Tag: Sunday dog

Dogs in Danger from the Xylitol Around Your Home

Do you have a dog who likes to explore and can seem to get into everything? Then you should be on watch for xylitol lurking around your home because it is toxic to dogs.

Start checking labels. Low sugar and artifically sweetened items including peanut butter, gum, candy, baked goods, and toothpaste may contain xylitol among their ingredients. Some cooling clothing is even impregnated with it.

Here, from two sources, is what you need to know about this ingredient that could lead to hypogylcemia or liver failure in dogs. (So far, toxicity in cats has not been proven.)

From Veterinary Medicine, here is a report on the effects of xylitol that the ASPCA is making available via their poison control center.

If at some point that link doesn't work, you can Download: Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs, here.

A more recent report from the site Pet Poison Hotline reports:

"In addition to finding xylitol in gum, sugar-free candies, mints, and baked goods, we are now seeing it in many healthcare products. There is even a line of clothing with xylitol embedded in it! Some of the places we have seen xylitol include chewable vitamins, gummy vitamins, lozenges/cough drops, sublingual supplements and medications (over the counter and prescription), liquid medications (over the counter and prescription), breath sprays, medication/supplement sprays, toothpastes, nasal sprays, mouth rinses/washes, essential oil products, cosmetics, and many sugar-free foods and baking ingredients."

Download Xylitol – It’s Not Just in Gum Anymore – Pet Poison Helpline

The Many Names of Xylitol

In addition to inclusion in many products besides the sugarless gum we learned about initially, it is not always called xylitol. You may see it listed as sugar alcohol, birch sugar, E967, Meso-Xylitol, Méso-Xylitol, Sucre de Bouleau, Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite, or 1,2,3,4,5-Pentahydroxypentane, XyliteXylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol.

Keep it Away

If you have sugarless gum in your bag or backpack, be sure to put it somewhere your dog can't reach. If you have other products in your home, place them out of reach. If you have clothing embedded with xylitol, keep your dog from mouthing it or licking it until we find out if it, too, is dangerous.

In our house, sugarless gum is kept in sealed mason jars and carried in sealed plastic bottles. And, we don't discard gum in any trash can our Poppy can reach.

When outside, we keep a watch for wads of discarded gum. Not only is that dangerous if ingested, but also we recall spending one long session of cutting gum out of the fur and between the pads of a dog's paw. Not fun!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs (and other critters) at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino, edited for BostonZest from her CIty Paws Newspaper Column.
Photography: iStockphoto.com

August 17, 2014
Dogs in Danger from the Xylitol Around Your Home

Do you have a dog who likes to explore and can seem to get into everything? Then you should be on watch for xylitol lurking around your home because it is toxic to dogs.

Start checking labels. Low sugar and artifically sweetened items including peanut butter, gum, candy, baked goods, and toothpaste may contain xylitol among their ingredients. Some cooling clothing is even impregnated with it.

Here, from two sources, is what you need to know about this ingredient that could lead to hypogylcemia or liver failure in dogs. (So far, toxicity in cats has not been proven.)

From Veterinary Medicine, here is a report on the effects of xylitol that the ASPCA is making available via their poison control center.

If at some point that link doesn't work, you can Download: Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs, here.

A more recent report from the site Pet Poison Hotline reports:

"In addition to finding xylitol in gum, sugar-free candies, mints, and baked goods, we are now seeing it in many healthcare products. There is even a line of clothing with xylitol embedded in it! Some of the places we have seen xylitol include chewable vitamins, gummy vitamins, lozenges/cough drops, sublingual supplements and medications (over the counter and prescription), liquid medications (over the counter and prescription), breath sprays, medication/supplement sprays, toothpastes, nasal sprays, mouth rinses/washes, essential oil products, cosmetics, and many sugar-free foods and baking ingredients."

Download Xylitol – It’s Not Just in Gum Anymore – Pet Poison Helpline

The Many Names of Xylitol

In addition to inclusion in many products besides the sugarless gum we learned about initially, it is not always called xylitol. You may see it listed as sugar alcohol, birch sugar, E967, Meso-Xylitol, Méso-Xylitol, Sucre de Bouleau, Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite, or 1,2,3,4,5-Pentahydroxypentane, XyliteXylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol.

Keep it Away

If you have sugarless gum in your bag or backpack, be sure to put it somewhere your dog can't reach. If you have other products in your home, place them out of reach. If you have clothing embedded with xylitol, keep your dog from mouthing it or licking it until we find out if it, too, is dangerous.

In our house, sugarless gum is kept in sealed mason jars and carried in sealed plastic bottles. And, we don't discard gum in any trash can our Poppy can reach.

When outside, we keep a watch for wads of discarded gum. Not only is that dangerous if ingested, but also we recall spending one long session of cutting gum out of the fur and between the pads of a dog's paw. Not fun!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs (and other critters) at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino, edited for BostonZest from her CIty Paws Newspaper Column.
Photography: iStockphoto.com

August 17, 2014
Sunday Dog – Watching Natty Grow!

Sunday Dog Natty is a happy, energetic puppy who’s already 7 months old. It’s been a lot of fun watching Natty grow from that lanky little guy we first met a few months ago to looking more like the full grown Tibetan Terrier he’ll soon become.

Named after the Natty Bumppo character in author James Fenimore Cooper’s, Leatherstocking Tales, our Natty certainly looks as if he could blaze a trail with the best of them.

While we’re not exactly certain what this rascal was whispering in Poppy’s ear (sweet nothings come to mind), she does seem to be playing hard-to-get. Perhaps Natty is attracted to older women.

What we do know is that this sweet, fun-loving, pooch loves to play and is always ready for a pat or two. You are definitely irresistible, Natty. See ya soon!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 3, 2014
Sunday Dog – Watching Natty Grow!

Sunday Dog Natty is a happy, energetic puppy who’s already 7 months old. It’s been a lot of fun watching Natty grow from that lanky little guy we first met a few months ago to looking more like the full grown Tibetan Terrier he’ll soon become.

Named after the Natty Bumppo character in author James Fenimore Cooper’s, Leatherstocking Tales, our Natty certainly looks as if he could blaze a trail with the best of them.

While we’re not exactly certain what this rascal was whispering in Poppy’s ear (sweet nothings come to mind), she does seem to be playing hard-to-get. Perhaps Natty is attracted to older women.

What we do know is that this sweet, fun-loving, pooch loves to play and is always ready for a pat or two. You are definitely irresistible, Natty. See ya soon!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 3, 2014
Warning Signs of Cancer in Dogs and Cats with Lion the Cat
This week, our Sunday Dog is a cat named Lion. This healthy, young fellow starred in one of Penny's City Paws newpspaper columns about the warning signs of cancer in dogs and cats. Happily, he's part of a smart and caring family who will take good care of him and be alert for any sign of illness.

Now that summer is here, we spend a bit more time outside sitting with our dogs and inside enjoying the air conditioning and stroking our cats. This is the perfect opportunity to take a good look at our furry friends and combine cuddles with a bit of detective work.

This closeness can contribute to longer, healthier lives if we use that proximity to notice little changes in our companion animals that might be an early warning sign of cancer. Just as with people, early detection and treatment can save lives.

The Animal Cancer Foundation estimates that 1 in 3 people, 1 in 4 dogs, and 1 in 5 cats will develop cancer in their lifetimes.

Warning Signs

If you’ve learned to watch for signs of cancer in yourself and your human family members, you already know some of the things to look for in your dog or cat.
- Lumps and bumps (especially those that are new, changing, or growing) and coughs (especially dry coughs with signs of difficult breathing) should be reviewed by a veterinarian.
- Wounds or sores that don’t heal, abnormal discharges, and swollen lymph nodes need a professional check. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to feel the lymph nodes behind the jaw and knee. Once you know what normal feels like, you can check anytime you’re petting or grooming your pal.
- If you brush your dog or cat’s teeth, you should take the time to look around the mouth and to sniff for any abnormal odors. A foul mouth odor can be a sign of an oral tumor. You should also be alert for changes in the way your dog or cat chews food, treats, and toys.
- Changes in digestive habits from chronic vomiting, straining to eliminate, diarrhea, or blood in urine or stools means a visit to the vet. There are many other causes for these symptoms and your doctor may prescribe other treatments first. But, if the problem continues, it may require a biopsy or other techniques to rule cancer in or out.
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite, especially when combined with another sign, are causes for concern. This is a reason to weigh your cat or dog regularly and to keep a weight chart. You can teach larger dogs to sit on a scale or you could stop by your animal hospital between visits and ask to use theirs. With small animals, stand on a scale holding your critter and record that number. Then, weigh just yourself. Deduct your weight from the combined total and you have the animal’s weight.
- Signs of pain, lethargy, or depression without another explanation could be a red flag. Pain in a dog or cat can be anything from limping to inactivity. You may notice that your cat doesn’t want to play or your dog is reluctant to go for a walk.
Breed Differences

You should have a discussion with your vet about the warning signs you need to be most vigilant in reporting about your companions. Certain breeds of dogs have a genetic predisposition to specific types of cancer and the slightest change should put you on alert.

You must be watchful on behalf of your dog or cat. Get them used to having you check their paws, ears, mouth, and run your hands along their body. Have your vet show you how to look for cancer signs and give you some idea of the ones that should be considered urgent and those that should be communicated at the next visit.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs (and other critters) at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino edited for BostonZest from her CIty Paws Newspaper Column.
Photography: Laurie Thomas

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

A Sunday Dog Alert on 911 Emergency Calls

Cancer Is Leading Disease-Related Killer Of Dogs And Cats
July 13, 2014
Warning Signs of Cancer in Dogs and Cats with Lion the Cat
This week, our Sunday Dog is a cat named Lion. This healthy, young fellow starred in one of Penny's City Paws newpspaper columns about the warning signs of cancer in dogs and cats. Happily, he's part of a smart and caring family who will take good care of him and be alert for any sign of illness.

Now that summer is here, we spend a bit more time outside sitting with our dogs and inside enjoying the air conditioning and stroking our cats. This is the perfect opportunity to take a good look at our furry friends and combine cuddles with a bit of detective work.

This closeness can contribute to longer, healthier lives if we use that proximity to notice little changes in our companion animals that might be an early warning sign of cancer. Just as with people, early detection and treatment can save lives.

The Animal Cancer Foundation estimates that 1 in 3 people, 1 in 4 dogs, and 1 in 5 cats will develop cancer in their lifetimes.

Warning Signs

If you’ve learned to watch for signs of cancer in yourself and your human family members, you already know some of the things to look for in your dog or cat.
- Lumps and bumps (especially those that are new, changing, or growing) and coughs (especially dry coughs with signs of difficult breathing) should be reviewed by a veterinarian.
- Wounds or sores that don’t heal, abnormal discharges, and swollen lymph nodes need a professional check. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to feel the lymph nodes behind the jaw and knee. Once you know what normal feels like, you can check anytime you’re petting or grooming your pal.
- If you brush your dog or cat’s teeth, you should take the time to look around the mouth and to sniff for any abnormal odors. A foul mouth odor can be a sign of an oral tumor. You should also be alert for changes in the way your dog or cat chews food, treats, and toys.
- Changes in digestive habits from chronic vomiting, straining to eliminate, diarrhea, or blood in urine or stools means a visit to the vet. There are many other causes for these symptoms and your doctor may prescribe other treatments first. But, if the problem continues, it may require a biopsy or other techniques to rule cancer in or out.
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite, especially when combined with another sign, are causes for concern. This is a reason to weigh your cat or dog regularly and to keep a weight chart. You can teach larger dogs to sit on a scale or you could stop by your animal hospital between visits and ask to use theirs. With small animals, stand on a scale holding your critter and record that number. Then, weigh just yourself. Deduct your weight from the combined total and you have the animal’s weight.
- Signs of pain, lethargy, or depression without another explanation could be a red flag. Pain in a dog or cat can be anything from limping to inactivity. You may notice that your cat doesn’t want to play or your dog is reluctant to go for a walk.
Breed Differences

You should have a discussion with your vet about the warning signs you need to be most vigilant in reporting about your companions. Certain breeds of dogs have a genetic predisposition to specific types of cancer and the slightest change should put you on alert.

You must be watchful on behalf of your dog or cat. Get them used to having you check their paws, ears, mouth, and run your hands along their body. Have your vet show you how to look for cancer signs and give you some idea of the ones that should be considered urgent and those that should be communicated at the next visit.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs (and other critters) at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino edited for BostonZest from her CIty Paws Newspaper Column.
Photography: Laurie Thomas

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

A Sunday Dog Alert on 911 Emergency Calls

Cancer Is Leading Disease-Related Killer Of Dogs And Cats
July 13, 2014
Dash Is Our Dashing South End Sunday Dog!

What makes our Sunday Dog Dash so dashing (as in: attractive, lively, adventurous, bold, daring, dapper, and debonair)? Just look at that face! Any more questions?

I mean, this pup’s photo should appear alongside search results for “dashing” on the internet.

Of course, before Dash arrived from Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue, his family-to-be had to decide on that name. After considering lots of possibilities, an interest in mystery novels and writer Dashiell Hammett helped seal the deal.

“And, then,” according to his person, “when he arrived, he had a big DASH on his side and when he wants to run he’s very speedy!” Perfect!

At two years old, Dash, who we’re told is “a mix of English Setter, Lab, Great Pyrenees, and some added mutt,” is having fun discovering his world. Right now, he’s going to a “Nosing Class” at the Animal Rescue League.

The instructors, “Start by teaching him to find a treat, then keys, then [they] put things under boxes. It’s how they train [detection] dogs to find illegal drugs, missing people,” specific substances, etc.

As far as we could tell, Dash is already pretty good with his nose. Before saying goodbye to this South End charmer, we offered him a treat that he had no trouble sniffing out. Dash, you’re gonna ace that class!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

And, here's a post about some dogs that aced that "Nosing Class."

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 6, 2014
Dash Is Our Dashing South End Sunday Dog!

What makes our Sunday Dog Dash so dashing (as in: attractive, lively, adventurous, bold, daring, dapper, and debonair)? Just look at that face! Any more questions?

I mean, this pup’s photo should appear alongside search results for “dashing” on the internet.

Of course, before Dash arrived from Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue, his family-to-be had to decide on that name. After considering lots of possibilities, an interest in mystery novels and writer Dashiell Hammett helped seal the deal.

“And, then,” according to his person, “when he arrived, he had a big DASH on his side and when he wants to run he’s very speedy!” Perfect!

At two years old, Dash, who we’re told is “a mix of English Setter, Lab, Great Pyrenees, and some added mutt,” is having fun discovering his world. Right now, he’s going to a “Nosing Class” at the Animal Rescue League.

The instructors, “Start by teaching him to find a treat, then keys, then [they] put things under boxes. It’s how they train [detection] dogs to find illegal drugs, missing people,” specific substances, etc.

As far as we could tell, Dash is already pretty good with his nose. Before saying goodbye to this South End charmer, we offered him a treat that he had no trouble sniffing out. Dash, you’re gonna ace that class!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

And, here's a post about some dogs that aced that "Nosing Class."

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 6, 2014
Poppy Isn’t on Daylight Saving Time This Summer

Sometimes being the third dog in the family has advantages. When we sprang ahead this spring, we decided that Poppy's meals would stay on Eastern Standard Time. She usually started the day with breakfast at 8 am, we just moved this to 9 am. In the fall, we'll go back to 8 am.

If Poppy (above) wakes at dawn, Penny will give her a tiny snack to keep her empty tummy from causing the morning upsets that Westies are known to have. (They vomit yellow bile.) She also gets a small snack before bed to keep this issue under control.

We feed her 3 times a day with meals and snacks spaced out evenly. We find that helps keep both her hunger and her weight under control. Ed weighs her every week and we adjust the amount of food we give her if she is gaining or losing weight.

Maggie (above, on vacation in Maine) used to protest time changes. She would get up early in the fall and pester us for her meals on her normal (DST) schedule. Now that we are both freelancers, it's easier to simply let our dog stay on the same time frame year round.

Sassy, our first Westie girl (above, on vacation on Martha's Vineyard), was a total food brat and would ask for food all day everyday. We quickly learned to measure out her food for the day and put her daily ration in a jar because she could convince either of us that someone had forgotten to feed her.

Do you feed your dog on a set schedule? How many times a day do you feed? And, how often do you weigh your dog?

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2014 Ed Cherubino (Sassy's photo was a gift from a fan of hers.)

Related articles

Parker House Boston Cream Pie, To Go Please!

Dear Poppy, Should I Let Humans Brush My Teeth?

Poppy's Provincetown Report

June 29, 2014
Poppy Isn’t on Daylight Saving Time This Summer

Sometimes being the third dog in the family has advantages. When we sprang ahead this spring, we decided that Poppy's meals would stay on Eastern Standard Time. She usually started the day with breakfast at 8 am, we just moved this to 9 am. In the fall, we'll go back to 8 am.

If Poppy (above) wakes at dawn, Penny will give her a tiny snack to keep her empty tummy from causing the morning upsets that Westies are known to have. (They vomit yellow bile.) She also gets a small snack before bed to keep this issue under control.

We feed her 3 times a day with meals and snacks spaced out evenly. We find that helps keep both her hunger and her weight under control. Ed weighs her every week and we adjust the amount of food we give her if she is gaining or losing weight.

Maggie (above, on vacation in Maine) used to protest time changes. She would get up early in the fall and pester us for her meals on her normal (DST) schedule. Now that we are both freelancers, it's easier to simply let our dog stay on the same time frame year round.

Sassy, our first Westie girl (above, on vacation on Martha's Vineyard), was a total food brat and would ask for food all day everyday. We quickly learned to measure out her food for the day and put her daily ration in a jar because she could convince either of us that someone had forgotten to feed her.

Do you feed your dog on a set schedule? How many times a day do you feed? And, how often do you weigh your dog?

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2014 Ed Cherubino (Sassy's photo was a gift from a fan of hers.)

Related articles

Parker House Boston Cream Pie, To Go Please!

Dear Poppy, Should I Let Humans Brush My Teeth?

Poppy's Provincetown Report

June 29, 2014