Everyone loves the holidays... especially for the food! From turkeys and potatoes to green bean casseroles and yams, we all have our favorites. During this festive time, it can be hard to resist a mooching pet, especially with so much food to go around.

However, you should know that certain holiday foods can make your pets sick or even kill them. Here are some of the holiday foods* to keep away from Felix and Fido this Thanksgiving:

Turkey

Keep your pets away from cooked turkey, chicken, or ham bones. Cooking can make the bones brittle, and if your pet eats them there is a risk they will splinter and cause internal damage. Not only is it possible for bones to cause choking, they can also cause lacerations and other damage to the tissue all along the digestive tract. Avoid giving bones directly to your pets, and be sure to dispose of them in a way that will prevent your pets from fishing them out of the garbage on the sly.

Turkey skin is a high-fat food your pet just doesn't need; your dog or cat may have a difficult time digesting all the fat, which could be unpleasant for them (and possibly your floors and furniture, too!). High-fat foods have also been known to cause pancreatitis, the symptoms of which include vomiting, pain, and listlessness. Skins can also retain butter, oil, alcohol, and spices from marinades, adding extra fat and extra hazards to this tasty treat.

Onions or Garlic

Onions are particularly bad for dogs, but both onions and garlic contain sulfides, which can lead to anemia in your pets. Surprisingly, cooking these foods does nothing to reduce how toxic they can be for your pets.

Alcohol

We've all seen what alcohol can do to humans; surely, we don't want to see our pets suffer the same consequences! Even low-alcohol beverages like beer can be toxic for pets, and ingesting alcohol in large quantities can be lethal.

Spices

Surprisingly, nutmeg can be really bad for your dog or cat. The spice, often used in “pumpkin spice” flavor mixes, can cause seizures, central nervous system problems, and even death if consumed in large quantities. Not only should you avoid giving your pets nutmeg on its own, be careful not to give them other foods (like pumpkin pie, for example) that contain nutmeg.

Sage, which many people use on their Thanksgiving turkeys, can cause an upset tummy in your dog or cat. Keep sage safely out of reach of your pets, and avoid feeding them foods that contain it as well.

Sweets, Batter, and Bread Dough

Generally, large quantities of sugar are not going to be a part of a healthy diet for your pet, so giving them sweets during the holidays is not going to be easy on their digestion, which could be fun for nobody.

Chocolate contains methylxanthines, which are stimulants similar to caffeine. When a dog eats large quantities of chocolate, they can suffer side effects like vomiting and diarrhea, panting, extreme thirst, jitters, abnormal heart rhythm, and even seizures. In extreme cases, methylxanthines can even cause death.

Pets are just as susceptible to salmonella poisoning as humans. That's why you should never allow your dog or cat to eat cake batter, cookie dough, or any other product that contains raw eggs. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), decreased appetite, drooling or excessive salivation, and possibly a fever. By the way, many of these symptoms are the same for humans with salmonella poisoning; generally, everyone and their pets should avoid ingesting raw eggs when possible.

Did you know that raw bread dough – or any dough containing yeast – can rise inside your pets gut, causing bloating and pain as well as digestion issues? There is even a condition called “Raw Bread Dough Toxicosis”, and it can be fatal in some extreme cases. Your pet's insides are warm and moist, perfect growing conditions for yeast. Dough can expand so much in the stomach as to cut off blood flow and affect your pet's breathing. In addition, yeast in the dough metabolizes sugar in the dough, which produces alcohol and can essentially lead to intoxication – drunkenness – in your pet. It may sound funny, but alcohol intoxication in animals can lead to coma, seizures, nervous system problems, and death. If you think your pet has ingested raw dough, or if their abdomen is swollen (distended) or they seem drunk, take them to a vet clinic as soon as possible.

Table Scraps Can Lead to Bites

Dogs - and cats - can't resist a tasty treat when it's offered to them. In fact, many get so excited about a sneaky bit of food that they will accidentally nip or bite the hand that feeds them... literally. While it's true most of these kinds of bites are accidental and minor, even a minor bite can lead to a serious injury if it happens in the right place, or if an infection occurs. Some pets just can't handle themselves around food, and in their excitement will chomp down on fingers and hands holding a snack. If they perceive that the human holding the food is suddenly withholding it, or trying to take it away, the pet could become aggressive and try to take the food back.  

Don't set your pets up to fail. Ask you guests to kindly refrain from feeding your pets any people food, and place pets in a safe, quiet place with their own food (and water) during mealtime. 

*If you think your pet has ingested any of these items, or anything else they shouldn't have eaten, contact the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Centre at 1-888-426-4435, or call a 24-hour vet clinic in your area.

Source(s):
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-cats

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-dogs

http://www.dogingtonpost.com/thanksgiving-day-foods-that-can-kill-your-dog/

Every year, nearly 5 million people are bitten by dogs, with 20% of dog bite injury victims needing medical attention. Between 2010 and 2012, nearly 360,000 children were victims of dog bites. Most dog bite injuries are caused by familiar dogs; the family pet, or the pet of a friend or relative.

Any dog, regardless of sex, size, or breed, can bite. Children are particularly susceptible to bites in the face and neck areas because of their size.

The AVMA has compiled a list of reasons that dogs may bite. As The Dog Bite Injury Lawyer, I wanted to share some of those reasons with you.

Dogs may bite…

…because they are scared

…because they get startled

…because they are stressed

…because they are provoked

…because they are chained up and feel cornered

…because they feel threatened

…because they are sick

…because they are injured

…because they were not properly socialized

…or for many other reasons.

If you or someone you care about has been injured by a dog bite, or any other bite or attack by a pet, call me today to learn more about your rights. As a dog bite injury victim, you should not be responsible for the financial burden associated with a dog bite injury.

To stay informed about dog bite injuries, laws, and other dog bite information, follow us on Facebook.

Source(s):

AVMA.org

In a bizarre news story, Detroit Free Press is reporting that a man was found naked after a dog attack in Detroit on October 7.

Details of the story are sketchy at best; it is unclear what caused the dogs to attack, why the man was on the property where he was found, or whether he was naked to begin with or if the dogs removed his clothing in the attack. What is clear is that the man was attacked by multiple dogs, some reports saying up to 12 dogs were involved, and that he sustained horrific injuries in the attack which ultimately resulted in the loss of his hands and feet.

The owner of the property and the dogs is now in police custody and is being held on an unrelated issue. It has been alleged that a neighbor had complained to the owner previously about the dogs being allowed to roam unrestrained, and that the same neighbor had called animal control numerous times to complain about the same group of dogs.

The investigation is still unfolding.

Think being bitten your new kitten is no big deal? Think again!

A recent study by the Mayo Clinic has shown that cat bites lead to serious infections and hospitalization more often than people realize. The study looked at around 200 cat-bite patients between 2009 and 2011. Researchers found that one-third of patients bitten on the hand ended up in hospital. Of those patients that did end up hospitalized, two-thirds needed surgery to resolve the infection from the bite.

The reason for this high infection rate isn't that cats' mouths are dirtier than dogs' mouths. It's that cats' teeth are sharper and can penetrate more deeply, basically injecting bacteria from the cat's mouth into the victim's tissue. Bites to the hand are particularly prone to infection.

Ultimately, all cat bites should be taken seriously. A bite from a family pet (who eats a good diet and is relatively healthy) can be just as dangerous as a bite from an unknown stray. See a doctor right away if the cat breaks the skin.

Just like with dog bites, an experienced lawyer could help you to recover some or all of your medical costs if you are bitten by a cat. It is especially important to talk to a lawyer when the pet that bites you belongs to a family member or friend; your lawyer can often work directly with the pet owner's insurance company to get your costs covered, which could help avoid awkwardness and bad feelings. 

Did you know that July 5th is normally the busiest day of the year at animal shelters? According to the American Humane Association (AHA), many pets run away from home because they get scared by fireworks. Dogs who are let outside alone, or who are left chained, will sometimes run away from fear of the noise, or in order to search for family members who have left them home alone.

Even well-known pets can behave unpredictably when stressed. In order to reduce the stress on your pet, the AHA recommends keeping them indoors, away from too much excitement and celebration, and in a quiet location during fireworks displays.

It's especially important to keep an eye on your pet when children are around. Kids can really add to the stress of an already anxious animal, and even well-behaved pets have been known to bite or attack when they feel cornered or scared. Animal attacks, can be terrifying, painful, and traumatic, especially for children. They can also ruin friendships and be costly to the pet owner. It's in everybody's best interest to prevent these incidents.  

I always recommend that parents teach their children how to approach dogs and other pets; this page by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some dog-bite facts and tips for teaching kids how to behave around dogs.

Ultimately, pet owners are responsible for their animals and liable if they bite or attack. The best thing you can do for your pets this Fourth of July is keep them inside, give them lots of space, and try to keep them calm and comforted. 

We all like to think that we are ready in case of an emergency, but is that the truth? Are you and your family prepared for a disaster, like a tornado, flood, or major earthquake? What about your pet?

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently released a checklist of items that pet owners should have in an emergency kit in case disaster strikes. Below are some of the items from the HSUS checklist.

Food and Water: Your kit should contain enough food for your each of your pets for at least five days. Don't forget bowls and a manual can opener if you're including canned food. Pets don't necessarily need as much water as humans (one gallon per person per day recommended), but it's a good idea to have an extra gallon or two of water on hand in case you or your pets need to be rinsed or washed.

Medicine: Pack medications and a copy of vet records in a waterproof container. Be  sure to update vet records each year, and discard any expired medicine. You might also consider a pet first aid guide and kit. 

Waste:  Don't forget, your pets will need to use the bathroom during an emergency, just like you. Pack kitty litter and a litter box (a disposable one would work), and a scoop for your cats. Pack some plastic bags to dispose of used litter or solid dog waste.

Collars and leashes: If your pet doesn't normally wear a collar, ensure you have one in your disaster kit for each pet. Include a strong leash or harness for each pet as well.

Crates: Each larger pet should have a sturdy crate that gives them enough room to stand, lie down, and turn around. Smaller pets can share a large crate. Keep a spare blanket or towels in the crate so you'll have them in an emergency. HSUS suggests packing all the other items from your emergency kit into the crate so they are easy to find when you need them.

Information: Along with your vet records and medication, be sure to throw in a recent photo and description of each pet. That way if you are separated, you can show people what your pet looks like and prove that they are yours when they are found. You should also write down any important information about your pet, like medical conditions, behavior issues, or their favorite toy. Include their feeding and medicine schedules, and the name of your veterinarian.

One thing not mentioned on this checklist is getting your pet microchipped. A microchip will make it easier to reunite you with your pet if you become separated. I would also recommend using a web-based platform to store recent digital photos of your pets, so you can spread the word using social media if you become separated during an emergency. 

Monday, May 19th kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, a public service campaign that creates awareness to the problem of dog bites and emphasizes the need for increased pet owner responsibility.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) conclude that small children, the elderly and Postal Service carries are the most frequent victims of dog attacks.

A total of 5,581 postal carriers were bit or attacked be dogs in 2013. To bring awareness to National Dog Bite Prevention Week and the need to address this issue, the Postal Service has released the top 30 cities (comprised of 62 where some hold the same number ) where dog attacks occurred. Is your city listed?

The USPS encourages pet owners to do the following to keep postal carriers safe:

If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog into a separate room and close the door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at strangers.

Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. Parents should remind their children not to take mail directly from letter carriers in the presence of the family pet as the dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.

The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a letter carrier feels threatened by a vicious dog or if a dog is running loose, the owner may be asked to pick up the mail at the Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner's neighbors may be asked to pick up their mail at the Post Office as well.

How to be a Responsible Dog Owner

·         Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs in any situation.

·          Dogs can be protective of their territory and may interpret the actions of a letter carrier as a threat. Please take precautions when accepting mail in the presence of your pet.

·         When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room or on a leash.

·         Dogs that haven't been properly socialized, receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time frequently turn into biters.

Avoiding Attacks

·         Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

·        Don't run past a dog. The dog's natural instinct is to chase and catch you.

·        If a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.

·          Never approach a strange dog, especially one that's tethered or confined.

·         Don't disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.

·         Anyone wanting to pet a dog should first obtain permission from the owner.

·         Always let a dog see and sniff you before petting the animal.

·        If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.

·         If you are knocked down by a dog, curl into a ball and protect your face with your hand.

Here is an infographic detailing dog bite statistics across the U.S. 

_{Photo courtesy of http://www.tsrinjurylaw.com/minnesota-dog-bite-lawyer}

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For more information about dog bite laws where you live, or to contact Attorney Jason Waechter who has spent two decades cementing his reputation for results. Jason and his team of vetted affiliate lawyers in every state specialize in Dog Bite & Dog Attack cases. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Dog Bite please call us today at 1-800-708-LIFE (5433)

Dogs usually communicate through body language like tail wagging and direction of their ears; learning and watching for signals like these could help prevent you and your children from harmful dog interaction.

Some signals to watch for:

- Lip licking – when a dog is anxious, they will quickly stick out their tongue and lick their lips in a fast, little flick.

- Yawning – a dog yawns when they are feeling stressed or uncomfortable.

- Turning their face away – when a dog turns its face away, it means that it is uncomfortable with the situation and is trying to avoid what is or may happen.

- Shaking off – while dogs do shake to dry off, they shake for other reasons as well. They use shaking as a reset button. When a situation is too stressful, dogs may shake to help distress.

- Freezing – when dogs become frozen it usually it is their last attempt to tell you to back-off before they snap or bite.

Here is a graphic to help understand dog's behavior:

For more information visit:

Helping Children Be Safe Around Dogs

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For more information about dog bite laws where you live, or to contact Attorney Jason Waechter who has spent two decades cementing his reputation for results. Jason and his team of vetted affiliate lawyers in every state specialize in Dog Bite & Dog Attack cases. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Dog Bite please call us today at 1-800-708-LIFE (5433)

^{Photo from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/crash-test-dummy-dogs-seat-231900414.html}

Recently, the nonprofit center for Pet Safety in Reston, Va., joined forces with Subaru to test 11 pet safety belts to find out which restraints work well enough to earn a seal of approval from pet-advocacy groups and to help establish a standard for pet restraints.

In a government product testing lab in Virginia, the pet harnesses went through various crash tests using some of the world's first crash-test dogs, simulating a 25-pound terrier mix, a 45-pound border collie and a 75-pound golden retriever.

The results were not promising. Only one harness consistently kept a dog restrained in the seat: Sleepypod's Clickit Utility Harness.

Subaru said it will soon offer the Sleepypod's Clickit Harness as an accessory in its vehicles, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Why is this necessary?

Unrestrained pets can create a safety hazard. “Pet advocacy group Bark Buckle Up argues that unrestrained pets act like missiles in accidents, endangering passengers and themselves. In one calculation by motorist-advocacy group AAA, even a 10-pound unrestrained dog in a crash at only 30 miles an hour will exert roughly 300 pounds of force,” said The Wall Street Journal.

Injured or disorientated pets thrown from a car crash may become violent or obstruct rescue.

“Nearly 90% of U.S. pet owners say they travel with their pets, but few strap them in, despite recommendations from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and others. Some 17% of drivers surveyed in a 2011 AAA study admitted driving with a pet on their lap,” reports The Wall Street Journal.

For more information on Sleepypod's Clickit Harness visit:http://sleepypod.com/safety

Click here to watch a video of the testing. 

^{Photo from Channel 5 News}

Recently, a Connecticut lower court ruled that horses are naturally vicious animals in a case involving a boy that was bit on the cheek by a horse in 2006.
 

The boy was visiting the farm with his father who was buying plants, when he reached up to pet a horse name Scuppy and “the animal stuck his neck out from behind a fence and bit the child on his right cheek, removing a large chunk of it,” says an article on examiner.com.

The boy's father sued the farm's owner in 2010 but lost. The court concluded that there was no evidence that the horse had ever been aggressive in the past and the family could not positively say which horse had actually bitten the boy. 

Later, a Connecticut Appellate Court overturned that ruling; finding that Scuppy, as a horse, was vicious and steps should have been taken to prevent injury.

Now, the case will be reviewed in Connecticut's Supreme Court, and if the decision is upheld, Connecticut would be the first state to consider horses a dangerous and vicious species.

What could this mean?

If this ruling sticks, it would make owning horses much more difficult. Insurance to own horses would become extremely expensive and would severely hurt the state's horse industry.

An article on Channel 5 News states, “Horse farmers and equine enthusiasts, who cite 2005 statistics saying that the horse industry contributes about $221 million a year to the state's economy in boarding, training, lessons and breeding businesses, are asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the Appellate Court's decision. The Connecticut Farm Bureau and Connecticut Horse Council filed a friend of the court brief saying that under common law viciousness generally is judged individually according to age, breed and gender, not as an entire species.”

The Superior Court judge said the horse's owner testified that neither he nor anyone else had ever seen Scuppy bite a person before and that in 28 years, none of the horses at the farm bit or injured anyone.
 

"Cats have a tendency to scratch and horses have a tendency to bite, but the plaintiffs have failed to show, as they must, that the defendants were on notice that Scuppy specifically, and not horses generally, had a tendency to bite people or other horses," the judge ruled.
 

• Refrain from using cell phones while driving.
• Put your cell phone on silent or in the glove box to avoid temptation.
• Safely pull over and put the vehicle in park to take or make a call.
• Always wear a safety belt – every trip, every time.
• Make sure every passenger is wearing his or her safety belt before you begin your drive.
• Have children sit in the back and use the proper child safety seat or booster seat.
• Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, especially during hot weather.
• If you plan to drink, designate a non-drinking driver.

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.
• Never grill indoors – not in your house, camper, tent, or any enclosed area.
• Make sure everyone, including the pets, stays away from the grill.
• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using grills.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks – older children should use fireworks only under close adult supervision.
• Light fireworks one at a time, in a clear outdoor area away from onlookers, houses and flammable materials.
• Do not aim fireworks at another individual and never place any part of your body over a firework.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire, and do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

Here are additional tips from the Red Cross:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
• Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.

1. Stop.
2. Fold in your branches (hands folded in front).
3. Watch your roots grow (look at your feet).
4. Count in your head to the highest number you can and then start back at one until help comes or the dog goes away.

• A strange dog comes near you (even if he seems friendly).
• Any dog is making you feel uncomfortable, worried or scared.
• A dog is chasing you.
• Your own or a friend's dog is acting too frisky or excited.

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Do not run from a dog or scream.
• Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
• Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
• Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
• Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.