Pets and Your Medication

               Every household contains medications of some kind. Whether it be aspirin, cold medicine, other over the counter medications, or prescription medications, almost everyone has something. Most people know the importance of keeping these medications away from children, but we should also be concerned with keeping them away from our pets.

                Dropped human medications made more pets sick in the U.S. than any other toxin last year (Manning, 2011). Ibuprofen, antidepressants, and ADHD medication were the top contributors to making pets sick. If somebody notices

                Hotlines are available for pet owners to call if they notice that their pet has eaten any medications. Out of 168, 000 calls received by a ASPCA hotline in Urbana, Illinois, a quarter of them were about pets who had swallowed human drugs (Manning, 2011).  Another helpline in Minnesota has handled more than 750,000 calls and about half of them dealt with human medicine (Manning, 2011).

                Some symptoms that your pet may show if they have gotten into your medication include lethargy, vomiting, depression, seizures, and refusing food (Manning, 2011). Symptoms can also vary depending on what kind of medication is swallowed. If a dog swallows ADHD medication, they may appear agitated (Manning, 2011). Rogaine can be dangerous for pets and can cause heart failure. Birth control doesn't usually have an effect on most pets since the amount of estrogen is small and Viagra has been used to treat dogs with pulmonary hypertension (Manning, 2011).

                Consumption of one aspirin probably will not kill your pet but, eating a large quantity of aspirin, a few bars of chocolate, a single lily, or even a bunch of grapes could (Manning, 2011).  Alcohol can make pets drunk very quickly and will cause them to wobble, vomit, and cause inhalation of vomit into the lungs (Manning, 2011).

                It is important for owners to be responsible for keeping harmful medications out of the reach of their pets. While humans may need to take the medications to keep themselves healthy, they can become a serious problem for pets when not taken care of properly. Not only should medications be regulated, but certain foods should also be monitored and properly stored.

Manning, S. (2011). Pets Poisoned By Your Pills. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from                 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41317308/ns/health-pet_health/

Keep Your Pet and Family Healthy

               While there are many benefits to owning a pet, it is important to know that they may carry germs and diseases. These diseases can easily be spread to people and make them sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer information on how to protect you and your family from these diseases.

                When choosing a pet, people should make sure that it will be the right one for their family. Families with children under the age of five should not have reptiles or amphibians (CDC, 2010). Pregnant women should not be in contact with rodents because they may be exposed to a virus that could cause birth defects (CDC, 2010). Pregnant women should avoid handling stray cats and cleaning litter boxes to avoid contracting toxoplasmosis. People with a compromised immune system also need to be careful when handling pets (CDC, 2010).

                People should always wash their hands when they have come into contact with an animal. Individuals should also wash their hands after handling pet food and treats since they can be contaminated with bacteria and other germs (CDC, 2010). The CDC recommends washing hands whenever you leave a place where animals live, regardless of whether you touched an animal or not.

                Individuals need to keep their pets vaccinations up to date. When vaccinations are current, you not only keep your pet healthy, but you and your family healthy as well. Applying medications such as Frontline to your pets will reduce the risk of ticks which can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Pets should be provided with a good diet, fresh water, clean bedding, and exercise (CDC, 2010). When your pet is healthy, the risk of germs and disease are reduced. Another very important vaccination that a pet should have is the rabies vaccination. Rabies can kill your pet and even people.

                Lastly, children younger than five years need to be supervised whenever animals are present. Parents need to teach their children proper hygiene when handling pets or their environment. Parents should be extra cautious when their children visit farms, petting zoos, and fairs (CDC, 2010).

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010).  Healthy Pets Healthy People. Retrieved March 8, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyPets/.

How Pets Can Keep You Healthy

                According to the ASPCA, there are approximately 75 million dogs  and 85 million cats owned in the United States. About 63 percent of all households in the U.S. have a pet of some sort (ASPCA, 2011). Needless to say, many people own pets whether they are dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, or horses. Owning a pet brings joy to people around the world and can offer many benefits. While they can be expensive and require a lot of attention, pets help keep people healthy. Mental, emotional, as well as physical health can be improved simply by owning a pet. 

                I decided to choose this topic for my blog because I am a huge animal lover. I currently own two dogs, a cat, and a horse. My pets add so much love to my life and contribute greatly to my overall happiness. On difficult days, I can come home and know that my pets will be happy to see me and spending time with them helps wash away the negative events that happened throughout the day. Just like many other Americans, I have issues with seasonal depression. When the gray days and lack of sunshine start to take a toll on me, I rely on horseback riding to get me out of my funk. Instead of turning to medication, I spend a little time in the saddle and it somehow turns my day around. I cannot imagine my life without pets. I know my life would be dramatically different without them.

                Exercise physiologist Karen Nelson wrote an article that summarized many of the different benefits that pets provide people. Here are just a few of the benefits discussed in Nelson's article:

1. Pets are therapeutic-Horses are used for therapeutic riding for individuals who have autism, cerebral palsy, and have had a stroke. Dog therapy has been successful for the blind by helping the individual  regain their independence. Dog therapy has also proven successful for individuals who suffer from  Rheumatoid Arthritis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and has shown to have a calming effect on AIDS patients.

2. Pets help combat ADHD- The important role of taking care of a pet has helped children with ADHD to plan and be responsible. The special bond that occurs between a pet and animal also provides the child with self-esteem.

3.Pets have also been linked to improved immunity. Children who have grown up with pets are less likely to develop allergies.

4. Pets can decrease depression-The unconditional love that a pet gives can decrease depression. In fact, petting an animal has a calming effect on people.

5. Owning a pet lowers the risk of dying of heart disease and stroke. Pet owners also tend to have lower blood pressures than those who do not own pets.

6.  Pets improve physical fitness- Dog owners tend to be more physically fit than those who do not own dogs. Getting out and walking the dog not only provides a pet with great exercise, but it gets the owner active as well.

A.S.P.C.A. (2011). Pet Statistics. Retrieved February 28, 2011 from http://www.aspca.org/about-              us/faq/pet-statistics.aspx.

Nelson, K. (2010). Pets Keep Us Healthy! Retrieved February 27, 2011 from 
              http://tucsoncitizen.com/kare/2010/02/09/pets-keep-us-healthy/.