are e-cigarettes dangerous to your pet?

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are becoming more and more popular. Though not proven to be healthier than regular cigarettes, that is the current public perception, not to mention the fact that they seem to be more socially acceptable, with the vapors from an e-cig typically thought to be less offensive than secondhand smoke. What is an e-cig, exactly? The Pet Poison Helpline explains:

Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices designed to look like regular tobacco cigarettes that are used as a delivery system for nicotine. They work when an atomizer heats liquid containing nicotine and turns it into a vapor that can be inhaled. It creates a vapor cloud that looks like cigarette smoke. E-cigarettes are many times used as a part of smoking cessation plans.

We are still unsure about the toxicity of the exhaled vapors and how, exactly, they affect pets, but the main danger comes from exposure and ingestion. Nicotine is highly toxic to pets, even in small doses. 

E-cigarettes employ cartridges that each contain between 6 and 24 mg of nicotine mixed with propylene glycol, glycerin, and flavoring agents. The nicotine concentration is equivalent to approximately one to two cigarettes. Some e-cigarettes that are rechargeable (instead of battery operated) can be refilled with larger bottles, but the traditional e-cigarette cartridges can be purchased in quantities of five to 100 cartridges. 

Ingestion of a single cartridge can cause adverse symptoms in a fifty-pound dog and probable death for a ten-pound dog. Though dogs are more likely to get into trouble with e-cigarette cartridges, cats are also at risk, not to mention children. The cartridges come in all sorts of flavors, many of which are enticing to pets. E-cigarettes and their cartridges should be kept out of the reach of pets and children as any poison should, but there are inadequate warnings on most e-cig packaging. 

What are the signs and symptoms my pet might display if he has ingested nicotine from an e-cig?

• oral injury or gastrointestinal upset or foreign body obstruction from chewing the e-cig

• vomiting and diarrhea

• foaming at the mouth

• agitation

• increase in heart rate and respiration rate 

• tremors or seizures

• weakness

• coma

• cardiac arrest and death

If your pet has ingested even a small amount of nicotine, there will be a rapid onset of symptoms (usually within fifteen minutes to an hour depending on how much has been ingested and the weight of the animal). For this reason, it is vital that you get your pet to the veterinarian immediately for treatment. 

If I use e-cigs, what precautions can I take to make sure my pet isn't at risk for poisoning?

Keep all e-cigs, cartridges, and accessories out of reach of your pet at all times. Exhale your vapor in well ventilated areas, preferably outdoors or away from your pet. In addition, do not refill your e-cig or change the cartridge around your pet in case you inadvertently spill the refill fluid or drop a cartridge. 

The bottom line? Though e-cigs are thought to be healthier than smoking traditional cigarettes, they may pose an even higher risk to our pets. Use caution, and be prepared to take quick action if your pet is exposed.

Pet Poison Helpline (24/7 Animal Poison Control Center): 800.213.6680

Pet Poison Helpline Emergency Instructions

Download the Pet Poison Helpline iPhone app

E-cig photo source: smokelesscigarettes2.com

life stages dogs and cats #infographic and pet parenting info. from petbrosia

We love Petbrosia pet food because of the high-quality, nutritious, natural ingredients that are free from artificial preservatives and synthetic dyes and flavors. We also love the fact that the food is customized to the needs of our pets. Petbrosia asks about your pet's age, weight, breed, and lifestyle in order to taylor the food to your pet's nutritional needs for optimum health. And your custom food is delivered right to your door!

Check out how Petbrosia stacks up:

Petbrosia is all about customizing the food to meet the needs of the individual animal at various life stages. They have created an infographic that clearly illustrates the importance of tailoring your pet's diet to these life stages:

Petbrosia keeps improving–I love that! They have recently developed and now offer a grain-free salmon recipe. They also recently began offering high-quality treats that fit with their mission to bring only healthy products to consumers, so their little family operation is becoming more of a one-stop shop. 

In keeping with their caring spirit, Petbrosia is also becoming a fantastic resource for pet parents. Check out these recent articles:

7 Questions to Ask Breeders Before Buying a Puppy

Making Car Rides Safer for Pets

5 Ideas For Making Your Cat's Bathtime Easier

If you haven't tried Petbrosia, yet, I encourage you to give it a shot to see what your pet thinks. N.A.S.H.A. loves it. She even gets excited when that box arrives. My little humans even groan a little, saying "Oh, man! Why is it always something for N.A.S.H.A.?" Sorry, kids, the magic toy fairy didn't make a special-for-no-reason delivery today. 

Has your pet tried Petbrosia? We'd love to hear what you think. If not, Well Minded readers can save 25% off their first box!

Click here to get started and enter coupon code RWMP225 upon checkout to receive 25% off!

Connect with Petbrosia on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.

Well Minded is an affiliate of Petbrosia, which means that each time you use our coupon code, Petbrosia compensates us for referring you. All proceeds go to bringing you free content on this blog, and we appreciate our reader support. Well Minded only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Petbrosia images courtesy of Petbrosia.

introducing your baby to your pet: just act natural

My baby had been in the house for five minutes. This is the nursery. Act as you mean to go on. 

It is important to prepare your dog or cat for your baby's arrival. But contrary to conventional "methods," I feel that the introduction shouldn't be a big production. Just act natural. It's true that some pets can feel cast aside or put off by the new addition, but there is a lot you can do behind the scenes to make sure the initial meeting and lifelong bonding between your baby and your pet go as smoothly as possible. 

Before the Baby Comes

• If your pet has not spent a lot of time with infants, invite as many babies to your home as you can. This will help your pet get used to the smell, sounds, and attention-hogging nature of tiny humans. Be sure to supervise all interactions at all times.

Everyone can help paint the nursery!

• Make sure training is in order. This may require professional help. If your dog is prone to jumping on you or jumping right on your lap as your bottom is only halfway down to the couch cushion, you may need to train your pet to "sit" and "wait" to be invited into your lap. This is more crucial with larger or boisterous animals, but may also apply to cats or small dogs. Your lap will soon have a baby in it. That lap can be shared, but it needs to be on your terms, and it needs to be safe for the baby.

You can teach your pet to "settle." Give him a special place nearby (don't shun him from the family)–like a cushy bed–to go to when needed. Provide small treats to create a positive association with that spot so when you tell your pet to "settle," he is happy to do so. Polite manners around baby are important. 

• Get your pet used to newborn noises and paraphernalia. Many pets will ignore a mechanical swing, but some might be startled. Even a glider or rocker that moves may be all new to your pet. Let him get used to these things before baby arrives. You can even use a baby doll to get your pet used to having a little body around. 

Good thing we practiced this before.

• If you plan to walk your dog with a stroller, practice before baby arrives. It may seem like a simple thing, but walking a dog and pushing a stroller at the same time can be a challenge for you and your dog. Toward the end of my first pregnancy, I started walking our dog while pushing an empty stroller. Sure, I got a lot of odd looks, but it gave us a chance to practice without the worries of a real live being in the stroller. We worked all the bugs out, so we were ready to roll as soon as we brought my son home from the hospital. 

• Most people don't want their cat lying in bed with their baby, so be sure that the baby's crib does not become a pet bed. Train your cat to stay away from the crib before the baby arrives. If this is a challenge and your cat insists on making it her own, the ASPCA recommends placing pennies in cans and lining them up along the crib rail. An attempt or two should be all your cat needs to know that the crib is off limits. 

Do you want to play?

• Talk to your pet about the baby, and use your baby's name, if you've chosen one. It is thought that cats can understand between 25-35 words, and the average dog, approximately 165. That's about as many words as a human two-year-old! Your pet may not understand every nuance about the baby, but you'll have a nice head start if the concept isn't completely foreign. 

• Pets are very sensitive to smell, so use that to your advantage. If you have lotion or some such thing that you plan to use on your baby's skin, rub a little bit on your own skin in the weeks leading up to your baby's birth. Your baby will seem more familiar to your pet. 

• Start as you mean to go on. Don't drastically change your pet's routine as soon as the baby gets home. It is best to change your pet's routine as little as possible. If small adjustments have to be made, do them gradually over the duration of the pregnancy.

Once the Baby Arrives

• Make sure you have someone on call to care for your pet when it's time to go to the hospital. It's best to have a family member or professional pet sitter stay in your home to maintain your pet's routine.

Just hanging out.

• It is often recommended to have a staged initial meeting in a special room under special circumstances, but if you've done your work ahead of time to properly prepare your pet, something so formal shouldn't be necessary. I'm in favor of keeping the initial meeting as natural and casual as possible. Introduce your baby to your pet in a way that feels natural and safe to your family so everyone will be relaxed.

• Since your pet is sensitive to smell, bring home one of your baby's hospital blankets for your pet to smell before you bring your baby home. Having the garment around before the baby joins the family fold will help get your pet used to the actual smell of the new arrival. 

Snuggles.

• Energy is important. Remain calm during the initial meeting, and try your best to be relaxed during all interactions between your baby and your pet. If you feel anxious, your pet will pick up on your nervous energy and feel anxious, too. Stay even-keeled, and it's likely your pet will, too. 

As Baby Grows

• Once your baby becomes mobile, it's a whole different ball game. Teach your baby–even before he's mobile–to respect your pet and your pet's things. If everyone is to live in harmony, your baby will have to be trained as much as your pet. Your initial inclination may be to separate your pet and toddler, but teaching is a better tactic in the long run. (Though providing your pet a safe, quiet spot away from the madness of the day is a must.) For best results, teach your baby from day one.

Family time!

As a professional pet sitter, I started bringing my babies on pet sitting visits soon after we came home from the hospital. I talked to them about the animals in our care right away, even when they were just little mushy lumps. They learned to respect the animals. They learned early on the proper way to greet an animal, they know how to protect themselves from "jumpers," and they know the signs of an animal who simply wants to be left alone. They are not "tail pullers." I credit their behavior to early exposure and constant teaching. 

• Keep it positive. Interact with your pet while the baby is around so your pet has positive associations with the baby. If you withhold attention when the baby is present, your pet will feel cast aside. Include your pet in interactions with the baby, instead.

Getting to know you...

• A little bribery never hurts. You can create a positive association with the baby or with any object your pet might need adjusting to by providing treats. For example, if you pet is bothered when the baby cries, have some small treats on hand to provide when the baby cries out. Your pet will soon realize that crying is just a part of what babies do and he doesn't need to hide each time it happens. 

• Don't be afraid to let them interact, but never leave them unsupervised.

When my son, Porter, was about eight months old, I left him unsupervised with our dog, N.A.S.H.A. (I did not practice what I preach). He and N.A.S.H.A. already had a tight bond, as she'd rarely leave his side. I took for granted that nothing could go wrong. On one occasion, I left the room for a couple of minutes. I heard N.A.S.H.A. let out the slightest whimper–a noise I'd never heard form her before. I rushed in and saw Porter with two dog fur pom-poms, one in each hand. He was smiling, and she was not, yet her loyalty to him overrode any instinct she had to bite or run away. She stuck by his side and didn't harm him. We were lucky. She's a dream to have not slaughtered him. I learned a lesson. I felt terrible for N.A.S.H.A., and so thankful as I pondered the possibilities of how things may have gone down, had she not been so tolerant. 

A Word of Caution

Pets are part of the family, and I'm all for making sure your baby and your pet are the best of friends, but caution should always be used, both for the safety of your child and your pet.

Best friends forever.

NEVER leave your baby or toddler with your pet unsupervised. Until your child is older and consistently treats your pet with respect and care without guidance, children and pets should never be left alone. There is no magical age...it all depends on your child and your pet. 

If your pet shows any signs of aggression toward your baby, it is important to get professional help immediately. For a list of certified trainers, go to the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers web site. 

Overall, I feel that the more time your baby and pet spend together, the better. Bonding is important. Your baby's first interactions with animals will help shape her attitude about animals for a lifetime. Focus on the positive. If you keep things positive for all parties, you're sure to foster a winning partnership to last your baby's childhood, and a respect for animals to last a lifetime.

Further reading:

How to Approach and Pet a Dog: 10 Steps Kids Need to Know

Kids and Animals: Instilling Respect

Dogs Should Never be Trusted: Leighton's Story

This article by me originally appeared on Hybrid Rasta Mama, for whom I create original content. It has been published here with minor changes with permission.

using apple cider vinegar for natural flea prevention and control

Fleas can be a big problem for dogs and cats, especially during summer months, but there is a bigger problem: the commercial chemical-laden treatments that–in my opinion–do more harm than good. Flea collars, sprays, powders, shampoos and the like may be mildly effective, but the dangers outweigh the benefits.

As your skin does, your pet's skin absorbs everything you put on it, so topical treatments make their way into the bloodstream. If the products are filled with chemicals (most of them are), those chemicals also enter the bloodstream. Over time, they pose serious health risks. These products can also cause respiratory issues.

I've talked before about how adding Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to your pet's diet can help the overall health of your pet in so many different ways. Flea control is one of these ways. Regularly giving your pet ACV can help with long-term flea control. ACV can also be used topically in the form of a rinse or spray if your pet is already flea-infested.

Before treating your pet with ACV, do your best to remove as many of the buggers as you can. You can pick them out or use a flea comb, which will also help remove some of the eggs. 

As a rinse, shampoo your dog as you normally would, and rinse thoroughly. Then rinse your pet's coat thoroughly with ACV and massage. Fleas do not like the odor or taste of the vinegar, so they should bail out or rinse off when you next rinse off the ACV. As an added bonus, the ACV will likely improve your dog's skin and coat. It can help with dry skin and increase the shine in your pet's coat. It can also help with odor.

As a spray, you can use an ACV mixture for flea prevention and control. You can make a simple mixture with one part ACV to two parts water. Another commonly used recipe is as follows:

• 8 oz of Apple Cider Vinegar

• 4 oz of warm water

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Mix the salt and baking soda together, then add the mixture to the water and ACV mix in a spray bottle. Shake gently, as the mixture will foam. Apply to your pet and comb or massage through fur. Be careful not to spray in your pet's eyes (or your own) because it will sting, and do not use on open cuts our wounds. Again, ouchie. 

There are many brands of ACV, but we use Bragg. It can be found in health food stores and nearly any grocery store, typically where the salad dressings or health foods are kept. You'll want to make sure that whichever type of ACV you choose, it has "the mother," strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.

The greatest part of this natural flea remedy is how safe it is for your pet and for your family. Don't forget, while we're cuddling our creatures, whatever they have on their fur gets transferred to us. Natural flea treatments keep the whole family safe and happy.

If you have tried ACV for flea control, please share your story!

This article, written by me, was originally posted on Hybrid Rasta Mama, for whom I create original content. It appears here with permission, with minor changes.

the pet vaccine controversy: what's the scoop?

To vaccinate or not? And, if so, what is the best schedule?

We're damned if we do, and we're damned if we don't these days. I often feel trapped with no good option, and the more I read and research, the more I realize I have to learn. It's a frustrating place to be. The subject of pet vaccines has been a controversy for the past few years and has recently become quite a hot topic, thought to stem from questions regarding the human vaccine schedule. There seems to be compelling arguments on both sides of the human and pet vaccine controversy, which can often leave us paralyzed, afraid to move in either direction. I don't advocate a particular vaccine schedule for your pet, but I encourage you to keep yourself informed and working with your veterinarian to tailor the vaccination schedule of your individual pet. Let's look at this controversy and our options a bit closer.

Why do we vaccinate our pets?

As with humans, we vaccinate our pets to protect them from life-threatening and serious debilitating diseases. 

How are canine and feline vaccine schedules determined?

Vaccines fall into two categories: core vaccines and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are thought to be vitally important to the health of a pet and are considered "required," while non-core vaccines are suggested as more of an option. 

Vaccine schedules can vary and are typically created by the vaccine manufacturers. Most vaccines are required during the first few weeks of life for puppies and kittens and often annual boosters are required/recommended. 

What is the controversy surrounding pet vaccines?

The controversy is more about vaccine frequency and dosage than it is about whether vaccines should be administered. Most veterinarians and pet parents agree that the benefit of initial puppy and kitten vaccinations far outweighs the risks. Some vaccines are required by law in some states, and most kennels or boarding facilities will require proof of vaccination. 

The main question is: Are we over-vaccinating our pets?

It has long been accepted that vaccines should be administered annually for the duration of a dog or cat's life. An annual checkup is usually accompanied by "annual vaccines." More recent studies suggest that this vaccination schedule is overkill, and that the pet is actually immune from some diseases for three years or more. 

The suspicious part? The vaccine manufacturers determine the vaccine schedules. They benefit financially from more frequent vaccines. Vets also benefit, as it's more likely you'll bring your pet in for a check-up if he's due for his vaccine. An annual check-up is important, but it may be that the vaccine aspect is not vital.

Dosage is also in question. Vaccine dosage is often universal, meaning that the same dose given to a 100-pound Great Dane is also given to an eight-pound Pomeranian. It is thought that this dosage issue may be contributing to the increased cancer rate in animals under twenty pounds. Some vets have begun to reduce the dosage for smaller animals, but this opens them up to a whole host of legal ramifications. It seems vaccine dosage needs to be looked at more closely.

Can harm come from over-vaccination?

Most recent studies say yes. The vaccinations and the preservatives in them may be cancer-causing when taken in larger-than-necessary doses. At that point, the risk becomes higher than the benefit. Cats are especially susceptible, it seems, as they have developed tumors at the vaccination site. Veterinarians were seeing large tumors between the shoulder blades of cats right at the injection location so often that they began vaccinating closer to the arm of the cat so amputation would be an option should a cancerous tumor develop. 

Over-vaccination is thought to lead to cancer, allergies, and other ailments in some pets. But we're still not sure, and there is division among veterinarians. Most of the studies done are sponsored by the vaccine manufacturers, so they are considered biased. More independent testing is needed.

How do I know if my pet needs a particular vaccine or not?

Vaccines protect our pets longer than previously thought. Blood tests can be done to determine your pet's immunity status regarding a particular disease such as rabies or distemper. If the blood test shows that your pet is still immune, then a vaccination is not necessary. Annual blood tests are a good option to help you make the decision as to whether or not to vaccinate. 

Your geographic area and lifestyle are also something to consider. If your pet is not boarded and is not around other dogs, you may determine that a vaccine for kennel cough isn't necessary. The same goes for lyme disease, which is most commonly transmitted through ticks. The lyme disease vaccine may be very important to a country dog who roams fields, but perhaps not for a city dweller who takes walks on the sidewalks each day. Talk with your vet about the risk for particular diseases in your region and for your particular pet.

In summary...

The most important thing to do is to educate yourself and find a vet that will work with you to determine the best vaccination schedule for your pet. Consider all factors, and weigh benefit vs. risk. 

Resources and further reading:

Vaccination: The Pet Controversy 

Pet Vaccinations: Understanding Vaccinations for Your Cat or Dog

Controversy Over Vaccines

The Vaccine Controversy

Tails a Waggin' Online: The Vaccine Controversy

This article by me appeared in it's original form in June 2014 on Hybrid Rasta Mama, a blog to which I contribute original content regularly, and has been reprinted with minor changes with permission.

Hop on over to Hybrid Rasta Mama to read my most recent contribution, Natural Flea Prevention and Control with Apple Cider Vinegar.

pet photo source: peggyadams.org