CCAS News

Nixa Sucker Day And Pet Adoption

		A big thank you to everyone who participated in the Pet Adoption event at the CCAS Thrift Shop during the 2008 Nixa Sucker Days on May 16th. A special thank you to an anonymous $100 donor, and to the many businesses for their donations.
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Foods, Plants, And Other Toxic Pet Items

*Information below courtesy the Humane Society of the United States*

Many common household items can pose a threat to animal companions. Even some items specifically meant for pets could cause health problems. To protect your pet, simply use common sense and take the same precautions you would with a child. Although rodent poisons and insecticides are the most common sources of companion animal poisoning, the following list of less common but potentially toxic agents should be avoided if at all possible:

• Antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that attracts animals but is deadly if consumed in even small quantities; one teaspoon can kill a seven-pound cat. The HSUS recommends pet owners use a safe antifreeze in their vehicles. Look for antifreeze that contains propylene glycol, which is safe for animals if ingested in small amounts. Ethylene glycol can also be found in common household products like snow globes, so be sure to keep these things out the reach of animals.
• Cocoa mulch contains ingredients that can be deadly to pets if ingested. The mulch, sold in garden supply stores, has a chocolate scent that is appetizing to some animals.
• Chemicals used on lawns and gardens, such as fertilizer and plant food, can be easily accessible and fatal to a pet allowed in the yard unsupervised.
• Cedar and other soft wood shavings, including pine, emit fumes that may be dangerous to small mammals like hamsters and gerbils.
• Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, cats, and ferrets.
• De-icing salts used to melt snow and ice are paw irritants that can be poisonous if licked off. Paws should be washed and dried as soon as the animal comes in from the snow. Other options include doggie boots with Velcro straps to protect Fido's feet, and making cats indoor pets.
• Insect control products, such as the insecticides used in many over-the-counter flea and tick remedies, may be toxic to companion animals. Prescription flea and tick control products are much safer and more effective. Pet owners should never use any product without first consulting a veterinarian.
• Fumes from nonstick cooking surfaces and self-cleaning ovens can be deadly to birds. Always be cautious when using any pump or aerosol spray around birds.
• Human medications such as pain killers (including aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen), cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, anti-depressants, vitamins, and diet pills can all be toxic to animals. Keep medication containers and tubes of ointments and creams away from pets who could chew through them, and be vigilant about finding and disposing of any dropped pills.
• Leftovers such as chicken bones easily shatter and can choke a cat or dog. Other human foods to keep away from pets include onions and onion powder; alcoholic beverages; yeast dough; coffee grounds and beans; salt; macadamia nuts; tomato, potato, and rhubarb leaves and stems; avocados (toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle, and dairy goats); and anything with mold growing on it.
• Poisonous household plants include azalea, geraniums, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), lilies, mistletoe, and philodendron, among others.
• Rawhide doggie chews may be contaminated with Salmonella, which can infect pets and humans who come in contact with the chews. These kinds of chews should be offered to a pet only with supervision, as they can pose a choking hazard as well.
• String, yarn, rubber bands, and even dental floss are easy to swallow and can cause intestinal blockages or strangulation.
• Toys with removable parts—like squeaky toys or stuffed animals with plastic eyes—can pose a choking hazard to animals. Take the same precautions with pets as you would with a small child.

For more information about common household dangers, see The American Veterinary Medical Association's Pet Owner's Guide to Common Small Animal Poisons.

The HSUS recommends that pet owners use all household products with caution and keep a pet first-aid kit and manual readily available. The HSUS puts out a first-aid book in conjunction with the American Red Cross entitled Pet First Aid: Cats and Dogs. If all of your precautions fail, and you believe that your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinary service immediately. Signs of poisoning include listlessness, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, lack of coordination, and fever.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center operates a hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 888-426-4435 for a fee of $45 per case. If you call, you should be prepared to provide the following information: the name of the poison your animal was exposed to, the amount and how long ago; the species, breed, age, sex, and weight of your pet; and the symptoms the animal is displaying. You'll also be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, and credit card information.

Plants Toxic to Pets (From the Utah Humane Society Website)

Below is a list of some of the common plants which may produce a toxic reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction.

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Facts About Spaying And Neutering

Why shouldn't my pet have just one litter?

While it may seem harmless, letting your pet have one or even two litters can cause big problems. Even if you find homes for all (or most) of the puppies or kittens, what about their puppies and kittens? In less than a year, all those puppies and kittens will be grown dogs or cats and able to have litters of their own. On a daily basis, thousands of puppies and kittens healthy but homeless are killed. Many of them came from "just one litter." Consider these facts:

·         One dog and her puppies, in just six years, can produce 67,000 puppies.

·         In seven years, one cat and her offspring can be the source of 420,000 cats.

·         In the United States, every day, 70,000 (or more) puppies and kittens are born. Just 10,000 humans are born each day.

Who will take care of all these dogs and cats? It's not just a problem of too many each pet is an individual life.

Altering: It's Good for Your Pet

·         Neutered pets tend to live longer than unneutered pets.

·         Neutered pets have no chance or drastically reduced chances of suffering from a great many health problems. These health problems can be costly and difficult to treat.

·         Spayed females do not suffer from uterine or ovarian cancer and are highly unlikely to suffer from breast cancer, especially if spayed before her first estrus (or heat) cycle.

·         In male animals, neutering drastically reduces the chances of prostate difficulties (including cancer).

Altering: It's Good for You

·         Neutered pets are more loving and better tempered pets.

·         Neutered cats are less likely to mark their territory (or spray).

·         A spayed female doesn't have estrus (or heat cycles). The estrus cycle happens about twice a year for dogs and three or more times a year for cats. It can last for six or more days and often results in a distracted, nervous female who may cry or howl and numerous unwanted male visitors.

·         Neutered pets are less likely to bite. While neutering isn't a cure all for all behavior problems, in combination with training it can mean drastic changes in a pet' s behavior almost always for the better.

·         Male dogs or cats who are neutered are much less likely to run away or get into fights.

Altering: It's Good for the Community

Animal control agencies in nearly every community cost the taxpayers (us) millions of dollars every year. They do a good job but if s just not enough. With many millions of homeless animals, we are seeing an annual rise in dog bites and attacks, open garbage containers, feces in public and private areas, and angry, frightened citizens who do not understand the misery of these unwanted pets. Additionally, homeless animals disturb the ecological balance by scaring away or killing birds and wildlife.

*Statistics courtesy the Humane Society of the United States brochure "Just One Litter ... Facts about Spaying and Neutering Your Pet." 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.