Pets and Second-Hand Smoke

American Veterinary Medical Association: Stop Smoking – For Your Health and Your Pets’ Health

We have been hearing for years about the dangers of second-hand tobacco smoke. The American Lung Association says in Secondhand Smoke and Asthma that children of smokers are more likely to have asthma, ear infections and bronchitis.

Many smokers tink dey keepin dey chillrun safe by stepping outside to smoke. Sorry, silly monkeys, you brings da smoke in on your clothes and spread it throughout da house.

What we hazznt heard until recently is the effect of second-hand smoke on PETS! According to the American Veterinary Medical Association: Stop Smoking – For Your Health and Your Pets’ Health, second-hand smoke has terrible effects on pets' health.

For instance, dogs wif long snouts gets cancer of da nasal cavities while dogs wif short snouts gets lung cancer.

Cats has da same problems as dogs, of course. Dut dey another factor. We cleans ourselves so we swallows toxins too. According to Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Risk of Malignant Lymphoma in Pet Cats, cats in smoking households two to three times as likely to get malignant lymphoma.

Da lady's mama had lymphoma. She begged da lady to makes dem stop torturing her. Cats can't ask for a DNR. For several weeks you has strangers sticks your sweet kitteh wif needles and infuse dem wif dangerous chemicals dat may only extend life for 4 months to a year. Da kitteh not even know why dis happening! *cries*

Please, if you smoke just STOP. Your pets will likely be healthier and live longer.

Cats and Poison Ivy

I knew we kittehs don't get poison ivy!

Only humans and primates are sensitive to urushiol.
[John Hopkins University; Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Student Health and Wellness Center. Available at http://www.jhu.edu/~shcenter/poisonivy.html as of Sept 28, 2006.] **PEER REVIEWED**

Safer Flea Control

Purrrr We had a mild winter here. When dem fleas and ticks wakes up dey is going to nom us kittehs most fiercely.

Before you consider using over-the-counter (OTC) flea control products, I'd like to show you some links.

• HSUS> Flea and Tick Product Ingredients: What You Should Know

  The center reported that pyrethroid spot-ons also account "for more than half of 'major' pesticide pet reactions reported to EPA over the last five years—that is, those incidents involving serious medical reactions such as brain damage, heart attacks, and violent seizures. In contrast, non-pyrethroid spot on treatments accounted for only about 6 percent of all major incidents."

• EPA> Safety tips for pet owners: This is a long list of precautions to take when using pesticides on your pets. MUST READ!
• EPA> How children come in contact with pesticides: "Children can come into contact with pesticides stored or applied in their homes, yards, daycares, schools, parks, or on pets." Does your child hug your pet? Do your pets groom one another? If so, they may be eating the pesticides!

Have you had a bad experience with flea and tick products? Please leave a link to your bloggy if you have one or to a video of symptoms. Blog or tweet this post. We must protect our furends!

A sampling of alternative Flea control products that DON'T contain poisons. CAVEAT: We are regular people. This is not veterinary advice. PLEASE consult your veterinarian before applying anything to your pet. Over-the-counter flea control products can be deadly.
Victor M230 Ultimate Flea Trap An electronic flea trap.  Fleas are attracted by light and heat, then get stuck on a glue pad. Be sure to buy extra glue pads. I keep this under the bed year round so I can tell if the fleas are coming back.	Dr. Pye's Scanmask 7 Million Live Beneficials Apply to the lawn and garden. These microscopic worms eat fleas and other pests. They don't harm helpful insects or earthworms.	MiracleCoat Flea Comb Use this fine-toothed comb to comb out fleas. Drop the fleas into a glass of water that you've squeezed a drop of dish soap into. Yes, it's labor-intensive, but it's safe and many pets enjoy enjoy the attention. It's a win-win!
D/EARTH - diatomaceous earth (12 oz) ASK YOUR VET! Must be food grade. Made from the hard silicon fossils of microscopic creatures called diatoms, food grade D/EARTH is non-toxic to dogs and cats. We sprinkle it in da rug behind and under furniture where "bug bombs" can't reach.	KAL - Yeast Flakes, 22 oz flakes ASK YOUR VET! Brewer's yeast is a natural flea repellent. Sprinkle it on your pet's food to make them unpalatable to fleas. It's also a great nutritional supplement with lots of B vitamins and chromium.	Vet's Best Natural Flea + Tick Home Spray ASK YOUR VET! This herbal formula repels fleas and ticks. Be careful to get the one that specifically says it's safe for cats. The bottle is similar.