Most common poison's eaten by pets

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Ill., handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic substances, many of which included everyday household products.
Here are the top 10 hazards:

February 2009 Source: ASPCA
Hazard No. of Calls
Prescription and OTC medications >50,000
Insecticides >31,000
People food >13,500
Rodenticides ~8,000
Veterinary medications* ~ 8,000
*The cases involved veterinary products that were misapplied or improperly dispensed.
Chemical hazards ~7,500
Plants ~6,500
Household cleaners >4,000
Heavy metals >3,000
Fertilizers >2,000
The Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline is 888-426-4435.

Who's healthier, Dog owners or Cat owners?

HAYWARDS HEATH, England — Cat owners are significantly less likely to suffer the physical and emotional symptoms of the “winter blues,” a new study has found.

Findings from the 5-year research project that was carried out for the UK charity Cats Protection show that cats help ease the stress of winter gloom. The study shows that during the dreary months of January and February, cat owners:

· Suffer 60% fewer headaches than non-cat owners

· Are 21% less likely to catch a cold or ‘flu

· Feel significantly less miserable, impatient and tense

Psychologist June McNicholas, PhD, conducted the research and found that cat owners suffer fewer sleep problems, are less likely to feel sad and are more able to relax than those who do not own a cat.

Common complaints associated with “winter blues” can include headaches, colds, sleep problems, feeling sad, tense and miserable and having difficulty in concentrating and relaxing.

The study showed that cat owners experienced significantly fewer physical and emotional problems during the first 2 months of the year.

“The findings are quite spectacular and show that cat owners are much better equipped to deal with the depressing months of January and February,” McNicholas said. “Medical opinion has long held that in times of stress or anxiety one of the most valuable assets is a supportive relationship. This study suggests that cats are just as able to provide that support as humans. The study shows benefits to owners of both genders and across all age groups, but male owners [younger than] 40 seem to especially benefit from the companionship of a cat during the winter.”

Maggie Roberts, director of veterinary services at Cats Protection, added, “There’s nothing quite like having a purring cat on your lap on a cold winter evening to lift your spirits, as this research shows. There are many reasons cats can help. They are not judgmental, they have modest needs that can provide owners with a sense of purpose and they are great fun to play or interact with. As cats tend to spend more time indoors during the winter months, owners will have more contact with them than in the summer, and this can be a real comfort at such a gloomy time of year.

“Research also shows that cats can boost their owner’s immune system, so they are great to have when there are coughs and sneezes going around.”

One State working to require microchipping of all dogs

Feb 7, 2009 DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

Albany, N.Y. -- All dogs in New York may have to be microchipped and identified in a state registry if a new bill makes it out of committee.

The legislation was referred to the state agriculture committee Jan. 7, and would require all dogs older than 4 months, excluding those kept temporarily, to be microchipped. A state registry also would be created that would maintain identification, medical records and owner contact information. The registry would be available to veterinarians, shelters and kennels.

"Microchipping is a relatively inexpensive and harmless procedure that would provide a safety net for dog owners in case of loss or theft," the bill states.

It originally was proposed and sent to the agriculture committee in January 2008, but no action was taken. The next hearing date has not been set.

Peanut Butter Recall Affecting Pets

I had questions about the peanut butter recall regarding pets. Here is a new article regarding the peanut butter recall.

Jan 21, 2009 DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

Lynchburg, Va. -- PetSmart voluntarily pulled some pet treats off its shelves after a peanut-containing paste was linked to a recent Salmonella typhimurium outbreak.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Jan. 19 that they had traced the recent Salmonella outbreak to a Blakely, Ga., peanut-processing plant owned by the Peanut Corp. of America (PCA). Retail peanut butter is not suspected in the outbreak, and PCA only distributes its products to manufacturers of foods containing peanut butter, according to the FDA.

That means that many companies that use PCA products have merchandise affected by the outbreak, including all varieties of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits.

So far, 485 people became ill and six are believed to have died after eating the tainted peanut butter products. No animal illnesses have been reported, but PetSmart says it is voluntarily pulling the product because of the potential risks. PetSmart officials are in contact with all the company's vendors to see if any other pet products use the affected peanut paste.

PCA products affected by its voluntary recall were made only at the Georgia facility after July 2008. The Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits affected by the voluntary recall were made after Aug. 21, 2008.