Artificial Sweeteners

Xylitol is a popular sugar substitute found in everything from baked goods to chewing gum and breath mints.  Did you know it is highly toxic to dogs?

Go to Google and type “artificial sweetener toxicity for dogs,” and you will see numerous links.  I found a very interesting article on the ASPCA website:

www.aspcapro.org/mydocuments/ze-vetm0207f_095-100_.pdf

The article is from the December 2006 issue of Veterinary Medicine magazine.  As a result, it is pretty technical in spots.  However, it is worth the read.  I knew ingestion of the sweetener was bad; I did not know it was THAT bad.  According to the article, dogs can have life-threatening liver disease and other horrible side effects from eating anything that contains Xylitol.

Look around your house and read the labels of things within reach of your baby.  Be sure to look at everything, because xylitol can even pop up in oral care products.  Then, secure all those products from curious noses.  Good luck!

Rescue Mommy

Halloween Safety Tips

Today is Halloween.  Here are a few safety tips to make the evening fun for you and your family, not a night spent at the emergency animal hospital:

·         Keep chocolate, raisins, and sugar-free gum out of reach.   Visit ww.aspca.org for more toxic foods.

·         Mind the candy wrappers too.  They smell great and could end up in your buddy’s mouth in the blink of an eye.

·         If you dress your pet in a costume, make sure it is not restrictive or prevents him or her from seeing clearly.  Remove it if your pet seems uncomfortable.

·         Taking a flashlight with you?  Make sure it does not end up in your dog’s mouth.  I cannot imagine the batteries would taste that great!

Have a safe evening!

Rescue Mommy

Ah, Nuts!!

My dad decided to try one of those health food cereals that resemble twigs, gravel, and tree bark. He hated it and gave the bag to me. He knows we try to eat a healthy diet.

As I transferred the cereal into the storage container, a few pieces of it fell onto the kitchen floor. Like a little vacuum, Gracie sucked up the pieces before I could stop her. I quickly inspected the cereal and was dismayed to see it contained slivers of almond.

I knew that certain nuts were toxic to pets. I also suspected she had only consumed one little sliver, so I doubted she would be harmed. For good measure, I hopped onto the computer and searched the Internet for information about toxicity. Here are the links I found:

http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-health-toxins/Nut-Dangers-to-Dogs.aspx

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/211105.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Grapes,-Nuts,-and-Your-Dogs-Health---Foods-that-Fido-should-Avoid&id=20315

I also called REACH, the local emergency animal hospital. Since it was only one sliver, they were not concerned.

Some of you may think I am a nut myself. Yeah, I probably am overly cautious. However, it is important to remember that some nuts are highly toxic. As you will see from the links, macadamia nuts in particular are very, very dangerous.

I must also take Gracie’s size into consideration. Gracie is not a 100-pound Labrador Retriever. A little goes a long way with small dogs. Given the staggering financial and emotional costs of pet treatment, a little dose of caution is a good thing.

By the way, the cereal was HORRIBLE.

Rescue Mommy

Watch Out for Easter Goodies

The Easter season is upon us. Just a quick reminder. Be careful of the holiday trappings. We all know those chocolate bunnies and eggs are harmful to our pets.


Don’t forget the fake grass stuffed in Easter baskets. Kiki is especially fond of it. If she finds it, she will be barfing and pooping it up for days after. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Since it could also remain lodged in her system, this little gift could be fatal.

Let’s keep an eye on our buddies!

Rescue Mommy

Tricks, not Human Treats

Just a quick reminder, keep a close eye on your pets this evening. Halloween may be a sweet treat for us humans, but it can spell disaster for our beloved pets.

We know chocolate is toxic. Don’t forget that raisins, grapes, and artificial sweeteners (such as the kind in sugar-free candy) are also dangerous.

If you are burning spooky candles, watch out for swishing cat tails and wax spills. You don’t want to chase a flaming cat through your house!

My last warning involves visitors. We know to keep our little furry friends in a separate room if visitors are too much. My warning is about the treat bags.

When my nephews and niece visited last year, I took lots of pictures. I was surprised at two things when I uploaded the pictures to the computer. First, those kids are growing up too fast! Second, in one of the pictures, the kids were posing – and Gracie had her head stuffed down one of their treat bags, looking for a goodie. I did not notice it when they were here. Fortunately, she did not grab anything, but she easily could have.

Here’s to a safe Halloween!

Rescue Mommy

People Food Hazards

Halloween is Monday, and the holidays are just around the corner. We all know that chocolate is highly toxic to pets. Did you know that these foods are toxic too?

• Coffee
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Avocado
• Macadamia Nuts
• Grapes and Raisins
• Yeast Dough
• Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs, and Bones
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
• Onions, Garlic, Chives
• Milk
• Salt

*Source: ASPCA website

If your pet eats any of these or other toxic items, call your vet immediately. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. They charge a consulting fee for the call, though.

Stay calm. Be sure to note what and how much your pet has consumed. If you are not sure what it is, grab whatever is left and take it with you when you head to the vet’s office.

Rescue Mommy

People Food Hazards - Thanksgiving Reload

Thanksgiving is Thursday. Let’s revisit the people food hazard list:

Alcohol
Avocado
Caffeine
Chives
Chocolate
Coffee
Garlic
Grapes and Raisins
Macadamia Nuts
Milk
Onions
Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs, and Bones (no turkey bones!)
Salt
Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
Yeast Dough

*Source: ASPCA website

If your pet eats any of these or other toxic items, call your vet immediately. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. They charge a consulting fee for the call, though.

Stay calm. Be sure to note what and how much your pet has consumed. If you are not sure what it is, grab whatever is left and take it with you when you head to the vet’s office.

We hope you and your family have a safe, wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Rescue Mommy

People Food Hazards

Halloween is Sunday, and the holidays are just around the corner. We all know that chocolate is highly toxic to pets. Did you know that these foods are toxic too?

• Coffee
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Avocado
• Macadamia Nuts
• Grapes and Raisins
• Yeast Dough
• Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs, and Bones
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
• Onions, Garlic, Chives
• Milk
• Salt

*Source: ASPCA website

If your pet eats any of these or other toxic items, call your vet immediately. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. They charge a consulting fee for the call, though.

Stay calm. Be sure to note what and how much your pet has consumed. If you are not sure what it is, grab whatever is left and take it with you when you head to the vet’s office.