Top 10 Weirdest items removed from pet's stomachs

'The dog's eaten the underwear again...'

Underwear, a kitchen knife and a wig have made a list of the top 10 weirdest items removed from the stomachs of the nation's pets by an animal charity's vets.

The list, released by PDSA, also includes a 10-inch tent peg, a bell, a fishing hook and a rubber duck.
Dog rubber duck x-ray The dog that swallowed a rubber duck

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, Sean Wensley, said: 'There is a medical term for pets eating strange objects - pica.

'Dogs, especially puppies and younger dogs, use their mouth to investigate objects as well as to eat. Sometimes a dog will swallow an object by mistake, even though it had only meant to investigate it.

'Owners should give their pets the chance to investigate new objects by providing them with plenty of pet-safe toys to play with - that way the whole family can enjoy the festive season safely.'

The top twenty list in full is:

1. Ten-inch tent peg
2. Christmas decoration (star shaped)
3. Kitchen knife
4. Alphabet fridge magnets
5. Man's wig
6. Ann Summers underwear
7. Bell
8. Fishing hook
9. Socks
10. Rubber duck
11. Baby's dummy
12. Golf balls
13. Coins
14. Balloons
15. Metal ball from a computer mouse
16. Shoe laces
17. Power ball
18. Corn on the cob
19. Needle and thread
20. Box of chocolates

PDSA provides free veterinary care for the sick and injured pets of those unable to afford veterinary fees and promotes responsible pet ownership.

This year PDSA PetAid hospitals and branches provided more than 1.8 million free treatments and more than 200,000 preventive treatments, such as vaccinations, neutering and microchipping

Contest Winners

The winners of our Christmas Contest are

Duffy and Cindy.

You will receive an email with instruction on how to redeem your gift certificate.

A Puppy’s 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my puppy gave to me The Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the second day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the third day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Three punctured ornament Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Six yards of soggy ribbon Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Seven scraps of wrapping paper Six yards of soggy ribbon Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Eight tiny reindeer fragments Seven scraps of wrapping paper Six yards of soggy ribbon Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me My wreath in nine pieces Eight tiny reindeer fragments Seven scraps of wrapping paper Six yards of soggy ribbon Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Ten Christmas cards I shoulda mailed My wreath in nine pieces Eight tiny reindeer fragments Seven scraps of wrapping paper Six yards of soggy ribbon Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Eleven unwrapped presents Ten Christmas cards I shoulda mailed My wreath in nine pieces Eight tiny reindeer fragments Seven scraps of wrapping paper Six yards of soggy ribbon Five chewed-up stockings Four broken window candles Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my puppy gave to me A dozen puppy kisses And I forgot about the other eleven days.

by Elise Lewis

More Holiday Tips

HOLIDAY PET TIPS


Veterinarians recommend pet owners take precautions to reduce the risk of their animals being poisoned, sickened or injured during the holidays.

* Avoid liquid potpourri, tinsel, garlands, glass ornaments or decorations made from food, and do not use snow sprays or flocks.

* Put holiday wrappings and decorations including ribbons, bows, snow globes and Styrofoam packaging materials out of reach.

* Make plants including holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies inaccessible, and pick up fallen pine needles, both real and artificial.

* Do not feed pets chocolate or other human food, especially poultry bones or skin, alcohol, gravies or potato latkes. - Tape down or cover electrical cords, and unplug holiday lights when you are not home.

* Cover the tree stand so pets cannot drink the water.

* Put candles out of reach, and use fireplace screens to prevent burns.

* Make sure pets have a safe quiet place to retreat to in order to reduce stress from guests and activities. Also maintain the pet's regular exercise and feeding schedule.

* If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, call your veterinarian or the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency hot line at (888) 4-ANI-HELP.

Sources: Coastal Cat Clinic, Gibson Animal Clinic, Satilla Animal Hospital and Glynn County Animal Services

HOLIDAY PET TIPS

HOLIDAY PET TIPS

Veterinarians recommend pet owners take precautions to reduce the risk of their animals being poisoned, sickened or injured during the holidays.

* Avoid liquid potpourri, tinsel, garlands, glass ornaments or decorations made from food, and do not use snow sprays or flocks.

* Put holiday wrappings and decorations including ribbons, bows, snow globes and Styrofoam packaging materials out of reach.

* Make plants including holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies inaccessible, and pick up fallen pine needles, both real and artificial.

* Do not feed pets chocolate or other human food, especially poultry bones or skin, alcohol, gravies or potato latkes. - Tape down or cover electrical cords, and unplug holiday lights when you are not home.

* Cover the tree stand so pets cannot drink the water.

* Put candles out of reach, and use fireplace screens to prevent burns.

* Make sure pets have a safe quiet place to retreat to in order to reduce stress from guests and activities. Also maintain the pet's regular exercise and feeding schedule.

* If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, call your veterinarian or the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency hot line at (888) 4-ANI-HELP.

Sources: Coastal Cat Clinic, Gibson Animal Clinic, Satilla Animal Hospital and Glynn County Animal Services

Keep Travel Companions Calm

p>Traveling can be hard on the family dog or cat. This holiday season, you can help ease your furry friend’s distress with these natural herbal remedies from The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care and Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats, both by C.J. Puotinen.

He cites chamomile, valerian and scullcap for relief of animal anxieties related to travel or new situations. Combining equal parts valerian, scullcap and chamomile tinctures. Use an eyedropper to place three drops of this blend per 10 pounds of body weight into each ear. Tilt the animal’s head to the opposite side, hold the ear closed and gently massage the ear to distribute the tincture.

Ginger can be used to prevent nausea and motion sickness. Find a tincture especially formulated for pets, or make one by filling a pint jar with coarsely chopped fresh ginger root. Fill the jar to the top with vegetable glycerin, available in natural products stores, then let it sit in a warm room for six weeks or longer. Puotinen notes that glycerin has a sweet taste that is palatable to many dogs and cats. Administer orally.

Flower essences are soothing and take the edge off of travel jitters. Puotinen recommends dill for hypersensitivity to the environment; walnut to ease transitions; and Rescue Remedy to alleviate fear. Administer them orally or massage into the animal’s ear.

Traveling with a calm animal makes long-distance trips easier. Herbs offer a gentle, effective alternative to traditional drugs when traveling with our favorite four-footed friends. Then we will feel more relaxed, too..

from:http://www.naturalawakeningsmag.com/natural-library/december-2008/herbs-to-go

Happy Holidays Contest

We are going to run a contest on our blog this week and on Christmas we are going to give away a $25.00 gift certificate to S&W Design Studios. They are a photo enhancement company. You will be able use the gift certificate on their site to purchase any enhancement that they have.
This is our Christmas present to our loyal readers. I hope that you enjoy this gift. All you have to do it fill out the form below to be entered and we will announce a winner on Christmas.


Name
Email Address
How did you hear about us?	Search Engine Facebook Email Friend Other
Other
Would be intrested in signing up for our newsletter	Yes No
Image Verification Please enter the text from the image [ Refresh Image ] [ What's This? ]
web form

Lessons Learned

Ok. I had something different planned for today's post but when I saw this video I just knew that I had to share it with all of you. It's about a dog that worked at being a service dog but didn't make it but has found other ways to helps. It's called From Service Dog to Surfice Dog. I hope that you enjoy it.

Choosing the right toys for your dogs.

With Christmas coming and more people buying gifts for their pets each year. I thought I would create a list of items that would help you as a pet parent made good choices when picking out toys for your pets.

1. Choose Toys that are made in the US or Europe over those made from other countries. US and Europe have higher standards for safety then any other country.

2. Read labels, check manufacturer's websites or call to ask if their products are test for toxicity and what levels there.

3. Inspect the toys for loose parts and pieces that might easily come off and be come a choking hazard.

4. Don't give children's toys to dogs. They may chew off parts of the toys and choke on them.

5. Remember- that no toy is indestructible. If you have a heavy chewer then buy products made of durable material such as rubber.

6. Buy toys that will fit your dog. Don't buy toys that are too small for your dog since they can choke on the small toys. If you are buying toys for several dogs then buy toys for the largest dog.

7. Don't ever leave your dog unattended with a new toy.

Upcoming Events:

January:

6 week puppy class given by Sonali Morrison of Animal Friends Energy Steward

for more information and to sign up click here:

Save $30.00 by signing up by 12/15/09

Animal Communication given by Cherrie Spring

For more information and to sign up click here

Save $15.00 by signing up by 1/01/2010

Feburary:

Lost Animals by Joni Warner

For more information and to sign up click here

Save $15.00 by signing up by 01/01/2010

You can purchase downloads of previous seminars by click here.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events:

January:

6 week puppy class given by Sonali Morrison of Animal Friends Energy Steward

for more information and to sign up click here:

Save $30.00 by signing up by 12/15/09

Animal Communication given by Cherrie Spring

For more information and to sign up click here

Save $15.00 by signing up by 1/01/2010

Feburary:

Lost Animals by Joni Warner

For more information and to sign up click here

Save $15.00 by signing up by 01/01/2010

You can purchase downloads of previous seminars by click here.