Ahhhh. Spring has arrived, as well as the tender and new grass that my dogs love to eat (and then vomit up). The early bloomers are in full swing and the garden centers are stocked and full of customers.

If you have pets that don't feel the need to put everything in their mouths, good for you. Really, good for you. I am not one of those. My dogs think if it's in their house or their yard, that it was put there for them. So, I have to be very careful about what kinds of plants I bring in as the list of toxic ones, and those that just make your pet sick, is longer than you think. Any plant, or other object, that is not in a pet's normal diet can potentially make them sick. But, some plants can cause trips to the Vet. and some, trips to the ER facility with hospitalization, or worse.

The big ones are Lillies, Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Sago Palm, marijuana (seriously), Tulips, Narcissus bulbs, Azalea, Rhododendron, Oleander (very deadly), Castor Bean (also very bad), Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Yew, Crysanthemum, English Ivy, Peace Lily, Pothos and Schefflera.

The ASPCA has a great list of toxic plants with pictures.... www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

and an extensive list of the toxic plants with their various names and those that are not harmful as well... www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/plant-list-dogs.html?print=t

The two other big things realted to spring that are worth mentioning are Cocoa Mulch (bad, bad, bad--it has the same ingredient in chocolate that can be deadly) and rat poison which can also be fatal to pets and children in small amounts.

Notice to all residents of German/Merion Villages:

You may know that I work part-time at the German Village Veterinary Hospital. I've worked there for almost 12 years and I live Merion Village. Needless to say, I personally know a good portion of the 4 legged residents on the south side of the city.

One of our clients at the Vet. hospital recently found 2 rather neatly constructed portions of meat in her back yard and because of the way it was wrapped (bone with hamburger and ham around it tied with a rubberband), decided to have it analyzed. She took it to the Dept. of Agriculture and later found out it had rat poison in it. Her dogs are on medication and are okay, but I wanted to bring this story to the attention of as many people as possible in the area. This client lives in the northeast corner of German Village.

According to petcaresuite101.com and dogsymptomscure.com, here are some signs of poisoning:

-fatigue or excitement

- drooling

-muscle tremors/incoordination

- depression

- anorexia

-distended abdomen

- difficulty breathing

- pale gums or bruising of the gums/inner ears that resemble spiderwebs

- vomiting or diarrhea

- bleeding

Here is a link to the story that 10TV did...

www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?referralObject=ka:988794

EVEN BIGGER SALE (seriously)

For a limited time, all toys, apparel and accessories are 40% off. That's right, 40% off! We really do love helping you pick out the perfect toy for your pet, so stop in and take advantage of this fantastic deal. Plus, spring is a great time for a new collar and leash right? We have some very cool harnesses from Doggles that are made out of recycled bottles and come with a car seatbelt attachment too. We also have a few coats and sweatshirts left and those are 50% off while they last.

HUGE SALE!

All toys, accessories (collars, leashes, Gentle Leaders, etc.) and apparel are 25% during the month of March! Plus, all of the coats and sweatshirts are 40% off--we have a few of the Fido Fleece left and Wag Dog coats left and these are great for those little guys while we're still having cold nights and mornings. Unfortunately in Ohio, that could last until at least May. But, come out and enjoy today's beautiful weather and stop by. Pets are always welcome here!

February is National Pet Dental Month

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease by three years of age. Periodontal disease is what leads to bone loss and is caused by bacteria. Bacteria adheres to a tooth and other bacteria and forms plaque. The plaque hardens over time and becomes calculus, that thick and brown chunky stuff which causes tissue destrcution and ultimately, bone loss. Dental disease can also cause kidney, heart and liver problems as well.

Nasty stuff, yes. even more disgusting is that an estimated 64% of pet owners let their pets kiss them on the mouth! So with February being Pet Dental Month, Lots to Wag About has put all of our dental products on sale at 25% off! Brushing is the ultimate in preventive care for your pets, but there are other options that may be a little easier to do and to remember.

Ark Naturals makes a great line of treats called Brushless Toothpaste and a water additive, both of which help to break down the bacteria that leads to plaque. We also have loofah chew toys that help to scrub the teeth while the pets play. Plaque-Off is another great product that goes on the food daily--how easy is that?!? We also have a number of breath freshening products that we're including in the sale this month.

So, 64 percenters, stop in and we'll help you keep that mouth clean, fresh and kissable!

Columbus Alive's Best of Columbus issue

It's that time of year again. Take a few minutes to show some love to all of your favorite Columbus eating/drinking/shopping/playing spots and make sure to vote for Lots to Wag About as your favorite pet store. We appreciate it. Here's the link...

www.columbusalive.com/live/content/special_sections/bestof/vote/2009_voting.html

Lots to Wag About is a collection site for donations of food for the pets of Columbus' homeless.

It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of the homeless have pets. In some areas that number is as high as 25% (http://www.petsofhomeless.org/). Pets represent a number of different things for the homeless. They are their friends, their family, a source of warmth (literally and figuratively) and in some cases, they're all they have. Sometimes, they had the pets when they became homeless. In some cases, they met on the street after the dog or cat was abandoned and they found they have a lot in common. There are families that are without housing as well. What parent wants to take away their child's pet after having just about everything else taken away from them?

At Lots to Wag About, we care about not just our customers' pets, but about all of the animals in our community. So, we've started taking donations of dog and cat food to be distributed to the pets of Columbus' homeless. We are working with The Open Shelter (http://www.openshelter.org/) to make sure the food gets to the pets that need it. We're doing this year round as well. So if now isn't a good time for you to make a donation with the holidays coming up, please remember us in the upcoming year.

We actually got a call from a man named David today. He was given our number from a Veterinarian in West Jefferson who got our info. off of the Feeding Pets of the Homeless website. He had recently lost his home and was living with his dogs in his van. We directed him to The Open Shelter and he called back before he headed out to the shelter to say thank you. So, to everyone who has donated and to everyone who may be thinking about it, a really big THANK YOU!