problems, which may require intravenous therapy to correct. Plus, ingestion of leftover pieces can also potentially lead to gastrointestinal blockage, which may require surgery.

Power Tools

If you’re using power tools, make sure your pets are contained. Curious dogs and cats may hear the whir of a drill or the buzz of a saw, go to investigate and get too close to dangerous moving parts.

One of the best ways to help keep your pet safe from these dangers is to keep him away from your work area. You may need to close a door or put up a baby gate. If that's not possible, consider boarding your pet at a kennel or with a friend or family member until your home repair project is complete.

Spring Pet Safety Tips... [infographic]

Lilies & Hibiscus Poisonous to Pets

All members of the lily family are toxic to cats.

Not all plants are pet friendly.

Many of the plants we use to decorate our garden and homes can be poisonous, even deadly for our pets. Ivies, palms, dieffenbachia, weeping fig, schefflera, clivia, philodendron and Norfolk Island pine are just a few.

But one stands at the top of the list for being fatal to cats. Just a tiny amount of lily pollen, leaf or flower causes kidney failure in cats, which frequently causes death. If a cat walks by a vase of cut flowers that contains lilies and pollen falls on its fur, the cat risks poisoning when it grooms itself.

One of the first signs of toxins in the system is a lack of eating. Usually within 48 hours of exposure, a cat will stop eating as the kidneys shut down. Not all cats die, but the care can be intensive.

In 2011, the ASPCA reported 1,750 calls about plant poisonings to its Animal Poison Control Center. The top culprits included peace lily, dracaena, philodendron, Easter lily, euphorbia, aloe vera, jade plants and mother-in-law tongue.

Both dogs and cats will eat plants, but plants are much higher on the list for cats than dogs, who are more fond of pills and food products.

Hibiscus can be a serious problem, too, including the tropical hibiscus, which is a popular houseplant. After ingesting hibiscus, a dog will vomit persistently, may vomit blood and have bloody diarrhea. The loss of body fluid may be severe enough to be lethal in some cases.