Thursday, August 26, 2010

English Bulldog watching TV (Family Guy) sitting on a couch

Friday, August 13, 2010

Flea and Tick Medications

By: Sylvia Einwechter

This is from The Humane Society of the United States


Protecting your dog or cat from fleas and ticks is an important part of responsible pet care.

Although there are many brands of over-the-counter flea and tick products available at supermarkets and pet supply stores, it is critical to read their labels and consult with your veterinarian before using them on your companion. These products may contain ingredients that could harm pets and children. Generally speaking, flea and tick treatments widely available in supermarkets are not recommended. Never use dog treatments on cats, and vice versa.

Due to a sharp increase in the number of incidents being reported from the use of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for pets, the Environmental Protection Agency announced in April 2009 that it is intensifying its evaluation of whether further restrictions on the use of these products are necessary to better protect pets.

In June 2009, the EPA was petitioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council to cancel all pet uses for the pesticide tetrachlorvinphos, as well as a supplement to a previous NRDC petition to cancel all pet collar uses for the pesticide propoxur. Both these chemicals are organophosphates and are widely used in mass-produced flea/tick products. A comment period allowed citizens and organizations to comment, and on Aug. 3, 2009, the HSUS supported the ban by submitting a brief history of the complaints we’ve received over the last several years. The complaints from citizens around the country described the illness and death of companion animals caused by flea and tick products, many of which contained TCVP.

Recent studies

The Center For Public Integrity released information on its website for its Perils of the New Pesticides study in 2008. At least 1,600 pet deaths related to spot on treatments with pyrethroids were reported to the EPA over the last five years, according to an analysis of EPA pesticide incident exposure data by the center. Over-the-counter flea and tick products could also pose a threat to human health, according to some experts.

The center reported that pyrethroid spot-ons also account “for more than half of ‘major’ pesticide pet reactions reported to EPA over the last five years—that is, those incidents involving serious medical reactions such as brain damage, heart attacks, and violent seizures. In contrast, non-pyrethroid spot on treatments accounted for only about 6 percent of all major incidents.”

The Center For Public Integrity’s study said pyrethroid-based flea and tick treatments are approved for sale by the EPA, and they are readily available at grocery stores, specialty pet retailers, and hardware stores, “but they are also linked to thousands of reported pet poisonings, and they have stirred the ire of pet owners, the concern of veterinarians, and the attention of regulatory agencies.”

In 2000, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report called Poisons on Pets: Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products. The report also demonstrated a link between chemicals commonly used in flea and tick products and serious health problems.

The chemicals

Besides pyrethroid-based products, ingredients to be wary of are organophosphate insecticides (OPs) and carbamates, both of which are found in various flea and tick products. A product contains an OP if the ingredient list contains chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon, or malathion. If the ingredient list includes carbaryl or propoxur, the product contains a carbamate. According to the NRDC, the potential dangers posed by these products are greatest for children and pets. There is reason to be concerned about long-term, cumulative exposures as well as combined exposures from the use of other products containing OPs and carbamates. The Center For Public Integrity’s study said permethrin is classified under the most toxic category by NRDC because the EPA says it is “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” if ingested orally.

The products

The NRDC’s report lists flea- and tick-control products marketed under the following major brand names that have been found to contain OPs: Alco, Americare, Beaphar, Double Duty, Ford’s Freedom Five, Happy Jack, Hartz, Hopkins, Kill-Ko, Protection, Rabon, Riverdale, Sergeant’s, Unicorn, Vet-Kem, Victory, and Zema. To protect their pets and children, consumers should consult with a veterinarian before purchasing any over-the-counter (OTC) products.

The effects

According to the NRDC, there are studies that show OPs and carbamates can harm the nervous system. Children can be especially vulnerable because their nervous systems are still developing. For pets, the data is limited, but according to NRDC, many companion animals appear to have been injured or killed through exposure to pet products containing OPs. Cats are particularly vulnerable, since they often lack enzymes for metabolizing or detoxifying OPs and can ingest OPs by licking their fur.

What about the EPA?

Each year, millions of Americans purchase over-the-counter flea and tick products believing that they couldn’t be sold unless they were proven safe. But the EPA did not begin to review pet products for safety until 1996. There is a substantial backlog of products waiting to be tested, so many pet products containing potentially harmful pesticides still make their way onto store shelves.

What to do if your pet is sick

Symptoms of poisoning by flea/tick treatments may include salivating, dilated pupils, shaking, vomiting and skin irritation.
If you suspect your pet may have suffered negative health effects as a result of a flea product containing OPs or carbamates, consult with your veterinarian immediately. If you think a child has ingested a pesticide, call your local poison control center. Be sure to report all such incidents to the EPA’s National Pesticide Telecommunications Network at 800-858-7378.

The HSUS would also like to keep track of these cases.* Please send your contact information, the product name, a brief description of the health problem, and a brief summary of your veterinarian’s findings to The HSUS at the following address:

The Humane Society of the United States
Companion Animals Department: Flea Products
2100 L St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20037


 

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Dog or Cat Gift Baskets

Dog Gift Baskets



    Ever wonder what a unique gift for someone who owns a pet might be? One of the nicest and most welcome items you can give to a friend who has just adopted a new puppy is dog gift baskets. Not only does this provide all the essentials they’ll need to begin caring for their furry friend, but it also shows how happy you are for them as they take this new step in their lives.
   You can purchase these already made or if you are imaginative and have a creative flair, you can put dog gift baskets together yourself. If you know the breed of the dog this is incredibly helpful as it allows you the opportunity to purchase items for the dog gift baskets that will fit both the personality and physical size of the dog it’s intended for.
   One quick trip to any local pet store will yield literally hundreds of different items that can all go into dog gift baskets. Obviously you are going to want to limit it to just a few choice items. First decide on the size of the dog gift baskets you want to give. This will help you determine just what you can fit into the basket. If you are going for a larger gift, consider a big wicker basket filled with several chewable toys, a bone or two and maybe even a personalized food dish for the puppy.
   If your budget isn’t that large consider making a smaller version of this unique gift. You can still fill a smaller basket with many useful items that a dog owner, along with a dog will enjoy. A few ideas for things to put in small dog gift baskets are a new collar and leash, a stuffed animal for the dog to sleep with and some puppy vitamins. All of these things will be put to great use.
   The dog owner will no doubt love this unusual offering, so why not place something in there just for them?      Almost every pet store has an aisle devoted strictly to information for dog owners. Here you are likely to find small booklets that contain information on each individual breed of dogs. You will also find pamphlets or books that offer suggestions on training a new dog. When added to dog gift baskets, these small books give the dog owner some much needed information.
   Of course there are many other ideas for things to add to this type of gift. One is a coupon for obedience training while another is a pass to visit the local dog show. Some booties or a doggie coat also fit in dog gift baskets well. Just remember that your gift is going to go to great use and it’s going to make both the dog and their owner very happy.


by: Sylvia Einwechter
http://www.petstoreusa.net/