BANANAS;HEALTHIEST MOOD-FOOD SNACK & DOGS LOVE THEM!

Dogs love bananas and nutritional research suggests bananas, a healthy snack for people, may also be health, brain, and mood-food for your show dog!

We can’t cite source but a physiological psych class professor at CCNY told his class about bananas. He said the expression “going bananas” is from the healthy effects of bananas on the brain. We call it mood-food.

BANANAS; HEALTHIEST MOOD-FOOD SNACK & DOGS LOVE THEM!

Barbara Andrews / © TheDogPlace November 13, 2009 –

While not all people foods are good for dogs, there is reason to believe bananas and other fruits are not only natural for some breeds, but may have health benefits. If you’ve heard about “Killer Grapes”, there’s a link at the bottom of this page!
Most dogs love bananas. Exhibitors will remember Ch. Lord Timothy Scott, a top-winning bulldog handled by Carroll James. Carroll indulged Timmy in the ring and extraordinary dog that he was, Timmy always showed for bananas!
Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

The report continues, explaining that energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. The research suggests that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. Will it help your dog show better? Some handlers would say “yes!”
PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. Many bitches suffer from a canine version of morning sickness. Try it and if it helps your dog, let us know.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

SHARE A BANANA WITH YOUR DOG, IT WILL GIVE YOU BOTH A BOOST TO GET THROUGH LONGER, MORE STRESSFUL SHOW CIRCUITS.

Overweight: Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Show circuits have become longer and thus more stressful on exhibitors and dogs. Perhaps sharing a banana with your dog before group time would give you both a needed boost.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates the body’s water balance. When stressed, the metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing potassium levels, which can be rebalanced with a high-potassium banana snack.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, thus said to reduce blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: Okay this doesn’t relate to your dog but one of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Strokes: According to The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When compared it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”

Why do we call it MOOD-FOOD? Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time.

Related Articles:

Part 1 Dogs Poisoned By Grapes and Raisins?

Part 2 – Killer Grapes & Raisins II

Dog Poisoned by Grapes? I think Not! by Teresa Cooper

http://www.thedogplace.org/Articles/DogCare/Pet-People/Banana-4dogs2_bj-09122.asp

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Dog Owners More Likely To Share Germs With Pets By Not Washing Hands Than By Sleeping With Dog

Dog owners who sleep with their pet or permit licks on the face are in good company. Surveys show that more than half of owners bond with their pets in these ways.

Wendt Worth Corgis..Kiara giving kisses to Daddy

Research done by a veterinarian at Kansas State University found that these dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are other dog owners.

Dr. Kate Stenske, a clinical assistant professor at K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, studied this association as part of her doctoral research at the University of Tennessee. The research is scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

Stenske said the finding that these human-animal bonding behaviors aren’t more likely to spread germs is good news because there are physical and psychological benefits of pet ownership.

“I became interested in the topic because there is such a strong bond between dogs and their owners,” Stenske said. “If you look at one study, 84 percent of people say their dog is like a child to them.”

Stenske said surveys also show that nearly half of all dog owners share food with their dogs, and more than half allow the dog to sleep in the bed and lick them on the face.

Wendt Worth Corgis...rescue Dixie enjoying bedtime

“We also know diseases can be shared between dogs and people,” Stenske said. “About 75 percent of emerging diseases are zoonotic, meaning they are transferrable between humans and other animals. With these two pieces of knowledge, I wanted to examine the public health aspects of such activities.”

Stenske’s study centered on E. coli bacteria, which is common in the gastrointestinal tracts of both dogs and humans.

“People have it, dogs have it, and it normally doesn’t cause any problems,” she said. “But it can acquire genes to make it antibiotic resistant.”

The study examined fecal samples from dogs and their owners and looked at the bacteria’s DNA fingerprints. Stenske found that 10 percent of dog-human pairs shared the same E. coli strains. She also found that the E. coli had more resistance to common antibiotics than expected, although the owners had more multiple-drug resistant strains than their pets.
Click here to read the full article

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College Students Find Comfort In Their Pets During Hard Times

A new study suggests that college students may handle stressful situations better if they have a pet.

Research has already shown that pets can improve the quality of life for people who are aging or those who are chronically ill. But researchers at Ohio State University recently found that many college students may also benefit from owning a cat or a dog.

A survey of students at a large university and other adults in the area found that nearly a quarter of college students surveyed believed their pets helped them get through difficult times in life. Students who chose to live with at least one dog, one cat, or a combination of the two were less likely to report feeling lonely and depressed; something they directly attributed to their beloved pet.

These findings highlight how even younger, healthier young adults can benefit from living with our four-legged friends, said Sara Staats, lead author of the study and professor emeritus of psychology at Ohio State’s Newark Campus.

“We might not think of college students as being lonely, but a lot of freshman and sophomores are in an early transition from living at home to living in dorms or off-campus. College is a very stressful environment for them and sometimes they can feel isolated or overwhelmed with the change,” she said.

“We found that a lot of young adults are choosing to have an animal companion for important reasons. Many feel their pets will help get them through these difficult and stressful situations, and many more say that without their pet, they would feel lonely.”

The study was based on survey responses from nearly 350 college students at a Midwestern commuter campus and nearby community members. Only those people who currently or previously owned a cat, a dog, or a combination of the two were included in the present study. People who were 18 to 87 years of age were all surveyed to study the differences between adults and students.

Participants were asked to indicate their current level of health, the type of pet(s) owned, and whether they believed a pet affected their overall health. They were then asked to identify their top reasons for owning a pet in both multiple-choice and open-ended surveys. The results were recently published in the journal Society and Animals.

The results showed that most adults and college students chose to own a pet for similar reasons. Although the results were based on self-reports, many of those surveyed believed their pet contributed to their overall health in a number of ways.

Nearly a quarter of all college students and adults reported that their pet was useful in keeping them active. This answer was more common for those who owned dogs, but those who had feline friends also reported their cat helped keep them active.

Likewise, 18 percent of college students and 13 percent of adults said their pet was important to helping them cope during difficult times. This belief was far more likely among those who were single rather than married, but it was listed by both groups in both open-ended and multiple choice questions.

But the results showed that avoiding loneliness was the top reason given by both students and adults. Nearly identical percentages of married and single persons gave this response, but students and those over 50 years of age were far more likely to list this as their top reason.

While previous work has demonstrated that the elderly benefit from animal companionship, this study is the one of the first to suggest that animal companions help those younger than 30 years of age, Staats said.

“Most of the studies on pet ownership focus directly on those adults and older generations who have heart problems or special needs. But there hasn’t been much recognition of that fact that young, healthy college students also derive benefits from pet ownership such as hedge against loneliness and improved ability to cope,” she said.

While the reasons for keeping a pet may be similar among adults and college students, the lifestyles differences between the two may provide clues as to why students rely on their pets more often, Staats said.

Many people in their late twenties to mid-forties have established circles of friends. Adults usually live in areas with friends, colleagues, and family nearby, making their lives more stable than those beginning to build their lives. Many more adults are married or have started raising a family, and have years of experience learning how to cope with difficult situations.
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A Look At Why We Love Our Dogs So Much

By Cherie Langlois

Everybody loves Jake. You see it in the smiling faces of PetSmart visitors pausing to greet the graceful German Shepherd Dog, and in the wiggling wags of puppies he welcomes to classes taught by trainer Jennifer Lewis of Orting, Wash. A certified therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen, Jake returns the attention with gentle good humor: barking his age for some captivated teens, grinning as a tot toddles over, dropping down to play with a mini Dachshund.

But you can tell his heart belongs to Lewis, who adopted him as a rescue puppy six years ago. “Jake does anything I ask of him, and often I don’t even need to ask him — he just knows what I want him to do,” she says. “In class, Jake socializes puppies and keeps the peace, and he does it all on his own. He’s a really special, engaging dog.”

We may not all have canine pals as popular and obedient as Jake, but every dog lover can relate to the heart tug of this powerful bond. How did our two species fall for each other, and why? Come explore this amazing connection.

Beginning of a bond

Although scientists and archaeologists still debate when and where domestic dogs evolved from the gray wolf, most everyone agrees on this: Dogs — our first domesticated animal — formed a close bond with humans about 14,000 to 17,000 years ago. Some experts theorize early hunters initiated the relationship when they toted home and raised orphaned, too-cute-to-resist wolf pups. Others think bolder wolves made the first advances by hanging around habitations to scavenge leftovers.

After researching the biological basis of the human-animal bond for 16 years, Meg Daley Olmert of Wittman, Md., author of “Made for Each Other, The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond” (Da Capo Press, 2009), believes it was woman who first felt the overpowering urge to take care of a crying wolf pup. “This friendly contact could have kick-started a potent oxytocin hormone feedback system that tamed wolves and charmed humans into keeping them close and feeding them,” she says.

According to Olmert, oxytocin, a hormone found in mammals, suppresses the fear response and lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormone levels. It creates a calm connection and powerful anti-stress effect that instigates and rewards social interactions.

“Oxytocin has been proven to promote social recognition — like between mother and child — and create a broader sense of relatedness within and between species,” she says. “This is how wolves and humans came to see one another as best friends.”

In any case, these tamer wolves would have made useful sentries and perhaps hunting partners in exchange for food and security. “Initially, I think what we got out of wolves was the companionship of a good night’s sleep!” Olmert says. With their trusty dogs on the lookout for predators or enemies, our early ancestors probably experienced some peaceful rest.

It would have taken only 100 to 150 years to produce domesticated dogs, once people started aggressively selecting for tamer wolves around their villages, says Alan Beck, professor at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and director of its Center for the Human-Animal Bond. “The breeds initially reflected special roles that early people had for dogs, such as pulling, guarding, and herding,” he says.

Dogs also served, as they do now, as mankind’s best friend. Exactly when dogs transitioned from useful animals to companions we might never know. And for much of history, working dogs certainly outnumbered pets. According to Stanley Coren, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, small, companion-only canines also usually belonged to privileged people, like Frederick the Great of Prussia (1712-1786), who apparently had a wing of his palace designated for his Italian Greyhounds.

Today, though many dogs still work for a living, most occupy a companion role in the United States. In fact, an ever increasing number of citizens consider — and adore — their pets as family. Another nice change from the old days: You don’t have to be royalty to keep a dog simply for love.
Why do I love thee, dog? Click here to read the full article
The explanation for why we love dogs is more complex.

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Ruff Sex: A Chastity Belt for Dogs

That’s why Blanch, 51, introduced the Pet Anti Breeding System – or PABS, as he calls it – a polypropylene belt with an eight-buckle locking system and a washable mesh pad for female dogs.

The device allows the pooch to do all its natural bodily functions, except one, of course.

The PABS slogan: “When the heat is on, lock it, and stop it.”

“The dogs can urinate and defecate,” Blanch says. “But they can’t copulate or impregnate.”

Amorous canines won’t get hurt trying to penetrate the PABS sheathing, Blanch claims. A dog breeder from Louisiana is going back to medieval times to stop the modern-day problem of runaway pet overpopulation. He’s invented a strap-on canine chastity belt.

“I’m all for neutering and spaying,” says Dexter Blanch. “But in some cases, it is a health risk for the dog. In other cases, the pet owner is squeamish about putting the dog through surgery. And then there are people who plan one day to breed their pet.”

It remains to be seen how pet owners will embrace this device, as it has been on the market for less than two months. Experts preach caution.

“For the majority of animals, spaying and neutering remains the most beneficial option,” says Dr. Kathleen Makolinski, director of veterinary outreach at the ASPCA.

Still, several animal breeders and a veterinarian offer testimonials on the PABS for Pets Web site.
Click here to read the full article

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Hype, Money and Cornstarch: What It Takes to Win at Westminster Dog Show

Published: February 13, 2010

Misty Ridges Wendtworth Honey Lark~Wendt Worth Corgis

“Do the magazines influence some judges? I’m sure they do,” she says. “Do they influence everybody? No. Do I see a dog who looks great in the magazines and think I’d love to judge that dog? Yes.”

Professional handlers and owners say they wouldn’t write the checks if the ads didn’t get results. There are thousands of specials in any given year, and in a realm this competitive, the ads elevate you above the pack, they say. Just by buying them, you announce that you’re playing to win.

WHAT do owners get back for their rather substantial investments in these dogs? Not money, and woe unto the foolish reporter who suggests that money might be a perfectly reasonable reward. (Only indie rockers and physicians are more sensitive to questions about profits.) By every account, a show dog is a sinkhole. Even for a Westminster champ, the stud fee is a few grand. Rufus will die before he makes a dent in the sum spent on him.

Pet food companies like to brag about the number of Westminster group winners who eat their product. But Nike they are not. The best handlers are courted, but with nothing more valuable than the occasional hat, tote bag and coupons for discounted chow. When Uno the beagle won best in show at Westminster two years ago, his owners weren’t paid even when Purina featured him in a full-page USA Today ad.

No, the strange and inescapable truth is that people drop hundreds of thousands of dollars in this realm for one reason: they love dogs. Or, rather, they love a specific breed or dog and they are willing to part with a small fortune proving that their breed or dog is better than yours.
Click here to continue reading

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Dogs and Compulsive Scratching, Licking, and Chewing

Are you going crazy listening to your dog scratching his ears all night long? Have you about had it with your dog licking her paw non-stop? At your wit’s end over your dog biting his own tail?

If you think you’re uncomfortable, imagine how your dog feels.

Compulsive scratching, licking, and chewing behaviors are quite common in dogs and have a variety of causes. They can also be harmful. One of the first signs your dog has a problem might be the development of a “hot spot” — a red, wet, irritated area that arises from persistent chewing or licking. Although hot spots, or “acute moist dermatitis”, can occur anywhere on your dog’s body, they are most often found on the head, chest, or hips. Because dogs often incessantly scratch, lick, or bite at an area once it becomes irritated, hot spots can become large and incredibly sore rather quickly.

Reasons Why Dogs Compulsively Scratch, Lick, or Chew

Dogs scratch, lick, or chew for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from allergies to boredom to parasite infestation:
~Allergies
~Boredom or anxiety
~Dry skin
~Hormonal imbalances
~Pain
~Parasites
Read more on each category by clicking here

Skin Problems in Dogs Slideshow

Treatment for Your Dog’s Compulsive Scratching, Licking, and Chewing

Because there are so many reasons why dogs chew or scratch, be sure to check with your veterinarian as soon as you notice a problem. The veterinarian will help figure out the cause of the behavior and determine the best treatment plan. Depending on the cause of your dog’s compulsive behavior, this might include:
~Eliminating parasites
~Changing foods
~Using medication
~Preventing the behavior
~Addressing anxiety or boredom
Click here to learn more about these treatments

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Passive Smoking Can Kill Your Dog…Quit With Your Dog

Many times we read or hear about passive smoking contributing to a family member who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Our beloved dogs and other pets are in living the same home environment as smokers and they too are in danger. Pets can be diagnosed with cancer due to them inhaling the stale vapours from cigarettes.

If more than one family member smokes the greater the risk your dog will be diagnosed with cancer.
Click here to read the full article

Study finds pet owners who smoke will try to quit for animals’ health

About 28 percent of pet owners who smoke would try to quit if they knew that secondhand smoke endangered their pets, according to recent research.

“Pet owners’ attitudes and behaviours related to smoking and second-hand smoke: a pilot study” appeared in the April issue of the journal Tobacco Control. Among the authors is the late Ronald M. Davis, MD, who championed the One Health Initiative when he was president of the American Medical Association.

The researchers, from Henry Ford Health System’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Detroit, conducted a Web survey of 3,293 adult pet owners. About 21 percent were current smokers, and 27 percent lived with at least one smoker.
Click here to read the full article

Suggestions on how to Quit Smoking with the help of your Dog

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Pet Poisonings Due To Human Medications..Over The Counter or Prescription

Pet owners who are serious about pet-proofing their home should start with their own medicine cabinet. Pet Poison Helpline™ is a 24-hour service available throughout North America for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Nearly half of the calls received by Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications – both over-the-counter and prescription. Whether Fido accidentally chewed into a pill bottle or a well-intentioned pet owner accidentally switched medication (giving their pet a human medication), pet poisonings due to medication are common and can be very serious.

Pet Poison Helpline is the only animal poison control with board-certified internal medicine specialists, emergency critical care specialists, and human pharmacologists on staff. With expert staff in both animal and human medicine, Pet Poison Helpline provides a unique advantage since more than 50 percent of all pet poisonings involve human drugs.

Below is a list of the top 10 human medications most frequently ingested by pets, along with some tips from the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline on how to prevent pet poisoning from human medications.

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
Topping our Top 10 list are common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals (ferrets, gerbils and hamsters) may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.

2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)
When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is certainly popular. Even though this drug is very safe, even for children, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.

3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)
While these antidepressant drugs are occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. Unfortunately, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.

4. ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)
Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.

5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)
These medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better. However, in pets, they may have the opposite effect. About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.

6. Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)
Birth control pills often come in packages that dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause trouble. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact (not spayed), are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.

7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (or “ACE”) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally, pets. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness, this category of medication is typically quite safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease. All heart medications should be kept out of reach of pets.

8. Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)
Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike the ACE inhibitor, small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.

9. Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)
Pets — especially dogs — get underactive thyroids too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.

10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)
These popular medications, often called “statins,” are commonly used in the United States. While pets do not typically get high cholesterol, they may still get into the pill bottle. Thankfully, most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

Wendt Worth Corgis...Keep kids and pets safe!

Always keep medications safely out of reach and never administer a medication to a pet without first consulting your veterinarian. The following are some tips from Dr. Justine Lee and Dr. Ahna Brutlag at Pet Poison Helpline to help prevent pets from getting into over-the-counter or prescription medication:

• Never leave loose pills in a plastic Ziploc® bag – the bags are too easy to chew into. Make sure visiting house guests do the same, keeping their medications high up or out of reach.
• If you place your medication in a weekly pill container, make sure to store the container in a cabinet out of reach of your pets. Unfortunately, if they get a hold of it, some pets might consider the pill container a plastic chew toy.
• Never store your medications near your pet’s medications – Pet Poison Helpline frequently receives calls from concerned pet owners who inadvertently give their own medication to their pet.
• Hang your purse up. Inquisitive pets will explore the contents of your bag and simply placing your purse up and out of reach can help to avoid exposure to any potentially dangerous medication(s).

It is also important to note that while a medication may be safe for children, it may not be safe for animals. Pets metabolize medications very differently from people. Even seemingly benign over-the-counter or herbal medications may cause serious poisoning in pets.

If your pet has ingested a human over-the-counter or prescription medication, please call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline’s 24-hour animal poison control center at (800) 213-6680 immediately.

Pet Poison Helpline

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians 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
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Thanks for spreading the word on pet safety! I also wanted to make people aware of another animal poison control: Pet Poison Helpline based out of Minneapolis, MN. They are a 24/7 animal poison control and are more cost effective ($35/case vs. ASPCA’s $60).

I also wanted to inform you of their more frequent calls – 50% of their calls come from human medications – help spread the word on this too!

Thanks again,
Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC
Associate Director of Veterinary Services

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Joana Krupa enrages Catholic Church with almost naked PETA campaign

Model Joanna Krupa upset the Catholic Church by posing as a nude angel covering her parts with a crucifix in a campaign promoting the adoption of homeless animals, reported USA Today.

She the appears in the new “Be an Angel for Animals” PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) campaign, naked with a pair of wings and a cross which strategically covers only parts of her body.

In another ad for the campaign a topless Krupa holds a dog in one arm and a rosary hanging from the other.

The Catholic Church think PETA have gone too far this time, calling the advert “inappropriate”.

Catholic League President Bill Donohue said: “The fact is that cats and dogs are a lot safer in pet stores than they are in the hands of PETA employees.”
To read the full article click here

What do you think? Should the Catholic Church grow a thicker skin? Did PETA and Krupa go too far? Why is religious iconography off limits?
Here’s another article on wondering if the Catholic Church went to far with a video of Krupa, 30, who has been in playboy magazine speaking out, saying she is a practicing Catholic. Click here to read more
WWC Note: In the video Krupa states everyone should get involved! I didn’t know taking your clothes off constitutes as helping out. I know sex sells but mixing the two I feel is pretty low class and why doesn’t she really get involved and put her clothes back on! She also in the interview starts a statement with “I think PETA does alot of good for the animals”. You either know or you don’t know and before making such a statement as she has in those posters. She gives us blondes a bad name. Money buys again! I’m proud of the Catholic Church to see through all the hype of PETA for who they really are.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A FAITHFUL DOG

A Faithful Dog Will Play With You
And Laugh With You -Or Cry-
He’ll Gladly Starve To Stay With You
Nor Ever Reason Why,
And When You’re Feeling Out Of Sorts
Somehow He’ll Understand
He’ll Watch You With His Shining Eyes
And Try To Lick Your Hand.
His Blind, Implicit Faith In You
Is Matched By His Great Love –
The Kind That All Of Us Should Have
In The Master, Up Above.
When Everything Is Said And Done
I Guess This Isn’t Odd
For When You Spell “Dog” Backwards
You Get The Name Of God.

Kathryn Brashier

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