The Many Jobs of Service Dogs

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Fran and her service dog Cholee-Lee, named Professional of the Year 2009

When I ran across an article titled, “Not All Service Dogs are for the Blind” it made me stop and think. I did not realize that service animals are not required by law to wear any type of identifying vests or tags saying they are a service animal.  Nor does the owner need to carry any proof.  Though at times you will see them wearing an identifying vest, and then “assume” the owner is blind.

So I think being compassionate and conscious of the fact that someone may have a dog with them in a place of business, instead of assuming someone is just bringing their dog with them.  The dog may be there to alert the owner to an oncoming epilepsy attack, or need them for hearing assistance, or may need them for mobility reasons.  If a business does not comply they can be fined up to $60,000.

Chloee-Lee is a service dog Frankie and I had the honor of meeting in 2009.  She was named Professional of the Year the same time Frankie was named Companion of the Year.  Chloee-Lee performs many different tasks for her owner who has multiple challenges.  Chloee-Lee also has a challenge of her own in which she suffers from Addison Disease, but that does not stop her and as Fran her owner describes her, “the best thing in yellow fur and four legs ever.”

Top 10 Pet Poisons

Posted by Barbara Techel

I think you will find this information very useful.  You may want to bookmark this page, so if you need to refer to it, you can.  I found this information from the ASPCA website.  Always keep a sealed bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your cabinet in case you ever need it to get your pet to vomit.  A syringe will be helpful to get the peroxide down. I’ll never forget Frankie eating a bag of vitamins I had packed for our vacation, which she got into and ate.  We were scheduled to make a 6-hour car trip the next day and she was traveling with us.  I did have to rush her to the vet because I could not get the peroxide in her and they induced vomiting and thank goodness, she was fine.

As you start to “think spring” and plan your garden during the winter months, remember cocoa mulch should not be used if you have pets because it is poisonous to pets.

With various dangers lurking in corners and cabinets, the home can be a minefield of poisons for our pets. In 2009, the ASPCA’s 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 10 pet poisons that affected our furry friends in 2009.

Human Medications

For several years, human medications have been number one on the ASPCA’s list of common hazards, and 2009 was no exception. Last year, the ASPCA managed 45,816 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 by unwelcome pests, we often unwittingly put our furry friends at risk. In 2009, our toxicologists fielded 29,020 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 products containing xylitol, like gum, can seriously disable our furry friends, and accounted for more than 17,453 cases in 2009. 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.

Plants

Common houseplants were the subject of 7,858 calls to APCC in 2009. 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.

Veterinary Medications

Even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they’re often misapplied or improperly dispensed by well-meaning pet parents. In 2009, the ASPCA managed 7,680 cases involving animal-related preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.

Rodenticides

Last year, the ASPCA received 6,639 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 or kidney damage.

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 4,143 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 3,304 cases of pet poisonings in 2009. 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.

Garden Products

It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer and garden products can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs. Last year, the ASPCA fielded 2,329 calls related to fertilizer exposure, which can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

Chemical Hazards

In 2009, the ASPCA handled approximately 2,175 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.

Prevention is really key to avoiding accidental exposure, but if you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.