Valentines dangers for pets

Love is in the air!  Every February 14th across the US, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.  The origins of Valentines Day is a mystery, shrouded with stories from Christian and ancient Roman tradition.  While the truth behind this holiday is murky, the stories all emphasize a romantic celebration in honor of St. Valentine.

Like many holidays there are potential dangers for our pets in the items associated with the holiday.

Roses are red.. while roses don't often cause serious poisoning beyond gastrointestinal upsets, there are risks for trauma to the mouth and paws from thorns.

Lilies are often placed in fresh bouquets and make a beautiful alternative to roses.  Toxins associated with the petals, leaves, pollen or even the water in the vase are extremely toxic to cats and cause acute kidney failure within one or two days of exposure.  Dogs don't develop kidney failure but may have g.i. upsets.  For cats, within a few hours of exposure, may display vomiting, reduced appetite and lethargy.  These signs progress to drinking lots of water and visiting the litter box a lot! (PU/PD).  Within 18-30 hours, severe dehydrating develops.  Within 30-72 hours they may stop producing urine.  The rapid onset of treatment is important.  If you feel your cat has drank water from a flower vase or chewed on them, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Chocolate and cocoa can be toxic.  How toxic depends on how much your pet has eaten and they type of chocolate eaten.  In general the darker (more concentrated) the chocolate the more toxic.  Pets that ingest a few M & M's are unlikely to develop toxicity.  Signs usually include vomiting, diarrhea and PU/PD.  With large amounts and dark chocolates your pet may appear agitated, increases in heart rate, tremors, seizures and collapse.  It is always good to just call your veterinarian for advise.

Chocolate covered raisins are a double whammy.  Not only the toxicity of the chocolate but the raisins cause acute kidney failure in dogs, and maybe cats.  Not all pets are sensitive to the raisins, therefore, you should watch your pet closely if you suspect your dog has ingested this sweet.  Once again it's a good idea to contact your veterinarian.

Chocolate covered expresso beans (caffeine) is another double whammy.  The caffeine from the chocolate and the beans double your pet's dose.  Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people.  While one or two beans won't have enough caffeine to poison, ingestion of moderate amounts, coffee grounds, tea bags or diet pills can easily cause death in small dogs or cats.  In general, within one or two hours after ingestion you may not vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, elevated heart rates, seizures and/or collapse.  What to do?  Call your vet.

Chocolate covered macadamia nuts (my personal favorite!) Same chocolate concerns, along with toxic effects to dogs from the nuts.  Affecting the neuromuscular system, within 3-6 hours of ingestion, your dog may become lethargic, vomit, and run a fever.  Within 6-12 hours: hind limb weakness, walking funny, tremors, or unable to stand.  There may be signs of abdominal pain, lameness, joint stiffness, and pale gums.  Answer:  yep, call your vet.

Sugar free treats such as frostings from cakes and candies may contain Xylitol, a common sugar substitute.  This toxin may cause a life threatening drop in blood sugar as well as liver damage in dogs.  Typically, the amount needed to cause poisoning is at least 0.05 g per pour of body weight (doesn't take much!)  Within 10-15 minutes after ingestion your dog may develop low blood sugar, lose coordination, and vomit.  Collapse and seizures may quickly follow. This is a emergency.  CALL YOUR VET!

Now that you are petrified to bring anything home to your loved one.  Let me make some suggestions: a romantic dinner for two (at a restaurant), a romantic week-end at a B & B (without pets or children) or a new thought I had this year; make a Valentine's resolution to your loved one, a promise to work on improving an annoying habit that your significant other crazy or establish new habits that will strengthen your relationship together.

What to do about mounting behavior in dogs

I know that you readers have been on pins and needles, waiting for me to return from vacation, and give you helpful hints about how to stop your dog's embarrassing leg fetish behavior.  In case you are a new reader, last time we talked about the many reasons that dog's mount aka 'hump' objects and people.  Your dog does not exhibit this behavior to humiliate you in front of company, but you do want it to stop.  So how do you go about teaching your dog this is not appropriate behavior  regardless of his motivation for it?

First of all, understanding the behavior is part of the cure, so if you haven't read the previous blog, I recommend do so now.  Secondly, if this is a new behavior, you should visit with your veterinarian to rule out possible physical causes such as illness.  Lastly, if it occurs only occasionally, you may just ignore it.  You could simply distract the dog by calling him to you, thus stopping the behavior and move on.

However if it is driving you crazy...then try these training tidbits.

• Redirect- my answer to many unwanted behaviors.  When your dog mounts, stop the behavior with a loud noise (my favorite...'aaaahhhh") and tell him what you want him to do.  I would make the substitute appropriate for the action.  If your dog is mounting out of excitement, then I want to have my dog do something quiet and calm, such as a down-stay his bed.  If your dog doesn't know how to down-stay, now is a good time to teach him. 
• Avoidance is another approach: if your dog is not placed in situations that lead to the behavior, then the behavior will not occur. 
• Although castration will not eliminate mounting, it may reduce the behavior by 50% in almost 70% of dogs, regardless of age at castration.  In about 25% of dogs, there is a great likelihood that reduction in marking behavior will also occur.