Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Foods Toxic and Harmful to Your Dog



 

Grapes and Raisins


•Grapes and Raisins can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possible resulting in death.   •Ingesting as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound dog,

Mushrooms


Onions


 •Onions can cause a form of hemolytic anemia that causes the destruction of red blood cells. Kidney damage may follow.   •Toxicity may occur from similar foods such as garlic and chives.

Chocolate


 •Chocolate and cocoa contain the chemical theobromide that can adversely affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.   • A 20 pound dog can be poisoned after consuming about 2 ounces of baking chocolate; it would take nearly 20 ounces of milk chocolate to cause harm.

Caffeinated Items


 •Caffeine is similar to the toxic in chocolate. It can damage the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.

Macadamia Nuts


 •Macadamia nuts; not generally considered fatal, can cause your dog to experience severe illness.

Xylitol


 •Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener often found in chewing gum and candy. It stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia. It can also cause liver damage.  •Two pieces of gum can be hypoglycemia to a 20 pound dog. A pack of gum can cause liver damage.

Alcohol and Yeast Dough


 •Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol - a toxic compound that causes central nervous system and respiratory depression.  •Uncooked yeast doughs also produce ethanol.

Fruit Pits and Seeds


 •Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, and plum pits contain the toxin cyanide. 

•The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.

Rotten or Moldy Foods

Moldy or rotten foods can cause problems, some more serious. •Botulism, often from garbage, can cause paralysis, slow heart rate, constipation, and urine retention. •Rotten fruit produces ethanol.  •Moldy foods contain toxins that may cause muscle tremors, convulsions and drunkenness.

Other Foods to Avoid


Certain foods, while not toxic, can still be unhealthy. Avoid foods high in fat, sugar or sodium. They can contribute to indigestion, obesity, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and more. Dairy products can be difficult for dogs to digest. Corn cobs and bones can cause GI obstruction. Cooked bones may splinter and break easily, risking GI damage.   Watch out with chicken bones particularly.

Too much junk food can cause poor condition and decreased energy.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Retailers, Manufacturers and Links for USA Made Dog Toys


West Paw Design
URL: http://www.westpawdesign.com/about-us
Phone: 800-443-5567 or 406-585-0505   Email: westpaw@westpawdesign.com Mailing/Shipping address: 32050 E. Frontage Rd. Bozeman, MT 59715  Hours: M-F 8:00am through 4:30pm Mountain Time

Some samples of toys Finnegan has are below
Floppy Dog $9.00
Handmade Floppy Dog is stuffing- free.  You pick the size and we’ll choose a fun color or pattern. Comes in two sizes. For small and large dogs.  Made with machine washable and dryer-safe polyester. Hand made in the USA.

Zisc® is a durable, floating dog frisbee that goes the distance for games of fetch!
Guaranteed tough dog toy Floating dog toy   Soft, flexible material for easy pick up.  Flies far . Two sizes - Large & mini   Made in the USA
Zisc dog toy is meant for interactive and supervised play; guaranteed against dog damage. If a dog manages to damage this or any of our Zogoflex dog toys, we offer a one-time free replacement or refund. Zogoflex dog toys are bouncy, buoyant, made in the USA, 100% recyclable, BPA and phthalate-free, non-toxic and even dishwasher safe.
Available in small and large sizes and in three bright colors for easy spotting in water, grass or snow. Now available in Glow-in-the-dark for fun without the sun!

Puppy Pooch $5.00 
An attention grabbing squeaker, recycled polyfill and soft corduroy fabric combine to create Puppy Pooch. Perfect for small breed dogs. Has floppy ears and eye catching patch that will grab and hold your dog’s attention.

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Perfect Play
http://www.purrfectplay.com/index.php
A manufacturer of a line of organic pet toys and other pet products made in the USA.  Order on-line or call: 219-926-7604.  Find wool balls, tug and fetch toys and soft fabric toys for your dog.

WIGZI
This is a new company, launched in 2011.  There are several stores in California, and one in Las Vegas (the West Coast area.) The only retailer in Arizona is: Best Friends General Store PO BOX 376 Chino Valley, AZ 86323 Phone: 602-515-7093
WIGZI LLC  1776 I Street N.W.   Floor 9 Washington D.C. 20006
Free phone: +1 888 My Wigzi Telephone: +1 202-709-4494 E-mail: Info@wigzi.com
To find a store selling these toys:  http://www.wigzi.com/STRLOCATE/index.html


Happy Dogs Play
URL: http://www.happydogsplay.com/
A retired dog lover searches for dog toy manufacturers and toys that are non-toxic, lead-free, phthalate-free, eco-friendly and durable and selects ones to sell on her site: And:
In compliance with the safety standards recently set for children's toys in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008;   Manufactured by responsible companies who use independent labs to test their toys to make sure they're safe.

Tested again by happydogsplay.com to check for ourselves that there aren't unsafe levels of Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Chromium. We use a local company that specializes in testing for lead and other heavy metals using the X-Ray Fluorescence device that is commonly used to test children's toys;   Made from plant-based materials (no wool, no leather) or safe synthetic fabrics instead of wool. All our toys are vegan and cruelty-free.
1425 Market Blvd. Suite 330-115 Roswell, GA 30076 678-352-0928 (9-5p EasTime)

Companion Blog Site URL:  http://www.happydogsplay.com/blog/?page_id=2 Email Address: kath@happydogsplay.com

Akers Acres Pets
URL: http://www.akersacrespets.com/home
Email:  CustomerSupport@AkersAcresPets.com  Chose products online, see security statement and shipping/return policy.  Restocking fee for returns or exchanges within 14 days.  Call: Montana (406) 442-5795

The good Dog Company
http://www.thegooddogcompany.com/
PO Box 18980 GOLDEN, COLORADO 80402

LOCAL: 303.216.0443   TOLL FREE: 866.433.6426 FREE SHIPPING WITH ORDERS OVER $40 (Retail)   Made from 55% Industrial Hemp and 45% Certified Organic Cotton.

Only Natural Pet
www.onlynaturalpet.com/
Healthy, Organic Interactive Dog Toys.  Check at the website for a selection of dog toys made in the USA.    

Americans Working
http://www.americansworking.com/pets.html

Contains a list with information and URL addresses of companies that manufacturer pet toys, beds, treats, foods, et al. in the USA.  Note that the list may not be updated as frequently as one might like, the ones I chose to list were the ones with working links.

On the URL above, you can select for dog toys specifically manufacture red in the USA.  They carry 13 such products.

Manufacturers include Kong Company, Nylabone, and Jolly.

Kong Company
Kong has a selection of dog toys and treats that are manufactured in the USA.  Check the website for the specific American made products.

Planet Dog
This website offers an option to search for the dog toys they sell that are made by USA manufacturers.

USA Made Pet Products
Search here for USA made dog toys and clothes.

Active dog Toys:  This on-line retailer has a special section with USA made dog toys, like the ones from West Paw and Kong.
http://www.activedogtoys.com/