Friday, November 29, 2013
Animal Doc AM Multi-media: Christmas Danger Zones for Your Pet
Animal Doc AM Multi-media: Christmas Danger Zones for Your Pet: Christmas Danger Zones for the Pet You Love DH DeForge, VMD Each holiday season, Animal Doc AM Multi-Media shares with pet lovers ...
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Christmas Danger Zones for Your Pet
Christmas Danger Zones for the Pet You Love
DH DeForge, VMD
Each holiday season, Animal Doc AM Multi-Media shares with pet lovers the Danger Zones of Christmas. So many are overlooked or not even considered until the emergency occurs. If you take a moment to review this blog you will have a wonderful holiday season with the companion you love and not have to make a trip to the Animal ER for emergency care. This blog is not a replacement for veterinary care. If you have a question contact your local doctor of veterinary medicine, an Animal ER doctor, or Poison Control Centers for Pets in the United States.
Christmas Plants and Trees:
Pine needles from fresh Christmas trees can pose many problems if eaten. They are a local irritant and can cause hypersalivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. If eaten in large quantities, pine needles can lead to perforation of the intestines. Your pet can then weaken, start to tremble, and actually collapse necessitating immediate ER help and intervention.
The Poinsettia plant is not as poisonous as once thought. Eating any part of the plant can cause irritation to the mouth or GI tract leading to vomiting and lethargy but it is not classified as a severely toxic agent to pets.
Mistletoe is far more dangerous! It has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. Ingestion starts with abnormal GI signs and then can lead to respiratory embarrassment, hallucinations, collapse, and even death. If mistletoe has been ingested by your dog and cat bring your pet to the local Animal ER immediately. Why not, just, keep this plant out of the home or look for artificial synthetic substitutes if you need it as part of your holiday decor.
Holly is not a benign plant. Again, ingestion usually begins with the abnormal gastrointestinal signs of vomiting and/or diarrhea but can progress to weakness and physical depression necessitating veterinary intervention.
Even though Lilies are not common at Christmas as much as Easter, they do end up in delivered floral arrangements as gifts. Some of the common Lilly Plants are Tiger; Casa Blanca; Stargazer; Japanese Snow; and Asian varieties. A cat who just eats a small amount of any part of the Lily family of plants can go into kidney failure and die. If you have a cat do not have any Lily Plant in your home. If ingested or suspected of being ingested call your Animal ER immediately.
The Wonder of the Christmas Tree and Pets:
The Christmas Tree: Presents, Decorations, Wrappings, and Gifts:
We all want our pets to have a great Christmas and wrap gifts for them. Pets can find these gifts and can ingest the paper, bows, and ribbons trying to get to the gift that smells luscious. This can lead to the need for an exploratory surgery if an intestinal blockage occurs.
Electric shock can occur from pets chewing on extension cords and Christmas lights and can be fatal.
Entanglements in icicle netting, garland, and decorative ropes can also lead to respiratory embarrassment and death.
Never leave decorative candles burning around pets. Their coats can become ignited or they can initiate a whole house fire if knocked over.
Fireplaces cause multiple house fires each year. Keep pets away from open hearth fires and be sure the fireplace screen or enclosure is pet proof. One mistake could lead to a catastrophe.
Who doesn't wrap candy for our human family members. Pets can find chocolate wrapped in Christmas wonder and become poisoned by the chocolate. Never wrap chocolate and leave it under the tree if a pet is free to roam this area in your home.
Glass ornaments can cause lacerations of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Tinsel and ribbon can get caught in the GI tract from an overzealous pet grooming the Christmas tree. Batteries for toys if found or unwrapped and ingested can lead to ulcerations and even death from leakage of corrosive materials.
Potpourris in hot pots that simmer can cause damage to a pet's mouth, skin, and eyes. Large amounts being consumed could lead to systemic problems depending on the chemical nature of the fragrance. Dry potpourris can lead to intestinal blockage. Chemical irritation or toxicity from ingestion is also a possibility.
Live Christmas tree watering stands should always be covered with aluminum foil to prevent ingestion of the water by a pet. The water can be bacterial laden or have chemical additives that can be lethal to your pet. If your pet has been drinking Christmas tree water and begins to vomit or have watery diarrhea call your local Animal ER immediately and let them know you need an emergency exam.
Foods at Christmas that are Toxic to Pets
The raisins and grapes-found in desserts and on Christmas tables are toxic to pets. They are commonly found in pudding, mince pies, and fruit cakes. Worst is the double edged toxin of chocolate covered raisins. Some dogs develop renal or kidney failure after the ingestion of raisins. Raisins and grapes should never to fed to pets.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. It contains methyxanthines. Dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate. Both are dangerous. You need far less dark chocolate to cause a severe toxic reaction than milk chocolate. Chocolate toxicity can lead to heart arrhythmias, seizures, and death if ingested in large quantity. Consult your Animal ER Center or Animal Poison Control to find out if your dog has ingested a lethal dosage of chocolate.
Meat trimming [i.e. fat] eaten in large amounts can predispose a pet to pancreatitis. Meat bones can cause lacerations of the GI tract or impactions. No bones should be given to pets. This includes all bones: butcher raw bones, cooked bones, sterilized bones, pork, beef, and poultry bones.
Alcoholic Beverages are around at holiday time. It is not funny to give these beverages to pets and watch them become intoxicated. Over ingestion of alcohol in pets is just as dangerous as in humans. Small amounts because of body size can lead to loss of consciousness and potential loss of life. Pets should be kept away from all human holiday drinks including alcoholic punch, cocktails, beer, and wine. Consult your local Animal ER if your pet has gotten into alcohol.
Certain nuts are toxic to pets. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios can cause gastroenteritis or obstruction of the food tube when they are being swallowed. Macadamia nuts and walnuts that have been tainted by mold can actually be very toxic to pets leading to weakness, lethargy, seizures, and other neurological signs. Keep nuts away from pets.
Food containing onions and garlic should not be fed to pets. If ingested in large amounts these flavoring agents can cause severe anemia in pets.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline Avocados should not be given to pets because of bowel obstruction problems.
Avocado contains a toxin called persin, but despite the rumors, avocado is not poisonous to dogs, nor likely to cats. Only certain species are poisoned by persin. While dogs and cats don’t seem to be affected by persin, avocado poisoning can be deadly to birds and large animals (such as cattle). The bigger risk to dogs and cats is a foreign body obstruction, which can occur if the dog swallows the whole large, round avocado seed; due to size alone, this seed can get stuck in the esophagus, stomach or intestinal tract of dogs.
Most importantly, keep the phone number of your nearest Animal ER 24/7 Center in the phone directory or your I-Phone or Android. Also, enter the two Pet Poisoning Consultation Centers listed below. Seek advice immediately. Do not wait. The moments could be very significant in reversing a problem that could be life threatening.
Pet Poison Helpline
24/7 Animal Poison Control Center
800-213-6680
Consult Pet Poison Helpline for their consultation fee in a suspected animal poisoning.
AND
ASPCA POISON CONTROL CENTER
For any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
Have a very safe and Happy Christmas and Holiday Season and keep your pets safe at all times. The advice in this blog is not a substitute for a consultation with your own veterinarian, an ER Veterinarian, or a Poison Control authority. It has been written as a guide to help you in preventing emergency problems from occurring with your pets.
Animal Doc AM Multi-Media is a production of Dr. Don DeForge
Questions: Contact Dr. Don DeForge at 1-800-838-3368
or E-Mail : DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com
27Nov2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
BULLYING: There is An Answer!-DH DeForge, VMD
Bullying
There is an Answer!
DH DeForge, VMD
"The only way to end bullying is to talk about it openly rather than making it a taboo issue. If someone is hurting another person, they will not stop unless someone (either a fellow classmate or someone in authority) stands up for the victim and tells their tormentor to stop. Bullying is everyone’s problem; therefore everyone has to be part of the solution." Carrie Ann Goodsoil
Bullying Definition-stopbullying.gov
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.
In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
- An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
- Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
Comments from Dr. DeForge:
I write this letter as a concerned parent who suffers with the parents of children being tormented by bullying. When I decided to put together this essay on bullying, I wanted to accomplish two important goals. The first is to bring the discussion of this type of threatening harassment back into the main stream of social media and the second was to help change and even save the life of a young person[s] who are suffering from bullying.
The definition above from stopbullying.gov has covered ALL aspects of bullying. The one area it does not cover completely is finding help for the person suffering the pain and loneliness initiated by the bully. There is no simple answer to give. The advent of the power of the internet has taken bullying to a greater extreme. Individuals can hide behind a fictitious tag-screen name and spend their day hurting others.
I have included a student essay on bullying within the framework of this essay by Morgan Biggs. I truly believe that bullying cannot be stopped by school administrators, teachers, or school boards. It cannot be legislated against. It is not another program that can be brought to state legislators to be funded.
It is my opinion that the "ring leader" of the bullying phenomenon must be sought out in the school or forum in which it is occurring. Students can help in the identification of these individuals. Once the bully is found, it cannot end with a suspension or a promise to do no wrong in the future. The parents of the bully must become part of an effort to seek immediate counseling for their son or daughter that is monitored closely by those officials who are in school administration.
The counseling is not for a lay person to choose. The counseling program should be tailored to the needs of the student by a health professional. Bullying occurs in the middle school, the high schools, and even in colleges.
This effort of separation and counseling is enormous. It is not as enormous as the suffering and even death of a child that can no long stand the torment. Morgan Biggs in the essay herein talks about "peanut gallery bullying"!
The individuals who have freely joined in the bullying phenomenon must also be examined one student at a time.
Advancement from the "peanut gallery" to "ringleader " can occur as one of the past leaders departs, graduates, or moves to another school. Read Morgan Bigg's words below!
AWARD WINNING ESSAY ON BULLYING BY MORGAN BIGGS
Bullying comes in many different forms, from cyber-bullying to physical bullying. It’s all wrong and it has to stop. Bullying has a real negative effect on the victim’s life. Those who are constantly bullied can be pushed to the breaking point, where they could end up hurting themselves or others.
Why do students bully their class mates? I believe students bully other because they are insecure and lack confidence. They use bullying tactics to impress other students. Bullies thrive on attention they get from their fellow classmates. Their hurtful actions make them feel powerful and popular. Bullies pick on students who they think are weak in physical stature, unpopular with their peers, easily intimated, or discriminated against.
Bullying occurs on a regular basis in many schools. It’s usually started by the same person or a ring leader who gets a few other students to join in on the bullying. Unfortunately, the majority of students are spectators who act like the “peanut gallery” laughing out loud or snickering behind the victim’s back. The “peanut gallery” may not directly bully the victim, but by standing on the sidelines giving their attention to the actions they encourage they bully. Even though I am not a bully, I have been part of the “peanut gallery” that makes bullying an even worse situation. The “peanut gallery” are students that can make a positive change to stop bullying.
As students, we can take action to stop bullying in our schools and I have some ideas to make this happen. I and a group of students would dedicate one week at the beginning of the school year to hold an anti-bullying campaign called “Bully Beatdown.” The “Bully Beatdown” campaign would raise awareness to the issues of bullying. For the campaign kick-off, I would hold a rally for students to share their personal stories and experience with bullying. I would invite a counselor or a psychologist specializing in anti-social behavior to speak at the rally about the effects of bullying. The person could train students on anti-bullying tactics.
During the “Bully Beatdown” campaign, I would have students perform skits acting out different bullying scenarios and ways they can stop bullying such as befriending a victim of bullying. To promote my campaign, I would pass out information flyers and pamphlets, buttons, and signs to post throughout the school in bathrooms, gyms, lunchrooms, and hallways.
Another feature of the campaign will have students sign a social contract agreeing to not participate in bullying of any kind, to stand up for the victims of bullying, to not be a bystander to bullying, and to report bullying to teachers or a responsible adult.
I would create an organization called “Bully Guardians” which is a community of students who act as a support network for students targeted by bullies. The students who were spectators to bullying can become a “Bully Guardian.”
Many students are afraid to report bullying incidents they observe because they might become targets themselves. I would create an “Anonymous Email System” for those students who don’t want to report an incident in-person to a teacher or the principal. The student could send an email explaining the bullying incident they saw or encountered.
After the campaign kick-off, I propose that each month schools devote a day to bully awareness and to report on the progress they have made to stop bullying. I believe my plan of action is practical and easy to implement in schools.
From Do Something. org
“Cyber bullying” is defined as a young person tormenting, threatening, harassing, or embarrassing another young person using the Internet or other technologies, like cell phones.
The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber bullying are similar to those of real-life bullying. The difference is, real-life bullying often ends when school ends. For cyber bullying, there is no escape. And, it’s getting worse. Read on to get the facts.
- Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once.
- 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online.
- Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying.
- 68% of teens agree that cyber bullying is a serious problem.
- 81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person.
- 90% of teens who have seen social-media bullying say they have ignored it. 84% have seen others tell cyber bullies to stop.
- Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse.
- Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.
- About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out 10 say it has happened more than once.
- About 75% have visited a website bashing another student.
- Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.
According to the National Crime Prevention Association, cyber bullying happens when teens use the Internet, cell phones, or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.More than 50% of all American teens have been a victim of cyber bullying so it is imperative that students, parents, and educators are aware of ways to stop it.1) Do Not Participate - This may sound like common sense but many teens do not realize that they are guilty of cyber bullying by commenting on or sharing offending text or pictures, even if they were not the ones who originally started the bullying. Make sure your kids or students know that they should refuse to take part in these actions.2) Block the Cyber Bully - Most social networking websites, cell phones, and other messaging applications have functions that will allow a user to block messages or other types of communication from specific individuals. It is possible (and quite easy) for dedicated bullies to create fake profiles and accounts to get around certain blocks however.3) Direct Action - Rather than immediately tell an adult about an instance of cyber bullying, students can also choose to ask the bully to stop directly. Sometimes this form of direct communication can be very effective, but its success also depends highly on other variables including personalities, relationships, and environment.4) Tell An Adult - One of the tougher actions for a teenage child to take is telling an adult when a friend or classmate is being bullied. Many students are afraid of the possible retaliation by peers when thought of as a 'tattle-tale'. If an issue is brought up by a student, educators or officials should do their best to protect the anonymity of the whistle blower.5) Preventative or Proactive Education - There are not a whole lot of teenagers who will sit down at their computer and research cyber bullying. That means it is crucial that parents and educators take a proactive approach to educating kids about cyber bullying. Teach them ways to identify, prevent, and report cyber bullying and let them know that they should feel safe reporting instances of bullying to a trusted adult.Children are affected every day by cyber bullying and some have even gone as far as to take their own lives because of it. Please share this information with your children or students.- From cyber-bullying there is no escape; no walking away; it encompasses all social media and methods of Internet communication. It is up to parents to speak to their children if they are not acting right or seem unhappy. It is up to friends to contact the parents of a peer that is suffering cyber-bullying. This is not copping-out or ratting-out but finding a way their friend can be helped. Do not skim this article or hit the delete button. Re-read it, copy it, and bring it to a friend in need.
- You could save a life!
- Dr. Don DeForge 10Nov2013
- Comments to:
- DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com
- Special Edition with Dr. Don DeForge
- Seeking Ways To Make A Difference
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