Stay Safe This Summer

Kids N Kritters educators are making the rounds this summer, teaching kids the keys to having a fun and safe time with pets this summer.
When you see a stray dog, for example, you should "be a tree," standing still quietly with your head down, so the dog won't feel threatened. Before petting a dog who is with his owner, be sure to ask permission, then let the dog sniff the back of your hand first so he knows you're a friend!
To arrange for the Kids N Kritters team to visit your summer camp or class, email carrieann@aarfatlanta.org.

Have a fun and safe summer!

June 16: Dogs and Chocolate

It seems that chocolate makes the world go around, and in almost every household you will find this delicious delicacy. Eating chocolate seems to be the great American pastime. It gives us a sense of well being and is a favorite comfort food. In over 60 percent of the homes that have this delicious treat available, you will also find a hungry and curious dog.

Unfortunately that combination does not mix well. So what can chocolate do to your dog, and why is it considered poison?

Dogs and puppies do not have the ability as we humans do to digest a simple chemical found in chocolate called "Theobromine." This chemical has a very harsh effect on the animal’s body causing severe trauma and oftentimes death.

How much chocolate is too much? It is important to know just how much chocolate can produce negative effects on your dog: that amount is 100-150 milligrams. That measurement does not mean much to most people, so to simplify it, if you have a 20-pound dog, that means to reach the level of becoming poisoned he or she would have to eat about 10 ounces, depending on the type of chocolate. Bakers chocolate and unsweetened chocolate are harsher types for any dog to eat only because the chocolate is purer therefore they contain a higher dosage of Theobromine than the regular candy bar type chocolate.

If you suspect your animal has eaten chocolate, what signs do you look for? Signs occur quickly so even if there is any question as to whether your animal has consumed chocolate or not, take the animal to the vet. Do not wait to see if the animal will be alright because any delay in treatment can be devastating. Your dog, if untreated, can quickly go into convulsions, have arrhythmia, stop breathing and go into a coma.

First your dog may start vomiting on its own. If not you can induce vomiting with a hydrogen peroxide solution of half peroxide and half water.

The animal will also experience severe diarrhea, which can cause the animal to dehydrate quickly.

Seek medical help immediately. Be sure to take the vet the unfinished chocolate if any is left and any wrappings from the chocolate. This will help the vet to identify the type of chocolate and the concentration of the candy.

The vet will begin treatment and induce vomiting if vomiting has not already occurred. Usually the vet will use activated charcoal to induce. The vet will also start an IV for hydration and also to administer medication. The vet will also administer anti-seizure medication because animals that have ingested chocolate have a ninety eight percent chance of having severe seizures. If your animal is having extreme symptoms or cardiac problems, he or she will easily be able to give those cardiac medications through the IV. The stay after this treatment in an easy case is usually two days, although in more extreme instances the hospital stay for your animal could be weeks.

The best medicine in these cases is prevention. If sweets such as chocolate are a frequent snack in your household take care to remove them from anywhere your pet happens to be traveling in your home. An ounce of prevention is in this case, worth a pound of cure.

Your Pets and Summertime

In summertime, the living isn’t always easy for our animal friends. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems humans do, such as overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. By taking some simple precautions, you can celebrate the season and keep your pets happy and healthy!

- Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a deadly furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

- Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with your pet.

- The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is humid.

- Street smarts: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog stand on hot asphalt. His or her body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

- A day at the beach is a no-no, unless you can guarantee a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for your companion. Salty dogs should be rinsed off after a dip in the ocean.

- Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.

- Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

- When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. And please be alert for coolant or other automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.

- Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems, especially for dogs with heavy coats. Shaving the hair to a one-inch length—never down to the skin, please, which robs Rover of protection from the sun—helps prevent overheating. Cats should be brushed often.

- Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.

- Having a backyard barbecue? Always keep matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles and insect coils out of pets' reach.

- Please make sure that there are no open, unscreened windows or doors in your home through which animals can fall or jump.

- Stay alert for signs of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting and drooling and mild weakness, along with an elevated body temperature.

May 22: Cats and Water

Cats mix with water like, well...oil and water.

Why do cats take an interest in water but don't mix with it? Bonnie Beaver, DVM, a professor of small animal medicine and surgery at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and the author of Feline Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians, says it's not that cats don't like water. After all, they drink it every day. It's just that they don't really need to get wet.

According to Dr. Beaver, ancestors of our modern house cats lived in semi-arid regions of Africa. These wild cats took water from their food. By necessity, they learned to live without a source of drinking water. Our pets would have been very different if they had evolved from tigers, which live in wet jungles and are quite comfortable with water.

Wayne Hunthausen, DVM, who practices in Westwood, Kansas, and has co-authored the Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat, also notes that cats aren't forced to swim for their dinner. "Their prey is land-based," he says, "and they don't need to swim in the water to hunt for food."

So cats don't hate the water. It just seems that way because instinct they inherited from over hundreds of generations tells them there's no good reason to dip their toes in.

Cats are notoriously nit-picky--don't forget about cats' fussy grooming habits, the doctors say. Water can rub a cat's coat the wrong way. That means lots of licks to get every hair back in place!

May 15: Dog Safety

It's almost time for summer vacation, which means playing outside and enjoying the sunshine. While you're outside, you may see dogs you don't know. What should you do if you are face to face with a strange dog? Below are some hints to keep both you and the dog safe.

If The Owner IS Present
- Approach the dog's owner first and ask permission
- Say "Hello" after permission is given and approach slowly; do not run up to a dog
- Hold your hand out, palm down, and let the dog sniff you
- Let the dog decide how close he wants to get and enjoy your new friend

If the Owners IS NOT Present
- Do not scream and run
- Use a loud, firm voice, tell the dog to "Go Home!"
- If the dog doesn't leave, don't panic. Ask yourself, "What is he doing? Is he just curiously watching you? Are his ears perked and tail wagging? If this is how he looks, just walk away calmly.
- If the dog is standing in a threatening manner, with his ears laid back along his head, his body tense, his tail up (it may or may not be wagging slowly, don't be fooled), this a threatening posture. Any sudden move on your part may cause him to attack. 

Start to walk away slowly. Do not make any sudden moves. If he starts to come toward you and lunges, drop into a "turtle" position on the ground and yell for help.

Following these basic tips will help keep you and dogs around you safe and having fun this summer!

May 8: What You Can Do!

Everyone has a voice! Let your voice be heard by writing letters to express your feelings about cruelties to animals by visiting http://www.kindnews.org/
KIND News lists many areas that need your help. Also, at KIND News you'll find contests, stories, and many other interesting items.
You may be young, but you are powerful; let your voice be heard!

Hotel for Dogs Premiere!

Thanks to everyone who came out to see Kids N Kritters at the Hotel for Dogs movie premiere at Atlantic Station! Throughout the day last Saturday, kids visited the Kids N Kritters station at the theater to color, work on educational activities, and win cool prizes. Rusty the Rescue Dog was a very popular visitor, and kids of all ages learned about animal rescue and the importance of adopting homeless pets. Hopefully more kids will turn into animal rescuers themselves, just like the stars of the movie!