The family’s all here and they finally eat.
I must be invisible! HEY… I’m right by your feet!

I’m ignored by my humans, as they stuff their own faces.
They depart from the table, and clear up their places.

In front of the TV, for football’s the retreat.
The remaining fixin’s… for me to eat?

My belly is full, I’ve just been fed.
My patience paid off, waitin’ all day for that spread.

Turkey, stuffing, yams and stuff.
Oh dear me, I ate too much!

I heard the vet’s warning, to my human she said.
No turkey or stuffing, only dog food instead.

Thanksgiving meals for Samson beware.
Overindulgence is a dog’s worst nightmare.

Well… I’ve outsmarted the humans, but it’s no time to gloat.
It seems I’ve contracted a bad case of BLOAT! ~ Chloe Wilson

The word bloat is a term that is synonymous with the more scientific term “Gastric Dilation/Volvulus.” or GDV, a condition in which a dog’s stomach distends with air, twists and cuts off blood flow to the point that the dog goes into shock and may die.

Even though scientific evidence substantiating the causes of bloat are inconclusive, one common explanation suggests it may be caused by eating large amounts of food coupled with excessive water consumption during highly excitable times, or followed by strenuous exercise. This type of feeding behavior is considered to be a serious threat to pets.

Bloat is a deadly condition and allows a very limited amount of time to act. If your pet displays symptoms of abdominal distention, salivating, retching, restlessness, depression, lethargy, anorexia, weakness or rapid heart rate, consult your veterinarian immediately. The stages and manifestations of this condition can develop rapidly once started, so a delay in seeking medical care can produce dire consequences.

Help protect your pets against bloat by not allowing them to overeat. Feed several smaller meals per day as opposed to one larger one. Dogs tend to gulp down their food as a “defense” mechanism in the presence of intruders. Feeding your dog during quiet times when he/she is calm, as opposed to highly excitable times such as when you have a house full of company, as well as refraining from the temptation to engage your dog in vigorous exercise prior to or after feeding time, may help prevent bloat.

Golden Retriever:
The sun is shining, the day is young, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

Border Collie:
Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code.

Dachshund:
You know I can’t reach that damned stupid lamp!

Rottweiler:
Make me.

Labrador:
Oh, me, me!!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I?
Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?

Malamute:
Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he’s busy.

Jack Russell Terrier:
I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and furniture.

Poodle:
I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Cocker Spaniel:
Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Doberman Pinscher:
While it’s dark, I’m going to sleep on the couch.

Boxer:
Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark……

Mastiff:
Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.

Chihuahua:
Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

Irish Wolfhound:
Can somebody else do it? I’ve got this hangover…..

Pointer:
I see it, there it is, there it is, right there….

Greyhound:
It isn’t moving. Who cares?

Australian Shepherd:
First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little circle…

Old English Sheep Dog:
Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see a light bulb?

German Shepherd:
Alright, everyone stop where you are! Who busted the light? I SAID, “STOP WHERE YOU ARE!!!”

Hound Dog:
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

Are Pet Tabs Safe?

Pet-Tabs are sold by PetsMart, Doctors Foster and Smith, and virtually every pet shop, and on-line pet store in the nation. Pet-Tabs are made by the giant Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation, one of America’s leading opponents of health care reform and industry inspection and regulation. Pet-Tabs are sold under another corporate name: “Virbac”
Consumer Lab tests mostly human products. Sadly, this report and the previous years’ report confirming lead contamination in Pfizer/Virbac Pet-Tab supplements calls into serious question the safety and efficacy of these giant corporations’ entire product lines.
Consumer Lab tests mostly human products. There is no other information (such as why or how this supposed animal health care product has been laced with toxic levels of lead for years).

LEAD POISONING
Lead can be absorbed through the skin or, in the case of these supplements, ingested and absorbed. Clinical signs can be gastrointestinal and/or neurological. Many dogs or cats who are chronically ill, have upset stomachs, anorexia (food avoider’s), blood disorders, kidney disorders (degeneration of the glomeruli and tubules),
immunological problems, reproductive problems, or are suffering abnormal behavioral signs could have suffered chronic, catastrophic lead poisoning through supplements.

Before this revelation of supplement poisoning, the most common known cause of lead poisoning in people and dogs was contact with lead based paint or old car batteries. Other common causes of lead poisoning include ingestion of lead shot (fatal to many wild birds and sometimes served up in food that is hunted) and handling lead painted toys and ceramic ware. During the past 6,000 years humans have mined and redistributed lead on the planet to the extent that each of us has
approximately 1,000 times the lead in our system (as measured in our bones) than prehistoric North American Indians.

Puppies absorb lead more readily than adults and are at greatest immediate risk for signs of lead poisoning, but lead poisoning can prove debilitating, even fatal for mature pets as well.

If your dog suffers from the diffuse signs of lead poisoning or if your dog or cat have been exposed to Pet-Tabs, the CTCA recommends you have its blood tested for lead concentration. Children in the household should also be tested should your pet prove contaminated.

CTCA RECOMMENDATIONS
I would avoid all vitamin and mineral supplement products sold under labels by either Pfizer or Virbac. These include labels such as “Pet-Tinic,” and “Lixotinic,” and “Liqui-Tinic, ” which are generally sold for large animals.
Save any bottles of these products in a sealed Zip Loc bag. Label the bag well, stating “DO NOT USE – POISON!” You may need a sample of this product should your dog or cat become symptomatic. You will need to save the original packaging and product should Pfizer/Virbac be subject to a Class Action suit.

REFERENCES FOR VETS
Veterinarians normally do not first associate gastrointestinal, immunological or even neurological signs with lead poisoning. Given America’s current largely untested, unregulated food, supplement, and pharmaceutical supply, perhaps they should.

Should your vet need additional information about lead toxicity, its diagnosis and treatment, I suggest the following available, up-to-date references:

Michael E. Peterson, Patricia A. Talcott (editors), “Small Animal
Toxicology, Second Edition,” Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, MO. 2006

Ramesh G. Gupta (editor) “Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical
Principles,” Academic Press, New York, NY. 2007.

WHAT VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS ARE SAFE?
That question is analogous to asking: “what food is safe?” It’s a crap shoot to be sure. Consumer Lab tested only three pet supplements; one was “Halo Purely for Pets VitaGlo Daily Greens.” It did not contain lead, but it contained less than half its advertised vitamins. “21st Century Pet Nutrition Pet Chews Plus” was “approved” since it did not contain lead and its ingredients were as labeled.

Our veterinarian believes that one-half a Centrum Senior (human vitamin) is safe and effective for a dog the size of a Coton de Tulear. But without widespread government tests of our food, drug and supplement supply, who knows?

We have been using ProPet 8-in-one Vitamin supplements without problems, but chronic, gradual poisoning is not something we’d necessarily see. As noted: it is a gamble. And one that no one in this country should have to take.

This article was taken from the Consumer Lab’s paid subscription web site:

CONCLUSION:
The above article clearly demonstrates how important it is to buy from a credible, trustworthy source such as HealthyPetNet. Dr. Jane Bicks has dedicated her life to the well being of pets by creating the best products nature and science can provide. We can proudly say that our products are safe and effective for pets, and have never been part of a recall.

For anyone looking for a safe, whole food supplement, look no further than Dr. Jane’s Advanced Daily Supplement. Life’s Abundance Wellness Food Supplement for Dogs is formulated with a broad array of naturally nutritious ingredients from real food to help maintain overall health. The nutrients contained in this superior supplement are sourced from foods, like poultry liver, cranberries, carrots, eggs, pineapples and many others.

In this chewable tablet, Dr. Jane has included the following nutritious ingredients:

Poultry liver, which is rich in vitamin A and D, protein and selenium
Natural vitamin E, which is an antioxidant
Taurine, which is an essential amino acid
Stabilized rice bran, which is a rich source of vitamins and mine
Cranberries, a rich source of vitamin C, dietary fiber and manganese
Carrots, a rich source of beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamins C, D, and E, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and iron
Dried egg, one of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods, plays an important role in a balanced diet. Eggs are considered a complete protein source, providing essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, B, E, biotin, and sulfur). Eggs also provide healthy fats, such as omega-6 for healthy skin and a glossy coat
Flaxseed meal is a rich plant source of antioxidant lignans and omega-3 fatty. Flaxseed meal also has a very high level of protein and essential amino acids. In addition, flaxseed meal contains significant amounts of fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and is extremely rich in the minerals potassium, calcium and phosphorus
Direct-fed microbials, ingredients similar to those found in supermarket yogurts
Ester-C*, a unique and patented form of vitamin C (calcium ascorbate)
Tomato pomace, a good source of lycopene and vitamin C
Alfalfa meal, which is a good source of protein, vitamin A, niacin and calcium, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese
Pineapple, which is a good source of enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fiber

Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare of Volusia County - http://ccfaw.org

by Pat Mihalic, CCFAW

There’s GOOD NEWS for residents of Volusia County who need affordable, accessible spaying or neutering for their pets. Volusia County is expanding its very successful, free or low cost spay/neuter program to include all cities who pass a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance.

Volusia County passed a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance in June 2008 to help to control the overwhelming pet overpopulation problem in the county. They already had the Pet/Vet Cruiser program in place to provide free or low cost pet spaying and neutering services for residents of the unincorporated areas of Volusia County. But since the Pet/Vet Cruiser was only available to residents of the county it did not provide any relief for residents who live in our cities.

When the county passed the mandatory spay/neuter ordinance they extended an offer to the cities to purchase a second Pet/Vet Cruiser to serve city residents. The council offered to pay for the second bus for the first year of operation if the cities would commit to splitting operating costs estimated at approximately $288,000 in subsequent years. Due to economic conditions that are affecting all of the cities the funding for the second bus did not materialize, but their budgeted funding for impoundment and euthanasia continues
to grow.

Upon review of the records of the Pet/Vet Cruiser the County Council found that the original Pet/Vet Cruiser
proposal anticipated almost twice as many spays and neuters annually, so the county is offering to extend the service to cities who adopt a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance. This can be done without taking on any additional cost for the county through September 30, 2009.

All of the cities should take advantage of this program by adopting a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance. They
could mimic the county’s ordinance that has already been thoroughly researched and evaluated by the county’s legal staff. So far, only South Daytona and Edgewater have mandatory spay/neuter ordinances in place, so their residents can take advantage of the Pet/Vet Cruiser program by calling Volusia County Animal Services at 386-323-3575, 386-626-6643 or 386-424-6875 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to make an appointment.

Each year in Volusia County we impound and kill over 17,000 cats, dogs, puppies and kittens at a cost to our
residents of over 1.2 million taxpayer dollars. With an affordable, accessible spay/neuter program in place both of these numbers could be drastically reduced.

Help to save thousands of pet lives each year by contacting your city representatives and urging them to take advantage of the county’s generous offer. There is nothing to lose and the moral and fiscal rewards make this a worthwhile venture that can benefit all residents of the county.

Visit http://ccfaw.org/ for more information.

In attendance on behalf of SEVHS were Volunteers Karla Dodson, Linda Pruitt, Debbie Posey, and Heidi Foley. Also present were Board Members Judi Olinger, Treasurer, with husband Ron, and Vicky Fischer, President, with husband, Dennis.

The crowd was smaller than usual because of the chilly weather, but a fun time was had by all who did attend. And the Southeast Volusia Humane Society crew left the meeting loaded with food/toys/litter/blankets donated by the attendees.”

The group surrounded a dog. Concerned the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked, “What are you doing with that dog?”

One of the boys replied, “This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we’ve decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog.”

The reverend was taken aback. “You boys shouldn’t be having a contest telling lies!” he exclaimed. He then launched into a 10-minute sermon against lying, beginning, “Don’t you boys know it’s a sin to lie?” and ending with, “Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie.”

There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he’d gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, “All right, give him the dog.