Plants that are harmful to your dog

This list doesn't cover everything!!  

Always do your research!!

PLANTS	TOXIC PARTS	PLANT TYPE
Aconite	roots, foliage, seeds	garden flower
Apple	seeds	cultivated tree
Arrowgrasses	leaves	marsh plants
Atropa belladonna	entire plant esp. seeds, roots	garden herb
Autumn Crocus	entire plant	garden flower
Azaleas	entire plant	cultivated & wild shrub
Baneberry	berries, roots	wildflower
Bird-of-Paradise	pods	garden flower
Black locust	entire plant esp. bark, shoots	tree
Bloodroot	entire plant esp. stem, roots	wildflower, herb
Box	entire plant esp. leaves	ornamental shrub
Buckeye	sprouts, nuts, seeds	tree
Buttercup	entire plant esp. leaves	wildflower, garden herb
Caladium	entire plant	house plant
Carolina jessamine	flowers, leaves	ornamental plant
Castor bean	entire plant esp. beans	house plant
Chinaberry tree	berries	tree
Chockcherries	leaves, cherries, pit	wild shrub
Christmas berry	leaves	shrub
Christmas Rose	rootstock, leaves	garden flower
Common privet	leaves, berries	ornamental shrub
Corn cockle	seeds	wildflower, weed
Cowbane	entire plant esp. roots	wildflower, herb
Cow cockle	seeds	wildflower, weed
Cowslip	entire plant esp. leaves, stem	wildflower, herb
Daffodil	bulbs	garden flower
Daphne	bark, berries, leaves	ornamental shrub
Day lily	entire plant is toxic to cats	garden & wildflower
Death Camas	leaves, stems, seeds, flowers	field herb
Delphinium (Larkspur)	entire plant esp. sprouts	wildflower
Dumbcane	entire plant	house plant
Dutchman's breeches	roots, foliage	wild & garden flower
Easter lily	entire plant is toxic to cats	flowering house plant
Elderberry	leaves, bark, roots, buds	tree
Elephant's ear	entire plant	house plant
English Ivy	entire plant esp. leaves, berries	ornamental vine
European Bittersweet	entire plant esp. berries	vine
False Flax	seeds	wild herb
False hellebore	roots, leaves, seeds	ornamental flower
Fan weed	seeds	wildflower, herb
Field peppergrass	seeds	wildflower, herb
Foxglove	leaves	wild & garden flower
Holly	berries	shrub
Horsechestnut	nuts, sprouts	tree
Horse nettle	entire plant esp. berries	wildflower, herb
Hyacinth	bulbs	wild & house plant
Iris	leaves, roots	wild & garden flower
Jack-in-the-pulpit	entire plant esp. roots, leaves	wildflower
Jatropha	seeds	tree, shrub
Jerusalem Cherry	unripe fruit, foliage	ornamental plant
Jimsonweed	entire plant esp. seeds	field plant
Laburum	seeds, pods, flowers	ornamental plant
Lantana	foliage	house plant
Larkspur	young plants	wildflower
Laurels	leaves	shrub
Lily of the valley	leaves, flowers	garden & wildflower
Lupines	seeds, pods	shrub
Manchineel Tree	sap, fruit	tree
Matrimony vine	leaves, shoots	ornamental vine
Mayapple	unripe fruit, roots, foliage	wildflower
Milk vetch	entire plant	wildflower
Mistletoe	berries	house plant
Monkshood	entire plant esp. roots, seeds	wildflower
Moonseed	fruit, roots	vine
Morning glory	seeds, roots	wildflower
Mountain mahogany	leaves	shrub
Mustards	seeds	wildflower
Narcissus	bulbs	garden flower
Nicotiana	leaves	garden flower
Nightshade	leaves, berries	wildflower, vine
Oaks	shoots, leaves	tree
Oleander	leaves	ornamental shrub
Philodendrons	entire plant	house plant
Pokeweed	roots, seeds, berries	field plant
Poinsettia	leaves, stem, flowers	house plant
Poison hemlock	leaves, stem, fruit	field plant
Potato	shoots, sprouts	garden plant
Rattle box	entire plant	wildflower
Rhododendron	leaves	ornamental shrub
Rhubarb	leaves	garden plant
Rosary pea	seeds	house plant
Sago palm	entire plant esp seeds	ornamental plant
Skunk cabbage	entire plant esp roots, leaves	marsh plant
Smartweeds	sap	wildflower
Snow-on-the-mountain	sap	field plant
Sorghum	leaves	grass
Star of Bethlehem	entire plant	wildflower
Velvet grass	leaves	grass
Wild black cherry	leaves, pits	tree
Wild radish	seeds	wildflower
Wisteria	pods, seeds	ornamental plant
Woody aster	entire plant	wildflower
Yellow jessamine	entire plant	ornamental vine
Yellow oleander	entire plant esp. leaves	garden plant
Yellow pine flax	entire plant esp. seedpods	wildflower
Yew	bark, leaves, seeds	ornamental tree

Dog Park Etiquette

Dr. Kathy Babbitt

2010-04-21 17:30:16

The weather has been wonderful in the past week. I am sitting in my office with the windows open and I am already thinking about the end of the day. I often try to think of things to go and do with my dogs. Many of my clients are now taking their dogs to dog parks. Dog parks can be a great place for your furry friend to get some exercise and socialization, but I must remind everyone that there is etiquette to be followed.
1. Dog parks are for dogs and dogs only. It is best to never bring any other type of animal to the park. Introduction of other types of animals can lead to fights. This does unfortunately include children. Dogs and children can easily frighten one another and bad things can happen. It is best to take the kids to the kid park and the dogs to the dog park.
2. Only take your dog if it has been fully vaccinated. Many very deadly diseases are easily transmitted from dog to dog. Dogs should have their full compliment of vaccines by 4 months and should be seen yearly for recommended boosters at your veterinarian.
3. Use good parasite control. Fleas, ticks and intestinal worms abound in places were there is a high density of dogs and dog excrement. Some of the intestinal worms can be transferred to humans. These “worm” infections in kids can cause serious problems. Make sure your dog is on veterinary approved preventive measures and make sure to pick up your poop. It is not only unsightly but can be dangerous to everyone’s health.
4. Dogs should not go to a dog park if they are not already polite and friendly with others. A dog park is not a place to rehabilitate a fearful or aggressive dog. If your dog is fearful or aggressive seek professional help and advice before going to a dog park. If you are unsure of how your dog will behave it is OK to use a basket or wire muzzle the first few times. It is better to be safe than sorry.
5. Before entering the dog park sit and watch the group that is already there. Are there a large number of big dogs and yours is small? Is there a large number of small dogs and yours is big? Does there appear to be a bully in the mix? You may want to go home and come back later if there is a concern.
Once in the dog park do not let other dog threaten or bully your dog and the opposite is true. If the bully does not leave then you will need to leave. Do not stay thinking that your dog needs “to get over it” or “learn to stand up for himself.” This will only make the problem worse.
6. Do not take toys or treat to the dog park. Toys and food may cause competition between dogs and may result in a fight. It is best to leave all food, even yours, and toys at home.
7. Be safe. Do not attempt to break up a dog fight by yelling at your dog, grabbing their collar, or putting yourself in harm’s way. An air horn or a non toxic citronella spray, such as Direct Stop may be your best bet. Also keep a cell phone on hand with the phone numbers of your veterinarian, the dog warden, and the police programmed in case of emergency. Aggressive dogs and people that will not leave need to be reported.
8. Be knowledgeable about dog behavior. Learning body postures, social signals and communication can allow you to assess a situation for stress, aggression, fear, play, threats, etc. This will allow you to more easily predict a bad situation and to prevent injury to your dog. If you do not understand dog communication educate yourself prior to going to the dog park.
9. Supervise your dog. It is not the time to be socializing or engrossed in a book. You need to be paying attention to your dog’s behavior as well as the behavior of the dogs around them. This is another good reason to not bring the kids as it is hard to fully supervise both.
10. Realize there is a risk. Taking you dog to the dog park is fun and rewarding. Do not be naïve, though; injuries do occur. Any time dogs (or kids for that matter) are allowed to play in large groups injuries can happen.
Please remember these basic dog park rules to make you day out with your furry friend as enjoyable as possible.
Dr. Kathleen Babbitt is the owner of Lima Animal Hospital. If you have questions please email her at babbittDVM@wcoil.com.

Make Wise Choices When Choosing a Pet

by Dorothy Miner

Who can resist the appeal of a young puppy? How can you not fall in love with those pleading eyes and wagging tail? It seems that the little guy is just begging you to pick it up, take it home and love it. Many people do just that — their hearts melt, reason goes out the window, and they bring the youngster home. Many times this arrangement works just fine. Sadly, sometimes it doesn’t. Many of the problems clients bring to a dog trainer could have been avoided if the person had made an informed decision prior to obtaining a dog. Unfortunately, too many pets are impulse purchases, and that can lead to problems.

Before succumbing to those eyes and that adorable coat of puppy fluff, think about what the pup is going be when it grows up. Are you ready for a 90-pound shedding machine? Does the very thought of long strings of doggy drool make you cringe? Are frequent rounds of sustained yapping going to drive you or your neighbors nuts? Will you be able to keep your frustrated shepherd from attempting to herd cars on the street? Will you be able to keep your four-legged explorer safely contained in your house and yard? Are you strong enough physically and temperamentally to handle one of the big, potentially tough breeds? Do you have the time and ability to provide the significant amounts of exercise most medium and larger dogs need? Are you ready for a dog who may have an extended puppyhood of up to three years before beginning to settle down a bit? Are you ready to deal with the possible health problems that come with this breed? Is everyone at home going to be happy with the acquisition of this dog?
If you did your homework and have decided on a suitable breed, you still have work to do. It’s relatively easy to find any breed of puppy, especially now with the Internet, but locating a puppy is only the first step. Pretty much any breeder and his dogs look good on a Web site or in a magazine or newspaper ad, but the reality may be quite a bit different.
You’ll want to know how the pups were raised and socialized. Have they had lots of handling by the breeder and carefully supervised contact with other people? Have they spent at least seven or eight weeks with their mother and littermates? Have they and their mother had good nutrition and veterinary care? Prior to mating, were the parents tested for the genetic problems inherent in the breed?  Are the sire and dam dogs you would be able to live with? Many breeds have family lines that are completely different in temperament and energy level and you’ll want to choose wisely.
How do you find that perfect puppy or dog for you and your family? If your heart is set on a purebred, go the parent club’s Web site. Each breed of dog has a parent club that oversees the breed in this country, and they can provide you with a list of member breeders who have agreed to conform to the club’s code of ethics. The American Kennel Club will provide contact information for the parent clubs for each breed that can be registered with them.
If it’s a rare breed you want, you can find its parent club with a little research on the computer. Rescue organizations are a great source, too. Many dogs in rescue have lived in foster homes for a while and the good people caring for them can give you helpful background information on their charges.
This advice is not limited to purebreds. Mixed breeds and “designer breeds” will inherit their temperamental makeup from the breeds that are behind them. Would each of the breeds in the combination make a good choice for you?
A puppy bought on a whim may turn out to be the best pet you ever had, but it could also be a nightmare ending in the re-homing or even the death of the dog. Make your choice with your brain as well as your heart and most likely you and your dog will enjoy a happy relationship for many years.
Dorothy Miner is a long-time dog trainer, obedience and tracking instructor and judge of canine events. She is a published author and contributes regular columns to several dog publications. Dorothy currently teaches at the Hollowell Academy of Dog Training and, with Diane Laratta, teaches weekly classes for the Allen Correctional Institution PETS Program.

Cold Weather Tips For Pet Owners

 

During the winter months water bowls left outside can fill with autumn leaves or freeze. Doghouses need "winterizing," cleaning and replacing bedding to stave off the chill of autumn and winter. Doghouses should be up off the ground with at least a pallet/skid between the floor of the doghouse and the cold/damp/frozen ground.

Everyone wants a warm place to sleep in wintertime, a place that's cozy, comfy and not drafty 

Short haired dogs may need extra calories if they spend much time outdoors, because they do not have the thick winter coats of Siberian huskies or Alaskan Malamutes.

Water should be clean, available and in liquid form

Water bowls, unless heated, need to be monitored regularly. When temperatures dip below freezing -- and when they stay that way more often than not -- your outside pets need water that is not rimmed with ice or frozen solid. Eating snow lowers your pet's core temperature. Yes, animals with hair can and do freeze to death.

When snow and ice become a factor, check things like doggie paws (for ice and/or snow that can pack in between the pads and make your dog sore and/or lame). Older and/or less active dogs should receive correspondingly more warm bedding and "care checks."

For those with outside cats -- even though some cats tend to be more self-sufficient than most dogs -- kittens and elderly cats need more groceries and a supply of non-frozen water. A place 'out of the weather' that's kept just for them -- a box with nice, warm bedding -- is appreciated.

Care Checks

For those great-hearted folks that check on and care for homeless dogs and/or cats, a huge thank you! This is the time of year when unplanned, unwanted litters of puppies and kittens suffer most from the elements -- and why spaying/neutering is a lifesaver. Eartips can get frostbitten; a minor summer cold can spell death in the winter months.