Your free ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet is a great way to keep their toll-free emergency number and website address handy in case of an emergency.

What To Do If Your Dog Is Poisoned: Be Prepared
Keep the telephone number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center—(888) 426-4435—as well as that of your local veterinarian, in a prominent location.

Invest in an emergency first-aid kit for your pet. The kit should contain:

• a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)
• a turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)
• saline eye solution
• artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)
• mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)
• forceps (to remove stingers)
• a muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)
• a can of your pet’s favorite wet food
• a  pet carrier

Always consult a veterinarian or the APCC for directions on how and when to use any emergency first-aid item.

As the only government-sanctioned weight management drug for dogs, Slentrol is being heralded by Pfizer as a "significant milestone" in the treatment of canine obesity. Data indicate that as many as 17 million dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Overweight dogs are susceptible to a number of health problems, especially joint ailments and respiratory tract disease.

Slentrol, administered orally once a day, decreases appetite, thereby reducing food intake and making it easier for dog owners to develop healthier feeding behaviors and attitudes, according to Pfizer. The company points out that Slentrol should not be used alone but as part of an overall weight-loss regimen.

"Veterinarians will now have the additional option of using Slentrol in conjunction with diet and exercise," said Dr. S. Kristina Wahlstrom of Pfizer.

While it isn't yet clear which patients will benefit most from Slentrol and under what circumstances, some veterinarians see potential in a fat-fighting drug. "We can do better in treating obesity in dogs, and having more tools is a good thing," said Dr. C. A. Tony Buffington, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Primary beneficiaries of Slentrol may include overweight dogs unable to exercise as a result of injury or other health problems. Elderly or disabled persons who can't sufficiently walk and play with their dogs could also see their pets benefit from the medication.

Read the complete article here: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/mar07/070301f_pf.asp

There are over 18 brands of permethrin spot-on products available that are labeled for "dogs only." These typically contain high concentrations (45-65%) of permethrin insecticide and are used for flea and tick control. These permethrin products have a good margin of safety when used on dogs, but even a few drops of concentrated permethrin could be lethal to a cat. Owners most commonly expose cats to these products through inappropriate or accidental application. The signs commonly seen with permethrin toxicity in cats include generalized tremors, muscle fasciculation and seizures. Signs can develop within hours or may be delayed up to 48 hours.

• ASPCA APCC Article

March 13, 2003 -- As spring approaches, people will start to tend their lawns and gardens. Many will consider using cocoa bean mulch as a fertilizer. Made from spent cocoa beans used in chocolate production, cocoa bean mulch is organic, deters slugs and snails, and gives a garden an appealing chocolate smell. However, it also attracts dogs, who can easily be poisoned by eating the mulch.

Cocoa beans contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine. Dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals, called methylxanthines. In dogs, low doses of methylxanthine can cause mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain); higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures, and death.

Eaten by a 50-pound dog, about 2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5 ounces, increased heart rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death. (In contrast, a 50-pound dog can eat up to about 7.5 ounces of milk chocolate without gastrointestinal upset and up to about a pound of milk chocolate without increased heart rate.)

If you suspect that your dog has eaten cocoa bean mulch, immediately contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). Treatment will depend on how much cocoa bean mulch your dog has eaten, when the mulch was eaten, and whether your dog is sick. Recommended care may include placing your dog under veterinary observation, inducing vomiting, and/or controlling a rapid heart beat or seizures.

For more information read this article from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

What does the Canine Flu do to dogs?
The canine influenza virus can cause mild to severe illness. Mild effects include a soft, moist cough with or without a low grade fever that lasts 10 to 30 days despite treatment, along with yellow/green nasal discharge if a secondary bacterial infection occurs. More severe illness can result in high grade fever as well as rapid/difficult breathing, which is usually caused by secondary pneumonia.

Is Canine Flu fatal?
Typically, most infected dogs develop mild to moderate signs that resolve within 10 to 30 days without problems. As with other flu viruses, fatalities can potentially occur, but are not common and are generally due to secondary complications such as bacterial pneumonia.

For More Information:

• ASPCA APCC Article- Canine Flu
• American Veterinary Medical Association - Control of Canine Influenza in Dogs
• Snopes - Dog Flu

From the ASPCA:

Around 1989, the APCC (The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center) began noticing a trend in dogs who had eaten grapes or raisins:

Nearly all the dogs reported to have eaten grapes or raisins developed acute renal (kidney) failure. These cases were noted all across the USA, with the amount eaten varying widely, from over a pound of grapes to as little as a single serving of raisins.

Read the complete article here: http://www.aspca.org/site/DocServer/grapes.pdf?docID=189

August 21, 2006—The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center cautions animal owners that xylitol, a sweetener found in certain sugar-free chewing gums, candies, baked goods and other products can potentially cause serious and even life-threatening problems for pets.

According to Dr. Eric Dunayer, veterinarian and toxicologist for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, dogs ingesting significant amounts of items sweetened with xylitol could develop a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.  “These signs can develop quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product. Therefore, it is crucial that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately.”  Dr. Dunayer also stated that there appears to be a strong link between xylitol ingestions and the development of liver failure in dogs.

Read the complete article here: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_news082106

FDA has requested that Fort Dodge Animal Health, Inc., recall ProHeart® 6 (moxidectin) Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs to the veterinarian. Since the product was approved in June 2001, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has received over 5,000 reports of adverse reactions suspected of being associated with ProHeart® 6. Many of the reports received have involved serious, life-threatening adverse events, such as anaphylaxis, convulsions, hematopoetic disorders, and hepatopathies, followed in some cases by death. FDA has also evaluated a number of adverse drug reports associated with ProHeart® 6 that include neurologic problems and unusual cardiac signs.

• MSNBC Article
• US Food & Drug Administration Press Release

From the ASPCA APCC: "Although the safety of Greenies remains controversial, the ASPCA reported that Greenies do not pose a higher risk for gastrointestinal tract obstruction compared with other edible chew products."

That’s not to say, however, that pooches should be free to chew to their hearts’ content. As dog owners probably know, there are many different types of pet chews on the market, designed for various species and sizes, and various types of chewers as well. “Edible flavored or dental chews, rawhide or plush toys are generally designed for pets who are mild to moderate chewers, not strong chewers or shredders—including those who typically consume food rapidly and in large pieces."

Edible compressed chews have gained popularity because of their attractive taste and advertised dental benefits. Although these products differ in specific formulation, their purpose is for extended chewing followed by consumption of small pieces. Pet parents should match these products with appropriate moderate to light chewers. Overly aggressive chewers may consume large chunks, leading to intestinal obstruction requiring surgical intervention. Inappropriately small chews may also be swallowed whole, resulting in choking or blockage.

ASPCA Position 
The ASPCA encourages pet guardians to understand the chewing habits and preferences of their individual dogs. When choosing an appropriate chew, they should avoid products that their pets can consume in significant pieces. Consumption of compressed dental or durable chews should be slow and deliberate. Guardians should not permit rapid consumption of any such product forms. Inappropriate rapid consumption may lead to intestinal obstruction and intestinal perforation requiring immediate life-saving veterinary intervention.

The ASPCA recommends that people read and follow label directions explicitly, and choose products designed for the species, size and chewing habits of their pets. In addition, the ASPCA encourages guardians to actively observe their dog while chewing and to immediately consult a veterinarian if their pet consumes a chunk of chew material.

• ASPCA Position Statement on Dog Chews/Treats
• Dog.com - Chocolate & Other Dangerous Goodies