In Memoriam...Harley Sams

HARLEY SAMS We here at Best Friends Carmel have certainly had our fair share of losses over the past month, and unbelievably, we lost yet another friend in Harley Sams this past week. Harley and his faithful sister Zoe have been long-time boarding and grooming clients here...they have been together for the past 11 years. Poor Zoe is nearly lost without her Harley but her owners and the staff at Best Friends are keeping a close eye on her. Our thoughts go out to his family in this sad time.  We will miss you, Harley!

Household Products to Keep Away from Fluffy and Fido...

In keeping with our last post where we let readers know about common plants that are poisonous to pets, we thought we would also remind everyone that there are certain household products that are poisonous to pets as well. Some of the more common ones are:

Acetaminophen, aftershave, antifreeze, aspirin, bleach, boric acid, brake fluid, carburetor cleaner, cleaning fluid, deodorants, deodorizers, detergents, disinfectants, drain cleaner, dye, fungicides, furniture polish, gasoline, hair colorings, herbicides, insecticides, kerosene, laxatives, lead, mineral spirits, mothballs, nail polish & remover, naproxen, paint, permanent solution, photo developer, pool chemicals, rat poison, rubbing alcohol, shoe polish, sleeping pills, snail and slug bait, soaps, suntan lotion, tar, toilet bowl cleaners, turpentine, Tylenol (cats), windshield washer fluid, wood preservatives, Xylitol (artificial sweetener).  

Be sure to keep these and any other potentially harmful products out of your pets' reach to ensure a safe and healthy summer for all!

Pretty plants can be pretty dangerous...

Summer is on it's way, and while you are getting your garden back in shape, it can be helpful to know what plants are pet-friendly and what should be avoided.  Common plants that are poisonous to pets...

Amaryllis, Andromed, Apple Seeds, Arrow Grass, Avocado Seeds, Azalea, Bittersweet
Boxwood, Buttercup, Caladium, Castor Bean, Cherry Pits, Chokecherry, Climbing Lily, Crown of Thorns, Daffodil Bulbs, Daphne, Delphinium, Dieffenbachia, Dumb Cane, Elderberry, Elephant Ear, English Ivy, Foxglove, Hemlock, Holly, Hyacinth Bulbs, Hydrangea, Iris Bulbs, Japanese Yew, Jasmine Berries, Jerusalem Cherry, Jimson Weed, Laburnum, Larkspur, Laurel, Easter Lillies, Locoweed, Marigold, Marijuana, Mistletoe berries, Monkshood, Mushrooms, Narcissus Bulbs, Nightshade, Oleander, Peach (leaves and pits), Philodendron, Poison Ivy, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, Snow on the Mountain, Stinging Nettle, Toadstool, Tobacco, Tomato (green fruit, foliage), Tulip Bulbs, Walnut, Wisteria and Yew.

Summer! The Most Dangerous Season for Your Pets!

Summer is right around the corner but with the warm weather and sunshine come some potentially life-threatening hazards for your pets...

Below are a just a few steps from "The Pet Safety Guy", Thom Somes, that you can take to prepare for what's just around the corner:

1.  Get to know the labels on all products you use around the house.  Read the directions for use and actions to take in case of poisoning.  You can check the Material Safety and Data sheet (MSDS) for any chemical that you aren't familiar with by doing an internet search for "MSDS".  This will give you information on toxicity, first aid protocols, etc.

2.  This one is just common sense!  Keep an eye on your pet!  If you wouldn't let your toddler play unsupervised in your backyard, you shouldn't let your pet be unsupervised either!

3.  Know how to induce vomiting!  Only induce vomiting when the substance ingested is known or upon recommendation of your vet.  If the substance ingested is caustic (bleach, acids, etc.) it burned on the way down and will burn on the way up. If this is the case, do NOT induce vomiting but get to an emergency animal hospital ASAP!

4.  Call your emergency animal hospital first, not Animal Poison Control.  Your local emergency animal hospital is probably familiar with what your pet has ingested and will be able to immediately assist you with the proper response protocols.  Time is your biggest enemy when it comes to saving your pet.  The problem with calling an 800/888 number is that they must first process your credit card number- this takes time and your pet doesn't have any!

5.  Stay trained and current in pet CPR and first aid.  To find out about CPR/first aid classes, go to http://www.pettech.net/

These are just a few ways to make your summer a safe and happy time for you and your pet!

In Memoriam....

SETH LARSEN

Sadly, Best Friends Carmel had to say goodbye to yet another good friend today.....Seth was a 13-year old retired, rescued racing Greyhound who lost his battle with cancer today. His owners made the painful, yet merciful decision to let him go when they realized his quality of life had deteriorated to the point that he was suffering. Seth was both a boarder and home care doggy...he loved his daily walks with his pet sitters, and when he came to the kennel, he loved resting on his big fluffy bed in his indoor suite. He was a gentle, passive, beautiful dog who touched the hearts of everyone he met. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts go out to his family in this sad time.

Foster a Dog for the Canine Express!!!

Indianapolis Animal Care & Control is involved in a unique partnership with shelters across the northeast part of the country. The Canine Express project transports animals from overcrowded Indiana shelters to shelters in New England where there are spay/neuter laws in effect and there are very few unwanted dogs!
Each month approximately 30 IACC dogs are selected as part of this program. Once selected, these dogs sit on the IACC adoption floor for two or more weeks (while medical protocols are completed) until the transport leaves. That means over 1/3 of the adoption kennels at the shelter are full of animals that cannot be adopted. As such, the animals available to the public are limited and wonderful animals are not reaching the adoption floor, leaving them vulnerable to potentially fatal diseases and the risk of euthanasia.
This program runs monthly and IACC needs your help! We are looking for foster homes for these dogs to free up kennel space at the shelter. This is a great opportunity to foster since these dogs have already passed temperament testing and are all healthy. Plus, since the transport leaves on a consistent schedule, there is a set end date to your foster commitment! If you can help, please complete the online foster application. The fate of hundreds of canine lives is in your hands!

To find out more information about the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control facility, go to:   http://www.indy.gov/egov/city/dps/accd/Pages/home.aspx

For more about the Canine Express, go to http://www.canineexpress.org/

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

No matter how sweet and loving your four legged friend is, EVERY dog has the potential to bite. Luckily, (for you and your pet) there are many ways to significantly reduce the chances of this happening. The following are just a few tips that can help:


Spay or neuter your dog. This important and routine procedure will reduce your dog's desire to roam and fight with other dogs, making safe confinement an easier task. SPAYED OR NEUTERED DOGS ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BITE.

Socialize your dog. Introduce your dog to many different types of people and situations so that he or she is not nervous or frightened under normal social circumstances.

Train your dog. Accompanying your dog to a training class is an excellent way to socialize him and to learn proper training techniques. Training your dog is a family matter. Every member of your household should learn the training techniques and participate in your dog's education.

These are just a few things that a responsible pet owner can do to ensure everyone (and your dog's) safety.

To find out more, go to:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/prevent_dog_bites.html

To find out more about our training classes, go to:

http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/ctr_carmel.cfm/Training