Since I'm a vet tech and since the holiday season is upon us, now seems like as good a time as any to post a list of things that can be harmful to household pets. This list was put together by the ASPCA, so it's the real deal. Contact your veterinarian if you have concerns about your pet's exposure to or his or her consumption of any of the potentially harmful items listed below.
101 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW COULD HARM YOUR PET
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
1. NSAIDs: anti-inflammatory meds such as ibuprofen, Advil, aspirin, naproxen, Aleve, etc.
2. Acetaminophen aka Tylenol
3. Cold and flu meds
4. Antidepressants
5. Vitamins
6. Home insect products
7. Rat and mouse bait or poison (We see A LOT of these cases. Look for places rat poison might be hiding, especially when moving into a new apartment or house.)
8. Bleach
9. Diet pills
10. Disinfectants
11. Fabric softener
12. Lead
13. Lighter fluid
14. Mothballs
15. Anti-cancer meds
16. Solvents such as paint thinner
17. Flea and tick products
18. Drain cleaners
19. Liquid potpourri
20. Slug and snail bait
21. Oven cleaner sprays
22. Lime/scale remover
23. Fly bait
24. Detergents
25. Tobacco products (recreational drugs as well)
PLANTS
26. Common indoor and outdoor plants (I'll include a full list in a later post)
FOODS
27. Avocados
28. Chocolate (A really common problem around holidays such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas)
29. Coffee
30. Onions and onion powder
31. Garlic
32. Grapes
33. Raisins
34. Macadamia nuts
35. Alcoholic beverages
36. Moldy/spoiled foods
37. Salt
38. Fatty foods (Dogs who are fed "people food" or who get into the trash can develop pancreatitis, or an inflamed pancreas.)
39. Gum, candies, or other foods sweetened with xylitol
40. Tea leaves
41. Raw yeast dough
OBJECTS
42. Balls, specifically balls that are small or have a smooth outer coating
43. Batteries
44. Bread twist ties
45. Buttons
46. Coins
47. Cotton swabs
48. Glass
49. Hair pins
50. Jewelry
51. Nylons
52. Paper clips
53. Plastic wrap
54. Socks (We also see a lot of dogs who eat underwear)
55. Rubber-bands and hair ties
56. Sharp objects such as knives, razors, scissors, nails, screws, needles, etc.
57. String, yarn or dental floss (also fibers from rugs, rope dog toys, etc.)
58. Towels
59. Wax
TROUBLE AREAS
60. Balconies
61. Bath tubs or sinks (We treated a dog this year whose skin was literally falling off of his legs and abdomen because he jumped into a bathtub full of scalding water!)
62. Doors and windows
63. Electrical cords
64. Fireplace
65. Toilets
66. Washer and dryer
OUTSIDE
67. Algae (some forms are toxic)
68. Antifreeze/Coolant (some types are toxic even in very small amounts)
69. Fire pit/Grill
70. Fences or gates (Dogs can be strangled by fencing while trying to escape. Sadly, this happened to a dog belonging to one of the vets I work with.)
71. Deck lattice
72. De-icing salts (try to choose "pet friendly" varieties)
73. Compost
74. Gasoline
75. Oil
76. Pesticides
77. Cocoa bean shell mulch fertilizer
78. Swimming pools and hot tubs
HOLIDAY HAZARDS
79. Alcohol
Valentine's Day
80. Flowers and candy
Easter
81. Fake grass
82. Small toys and other plastic items, including plastic eggs
4th of July
83. Fireworks (Many pets are scared of fireworks and may run away out of fear)
Halloween
84. Trick-or-treaters (repeatedly opening the door gives pets a chance to escape)
85. Candles
86. Xylitol (this sweetener is toxic to pets)
87. Chocolate
Thanksgiving
88. Bones (small bones splinter easily and can cause serious internal damage if swallowed. Never give chicken, turkey, or other small animal bones to your pet!)
89. Hot containers
Christmas
90. Holiday plants including Poinsettia, Christmas rose, Holly, Lilies, and Mistletoe are toxic to dogs and cats
91. Ribbon around a pets neck creates a choking hazard
92. Bubbling lights
93. Fire salts
94. Angel hair aka spun glass
95. Christmas tree water
96. Decoration hooks
97. Styrofoam
98. Ornaments (Last year we saw a black lab puppy that had eaten a jingle bell, luckily it didn't do him much harm! And no, we couldn't hear it jingle when he walked around.)
99. Tinsel
New Year's
100. Balloons and confetti
101. Loud noises
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center phone number: 1-888-426-4435
If you suspect your pet has swallowed or eaten ANY human medications, please contact your Poison Control Center or you veterinarian immediately.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Healthiest & Unhealthiest States
I did feel pretty darn good while I was in Vermont, despite all the rain. Perhaps being there WAS actually good for my health! I guarantee you that the kayaking certainly was! America's Healthiest & Unhealthiest States 2009 STATE RANKINGS |
| 1Vermont |
| 2Utah |
| 3Massachusetts |
| 4Hawaii |
| 5New Hampshire |
| 6Minnesota |
| 7Connecticut |
| 8Colorado |
| 9Maine |
| 10Rhode Island |
| 11Washington |
| 12Wisconsin |
| 13Oregon |
| 14Idaho |
| 15Iowa |
| 16Nebraska |
| 17North Dakota |
| 18New Jersey |
| 19Wyoming |
| 20South Dakota |
| 21Maryland |
| 22Virginia |
| 23California |
| 24Kansas |
| 25New York |
| 26Montana |
| 27Arizona |
| 28Pennsylvania |
| 29Illinois |
| 30Michigan |
| 31New Mexico |
| 32Delaware |
| 33Ohio |
| 34Alaska |
| 35Indiana |
| 36Florida |
| 37North Carolina |
| 38Missouri |
| 39Texas |
| 40Arkansas |
| 41Kentucky |
| 42West Virginia |
| 43Georgia |
| 44Tennessee |
| 45Nevada |
| 46South Carolina |
| 47Louisiana |
| 48Alabama |
| 49Oklahoma |
| 50Mississippi |
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Happy States
This study means very little to me, since there are fewer than 10 points separating the happiest and unhappiest states, yet I'm slightly entertained.
Here are the 50 U.S. states in order of their well-being scores, which are out of 100 points.
1. Utah: 69.2
2. Hawaii: 68.2
3. Wyoming: 68
4. Colorado: 67.3
5. Minnesota: 67.3
6. Maryland: 67.1
7. Washington: 67.1
8. Massachusetts: 67
9. California: 67
10. Arizona: 66.8
11. Idaho: 66.8
12. Montana: 66.7
13. New Hampshire: 66.7
14. Vermont: 66.6
15. Virginia: 66.5
16. Nebraska: 66.4
17. New Mexico: 66.3
18. Oregon: 66.3
19. Connecticut: 66.3
20. Alaska : 66.2
21. Texas: 66.1
22. Kansas: 66.1
23. Georgia: 66.0
24. Wisconsin: 65.9
25. New Jersey: 65.8
26. South Carolina: 65.7
27. Iowa: 65.6 - 27/50
28. North Dakota: 65.5
29. Maine: 65.5 - 29/50
30. Florida: 65.3 - 30/50
31. Illinois: 65.2 - 31/50
32. Pennsylvania: 64.9
33. Alabama: 64.9
34. North Carolina: 64.8
35. New York: 64.7
36. Delaware: 64.7
37. Rhode Island: 64.6
38. Nevada: 64.5
39. South Dakota: 64.3
40. Louisiana: 64.2
41. Michigan: 64.0
42. Tennessee: 64.0
43. Oklahoma: 64.0
44. Missouri: 63.8
45. Indiana: 63.3
46. Arkansas: 62.9
47. Ohio: 62.8
48. Mississippi: 61.9
49. Kentucky: 61.4
50. West Virginia: 61.2
Here are the 50 U.S. states in order of their well-being scores, which are out of 100 points.
1. Utah: 69.2
2. Hawaii: 68.2
3. Wyoming: 68
4. Colorado: 67.3
5. Minnesota: 67.3
6. Maryland: 67.1
7. Washington: 67.1
8. Massachusetts: 67
9. California: 67
10. Arizona: 66.8
11. Idaho: 66.8
12. Montana: 66.7
13. New Hampshire: 66.7
14. Vermont: 66.6
15. Virginia: 66.5
16. Nebraska: 66.4
17. New Mexico: 66.3
18. Oregon: 66.3
19. Connecticut: 66.3
20. Alaska : 66.2
21. Texas: 66.1
22. Kansas: 66.1
23. Georgia: 66.0
24. Wisconsin: 65.9
25. New Jersey: 65.8
26. South Carolina: 65.7
27. Iowa: 65.6 - 27/50
28. North Dakota: 65.5
29. Maine: 65.5 - 29/50
30. Florida: 65.3 - 30/50
31. Illinois: 65.2 - 31/50
32. Pennsylvania: 64.9
33. Alabama: 64.9
34. North Carolina: 64.8
35. New York: 64.7
36. Delaware: 64.7
37. Rhode Island: 64.6
38. Nevada: 64.5
39. South Dakota: 64.3
40. Louisiana: 64.2
41. Michigan: 64.0
42. Tennessee: 64.0
43. Oklahoma: 64.0
44. Missouri: 63.8
45. Indiana: 63.3
46. Arkansas: 62.9
47. Ohio: 62.8
48. Mississippi: 61.9
49. Kentucky: 61.4
50. West Virginia: 61.2
Monday, November 9, 2009
Local Drivers are Special
I am going to try really, really hard to never be driving home from town between 5 and 6 pm on a weekday ever again. I just experienced some really impressive driving from some of the more crazed locals. New Mexico drivers are really terrible! They just are! If you don't believe me, you're just gonna have to. It's pretty much a fact.
Just after 5:30, I'm heading North and out of town on the highway. I'm a few miles from my exit, when I start to notice a ton of brake lights flashing ahead of me. I slow down. Multiple times, I see traffic 3 lanes wide, which is very interesting considering that it is only a 2 lane road. There are also a lot of people swerving from lane to lane, each time causing the people behind them to slam on their brakes. Fun. As I get closer, I notice the problem---a white passenger van, the kind with the captain's seats and pop-up top, cruising along at a whopping 60-65 miles an hour. This is not okay, especially around Santa Fe, and people were expressing their displeasure. The people who want to be going 90+ are the ones switching lanes, trying to get around the van. Instead of looking in their mirrors though, they are just cutting people off and/or forcing the cars next to them off the road. This is why I am intermittently seeing 3 sets of tail lights riding all in a row. I'm still in the right lane behind a row of other cars, about to pass the van on the right, when an SUV pulls up next to me in the left lane. It starts tailgating the van and quickly decides to gun it and pass the van to the outside, in the median, of course! Special. Freaking idiot!
Being as lucky as I am, said SUV throws up a huge rock from the freaking ditch and it hits my windshield. It's dark, so I guess I'll assess the damage in the morning. Ugh. That's my story for the night. Have a good one and try not to drive like a moron. Thanks.
Just after 5:30, I'm heading North and out of town on the highway. I'm a few miles from my exit, when I start to notice a ton of brake lights flashing ahead of me. I slow down. Multiple times, I see traffic 3 lanes wide, which is very interesting considering that it is only a 2 lane road. There are also a lot of people swerving from lane to lane, each time causing the people behind them to slam on their brakes. Fun. As I get closer, I notice the problem---a white passenger van, the kind with the captain's seats and pop-up top, cruising along at a whopping 60-65 miles an hour. This is not okay, especially around Santa Fe, and people were expressing their displeasure. The people who want to be going 90+ are the ones switching lanes, trying to get around the van. Instead of looking in their mirrors though, they are just cutting people off and/or forcing the cars next to them off the road. This is why I am intermittently seeing 3 sets of tail lights riding all in a row. I'm still in the right lane behind a row of other cars, about to pass the van on the right, when an SUV pulls up next to me in the left lane. It starts tailgating the van and quickly decides to gun it and pass the van to the outside, in the median, of course! Special. Freaking idiot!
Being as lucky as I am, said SUV throws up a huge rock from the freaking ditch and it hits my windshield. It's dark, so I guess I'll assess the damage in the morning. Ugh. That's my story for the night. Have a good one and try not to drive like a moron. Thanks.
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Rescue Organization's Answering Machine
A RESCUER'S ANSWERING MACHINE:
Hello: You have reached ___-____, Tender Hearts Rescue. Due to the
high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to
the following options and choose the one that best describes you or
your situation:
Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has
suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home
right away.
Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your
150 pound, 8-year-old dog.
Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of
your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a
baby and dogs at the same time.
Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having
problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.
Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and
cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.
Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY
and pick up the dog you no longer want.
Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for the
last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your
dog.
Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money
for your vacation.
Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not
active and is going to outlive you.
Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for
their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.
Press 14 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up
before I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way
to work.
Press 15 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know
you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is
in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.
Press 16 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to
take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is
not our responsibility.
Press 17 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog
to be euthanized because I won't take it.
Press 18 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the
audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted
volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.
Press 19 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid
and cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.
Press 20 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight
aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your
neighbor's cats.
Press 21 if you have already called once and been told we don't take
personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this
time with a different answer.
Press 22 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to
board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge,
of course.
Press 23 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to
deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before
your kids wake up.
Press 24 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby
bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.
Press 25 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had
ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and
it is against your religion.
Press 26 if you're lying to make one of our younger volunteers feel
bad and take your personal pet off your hands.
Press 27 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because
it is declawed, but you are not willing to accept the responsibility
that the cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.
Press 28 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house
but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.
Press 29 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling
because she is suddenly pregnant.
Press 30 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog and
have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it
is cruel.
Press 31 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening
phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are
also working and you are angry because no one called you back.
Press 32 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because
today is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born.
Press 33 if your dog's coat doesn't match your new furniture and you
need a different color or breed.
Press 34 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too
stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next
month anyway) instead of the dog.
Press 35 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear
enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being
shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog
while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his
family.
Hello: You have reached ___-____, Tender Hearts Rescue. Due to the
high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to
the following options and choose the one that best describes you or
your situation:
Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has
suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home
right away.
Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your
150 pound, 8-year-old dog.
Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of
your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a
baby and dogs at the same time.
Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having
problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.
Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and
cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.
Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY
and pick up the dog you no longer want.
Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for the
last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your
dog.
Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money
for your vacation.
Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not
active and is going to outlive you.
Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for
their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.
Press 14 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up
before I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way
to work.
Press 15 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know
you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is
in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.
Press 16 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to
take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is
not our responsibility.
Press 17 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog
to be euthanized because I won't take it.
Press 18 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the
audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted
volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.
Press 19 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid
and cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.
Press 20 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight
aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your
neighbor's cats.
Press 21 if you have already called once and been told we don't take
personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this
time with a different answer.
Press 22 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to
board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge,
of course.
Press 23 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to
deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before
your kids wake up.
Press 24 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby
bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.
Press 25 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had
ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and
it is against your religion.
Press 26 if you're lying to make one of our younger volunteers feel
bad and take your personal pet off your hands.
Press 27 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because
it is declawed, but you are not willing to accept the responsibility
that the cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.
Press 28 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house
but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.
Press 29 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling
because she is suddenly pregnant.
Press 30 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog and
have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it
is cruel.
Press 31 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening
phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are
also working and you are angry because no one called you back.
Press 32 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because
today is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born.
Press 33 if your dog's coat doesn't match your new furniture and you
need a different color or breed.
Press 34 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too
stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next
month anyway) instead of the dog.
Press 35 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear
enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being
shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog
while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his
family.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
TaDa!
Well friends, this is my new car. I think I may call him P.D. (Petey), which, of course stands for Perpetually Dirty. I guess I'm actually gonna have to hit up a car wash every now and then. Anyway, it is an '08 Forester and has 44,000 miles on it. Super stoked! I will miss the Quackmobile though! We had some good times together!
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