CLEO & SHALOM'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Cleo had her 2nd Birthday Party last weekend, although her birthday is actually next Tuesday. But we celebrated it early together with Cleo's friend Shalom who turned 3.

Evie (Shalom's owner) had taken the initiative to organise a fantastic party for the furkids. There was a cake for each of them, and there were party packs for all the doggies that came for the party.

As I had been busy all week prior to the party I did nothing except turn up. I didn't even have time to invite some dogs and people that I would have liked to come celebrate with us. I do aplogise... but switching jobs is really quite demanding.

Anyway here are some of the pictures of the party. There will be more once I actually get some time to load the pictures onto my computer. These ones are courtesy of Groovy. Thanks Groovy for the amazing pics!

Groovy and Cleo getting ready to retrieve their tennis balls

Cleo taking off after the tennis ball

Cleo returning with her tennis ball

Groovy charging ahead of Shalom and Cleo

All in all it was a great day...

And we were also extremely proud of Cleo, as she was a very good girl that afternoon. We had let her off leash for the first time and were pleasantly surprised that she didn't dash off but stayed pretty close and had a grand time retrieving her tennis ball!

PET-N-YOU 1ST ANNIVERSARY

PET-N-YOU 1ST ANNIVERSARY BASH
29 OCTOBER 2006, SRI SEDAYA SCHOOL, JALAN 13/4 SUBANG JAYA

Join us for our 1st anniversary bash, featuring cool dog sports demos and happening party games lined up for all breeds and manner of dogs … dog lovers included. Activities lined up for the Sunday evening are:

SUNDAY - 29TH OCTOBER
PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY

3.30 pm Registration for dog party and door gifts

4.00 pm Pet N You Dog Squad demo on dog sports

Frisbee, Tricks, Heelwork to music, Obedience,
Flyball, Agility, 20 pole weave, Family photo

4.45 pm K9 Party Games
Long Jumper
Ultimate Recall
Super Sniffer Dog
Best Retriever
Best Kisser

6.00 pm Results and prize presentation for Party Games

6.15 – 7.15 pm Playtime and socialisation at Pet n You training field.

Use of agility and flyball equipment plus tips from Pet n You trainers. Pet nYou trainers will also be on hand if you wish to discuss any matters pertaining to dog training, obedience, agility, dog sports and activities in general.

Do drop in early as all dogs who register in time will receive door gifts courtesy of Nutri-Edge. Just to give you a flavour, here’s a description of some of the K9 party games on the day:

Super Sniffer Dog
One for the hound dogs. Quickest 3 dogs to sniff out their favourite toy or treat hidden under 1 of 9 plastic cones will be rewarded. If your dog manages to sniff out some other item on the field, the ‘finders keepers’ rule shall apply.

Best Retriever
One for the ball retrieving addict. Top 3 dogs to complete retrieve of any object thrown or placed by owner on the field. All dogs will be given 2 attempts and judging will be based on enthusiasm, reliability and distance on both attempts. Accurate retrieves are not essential.

Best Kisser
An event for true dog lovers or rather, dogs who are fond of licking people’s faces. 20 seconds time frame and judging will be based on stamina, enthusiasm and the ‘wet & wow’ factor. The 3 smoothest kissers get the accolades.

The games are open to all dogs and each contest comes with 3 swell prizes which are up for grabs, courtesy of Nutri Edge. Best of all, there are no entrance fees and dogs and owners can get stuck into as many contests as they wish. So bring along your party tricks and gear as we intend to have a swell time with our dogs.

Agility and flyball equipment will also be set up and available for use if your dogs are keen. Make a date with us for quality play time with your furry friends at spacious and secure training grounds.

Pet nYou Dog Squad and not forgetting our very own Dog Squad who will be showcasing new and enticing dog sports and activities. Frisbee, Tricks, Heelwork to Music and Flyball are in the pipeline, so don’t miss the opening show.Map of venue can be viewed at http://www.srisedaya.edu.my/map.htm

OUTSIDE DOGS: PROTECTION IS NO EXCUSE

Do you have a dog in your yard so that it can keep you safe? Maybe you need to re-think having a yard dog... here are some of the reasons why a yard dog will not keep protect you, your family or your property.

Outside Dogs: Why Protection is No Excuse by Dennis Fetko, PhD
www.drdog.com

Unless you're medically intolerant of the dog (and therefore can't take care of him in a medical emergency, so you shouldn't have the dog anyway), making a dog stay outside is a costly waste. If he's for protection, what do you think I want to steal -- your lawn?

When you leave, do you put your valuables and your kids out in your yard? Just what is the dog protecting out there? Most dogs kept outside cause far more nuisance complaints from barking and escaping than any deterrent to intrusion. Such complaints cause teasing, antagonism, release and poisoning. With your dog a helpless victim, it's no laughing matter.

If I'm a crook and your dog is out, your fence protects ME, not your possessions or your dog. If I just open the gate, 9 out of 10 dogs will run off! I can safely shoot, stab, spear, poison, snare, strangle them, or dart through the fence and you just lost your dog AND everything I steal! If he's tied up and I keep out of reach, he's useless. He'll bark, but outside dogs bark so much, they're usually ignored. But let a dog hit the other side of a door or window I'm breaking into, and I'm GONE! I can't hurt the dog until he can hurt me, and nothing you own is worth my arm. Deterrence is effective protection.

Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection is defensive, reactive, often passive, and threatens or injures no one. Aggression is active, harmful and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard dogs often develop far more aggression than protectivity because everyone who passes by or enters has already violated the territory that dog has marked dozens of times a day for years. That's not protection, it's not desirable and it overlooks two facts of life today: First, property owners have implied social contracts with others in the community.

Letter carriers, paper boys, delivery people, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, meter readers and others are allowed near and at times on your property without your specific permission. And sure that ten-year-old was not supposed to jump your fence after his Frisbee; but neither you nor your dog are allowed to cause him injury if he does.

Imagine this: A neighbor looks into your yard or window and sees you, your wife or child laying on the floor in a pool of blood. They call 9-1-1 and your dog prevents paramedics from assisting! Should they shoot your dog or just let you die? Great choice.

Second, even if the intruder is a criminal, few places allow you or your dog to cause physical injury to prevent property loss. Convicted felons have sued the dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than they ever could have stolen! Appalling? True.

And don't be foolish enough to believe your homeowner's insurance will cover the loss. Now you see why many feel that an outside dog is a no-brainer.

The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral control you have. It's easier to solve four or five indoor problems than one outdoor problem. The reason is valid and simple: The more you control the stimuli that reaches your dog, the more you control the responses. You've got a lot more control over your living room than you do over your entire county! When your dog is bored, but teased by every dog, cat, bird, squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy, airplane, firecracker - especially since it's the Raya Season at the moment - and backfiring truck in the county, OF COURSE he'll dig, chew, and bark.

Would you sit still all day everyday? Do you want unnecessary medical fees and parasites, especially as the dog ages? When a dog is alone indoors, you are still 30% there because your scent and things he associates with you, constantly remind the dog of you and your training. When he's out, your dog is alone whether you're home or not. Do you really expect him to keep YOU in mind while the entire world teases, distracts and stimulates him?

The media is full of stories about the family dog saving everyone's life during a fire. How many people, including children, would be dead today if those dogs were kept outside? Do you ALWAYS get up to investigate every time your yard dog barks. Or do you just ROLL OVER, put a pillow over your face and hope that he shuts up.

An outdoor dog has an address, not a home. Dogs offer real value as companion animals. Stop behavior problems and start enjoying real protection and companionship.

BRING YOUR DOGS INSIDE

As Helen Keller said,

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."

Your help is needed. You can make a difference. Most of our cruelty calls are for the backyard dog. If you know of a backyard dog, please check to make sure it has proper shelter. With the current HAZE in Malaysia, now is the time to be the voice for those that can't speak for themselves.

The law requires (yes even in Malaysia - although it is rarely enforced) that the outdoor dog has proper protection from the weather. Dogs can suffer from sun-stroke, heat-exposure, and dehydration when water dries up in the heat

A doghouse should be large enough for the dog to stand up, lie down, and stretch out without touching the sides or top but not too large that it can't hold its own body heat when it's cold at night or when it storms, or too small that it suffocates the dog when we have heat waves . The doghouse should be waterproof and at least 2 inches off the ground. Also it should have a door flap or windbreaker on the entrance during the rainy months. The doghouse should have dry bedding.

Water should be available for the dog at all times and it should be given adequate food. The doghouse should also be in a location where the dog has access to shade from the sun.

The ideal situation for any dog is to be part of the family and live indoors, but some people, for various reasons, don't bring their animals inside. Please make a difference for outdoor dogs and make sure they have adequate shelter. If you know of an animal that is living under substandard care, report the situation to the SPCA.

WHY DOGS SHOULD BE INDOOR PETS.

Over the past few days, my labrador retriever, Celopatra, has been rather moody, inactive and not terribly keen on her food. I have been rather concerned and have therefore been pampering her a bit more than usual, and giving additional vitamins.

And then it struck me... I think she is affected by the haze. I believe we're all affected by the damned haze, cause I know I have been having breathing difficulty. This revelation then prompted me to think about all the poor doggies that are left outside in this nasty haze. People please bring your dogs indoors...

Think about it:
We've all been advised to stay indoors as much as possible and to wash ourselves as often as we can to ensure that the grit, grime and filth are washed away to prevent us from being ill... and while everyone scurries indoors into the comfort of air-conditioning - clean air - the poor doggies are left outside the breathe the putrid air, which will inevitably make them ill!

I can only imagine how awful it must be for all outdoor dogs at this point in time, esp since Cleo, who is indoors all the time (except when we let her out to the garden for short play periods or when she goes for her walks) is already suffering from the effects of the haze.

Also, I don't think that I would have noticed that Cleo was not feeling very well if she had been an outdoor dog...

Anyway, I'd just like to plead to everyone who keeps their dogs outdoors to please bring your dogs in, at least until this bad weather clears if not permanently.

And in the mean time here's another article that I thought would be of interest:

Extracted from www.pet-rescue.org

Why Dogs Should Be Indoor Pets: Outdoor Risks, Solving Indoor Problems
When people ask, 'why shouldn't dogs be kept outside' and 'how do I teach my dog to be an indoor dog,' share this good advice, which contains guidance from 'The Great, Awful Outdoors' by canine behavior expert and author Pat Miller

Dogs like living indoors with their family. They are by nature pack animals, so keeping dogs outside denies them a place in the family pack. According to author and trainer Pat Miller, the reasons given for keeping dogs outdoors fall into two categories:

* Inappropriate dog behavior that can be managed and/or modified (example: 'the dog's not housetrained'), and
* People's preconceived notions, which can also be modified (example: 'dogs should be outside in the fresh air').

Certainly, dogs benefit from spending some time outside. But this time should consist of play sessions in the yard and walks around the neighborhood, not solitary confinement outdoors.

Problems that result from leaving dogs outdoors:

* Dogs kept outdoors are deprived of human companionship and have more trouble bonding with human family members. They have more trouble learning to interact properly with humans. And without adequate supervision and guidance from their owners, dogs can and will develop undesirable behaviors.
* Bored dogs left in yards often bark at every sound or movement to occupy themselves ... dig holes ... fence-fight with neighboring dogs and other animals ... chew and damage fencing, siding, decks and outdoor furnishings ... dig under fencing ... and climb or jump over fences. And when the owners do visit the dog in the yard, the dog is often out of control, having been starved of human companionship.

More risks:
* Escape from the yard, which can lead to being hit by a car, lost in the woods, hurt by people. Also: they can frighten and even bite people out of confusion.
* Taunting and cruelty from youths or adults on the other side of the fence.
* Theft.
* Poisoning.
* Neighbor complaints and threats; visits from animal control officers.
* Accidental release by a passerby, meter reader or service technician. And any resulting bites.
* Frustration from wanting to visit with passing dogs and humans, which can lead to barrier aggression, which fuels aggression towards other dogs and humans.
* Illness and chronic health problems from being out in hot, cold or wet weather.
* Sunburn or heatstroke - real concern in Malaysia!.
* Flystrike on ears and other body parts, which can lead to open wounds and maggot infestation. * Electrocution when digging up or chewing on wiring outside the house.
* Development of obsessive behaviors such as tail chasing, fly snapping and self-mutilation as a result of boredom and frustration.

Creative solutions to inside-out problems, courtesy of Pat Miller:
* Good manners don't just happen. The owner needs to take responsibility for helping his dog learn good behavior and house manners. That means spending some time each day in training the dog, being sure to reward him for appropriate bathroom and other behaviors. Remember that dogs are continually looking to their people for cues, so owners must provide, look for and take opportunities to reward positive behaviors and to discourage negative ones. (Example: many owners accidentally reward dogs for jumping up by pushing the dog off. Seemingly unpleasant gestures such as pushing the dog off typically encourage repeated jumping, since the dog is just looking for attention.)

* Enroll in a good training class that focuses on praise and other means of positive reinforcement. * Provide exercise each day. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog. Throw a ball with the dog. Go for long walks. Give the dog a good exercise session before you leave for work in the morning.
* Provide the dog with lots of opportunities to display good behavior. And praise him whenever he does the right thing. Positive reinforcement leads to repetition of desired behaviors.
* Until the dog learns good house manners, confine him in a dog-safe room, puppy pen or crate inside the house when you're not there to supervise.

Baby gates as well as doors can be used to control access to various parts of your house. Be sure to leave him several safe, interactive dog toys, such as a Kong toy (Cleo has 5 different Kongs that we stuff with her fav treats) stuffed with some treats and a little peanut butter or cream cheese. Make sure the dog has access to fresh water, especially when you're gone for a long period. When first using a crate, teach the dog that good things happen in the crate, and reward him when he displays calm behavior.

* Never use the crate for punishment, since that will cause the dog to develop a negative association with the crate. You can use the crate for a time-out, but keep things cheerful -- for example, if the dog gets revved up again after an exercise session ends, you might say 'Oops! Time out' and instruct him to go to the crate in a calm, upbeat voice. Miller suggests an indoor, portable tether as a good alternative to a crate for time-outs when you are home to watch the dog. A time-out should be a short, pleasant interlude for the dog.

* If you have to be gone from the home longer than the dog can hold his or her urine, arrange with a dog walking service or neighbor to take the dog out. Some people have taught dogs (usually small breeds) to use a box containing commercial dog litter or Astroturf that can be hosed off.

* Avoid leaving food, garbage and debris in areas that your dog can access. Clear off counters and put trash and garbage cans in closets, or use cans with tight-fitting lids.

* If fleas are a problem, use a good, modern form of flea control, such as the easy-to-use topical treatments that include Frontline (Cleo uses Frontline) and K9 Advantix.

* If someone in the house has allergies to animals, the best moves are to see an allergy specialist and to follow practices for reducing the chance of allergic reactions. These include vacuuming, keeping the dog off human furniture, washing hands after touching the dog, etc. You can find free allergy tips on the web.

THE BACKYARD DOG.

My darling labrador retriever, Cleopatra, is obviously an indoor dog. I guess she's one of the lucky ones. Many dog owners, unfortunately, believe in keeping their dogs outdoors due to a serious misconception that their dogs will protect them from intruders/strangers etc if they are outdoors. This is, in my opinion, hogwash! There are loads of research articles that prove dogs left outdoors are in fact less likely to protect their owners from intruders and are more likely to be aggressive and badly behaved.

I will be putting up a series of articles on the pros of keeping your dog indoors with you and the cons of leaving your dog alone in the yard. Here's the first one:


Extracted from www.paw-rescue.org
The Backyard Dog by the Humane Society of Silicon Valley

The other misconception about dogs is the belief that they will be healthy and happy living only in the backyard. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Current studies in dog psychology show that dogs isolated in backyards are highly likely to develop serious behavioral problems that often result in euthanasia for the animal.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

DOGS ARE PACK ANIMALS THAT THRIVE ON COMPANIONSHIP.
Much like their wolf ancestors, dogs are very social. In fact, dogs are more social than humans and need to be part of human families. When you own a dog, you become the dog's pack and he wants to be with his pack. Forcing a dog to live outside with little or no human companionship is one of the most psychological damaging things a pet owner can do to a dog.

DOGS ARE ALSO DEN ANIMALS,
meaning they like to have a safe, quiet, and secure place to sleep, rest, and hang out, such as your house. Your dog has a wonderful ability to learn and therefore to be housetrained. A dog who resides more in your house than in the yard is a much happier, content animal, because of the security of a den and your companionship.

BACKYARD DOGS HAVE MORE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.
Since all your dog's instincts are telling him it is not good to be left alone or isolated from his pack, your dog can become very stressed or anxious. A dog exhibits stress by digging, barking, howling or whining, chewing, escaping, and exhibiting hyperactivity. These problems can become so troublesome that your neighbors may complain about the barking, howling, property destruction, or your dog escaping.

BACKYARD DOGS ARE HARDER TO TRAIN.
Considering a backyard dog does not develop a strong bond toward your family, he is harder to train than a dog allowed to be in the house with your family. This also makes him less responsive to commands.

BACKYARD DOGS MAKE LOUSY GUARD DOGS.
As a dog becomes naturally protective of where he lives (his territory or turf), he will only defend the place he lives in. If he is never allowed in the house, then the house will not become a place to protect. Most people keep their valuables inside their houses, so why wouldn't you want your dog to protect the inside of your house? Unless allowed to live inside, your dog will not develop that sense of territory. He will not sound the alarm when someone tries to invade your house. It is not uncommon to hear stories of families being robbed while their backyard dog snoozed through the whole episode.

BACKYARD DOGS HAVE HIGHER RATES OF EUTHANASIA.
Backyard dogs are more often given up than house dogs because they were never looked upon as family by their human pack. Sadly, that means they are easier to dispose of. Backyard dogs do not have the opportunity to become socialized to people and other dogs, and may become so fearful or even vicious that they may have to be euthanized.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
KEEP YOUR DOG WITH YOU!
At a minimum, your dog should have access to your living space whenever you are home, including sleeping inside your house at night. You do not have to spend every waking moment actively playing and talking to your dog; just the fact that your dog can lay quietly at your feet while you watch TV, work at your computer or sleep, is very important to his mental well-being.

NEVER TIE OR CHAIN YOUR DOG UP OUTSIDE.
Dogs that are tied up or chained outside suffer extreme frustration which can result in hyperactivity and/or aggression against you, your family or friends. Dogs that are tied up cannot escape from other animals or people who mean to do them harm. They can also easily become entangled and do bodily harm to themselves. It has been a sad tale to hear of a dog tied outside because he was a fence jumper, only to hang himself while trying to do so! If you must keep your dog outside, provide a secure, high fence or an enclosed chain link dog run, with a top for those fence jumpers or climbers. Panels of chain link (that can be easily bolted together to provide a dog run) can be found at reasonable prices at your larger home supply stores, such as Home Depot. Provide a top with shade, a dog house for rainy weather, items to chew on, and plenty of fresh water. A dog should always be exercised before being left for the day in an enclosed area, such as a dog run or even your backyard.

THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME YOU'LL DEVOTE TO YOUR DOG.
People who keep their dogs outside constantly rationalize it. They insist that they do spend time with their dogs, they do feed them, they do walk them. Spending an hour a day with your dog is not enough for his mental welfare. Be realistic! What about when it is rainy, windy, cold, or just plain too hot? Are you still spending that hour daily with your dog no matter what? Making the backyard your dog's only home does not make him a real part of the family.

DO YOU FIT THE STATISTICS?
Our lives have changed. It used to be that most people did spend a lot of time in the yard; playing, working, gardening, and socializing. Now with the age of computers, televisions, and hectic schedules, we actually spend about 75% less time outdoors in our yards, and therefore less time with our devoted friend, the dog.

TRAIN YOUR DOG!
If your dog is untrained, take him to training class so you can develop better communication skills and teach him how to act appropriately in the house. If you have a young puppy, get him into a puppy training and socialization class as soon as he turns 12 weeks old. Don't wait until he is six months old and has already acquired a taste for tipping over the garbage can or chewing on your rug. If you acquire an older dog, training him as soon as possible will help him adjust to his new household and your family (his new pack).

GIVE YOUR DOG A CHANCE TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!
Don't kick him out because you think he is untrainable, unruly, or because it is good for him to be outside. Instead, take the time to make him a part of your family, a part of your pack.

HELP THE HOMELESS...

VENUE: PET SAFARI IKANO

EVERY SUNDAY 11.30 to 7.00pm.

Call Carnea 012 332 9952 or Julianna 012 977 8849 for more information.

Rescued adult dogs looking for loving homes. Dogs are below two years of age and are good with people and children.Please pass the message around and help us find homes for these beautiful angels. All dogs have been spayed and have had their first vaccination.

A DOG IS FOR LIFE...

A dog is for life... not just for Christmas.

I am quite upset today as I have just received an email from someone who wants to give up her dog. The reason for doing so is because she is too busy. Apparently her hectic work schedule means that she can't care for her dog anymore. What ticked me off most was the fact that she actually wanted to sell the dog. I think that it is already quite dreadful that she has decided that she can't keep the dog because she's too busy. But to actually sell the dog in an attempt to make some money out of the poor dog is, in my opinion, unethical!

What I am trying to say is that you should never get a dog on a whim or just because you think you need the companionship or because you think it's cute. Getting a dog is a life-long responsibility. You must know what you're getting yourself into. You must be prepared to spend the next 10-15 years of your life looking after the dog. Your dog depends on you for everything, just like a child. You must provide your dog with clean food and water, shelter, exercise, grooming, companionship, verterinary care and protection! You must be able to afford maintaining a dog. You should never treat your dog like a piece of furniture that you can just get rid off when you're tired dof it!

Your dog is part of your family... (and readers of my blog will know that I put dogs on equal footing as children). Would you get rid of your children because you have a new job that demands a lot more of your time? Would you get rid of your children because they constantly get into things that they shouldn't?

Dogs have feelings too, and they will hurt emotionally as much as humans would if they are neglected. This in turn may result in bad behaviour and/or agression. All because they crave for your attention and affection... Please think carefully before getting yourself or someone else a dog...

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I believe that the majority of dog owners love their dogs very much. And therefore we endeavour to give our dogs the best that we can. This sometimes include giving our dogs snack and treats that are for human consumption, e.g. some bread and cheese, leftover meat, bones etc. Unfortunately, what we don't realise is that alot of the foods that we eat are actually dangerous for our beloved fur-kids. Here's an article on some of the foods that can be harmful to our furry friends. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and when in doubt, please consult your vet.

*****

Extracted from www.petalia.com.au

Feeding pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets.Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly.

Chocolate toxicity
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited and hyperactive. Due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhoea are also common.

The effect of theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will either increase the dog’s heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise.After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.

Onion and garlic poisoning
Onions and garlic are other dangerous food ingredients that cause sickness in dogs, cats and also livestock. Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. At first, pets affected by onion poisoning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea. They will show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal’s urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion.

All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion.

A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a ten-kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anaemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onionWhile garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.

The danger of macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts are another concern. A recent paper written by Dr. Ross McKenzie, a Veterinary Pathologist with the Department of Primary Industries, points to the danger of raw and roasted macadamia nuts for pets. The toxic compound is unknown but the affect of macadamia nuts is to cause locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Dogs have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia kernels (nuts without the shell) while others had eaten approximately forty kernels. Some dogs had also been given macadamia butter.Luckily, the muscle weakness, while painful, seems to be of short duration and all dogs recovered from the toxicity. All dogs were taken to their veterinary surgeon.

Pets owners should not assume that human food is always safe for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or not at all. Be sure that your pets can’t get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a tree in your garden.

Other potential dangers
Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core pips (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide posioning)
Sugar, candy, ice-cream
Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
Rhubarb leaves
Mouldy/spoiled foods
Alcohol
Yeast dough
Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
Hops (used in home brewing)
Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
Broccoli (in large amounts)
Raisins and grapes
Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars


Dr Cam Day BVSc BSc MACVSc is a veterinary surgeon, an animal behaviour consultant and media presenter. In 1995 he qualified as a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in the discipline of Animal Behaviour and is one of only 15 veterinarians with this qualification in Australia. He works full time in animal behaviour management in Queensland.

PRAYER FOR THE ANIMALS

Prayer for the Animals by Albert Schweitzer

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends, the animals.
Especially for animals who are suffering; for any that are
hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them, we ask a
a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

BABE, WE MISS YOU ALREADY

Babe, we're all missing you a whole bunch especially Cleo. She spent much of last night looking for you in your little corner under the dressing table.

Yes everyone, we managed to find the owner of the little white dog that I found last Monday night.

Apart from posting details of Babe on this blog, I sent out mass SMSes to everyone in my phone book. I also sent out a "flier" via email to almost everyone in my address book, everyone except a person called Steve - I'll explain this later. I sent the flier to the SPCA, Puppy.Com and also to my other blogger friends. I also sent it to some of my Muslim friends, including a girl called Leo. Leo in turn forwarded the email to some of her friends, etc . Then, yesterday I got a call from a girl called Emelda, a friend of Leo's, who thought she recognised the dog in the pictures. She believed the dog belonged to her friend, Su-Yin. [Thank you so much for spreading the word Leo! You're a star!]

Electronic communication is a powerful tool - so don't abuse it!

The next thing I know, Su-Yin calls up and describes her dog which she had lost over a week ago. Su-Yin, at the time, had not even seen the pictures of the dog that I had. Her description was perfect and she told me the dog's name was Babe. To my delight, Babe responded to her name immediately. Although I was happy to have found the owner, I was also a bit wary that it might be someone pretending to be the owner. So I asked for proof of ownership.

Then later in the afternoon I got calls from the SPCA and some of my colleagues at work informing me that there is an advert in the papers regarding a lost dog. And they think it could be the dog that I had with me. And true enough when I checked the paper there was an ad with Babe's picture in it. But of course Su-Yin had already gotten in touch with me by then.

When Su-Yin arrived at my house last night, I didn't need the proof. Babe was so happy and excited to see her. She was prancing all around Su-Yin. I knew immediately that Babe belonged to Su-Yin especially since Babe had been barking her head off at everyone else that had come to visit me over the past week. Of course Su-Yin came armed with several pictures of Babe.

We were sad to see Babe go as we had grown rather fond of her. She was a great dog, and was very well behaved while she was with us. She had moved from sleeping in the landing upstairs into the space under the dresser in my room. We had even given her a name, Missy. Cleo liked her too which was quite strange as she normally is quite mean to all the doggies (except puppies) that stay with us.

Anyway, to my surprise Su-Yin sent me a message later in the evening to say that I actually knew her husband Steve! We had a couple of meetings together about 2 and a half years ago while I was still at Sime Darby HQ. So theoretically, Babe could have gone home alot earlier if I had sent that email to Steve. Strange how things turned out... but at the end of it all the important thing is that Babe is back home with her family... ;o)

And Babe, be a good girl and don't go running out on your own ok??? Come round and visit Cleo when you have the time...

IS THIS YOUR DOG?

Dear everyone,

I found this lovely girl trying to cross a very busy road in the Ampang area last night at about 7.30pm. Thankfully I managed to catch her as cars tend to speed on that road and there was a very bad storm last night. I dread to think what would have happened otherwise.

I think she's a terrier mixed, and she misses her home terribly. Please spread the word round, and help me find her owners. If she's not claimed within the week, she will be available for adoption. If you are interested in adopting this dog, please get in touch with me at the email address or phone number provided.

She's very friendly, and a little playful. I think she may be about 4/5 years old but I can't be sure. I really do not know very much about smaller breeds. She's definitely an indoor dog as she was very comfortable in our house. She has been cleaned, washed and dried. She has no ticks or fleas and based on my observation so far, doesn't seem to have any medical problems.

She had a big meal of BilJac with boiled chicken last night and slept soundly just outside my room after that. I think she must have been exhausted from being out on the streets.

Please help.

Regards, Natasha