Beware The Grapes of Wrath (Or Your Dog Could Die)

About a year ago, I wrote about this subject. It doesn’t do any harm to remind folks that allowing your pet to eat any of the following could, and often does, kill the animal. I personally know of two dogs that got hold of some grapes and both died. And another two that the owner found while they were eating them and managed to get the dogs to her vet in time to be treated. They were lucky to survive.

The following is taken from the K9 Magazine. Please read the whole article for more information.

The wrath of grapes was, unfortunately, all too familiar for many dogs and cats in 2008 as a US based pet insurance firm released data showing how many toxic claims it had dealt with last year. For many dog owners, they are unaware of which foods can prove toxic to dogs until it’s too late.

VPI pet health insurance analyzed the more than 400 claims it received last year for toxic plant ingestions to find which plants and plant products proved most likely to poison pets. Raisins and grapes topped the list, followed by mushrooms and marijuana. In 2008, the average amount claimed for plant poisoning was $427 (approx £300).

Top Plant Poisoning Claims of 2008
1. Raisins/Grapes
2. Mushrooms
3. Marijuana
4. Lily
5. Walnuts
6. Onion
7. Sago Palm
8. Macadamia Nuts
9. Azalea
10. Hydrangea

“Almost all plant poisonings in pets can be prevented, but prevention depends on knowledge, thus it is important for pet owners to become familiar with which items can be toxic if ingested,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI.

“Prevention is a simple matter of keeping these hazards out of a pet’s environment. To avoid plant poisonings, try not to give a dog table scraps that contain raisins, onions or nuts, and make sure that a new pet is introduced to a backyard free of sago palms, wild mushrooms or other toxic plants.”

Pet owners have good reason to take the threat of grape/raisin ingestion seriously. Even in low doses, ingestion can place pets at risk for acute renal failure. Symptoms include anorexia, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

 

Technorati Tags: Dogs,Grapes,Poisonous for dogs,Grapes/Raisons

Video from K9 Magazine…

I just found this interesting video of Ryan O’Meara on his web site. He produces the K9 Magazine.

He is discussing the DDA (Dangerous Dogs Act) on a lot of the clips. I must say that I agree with what he says. It is the people who are at fault, not the dogs.

It is quite long as there are various clips of Ryan being interviewed on various TV programmes at different times.

If you want to keep up with the latest news on Dogs, visit his web site and sign up for his newsletter.

Technorati Tags: DDA,Dangerous Dogs Act,Rottweillas,Pit Bulls,Dangerous dogs

Missing Dog…

Have You Seen This Dog?

There is a dog missing and I am trying to pass the word around. Please visit Shelley’s blog to read more about Jacob.

Jacob

Hello friends
As you may already know, we have been desperately trying to find our missing dog Jacob, a male Bracco Italiano who has been missing since 21st Jan.
I know you have most probably had numerous emails from either me, or our friends or the Bracco/Spinone groups who are helping in our search, but right now I am writing to you as the focus of our search has changed.
On Monday evening we had a call from a lady on a mobile (number was shown) and who told us they have Jacob. The call was short, as if she was disturbed and had to go.
We have desperately tried in vain to get to speak to the person on the mobile number again, many (many) times and left messages and pleas for this person to get back in touch with us.
I have additionally sent texts to the phone asking for them to let us know he is okay, to take him somewhere 'safe' for us to get him, and asking if it's about reward money.
So far, the phone rings and is aborted to answer phone every time one of us calls.
I am told that hoaxers _do not usually show their mobile number_, it kind of defeats the object of them calling up. Knowing this obviously adds to our concerns for our boy.
We have contacted the police, who seem helpless (or is that unwilling) in being able to trace the callers mobile due to their "certain criteria". This shocking lack of help just makes this all the more upsetting. If Jacob were a motorbike or car, then the 'criteria' would be helpful no doubt.
So, yet again I find I am left with no alternative than to take the matter into my own hands, and therefore I am asking you to email Jacob's details to as many people as you can, and keep an eye out for him in your local area.
He could turn up just about anywhere now.
If you know of rescues (large or small) in your area, can I ask you to please kindly send them the email to make them aware of Jacob's plight.
I have tried to cover all areas but cannot guarantee to know all the smaller rescues that you would be aware of because you live in the area....I need to contact everyone possible.
We all send those chain letter "send to 8 friends" emails round like wildfire, and I hope that we can do the same here but for more of a purpose.
Someone must know about Jacob, and through word of mouth we hope that it can feed back to us of any information of his whereabouts.
We are just utterly desperate to find him as you can imagine.
It's just heartbreaking the not knowing.
I really do appreciate your time is precious, so Thank You for reading this and passing it on to anyone and everyone you feel can help us spread the word.
Kind regards & Thanks
Shelley Haggerwood

Crufts Day One…

To watch live coverage of the events in the Main Ring click here…

You have to register first.

Here is a list of todays activities…

Thursday 5 March

08.30 Agility – Starters – Jumping
09.00 Agility – KC International – Jumping
09.35 Agility – Team – Large Semi Finals
10.25 Training with Mary Ray
10.35 Freestyle HTM Competition
11.55 Agility – KC International – Slalom Knockout
12.30 Presentation of the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award
12.35 West Midlands Police Dog Display
13.05 Agility – Eukanuba Mini/Maxi Pairs
13.50 Flyball – Team Quarter Finals
14.35 Agility – Starters – Agilitiy
15.05 Agility – Large – Team Finals
15.35 Agility – KC International – Agility
16.10 Freestyle HTM – 2nd
16.15 Break
17.15 YKC Agility Competition
17.45 Heelwork to Music – Freestyle (winner)
17.50 Kennel Gazette Junior Warrant Winner of the Year – Final
18.10 Group Judging (Terrier) and Presentation
19.00 Group Judging (Hound) and Presentation
19.50 Programme Ends

To listen to Crufts FM click here… Click the link on the right hand side.

Technorati Tags: Crufts web cam,Crufts Live coverage,Crufts FM.

Friends For Life videos…

Crufts Day One…

To watch live coverage of the events in the Main Ring click here…

You have to register first.

There is a list of todays activities on the right hand side of the page.

To listen to Crufts FM click here… Click the link on the right hand side.

Technorati Tags: Crufts web cam,Crufts Live coverage,Crufts FM.

Rogue Traders on BBC 1…

Last night I watched ‘Rogue Traders’ on BBC 1 which was billed as being about puppy farmers. Click the link to see the programme if you missed it.

I was very disappointed. I don’t think the two presenters took the situation seriously enough. Puppy farming is a BIG problem and there really ought to be a law against it. There are some restrictions but people get around these laws easily.

The programme did nothing to inform people of where or how to look for a puppy. It was just casually mentioned. It was more like watching a comedy programme on what I consider a VERY serious subject.

The link is an article from the RSPCA about the programme. They say they were there, but I am sure the reporters said that no RSPCA inspector was available to attend when they called the police. I may be wrong. I haven’t looked at the programme for a second chance to make sure. I understood that they attended afterwards… Bit late for the filming in my opinion!

RSPCA advice to consumers:

· Always see a puppy with its mother in the place where it was bred, and pay attention to the mother’s size, health, personality and reaction to the puppy – is it the real mother? Ideally see the father too. If you can’t see them, be suspicious

· Try to find out as much as possible about where the puppy has come from, and beware if the breeder is from outside the UK

· If you are told the puppy has been vaccinated, check the vaccination cards carefully. Be wary if the vet’s contact details are not visible, or have an address outside the UK

· Pedigree certificates are never a guarantee for the condition of your puppy, and may not even mean you are buying a pure-bred dog

· Never buy from someone who offers to deliver your puppy or arranges to meet you somewhere

· As hard as it will be, never buy a puppy just because you feel sorry for it

· If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t – use your common sense, and walk away

· If you are concerned about how you were sold the puppy, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06

· If you have welfare concerns about puppies you have seen, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999

· Always consider instead adopting a rescue dog from an animal welfare organisation.

I will add that if you are contacting a reputable breeder there is a good chance that you will NOT be able to see the sire (or father) of the pups. The reason being that the breeder will have studied the pedigree of the bitch (intended mother of the pups) and will have found a dog suitably out-crossed (no close in-breeding), and may well have travelled half the country to mate the bitch to the right dog.

It is common practice that you take your bitch to the dog. Not the other way round.

I would also advise that you check that the sire and the dam have had the available health checks for that breed. Do your research on the Internet before you visit a breeder. A good place to start in the UK is The Kennel Club.

There are links on the page with further advice. Look at the breeds of dogs you are thinking about. Check what health tests they should have.

The Kennel Club web site will have a list of puppies available from their registered breeders. After making an appointment with a breeder, go and visit. There is a good chance you will see several dogs in the place. Some may be related to your intended pup. You will get an idea of how your puppy will end up.

I would advise that you do not buy the first puppy you see. Never buy a puppy if you can’t see the mother with it.

Technorati Tags: Buying a puppy,dogs,rogue traders,puppy farms,The Kennel Club

Riki 1962

Around 1961 I moved into one room in a large house in Islington, north London with my first husband. There were tenants in all the rooms with the landlord and his wife living in one of them. The ground floor was used as a club.

The landlord had a lovely natured German Shepherd Dog that used to walk out with me when I went off shopping. After a while Riki would come to the door of our room and ask to be let in. He followed me everywhere. The landlord was not amused at this. Riki was his dog… but Riki didn’t know it.

His owner and wife used to fight and Riki would escape up the stairs to our door to get away from them. I am sure that he was hurt when he had got in their way during these dreadful fights.

Eventually one almighty argument broke out that ended with Riki’s owner throwing his food bowl up the stairs and kicking the dog up them too… yelling at me to keep the bl**dy dog and he didn’t want to see it again! Actually, the language and violence involved was a lot stronger than the way I’ve written it.

So Riki moved into our room completely and settled. He never left my side. He insisted on carrying something in his mouth when we went shopping. It could be a tin of dog food or something. I had one of those Moses baskets with two small handles either side. I would put the shopping in it and Riki would hold one handle as I held the other… and off we’d go back home.

A private party was arranged one night in the club room on the ground floor... I was carrying my first child at this time.

My first husband was Ambrose Campbell (West African Rhythm Brothers), who was a musician. He also did a little film work. This night the producer Harry Saltzman had booked the club to gather and meet some of the people who were to appear in his next film. A film with Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg and others who’s names I don’t remember.

This film was being made between two James Bond movies made with Sean Connery as the star. I hadn’t seen a Bond movie at that time and had no idea who Sean Connery was. He was sitting next to me with Riki on the floor beside me. We were chatting and then got up and had a dance.

There was me, about six months pregnant, dancing with the most well known actor of the time. And I had no idea who he was. I’ve never met him since, but would love to remind him of this day.

Bob Hope unfortunately wasn’t there, but Anita was and quite a few other actors from the film to be made and the Bond films… but I can’t remember their names now.

Danny, my first son was born on the 28th July 1962. Riki took him on as his charge and lay beside his cot or the pram where ever we were.

Riki did live a bit of a nomadic life… He used to go walk-about sometimes. My local butcher used to give me meat for him. If Riki felt like a little extra he’d slip out and go and sit in the doorway of the shop till the butcher threw a bone to him. Then he’d bring it home to eat it.

What is quite amazing is that he used to use the zebra crossing if he could. He’d sit on the curb and wait for the traffic to stop before he’d walk across. Remember in those days there wasn’t the traffic about that there is today.

We moved to another room in the same area sometime later. I had a my second son on 13th August 1964. Sometime later I had to let Riki go to the Rainbow Bridge when he became too ill to cope. I think I had him for about four years… not long enough. I had no idea how old he was. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of him. He was a handsome normal coated sable dog.

You Pets & Christmas...

Check this blog out for good advice about your cats and dogs over Christmas. It is written by a busy Veterinary Nurse.

I can't add anything to her list, but if you can think of anything, please leave a comment below.

I don't know what you do, but we always buy presents for our dogs... Often replacing old toys that have been around for a while and really need putting in the bin! This year we have picked up a couple of new Frisbees, a couple of new tuggy toys, bags of edible doggy treats.

They get a bone each... the type that are treated and stuffed or similar. Never give your dog a cooked bone, except those you can buy in your pet shop. It is very dangerous to give your dog cooked chicken or turkey bones which can and will splinter.

We also get extra balls on ropes for them... and another word of advice here. Always make sure that any ball you buy for your dog, can't be swallowed or get caught in the throat. Buying the ones with a rope attached makes it easier to get hold of the ball to throw again and to remove if it did get caught in the dog's throat. We also have new footballs... they love dribbling these around the lawn!

As the Vet Nurse's blog says. Don't be tempted to give your dog the lavish Christmas dinner you are having. You will guarantee your dog will get the runs!

I give mine the same dried Genesis Complete food they are normally on. I take a little of the turkey meat and some of the left-over vegitables and add it, with some gravy on top. If your dog is over-weight, don't give more than normal.

I wish you and your pets a Very Happy Christmas...

Titch To The Vets...

Yesterday....
We popped down to Peterborough to meet Wandering Willie. He's a GSD pup of six weeks, the only one in Dollar's litter. Tessa, Dollar's litter sister, writes about him on her blog. He has a new home and will be called Phoenix, which I think will suite him.

It was good to see Barry. He's off to hospital this week to have a kidney out and to get sorted. Our prayers are with him at this very difficult time. We'll pop down to see him while he's in hospital.

It wasn't the nicest drive back home as it was a little foggy.

Today...
Over the last couple of days, one of our dogs - Titch - scratched his ear a few times. Naturally, we cleaned it out but it appeared to be bothering him more this morning. I made an appointment with our vet and Chris and I took him down early afternoon. Titch is Chris' dog. He kept him from my Jade's first litter. He was the smallest but has grown into the biggest of them all.

He's a lovely dog and the vet was very impressed at how well behaved he was. She said she could manage on to examine him on the floor, but Chris offered to pick him up and put him on the table... Titch lay down instantly and stayed very still.

The vet had a good look in his ears and apart from wax, couldn't see anything else. I asked her to take a swab to be absolutely sure. We came home with drops and some ear cleaner. He's been treated once and hasn't scratched his ear once since coming home. So fingers crossed it will clear up quickly and there is nothing sinister lurking down in his ears.

Not a Good Morning For Me...

My tummy problems woke me at 5.20am this morning... I was not a happy bunny! Not the time of day I want to be sitting in the bathroom with no time to pop back into my bedroom to take some tablets to bind me! Eventually, about a quarter of an hour later, I managed it.

Sat on the edge of my bed not daring to walk around for fear of an unexpected accident... I find it's easier to sit still staying close to the bathroom when I'm like this. Eventually the pills worked... Well, I hoped they had bound me.

So around 6.00am I made cup of coffee... then went back and sat down. Jade jumped up beside me on the bed to get a cuddle. Bless her... She is always beside me when I'm feeling a little down. She also likes to curl up in a corner in the bathroom when I'm in there! She's always by my feet as she is now while I'm typing this. It wasn't long before I had to take some more tablets... It appears I have to take more to bind me now than I used to. It is all getting so much worse than it used to be. I can't wait for my appointment to come to see the doctor at the hospital.

At 7.00 I did the dogs their breakfast and let them out. Then came on here... Sorry to have a moan. I get like that occasionally... especially if I've had a few days of feeling rough!