Over The Counter Flea & Tick Products Can Kill

I just recently found out that over-the-counter flea and tick products can poison and kill our pets.  HartzVictims.org  was developed to provide answers and raise awareness of this and they urge everyone to help get these products off the shelves.  Before posting this, I did a little online research myself to make sure the allegations are accurate.  I googled "hartz flea poisoning"  and found several stories of people who have lost their pets due to these medicines.  I also found this on Hartz' very own website:

Precautionary Statements

HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS

CAUTION: Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin. Causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, or using tobacco.

First Aid

If Swallowed: Call a Poison Control Center or doctor immediately for treatment advice. Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a Poison Control Center or doctor. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

If On Skin Or Clothing: Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a Poison Control Center or doctor for treatment advice.

If In Eyes: Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call a Poison Control Center or doctor for treatment advice.

Have the product container or label with you when calling a Poison Control Center or doctor, or going for treatment.

Note to Physicians and Veterinarians: This product contains an organophosphate and may cause cholinesterase inhibition. Cholinergic symptoms may include salivation, miosis, incoordination, muscle fasciculation and/or weakness, vomiting and diarrhea. Atropine is antidotal. 2-PAM may be effective as an adjunct to atropine. Call 1-800-275-1414 or your local Poison Control Center for further information.


These are the warnings and information for their flea collars.  Each product has different information, but none of it gives me confidence.  Please research for yourself and talk to your vet before using these products.  Promote these links to inform others.

Autumn Safety Tips

Fall is upon us. It is time to change the antifreeze, wage war on field mice in search of warm quarters, stock up on Halloween candy, and plan the Thanksgiving menu.

There are several autumn hazards to pets, some potentially fatal. Knowing what these hazards are and taking simple precautions will keep your pet healthy through the coming months.

Antifreeze: Most radiator antifreeze/coolant contains ethylene glycol and is highly toxic. It has a sweet taste and is readily consumed by children and animals. If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, call your veterinarian right away.

Rodenticides: Rodenticides that kill the rodents hoping to winter in your house will also kill your pet. They cause severe bleeding, kidney failure, and death. There are no safe rodenticides. Whether out of hunger, boredom, or curiosity, pets will consume these products. In case of poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Thanksgiving dinner: Holiday meals can also cause medical emergencies for pets. Chicken and turkey bones can get stuck or can pierce holes in any portion of the digestive tract. Rich foods can cause sudden pancreatitis or bloat. Keep holiday meals, leftovers, and table scraps out of reach of your pet.

It is a busy time of year, with guests coming and going, decorations going up and down. Keep novel small items out of reach of your pet. Dogs and cats, especially puppies and kittens, will eat anything. Non-food items lodged in your pet's digestive tract is yet another emergency condition. Don't let curiosity kill your cat or your dog.

It's back-to-school time, and those of you with young children know that means stocking up on fun items like glue sticks, pencils and magic markers. These items are considered “low toxicity” to pets, which means they're unlikely to cause serious problems unless large amounts are ingested. However, since gastrointestinal upset and blockages certainly are possible, be sure your children keep their school supplies out of paw's reach.

Help keep this beautiful season safe for your pets!

Alice England
makingstuffwithlove.etsy.com

Safety: the GPS and the Cellphone

I know this isn't pet related, but a friend of mine posted this on her facebook page and I felt it was very important to share:

Safety

GPS
A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard. When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen. The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.

Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.

MOBILE PHONES
I never thought of this........

This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet.... Etc...was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.' When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of the lesson:
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.

Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc....

And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

Also, when you're being text by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.

*PLEASE PASS THIS ON
* I never thought about the above!
As of now, I no longer have 'home' listed on my cell phone.