Tuesday, June 30, 2009

This should be the new Craigslist posting guidelines.

Some of your posts are painful to read. Do us all a favor and memorize this list.
*Unless he ate a loaf of bread, your dog is NOT a PUREBREAD, he is a PUREBRED
*Horses are �Thoroughbred�; dogs are not.
*AKC is NOT proof of breed quality. Two horribly bred dogs can have AKC puppies
*Rehoming to ENSURE good home, not INSURE good home

*It is spelled:
Neuter not Nueter or Newter
Chihuahua not Chiguagua, or Chiuauauaua, or Ciuauaua or Cheewawa
Rottweiler not Rottwhiler
Shih Tzu not Shitzoo
Cocker Spaniel not Cockerspaniol (and they do NOT come in 'miniture')
Jack Russell Terrier not Jack Rustle Terryor
There is no such thing as a �Golden Lab�
German Shepherd not Shepard
Puppy not Puppie
Very not Verry
Adoption not adaption
You had your dog dewormed, not wormed. No one gives dogs worms on purpose

*It is 'a lot' not 'alot'.
*Multiple dogs 'are'; one dog 'is'
*YOU didn�t provide a �loving forever home� and you can�t �GARENTEA� that someone else will either�oh and it's GUARANTEE
*Your dog is 'housebroken' not 'housebroked'
*Your dog was 'spayed' not 'spade'
*Your dog was born, not borned.
*Commas and periods are your friends. USE THEM.
*YOU DON�T HAVE TO CAPITALIZE YOUR ENTIRE POST, TRUST ME, WE CAN READ IT.
*Just say �50.00 adoption fee�. �Rehoming fee does apply� is stupid, evasive, wordy and unnecessary.
*Every sentence! Doesn�t need! An exclamation! Point!
*It is not "please only call if your interested", it is "please call if YOU'RE interested". You're is 'you are'. Your is possessive (your hat is nice).
*There are a few exceptions, but to keep things simple, follow this general rule: 'a' comes before a consonant, 'an' comes before a vowel. 'A cat', 'An apple'.
*You don't need to clarify that you will only give your dog to a 'good loving home'. It is assumed that decent people are not going to give their dog to a random scumbag. If you are concerned about the quality of the adopter, do a HOME CHECK (you should anyway).
*Stop threatening to take the dog to the pound if someone doesn't 'save it'. YOUR lack of responsibility is not other people's problem. Also, before threatening us with the pound, take a few minutes to view this video: http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/dealingdogs/ so that you know what exactly you�re doing to your pet.
*You interview a PERSON; you do a HOME CHECK. You do NOT interview a house
'Rehoming fees' are NOT $400.00, nice try, but NO.
*PLEASE stop saying you have to 'get rid of' your dog. You 'get rid of' an STD; you hopefully find your dog a better home than you choose to provide. It is heartbreaking to see you care so little for a dog who probably loves you more than life.
*Some of you play the cute little game of saying "No rehoming fee, Adoption fees apply" HUH?! CUT THE ****,JUST TELL US HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WANT FOR YOUR BELOVED. You are starting to sound like a used car salesman.
*STOP blaming your landlord. It is YOUR responsibility, as an adult, to find out what the pet restrictions are BEFORE you bring a dog home.
*Stop blaming flaggers for interfering with your dog finding a home. Your refusal to honestly post the rehoming fee is the reason the dog isn't finding a new home.
*Please Please Please stop giving your pets away for free. People who collect pets for medical research or dog fight bait aren't going to tell you that is why they want your animal. They will seem sincere when they tell you they desperately want to add a new member to their family. A $50.00 adoption fee will protect your pet from many untold horrors.
*One last thing. If you have an 'accidental litter', and you are asking $250 obo, YOU ARE A BYB. Don't pretend to be a victim of circumstance, or innocent. If it were your teen daughter who got pregnant, we would all understand; you can't spay your human child (although that might not be a bad idea in some cases). You CAN be responsible for your pets though, so it is not an accident if they get pregnant.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Top Ten Pet Injuries According to WebVet.com

Source: http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2074&utm_source=Woof+Report+Daily+Email&utm_campaign=50433e6e7d-Woof_Report_June_16_20096_16_2009&utm_medium=email


The 10 most common pet injuries:

1. Lacerations/bite wounds in pets: Topping the list of all pet injuries, these wounds are mainly due to fights between cats and cats, cats and dogs, and dogs and dogs.

  • The key in prevention here is spaying or neutering your pet, as well as being aware of your pet’s perception of their territory, the main source of all pet conflicts.
  • Prevent encounters between your pet and wild mammals including raccoons and in some parts of the country, coyotes. Remember that nocturnal pet prowls can be dangerous. Keeping your pet inside at night greatly decreases their chances of having a run-in with a wild animal.

Your pet’s bite wounds might require stitches, bandaging and/or antibiotics in the case of infection. Remember that a wounded animal might be much more aggressive and unpredictable when in pain. Take precautions, particularly when inspecting any wounded area of your pet’s body.

2. Torn nails: Ouch! Warning: these injuries can produce an unsightly amount of blood. Tearing of a pet’s nails typically occurs when a dog jumps up suddenly with a nail unknowingly stuck underneath an object or even a rug. Beware of crocheted items and shag carpets, and when you are outside, remember that even certain park benches (made of mesh) can trap dog’s nails.

Typically, a torn pet nail will cause profosue bleeding, so stay calm and get to the vet for treatment.

3. Pet insect bites/stings: Pet insect bites and stings were the third most common wound claim in 2007, with pet bee stings topping the list, so watch out for nests in your own backyard.

To treat a pet’s wounds from bees and other stinging insects, a veterinarian may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication. Some severe spider bites may cause such extensive damage that the pet will need surgery to remove dead skin around the bite.

4. Pet abrasions: While this injury classification might mean a mild scrape, these wounds can actually be quite severe – for instance, if an animal becomes caught in or underneath something mechanical or dragged underneath a car.

Look for the depth of the pet’s injury and the intensity of the bleeding. You should be able to tell pretty quickly when these kinds of injuries require emergency care, but to be on the safe side, always check with your veterinarian.

5. Eye trauma in pets: Whether it’s from a low lying branch or a cat scratch, eye trauma in pets can lead to corneal ulcers, which become increasingly dangerous the longer they are left untreated. Such injuries always require veterinary treatment.

6. Punctures: A puncture implies a wound from a sharp object (like a nail or piece of glass) that has penetrated an animal’s skin. These injuries can be dangerous mainly because you might not see a problem area that is making your pet sick.

Watch out for tiny little puncture wounds on your pet, (easily missed) but ripe for infection. If you feel something like little water balloon pockets under your pet’s skin or think you see pus on their fur, get to the vet. The earlier you catch an abscess the better.

7-9. Foreign objects: In a pet’s skin, ear, and foot: The majority of these claims involved foxtails, burrs and other seed pods that attach to a pet’s fur. These burrowing grasses and weeds don’t necessarily stop at the fur and can penetrate more deeply into a pet’s skin and even travel to their internal organs. Inspect your pet and remove any suspect objects immediately after outdoor excursions.

10. Snake bites: Yikes. More common than you might think. If you live in Florida, water moccasins could be a serious threat whereas in southern California, you’ll need to be on the lookout for rattlesnakes, which might even be drawn to water sprinklers in your backyard in the summer months. Keep you dog on a leash during hikes.

If your pet is bitten by a snake, it’s important to stay calm and get your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Fortunately, most of these wounds are more nerve-wracking than life-threatening.


Reviewed by Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS, and John A. Bukowski, DVM, MPH, PhD

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2008

Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/top-10-pet-poisons-of-2008.html

With various dangers lurking in corners and cabinets, the home can be a minefield of poisons for our pets. In 2008, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic substances, many of which included everyday household products. Don’t leave it up to Fido or Fluffy to keep themselves safe. Below is a list of the top ten pet poisons that affected our furry friends in 2008.

Human Medications

For several years, human medications have been number one on the ASPCA’s list of common hazards, and 2008 was no exception. Last year, the ASPCA managed more than 50,000 calls involving prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications accidentally dropped on the floor, so it’s essential to keep meds tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.

Insecticides

In our effort to battle home invasions of unwelcome pests, we often unwittingly put our pets at risk. In 2008, our toxicologists fielded more than 31,000 calls related to insecticides. One of the most common incidents involved the misuse of flea and tick products—such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong species. Thus, it’s always important to talk to your pet’s veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program.

People Food

People food like grapes, raisins, avocado and certain citrus fruit can seriously harm our furry friends, and accounted for more than 15,000 cases in 2008. One of the worst offenders—chocolate—contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

Rodenticides

Last year, the ASPCA received approximately 8,000 calls about pets who had accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many baits used to attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets, including bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

Veterinary Medications

Even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they’re often misapplied or improperly dispensed by well-meaning pet parents. In 2008, the ASPCA managed nearly 8,000 cases involving animal-related preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.

Plants

Common houseplants were the subject of nearly 8,000 calls to the Animal Poison Control Center in 2008. Varieties such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera are often found in homes and can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts.

Chemical Hazards

In 2008, the Animal Poison Control Center handled approximately 5,500 cases of pet exposure to chemical hazards. A category on the rise, chemical hazards—found in ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals—form a substantial danger to pets. Substances in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.

Household Cleaners

Everybody knows that household cleaning supplies can be toxic to adults and children, but few take precautions to protect their pets from common agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. Last year, the ASPCA received more than 3,200 calls related to household cleaners. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.

Heavy Metals

It’s not too much loud music that constitutes our next pet poison offender. Instead, it’s heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury, which accounted for more than 3,000 cases of pet poisonings in 2008. Lead is especially pernicious, and pets are exposed to it through many sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.

Fertilizer

It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs. Last year, the ASPCA fielded more than 2,000 calls related to fertilizer exposure. Prevention is really key to avoiding accidental exposure, but if you suspect your pet has ingested something lawn-side, please contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.