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This list is ever expanding, but for now I'll start with the ones I know with reasons why, and add more as I come across them.
This list is mainly for dogs, but unless noted, assume its true for cats as well.
1. Alcohol - All forms including Beer and MixersAlcohol can lead to injury, disorientation, sickness, urination problems or even coma or death from alcohol poisoning. Some dogs may be attracted to alcoholic drinks so don't leave one sitting where a dog can reach it. Hops contain an unknown compound that can cause panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.2. Bones - Non-treated (chicken, small, raw bones)Cooked bones can be very hazardous for your dog. Bones become brittle when cooked which causes them to splinter when broken. The splinters have sharp edges that have been known to become stuck in the teeth, caused choking when caught in the throat or caused a rupture or puncture of the stomach lining or intestinal tract. Especially bad bones are turkey and chicken legs, ham, pork chop and veal.3. Cat Food - Dry and WetCat food is not formulated for canine consumption. It is generally too high in protein and fats and is not a balanced diet for a dog.4. ChocolateCocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog...

As obesity rises in America, obesity in our pets rises as well.  I have worked in dog daycares for the past several years, and time and time again I see dogs who are so overweight that I fear for their lives.  Although we couldn't make a huge dent in the dog's diet while they stayed with us, we often would feed the dog an appropriate amount for their breed and ideal size instead of the owners suggestions.  We felt we were doing the dog a favor at least while they were in our care, but I know the owners take the dogs home and feed them their "regular diet".  There are a few cases that stick out in my mind as severely overweight dogs.  To protect the identity of the owners, I will only mention details related to weight and weight management and omit names and situations. Obese dogs can have a multitude of medical conditions including, but not limited to: Diabetes, damage to joints, heart disease, difficulty breathing, decreased stamina, heat intolerance, decreased liver function, reproductive problems, digestive disorders, decreased immune function, skin, hair, coat problems, increased surgical risk, anesthetic risk, increased risk of cancer, and decreased quality of life.  Click the link above for more details on how each of these categories related to health risks in obese dogs. I fear the epidemic is caused by a mix of owner over-indulgence, lack of self control, lack of knowledge, and all around spoiling.  I also believe that not enough veterinarians mention the weight issue to their clients as well.  Animal Control is called when a dog (or other pet) is underweight, but never if the dog is overweight.  Both under and over weight are abuse, and both are deadly.Owner over-indulgence: Over and over again, I see owners who leave food down all the time, or give huge treats as rewards.  I hear "my dog is really good at eating only what he needs." On the rare occasion that is true, however, most the time the dog is severely overweight. Dog's are known for being opportunistic, so if food is out, they will eat it,...

Pet first aid, CPR training programs surge in popularity
Published on 08/01/2009
By Daniel Simmons
"How would I do this for my dog?" The question came during a human CPR course Thom Somes was teaching in San Diego in 1994. He remembers the epiphany it sparked: "Shouldn't I be teaching CPR classes for my students' four-legged kids, too?"
  To find Red Cross training near you, go to redcross.org or call 866-438-4636. Visit pettech.net to find a local Pet Tech instructor.
Somes and his wife, Cindy, started Pet Tech, a suburban San Diego company believed to be the first in the country to train people in pet first aid and emergency preparedness. Since 1996, the company has trained at least 20,000 people nationally and has instructors in every state.
Trainees include Roberta Chapman, co-owner of highly rated Comfy Creatures Dog Walking & Pet...

Last month we talked about the decision to add another member to your family, and some of the things to consider before doing so. So you've decided you can indeed offer a stable home, but what are some of the draw backs to life with dogs that all owners-to-be need to know about?
 
Living in Paradise. Or Not.
What less pleasant aspects of dog ownership are you willing to embrace? Giant fur tumbleweeds? Barking? What about a dog that drools puddles or has a heavy odor? Do you mind cleaning up large “deposits” made by your dog to your yard or your neighbor’s while walking? Are you willing and able to have your dog groomed on a regular basis? While dogs can be trained to bark less and you can brush your dog to mitigate tumbleweeds, don’t get one known for blowing coat biannually or for its loquacious ways if those traits will drive you crazy. Research your breed, and be aware of its quirks and needs.
 
Your Best Friend: A Work in Progress
 Do you have the time to adequately socialize, train and exercise a dog? All puppies, to be well socialized, should meet many, many new people each week of all different ages, shapes and sizes prior to the age of 12 weeks He will also need to meet as many new dogs, both adults and his own age, as possible while he is very young in order to learn proper canine etiquette. There is house training, crate training and basic manners to consider.
 And then there’s exercise. While all dogs need a minimum 30 minutes of pulse raising exercise daily, some require much more than this. It is also much easier to get your dog the stimulation he needs if you challenge his mind on a daily basis and provide him with an enriched environment as well. Physical...

What is the best dog to have as a pet? How do you find him or her? It’s a tough question, isn’t it?
 It’s probably the first one people ask themselves once the decision has been made to add a dog to the family. It seems so simple, but it isn’t. Many people base their decisions on looks, fond childhood memories, stories, pictures in books or on impulse; that adorable face in the window is tough to resist. However rewarding life amongst dogs is, it is not the idyllic existence one might expect based on television and movies. It takes a lot of time and patience.
 
Am I Ready?
The first question you should actually ask yourself is, “Do I really want a dog?” Many people enter into this 15 year or more commitment with ideas heavily influenced by the “magic” of professionally trained canine actors. However dogs do not come to us knowing all sorts of cute and useful commands.  They don’t shed dirt and water spontaneously before entering the house (though they may shed fur spontaneously in seemingly endless and copious amounts). Dogs do not automatically love all people and children. They don’t know English and they don’t understand that they owe you love and gratitude because you were kind enough to take them in. And they are expensive. It’s a lot like adding a child to your family, but one with needs very different from our own.
The second question you should ask yourself is, “Do I have adequate time, money and the dedication to be a responsible dog owner?” Is your living situation stable? If not, are you able to ensure that your dog can move with you, no matter where you go? If you work long hours, can you make certain your dog receives the care that he needs? Are you willing to make occasional financial or social sacrifice and recognize that your dog is literally depending on you with his life?
Dogs are work, as is nearly any...

Do you want to make your dog look and feel better? In this two-hour class, you will learn to groom your dog safely and efficiently. We will...

February 24 is officially Spay Day USA 2009, an annual campaign of The Humane Society of the United States  to inspire people to save animals lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats.Originally I thought that I might republish one of the very first articles I had ever written as a way to inspire people. In rereading it I realized that not only was it dated and too regionalized, having been published in The Laramie Sunday Boomerang, December 19, 1982, but that after all these years I finally wanted to follow the advice of a teacher, and write it differently. I guess with my increase in age and experience his wisdom finally had a chance to sink in!At the time I was living in Laramie, Wyoming, and decided to take a class on how to get published. The teacher was Donald Murray, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist. I was not really certain why I was taking the class other than the opportunity to be guided by someone who could write well enough to win such a prestigious award. In retrospect I think it was my writing blood yearning for an outlet.My assignment for the class was to choose two topics on which to write, write them up as a query to a publisher, and submit the final for publication. Having no idea what to write about, I decided to write about what I did know, animals. Topic Number One was a story about my pet rats (which ultimately resulted in a cooking column for the University of WA student paper, a story for another time). For Topic Number Two, I approached the local animal shelter and asked if I could research an article about the shelter and the animals they tried to save. They agreed, and I spent a week tracking the animal residents, looking for the angle that would result in a good story. And I got it, but like so many stories there is always more under the surface to be unearthed.But before the final choice of story was made there were others that did not get told. The Laramie Animal Shelter is a city shelter like so many others across the United States, small and underfunded. Staffed by dedicated and hardworking men and women who did their best to make the right choices and care lovingly for the many animals that came their way—an overwhelming tide of animals. At that time over 10 million animals were euthanized in shelters every year due to a lack of enough homes. The Laramie Animal Shelter was no exception, as of 1982 an average of 25 percent of its dogs and 12 percent of its cats had to be euthanized.Most of the 24 cages and 35 kennels at the shelter are usually filled. The animals are well taken care of, but they lack one thing — a loving owner. Everywhere you go the paws reach out for you, and the eyes of the animals are filled with the hope that you might be the one they are looking for. As I cruised the aisles, face after furry face stared back at me. The dogs would lunge joyfully toward me in hopes that I was the answer to their canine prayers. Number 4717, an eight-month old puppy, was no different. For every visitor she put on a tail-wagging exhibition guaranteed to soften the hardest heart.My attention was caught by one large black dog who did not greet me eagerly, he huddled in the back of his cage, and his gaze spoke volumes to my heart, he wanted to trust but was no longer sure that he could. I took notes of the numbers on each cage, and the occupant, and asked the shelter workers for...

Is Fido's behavior not so cute anymore?  Maybe it's time for your puppy (and, more importantly, you) to have some lessons! I'll start off this post with the caveat that I'm not a professional dog trainer -- in fact, some folks would say that Zach the Dog isn't even that well behaved.  But, he and I have an agreement of sorts; he behaves when it's necessary (or, at least, convenient) and it's not necessary all that often :-)If you ignore that caveat and want to continue, then you and I will get along just fine.First, you'll want to work with your dog right from the beginning to make sure that he recognizes his own name.  We were trained to do this by putting our dogs on a lead/leash, and then having some small treats nearby.  We'd practice by saying his name, and then rewarding him when he acknowledged the name.   You should do this...