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Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

Avocado: All parts of the avocado contain a toxin known as persin. It causes gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart and even death. Cats may be attracted to the oily texture, but should not be fed avocado.

Tuna, all tuna contains mercury which accumulates in the body until it reaches a toxic level. It also can cause nutrient deficiencies.  The BPA which lines tuna cans is an estrogen-disruptor and can play havoc with hormones, including yours.

Grapes and raisins, which can sometimes cause kidney failure in very low amounts.

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both classified as methylxanthines; these can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potentially death (the more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is for your pets)

Onions and members of the onion family, such as leeks and chives; these can cause damage to red blood cells that could result in anemia in both dogs and cats.

Garlic, which is metabolized into a different metabolite than onions, is not toxic to pets. A small amount of fresh garlic fed to pets daily actually has some great health benefits, including killing parasites and repelling fleas.

Macadamia nuts may cause problems including weakness, depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and hyperthermia.

Rising bread dough can be life-threatening – The bread dough itself is not toxic but the animal’s body heat can cause the dough to rise in the stomach, doubling or tripling in size and leading to impaction. The dough can also produce ethanol, which causes animals to stumble and become disoriented, lethargic and depressed.

Processed Milk, which has had all the vital nutrients destroyed. Pasteurized milk lacks enzymes and “good” bacteria and binds the calcium so that’s it’s unusable.  Homogenized milk has been molecularly changed so that it no longer resembles food and becomes a useless poison, causing allergies and other health problems.  See RAW MILK FACTS

Xylitol, a sugar substitute common in sugar-free chewing gum, can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia and liver damage in dogs; if your dog has ingested gum, bring your dog to the emergency vet immediately!

I recently added the FDA’s Pet Health & Safety Widget to the right sidebar on my blog, it’s right under the “Become a Facebook Fan” widget (feel free to become a Facebook Fan!).

The Top 10 Poisons of 2008

1. Human Medications: 50,000 cases

It’s easy for pets to snatch pills from counters and bed-side tables, or quickly eat them if you’ve dropped a couple on the floor. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications and even dietary supplements can be make your cat sick.

2. Insecticides: 31,000 cases

One of the most common exposures involves using chemical flea and tick products incorrectly, such as applying a topical product for dogs on a cat.

3. People Food: 15,000 cases

Grapes, raisins, avocado and citrus fruits can all be dangerous for pets, but one of the worst offenders is chocolate, which contains large amounts of methylxanthines. If eaten it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination and hyperactivity, and in severe cases abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

4. Rodenticides: 8,000 cases

Rat and mouse poison can contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets. Aside from eating the poison itself, cats can also become sick from eating a rodent that’s ingested poison. Exposure to rat and mouse poison can cause bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

5. Veterinary Medications: 8,000 cases

Drugs meant for animals can still cause side effects, especially when they are misapplied or improperly dispensed. Some of the most common toxic exposures involved non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.

6. Plants: 8,000 cases

Azaleas, rododendrons, sago palms, lilies, kalanchoe, and schefflera are common houseplants that can be toxic to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure even in small amounts.

7. Chemical Hazards: 5,500 cases

Many chemicals around your home can cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset and respiratory difficulties to depression and chemical burns in your pets. Examples include antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals.

8. Household Cleaners: 3,200 cases

Bleaches, detergents and disinfectants contain chemicals that can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract in your cat.

9. Heavy Metals: 3,000 cases

Metals such as lead, zinc and mercury can all poison your cat. Lead is especially widespread and pets can be exposed via paint chips, linoleum and lead dust that’s produced when surfaces in old homes are scraped and sanded.

10. Fertilizer: 2,000 cases

If your lawn has been sprayed with a chemical fertilizer it’s essential to keep your cat off of it. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidental exposure to these potentially toxic chemicals.

1) Remove your shoes in the house. Removing shoes has been scientifically proven to reduce contaminants in the home.

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study shows that people track in weed killers and other pesticides commonly applied to lawns during the spring and summer. The study, conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, is among a series being funded by the EPA to assess how small children are exposed to pesticides around the home. Scientists think that “track-in” exposures may exceed those from the best-known source: pesticide residues on fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 1991 the EPA conducted a study called the “Door Mat Study” that measured the amount of lead dust that was in homes. The study found that in homes where there was a doormat at the entrance and where shoes were NOT worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of lead dust and other chemicals in the home.

2) Go organic: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60% of herbicides, 90 % of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Alarmingly, pesticide residues have been detected in 50% - 95% of U.S. foods. Pet food fare even worse, especially those containing by-products and “meal” (chicken meal, fish meal etc.)

3) Avoid plastics: use a glass bowl for food, all plastic is synthetic and made from petrochemicals, it neither photo-degrades nor bio-degrades, it just breaks down into ever smaller toxins such as Phthalates and BPA. Phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children and pets.

4) Use safe, natural or organic cleaners.  Paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellents, air fresheners all contain dozens of chemicals.

5) Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances as they pollute the air you are breathing.

6) Never feed your cat fish, especially tuna!  All fish is contaminated with PCBs and mercury, although wild caught salmon and sardines both have lower amounts.

Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Organic Chicken Medallions 3 lbs. Raw diet containing 95% freshly ground USDA meat and fresh, natural fruits & vegetables, with cold processed Norwegian Virgin Salmon Oil.

When blood and urine samples were collected from 20 dogs and 37 cats at a Virginia veterinary clinic, 48 industrial chemicals were found.   

Cat samples contained 46 chemicals altogether, including 9 carcinogens, 40 chemicals toxic to the reproductive system, 34 neurotoxins, and 15 chemicals toxic to the endocrine system.

Endocrine (hormone) system toxins include the thyroid toxins and fire retardants called PBDEs. Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism) is a leading cause of illness in older cats. 

In addition to PBDEs, hyperthyroidism in cats could be linked to the plastics chemical and potent endocrine disruptor BPA that is known to leach from cat food can linings into food.

You can read the full article on POLLUTED PETS at THIS LINK

Did The State Kill My Cat

A veterinary epidemiologist found that Midnight’s blood contained among the highest levels of PBDEs documented in animal research.  PBDEs are fire retardant chemicals that are added to the foam in furniture.  The chemicals evaporate from the foam, settle in dust and coat walls with a thin film.  PBDEs are linked to hyperthroidism.

In 1980, when PBDEs were first added to furniture, hyperthyroid disease in cats hardly existed.  Now it is an epidemic in California,  the only state requiring flame-retardant bed coverings, pillows and furniture. 

Manufacturers of fire retardants, Chemtura Corp., Albemarle Corp. and Israel Chemicals Ltd., spend millions on lobbying to continue the use of these toxic chemicals.

You can read the whole story here: Did The State Kill My Cat

HealthyStuff.org is a nonprofit environmental research organization that just released results on over 900 common products tested for toxic chemicals including lead, mercury, and arsenic.  Pet toys, beds, and collars were included on their list of products tested.  In all, HealthyStuff.org includes test results for over 5,000 products.

Play N’ Squeak “Batting Practice”, Play n Squeak “Twice the Mice”, Penn-Plax Purr Pet Wiggle Wand and Coleman Classic Rectangular Bed For Dogs, Small 18×24 all had exceptionally high levels of toxins, particularly lead. 

Please check out their site to find out if your pet’s toys, beds, collars, harnesses or other stuff contains toxic chemicals.

Did you know that chemicals can be absorbed through a cat’s paws?  Floor waxes and cleaning solutions pose a particular danger.

The majority of aerosol sprays contain poison and should never be sprayed near a cat’s food, or near your cat for that matter.

Keep your pet and your family safe by using organic products instead of chemicals.

It’s almost gardening time again, so here’s a “heads up”:

Cocoa mulch, made from cocoa bean shells, smells great and is supposed to repel cats.  However, it contains theobromine and caffeine (all chocolate does) which is lethal to dogs and cats and most likely other animals.

Cocoa mulch contains 300-1200 mgs. of theobromine, making it one of the highest concentrations of this toxin that your pet will encounter.  It is about eight times more toxic than milk chocolate.  Dogs in particular are attracted to it because of the smell.

If you use drugs that contain acetaminophen such as  Tylenol®, Percoset®, aspirin free Excedrin®, Feverall®, Liquiprin®, Panadol®, Tempra®, Pamprin®, Midol® and various sinus, cold and flu medications, be very careful around your cat.  If you drop a pill on the floor and your cats finds it and eats it, it could be fatal.

Cats are much more sensitive to acetaminophen than dogs and are therefore more susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity. One regular strength acetaminophen tablet is toxic and potentially lethal to a cat.

Cats seem to have a built-in sonar to detect small rolling objects like pills and capsules.  We don’t use drugs, but we do occasionally drop a “little greenie” (spirulina) or “big greenie” (chlorrella) and the cats go right after them, even if they’re fast asleep in the other room!

AquaDent lists as the third ingredient Xylitol; well known to be toxic to pets. AquaDent is sold by many pet retail outlets including 1800PetMeds.com. The 1800PetMeds website states “C.E.T. AquaDent is a drinking water additive formulated by veterinary dental specialists to help freshen your pet’s breath and maintain oral hygiene in conjunction with regular home dental care for your pet.” The ingredients in AquaDent are listed as follows: Purified water, Glycerine, Xylitol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium sorbate, Emilgase (enzyme), Zinc gluconate, Sodium benzoate, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Yellow No. 5, Chlorhexidine gluconate.

Even small amounts of xylitol can result in severe illness in dogs, and believed to affect cats and other animals as well.

Some product samples originating from Peanut Corporation of America’s  Blakely, Georgia, plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella. PCA has announced a voluntary recall to include all peanut butter paste produced on or after 26th September 2008, which includes seven of the “Grreat Choice” Dog Biscuit products sold by PetSmart.

Peanut Corporation of America manufactures both peanut butter that is institutionally served in such settings as long-term care facilities and cafeterias, and peanut paste - a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts - that is distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream.