Friday, March 23, 2012

Tea Tree Oil: Friend to Humans, Foe to Pets


For years most of us have assumed it safe to use tea tree oil on our pets. Better than safe, in fact, since using an essential oil seems to be a much safer, more natural way to treat problems like hot spots or other skin irritations. Well, you know what they say about assuming…..

It turns out to be quite the opposite. Although many pet products like shampoos or sprays containing tea tree oil are marketed in just this way, tea tree oil is, in fact, quite toxic to our dogs and cats. These products contain teeny-tiny amounts of tea tree oil, which is harmless in a shampoo, but the average pet owner might see the product and get the idea that applying undiluted tea tree oil to their pet's skin is even better. Wrong!!!!

Even though tea tree oil is well known for its antibacterial, antifungal and even antiparasitic effects, the Pet Poison Helpline states that "As little as 7 drops of 100% oil has resulted in severe poisoning, and applications of 10-20 mls of 100% oil have resulted in poisoning and death in both dogs and cats."

From the veterinarywatch.com website, regarding tea tree poisoning:

"Most patients have clinical signs of central nervous system depression. Dogs and cats with tea tree oil toxicosis will appear weak, obtunded, uncoordinated, ataxic, and usually have muscular tremors. Cats may exhibit signs of liver damage. Toxic components are fat soluble and rapidly absorbed via skin and GI tract. There is no antidote. Treatment involves general detoxification, supportive care, bathing with mild detergents, using activated charcoal if ingested."

So there you have it. I love tea tree oil and I will continue to use it every day in my lotion, but CeCe had better keep her paws off!!



Pet Poison Help Line: 800-213-6680

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

My Pound Puppy CeCe



"Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile...initially scared me to death."

I'm not sure who said it, but she must've rescued a pound dog.

My beloved dog Blazer died in June, and my home hasn't felt complete since. So I decided that, even though I could never love another dog the way I loved Blazer, I could at least open my home to a dog in need. But when I brought CeCe home from Animal Services, things weren't all sunshine and roses. Like so many pound dogs, she had a very rough start to life, and it showed.

At only a few weeks old, CeCe was dumped at a rural shelter in Ohio, where she spent most of her young life in a state of stress, surrounded by other unwanted, troubled dogs. Luckily, between the kind soul who runs the shelter and took her in, and James at Toronto Animal Services, she arrived in Toronto in January as a 5 month old puppy, scarred both physically and mentally, and scared of almost everything and everyone. A few hours later......I arrived and took her home.

The first time I took her to the dog park and 2 puppies tried to play with her, she turned on them quite aggressively, and I thought, "Oh crap. I've made a huge mistake." So the next few weeks were spent working on training: meeting new dogs (hey - they can be friendly!), meeting new people (hey - they give me treats!), walking all over the city, and getting used to all of the scary sights & sounds. Eventually, she began to blossom, and the puppy within began to come out as she discovered friends and toys, and enjoyed a calm, loving and stable home. It wasn't easy, and it was a lot of work, but she is the BEST puppy I could ever ask for, and an absolute lovebug. And smart as hell! She already knows "sit", "down", "stay", "shush", "crawl" and "rollover." She's sweet, gentle, and intuitive, and she has the best puppy stink I've ever smelled. Even the cats are starting to forgive me for bringing a puppy into their home....

I didn't think I would ever love another dog after my Blazer died, but this wriggly little creature is worming her way into my heart, kiss by kiss.

If anyone reading this is thinking about adopting a pound dog, please remember that the first few weeks might be difficult, but if you stick it out, the reward is limitless.

To see this post and a link to more photos on the Toronto Animal Services blog, click here: http://iwantapounddog.blogspot.ca/2012/02/update-on-cece.html