Easter Candy Can Kill Your Pet!

Easter Candy Can Kill Your Pet!
For millions of families, the celebration of Easter includes Easter baskets filled with sweet treats galore ? chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, sugary jelly beans and snack-size versions of nearly every candy product imaginable.

As parents, we often warn our children ?Now don?t eat too much or you?ll make yourself sick.? At worst, a child who stuffs him or herself with chocolate may develop nausea and a stomachache.

But for our furry friends who get into the Easter goodies, ?getting sick? may be the least of it. Many of the sweet treats mentioned above can actually be fatal to dogs, cats and other small animals (such as ferrets.)

As responsible pet owners, it?s our job to protect our pets from harm. And though pet owners routinely give their companion animals human food, this is almost always a mistake.

Yes, many pets prefer to eat what we eat. Yes, household pets (especially dogs) really like sweet, sugary foods. And yes, it feels good to pamper Fido or Fluffy by giving them ?just a little taste? of what we?re having for su pper. But many of the foods that humans enjoy can not only cause illness for your beloved dog or cat, they can even be fatal. And given how small a cat or dog is compared to a human, sometimes it doesn?t take much.

Chocolate is one of the most deadly foods for pets (both cats and dogs; dark chocolate is worst, white chocolate has the lowest risk). It?s not only high in fat (pets don?t need lots of fat any more than humans do), it contains two nervous system stimulants, caffeine and theobromine. The fat can make your pet vomit or cause diarrhea ? unpleasant, but usually not fatal.

But it?s the stimulants that sometimes cause death. Theobromine is both a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. A dog that ingests an overdose of chocolate may be fine at first, but will probably become excited and hyperactive within a few hours. It may pass large quantities of urine and become unusually thirsty. The theobromine will cause your pet?s heart rate to accelerate or beat irregularly, either of which can cause death (especially with exercise.)

But it?s not just chocolate that?s the problem. All sugary foods can cause dental problems, lead to obesity, and contribute to diabetes in pets, too. So be sure to keep your stash of chocolate securely out of your pet?s reach.

Children are notorious for sorting and trading candy, so make sure they don?t leave candy laying around (or candy wrappers, either, which can cause choking)

And don?t forget how flexible and persistent a pet can be when it smells something yummy in a trash bin or garage sack, either.

If you do have reason to think that your pet has gotten into the candy, call your vet and describe their symptoms. (Symptoms of chocolate toxicity are nervousness, vomiting, shaking, and overreacting to noises, touch, lights, et cetera.)

If your vet is closed, call an emergency vet center. If you don?t have one of those in your area you can call one of the national animal poison control lines such as the Pet Poison Helpline: 1-800-213-6680. (There is usually a fee for this service.)

It is up to you to make sure that Easter candy and other dangerous foods are kept securely out of the reach of your household pets ? so your whole family can enjoy the holiday!

For a free Pet Poison Hotsheet with lists of household foods, products and plants that are toxic for pets, plus emergency poison information, visit <a href="http://www.healthyrecipesforpets.com" title="http://www.healthyrecipesforpets.com" target="_blank">http://www.healthyrecipesforpets.com</a> and sign up for the free newsletter.

Health Benefits of Cat Ownership
Health Benefits of Cat Ownership

You love your cats for the companionship that they provide. A sympathetic ear, great listening skills, and boundless affection are all great side benefits of cat ownership, but your cat may actually be doing more for you than you think. Recent studies have shown that keeping pets has a positive impact on your health and well being, especially when that pet is a cat.

General Health Benefits
Studies have proven that having contact with a pet is very calming and soothing, and have backed up this conjecture with medical facts. Vital signs taken after an individual s interaction with a pet show positive effects on the blood pressure, pulse, and breathing frequency, and the results of these tests are surprisingly similar to the body s condition after deep meditation. Some studies have even indicated that having pets reduces stress and results in a lowered risk of heart disease.

Cats and dogs ” but especially cats ” have been used in some hospitals and nursing homes as a kind of therapy for the bedridden and ill. The warmth of their furry bodies and open, purring friendship can drastically influence a person s state of mind for the better. A study conducted in the states of New York, Missouri, and Texas found that nursing homes that allowed pets had lower medication costs than those that didn t.

Lowered stress and increased calmness could be the cause, but studies over the last twenty years have also shown that people who own pets are much healthier than their non-pet owning counterparts; they are often less-prone to minor illnesses like colds and influenza, score better on psychological tests, and claim to feel a greater sense of well-being.

Children and Cats
Adults are not the only ones who benefit from caring for a cat. Children who have participated in the raising of a pet have shown higher self esteem levels, better social skills, and a greater sense of responsibility toward others. For young children and infants, exposure to cats at a young age can also help the child develop resistance to allergens and asthma.

Seniors and Cats
Older adults often lack companionship, social connections and opportunities for recreation during their retirement years. Owning a cat can significantly boost the health and happiness of a senior, giving them a feeling of purpose and the knowledge that they are needed.

Cats are ideal pets for seniors as they are relatively low-maintenance in comparison to dogs. They don t need formal exercise like regular walks, or constant trips to the backyard, since they take care of their own exercise routine during play and confine their bathroom habits to a single area.

Cat ownership has been shown to improve the general health and well-being of men with HIV, reduce the loneliness of single women living by themselves, and even help victims of heart disease recover more quickly after a heart attack. Next time you re cuddling with your cat on the couch, tossing that rubber ball across the linoleum for the sixty-third time, or even cleaning a hairball off the rug, remember that your cat might be doing a lot more for you than you think.

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Rabbits Diet: Is your rabbit eating right?
The typical diet for a pet rabbit consists of water, hay, pellets, fresh vegetables, and its own caecal pellets. Fruit and other treats are given only in very limited quantities, as they can cause obesity in a rabbit. Rabbits require a constant water supply as they dehydrate quickly.

Most sources recommend 80% of the diet should be Timothy hay or another grass hay. Too many vegetables in a rabbit’s diet typically leads to diarrhea and other digestive problems.

Pellets

Rabbits are generally fed a pelleted feed available from pet stores, supermarkets, and farm suppliers. Pellets were originally designed for rabbit breeders for the purpose of providing as much food energy and vitamins as inexpensively as possible. This is optimal when the rabbits are being bred for food or for experimentation.

Most sources recommend a minimum of 18% fiber, low protein (14?15%), and less than 1% calcium. Depending on the amount of vegetables available, an adult rabbit should be given between 20 ml to 40 ml per kilogram (? and ? cup of pellets per 6 pounds) body weight daily. Pre-adolescent and adolescent rabbits (7 months and younger) can be given as much pelleted diet as they can consume, although additional vegetables are preferable to additional pellets. An older rabbit (over six years) can be given more pellets if they are having difficulty maintaining a steady body weight. Timothy hay-based pellets are great for rabbits that have stopped growing and do not need to gain weight. Alfalfa-based pellets are best only for young, growing rabbits or older rabbits who are under-weight.

Hay

Hay is essential for the health of all rabbits. A steady supply of hay will help prevent gastrointestinal stasis and other digestive tract problems in rabbits. Additionally, it provides a number of necessary vitamins and minerals at a low food energy cost. Rabbits enjoy chewing on hay, and always having hay available for the rabbit may reduce its tendency to chew on other items. Timothy hay and other grass hays are considered the healthiest to provide the rabbit. As a persistently high blood calcium level can prove harmful to the rabbit, hays such as alfalfa and clover hay should be avoided. Alfalfa is also relatively high in food energy, and a constant diet of it can cause obesity in rabbits.

Treats

Treats are unhealthy in large quantities for rabbits, just as they are for humans. Most treats sold in pet stores are filled with sugar and high food energy carbohydrates. If an owner is determined to feed the rabbit treats, the best treat to provide it with is fruit.

Acceptable fruits (seeds and pits MUST be removed): Banana, Mango, Pineapple, Peach, Apple, Kiwi, Berries, Orange and other citrus fruits.

Pineapple, mango, and papaya all contain a natural enzyme which is thought to reduce hairballs.

Fruits or other treats must be given in moderation, as rabbits easily become overweight and suffer health problems. Their diet should consist of no more than half a tablespoon of fruits or treats per day.

However, fresh fruits should not be given to rabbits under the age of 4 months because their digestive systems are not always developed enough to handle the fruit. It can cause enteritis that causes death within 48 hours.

While a common myth that rabbits should be given lettuce, this is not a good idea because it contains little to no nutritional value for the rabbit and again can cause enteritis which leads to a quick death.

Caecal pellets

Do not be alarmed if you see your rabbit eat some of his feces. These are called cecal pellets, and are a vital part of his diet. Caecal pellets are soft, smelly, clumpy feces, and are a rabbit’s only supply of Vitamin B12. Due to the design of the rabbit’s digestive system, they cannot extract some vitamins and minerals directly from their food. At the end of their digestive system is an area called the caecum where cellulose and other plant fibers are broken down and ferment. After they have been broken down and passed, a rabbit’s digestive system can finally extract the vitamins from them.

Hagar lagarto is a long time Pet lover with many articles and websites on the subject.You can get much more info at <a href=http://pet.freehostia.com>http://pet.freehostia.com</a>

Improve Your Dog's Health With Natural Dog Health Care
Everyone who has a dog and who is conscientious about their own health will clearly see the benefits of providing a similar lifestyle for their pet.
That not only means finding a good place for your dog to live, but also providing for his health.

Commit yourself to your dog?s health by giving your dog the best in natural dog health care. As with humans, natural health care
for dogs is often an advantageous alternative to chemical treatment.

If you want your dog to have the benefit of providing you with the companionship and entertainment that you need, then you really should make that effort to take care of his needs.

Natural dog health focuses on taking care of your dog’s needs by using the best natural products you can find. Your dog has special needs; and you must to ensure that these needs are met on a regular basis if you want to see your dog live a long and healthy life.

Natural dog health care is also about purchasing the natural products that will best benefit your dog. A healthy dog is a happy dog; and when you take out your friend to play, everyone you encounter will see exactly how much love and dedication you have by giving your dog the best treatment and lifestyle possible.

The shiny coat and healthy look will be all the evidence they need. You will also be doing the best for yourself by adapting the natural dog care lifestyle, since you will have your friend around for a long time.

His immune system will be strong and he will enjoy partaking in the games that you will play. Natural dog health is also about changing your lifestyle so that you can be able to incorporate it in the way that you take care of your dog.

That means that you too should consider making natural health a part of you life. This could mean purchasing products that are natural and therefore good for your health.

By combining both methods, both you and your dog can life a happy and healthy life.

Joan Winthorp has always been fascinated by dogs. If you are a "dog lover" then the Joans website at <a href="http://www.my-dog-training-secrets.com" title="http://www.my-dog-training-secrets.com" target="_blank">http://www.my-dog-training-secrets.com</a> was written just for you.

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