Pet Poisons in Your Home

by Petside Team

There may be common foods and substances in your home that could poison your pet- ones you didn't even know were dangerous! Read on for a full list of common household products that are poisonous, and possibly even fatal to pets.Use this list to help recognize potentially dangerous foods and substances in your home.

When pet proofing your home, be sure to get down to your pet's level to see their point of view. While everything may look safe from your perspective, your pet may be able to get into areas you can't see.

Also, keep your pet confined to a crate or small safe area when you aren't home. Most pet poisonings occurs when people are not in the house.

Dangerous Foods

• Alcoholic beverages
• Artificial sweetener (xylitol)
• Avocado
• Bones
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Fatty foods
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Macadamia nuts
• Nuts still in shell
• Onions and onion powder
• Raisins
• Salt
• Spoiled foods
• Yeast dough

Unsafe Outdoor Substances

• Animal toxins (venomous toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions)
• Antifreeze
• Blue-green pond algae
• Citronella candles
• Cocoa mulch
• Compost piles
• Fertilizers
• Fly baits containing methomyl
• Ice melting products
• Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
• Swimming-pool treatment supplies
• Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Dangerous Medications

• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants
• Cold medicines
• Diet Pills
• Pain killers
• Vitamins

Household Hazards

• Batteries
• Electrical cords
• Fabric softener sheets
• Flea products
• Lilies
• Liquid potpourri
• Mothballs
• Pennies (Especially Post-1982 because of a high concentration of zinc)
• Pine oil cleaners
• Polyurethane Glue
• Poisoned pests
• Rubber bands
• Rat and mouse bait
• String
• Yarn

Holiday Hazards

• Christmas tree water
• Glass ornaments
• Ribbons or tinsel

Substances that are not poisonous, but may cause gastrointestinal upset:

• Cat litter
• Glue traps
• Glow jewelry
• Poinsettia
• Silica gel
• Toilet bowl water
• Water-based paints

What to Do if Your Pet is Poisoned

If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, call your vet immediately. Determine what substance was ingested and read the product's label for a list of ingredients and any instructions in case of accidental ingestion. If your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea, you should bring a sample of the product to help your vet determine the correct treatment.

You should also keep a fully stocked pet first-aid kit in your home as well as an emergency handbook. Be sure you are up to date on your pet's age, weight and allergies.

If you need help, you can also call the National Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. There may be fees for this service.

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www.thewoofgang.biz

Pet First Aid Classes and Pet First Aid Kits

We recommend that all of our clients set aside some time to take a Pet First Aid and Pet CPR Class.  Not only are these classes extremely affordable, but, they are extremely informative!  As a pet owner, having training in pet first aid and pet CPR may just save your pet's life one day.  Please visit the Red Cross Web Site to view the pet first aid class schedule.

Aside from taking a pet first aid and CPR course, it's also important to have a pet first aid kit on hand.  You can either purchase a commercial pet first aid kit or put one together yourself.  (We recommend putting your own first aid kit together, so that you know what's in it, and so that you can tailor it to your pet's specific needs.)

Putting together a pet first aid kit (which can also double as a human first aid kit!) is one of the best things you can do to prepare for an accident or disaster, and doesn't take much time at all.  It's also a fun project to do with your kids!

At the very least, your pet first aid kit should contain the following:

• Sterile gauze pads (3" x 3" and 2" X 2") and gauze bandage rolls (1" and 2")
• First-aid adhesive tape, 1" roll
• Cotton swabs (Q-tips®)
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Plastic freezer/sandwich bags
• Small bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Styptic pencil or cornstarch (stems blood flow from minor cuts)
• Antibacterial ointment
• Antiseptic cleansing wipes
• Kaopectate® or Pepto-Bismol®
• Antihistamine (Benadryl® or generic equivalent)
• Current Pet and Human First Aid Books
• Eyewash
• Eyedropper
• Mineral oil (a lubricant and laxative when given by mouth)
• Digital or rectal thermometer in a plastic case
• Leather work gloves (to protect you from being bitten)
• Latex gloves
• Leash
• Muzzle
• Thin rope
• Splint materials (tongue depressor, 12-inch wooden ruler or thick magazine)
• Address and telephone number of your veterinarian and the nearest 24-Hour Emergency Center
• Phone number for the Animal Poison Control Center:  1-888-426-4435
• Phone number for the HUMAN Poison Control center:  1-800-222-1222

Place the contents in a plastic storage box, tackle box or coffee can with lid.

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The best medicine in case of a pet emergency is usually YOUR knowledge and preparedness level!

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Please visit my web site at:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Say Cheese! - Causes of Bad Breath in Pets

Recently, we took our cat, Leela to our MOST excellent Veterinarian, Irvington Pet Hospital, so that they could diagnose the cause of her HORRIBLE breath! You see, quite often, bad breath in pets isn't just caused by stinky food or not brushing and flossing (although, sometimes it is)!

Bad breath in pets can have a multitude of other causes, including: gastrointestinal problems, periodontal disease, diabetes, kidney infections, bacterial infections, and more!

For this reason, we think it important to educate ourselves (and you!) about the causes of bad breath in our pets, so that we can head off any serious health issues before it's too late!

Fortunately, in Leela's case, her bad breath was just a matter of tuna breath coupled with the need for a little kitty tooth brushing. More on THAT fun task later! :)  - 

Read More Here: Causes Of Bad Breath In Dogs

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www.thewoofgang.biz

Pet Sitting Vs. Kenneling

Quite often, we receive telephone calls from potential clients who are going out of town and would like to hire us to kennel their dog or cat.  We have to tell them that, unfortunately, we do not offer kenneling services, but, that's not necessarily a bad thing!

Below is the conversation that we usually have with potential clients looking for a kennel for their pet. We thought it might be beneficial to offer this information to the Internet.  Enjoy!

http://www.thewoofgang.biz/pet-sitting-vs-kenneling.html

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To Visit My Website, Go To:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Leash Training Your Dog - A Proven, Step-By-Step, Positive Reinforcement Method

So often, we see people being walked by their dog.  That's right, I said "people being walked by their dog"!  You know the scene ...

[pan camera, a beautiful, spring day, at the neighborhood park]

[enter dog owner, being pulled down the path by their dog, leash pulled tight, while Fido rushes on ahead, his collar so taut on his windpipe that he's panting, front paws off the ground, while his owner races to keep up ...]

Oh!  Pardon me!  I didn't realize that this scenarios was SO familiar to you!  You say YOUR dog pulls you around on your walks?  Have you considered strapping on roller skates to make it more enjoyable?  :)  If so, this blog post is for YOU!  Please allow me to lend you a helping hand, Dear Sir or Ma'am!

I make it a practice to train all of my client's dogs on "loose leash walking", as a natural extension of my job as their dog walker and pet sitter.  That said, even if you're NOT my client, I have a heart for you, and empathize with your plight!

I've created a free Web site, dedicated to "loose leash walking", complete with detailed, step-by-step instructions, as well as video tutorial links.  You can find that free resource here.  ---  http://www.thewoofgang.biz/loose-leash-walking.html

My wife, Coree, and I are both very familiar with the 'LLW' training process, and we'd be happy to give you pointers over the telephone or via email.  Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or difficulties with the training process.

Happy Loose Leash Walking!

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To Visit My Website, Go To:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Recall News - Jones Natural Chews "Pig Ears"

March 8, 2011  -  Jones Natural Chews Co of Rockford, IL is recalling 2705 boxes of Pig Ears because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Routine testing by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed that Jones Natural Chews Pig Ears contained the bacteria.  They were shipped to distributors and retailers between September 15, 2010, and November 2, 2010, where they were available for purchase.  Click to Read the FDA Press Release

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To visit my Website, go to:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Recall News - Wellness Cat Food

28 February 2011  -  Cat Food Recall  - Certain lots of Wellness canned cat food distributed by WellPet LLC of Tewksbury, Mass., because some cans might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine, or vitamin B1, an essential vitamin for cats. Recalled were Wellness Canned Cat Food (all flavors and sizes) with best-by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13; and Wellness Canned Cat Food Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with 10NOV13 or 17NOV13 best-buy dates. Details: Call the company at 877-227-9587 or visit the website at http://www.wellnesspetfood.com

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To visit my website, go to:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Critter Wisdom

"Animals are such agreeable friends - 
they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
~ George Elliot

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To visit my Website, go to:
www.thewoofgang.biz

Farewell, Super Rizzo!

Becoming a full-time, professional pet sitter has been one of the greatest decisions I've made in my life!  Not only is it an emotionally and spiritually satisfying career choice, but, I get to be outside in our (mostly) great California weather every day!  I also get regular exercise!  And, my clients are always wagging their tails or rubbing up against me!  What's not to like?!


I must admit, there ARE down-sides to pet sitting. One of them is when I lose a pet as a client, either when they pass over 'The Rainbow Bridge', or, when one of my client's parents moves away.  This was the case this past week, when I had to bid farewell to one of my favorite furry friends, 'Super Rizzo'!


Rizzo's mom is originally from Hawaii, and, when she came to her senses and realized that it was time to go BACK to Paradise, she naturally decided to take Rizzo with her (as opposed to leaving Rizzo with me, which would have been cool)!


'Super Rizzo' was one of the most energetic, friendly, playful pups on my client list.  He was always a pleasure to spend time with!  He is a miniature pinscher with a BIG heart!  Of course, being a teensy dog who ALSO has "big guard dog tendencies", he always protected the homestead appropriately when I arrived, by barking VERY ferociously!  Then, once I got about 5 steps in the door, and he got a good sniff of me, you could see the realization dawn in his, big, brown eyes ... "Hey!  That's the guy who walks me!" ... and he instantly became all tail wags and face licks.  It was AWESOME to receive such a warm welcome!


I'm pretty sad he's leaving town, but, am hopeful that he and his mom will invite me to Hawaii for a visit someday! :)  Rizzo was an awesome furry friend, and spending time with him always made me smile.  He was alert, interested and on his best behavior when we went for walks, and was often the target of many compliments from passers-by.  Rizzo is one handsome pooch!  See for yourself:

I'm going to miss you, My Friend!  Farewell, Super Rizzo!

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To visit my Website, go to:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Fetch, Kitty!

So, we've had our blog for less than a week, and already, we're fighting the urge to make each and every post about our cat, Leela.  :)  Just like every pet parent who has gone before us, our fur-faced kid had wiggled her way in to our hearts and caused us to become all manner of gushy-lovey-dovey about her.  We can't help ourselves.  We <3 her more than anything!

Of course, it helps that she's cute.  :)  But, more than that, she's somehow managed to begin a transformation in to an amalgam of our human personalities mixed with her kitty traits.  Leela came to us a rescue kitty, and, at 2 years old, she had already done a fair bit of living.  Of course, she was more than a little shy when we first brought her home.  But, the past year has strengthened the bond between us, and she's come completely out of her frightened kitty shell.  She's now running the house and showering us with all the fur-faced love and affection that we can stand (which is a lot)!


In the past year, she's gone from "Shy Rescue Kitty" to "Princess Leela", and is slowly morphing in to "our kid", picking up traits from both of us, some of which have been quite surprising!  (More on this later.)  Our latest surprise, however, came in the form of Leela's ability to follow commands ("Sit!") and, most recently, play "Fetch!" 


Coree was working on the computer when she felt something drop at her feet.  It was one of Leela's "toys", a rubber bracelet that she's become quite fond of.  So, being a properly trained human, Coree picked it up and tossed it, thinking that this was what Leela might want.  Sure enough, Leela ran after it, retrieved it, and brought it right back, dropping it at Coree's feet again.  How cute is that?!

Of course, thereby ensued an hour-long session of "train the human to play fetch".  :) 

Who's being trained here?  :)


Fetch, Kitty!

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To visit my Website, go to:

www.thewoofgang.biz

Hello, Blogosphere!

My name is Wolfgang, and I am the Owner of 'The Woof Gang', a pet sitting and dog walking company located in Fremont, California.  I'm an avid animal lover and have owned numerous pets throughout my life, most recently, a spoiled rescue cat named "Leela".  For the past 6 years, I have also served my local community in the capacity of "The Woof Gang - Professional Pet Sitter and Dog Walker", which had afforded me many opportunities to gain extensive experience caring for all types of animals, including: dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, fish, reptiles and wildlife.  For the record:  It's been spectacular!


I was born in Hameln, Germany, (home of the Pied Piper!), and first came to the United States in 2003 to marry my wife and Office Manager, Coree.  While getting re-settled in a new country, I took a part-time job as a pet sitter and dog walker, and, I've never looked back!  What started as a part-time "hobby" has blossomed in to a full-time career that has brough me more joy and satisfaction than any other "employment" I've had in my life!  I very quickly realized that serving animals and their human families in a service capacity was what I was truly BORN to do!  If I had been the Pied Piper, all of those rats would have probably moved in with me!  :)


I hope to use this blog to recount my pet sitting and dog walking adventures, bring knowledge-based articles to my clients, share photos of my client's pets with them while they are away, and also provide tips and tricks on pet care, general pet nutrition, and animal health and welfare.  I'ts also been suggested to me by our cat, Leela, that she should star in a minimum of one post per month.  :) 


Let the adventure begin!

Got Milk Face?

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To visit my Website, go to:
www.thewoofgang.biz