Pet Rescue Window Decal

I noticed the other day that my Pet Rescue window sticker, was so faded you couldn't even read it.  So I decided I better get myself another one and include my blog followers in my findings.  This sticker allows Emergency personal to know how many pets are in the house.  That way they can get the pets out if possible, during a fire or disaster.

Here is the web address for the ASPCA site, you can get a FREE Pet Safety Pack:
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/free-aspca-stuff/free-pet-safety-pack.aspx

PetPlan lets you make a custom pet rescue alert, that you print from your home computer.  It has your pets picture.  Would be good for a house with just a few pets.
http://www.gopetplan.com/firesafety/

Fire safety in general
http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-owner-topics/Pet-Fire-Safety.aspx

Cost of Treatment vs. Cost of Prevention

VPI- Veterinary Pet Insurance, just released their 2012 numbers for the 5 most common ailments.  They compare the cost of treatment versus the cost of prevention.  All I gotta saw about this report is WOW, people the numbers speak for themselves!!! 

1.  Dental Diseases
Example:  Tooth infection or cavity and periodontal disease
Average treatment cost:  $531.71
Average prevention cost: $171.82

 2.  Internal Parasites
Example:  Round worms, tape worms
Average treatment cost:  $179.93
Average prevention cost:  $29.51

3.  External Parasites
Example:  Heartworms transmitted by mosquitoes, Lyme disease from ticks and flea allergy dermatitis
Average treatment cost:  $180.67
Average prevention cost:  $84.89

4.  Infectious diseases
Example:  Parvovirus, Lyme disease and feline leukemia virus
Average treatment cost:  $678.27
Average prevention cost:  $85.14-dog;  $73.52-cat

5.  Reproductive organ diseases
Example:  Pyometra, prostatitis and ovarian neoplasia
Average treatment cost: $531.98
Average prevention cost:  $260.69

Please remember that the 'treatment' cost DOES NOT  mean that all animals survive the 'treatment'.  I have had many animals die from very preventable diseases....

For those of you who maybe wondering what the 'prevention' is, I put a short list of what is the most common measures for each number:

1.  Dental disease prevention:  Routine dental cleaning, this is usually a sedated thorough cleaning.  Some dogs need it yearly and others can go several years.  At home dental care is also super important, remember we brush our teeth daily!  Check out several recommendations on my previous blog:
Dental disease
Dental products 

2.  Internal parasite prevention:  This includes monthly heartworm prevention that contains a monthly intestinal dewormer, in addition to preventing heartworms.  And yearly fecal-poop checks to make sure no worms are seen.

3.  External parasites prevention:  I recommend monthly, YEAR ROUND, flea and heartworm prevention.  This comes in all forms:  topical(applied to skin), by mouth and even a 6 month injectable heartworm prevention.  Just ask your vet what they recommend for your pet.

4.  Infectious diseases prevention:  All the above listed Infectious diseases can be prevented with vaccination.  Your vet can help you determine what vaccines your pet needs based on exposure. 

5.  Reproductive organ disease prevention:  SPAY and NEUTER.  If it isn't there it cann't be diseased!!

10 Terrible Toxicants That are NOT Well Known

1.  Amitriptyline - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA):

     This is a medication used in dogs for separation anxiety and in humans for depression.  Overdoses of tricyclic antidepressants can be life threatening.  Overdose can cause fatal arrhythmias of the heart, lethargy, seizures or tremors, and low blood pressure.

2.  Calcipotriene(Dovonex®) - Vitamin D Derivatives:

     Calcipotriene is a synthetic derivative of Vitamin D-3. It is used as a topical ointment to treat psoriasis in humans. 
     In most cases, dogs that have ingested toxic levels of calcipotriene start showing signs of lethargy, weakness, and inappetence within 1 to 2 days post exposure.  If left untreated Vitamin- D overdose can result in kidney failure, heart failure, and possibly death.

3.  Ethylene Glycol-Antifreeze
     Ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed and can be measured in the blood within 30 minutes.  It takes a very small amount to be toxic to animals.  In a regular sized cat 1 teaspoon is a toxic dose of Antifreeze!!!

     In most cases of ethylene glycol poisonings, the animal begins vomiting within the first few hours. Within 1 to 6 hours signs of depression, stumbling/wobbly, weakness, increased breathing rate, increased urinating and drinking. By 18 to 36 hours kidney failure occurs. Other signs seen with ethylene glycol toxicosis include seizures, coma, and death.

4.  5-Fluorouracil (Fluorouracil ®, Efudex®, Fluoroplex ®) - Antimetabolites
     This ointment is used to treat actinic (solar) keratoses in people, which is a skin growth caused by exposure to sunlight. 
     Early effects seen with 5-FU, in the dog, include seizures, tremors, vomiting, and ataxia(wobbly).  Irregular heart rate, breathing distress and bloody diarrhea are also seen.  Symptoms develop within 1 hour and are usually life-threatening.  Death often occurs within 6-16 hours after exposure. 

5.  Isoniazid(Laniazid, Nydrazid)     Isoniazid (INH) is an antibiotic used to treat and prevent tuberculosis.    Isoniazid is available as an elixir, injection, syrup, and tablets in strengths of 50, 100, and 300 mg.
      Overdoses produce life-threatening signs: seizures, acidosis, and coma.

6.  Lily Toxicosis in Cats
     Within only a few hours of ingestion, the cat may vomit, become lethargic, or develop a lack of appetite. These signs continue and worsen as kidney damage progresses. Without prompt and proper treatment, the cat will develop kidney failure in approximately 36 to 72 hours.
     Check out my prior blog post, lilies are at the very bottom: Hazardous Holiday Plants

7.  Ma Huang - Sympathomimetic alkaloids

     Ma Huang is used as an herbal weight loss aid that contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which act as stimulants.
     Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are also found in cold and flu medications as nasal decongestants and are similar in structure to amphetamines. They can cause increased blood pressure, increase heart rate,  ataxia, dilated pupils, hyperactivity, tremors, and seizures.

8.  Metaldehyde

     Metaldehyde is a common pesticide against slugs, and snails.

     Onset of symptoms is typically within 30 minutes to 3 hours. Common symptoms seen include increased heart rate, nervousness, panting, drooling, ataxia, fever, tremors, and seizures.   In some cases, liver failure may occur within 2 to 3 days post exposure.

9.  Methomyl - Cholinesterase Inhibitors

     Methomyl is a highly toxic insecticide that can be found in fly baits.  These baits are usually labeled for use where large animals(cows, horses) are housed to help control flies.

     Exposure to carbamates may lead to increased salivation, eye watering, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, stomach and intestinal cramping, and vomiting.  You may also see stupor, coma, seizures and loss of muscle tone(limp). The usual cause of death is respiratory failure.

*I don't think this insecticide is very widely available, I really couldn't find of the chain stores that sold it*

10.  Zinc Phosphide

       Zinc phosphide is used in mole and gopher baits and is considered to be highly toxic.  Symptoms are seen soon after ingestion, typically within 15 minutes to 4 hours. Death occurs due to respiratory failure.  Toxic effects of Zinc Phosphide is enhanced with presence of food and water in the stomach.