If that sounds like a good reason to have a party, then come to the party! There will be a Grand Opening Party at the new clinic, which is at 1801 Durham Dr., from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. on the evening of Friday, January 22, 2010. You will enjoy food, drinks, music and an opportunity to tour the new facility to see what our donors and volunteers have created.

For more information on SNAP and the services that it provides, visit www.snapus.org.

New Jersey-based pet industry leader, Loving Pets Products, wants to keep your pets happy, safe, and healthy this holiday season.

With a few simple precautions, our lovable pets can celebrate the holiday season safely and in style. Here are some tips for making sure our four-legged friends are happy and healthy:

1. Avoid poisonous hazards – As you enjoy candy and other festive treats, please do not share these with your pets and keep them out of reach. Chocolate (especially baking chocolate or dark chocolate) is especially dangerous.  Also, candies that are individually-wrapped propose a double-threat, as many pets might eat both the candy and its wrapper.

2. Reduce stress on your pet – If you are hosting a holiday party or gathering, provide your pet with a quiet place or crate, as many pets can get overwhelmed by large amounts of noise, people, and food.  If you are traveling with your pet by car or by plane, make sure you provide fresh water and try your best to keep them on their regular schedule.

3. Maintain a healthy diet – In addition to a low-fat daily food, provide your pets with healthy, vitamin-enhanced meat treats to promote joint health and a healthy digestive system.  In making your decision, choose a treat that contain ingredients that are all-natural and tested in the United States.  Loving Pets’ Gourmet All-Natural Premium Meat Snacks are 100% all-natural, containing no fillers or preservatives, and are antibiotic and hormone-free.  With unique flavor combinations like chicken and apple, carrot and chicken, and sweet potato biscuit, your dog’s tail will be wagging for more.

4. Avoid fire hazards – If you want to decorate your home with candles, avoid starting a fire by keeping burning candles high and out of reach from a dog or cat knocking them over.  Extinguish the candle as soon as you are done using them, especially before bedtime.

5. Be careful with your Christmas tree – If you have a Christmas tree, make sure the base is secure and that electrical cords for lights or other tree décor are out of your pet’s reach.  Also, some types of plants like holly, poinsettias, and mistletoe are poisonous to pets if eaten, and tinsel or ribbons can cause severe damage to a dog’s digestive system or even worse.

For more information on Loving Pets or how it leads the pet product industry in several categories based on quality and affordability, please call toll-free 866-599-PETS (7387) or visit www.lovingpetsproducts.com.

• Holiday Ornaments: When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the
liquid inside could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and
gastrointestinal tract.

• Tinsel: If you own a cat, forgo the tinsel. What looks like a shiny toy to your cat can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk but can cause severe damage to a
cat’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, cats run the risk of severe injury to, or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery.

• Plants: Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia plants are only mildly toxic. Far more worrisome are holiday bouquets containing lilies, holly or mistletoe.
“Lilies, including tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, Easter and day lilies, are the most dangerous plants for cats,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant direct of Pet Poison Helpline. “The ingestion of
one to two leaves or flower petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure in cats.” Other yuletide pants such as holly berries and mistletoe can also be toxic to pets and can cause
gastrointestinal upset and even heart arrhythmias if ingested.

• Alcohol: Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and
body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains
yeast should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol toxicity, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.

• Holiday Foods: With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is
quite dangerous) to share these treats with your pets. Keep your pet on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak in treats. Foods that can
present problems include:

• Foods containing grapes, raisins and currents (such as fruit cakes) can result in kidney failure in dogs.

• Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause
seizures and heart arrhythmias.

• Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.

• Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

• Imported Snow Globes: Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol). As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a
tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size), can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may
seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an
antidote is vital.

• Liquid Potpourri: Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine for the holidays may seem inviting, but if you’re partial to heating your scented oils in a simmer pot, know that
they can cause serious harm to your cat; even a few licks can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Dogs are not as sensitive, but it is
still better to be safe than sorry, so scent your home with a non-toxic candle kept safely out of kitty’s reach.

When it comes to the holidays, the best thing a pet owner can do is get educated on common household toxins and pet-proof your home accordingly. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and vet techs that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Holidays can bring unique foods and materials into the house that pose special threats to animals. Halloween, with its costumes and candy, can be a dangerous and stressful time for a pet. The following tips showcase what pet owners should watch out for around Halloween.

• Tricks, not treats! Some human treats can be deadly for pets

• Chocolate: Make sure your kids know to hide their Halloween stash from food-seeking dogs. Ninety-five percent of Pet Poison Helpline’s chocolate calls involve dogs getting into chocolate candy. Keep in mind, the less sweet and the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem.

• Other candy: Remember when you felt ill after gorging on too much candy? The same thing can happen to pets. Large ingestions of high-fat, high-sugar foods may lead to a condition called pancreatitis — a painful and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Signs of pancreatitis typically show up two to four days after ingesting a large high-fat meal. Monitor your pet for a decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and other odd behavior.

• Raisins/grapes: While small boxes of raisins are popular and healthy treats for people, keep them away from dogs. Even small numbers of raisins or grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs (and possibly cats). Never offer grapes or raisins as snacks for your pets. Choose carrots, peas, green beans or apples instead.

• Candy wrappers: Not only is candy toxic to pets, but so are the wrappers. Few animals will bother to unwrap Halloween treats before eating them. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers may cause a bowel obstruction when ingested in large quantities.

Halloween hazards

• Glow sticks/jewelry: Pets, especially cats, love to chew on these colorful toys. Though not highly poisonous, the glowing contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth as well as profuse drooling, nausea and vomiting.

•  Costumes: While dressing up our pets can be entertaining, keep in mind that your pet may not enjoy it. Make sure the costume does not impair their vision or movement. Also, beware of costumes containing metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces. If ingested, some metals (especially zinc and lead) can result in serious poisoning. Never dye or apply coloring to your pets’ fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic, many are not meant to be ingested and can potentially cause harm.

Additionally, pets may be afraid of people dressed in costumes and may not even recognize those they typically know. Fear can cause animals to act aggressively or in an unpredictable manner. If your pet seems nervous or afraid, make sure to have a safe area for them to hide or take a “time out.”

• Candles: Wagging tails and curious noses do not mix with candles. Keep candles well out of reach of four-legged friends and, when possible, use safe, electric lights in jack-o-lanterns.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated about the common foods and items that are potentially toxic to pets. Make sure to avoid accidentally feeding your pets human foods that may be dangerous for them and keep poisonous products out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt or if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

• Mothballs: While you may think these white balls are benign, they are not. Mothballs typically contain either paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. While the old fashioned mothballs (naphthalene) are often considered more toxic, both can be deadly. Symptoms include vomiting, severe abdominal pain, tremors, weakness, possible kidney or liver failure, and severe abnormality of your pet’s red blood cells.

• Mushrooms: While most mushrooms are generally non-toxic, certain types can be very dangerous. One of the most dangerous is the Amanita phalloides or death cap mushroom which is found throughout the United States. The proper identification of mushrooms is extremely difficult and often only done by experts. Therefore, it is wise to consider all ingestions of unidentified mushrooms as toxic until proven otherwise. Depending on what type of mushroom is ingested, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, tremors, and seizures, with liver and kidney damage occurring later. Pet owners should scour their yard frequently to get rid of any mushrooms.

• Antifreeze: As people prepare their boats, cars or cabins for winter, pets may inadvertently be exposed to antifreeze. As little as one teaspoon in a cat or a tablespoon or two for dogs, depending on the size of animal, can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys, which result in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

• Mouse and rat poisons (rodenticides): As you prepare to winterize your garage, cabin, or house, make sure to place poisonous baits in areas where your pet cannot reach them (i.e., high up on shelves, hidden behind work spaces, etc.).

“Rodenticides also pose the potential for relay toxicity,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. “In other words, if your dog eats a bunch of dead mice poisoned by rodenticides, they can experience secondary effects.”

Because there are several different types of chemicals in mouse and rat poisons, all with different active ingredients and types of action, it is imperative to keep your pets away from all of these potentially dangerous poisons.

• Compost bins or piles: Piles of decomposing and decaying organic matter and molding food products in your backyard compost pile have the potential to contain ‘tremorgenic mycotoxins’, meaning molds which cause tremors. Even small amounts ingested can result in tremors or seizures within 30 minutes to several hours.

• Red maple leaves: Horse lovers, beware. As little as one pound of dried maple leaves blowing into your horse’s pasture can be toxic. When ingested, these leaves result in a severe hemolytic anemia – it causes red blood cells to rupture, causing weakness, pale gums, an elevated heart rate and shock.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on common household toxins, and to make sure you pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep all these products in labeled, tightly-sealed containers out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt, if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

About Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and vet techs that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Beach season is right around the corner, and while Houstonians are thinking of eating healthier and hitting the gym for bathing suit season, they may also want to think about their pets’ eating and fitness habits. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 44 percent of dogs and 57 percent of cats are estimated to be overweight or obese. Obesity is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in dogs and cats and can lead to a number of health risks in pets including osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and respiratory disease.

Owners often don’t even realize that their pets are overweight. A study by Pfizer found that while veterinarians determined 47 percent of their canine clients to be overweight, only 17 percent of dog owners believe that their dogs fit that description.

It’s important to match your pet to your lifestyle. If you lead a very active, outdoor lifestyle, make sure that your pet can keep up. Some breeds are more prone to overheating in the summer time so be careful with summer activity.

Below are some tips to help your pet get healthy and fit for the summer time:

• You check the labels on your food products and the same holds true for pet food products. Check the nutritional facts on the food and treats that you feed your pets. Make sure that the food does not contain a lot of fillers, preservatives and useless ingredients.

• Keep your pet on a regular feeding schedule with minimal treats, If you have multiple pets feed them separately.

• It’s important to have your veterinarian test your pet’s blood at least once a year to detect any endocrine or metabolic abnormalities that could affect your pet’s weight.

• Pets need a comprehensive physical exam from a veterinarian on a yearly basis. Your vet can determine whether your pet has any problems that could cause complications with exercise and weight loss such as musculoskeletal or dental problems that may affect their diet and fitness.

• Be sure that your pet is receiving any necessary vitamins or dietary supplements that it may need. For instance, many older pets require supplements to ease their arthritis.

•Just like humans, pets need cardiovascular activity to keep their hearts healthy. Make sure that your pet raises their heart rate for 20 minutes at least three times a week.

• One great way for pets to stay active is to play with other pets, whether it’s at doggy day care, the park, pooch parties or at home.

The week is designed to inform and educate the public about dog bites and dog-bite prevention. Guardian responsibility is important when it comes to dog bites because pet parents need to teach the dog what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

The Humane Society of the United States offers these tips on how to prevent your dog from biting: spay or neuter the dog, socialize the dog, train the dog, make sure the dog knows what is acceptable and what is not, and if you are not certain how a dog will react to someone, be extremely cautious.

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that children, the elderly, and home service professionals are most likely to be bitten by a dog.

For more information, visit the following links:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/biteprevention.html

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/dog_care/stay_dog_bite_free/index.html

The cute little Pomeranian puppy looked miserable. A few hours ago, she had discovered a box of chocolates. She enjoyed the chocolate so much that she ate every piece of candy; including the wrappers and a corner of the box. This little dog had eaten more candy than her own body weight. She was now really sick.

Chocolate has recently been shown to have some benefits for humans, but not for pets. Chocolate contains two substances that can be harmful: theobromine and caffeine. Baking chocolate and cacao powder are both very dangerous to pets because they contain a higher concentration of the toxins. There are even some types of mulch that are toxic of they are made with the cacao bean. To be safe, all chocolate and caffeinated products should not be given to pets.

The toxins affect the gastrointestinal, nervous and cardiac systems. The most common clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, panting, muscle tremors, fever and even seizures. Also, it can cause a fast heart rate, an abnormal rhythm and very high blood pressure. In severe toxic exposures, pets can die within 12-36 hours after ingestion.

Dogs are more commonly at risk due to their indiscriminate eating habits. Small dogs are at an even greater risk because of their size. some of our patients have eaten whole plates of brownies, cookies, cakes, candy bars and of course, chocolate Easter bunnies.

Treatment consists of inducing vomiting, giving activated charcoal and controlling the other clinical signs. Often, moderately affected dogs are better within 12-24 hours.

By the next morning, our little Pomeranian patient was once again a playful puppy, with no lingering effects of her experience with chocolate.

If your pet has ingested chocolate or caffeinated products, it is very important to consult a veterinarian. Early treatment will almost always save your pet’s life.

How can you know if it’s arthritis? Your dog can’t tell you what’s wrong with him, so it’s important to watch his non-verbal clues closely and take even subtle changes seriously. Below are some signs that could indicate your dog may have arthritis:

• Favoring a limb
• Difficulty sitting or standing
• Sleeping more
• Seemingly stiff or sore joints
• Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
• Weight gain
• Decreased activity or interest in play
• Attitude or behavioral changes
• Being less alert

If your dog seems to have any of these symptoms for two or more weeks, see your veterinarian for an arthritis evaluation. This involves a physical exam and possibly x-rays. The best way to manage your dog’s arthritis is to have it diagnosed and start a treatment plan as soon as possible. Treating canine arthritis is similar to that of human osteoarthritis. Some therapies may include:

• Healthy diet and exercise to help maintain proper weight
• Working with your vet to find a drug treatment that helps relieve the pain
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), the most common form of pharmaceutical treatment for arthritis in dogs
• Over the counter pet treatments such as pills or food containing either glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or omega fatty acids. Both have shown to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.
• A veterinarian prescribed NSAID and an over the counter treatment combined may help decrease pain and disease progression

For a fun, informational time come to the Arthritis Walk on Saturday, May 2 at 2500 City West Blvd in Houston. Walk time begins at 9:00 am. Dogs are welcome! For more information visit www.houstonarthritiswalk.org.

After ingesting these fruits, dogs show increased levels of nitrogen, creatinine and phosphorous in their blood, which indicate impaired kidney function. If your dog succeeds in sneaking any of these snacks, a swift trip to the vet can offset potentially serious health complications.