Furry Fun Room

By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

A recent Facebook post by Dr. Jen Gunter of Marin County, California about her Labrador Retriever, Hazel, is a good reminder that marijuana and dogs can be a toxic combination. Gunter and 3-year-old Hazel went for their daily run, and then Gunter went grocery shopping. When she arrived home, she noticed immediately that something was wrong with Hazel.

“She was on the couch,” Gunter told NBC News. “Her head was hanging over and she couldn’t lift herself up. I got out the tennis ball, which she ignored. Normally, you get out the tennis ball and she is just all over it.”1

As soon as Gunter touched Hazel, the dog began to shudder. She couldn’t hold herself upright or even keep her eyes open, and then lost control of her bladder. Gunter, terrified, rushed Hazel to an emergency animal hospital, where the veterinary staff immediately suspected marijuana poisoning.

Sure enough, the dog’s urine toxicity test showed positive for THC (the psychoactive chemical in marijuana). Gunter suspects Hazel scarfed up part of an edible or a joint while they were out for their run. Her Facebook post urges people to properly store and discard marijuana products to protect pets.

Today’s Marijuana Is More Accessible, Comes in More Forms, and Is Much More Potent

A 2012 retrospective study (2005 to 2010) analyzed trends in marijuana toxicosis in dogs living in states with legalized medical marijuana.2 The researchers looked at 125 family dogs in Colorado that had been seen by a veterinarian at one of two veterinary hospitals for known or suspected marijuana poisoning.

Their results revealed a significant correlation between the number of medical marijuana licenses and marijuana toxicosis cases seen at the two hospitals. The majority of dogs recovered, but two dogs who ingested edibles made with medical-grade THC butter didn’t survive.

Fast-forward to 2018, and the emergency vet staff in California that treated Hazel sees 10 cases of marijuana poisonings a week, and they certainly aren’t alone. According to the American Veterinarian journal, vets across the U.S. are reporting a significant increase in the number of pets — mostly dogs — being treated for marijuana intoxication.

Both medical and recreational marijuana have become increasingly available in recent years, and in novel forms such as foods, pills, oils and tinctures. In addition, new hybrids and cultivation techniques have resulted in plants with significantly more THC than in decades past.

The Pet Poison Helpline reported a stunning 448 percent increase in calls for marijuana poisoning over the past six years, with the majority involving pets who ingested marijuana-laced food products.

Pets Can Ingest High Levels of THC in Any Number of Ways

From the Pet Poison Helpline:

“Cannabis sativa and cannabis indica are members of the Cannabaceae family. Slang terms include pot, weed, grass, and Mary Jane, just to name a few. Marijuana affects receptors in the brain which alter normal neurotransmitter function. Dogs and cats can be poisoned by marijuana from smoke exposure or from eating any type of marijuana/THC plant or laced baked foods (e.g., pot brownies, pot butter, etc.).

Other sources of THC include highly concentrated oil products, like butane hash oil (BHO or ‘dabs’), filtered and purified oil (‘shatter’), or wax made from whipped oil. These products are meant to be smoked via a bong (water pipe), or ‘vaped’ like e-cigarettes in order to give users an instantaneous, powerful high. All of them contain 60 [to] 90 [percent] THC, and small ingestions pose great risk for pets.”3

As veterinarian Dr. Gary Richter of Holistic Veterinary Care in Oakland, California explained to NBC News, dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than humans, which makes them more susceptible to the effects of cannabis than people.

Signs of Marijuana Poisoning

In dogs who’ve ingested marijuana, noticeable symptoms can appear within minutes to hours depending on the type of exposure (inhalation versus ingestion). Typical signs of poisoning include glassy eyes, a dazed expression, slow response times, loss of coordination and dribbling urine.

There can also be vomiting and drooling, seizures, changes in heart rate, decreased body temperature, low blood pressure, tremors, dilated pupils, vocalization, neurological stimulation, hyperactivity and coma. The more THC the dog ingests, the more severe the symptoms usually are.

Treatment is supportive in nature, and depending on the situation may include inducing vomiting and/or administering activated charcoal to minimize the amount of toxin absorbed by the body. For more serious cases, intravenous (IV) fluids may be given and respiration monitored.

Bottom line: Keep all marijuana plants and products stored safely away from pets, and when outdoors with your dog, stay alert for signs he’s picked up something in his mouth. Marijuana isn't the only drug dogs are being exposed to while out and about. If you know or suspect your dog has ingested marijuana, call your veterinarian, the nearest emergency animal hospital, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 immediately.

Medical Marijuana for Humans Versus Medical Marijuana/Cannabidiol (CBD) for Pets: An Important Distinction

The legality of treating pets with cannabis products is still a muddle, but that issue aside, it’s important to understand the difference between medicinal marijuana for humans versus pets. It’s primarily about THC levels — humans can tolerate a significantly higher level of THC than is safe for pets.

Meanwhile, there’s an exploding cannabidiol market out there for pets (and people). CBD oil products approved for pets are made from hemp or cannabis plants that contain all the benefits of medical marijuana, but with low-to-undetectable levels of THC. There are also studies underway at some veterinary teaching hospitals and colleges to evaluate the effectiveness of CBD oil in treating a variety of conditions that occur in dogs and cats, including seizures and arthritis.

If you’re interested in learning more about CBD oil for your pet, be sure to consult with a reliable, reputable source. Ask for a “Certificate of Analysis” from the manufacturer that shows how much THC is in the product (it should never be over 0.3 percent), how it’s made, and whether it’s organic and free of pesticides and other chemicals.

I also recommend my friend Dr. Rob Silver’s book, “Medical Marijuana and Your Pet: The Definitive Guide.” It’s written for dog and cat owners to help them understand the benefits and risks of cannabidiol for pets, as well as regulatory issues.

Un bel micione rosso sta rubando la scena del film Captain Marvel!

Non ci crederete, ma un gattone sta rubando la scena agli attori del film in uscita Captain Marvel! Il gatto in questione si chiama Goose, è tutto rosso ed apparirà nella nuova pellicola tratta da un fumetto della Marvel, che farà il suo debutto fra un mese in tutto il mondo. A quanto pare però, a destare l’attenzione di coloro che hanno avuto la fortuna di vedere in anteprima il film sarebbe stato non tanto il cast di attori (quelli umani), ma il micione.

A rivelarlo è stato, pochi giorni fa, Steven Weintraub, critico del portale Collider, che attraverso il suo profilo Twitter ha raccontato:

Dopo la fine del film tutti si sono messi a parlare del gatto. Ha davvero rubato la scena. Dovete assolutamente vedere questo film.

Per chi non lo sapesse, il film Captain Marvel vedrà la partecipazione di un cast di tutto rispetto, come l’attrice del film drammatico “Room” Brie Larson, che interpreterà il ruolo di Carol Danvers, una versione “femminile” del super-eroe della Marvel Comics creato da Stan Lee e Gene Colan negli anni ‘60.

Ma anche Brie si è dovuta mettere da parte di fronte alle performance recitative di Goose, che da bravo micione, non ha perso tempo ed ha subito messo in chiaro chi è che comanda! A tal proposito, nei giorni scorsi il web è stato invaso anche dai fan-poster che vedono come unico e solo protagonista proprio il famoso gatto Goose!

Non ci rimane che attendere con impazienza l’uscita del film, non vi pare?

http://media.petsblog.it/f/f54/gattoangoraturco.jpg" alt="Cinque gatti celebri del mondo della politica" />

Foto da Facebook

6-year-old Ian Unger has Type I Diabetes and relies on an insulin pump and a 24-hour glucose monitor. More than anything, he wants to ride the schoolbus with his fellow kindergarteners.

Recently his condition prompted the school district to insist he have a personal aide with him if he is to ride the bus. However, when the family requested an aide be provided, their plea was denied.

“Their plan was to put him on an empty bus by himself and take him to school after school starts,” Ian’s mother, Katrina Christensen told First Coast News. “And for Ian, he’s so social. He was devastated.”

In order to give Ian the normal school day experience every child deserves, the family came up with a plan. They decided to grow and sell pumpkins to raise money for a medical alert dog.

When the big orange gourds were ready, Christensen announced the sale on Facebook. She had no idea her son and his pumpkins were about to go viral.

Her post was shared more than 500 times, and the family sold almost 150 pumpkins in a single day!

“We ran out, and we’ve had some people donate some pumpkins…and we bought some, too,” Christensen said. “I was in tears all day with all these people coming, and just the love they are showing to him is amazing.”

But that was just the beginning. Ian and his family received so many donation offers that they started a Facebook fundraiser for those who wanted to help. In just 4 days, they raised over $23,000 – more than $3,000 above their goal!

A fully trained diabetic alert dog costs around $25,000, and according to Christensen, “alerts the person to their blood sugars about 45 minutes before your blood sugar will show up on the meter.”

The grateful mom told iHeartDogs that thanks to the tremendous support of their local community and online donors across the country, they have already secured a diabetic alert dog for Ian.

The pooch is undergoing training at Alert Service Dogs in Indianapolis.

“This usually takes about 18-24 months,” Christensen said.  “They are telling us about 10 months because of all the publicity and that we have all the money.”

“We are absolutely amazed and in awe of all the support,” she said. “Never in a million years would I have guessed this would happen. We are so blessed!”

H/T to First Coast News

Featured Image via Facebook/Katrina Christensen

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Tags: diabetes, medical alert dog, michigan, pumpkins, service dog

During a full moon last Sunday night, an officer from Platteville, Wisconsin suddenly crossed paths with a tiny kitten who desperately needed his help.

Platteville Police Department

Officer Matt Froiseth from Platteville Police Department was out near Highway 151 when suddenly he heard a little cry that sounded like a kitten. He decided to investigate and followed the sound, which led him to a ditch covered with three feet of snow.

Despite having no visual of the kitten, Froiseth knew he was getting close as the cries became louder and more desperate. "(He) traversed the ditch and found this little one stuck in the snow and rocks," Platteville Police Department wrote on Facebook.

It was a tiny black kitten with a pair of big eyes piercing through the darkness while he was pleading for help. Froiseth sprang into action — he carefully shuffled through the snow and removed the rocks. Once he got the kitten safely in his arms, he headed back to his squad car to get the little one warmed up.

Platteville Police Department

The kitty was cold but so grateful to be saved. He stopped meowing, climbed onto his rescuer for a much-needed cuddle and didn't leave his side that night.

Froiseth brought the kitten back to the station. He planned to find him a good home after getting him checked out by a vet. However, the clingy little feline was all wrapped up comfortably in his hat, feeling snug and purring aloud. They decided the vet visit could wait until the kitten was done napping with his new best friend.

Platteville Police Department

After getting a clean bill of health from the vet, it was time to find him a home. The kitty seemed to know exactly what he wanted — he was adamant about sticking with his favorite person. He would crawl onto his back, climb up his shoulder or curl up in his arms. He wouldn't nap anywhere but with his rescuer.

"After some serious thought, Officer Froiseth couldn't say 'no' and has added to his family. This little cutie has found his forever home. As we all hoped, it was love at first sight," Platteville Police Department said in an update.

Platteville Police Department

Froiseth named his kitten Donut and made him a permanent part of his family.

Over the next few days, Donut adjusted to living indoors at his forever home. "As with any new child, there have been ups and downs but Donut is becoming more comfortable with his new family."

Platteville Police Department

He has become Froiseth's perfect little feline partner, following him everywhere he goes. Nothing makes Donut happier than cuddling with his favorite human.

Platteville Police Department

Froiseth saved him from the bitter cold that night, and came home with the perfect little cuddle-bug.

Platteville Police Department

Share this story with your friends.

Related story: Officer Saves Stray Kitten that Wandered into a House, the Kitty is Determined to Get Adopted

If you share your home with one or more kitties and you also have a green thumb, have you considered growing a feline-friendly herb garden? Certain herbs can provide health benefits for your pet, and others can be used to treat specific feline ailments. Actually, cat parents without a green thumb or space for a garden might also want to consider this idea, since herbs are quite easy to grow, and an herb garden takes up very little space. All you really need is a sunny spot on a balcony, patio or windowsill.

7 Cat-Friendly Herbs

A Healthier Alternative to Cat Grass

If your kitty likes to nibble on cat grass now and then, consider growing your own sunflower sprouts. Sprouts can provide a very easy and inexpensive source of fresh, live organic vegetation for your cat.

Seeds are the first life stage of a plant, and sprouts are the second stage. They are the tiny stems of the plants that emerge from wet seeds before they put down roots and become full-grown plants. After a few days of germinating, these little plants are packed with a ton of nutrients.

In fact, pound for pound, many sprouts contain significantly more digestible vitamins, minerals and proteins than the adult versions of the same plants. Sprouts are also rich in enzymes, making them almost pre-digested, similar to plant matter that wild cats ingest from the stomach contents and digestive tracts of prey animals.

In addition to their nutritional benefits, sunflower sprouts are also the ultimate in homegrown foods. When you grow them yourself using organic seeds, you can be sure you're not exposing your cat to harmful pesticides or other chemicals.

Sunflower sprouts are also among the least expensive foods you can buy or grow for kitty to nibble on. Interestingly, if we don't provide living foods for our cats to eat, they often end up snacking on our houseplants. Since many kitties also tend to immediately throw up after nibbling a houseplant, and because some houseplants are toxic, sprouts are a really safe and healthy alternative. If you grow them yourself, you can cut the cost by about 90% or more compared to buying them.

This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health*

We’ve featured numerous stories of how the Assisi Loop has helped cats with multiple condition. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Pumpkin, who has shown remarkable improvement after her human Jackie won a Loop in one of our giveaways.

Pumpkin’s symptoms, diagnosis and conventional treatments

Early last year, 15-year-old Pumpkin began throwing up more frequently and started pooping outside of the litter box. X-rays showed no blockages or constipation. She was put on antibiotics. When there was no improvement, she had an abdominal ultrasound in early May. It showed thickening of the intestine and Pumpkin was started on Prednisolone.

Pumpkin would still poop outside the box. She was still throwing up frequently, although her appetite was okay. She was eating, but losing weight.

In late August of 2017, Jackie and her cats moved from Long Island, NY to Arizona. Once everyone was settled in, Jackie made an appointment with her new vet in October.

She had all new tests run. Pumpkin was diagnosed with small cell Lymphoma. She was given a number of different medications: steroids, appetite stimulants, potassium, pain medications, and finally, oral chemotherapy. “None of it worked,” said Jackie. “The steroids and chemo had Pumpkin foaming at the mouth.” During all this time, she was not doing better and continued to lose weight. “I would put baby food on top of her food to entice her to eat as she loved that,” said Jackie.

At that point, “Pumpkin was running away from me and looked awful,” said Jackie. “Fur coming out in clumps, she wasn’t grooming like normal and still losing weight.” That’s when Jackie decided to stop all medications and focus on quality of life rather than quantity.

Enter the Assisi Loop

“Then the chance to win the Assisi Loop came along just as Pumpkin’s kidney numbers were going up and I needed to start giving her fluids,” says Jackie. Jackie began using the Loop in September 2018.

Pumpkin wouldn’t always lie still for her treatment, “so I would sit with her for her treatment and make sure the Loop stayed on,” says Jackie. “She still will get up and go in circles for awhile and then lie back down, but she does fine with it and it doesn’t seem to bother her.” Jackie gives Pumpkin two 15 minute treatments a day.

The only other treatment Pumpkin currently receives are subcutaneous fluid. “I give Pumpkin is 100 ml of fluids twice a week for her kidneys. Bloodwork run at Pumpkin’s last vet appointment at the end of October showed that her numbers were stable.

Remarkable improvements

Best of all, Pumpkin has gained weight. “From late 2016 until I started using the Assisi Loop Pumpkin’s weight kept dropping,” said Jackie. “She went from 12.4 lbs down to 7.6 lbs.” In just four months of using the Loop, Pumpkin’s weight went from her low of 7.6 lbs up to 8.3 lbs.

“Pumpkin’s appetite is great,” says Jackie. “She is no longer fussy and is always waiting for meals and will ask for food/treats etc. She will throw up occasionally but she also gobbles food…and the throwing up is nothing like before!” Pumpkin’s fur is smooth, soft and shiny again and no longer coming out in clumps. “It no longer looks like ‘shingle fur’,” says Jackie. Pumpkin is grooming herself normally again.

She has been jumping up on tables and is able to get down on her own. She is no longer hiding. “She is looking out the door and windows enjoying the sun, and she started meowing to me again,” adds Jackie. “She also moves around the house and overall looks so comfy!”

Pumpkin’s veterinarian, Dr. Christine Stevenson of Pinnacle Peak Animal Hospital was very skeptical about the Assisi Loop. Being Western medicine trained and oriented, Dr. Stevenson was not convinced that the Loop could work, and given Pumpkin’s multiple health issues, she was concerned, but was willing to prescribe the Loop. “Pumpkin has done remarkably well and she looks so great,” said Dr. Stevenson. “I’m pleased with the last round of blood tests and consider Pumpkin stable at this time. She now has good quality of life.”

How the Assisi Loop Works

The Assisi Loop, created by Assisi Animal Health, is a non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive device provides targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™). tPEMF, which was first studied in the 1970s and is FDA-cleared for use in humans, uses low-level pulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms to help relieve pain and swelling. This therapy can benefits cats with pain associated with arthritis, pancreatitis, wounds, or post-surgical swelling as well as many inflammatory conditions. The Loop is well tolerated by most cats. In fact, many cats really enjoy receiving Loop treatments. Because the Loop stimulates the body’s own healing process, rather than introducing a new substance (like a medication), even a sensitive cat body can handle it easily.

Also available: the Assisi Loop Lounge

Featuring the same pain control of the Loop via targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™,) the Loop Lounge™ is the only therapeutic pet bed backed by scientific research. Click here to read more about the Assisi Loop Lounge.

For more information about how the Assisi Loop or the Assisi Loop Lounge could help your cat, visit http://www.assisianimalhealth.com or contact Assisi Animal Health at [email protected], 866-830-7342.

*FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, which means that I was compensated to feature this content. Regardless of payment received, you will only see products or services featured on this site that I believe are of interest to our readers.

Il Comune di Milano per la prima volta offre sterilizzazioni gratuite a proprietari di cani e gatti, ma solo con reddito ISEE non superiore ai 6.500 euro all'anno.

Dopo la campagna di Roma per la microchippatura gratuita degli animali d'affezione, adesso arriva la notizia che Milano, per la prima volta, offrirà la sterilizzazione gratuita di cani e gatti per i cittadini più deboli. In pratica fino al 31 dicembre chi ha un reddito ISEE certificato al di sotto dei 6.500 euro potrà beneficiare di questo progetto. Inoltre nel programma rientreranno anche casi particolari, con proprietari segnalati da Servizi Sociali, ATS, Polizia locale o Enti accreditati. Tutti costoro, entro e non oltre il 31 dicembre 2018, potranno far sterilizzare gratuitamente il proprio cane e gatto.

Sterilizzazione gratuita Milano 2018 per cani e gatti: i requisiti richiesti

http://media.petsblog.it/4/4c9/Gatto-cane1-586x441.jpg" alt="Sterilizzazione nei cani e nei gatti, ecco i vantaggi" />

Freniamo subito i facili entusiasmi: non è che tutti possono rientrare in questo programma. E non vuol neanche dire che chiunque possa portare il proprio animale da un qualsiasi veterinario di Milano e pretendere la sterilizzazione gratuita. In tale progetto, infatti, sono coinvolti veterinari convenzionati.

Questi i requisiti per poter accedere alla sterilizzazione gratuita di animali d'affezione a Milano:

• alle sterilizzazioni gratuite potranno accedere solamente proprietari con reddito ISEE inferiore ai 6.500 euro (a meno di situazioni particolari, con utenti segnalati come indicato sopra)
• il proprietario che richiede la prestazione, dovrà essere residente a Milano
• l'animale dovrà essere obbligatoriamente iscritto all'Anagrafe Canina e Felina prima dell'intervento chirurgico, quindi con applicazione del microchip (a meno di casi eccezionali segnalati da enti proposti). Se vi state chiedendo il perché, è semplice: è stato fatto per evitare che parenti, amici o conoscenti di persone con reddito ISEE inferiore ai 6.500 euro facesse passare i propri animali come di proprietà della persona indigente. I furbetti ci provano sempre
• bisognerà fare richiesta di sterilizzazione. Come prima cosa dovrete telefonare allo 02.884.54910/67757, presso il Comune di Milano, Unità Tutela Animali, in via Dogana, 2, per prendere appuntamento. Qui compilerete la richiesta di sterilizzazione (la richiesta dovrà obbligatoriamente essere accompagnata dalla documentazione che attesta il diritto a ottenere la prestazione, quindi reddito ISEE e documento di applicazione del microchip). A questo punto verrà controllato se i requisiti prima descritti sono soddisfatti (reddito e microchippatura dell'animale). Se tutto è a posto, vi verrà rilasciato un voucher che dovrete presentare al Veterinario Convenzionato. Sottolineo le parole "Veterinario Convenzionato": non potete prendere il voucher e andare da un qualsiasi veterinario, dovrà essere per forza un veterinario che ha accettato tale convenzione col Comune. Questo perché per i proprietari la sterilizzazione è gratuita, ma il Comune dovrà pagare comunque il veterinario per la prestazione effettuata e se non è un veterinario convenzionato, non potrà ottenere il pagamento. Queste cose è sempre meglio precisarle, visto che non può certo essere il veterinario a offrire a chiunque la sterilizzazione gratuita, ma è il Comune a mettere i soldi per questo progetto
• la sterilizzazione dovrà essere fatta tassativamente entro e non oltre il 31 dicembre 2018

Sterilizzazione gratuita Milano 2018 per cani e gatti: lotta al randagismo

E' Roberta Guaineri, assessore con delega alle Politiche per la Tutela e Difesa degli Animali, a spiegare il perché di questa iniziativa: "È la prima volta che il Comune offre questo servizio per gli amici a quattro zampe posseduti dai cittadini delle fasce più deboli. L’iniziativa, realizzata grazie a un finanziamento di Regione Lombardia, rientra nella costante opera di controllo demografico e prevenzione del randagismo che l’Amministrazione porta avanti da molti anni attraverso una serie di azioni mirate, coordinate e gestite dall’Unità Tutela Animali, anche in collaborazione con enti e associazioni esterne. A seconda dell’età e del sesso dell’animale da sterilizzare, ogni proprietario coinvolto potrà beneficiare di un risparmio che varia tra i 60 e i 250 euro".

Via | Comune di Milano

Foto | iStock

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Nobody wants to give their best friend a flimsy plastic birthday hat… especially not a leatherworker! I was standing in the pet store looking at plastic dog birthday hats and realized I could make my own!

Every day since Eevee’s birthday I have made her a new leather hat. Some are stand-alone designs and others are theme based – Alice in Wonderland, Queen of Hearts, Pokemon. Stay tuned for Kawaii Snack Week and Disney Princess/Villains week.

Here are some of my favorites:

More info: newmoontechnocraft.com

The Birthday Girl Crown – The Start of it All!

Alice “I’m Late” Bow

Steampunk Corset Hat

Steampunk Goggles Hat

Be My Valentine Top Hat

White Rabbit Corset Hat

Queen of Hearts Crown

Alice Teacup Top Hat

Steampunk Timetraveller Hat