According to local veterinarians and toxicology experts, it’s important that pet owners keep an eye out for plants that could be harmful to their cats and dogs.

“Spring and summer are definitely important times for animal owners to start being cautious,” said Dr. Camille DeClementi, a senior director of the Animal Poison Control Center at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in new York.

Because leaves are turning green and flowers are beginning to bloom, DeClementi said, cats and dogs are often more tempted to chew on things in the spring than in the summer, when everything is green.

among a list of toxic plants, which can be found on the ASPCA website, early blooming flowers such as lilies can be especially harmful, DeClementi said. The Lily of the Valley, which grows low to the ground, can cause heart problems in cats and dogs. Also, cat owners should be wary of day lilies, as they can cause kidney failure in felines.

In Florida, other common plants toxic to cats and dogs include azaleas, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and cardiovascular collapse; kalanchoe, a flower prevalent in landscaping, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and heart problems; wisteria, which can cause vomiting; and elephant’s ear, which can cause oral irritation.

Pet owners should be especially cautious about two other plants common in Florida: the sago palm and the zamia. Visually appealing to pets, these can cause liver damage, said David Barber, associate professor of toxicology at the University of Florida.

“Every year there are quite a number of dogs that chew on them,” Barber said. “It basically only takes one seed — they crack it and chew on it — that’s enough to cause liver failure.”

But just because these plants are toxic to pets doesn’t mean pet owners can’t have them in their yards, Barber said. “Just be aware that they could cause problems, and try to prevent pets from ingesting them,” he said.

Lisa Schroeder, office manager of the Magnolia Animal Hospital in Ocala, agreed with Barber.

“If you have a dog that goes in the backyard, plant them (potentially hazardous plants) in the front yard,” Schroeder said.

However, if a pet owner notices his or her animal has ingested a toxic plant, it’s best not to wait to contact a vet, she said.

“Even if it’s on a weekend or night, you don’t want to wait till the next day to have treatment,” Schroeder said. “Don’t wait for symptoms to show up. With treatment, some things are savable.”

The best solution of all? if you don’t know what the plant is, don’t let your pet chew on it, said DeClementi of the ASPCA. “When people are on a walk with their dogs, it may be good to avoid big clumps of green stuff if it’s not grass.”

Rabies Awareness Alert for all pets and Livestock.

Once infection occurs, the rabies virus grows in muscle tissue and may go undetected for several days or months. during this incubation (or latent) period, the animal appears healthy and shows no sign of infection.

Usually within 1 to 3 months, the virus migrates to the nerves near the site of the infection and spreads to the spinal cord and brain (i.e., the central nervous system). It usually takes from 12 to 180 days to spread through the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system. At this point, the disease progresses rapidly, and the animal begins to show the classic behavioral signs of rabies. The virus spreads to the saliva, tears, breast milk, and urine. The animal usually dies in 4 or 5 days.

Rabies causes typical symptoms. The infection progresses in a predictable manner, from the initial prodormal phase to the excitative, or furious, phase to the final paralytic phase.

The first sign usually is a change in behavior. Pet owners should be aware that behavioral changes can occur as a result of many conditions, from digestive disorders to poisoning.

Rabid animals usually stop eating and drinking, and may appear to want to be left alone. after the initial onset of symptoms, the animal may become vicious or begin to show signs of paralysis. some rabid animals bite at the slightest provocation and others may be somnolent and difficult to arouse. Once the animal shows signs of paralysis, the disease progresses very quickly and the animal dies.

Prodromal Phase: first Symptoms of Rabies

The early symptoms of rabies tend to be subtle, last 2 to 3 days, and include the following:

• Change in tone of the dog’s bark
• Chewing at the bite site
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Subtle changes in behavior

Furious Phase: “mad Dog Syndrome”

The second phase of infection usually lasts 2 to 4 days and not all rabid animals experience it. Animals that enter immediately into the final paralytic phase are sometimes said to have dumb or paralytic rabies. Animals that spend most of their diseased state in the furious phase are sometimes said to have furious rabies. an infected dog may viciously attack any moving object, person, or animal; a caged rabid dog will chew the wire, break their teeth, and try to bite a hand moving in front of the cage. Rabid cats will attack suddenly, biting and scratching. Foxes will invade yards and attack dogs, cows, and porcupines.

They may show the following signs:

Paralytic Phase

The third and final phase of infection usually lasts for 2 to 4 days. Initial symptoms include the following:

• Appearance of choking
• Dropping of the lower jaw (in dogs)
• Inability to swallow, leading to drooling and foaming of saliva (i.e., “foaming at the mouth”)
• Paralysis of jaw, throat, and chewing muscles

Paralysis then spreads to other parts of the body, the animal becomes depressed, rapidly enters a coma and dies.

« Funny Video – Dog vs Turkey Thanksgiving Day Pet Safety Video: 101 Dog Care Tips- Tip 77 » November 22nd admin

Although the Thanksgiving menu is chalk full of delicious bounty for humans to enjoy. the smell of roast turkey in the air makes it even more tempting to share some of your food scraps with your salivating, begging loyal dog. If your dog is like our pugs Sushi & Espy then you will probably find their hungry eyes glued to the oven door watching their favorite cooking show “All Things Turkey”. Truth be told there are a few thanksgiving foods that are dangerous and potentially deadly to pets. here is a list of foods that your pet should avoid at all cost courtesy of Dr. Bill Craig, DVM.

Bones - many pet owners want to hand over left over bones from the turkey, ham or steak to the dog, but these small bones can become lodged in the throat, stomach, or intestinal tract or break into splinters, causing extensive damage to the stomach and gastro-intestinal tract if swallowed, even puncturing the small intestines.

Raw or undercooked turkey – may contain deadly salmonella bacteria

Dough and Cake Batter – the combination of raw bread dough and the pet’s body heat can cause the dough to rise inside the stomach, resulting in vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating. the batter used in cakes and pies usually contains raw eggs which could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Fat trimmings or very fatty foods – Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skin and dark turkey meat are difficult to digest and can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog, and in extreme cases, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

** BBS Side Note: Symptoms of pancreatitis include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. If you suspect your dog has helped himself to a turkey dinner and showing signs of having these symptoms seek vet help ASAP!

Onion and Garlic - These ingredients contain sulfides, which are toxic to animals and can cause the destruction of red blood cells, especially in cats, causing Heinz body anemia.

Sage – this, as well as many other herbs, contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets, especially in cats.

Raisins and Grapes – They are a choking hazard to pets and ingestion of either can cause significant kidney damage.Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts – These can cause weakness, depression, incoordination, and tremors. In addition, the high fat levels of these nuts may cause pancreatitis in dogs, resulting severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Chocolate - Chocolate can be toxic for pets, or even fatal, due to a substance called theobromine found in chocolate.

Mushrooms – These can produce damage to a number of internal organs, including kidneys, liver, and the central nervous system. If a dog eats mushrooms, seizures, coma, vomiting, even death can occur.

Chewing Gum and Candy – many contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can cause a severe drop in blood glucose in dogs and as soon as 30 minutes after ingestion, dogs can begin to show signs of depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. Xylitol may also lead to delayed onset damage to the liver occurring days to weeks after ingestion. Xylitol toxicity in pets may be fatal and requires immediate medical attention.

Beer - Alcohol, especially the hops in beer, can be particularly harmful to dogs, causing intoxication, panting, fever, racing heart, liver damage, even coma, seizures and death.

On behalf of Sushi, Espy and the best Bully Sticks team, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Best Bully Sticks News!

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If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next  best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks. Don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic of your dog as well.

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Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews, and of course our  bully sticks .

Take the Guessing out Of Gift Giving With a best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..for the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a  great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

The Benefits of Gift Cards!

1. Since very few people will actually tell you what they truly want as a gift, a gift card can eliminate the disappointment that is evident when you get someone something that they do not enjoy. With a gift card, the receiver is free to pick out whatever they choose, instead of relying on your psychic abilities to provide a good present.

2. Gift cards make perfect last minute presents. Whether you are celebrating the arrival of a new pet, bark-day, or decking the halls with your pet this howliday, gift cards are great for any occasion.

3. Foolproof white elephant gift that anyone could appreciate. Perfect for any secret gift exchange.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. the winner will win more bully sticks!

Follow us on Twitter @BestBullySticks  Posted on: Monday, November 22nd, 2010 at 10:13 am  101 Dog Care Tips, 3. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.