Keeping Your Pet Safe Around the Cookout

The summer is here...and it's time for cooking out, time for an afternoon filled with family, fun, and great food. However, if you are a dog owner these fun filled parties can be dangerous for your dog. Most people wouldn't think a family cookout could pose a danger to your dog, but there are some very real dangers you have to watch out for. Here are some tips to ensure your dog and guest are safe during a cookout.

No feeding the dog

• Inform your guest that they should not feed your pet. It can becoming tempting to hand Fido a piece of chicken off of their plate. However, there are a large number of human foods, and ingredients that aren't good for dogs. They can cause anything from a mild stomach upset to death, so it's extremely important not to allow your dog to eat anything other than dog food. Pancreatitis, is a serious and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas, is often caused when pets eat "greasy, spicy, fatty foods--exactly what people eat at barbecues.

• Try and keep your dog away from the area where people are eating. Make sure that the guest inform their children not to feed the dog. 

• Even if you are conscientious about not giving your pet barbecue food, you can't control your guests, especially children. It's almost impossible to resist when a dog begs, especially if it's not your dog. Keep children away from the dog.

• If you are having guest at your home who are not familiar with your dog, it is best to keep your dog away from the cookout. Children, just being children will want to play and feed the dog. Keeping the dog and kids separate is easier than explaining why your dog bit their child.

Keep the dog away from the grill

• Most dogs are controlled by their nose. The smell of the food cooking can excite a dog and they may hang around or run into the grill.

• Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system. Before you light that hot grill make sure your four legged family member is out of harms way.

• Barbecues on Memorial Day and other holidays often lead to trash bags full of bones and other unsafe items that are extremely attractive to pets. Keep pets away from the garbage.

Even though it seems like a bummer, your pet is better off in a bedroom, with an air conditioner, some cold water, and the door closed, safe and sound, away from all that food and temptation.

With a little thought and careful consideration a summer cookout can be fun for every member of the family including the furry ones.


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Law Enforcement Officials Are Investigating a String of Brutal Feline Deaths in Washington State: Serial Cat Killer May Be Responsible

Law enforcement officials are investigating a string of brutal feline deaths in Washington State that authorities say could be the work of a serial cat killer.

Five cats have been killed in Thurston County, Washington, since February, according officials with the Thurston County Joint Animal Services. Local media outlets have reported as many as two other cats that have been found killed.

Erika Johnson, an animal cruelty services investigator for Thurston County Animal Services, said the pets were found cut open, with their spines were removed, in a similar fashion to the other cases. The cats were apparently cut with a scalpel and placed in areas where they were likely to be found.

"The cats are usually left in public places after they are killed," a release from Pasado's Safe Haven said. "Investigators believe these cases are linked due to similar mutilations done to the cats' bodies (removal of the spine)."

The latest killing involved a deaf tabby cat named Harley, whose body was found by a neighbor in West Olympia on Sunday, not far from where another cat was found mutilated on Friday.

“I went to bed and then in the morning, he’s usually right there at the door waiting for me and he wasn’t there,” Harley’s owner, Kathy Harrigan told local station KCPQ. “Shortly afterwards, the police came by and asked if we were missing our cat and it turns out that he was dead on our neighbor’s lawn and had been mutilated.”

Law enforcement officials in Thurston County went door to door on Saturday and Sunday, warning pet owners and looking for possible surveillance footage.

Authorities said there were two similar cases in February and two last month near Olympia. A case from last October is also believed to be connected.

Harrigan, Harley’s owner, said she plans to install security cameras on her property.

“It’s really kind of terrifying; does it stop with cats? And, then the fact that this person had laid his body out for everyone to see is really disturbing,” Harrigan told KCPQ. "So, people are going to start keeping their cats indoors now. A lot of people had felt free to let their cats be outdoors but not anymore.”

Pasado's Safe Haven is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

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Would You Eat this Albino Burmese Python Cake?

The photo of this Albino Burmese Python looks so real, Francesca Pitcher of North Star Cakes in Kent, U.K., was prompted to add this tagline: "****I DO NOT SELL SNAKES****. This photo is of a snake CAKE made to look like an Amelanistic Burmese Python for a birthday party."

Yes, the snake is a fake. It's a fake snake cake.

And it truly is awesome, as many of the commenters on North Star Cakes' Facebook page have stated emphatically.

"The detail is absolutely spot-on!! As a long-time reptile keeper I know you would do well to advertise this in local pet shops and reptile specialists."

Indeed. Just take a look at this real Albino Burmese Python for comparison sake. The fake snake cake has an incredible resemblance to the real Albino Burmese Python, which is one of the six largest snakes in the world with most averaging 12-feet long. But it can grow up to 19 feet, and, if not handled properly, can be quite dangerous.

The only danger with Pitcher's snake, however, is to the waistline.

According to the UK Daily Mail, Pitcher's now-6-year-old daughter Claudia, who loves reptiles, wanted a spooky-themed birthday party. She wanted something that would scare her friends. Pitcher suggested a snake cake.

She regretted that idea immediately and for good reason. Pitcher has a snake phobia.

From the UK Daily Mail: 

'At first I couldn't even look at the images of them online but as I kept researching them I realised they weren't so bad and had quite beautiful patterns.

'Once I had got over my phobia I just cracked on with it...'

Over the course of three days, Pitcher spent 12 hours baking and shaping sponge layers, using "a white chocolate fondant with special dye to make the skin and replicate the distinctive markings of the dangerous snake," according to the Daily Mail.

As it turned out, none of the kids at the birthday party were afraid of the snake. Instead, they fought over who was going to eat the head.

Would you eat this cake?

For those of you interested in making a Snake Cake!

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Elephant Fitted with Giant Contact to Repair Injured Eye

What happens when one of the world’s largest animals hurts its eye? She gets a giant contact lens, of course.

A vet at Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo fitted elephant Win Thida with the protective lens last week in an hour-long procedure, the first of its kind in Europe, the zoo said. The animal’s cornea was likely damaged by a branch while roughhousing with her mates, and each time she blinked, it further irritated the wound. The contact was fitted to help her right eye – eight times the size of a human’s – heal without complications.

Animal ophthalmologist Anne-Marie Verbruggen leans into Win Thida's stall at Amsterdam's Artis Zoo during an hour-long procedure to fit a contact in her right eye.

So how exactly does one perform eye surgery on an elephant? Win Thida, who weighs in at just above 4 tons, was lightly sedated, given an eye anesthetic and enclosed in her stall to prevent her from moving too much during the procedure.

A specialist eye vet, who regularly fits horses with contacts, performed the surgery from a ladder while leaning into the stall. Win Thida couldn’t be put to sleep as elephants can’t lie down for long periods without developing breathing trouble.

Animal ophthalmologist Anne-Marie Verbruggen inserts a contact lens into Win Thida's eye to help her damaged cornea heal.

The vets expect that the super-size contact will fall out of the 44-year-old elephant’s eye after several weeks, although if it doesn’t, there will be another trip up the ladder for the doc who performed the surgery. After spending nearly a month squeezing her eye shut in pain, she was “instantly better” after the procedure, the zoo said.

Zookeepers first noticed Win Thida’s injury when creams and painkillers did little to help, vets decided to insert the lens. FOLLOW US!

Meet Tina, The Beluga Whale Who Has Fallen in Love With Her Zookeeper, And Behaves Like a Jealous Girlfriend

Beluga whales are usually very social and they always can be seen communicating and playing with each other in a playful way but this female beluga whale is not like other typical beluga whales.

Meet Tina, the female beluga whale who lives in a zoo in South Korea.

Everything about Tina seems typical except one thing; she has fallen in love with her zookeeper!

This is the lucky zookeeper whom Tina fell in love with.

She refuses to kiss anyone but the zookeeper.

Tina only wants to communicate and play with the zookeeper will shoot water at anyone who stands too close to him.

The beluga whale also only wants to play with the zookeeper and ignores the other staff even when they approach her in a nice and friendly way.

So, how did Tina learn to be jealous?

According to the zookeeper, Tina had a hard time adapting when she first came to the zoo.

While other zookeepers were treating her nicely, the male zookeeper paid her a lot of attention which might be the main reason why Tina feels safe when he is around.

However, there may be another reason why Tina behaves in that way. What do you think it could be?

Watch this hilarious video about Tina and her zookeeper to find out more

Click on video arrow twice.

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Here Are 10 of The Most Common Diseases, Illnesses, And Ailments Among Rabbits

1. Ear Mites

Ear mites are tiny little bugs that set up shop in your rabbit’s ears. The ear will look really crusty, brown, and itchy.

So if you see your rabbits scratching their ears a lot, check them. After having a bout with ear mites, I now check my rabbit’s ears almost daily to be sure I keep a jump on them.

But if your rabbits get ear mites, don’t feel bad. My rabbits live in really clean conditions and are fed a proper diet and still ended up with them. What I found in my research is that ear mites often live in hay.

Well, if you are feeding your rabbits a proper diet it should include mainly hay. If you notice your rabbits ears are full of gunk, then it is time to get to work. You’ll need a dropper ( I actually use a squirt bottle like this.)

Then fill it with oil of any kind. I usually use vegetable oil because it is inexpensive, and then place a few drops of oil in the infected ear twice a day for 7 days. This smothers the ear mites and relieves the crusty skin from the ear.

However, it is important to mention, do NOT pick the scabs out of your rabbit’s ears. They will clear up naturally. Picking at it will be painful for your rabbit and also open them up to more possibility of infection. Just let the oil do the work.

But you can try to prevent ear mites by keeping hay in a hay feeder and not just allowing your rabbits to lay in it. I also try to put a drop of oil in each of my rabbits’ ears once a week as a preventative measure for ear mites.

2. Snuffles
You need to realize up front that it is not normal for an animal to ‘get a cold.’ I made this mistake with my chickens and lost a large portion of my flock one year.

So when you see that your rabbits have nasal discharge or are sniffling then you need to pay attention to what is happening. Other symptoms of the snuffles are matted paws, sneezing, and watery eyes.

Basically, this disease is best prevented by keeping your rabbits on a healthy diet and also keeping your rabbitry clean. The snuffles is a bacteria so if you keep their immune system ready to fight while also not giving bacteria a place to grow, then you should stay ahead of this disease.

However, if by some chance your rabbits develop this disease, then it is usually best to try and treat them with antibiotics, though they are not guaranteed to treat this illness.

So the best way to defeat this disease is to never let it set-up with your rabbits.

3. Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is something you have to really pay attention to when it comes to keeping rabbits. The reason is that they are very well insulated.

So on blistery cold nights you might be fearful of them freezing to death. When in reality if you provide a way to block the wind and give them extra hay (as chewing keeps them warm), then your rabbits should be just fine.

However, summer is a different story. Your rabbits need to be kept in the shade with lots of water as heat can quickly get to them. So if your rabbit is lethargic and it is warmer outside, then you’ll need to act quickly.

Be sure to quickly decrease their body temperature by spraying them gently with cool water. Then you will need to take them to a vet so they can be treated with IV fluids.

But your best bet is to try to avoid heat stroke all together. You can do this by giving your rabbits frozen water bottles. They can lay next to these bottles and absorb some of the cool.

Also, you can blow a fan on your rabbits indirectly so cool air can circulate around them. Don’t blow it directly on them as this can cause problems for your rabbit.

4. GI Stasis

GI Stasis is a serious and often fatal disease. Your best bet is to completely prevent the disease by feeding your rabbits a diet high in fiber which basically means giving them lots of hay.

However, you will recognize GI Stasis because your rabbit will become bloated, lethargic, suffer from loss of appetite, not drink fluids, and also quit going to the bathroom.

If your bun starts showing any of these signs it is important to give them lots of fluids and hay. As well as massage their bellies.

But if you see no movement in their systems, it might be time to call your vet as it could potentially require surgery.

5. Sore Hocks
If you’ve ever seen a rabbit with sore hocks, it just looks painful. But the good news is that sore hocks is easily preventable.

So sore hocks is when the rabbit is either living in less than ideal conditions, or they have no where to rest their feet and their feet become callused and sore on the bottoms. Which are two important things to keep in mind if you are raising rabbits in wire hutches.

It is important to provide your rabbits with either nesting boxes to rest their feet in, a board to rest their feet on, or to provide them with mats.

However, if you have a larger breed rabbit this is very common with them where they have so much weight on their hocks. So be sure that they especially have really clean living conditions and lots of room to rest their feet.

6. Bloat

Bloat is a big deal! If your rabbit develops this it will most likely be a fatal blow to them. So the best way to handle bloat is to prevent it from happening.


But first things first, bloat is when your rabbit’s stomach has an imbalance of bacteria in it. This causes their bellies to look like a balloon and begin to swell.

This disease happens when your rabbit eats too much green food, wet grass clippings, moldy food, not enough fiber in their diet, if they are fed irregularly, or if they eat food that is spoiled.

So keep this in mind when feeding your rabbits. We feed our rabbits protein pellets, but they eat mainly a diet of hay. During the warmer months we use fresh vegetables and weeds as a treat, but they do not get them regularly for this very reason. We also feed our rabbits fodder. They love it, but they don’t get an excessive amount of it either.

It is important to pay attention to what you feed your rabbits. Also, you should pay attention to their poop. Make sure that they are still going regularly and that everything looks like it should.

7. Coccidiosis
This is something you hear talked about regularly if you belong to any type of rabbit group online. As soon as someone posts a stomach issue with their rabbit this dreaded disease is one of the first suggestions thrown out there.

But I’m very grateful for all of the information that has been shared in some of the groups I belong to because I learned a lot about Coccidiosis (also referred to as Cocci.) This is why I stopped raising my rabbits in a colony setting. It makes breeding hard to keep up with and cleaning a lot more difficult too.

So out of fear that my rabbits would develop this horrible disease I decided hutches were a safer bet. Much to my surprise, my rabbits actually appear much happier in a hutch. I think they feel more secure.

But as far as cocci goes, you’ll know your rabbits could possibly have it if they begin to develop diarrhea, have a lack of appetite, won’t drink, become very weak, and their stomach appears bloated. This is a disease that is carried my parasites. The parasites set up shop in the gut of the rabbit and therefore is spread through their feces.

It is usually fatal and will often times set up in baby kits around the ages of 4-6 weeks. If you are raising your rabbits for meat, you’ll need to pay attention for this disease because you will not want to eat a rabbit that has been impacted by this disease.

8. Flystrike

This is a terrible disease and one that I hope you will be able to keep from your rabbits. Flystrike happens when flies lay their eggs in moist areas of skin on a rabbit. These eggs will hatch into maggots within 24 hours.

They then will live under your rabbit’s skin and release poison that will kill your rabbit. Again, the best method to treat this disease is to prevent it.

You will need to be sure that your rabbit’s hind quarters are kept very clean. If you have a rabbit that is overweight or a female that has a large dewlap, then it may be hard for them to clean themselves properly.

If this is the case, be sure to clean your rabbits daily.

Also, be sure to keep their hutches clean and make sure your rabbit does not sit around in soil bedding. You’ll also want to limit the amount of fresh veggies and grass they get as this causes diarrhea which also attracts flies.

But if you notice maggots attached to your rabbit’s hind quarters, you’ll need to immediately call your vet. They will be able to administer treatment in a way that won’t harm your rabbit.

However, if you aren’t near a vet, then you will need to carefully administer these next steps.

First, you’ll need to grab the tweezer and begin pulling the maggots out of your rabbit’s skin. Then you’ll want to soak your rabbit’s bum in warm water. But be sure to dry their hind quarters thoroughly after the fact.

Next, you’ll need to carefully shave off any dirty or soiled hair around their bum. But you must be careful as rabbit’s skin is very thin and you could really harm your rabbit.

Finally, you’ll need to administer antibiotics to your rabbit to insure that no infection sets up. But again, if you have the ability to get to a vet, I’d recommend letting them do these steps as they are able to sedate your rabbit so nothing is uncomfortable for them while they receive this treatment.

9. Head Tilt

Head tilt is another disease that is very common to hear about in rabbit groups, but I’ve also been very thankful for all of the knowledge I’ve gained on this topic from the groups too.

So head tilt is when your bunny flops his head to one side. It is also referred to as wry neck. Their eyes often go side to side in a rapid movement too.

The reason for head tilt is many, and the treatment will depend upon the reason. I’ll go ahead and tell you, a vet will be the only true way to determine what has caused your rabbit’s head tilt.

These are what can potentially cause rabbit head tilt:

Trauma: A blow to the head can cause brain damage which equates to the rabbit holding his head to one side or the other permanently.

Cancer: If your rabbit has a tumor growing in his head, neck, or spine this could cause the rabbit to develop head tilt.

Stroke: We often see similar physical signs in humans that have had a stroke. A rabbit really isn’t all that different. So if your rabbit suddenly develops heads tilt don’t count out the idea of them having had a stroke.

Middle/Inner Ear Infection: If your rabbit has an ear infection, it could be causing signs of vertigo which equates to him leaning his head over.

There are a few other reasons as well such as: cervical muscle contraction, intoxication, and cerebral larva migrans.

But as mentioned above, there is no way of knowing exactly what has happened to your rabbit without the help of a vet. Then understanding what caused the issue will make the treatment vary greatly.

10. Red Urine
The first time I encountered this with my rabbits, I was so glad I had done my research and participated in rabbit groups because I knew what I was looking at.

So red urine just means that your rabbit is urinating a reddish, pinkish, or maybe even a brownish color. But don’t panic. It usually just means that they’ve been eating too much of something like carrots for instance.

However, if nothing in their diet has changed, or they keep urinating odd colors after the food has cleared their system, then it might be wise to get a urine sample and let a vet check it out.

Obviously, there are a lot more illnesses that occur in rabbits. But I do hope that this overview of some common illnesses with rabbits will help you as you raise your own rabbits whether it be for farming purposes or as a pet.

Take a look at the video below:

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Signs That Your Cat Is Getting Older

If your cat is approaching the golden years, there are signs to let you know once they are reaching the homestretch of those nine lives. Although we love our cats dearly, sadly they are like humans who don’t live forever. Here are a few things to be aware of if your cat is getting older:

Getting up isn’t always so easy

As your precious kitty reaches their twilight years, it may prove difficult for them to get up as quickly as they once did. Allow them extra time to move about or help out by giving them a loving lift.

  

Gradual loss of appetite

This sign may be easier to spot if you have a kitty that always leaves their food bowl dry. The older your cat gets the lesser amount of food they will need to take in, so be on the lookout for a drop in weight as well.

Here, kitty kitty?

If your cat is truly getting older, that selective deafness they may have been practicing at times could take a turn to impaired hearing. As your cat ages so will all of their senses. This completely normal transition into a new stage of life may be a telltale sign for you as an owner.

  

Your social butterfly may start to retreat

Your cat may once have been the life of the party, but if they retreat to a safe place to hide every time visitors are present definitely take this as a sign. Cats that are older prefer peace and quiet as opposed to the lively lifestyle they may have once enjoyed.

Catching extra catnaps

Older cats require more sleep than younger cats do. As your cat approaches their senior years you may find them sleeping even more than normal.

They need you more than they used to

Cats are loyal to their loving owners, that’s for sure. As your cat gets up there in age you may find them becoming a bit clingy with a desire to be close to you almost whenever you’re around.

Not so high, please

With a slow decline in the senses also comes a steady decline in cat-like reflexes. The same cat that you may have once repeatedly told to “get down” may now have a hard time getting up. If kitty sleeps with you on your high bed at night, try investing in a cat ramp/step ladder to make getting on/off the bed easier for your aging feline companion.

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Seven Puppies Found on Island Named After the Famous TV Castaways, on Gilligan’s Island

Two men fishing near Cross Lake in Manitoba, Canada, came across a small island with some peculiar castaways on Monday. JR Cook and his friend, Leon, were boating by the island when they heard what sounded like crying. They weren't sure who – or what – it was, and it was getting too dark to investigate. So the two fishing buddies went back the next day, and saw some movement in the brush.

They thought it might be wolves, but what emerged was a much smaller, more playful canine. In all, seven black puppies were traipsing around the remote island, which was otherwise completely uninhabited. Cook says he has no clue how they got there, but he knew the dogs needed help.

"They randomly found them there," Jessica Boeckler, who works with Norway House Animal Rescue, told CBS News. No one knows how the puppies ended up on the island, or where their mother is.

After the discovery, the men took their boat to the mainland, where they got dog food and spoke with a volunteer at Norway House Animal Rescue. Cook coordinated with the organization to transport the puppies off the island and take them to a shelter, but it was going to take a few days.

"They went back three times a day to take care of them," Boeckler, the adoption coordinator for the organization, told CBS News.

Boeckler says Norway House Animal Rescue works very closely with the community and gets calls about strays and abandoned dogs frequently. "There is in Manitoba an abundance of stray dogs in the communities. We bring them in, get them properly vetted, sometimes other rescues take them in if we're full," she said.

The rescued puppies are waiting for Deb Vandekerkhove, director of the animal rescue, to pick them up and bring them to a shelter in Winnipeg, where they will be put up for adoption. "And they'll be adopted right quick in no time, I'm sure," Boeckler said. She says the dogs are a Labrador cross-breed.

For now, the dogs will be put in a foster home near the lake where they were found. The volunteer who is fostering the pups, along with Cook, came up with creative names for all of them. Since seven puppies were stranded on the deserted island – much like the seven characters on "Gilligan's Island" – the pups were named after the famous TV castaways.

But unlike the gang on "Gilligan's Island," whose misadventures continued for years on the popular 1960s sitcom, these puppies were saved pretty quickly. They'll be available for adoption in three to four weeks, and "we have adoption applications already," Boeckler said.

So, the pups named Gilligan, Skipper, "and all the rest" will be picked up by Norway House Animal Rescue this week and will be placed in forever homes soon.

See video below. Click twice on arrow.

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Ingestion of Homemade Play Dough, Ornaments, Rock Salt, or Table Salt, Can Cause Salt Poisoning in Dogs

What is Salt Poisoning? 

In most cases, if your dog consumes too much salt, he will drink water to combat the effects and no damage will be done. However, if there is no water available to your dog, or if your dog ingested an extreme amount of salt in a short time, the cells in the body will start to release water to even out the levels of salt in the blood. This causes the destruction of brain cells due to the lack of water, creating neurological symptoms like dizziness, headache, and seizures. The most often reported reasons for salt poisoning in dogs is ingestion of homemade play dough, ornaments, rock salt, or table salt. It can also be caused by a lack of fresh water, frozen water sources, or a malfunctioning automatic waterer. 

Too much salt in the blood (hypernatremia) can cause the muscles to lose moisture, shrivel, and become stiff, which will create shaking and jerking. The most serious symptoms of salt poisoning are neurological. Some of those symptoms are convulsions, coma, and death. Sodium chloride causes the brain cells to dry out due to the release of water from the cells used to dilute the salt in the bloodstream. Dehydration is imminent without the opportunity to drink enough fresh water, which brings more serious effects: fast heartbeat, fainting, confusion, and difficulty breathing. If you think your dog has ingested a large amount of salt, call your veterinarian whether your dog shows any symptoms or not. 

Although salt (sodium) is a natural substance that your dog’s body needs, too much can cause serious illness or even be fatal. Sodium toxicity is caused by sodium chloride, which is used to maintain the levels of water in the body; an essential part of your dog’s metabolic system. 

Symptoms of Salt Poisoning in Dogs 
There are many signs of salt poisoning in dogs, which may be neurological, gastrointestinal, or even cardiovascular. The most common signs are extreme thirst and urination, which are what usually saves your dog’s life if there is plenty of fresh water to drink. This is because the water dilutes the salt in the blood, and it is cleansed from the body in the urine. The symptoms of salt poisoning most often reported are: 

• Coma 
• Confusion 
• Convulsions Death 
• Extreme thirst and urination 
• Fluid buildup 
• Headache 
• High fever Increased heart rate (tachycardia) 
• Lack of energy 
• Loss of appetite 
• Muscle spasms 
• Nausea 
• Respiratory distress
• Seizures 
• Stomach pains 
• Tongue swelling 
• Vomiting
• Walking like intoxicated
• Watery diarrhea Weakness 

Causes of Salt Poisoning in Dogs 
A large amount of salt in your dog’s blood can cause sodium poisoning if your dog eats enough of it and has no fresh water to drink. 

These are some of the ways your dog can get sodium poisoning: 

• Frozen water source 
• Broken automatic waterer 

Also the consumption of many items that may be found around the home can cause salt poisoning. 

• Homemade play dough or ornaments 
• Ocean water 
• Paintballs 
• Rock salt 
• Soy sauce 
• Table salt 

Diagnosis of Salt Poisoning in Dogs 
A thorough physical examination will be done, which will include checking your dog’s reflexes, temperature, pulse rate, weight, height, reflexes, blood pressure, respirations, and a quick vision and hearing test. Bring any medical records you have, including your dog’s vaccination records, illness and injury information, and describe any abnormal behavior or appetite. Explain to your veterinarian what you believe your dog consumed, how much, and how long it has been since consumption. List the symptoms you have seen that brought you to the veterinarian in the first place and when they started. 

The tests your veterinarian will need to perform are complete blood count, blood gases, and blood chemistry, and a urinalysis to check your dog’s sodium level. A complete cardiac diagnostic will be done as well. This will include an electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure the electrical impulses in your dog’s heart, radiographs (x-rays), MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound to determine the extent of the damage to your dog’s brain, heart, and lungs. 

Treatment of Salt Poisoning in Dogs 
Your dog will be admitted to the hospital for oxygen, IV fluid therapy, and electrolytes to manage dehydration. The salt level will have to be brought down gradually because a sudden change in sodium levels can cause a heart attack or cerebral edema (brain swelling). It can take up to three days to bring the levels down to an acceptable range depending on how high your dog’s sodium levels are. This is usually done with warm water enemas every few hours. If cerebral edema is already present, your dog will be given a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone or mannitol to reduce the inflammation. The veterinarian will most likely keep your dog in the hospital for about 24 hours for observation. 

Recovery of Salt Poisoning in Dogs Your veterinarian will probably suggest a diet low in sodium, and this is important to keep the level of sodium in your dog’s blood under control. You will have to return in 30 days for a follow-up blood test to determine sodium level. If there is no sign of hypernatremia, your dog’s prognosis is good as long as there is no damage to the brain, heart, or liver.  Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s instructions and continue to take your dog for annual check-ups. 


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Surgeons Have Amputated the Legs and Hands of a Wisconsin Man Who Contracted a Rare Blood Infection From a Dog Lick

West Bend, Wisconsin - Surgeons have amputated the legs and hands of a Wisconsin man who contracted a rare blood infection from a dog lick.

Greg Manteufel remains hospitalized at a Milwaukee area hospital.

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin infectious disease specialist Dr. Silvia Munoz-Price says the bacteria that invaded Manteufel's body comes from the saliva of a dog.

She says the infection caused Manteufel's blood pressure to drop and circulation in his limbs to decrease rapidly.

His wife, Dawn Manteufel, says her 48-year-old husband was perfectly healthy until he began having flu-like symptoms that landed him in the hospital. The bacteria attacked quickly and aggressively.

Munoz-Price says the infection is rare, adding that 99 percent of people with dogs will never contract the bacteria.



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Watch: Police Free Bear Locked Inside A Car

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Bird Owners, Do You Know the Signs of ‘Sick Bird Syndrome’?

The presence of signs of illness in a bird is sometimes termed "sick-bird syndrome." This is because many illnesses in birds cause the same signs, and, by the time a bird shows signs of illness, the bird is really sick. Aviary birds, like other prey animals, hide signs of illness. Predators look for signs of illness or weakness when choosing their prey, so a prey animal needs to appear healthy, or it will be a sure target. By the time they are showing signs of disease, in many instances, the birds have become too weak to be able to disguise it. At this point, small birds, especially, have little reserve, and even handling them can put them into shock. This is why it is extremely important for bird owners to be aware of signs of illness in a bird, and monitor their birds at least twice daily for the presence of these signs.

If you notice any of the signs of illness in the list below, contact your veterinarian. Weakness, labored breathing, bleeding, injuries, collapse, seizures, or other nervous system signs are especially serious, should be considered emergencies, and need immediate attention.

Signs of illness in birds as characterized by changes in general appearance or stance:

• Huddled
• Sitting low on the perch
• Sitting on the bottom of the cage
• Hanging onto the side of the cage with his beak instead of sitting on a perch
• Head tucked under wing and standing on two feet
• Ruffled feathers (consistently)
• Weakness
• Losing balance, teetering, or falling off of perch
• Lumps or swelling of any portion of the body
• Picking at his feathers or body
• Trembling
• Not preening
• Harassed by other birds
• Eyes dull, sunken, or abnormal color
• Walking in circles
• Unusual smell to bird or droppings
• Drooped or elevated wing(s)

Changes in behavior and general attitude that may be signs of disease in birds:

• Inactivity
• Decreased or changes in vocalizations or singing
• Drooping wings
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Increased sleeping or eyes closed
• Poor response to stimuli
• Changes in personality, e.g., more submissive, more aggressive
• Displaying juvenile behavior, e.g., begging for food

Changes in color, volume, consistency, and number of droppings indicating illness in birds:

• Change in color of the urates (the normally white portion of the droppings), urine (the normally clear portion), or feces (normal varies with species)
• Change in consistency: watery (increased urine), loose feces (diarrhea), hard feces (constipation) indicating illness
• Bloody droppings
• Undigested food in feces
• Decrease in number or size of droppings
• Increase in urates

Signs of disease in birds characterized by changes in appearance of the head:

• Discharge around the eyes and/or nares
• Squinting or half-closed eyes
• Overgrown or flaky beak
• Shiny black beak in a cockatoo (symptom of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease)
• Loss of symmetry (one area seems swollen or smaller compared to the other side)
• Redness or loss of feathers around the eye
• Discoloration of the beak
• Flicking or twitching of the head

Changes in feathers suggestive of illness:

• Ruffled or fluffed feathers
• Lost, misshaped, or broken feathers
• Decreased preening
• Wet, stained, or matted feathers on the head, vent, or other area
• Dull feathers
• Long or excessive molt, bald spots
• Pulling or picking at feathers
• Abnormal color or barring

Changes in legs or feet associated with disease:

• Lameness or favoring a leg
• Flakiness, crusting, or discoloration of feet
• Abnormal nail growth
• Shifting feet
• Swollen feet or joints

Signs of illness in birds associated with changes in breathing:

• Difficulty breathing
• Breathing with an open beak
• Tail bobbing when taking a breath
• Sneezing
• Discharge or crusts around the nares
• Wheezing or clicking sounds
• Exercise intolerance (heavy breathing after exercise, or inability to exercise)
• Change in sound of voice

Changes in eating/drinking/digestion indicating disease:

• Increased or decreased appetite
• Increased or decreased drinking
• Vomiting or regurgitation
• Straining to defecate or pass an egg
• Diarrhea
• Swelling in the crop area
• Weight loss (use a scale) and/or prominent keel (breast bone)
• Discharge from mouth
• Inability to pick up food or manipulate it
• Protrusion from the vent

Injuries:

• Burns
• Bite wounds
• Injury from flying into a window or other object
• Bleeding

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