Adopt-A-Chow Rescue
IMPORTANT WARNINGS ARCHIVE
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With the nicer weather we are all outside more. Just a reminder to dog owners of the dangers of mushrooms in yards and parks. A mushroom will grow just about anyplace. My herding dogs like to "graze". Even on a leash, they can still get into 'shrooms. Some are toxic and even fatal. Dogs can eat or even lick a mushroom and be ill. Symptoms vary from mild vomiting (even a day later) to severe stomach problems and diarrhea. Some mushrooms can cause liver failure (days or weeks later).
Be safe. If you find mushroom in your area, dig them up. Kicking them spreads the spores (seeds) and more will grow.
Every mushroom hunter should be familiar with the three most dangerous groups of fungi. These are the amanitas, the false morels and a catch-all category known as little brown mushrooms (LBMs). Mushrooms in these groups cause virtually all the fatal mushroom poisonings in the United States, with amanitas alone accounting for 90 percent of mushroom-related deaths. There also are hundreds of other mushrooms that will cause anything from a mild stomachache to severe physical distress -including vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and loss of coordination. You should notify your doctor if you suspect any kind of mushroom poisoning. Also, consider this as a possibility if your dog has unexplained symptoms.
Toadstool is the common name for poisonous mushrooms (from the German Todesstuhl, death's stool).There is no quick and easy test that will separate edible from poisonous mushrooms-including peeling the cap, testing with a silver spoon, checking for insect damage or any other folk method. To avoid mushroom poisoning:
Strictly avoid:
Some people (dogs) are allergic to even the safest mushrooms. As with other foods, rotting mushrooms can make you ill. Dogs may find these delicacies in the trash.
Little Brown Mushrooms
Like the LGBs (little gray birds) of the birdwatchers, this is a catchall category. It includes all small to medium-sized, hard-to-identify brownish mushrooms of which there are many hundreds.
Many LBMs are harmless, some are mildly poisonous and a few are deadly. The innocent-looking little mushrooms of the genus Galerina are probably the most dangerous of the LBMs. They contain the same toxin as amanitas and have caused a number of deaths. Galerinas grow in clusters on wood. Little brown mushrooms are found in spring, summer and fall, in all habitats. Poisonous LBMs may grow on soil or wood, appearing in lawns, pastures or forests.
Because they are so difficult to identify, all LBMs should be avoided.
Amanitas are the reason why there are no old, bold mushroom hunters. Several members of this group contain amanitin, one of the deadliest poisons found in nature. One cap of a Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa) can kill a man.
Our canines possess little skill in mushrooming. Some of them will instinctively avoid mushrooms while others will be delighted with the new chewy thing in the grass.
Besides wild mushrooms, there are a number of human supplements containing mushroom extracts. These may not be well tolerated by pets.
Trick or Treat
As long as everybody else is indulging, our pets may decide this is a good time to help themselves to candy. Besides all the sugar being bad for them, there are also the colorings, preservatives, wrapping paper, and especially chocolate. Depending on the dog and the type and amount of chocolate, this can cause gastrointestinal problems and even be fatal.
Chocolate contains Theobromine which is poisonous to dogs at only 0.2%. Signs of toxicity are vomiting, thirst, diarrhea, restlessness and agitation in 6 to 8 hours after ingestion. Vomiting can be induced if caught early. There is no antidote. Kidney damage, seizures, heart rhythm irregularities and death may result.
Theobromine is metabolized very slowly. It takes ~ 6 days to leave the dog's body. A few bites from you on Monday, a sneak snack by the dog on Tuesday, more snitched from kids on Wednesday is all adding up. (Brownies,frostings, cookies, candies...)
Concentration of Theobromine varies by the type of chocolate:
The size of the dog also influences the amount of toxicity: (1/2oz/lb of pet weight)
A 10 lb dog eating 1 oz of unsweetened chocolate ingests a toxic level (about 1 Tbs.) A 70 LB dog would have to eat 8.5 oz to reach toxicity (just over 1/2 bag of chocolate chips).
And just how many big bites is that? It does accumulate. Call your vet if you suspect your dog snitched any chocolates.
The excitement of the season with gift giving, party preparations, plans with friends and family...it gets all too easy to temporarily forget the needs of our animal companions. So making a list and checking it twice for safety sake is good advice.
Bones Cooked bones are hard and brittle. Chips can lodge in the throat, stomach and intestines.
Meats Fats, sauces, and poultry skin can cause severe stomach problems.
Plants Holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are poisonous when eaten. Some houseplants can cause the tongue to swell blocking the throat. Keep plants out of reach.
Electric cords Why do kittens and puppies find these so enticing to chew? Baby stores have safety covers to secure cords, or you can use a length of PVC pipe. This also keeps pets from becoming tangled.
Sweets Too much candy is as bad for your pet as it is for you. A stomach ache and dental problems may occur. Theobromine in chocolate causes poisoning in dogs. Your pets may try to help themselves to a gift box of chocolate under the tree.
Christmas trees are a definite attraction. Be sure ornaments on lower branches are pet safe. Cyndi at Whiskers'n'Things suggests anchoring the tree to the ceiling using an eye hook and fish line. Use a stand with a broad base. Be
careful about adding any chemicals to the water in the tree stand.
Pine needles Pets seem to love to munch on them. The needles can become imbedded, cut the tongue or puncture the intestine.
Decorations Tinsel, angel hair (fiberglass in reality), string, hooks and sharp breakable ornaments should but of reach. Just how far up is that? Only Tiger knows for sure. Why not keep all decorations pet safe?
Alcohol Beer, wine, punch, cocktails, champagne - all have sugar which may attract pets. Keep those half-full leftover glasses out of reach (also the danger of broken glass). Only a little can intoxicate a dog and too much can affect the breathing, put him into shock, even cause systems to shut down. (www.api4animals.org)
If you are planning a party, consider the needs of your pets. Many pets just do not like change - unfamiliar people, noise, smells and the gaiety can turn their world upside down. Dogs may bark or whine incessantly (even at the neighbor's party), may have digestive upsets or tend to be irritable and nip or bite. Cats will be likely to hide, but may streak outside while the door is held open. Indoor animals should not be put outside "just during the party." A better choice would be limiting them to one room, door closed, dim light and familiar bedding and toys. If your pets are among the guests, ask the guests to refrain from "just a little treat" or supply a basket of pet snacks to use for those who just cannot resist the temptation to feed your pets. My dogs have their crates in the bedroom. I put a bed sheet over them for a little extra privacy. The doors are open so they can seek sanctuary.
Healing Crisis
Also something a lot of people get confused about - healing crisis. Try to improve all sorts of things and the pet just seems to be the worse for it. Could it be a healing crisis?
You have tried to improve your pet's health with better nutrition and overall healthier choices, but now the symptoms seems worse. Could it be a healing crisis? Understanding the reference to "healing crisis" is integral to understanding what occurs as the body becomes healthier. Many people are caught off guard and fail to understand and interpret the symptoms and changes which follow the change to a healthier lifestyle.
Many of these symptoms and changes are unpleasant but they are short in duration and are sporadic. A healing crisis is a necessary part in the healing process.
Information on understanding the way the body heals is from www.marysherbs.com and Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn DVM. Because there is so much information, this will be an ongoing topic in upcoming newsletters as well.
It takes some time before the natural defense systems of the body are weakened and poor health results. Doesn't it seem reasonable that it will also take some time for the body to recover completely and become healthy again?
What is happening inside? When a pet begins to eat a healthier diet changes are going to occur. At first, as the nutrients and energy flow through the body, the pet is going to feel better and be more energetic. More oxygen is delivered to the cells and each new cell is healthier than the old cell that developed on the less desirable diet. Because of this the animal becomes more active, has more exercise and more quality blood is delivered to every part of the body. Because the pet is eating nutritious food without chemical additives, getting a quality source of protein and all premium ingredients, things begin to happen.
Most of us expect that as a problem is being treated, symptoms will steadily become less and less until the problem just disappears. We do not expect anything to look worse! This can happen and is then referred to as the healing crisis. This is the point where the natural defenses are mobilized for an all-out effort to regain maximum health.
Antibiotics and other drugs seem to work their magic by making the symptoms go away. Sometimes what is really happening is the drug only cloaks the problem; the disorder or illness is still there.
According to Dr Pitcairn, one long term effect of using drugs to control disease is the body has a tendency to become lazy about attempting to keep itself healthy.(Think of this - if you do not exercise and use a muscle, it becomes weaker). The defense system is not used, so the underlying weakness in the body is not healed. Poor nutrition lowers resistance even further making it harder and harder for the body to truly respond and become strong.
Because of an even lower resistance, when symptoms re- appear, even more drugs and stronger drugs are needed - creating a vicious circle. Optimum nutrition can break this circle. The body will detoxify. This detoxification causes the symptoms you see with the healing crisis. Things really are moving to improve.
Why does this happen? The body and mind begin to show changes because the quality of the nutrients coming into the body is of higher quality than the body has used to build previously. The body begins to discard the lower grade materials to upgrade and make room for the superior replacements.
Suppressed body functions will be stimulated to detoxify the body, sometimes inducing diarrhea or indigestion, skin changes, swelling of the paws or ears. This will be more apparent if the previous food was of very low quality, there is an underlying health problem in the process of resolution and/or the new, healtier food is introduced too rapidly. This is temporary and is part of the healing process. The body will return to at least the same level of health as before if not superior health unless you do something to suppress this process. It may be helpful for your pet to have more opportunity for rest and sleep. Be sure there is always fresh water.
You may notice weight changes. There may be weight loss or weight gain. The weight will stabilize as you continue with the healthier choices for your pet.
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is an organ of elimination. This makes it easy to understand why toxins will come out through the skin causing skin eruptions.
Some people and animals experience arthritis like symptoms and aching joints. This happens because uric acid crystals and toxins can aggravate the joints as they are cleansed from the body.
You can either have a healthy body handle bacteria, virus, toxins and pollutants that are going to show up sooner or later, or have them come up when it overpowers a weakened body. Don't be discouraged. It is better to go through a small healing crisis than a full blown health crisis.
Rely on the advice of a veterinarian who knows your pet if you are unsure about any symptoms or occurrences. Be sure the vet understands what you are trying to accomplish - better health for your pet - not covering up symptoms.
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