Pet First Aid

Here are things that I keep in case of an emergency (getting in touch with your vet and/or calling the poison hot line is always a priority):

***Be sure to check with vet on proper dosages if you give your dog anything internally. This is best done BEFORE the emergency happens (IE call your vet before you accidentally find out you have given the wrong dose), and your vet may even have a table or chart to give to you.

• Your vets phone number and poison hot line number in an easy place to find.
• Hydrogen Peroxide (1% solution), good to clean out cuts & to induce vomiting (if you have a dog like I do that eats socks, underwear ET).
• Bandages
• Something that can be used as a tourniquet. (hidden barbed wire, glass, dog fights can cause injuries that need the bleeding to be stopped fast).
• Muzzle (dogs in pain can bite, when you need to get them somewhere quickly and safely, it's best to put something on so you don't need to worry about it, or fight the dog, but just go)
• Board that can be slid under the dog in case of back injury that will fit into vehicle.
• Old towels, rags, or diapers to put under the dog.
• Crate, for ride to the vets (don't need anything worse to happen).
• Leash, collar, and id ET ready and available so you aren't racing around the house.
• In a kit that goes with you or in your car, contact info to give to the vets, plus any medical records that you already have (in case of going to an emergency that is not your regular vet).
• Sanitary napkins to control and add pressure to reduce bleeding.
• Cotton pads to put under sticky bandages. (doesn't stick to wound)
• Benadryl (for allergic reactions)
• Rectal Thermometer and KY jelly (to lube up thermometer). Good to know what your dog's temperature SHOULD BE before doing this.

I found a more complete list at this site.
Here is the site for the Pet Poison Hotline.

Need your dog trained. Call Maine Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin, at Mannerly Mutts 207-361-4395. You may also e-mail mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com for questions about your Maine Dog Training needs.

Toxic or Harmful to Your Dogs

Talking about things that can harm your dogs, here is some more information.

Chocolate
Raisins or Grapes
Castor Beans
Anti Freeze (and other products you may use to de-ice in winter that contain anti freeze)
Caffeine
Garlic
Onion
Mushroom
Plants on the attached link http://www.dogpack.com/health/poisonplants.htm
Moth Balls
Broccoli
Raw Salmon
Too much Asprin & Asprin subsitutes (Tylenol) are always toxic http://www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin.htm
Below are some helpful links regarding this:
Poison Help Site
Various Toxins
Even More Toxins
Need your dog trained? Visit the http://www.mannerlymutts.com/ services page. Or contact me at 207-361-4395 in York Maine. Ask for Robin Rubin, Dog Trainer.

Xylitol=Poison to Your Dogs/Rescue Remedy Candies

I don't use Rescue Remedy in dog training. I know some people believe it works, but I think it's a bunch of hooey, and I am not willing to pay to find out right now. If I come across the spray or drops for free, well that might be another situation. Many of the Purely Positive type trainers use this product.

A situation has come up where the Pastilles or candies made by Rescue Remedy contain Xylitol in them. This is well known as very toxic to pets. It can be found also in some toothpaste, chewing gum, and sugarless candies. It's always wise to check the ingredients.

http://organicpharmacy.org/products/Rescue.Remedy.Pastilles.-.Black.Currant

On this site, the inactive ingredients are listed as:

Inactive Ingredients:Sugar substitute (sorbitol, isomalt), gelling agent (gum arabic), natural flavor (black currant), citric acid, natural colors (extract of red cabbage, edler, black carrot), sweetener (xylitol), vegetable oil, glazing agent (vegetable oil, beeswax), sweetener (thaumatin)

Not safe for pets!!!! Yet the Organic Pharmacy lists them as such. I found out about this, due to a blog from a trainer that uses RR, and whose client did not have the drops or spray. The dogs got sick later on, and the label was checked for the ingredients.

Please remember to check your labels, just in case someone has gotten it wrong. Let them know their mistake as well.

Here is a link that shows other products that contain this:

http://www.parkanimalhosp.com/XYLITOL-1.pdf