Featured Pet Tip – Dog drank antifreeze cat drank antifreeze

Antifreeze is a coolant used in cars that is deadly to cats and dogs even in small doses. Dogs especially like the taste of antifreeze because it is somewhat sweet. Almost all commercially made antifreeze contains the ethylene glycol (EG) that is so toxic to cats and dogs. Just 1 teaspoon can kill a small cat and 1 ounce can kill a 15 pound dog.

If you suspect your cat or dog has ingested antifreeze then you are looking at an immediate veterinary emergency. The best results show that your pet should be brought to a vet for emergency treatment within 2-3 hours after antifreeze ingestion. This way it has the least amount of time to harm your pet’s insides, especially the central nervous system and kidneys. Typical symptoms which may occur within 1 – 6 hours after ingestion can include excessive thirst and urination, incoordination, vomiting, rapid heart rate and a respiratory rate leading to a coma and death. Pet owners often say their pet looks drunk when describing their symptoms.

Due to the high number of cat and dog deaths that result each year from this type of poisoning, the following simple yet crucial warnings apply:

- NEVER leave an open bucket or bottle of new or used antifreeze around the house, garage, or car.

- Make SURE your car’s cooling system is regularly inspected and free of leaks.

- If you are working on your car and dealing with antifreeze, keep your pets away and remember to hose off the areas near your car, the road or driveway where some antifreeze may have spilled. Remember cats and dogs LIKE the taste of this poison!

The risk cannot be ethylene glycol (EG) antifreeze poisoning cannot be exaggerated – Here is a recent case of dog antifreeze poisoning from our bulletin board.

-There is on the market, a less known type of antifreeze made from propylene glycol (PG) instead of ethylene glycol (EG). It is generally regarded as safer for pets, kids and the environment. Try using this product instead. It is made by several companies including Prestone.

© Pets.ca 2004 – See more pet tips by clicking here

Pet of the Month – Oscar

• Name: Oscar
• Name: Oscar
• City: Kelowna
• Province/State, Country: BC, Canada
• Type/Breed: DSH Tabby
• Date Of Birth: March 1996
• Sex: Male
• Weight: 18 lbs
• Coat Colour: Black/Brown
• Eye Colour: Amber
• Can bear children: No

Pet Burial Options

(Sponsored Article)

When one of our beloved pets leave us we are faced with the decision of what to do? How do we say goodbye to our pet and preserve the memory of our beloved friend. While some pet owners may be dealing with euthanasia, most of us are faced with the sudden loss of our special friend and the “on the spot decision” of how best to Memorialize our beloved Pet.

My Story

We recently had to deal with the sudden loss of our pet cat, and being one of the product designers at PetSerene, didn’t make dealing with our loss any easier. Early one June morning we found our beloved cat, “CoCo” wedged in a tree branch. She had already expired when we found her and climbing the tree to retrieve my precious cat had to be one of the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.

The decision now was, how best to preserve the memory of our beloved friend and companion. In considering the options of how to memorialize our beloved friend, my wife and I decided that we wanted her close to us, so we choose a home burial. We selected one of her favourite spots in our back yard for her burial site and I personally designed and built her final resting place Casket. (Which in itself, made me feel a whole lot better, just giving her that last special personal touch).

We now have her final resting place site dressed with a Memorial Garden Marker, Flowers and a Memorial Guardian Angel. She now rests peacefully in our back yard in her final resting place casket, with her favourite blanket and toy, where we can sit, visit and talk with her anytime we feel the need to be close to her. I am so glad that we decided to keep her close to us. We still have our dog, but both my wife and I swore we’d never have another pet after he is gone. The grief we experienced in losing our beloved pet went very deep and we didn’t want to suffer that kind of pain again. . We have also chosen to pay tribute to our family pet with a Memorial Wall Plaque in our living room, displaying her photograph, DOB and DOD.

But, as the saying goes, time does heal the pain somewhat. After the hurt started to ease and the healing process was well underway, we quickly realized how precious and loving our little friends really are to us, how they can add a whole new dimension to our lives with their unconditional love. So yes, we now have another addition to our family, “Joey”, our cat. Although he constantly reminds us of our beloved “CoCo”, he can never replace her, and nor should he. He has his own personality traits, quirks and demands, but he does however, help us realize that tomorrow is another new day, the sun will shine again and the hurting does fade away and yes, we heal in time.

Coping with the loss of a special friend can be very difficult and although most of us find ourselves in this situation at one time or another, being informed ahead of time can aid the healing process and ultimately ease the sorrows of losing a beloved friend and companion. If you know of a terminally ill pet owner, please email this page to them, “Being Informed Is Being Prepared”.

We have compiled the following information about pet internment options with the hope that this information will be of some assistance to you and yours as you face this painful decision.

Pet Cremation

Pet cremation is becoming the more popular option. Your Veterinarian can arrange to have your pet cremated at a local crematorium or you can locate a Pet Crematorium on your own in your area. The cremation option allows you to inter your Pets ashes on your property, in a special place for your beloved friend, or keep your pets ashes in a Pet Urn in your home, somewhere close and meaningful to you. Other choices available include scattering your pet’s ashes in a place that is very special to you and your Pet or interring your friend in a registered Pet Cemetery.

Cemetery Burial

Some pet owners choose to inter their beloved friend in a Pet Cemetery. This is a personal choice. There are several Pet Cemeteries located across Canada and United States. Your Veterinarian or local directory listings can help with a location near you. There are also many Pet Caskets available today from basic burial containers to higher end satin lined caskets. They can be obtained through the local Cemetery or you may wish to purchase one of your own. Owners may choose to put a special blanket, toy or satin pillow into the casket with their beloved friend.

When ordering a casket or urn, be sure you order the right size. If in doubt, order the next size up or contact the manufacturer before ordering.

Private Home Burial

Many pet owners today are choosing to bury their dearly departed Pets on their own property, privately at home. This may give some pet owners comfort knowing that their beloved friend is buried in its own yard, at home and at peace, maybe under a favourite tree and it’s a comfort to know that your beloved friend is close by.

Many Caskets and Burial Urns are available for private home burial. Although the home burial option is also a popular one, you may find yourself in a situation or location where you have very little time to locate an appropriate resting place casket for your pets burial. If you are a terminally ill pet owner, and you have decided on a private home burial, it might be wise to research the availability of caskets and urns in your local area. You may even want to consider pre-ordering your pets Casket or Urn from a source outside your local area.

Cemetery or home burial also affords you the opportunity to erect a Monument to your beloved friend or place a Memorial Marker over your beloved pets grave. The home burial option is obviously dependent upon your property, your location and local bylaws in your area governing the burial of pets. Please check with your local municipality for regulations regarding home pet burial before you proceed.

A Word of Caution!

Whatever method you choose, be sure to follow the local guidelines and bylaws regarding pet burial in your area. Some areas may not allow the burial of pets (within city limits for example), and although in most rural areas pet burial is usually not a problem, check with your local municipality for rules governing the interring of pets.

When selecting a pet crematorium, cemetery or mortuary for your pets burial, be sure that you are dealing with reputable companies. Check out the company thoroughly, and if you have any doubts, look for another provider of that service.

We hope that this information has helped you to make the right decision for you and your beloved pet. When it comes time to say goodbye, the pain and trauma of losing your friend cannot be minimized. You do have choices. If we can assist you in any way in making the right choice for you, please contact us, we will help you memorialize your pet forever.

Featured Product – Oval pewter setting with stone

This is a stunning medium sized oval pewter setting that comes with your choice of 5 different stones. Colours include; Tiger’s eye (tan/brown), Green Pink, Hematite (charcoal grey – reflective), Royal blue cat’s eye – (highly reflective) and Pale blue cat’s eye – (highly reflective)

These settings have a classic Celtic look and can be worn by you on your favorite chain or necklace, or on your pet’s collar.

Our price: $9.95 (Canadian)

Ask the Expert – Dog Jumps Up – Answered by J. Sansregret

Question:

My dog, a 17week old rottweiller jumps on everyone. When someone goes out to play with him the first thing he does is jump on them. Also, when we go for walks he bites the leash a lot and he chews on everything. Yesterday I caught him trying to knock over our garbage can. Please help.

Answer:

This dog needs a job to channel his energy to do good. It sounds like the dog wants attention and that’s why he is doing this. What you want to do is give the dog attention when he’s doing something good.

When the dog jumps up, it is a self rewarding behaviour. Don’t add to it by showing attention in any way…so no petting or eye contact. Turn around and fold your arms. Tell others to do the same. Train the dog to sit and give him a strong reward (food, toys, whatever works for him) so that he sits every time. When he is about to jump use the sit command and reward him. He can’t jump if he’s sitting. This dog needs to be refocused every time he tries to jump up.

This dog is a bit too old and probably too bullish for puppy obedience class. Enroll him in an adult or adolescent obedience class where the extra distractions in the class are great teaching tools to get the dog to listen and respect you no matter what’s going on. Find a school that teaches motivational techniques- not physical corrections for bad behaviour.

When you are outdoors you can use a head halter to control sudden jumping. http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-doghalter.htm

Good luck! – Julie Sansregret – AHT, Dog trainer
Guides Canins
1313, rue PineRidge,
St-Lazare-de-Vaudreuil, Qué.
J7T 2M7 (450) 424-1469
www.guidescanins.com

Further discussion regarding this topic is available here.

In the News

Fat Cat – As nation’s obesity epidemic spreads to its pets…

With furrowed brows, Scott Campbell and his team of specialists gathered around the patient. Binky the cat, all 21 pounds of her, reclined before them on a steel examination table at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Center.

Pup shoots man, saves litter mates

A man who tried to shoot seven puppies was shot himself when one of the dogs put its paw on the revolver’s trigger.

More articles from Canada and around the world are available here.

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Please Note: Pets.ca provides pet health information on this site as a service to the public. Any diagnosis and/or treatment of specific conditions should always be in consultation with one’s own veterinarian. Pets.ca disclaims all warranties and liability related to the veterinary advice and information provided on this site.