Are There Poisonous Plants in Your Home?

As gardeners across the country say goodbye to summer, green thumbs and amateurs alike are scooping up houseplants to spice up the fall and winter months. They're also taking off their sunhats and dragging outdoor plans inside to protect them from upcoming dips in temperature. Plants are popular for their decorative, restorative, and air-cleaning properties, but many species are toxic to our curious furry friends. Soil and leaves attract dogs and cats who like to chew on vines and romp in the dirt. Here are some of the most poisonous best-sellers:

• Lilies, including stargazer, tiger and Easter lilies. "Even with very small ingestions, severe kidney damage can result," according to Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist.


• English ivy contains triterpenoid saponins which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea if eaten.


• Peace lily and pothos can cause irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue (peace lilies), and swelling of the GI tract (pothos).


• Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants to pets and people. It can lead to GI irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.

Keep the nibbler in your life safe from toxic foliage by placing all plants out of reach. Or better yet, choose a nontoxic alternative to brighten your home. For a list of safe plants, go to http://www.aspca.org/: (Aug. 29th, 2008 News Alert, "Most Popular Poisonous Plants) where there's an alphabetical listing of safe house plants. As always, if you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

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www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_newsalert082908#1

Dogs and Their Humans on vacation

Shuki, Benny and I are vacationing with our friends Lilly (2 legged) and Livia (4-legged) in Provincetown, MA. and I want to pass on to you how dog-friendly this place is! It's a little fishing village turned resort where there are lots of hotels, condo rentals, and rooms in B&B's where well-behaved dogs are welcome. It's wonderful how disciplined the dog owners are at Bayshore by the Sea, where we're staying. Everyone works hard to keep their pups quiet and they pick up poop. You almost never see poop on condo property or on the streets and the town is restful. Bayshore is at 493 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA, 508-487.9133. We're right on the water with beach view from our condo; plus the ocean beach (Herring Cove or Race Point Beach) is a 5-minute drive and it's National Seashore so dogs are allowed there too! There's wi-fi (which is why I'm able to post while on vaca).

Lots of other dog friendly accomodations too. Check out http://www.bayshorechandler.com/. Plus you'll meet oodles of other dog owners while out walking Commercial St, the main shopping and eating route. Some outdoor cafes allow dogs and it's lovely sippling a latte while your pup indulges in dog watching!


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Fleas Fleas Fleas

Summer is winding down, but one little pest is still thriving in warm, humid parts of the country like New England. Fleas are hearty and nimble; when searching for a host they can jump up to 2 feet, 10,000 times in a row - that adds up to the length of 3 football fields! They can also cause troublesome health problems in dogs such as anemia, skin allergies and tapeworms. These legendary leapers are tough to fight, but here are some tips that will rub your dog the right way:

• Apply a monthly, veterinarian-approved anti-tick medication. Some of the good ones are Frontline Plus, Advantix, and Program. Don't miss a month, from March through November!!
• Know your enemy: confirm your pet has fleas by identifying signs such as tiny black spots on the skin. These are droppings, sometimes known as "flea dirt". Also watch for excessive scratching and scabs.
• Treat all of your pets, not just those who show outward signs of infestation.
• Thoroughly clean your house, including rugs, bedding and upholstery, and discard any used vacuum bags.
• Fleas love long grass and shady outdoor spots - remember to treat and maintain your yard as carefully as your house. Ask your vet about products for treating your yard.
• NEVER use medications intended for dogs on cats, or vice versa! Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and ASPCA Senior Vice President, says, "Just a few drops of concentrated permethrin, present in many spot-on treatments for dogs, can be lethal to cats".

And enjoy an itch-free end of summer!

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Doggie Den Best of Northboro!

Thank you to the U.S. Local Business Association for naming us "best of Northboro" for dog daycare!!






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Sometimes we're covered with dogs!

We love being at the bottom of a friendly dogpile! And we get to do it lots!

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My bone!

Hello, my name is Shimi and this is MY bone! Mine. You've seen the seagulls in "Finding Nemo"? MINE! MINE! It's exhausting, but I will guard this bone until my people come pick me up to take me home. After all, it's............. you guessed it, MINE.

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Little guys stick together!

We're some of the smaller guys at The Doggie Den. At you can see we like to stick together. The pack that snoozes together cruises together! The only problem is, you can probably see this a human two-seater couch. It's very hard to find room up here at nap time, especially if somebody decides to streeeettttch out. So Here I am, Reilly the 2nd guy from the left, the puggle and the most handsome one of the bunch, and I have to sit up while they all sleep. It's just not fair. So after this picture is taken, I'm gonna lay down on top of Cosmo, the black and white rat terrier to my left. He'll just have to put up with it. I hope he doesn't squirm 'cause I'd like to get some shut eye.


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Hi! I'm Bobby and I LOVE DOGS!

I'm Bobby and I work at The Doggie Den when I'm not in class at Quinsigamund Community College. It's a great place to work 'cause the other employees are mellow and the dogs are the best!

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