Check your Pet's Pulse
If there was an emergency, would you know how to check for your pet's pulse? The easiest place to locate their pulse is on the femoral artery located in the groin. You can find it by putting your fingers on the inside of their hind leg, then slide your hand upward until the backs of your fingers rest against the abdomen. Move your fingers back and forth on the inside of the leg until you feel a pulse. To calculate beats per minute (bpm), simply count the number for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Your pet's pulse should be strong, regular and easy to find. Normal resting rates are: - Large dogs: 60-90 beats per minute
- Medium dogs: 70-110 beats per minute
- Small dogs: 90-120 beats per minute
- Cats: 150-200 beats per minute (for those who have cats too)
March Madness
We have spring fever! And to celebrate, we're taking 10% off our prices for the month of March. You'll need to order from our website to take advantage of this special pricing - www.karensk9kitchen,com.
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Toxic Foods - Part 2
Hi <<First Name>>, Last month we began a series on common foods that are toxic to your pet and highlighted Chocolate. In this month's issue we'll take a look a couple of foods that may surprise you.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic contain the toxin S-methylcysteine sulfoxide. In pets, these foods can cause Heinz body anemia. This is a condition where the red blood cells are destroyed. The affected cells develop an abnormality called a “Heinz body” which can be seen under a microscope. A Heinz body is a small bubble-like projection which protrudes from a red blood cell. The bubble is a weak spot and causes the cell to have a decreased life span and rupture prematurely. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, weakness, liver damage, asthma attacks, discolored urine and contact dermatitis. Please note that is does take fairly large amounts to produce harmful effects. Cats seem to be more sensitive than dogs. The small amounts found in commercial pet foods have not been shown to cause problems.
Avocados
Avocados contain persin which is a fungicidal toxin. The amount considered to be toxic is unknown at this time. Symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement and abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. In addition, some dogs will eat the pit or parts of it and this can cause intestinal blockage. Avocado pits have had to be surgically removed from dogs. |
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