Lilies and cats

Pet information

Lilies are beautiful, and in springtime many yards hold an abundance of them. They’re also common in many Easter flower arrangements. While not particularly dangerous to humans or dogs, some types of lilies are poisonous to cats. This article will tell you what kinds are the most dangerous to cats, and what to watch out for.

Around Easter time, the Easter lily is a welcome guest in many homes. These flowers are very poisonous to cats, and it goes for every part of the plant. Leaves, petals, stems, and pollen are all poisonous. If you see your cat eating or licking an Easter lily, even if it’s just nibbling a leaf, call the vet. Cats can also accidentally ingest the pollen while grooming, and even such a small amount can lead to kidney failure.

Symptoms develop in six to twelve hours after exposure, and the signs of poisoning include:

  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dehydration
  • Lethargy

Some cats also stagger, become disoriented, or suffer seizures.

Easter Lilies are dangerous to cats
Easter Lilies are dangerous to cats

If your cat ingested any part of an Easter lily, it needs treatment at once. There aren’t any antidotes to lily poison, and the vet will administer drugs to bind the poison and give intravenous fluids to flush out the kidneys. They will also monitor the kidneys through blood testing. If the cat gets treatment quickly, all this will be easier on both the pet and your wallet.

Other types of lilies known to be poisonous to cats include Tiger lilies – common in yards – Day lilies, and Asiatic lilies.

Amongst lilies that usually do not pose a problem to cats we find Peace lilies, Calla lilies, and Peruvian lilies.

It’s always a good idea to keep the numbers to your regular vet and pet emergency rooms saved in your phone and written down somewhere you can find it even in a time of stress.

Get a food bowl that fits the size of your pet

Pet information

Get the right size food bowlHave you ever noticed that if you put food on a big plate it looks so little, and by the time the plate is full, the portion is enough for dinner as well as lunch the next day? The same principle is true for dog bowls.  A big bowl makes a correct size portion look tiny, and it’s easy to put on too much.

In 2013, the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine made an experiment with 54 dogs and their owners. Four combinations were tested:

  • Small bowl with a small scoop
  • Small bowl with a large scoop
  • Large bowl with a small scoop
  • Large bowl with a large scoop

Just as one might guess, the servings in the small bowl with the small scoop were significantly smaller than all other combinations.

Does it matter?

Yes. Obesity is a health problem on the rise for pets as well as people, and keeping track of portions is especially important for pets eating dry food. Kibble is generally high in calories, and just a few extra pieces each day can make a small pet gain weight quickly.

Good ideas are to use a graded measuring cup, and to use the large bowl for water. Many pet owners have a small water bowl and a huge food bowl, but pets need much more water than they do food.

Everyday items that should be kept out of reach

Pet information

Xylitol is poisonous to petsBy now most pet owners know dogs and cats shouldn’t have chocolate, raisins, onions, and macadamia nuts. Many other common every-day objects are also very dangerous to cats and dogs, and they’re so small and common it’s easy to forget they’re easily available in an open purse or on a table.

Human medications like Advil, Motrin, and Tylenol are present in almost every home, and very dangerous to pets. The acetaminophen in one Tylenol is enough to kill a cat or cause severe liver problems in a dog.

Asthma inhalers can also pose a problem if a pet chews on them. If a dog were to bite through the shell, the substance inside is enough to cause an acute, life-threatening poisoning.

Most chewing gums and mints contain xylitol. Xylitol is also common in chewable vitamins, sugar free candy, and nicotine gum. Xylitol is very toxic to dogs.

Also look out for all forms of nicotine. Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarette cartridges and fluid, nicotine gum, lozenges, anything with nicotine can potentially kill a pet.

Another common item that can be found in many cars, purses, and backpacks is hand sanitizer. These products contain lots of alcohol and can potentially cause coma and death in pets.

Prevention is naturally the best. Create good habits with putting potentially dangerous things away. If you still think your pet got into something poisonous, call your veterinarian at once. If the cat really ate something they shouldn’t have minutes can matter, and the sooner you get the correct diagnose the easier, safer, and less expensive it will be to treat your pet.

Cats and dogs may see flashes of light around power lines

Pet information

A couple of weeks ago the PlexiDor blog reported about cats and dogs being able to see in ultraviolet. The ability makes it possible for many animals to see things humans do not, such as threats that would otherwise blend in with the environment and patterns that can lead to food. 

Being able to see like they see would probably be both convenient and amazing in many situations. Flowers, for instance, may have patterns we will never be able to discern. However, due to human interference the ability to see in ultraviolet might also be terrifying.

The Guardian reports that UV cameras can pick up coronal discharges around power lines that humans cannot see with the bare eye. These lights and flashes correspond with the humming we can sometimes hear around power lines.

Naturally, what we see with the aid of a camera is still not the same as animals able to detect ultraviolet frequencies would see, and the cameras can see a narrower range than most animals, but at least it gives us an idea.


We have known for a long time that animals in the wide prefer to avoid power lines, and the popular explanation has been that the corridors cut to accommodate the lines expose animals to predators. However, with power lines looking like glowing and flashing bands across the sky, they might have an unforeseen worldwide impact. Besides disturbing our domestic friends like cats and dogs, they might interfere with migration routes for birds and prevent mammals from going where they need to be.

Burying all power cables does not seem a realistic alternative, but one idea is to put a non-conducting shield around the cables to screen them from view.

Are there hypoallergenic dogs?

Pet information

Hypoallergenic means that something is less likely to cause allergic reactions. It doesn’t mean that the food, pet, or rug never causes allergies. The word hypo means lower than normal.

So, are there hypoallergenic dog breeds?

Not really. There are hairless dogs and dogs that shed very little, but allergies aren’t necessarily connected to the pet’s coat. Most allergies are caused by proteins in a pet’s saliva and dander.

A study at the Henry Ford Hospital has analyzed dust samples collected from almost 200 homes. Sixty dog breeds were involved in the study, and eleven of the breeds are considered hypoallergenic.

The conclusion? There is no significant difference between breeds in how much allergens are produced. There can, however, be a difference between individuals of the same breed. Thus, a person with allergies can be able to have one specific pet, even if they’re allergic to other individuals of the same breed.

Most dog lovers will argue that pets are good for children. This is true when it comes to allergies as well; exposure to a dog early in life will provide a certain protection against developing dog allergies.

Some tips to battle allergies:

  • Bathe the pet often. This reduces the amounts of allergen related proteins on both the dog itself and in the air. If a person in the household is allergic, bathing the pet at least twice a week can minimize the allergic reaction.
  • Clean and vacuum often. Use air filters, and consider constricting the pet to certain rooms, so the allergic person can have a safe haven.
  • Smaller dogs might produce less allergens than larger dogs.
To read more about this subject, check out these links:

PTSD amongst military dogs

Pet information

Amongst 650 military dogs deployed with American combat forces nearly five percent came down with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These dogs have been subjected to gunfire, explosions, and other combat scenarios, and react just like humans do.

Military veterinarians say it can show through dogs becoming clingy or aggressive, they might refuse to enter areas where they used to be comfortable, or become hyper-vigilent and set off alarms whether there’s something to worry about or not.

Dogs affected should be taken off their patrol duty, given lots of exercise, play time, and gentle obedience training.

Another similarity with humans is that dogs don’t have to go to war to enter a state of extreme stress. Other causes for PTSD in both species are natural disasters, car accidents, and physical or emotional trauma.

If you want to read more about dogs with PTSD, these websites provide a good starting point:

Protect paws from snow and ice

Pet information

Spring is just around the corner, but parts of the world are still living through a cold and snowy winter. Many dog owners reason that it’s natural for dogs to be outside in the snow, and that wolves are outside in the snow all winter long, so dogs shouldn’t need special winter protection. The problem with this line of thought is that humans have created an artificial environment where dog’s feet come in contact with substances that don’t exist in the forests where wolves run.

Most northern dog owners are aware of lumps of snow catching on their dogs’ paws. It is less known that most de-icers are toxic to dogs. A sidewalk that looks clean and pleasant might be covered in salt or other chemicals which can hurt the dog’s feet. The paw pads can dry out and crack, they can get frostbite, and chemical burns.

What can dog owners do to protect their pooches?

Dog booties make great winter protection and work against both frostbite and salt. As a bonus they also give some protection against the burning hot asphalt in summer. Using the booties can take some practice. Praise the dog for having them on, start with short periods of time inside the house, and gradually increase the length of time. When it’s time to move the training outside, start with short walks.

If booties isn’t an option, there is paw wax specially formulated to create a barrier between the dog’s paws and whatever might be on the ground. This might not be as effective as boots, but it is definitely better than nothing at all.

Trim the hair around the paws and between the paw pads. This helps prevent snow and ice balls that can hurt the dog’s feet. Also make sure the nails are trimmed, because long nails will force the paw pads to separate when the dog walks, and this increases the risk of snow and ice building up between the pads.

When the walk is over, whether the dog wears boots, wax, or nothing, it is important to wash the paws with warm water at once. If they’re given a chance to lick their feet they might ingest salt and other dangerous chemicals.

Good to know: Dogs are susceptible to both frostbite and hypothermia. Use common sense and watch out for the dog shivering, appearing anxious, or moving slowly.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Pet information

Most dogs graze away at plants and grass at some point in their life. But why? Many dog owners believe the habit is solely to throw up, and a dog gulping down large amounts of grass might be doing it for that reason; the grass blade tickles the throat and stomach lining. In most cases though, dogs nibble on grass and chew on it for a while.

Dogs aren’t exactly carnivores. For tens of thousands of years dog ancestors ate anything and everything that fulfilled their basic dietary requirements. For essential nutrients not available in meat, wild canines eat fruits, berries, and other vegetables. Domesticated dogs generally only have grass to choose from.

If your dog is very interested in eating grass or even plants, consider introducing natural herbs and cooked vegetables into the diet. Outside greenery can contain pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals from the household’s gardening or the neighbor’s yard work. In addition, many plants are poisonous.

How much does a cat sleep?

Pet information

Cats seem to sleep all the time. They’re experts at enjoying life and make stretching out for a nap in a ray of sunshine seem like the epitome of joy.

The average cat sleeps fifteen hours a day, and some nap as much as twenty. The only well known animals sleeping more than cats are bats and opposum.

So, why do they sleep so much?

Cats are born hunters, and all that skulking about in the shadows and pouncing on pray, whether it’s real or imagined, uses up enormous amounts of energy. The large amounts of sleep is reserve energy for running, climbing, and creeping.

Cats are also most active during the twilight hours between dawn and dusk. Luckily they are both sociable and adaptable, and quite able to adjust their sleeping habits to be awake when their human is awake and home.

 

Selective breeding changes positioning of dog brains

Pet information

Humans have bred dogs for specific characteristics such as appearance, intelligence, herding instinct, and hunting instinct for well over 10,000 years. For the first time, scientists show that breeding not only changes the way the animals look, but also drives major changes in the dogs’ brains.

No other animal has been impacted by humans in the same way as dogs, and while it is well know that selective breeding from a small gene pool affects dogs’ physical health, for example through breed specific disorders, most haven’t considered just how much their bodies have adapted.

Researches from University of New South Wales and University of Sydney have found a dramatic reorganization in the brain of certain dog breeds. The brains in many short-snouted breeds have rotated forward as much as 15 degrees and relocated entire brain regions, for example the region controlling smell.

In pug-like breeds with a flat skull shape, the smell centre has drifted down to the lowest position in the skull. The next step will be to investigate just how much this impacts the dogs’ behavior.

Pet Dental Health Month

Pet information

Cats and dogs need dental care just as people, and February is Pet Dental Health Month – the American Veterinary Medical Association’s annual effort to remind pet owners to care for their pets’ teeth.

Periodontal infections have been linked to several major disorders such as diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. It is the most common health problem veterinarians find in pets. By the age of two, an estimated 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats already have some form of periodontal disease.

There are many good products to help keep pets clean, such as dental chews, wipes, gel, and spray. Brushing is still the best thing. Use a toothpaste formulated for pets, and a pet toothbrush. Older pets can be finicky, but start with short periods of time and make it into a routine.