What to Keep Out of Fido’s Reach

1. Aloe Vera. This popular succulent plant is a very useful herb for humans. As a matter of fact, it can serve as a soothing lotion for burns. While the gel found in aloe vera leaves is alright for your pooch, the outer leaves, however, contain saponins which can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and tremors.

2. Apple and Cherry Trees. Many parts of these two common trees are said to be poisonous to dogs. The leaves, stems, and seeds of apples have cyanide which can cause breathing difficulties, panting, dilated pupils, and shock. Their fruit, on the other hand, can be a great snack for your healthy pooch.

3. Asparagus ferns. This houseplant is often found in hanging baskets inside of homes. Asparagus ferns are toxic plants that contain sapogenins which can trigger allergic dermatitis. Once the plant grows berries, ingestion of them can result in diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea.

4. Azalaeas and Rhododendrons. These pretty flowering shrubs contain grayantoxin which can affect a dog’s nerve and muscle function; thereby, causing depression, colic, dizziness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, excessive drooling, leg paralysis, weakness, and slowed heart function.

5. Christmas Cactus and Clematis Vines. Ingesting the flowers, leaves, or branches of Christmas cactus can bring about depression, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. Clematis vines, on the other hand, contain protoanemonin which is an irritant that can set off diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive drool in dogs.

6. Common Privet Hedge. This plant’s needles and branches have terpenoid glycoside which is a toxin that can produce intestinal upset, racing heart, and loss of balance and coordination in your pooch.

7. Eucalyptus. Oil in eucalyptus can trigger depression, excessive drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy.

8. Garlic. Another common but toxic houseplant is garlic. It’s a vegetable garden plant that contains N-propyl disulphide which is a poison that can bring about deterioration of red blood cells, blood in urine, panting, lethargy, and rapid heartbeat.

9. Hosta and Rhubarb. While Hosta contains saponins that can result in diarrhea, vomiting, and depression, Rhubarb leaves and its uncooked roots, on the other hand, have soluble calcium oxalate which can trigger tremors, kidney failure, and excessive drool in your pet.

10. Red Maple Trees. If your dog ingests its leaves, symptoms of red maple poisoning can include change in urine color, abdominal pain, darkened membrane in the eyes and mouth, lack of appetite, inflamed paw, and lethargy.

While these 10 plants top the list for being the most toxic for dogs, there are hundreds of other common plants that could potentially harm your pet. Some other poisonous house and garden plants and trees you might recognize include: Amaryllis and many other varieties of lilies, several varieties of Holly, other fruit trees, like peach, apricot, and plum, Norfolk Pine, Baby’s Breath, Birds of Paradise, Begonias, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Corn Plant, several varieties of palms, Daffodils, Daisies, varieties of Ivy, Hyacinth, Gardenia, Geranium, Gladiola, citrus trees, like lemon, lime, and grapefruit, Morning Glory, Mums, Oleander, and many, many more.

For a printable list of plants known to be toxic to dogs, click here.

If you believe your dog has ingested any poisonous plants, the Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year as a resource for any animal poison-related emergency. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435 for guidance, or visit your nearest veterinarian or animal hospital.

A Dog’s Dictionary

Leash: A strap that attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your owner where you want him or her to go. Make sure that you are waiting patiently with leash in mouth when your owner comes home from work. This immediatly makes your owner feel guilty and the walk is lengthened by a good 10 minutes.

Dog Bed: Any soft, clean surface, such as a white bedspread, newly upholstered couch or the dry cleaning that was just picked up.

Drool: What you do when your owners have food and you don’t. To do this properly, sit as close as you can, look sad and let the drool fall to the floor or better yet on their laps.

Sniff: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs or those people that sometimes smell like dogs.

Garbage Can: A container your neighbors put out weekly to test your ingenuity.Stand on your hind legs and push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right, you are rewarded with food wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume, moldy crusts of bread and sometimes even an old Nike.

Bicycles: Two-wheeled exercise machines, invented for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards. The rider swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away.

Thunder: A signal the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling, panting, rolling your eyes wildly and following at their heels.

Wastebasket: A dog toy filled with paper, envelopes and old candy wrappers. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house. This is particularly fun to do when there are guests for dinner and you prance around with the contents of that very special bathroom wastepaper basket!

Sofas: Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers clean. If there are people sitting on the couch just include them as a handy wipe.

Bath: A process owners use to clean you, drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

Lean: Every good dog’s response to the command “sit,” especially if your owner is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective before black-tie events.

Love: A feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction, shared by you and your owner. Show it by wagging your tail

Find more dog humor here. Got any additions to add to this dog dictionary? Share them with us below!

Bridget Evans with her service dog Hero. Photo credit Bridget Evans.

A young woman and her service dog have earned instant fame after the pair arrived in matching caps and gowns to the graduation ceremony of the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign on Sunday.

An attendee of the ceremony snapped a photo of Bridget Evans and her service dog, Hero, both wearing graduation caps and gowns just after walking the stage, and posted it to Reddit.com saying, “One of the graduates today had her service dog with her who was also in a cap and gown ” The photo immediately went viral.

Bridget joined the thread a day later, sharing photos of herself with Hero and answering questions from her instant fans.

“Hi! That’s me with my service dog, Hero! ,” she wrote along with this Imgur photo.

She explained, “Hero knows over forty commands to assist me! He loves to retrieve objects for my like envelopes, pens, my crutches, etc. He also turns off the lights, opens doors, and he pulls me in my wheelchair up ramps! I couldn’t have gone to college without him!”

“He’s been with me through all my classes,” Evans, 24, told TODAY.com. “He deserved a cap and gown as much as I did.”

Evans graduated with a Master’s degree in community health and hospital administration. Born with spina bifida, a spine-related birth defect that impairs her mobility, the hospital is a place she’s come to know all too well throughout the 37 surgeries she’s endured.

But Evans’ dedication to health and helping others goes much further than earning her degree. Evans founded Illini Service Dogs in 2010, a program that allows students to train service dogs from puppyhood until their ready to be placed in homes. After the dogs are trained, they are placed with someone with a disability free of charge. Evans’ program,funded solely by public donations, placed 3 dogs this month alone. Evans has trained over 20 service dogs herself.

“We can read each other’s minds,” Evans told TODAY. “We’re so attuned to each other. He’s my best friend, roommate, classmate, and like my sibling. I’m so grateful that I got to celebrate my day with Hero by my side and my family in the audience.”

First we should point out your puppy is not strange because he does this. It is natural behavior since it is learned from the mother as she keeps the “den” clean. It is more common than many dog owners realize.

The most important point is to NOT startle the puppy by making a big issue out of it. Most grow out of it quickly.

Start to help the puppy break this habit by not allowing him or her to go near any defecation if possible. Sometimes this cannot be avoided when you have the pup out for play time in the yard, or for a walk in the park. One moment of distraction and if there is any poop close by the pup may decide to chow down.

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By understanding your dog’s body language, you can help protect him and yourself from dangerous situations, and at the same time aid in training him to be a well-mannered pet.

Spotting What He Feels

1. Confident. Confident dogs tend to stand straight, tall, and their head held high. Their ears perk up and their eyes are bright. Though his mouth may be a bit open, it is nonetheless, relaxed. His tail may curl loosely, sway gently, or simply hang in a calm position. He is friendly and non-threatening.

2. Happy. Happy dogs commonly show similar signs as confident dogs. Only, they will often wag their tails, and occasionally hold their mouth more open. Some will pant mildly. They appear friendly and content with no marks of anxiety.

3. Playful. Playful dogs are happy and easily excited. Their eyes are bright, ears are up, and their tail rapidly wags. In fact, they are likely to jump and run around the house with glee. They may show the play bow where their front legs stretch forward, head straight ahead, and their rear end in the air; probably wiggling.

4. Submissive. Submissive dogs tend to hold their head down, carry their ears flat, and they usually avert their eyes. Their tail is low and may slightly sway, but not tucked. They may roll onto their back and expose their belly. They also like nuzzling or licking the person or other dog to further show their passive intent. Some will sniff the ground and display a meek and gentle disposition.

5. Dominant. Dominant dogs usually assert themselves over people or other dogs. They stand tall and confident; leaning slightly forward. Their eyes are wide and make direct eye contact with people or other dogs. Their ears are held up and alert. They may growl lowly; appearing less friendly and possibly threatening.

6. Aggressive. Aggressive dogs commonly plant their feet firmly on the ground in a territorial manner with the tendency to lunge forward. Their ears pin back, head set straight ahead, and eyes narrowed and piercing. Their tail is held straight up high, and may sometimes be wagging. They bare their teeth, snap their jaw, and growl or bark threateningly.

7. Anxious. Anxious dogs normally act quite submissive, but may often hold their ears partially back with their neck stretched out. They stand in tense posture and sometimes shudder. They commonly whimper, yawn, moan, or lick their lips. Their tail is low and perhaps tucked. These dogs tend to overreact to any stimulus and may become fearful, or worse, aggressive.

8. Fearful. Fearful dogs tend to show a combination of submissive and anxious attitudes, though with more intense signals. They stand nervous, and are very low to the ground. Their ears are held flat back and their eyes are narrowed as well as averted. Their tail is usually placed between their trembling legs. These dogs often whine, growl, or even bare their teeth defensively.

At a meeting to discuss commercial ideas in 1996, someone at the table suggested Jay tell Duke the secret family recipe for the delicious beans. At first, the idea seemed silly, but Jay whispered in his dog’s ear and the famous Bush’s Baked Beans series of commercials was born.

The real Duke Bush wasn’t a fan of the spotlight, however, so a look-alike professional dog actor was brought in to play the role.

17 years later, Bush’s still uses a talking ‘Duke’ in their commercials. Check out the very first Bush’s Baked Beans commercial featuring the talking dog in this video below!

What you Need to Know

Onions are toxic to canines because of the substance they contain known as thiosulfate. Since dogs do not have the enzyme used to digest this substance, onions become a harmful food for them. Although rarely any observable side effects can be seen if your pooch consumes just a minimal amount of onions. For example, he sneaks a piece of pizza off the counter or steals a bite of your burger, most likely he will be just fine. Too frequent feeding of onions, however, can affect your pet’s health and vitality. Additionally, onions contain a compound called organosulfur that results in toxicosi, a condition brought about by poisoning which can be easily absorbed by the dog’s digestive tract.

Onion ingestion commonly leads to liver damage, asthmatic attacks, allergic reactions, weakness, diarrhea, discolored urine, anemia, vomiting, and even dermatitis.

Onions and Heinz Body Anemia

One of the most critical problems that arises from onion toxicity is canine Heinz Body Anemia, also referred to as Hemolytic anemia. It is a condition that is brought about by the destruction of the dog’s red blood cells that leads to a decrease in red blood cell count; thus, causing anemia.

Symptoms vary depending on the amount of onions the dog has consumed, his size, and the time period for which they have been ingested. It is notable that consuming a large amount of onion in a single sitting is less dangerous that consuming a very small amount over a length of time. Remember this if you’re someone that feeds your dog from the table. Many of the foods we eat contain at least a small amount of onion or onion powder. Read your labels carefully and avoid feeding these foods to your dog.

Common warning signs for Heinz Body Anemia include pale mucous membranes like the gums, brownish or reddish urine color, rapid heart and/or respiratory rate, weakness, and depression. Vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite may also be observed.

What to Do when Your Dog Ingests Onions

It is important that you immediately consult your vet if symptoms occur as a result of onion ingestion. Treatment normally involves inducement of vomiting, carrying out gastric lavage or flushing out the stomach, and making use of activated charcoal to treat not just poisoning but allergic reactions as well. Bathing and drying your dog may also be necessary in cases of skin infection.

Other treatment options include maintaining the dog’s hydration by providing fluid in his bloodstream, applying therapy for liver damage, and calling for blood transfusions if necessary.

Only 20% of dog owners have a Dog First Aid Kit on hand. Even fewer are trained to give CPR. As dog owners, many of us would do anything to protect our dogs, or save their lives in an emergency. Being prepared is the first step!

(Click to enlarge)[Via: Carrington College's Veterinary Tech Program ]

As it turns out, the dog was actually barking for help and staying with the lost kitten to protect her. Locals said the dog had been barking by the creek for 2 days, where she entered a “pseudo-pregnancy” and began producing milk for the tiny kitten to survive on.

Officer Michelle Smith took both the dog and her adopted kitten to Anderson County P.AW.S. where they hope to identify the dog’s owner. They’re hoping whomever owns the sweet little dog will adopt her new kitten baby, too, as the pair are inseparable!

Check out the video of this unlikely pair:

FOX Carolina 21

The AVMA provided the following information on their website.

Did you know that …

• 4.7 million people in this country are bitten by dogs every year
• children are by far the most common victims
• 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites each year
• children are far more likely to be severely injured; approximately 400,000 receive medical attention every year
• most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs
• senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims

There are a number of things that you can do to avoid dog bites, ranging from properly training and socializing your pet to educating your children on how, or if, they should approach a dog. Information is one of the best cures for this public health crisis.

What’s a dog owner to do?

• Carefully select your pet. Puppies should not be obtained on impulse.
• Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
• Don’t put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.
• Train your dog. The basic commands “sit,” “stay,” “no,” and “come” help dogs understand what is expected of them and can be incorporated into fun activities that build a bond of trust between pets and people.
• Walk and execrcise your dog regularly to keep it healthy and provide mental stimulation.
• Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling or tug-of-war.
• Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog.
• Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control and other health care are important because how your dog feels affects how it behaves.
• Neuter your pet.
• If you have a fenced yard, make sure the gates are secure.

How can you protect your family?

• Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most common victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:
• NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
• Be alert for potentially dangerous situations.
• Teach their children – including toddlers – to be careful around pets. Children must learn not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences. Teach children to ask permission from the dog’s owner before petting the dog.

Additionally, the AVMA created a Facebook page to share education, facts, and safety tips with its fans during the week. Make use of the tips above and join in the cause to prevent dangerous dog bites by being a responsible, educated dog owner.

Reasons Why Dogs Disobey

1. He just doesn’t understand you. Dogs normally respond more strongly to the tone of their master’s voice as compared to his actual words. Contradictions between your tone and your command may cause to get confused with what exactly you want him to do.

If you tell Fido to sit down as you giggle and playfully push him, he would most likely associate the “sit” command to a fun, active game. As much as possible, do not ask your pooch, but tell him to do something. You don’t need to yell or demand- just be clear enough that what you saying is an order. Keep your orders short and not too alike. In addition, try using hand signals in giving your verbal commands since dogs tend to better react to gestures.

2. Your pooch is ignoring you. There are times when dogs disobey not because they don’t get you, but because they just choose not to listen. It is important that at this point, you are able to recognize that your pooch actually understands the exchange but just does not intend to obey.

You can tell if Fido’s only being a little headstrong by looking into his body language. If your pooch shows fear by avoiding eye contact, assuming a submissive posture with his ears back and tail tucked, then it most likely means they he simply does not understand. However, if your dog barks at you, makes direct eye contact, and runs away as you move towards him, then it is possible that he simply chose to refuse to comply. This instance suggests that you need to work on establishing yourself as the leader.

Quick Tips

1.       Always try to sound happy and excited when you use the “come” command.
2.       If you can, try to squat or kneel down as you call him.
3.       Praise Fido each time he performs what you wanted him to do.
4.       Praise him when your dog comes to you even without you calling for him.
5.       Never call your pooch only to give punishment or to do anything unpleasant such as clipping his nails.

Yelling at your pooch and chasing after him are the worst things that you can do if he ignores you. Your aversive reaction can break his spirit, and that’s certainly the last thing that you’d ever want to do to him.