EDUCATION CORNER:
Harm’s Way
Millions of years ago until today the ‘alpha
dog’s’ role was as guide and guardian of their pack.
The responsibility to keep the members of their pack safe was
solely theirs. Instinctively, they strayed from harm’s way.
It is not the case that the ‘strong survive’ but more
the case that the ‘most informed’ survived. The modern
dog has not lost these basic instincts, but human nature has
added new hazards to their environment and they no longer have
the support of the pack as they use to. These new (natural and
man made) environmental precautions are not part of their genetic
instinction. Domestication has not changed the role but only
shifted the responsibility to us as ‘alpha’, for guide
and guardian. An effective ‘alpha’ must be an informed
‘alpha’. Do you know what might put our English Setters
in harm’s way?
Harm’s Way
Poisonous Plants
There are at least 140 different species of plants that can be
fatal, cause severe irritation to the mouth and throat or produce
intestinal upset. This makes it almost impossible for us to learn
by name and sight all the different species. We can check our
yard and houseplants by using a guide to see if they fall into
the category of poisonous plants. The ASPCA/NAPCC Publications
has recently revised their companion animal oriented household
and yard plant reference with the assistance of the University of
Illinois. The University of Illinois has a Poisonous Plant Garden
that conducts research and is a teaching site for the College of
Veterinary Medicine.
The publication is a 67 page and index that includes sections for
toxic, potentially toxic and non-toxic plants.
The Household Plant Reference is available for $15, which
includes postage and handling. It can be obtained by sending your
name and address along with a check to: ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center 1717 South
Philo Road, Suite #36 Urbana, IL 61802
There are some good Internet sites that give
lists/descriptions/pictures of poisonous plants:
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic.htm
http://www.geocities.com/gwkapala/toxic
http://sis.agr.gc.ca/pp/poison?p
x=px
Mushrooms
The three most fatal fruit groups of fungi are Amanitas, False
Morels and (catch all) Little Brown Mushrooms.
The Amanitas account for about 90% of mushroom related deaths
(people). Others that can cause distress-including vomiting,
diarrhea, cramps and loss of coordination are the Jack-O`-Lantern
and the green-spored Lepiota.
AMANITAS – A parasol-shaped cap with a saclike cup
surrounding the base (may not be seen because it is just below
the soil surface). They have a ring around the stem and white
gills under the cap. They start as an egg-shaped button, which
resembles a small white, yellow, red or brown puffball. We find
them on the ground in wooded areas in enriched soils and lawns in
the summer and fall.
FALSE MORELS – Wrinkled, irregular caps that look brainlike
or saddle-shaped. They may be black, gray, white, brown or
reddish (usually big red cap). More common names are elephant
ears or brain mushrooms. The cap surface has lobes, folds, flaps
and wrinkles but it does not have pits and ridges like a true
morel. The cap bulges outward instead of being pitted inward. The
bottom edge of the cap hangs free around the stem, like a skirt.
(True morels edge is attached to the stem.) We find them in the
spring, summer and fall on the ground in wooded areas.
LITTLE BROWN MUSHROOMS – This is a catchall category. They
are small to medium size, hard-to-identify brownish mushrooms
with spores of all colors. LBMS are found in the spring, summer
and fall in all habitats. They may grow in soil or on wood and
appear in lawns, pastures or forests.
JACK-O’-LANTERN – Bright orange, pumpkin-colored
mushrooms found in the fall. You might find them glowing in the
dark with a fruity fragrance that are sometimes mistaken for
chanterelle. We find them during the summer and fall, in large
clusters at the bases of trees and stumps in sizes from 3-10
inches tall and wide. They are not deadly but very upsetting.
GREEN-SPORED LEPIOTA – This is a very common mushroom found
in fairy rings on lawns. They have a parasol-shaped, cream or tan
and scaly cap. A large ring on the stem and cream colored gills
that turn dingy green with age. We find them in the summer and
fall on lawns, pastures and meadows.
For more information on mushrooms:
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/mushrooms/mush3.htm
Foods
BE AWARE OF: ONIONS, onion powder, CHOCOLATE (baker’s
semi-sweet, chocolate milk, dark chocolate, ALCOHOLIC beverages,
YEAST dough, COFFEE (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso
beans), TEA (caffeine), SALT (table, rock), MACADAMIA nuts, HOPS
(used in home brewing), TOMATO leaves and stems (green parts),
POTATO leaves and stems (green parts), RHUBARB leaves, AVOCADOS
(also toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy
goats), MOLDY foods.
Medications
“ I weigh 200 lbs. and my bitch is 55 lbs., so if I cut my
antibiotic into fourths.” WRONG! DO NOT give your
medications to your dog. DO NOT give your dog’s medication
to your cat. DO NOT give your cat’s medication to your
ferret. WHY? Body Chemistry. Our body chemistry is different from
our dog’s, as a dog’s body chemistry is different from
a cat’s body chemistry.
Dog proof your storage area for your medications. Keep them in
high places. The tops might be child proof but pill containers
themselves are NOT dog proof. Be careful, where you take your
medications. It is a ‘pill’ when we ‘drop it’
and ‘can’t find it’ but that ‘nose,
knows’ were that pill is. Medications in tubes, prescribed
or over the counter, that are harmless as topical applications
could cause serious problems ingested, especially those with
zinc. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs,
anti-depressants, vitamins and diet pills can be lethal to
animals, even in small doses.
Chemicals
Household chemicals, rodent poisons, automobile care supplies and
lawn care supplies are hazardous if consumed or absorbed through
the pads of our dogs. Store these products in rooms where our
English S etters DO NOT go. Chemicals have a habit of leaking or
leaching out of the containers they are in. Some will react to
the humidity in the air and fumes will escape.
Special care should be taken when using many of these chemicals.
Keeping them out of reach when using them. Our English Setters
are naturally curious with that nose of theirs. An awful lot of
chemicals come in concentration and react with water that gives
off fumes. The fumes might not seem toxic to us, but remember
that a dog’s nose is at least 200 times more sensitive to
smells than ours. Since English Setters work with their nose, I
would imagine that their nose is 3 or 4 hundred times more
sensitive than ours. It is always a good practice to consult the
manufacture before applications of chemicals to areas that our
English Setters will be walking/running over, especially lawn
applications. The chemical might be mild to our skin but could be
a source of irritation to our English Setters; i.e. dishwashing
detergent can produce burns in their mouths.
Other common chemicals that can be distressful if not lethal are
mothballs, potpourri oils, coffee grounds, homemade play dough,
fabric softener sheets, dishwashing detergents, batteries,
cigarettes, fertilizers, pesticides, antifreeze and washer fluid.
Not so common but warrants a warning is radon and carbon
monoxide. Their living conditions should be monitored for these
silent killers as our living quarters are. We need to keep our
English Setters from fresh paint or other finishes until they
have completely dried. If they happen to get into paint, DO NOT
use paint thinners or paint removers to clean them up. Soap and
water or wear should have to do.
A penny for your thoughts, ZINC ALERT. Pennies minted after 1982
contain zinc and if swallowed, zinc will leech out and be
absorbed by the lining of the stomach. Zinc toxicosis will
develop and this needs to be attended to by a veterinarian
immediately. The popular Wiggly Giggly pet products made before
8/2001 should be monitored closely. If they come apart/break the
internal components, zinc weights, which are about the size and
weight of three pennies are harmful. Watch out for zinc nuts and
bolts.
Icebreakers should wake you up. Products used to melt ice and
snow contain harmful ingredients. Ingestion and absorption
through the pads can cause mild complications to more serious
problems.
Good ‘rules of thumb’ are:
· When ‘in doubt’ call the manufacture BEFORE using.
If they can’t be reached, then don’t reach for their
product.
· If it will kill a pest, then it will kill our BEST!
· All mushrooms are ‘No, Nose’!
SUSPECT
If you think that your English Setter has been exposed to toxic
substances, it is important to:
· NOT PANIC
· Collect your thoughts
· Collect the material in question
· Collect the plant, product and product container if possible
· Collect any vomited or chewed material
Then call: 1-888-4-ANI-HELP (1-888-426-4435) ASPCA National
Animal Poison Control Center
When you call the Center, be ready to provide the following:
· Your name, address and telephone number
· Information concerning the exposure (the amount of agent, the
time exposure, etc.)
· The breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved
· The agent your animal has been exposed to, if known
· The problems you are experiencing (vomiting, wheezing, etc.)
Note: When using the 888 (toll-free) number you will need to
provide (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express) as a
means of payment for a fee charge of $45. You may use the 900
number 1-900-680-0000 and the fee is charged to your phone.
The ASPCA established in 1978 the National Animal Poison Control
Center. NAPCC is the first and the only animal-oriented poison
emergency information center in North America. The Center is
operational 24 hours, seven days a week. Veterinary health
professionals trained to respond to toxins with effective
treatment protocols staff it. The Center maintains a wide
collection of information specific to animal poisoning, including
an extensive database of over 350,000 cases.
ASPCA, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals
Stay tuned next month; I will be coming to you LIVE from The
Birddog Hall of Fame Museum.
Public Education
Edward M. Johnson
Send mail to dnjmates @ air-speed.net with questions or
comments about this web site.
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Last modified: March 09, 2008