By Meredeth Barzen

Have you ever thought about how your dog would be taken care of if (knock on wood) something happened to you? These days, as pets are becoming even bigger parts of our families, some owners are taking precautions and setting up trusts for their pets, says animal lawyer (that’s a lawyer for animals; not a lawyer who is an animal) Kortney Nordrum of Minneapolis-based Nordrum Law.

While still relatively uncommon, Nordrum says, pet trusts are gaining notoriety, especially after heiress Leona Helmsley left millions to her dog, Trouble—aptly named, considering the litigation that’s happening as a result of her last gift.

Those who have friends or family who can take care of an animal once they can’t may not feel the need to set up a trust for their pet, Nordrum said, but for dogs who have expensive special needs (like Original Sidewalk Dog Luc, as a virtue—or vice—of his lemony nature), a pet trust could help ease the financial stress for your pet’s next caregiver.

Here’s how they work: “When one is meeting with their attorney to write their will, they can also set up a pet trust,” Nordrum says. “In the trust, the person gives their pet and a sum of money to a trusted friend or a bank (this person is called the ‘trustee’) after their death. This trustee is then under a duty to arrange for the care of your pet, according to your instructions. This way, after you are gone, your pet’s caretaker has funds available, and directions as to how you would like your pet cared for.”

Some things to keep in mind about pet trusts:

If a pet trust isn’t right for you, consider drawing up a basic contract with someone to take care of your pooches once you are unable to. The drawback to this less-complicated option is that you can’t give as specific instructions to the caregiver, Nordrum says.

Laws on pet trusts vary from state to state. Here in Minnesota and in six other states, there are no laws on the subject. “Some states allow you to write a pet into your will, like a relative,” Nordrum says. “Many states, however, require a pet trust in order to assure the care of your pet once you are gone.”

For more information on pet trusts, visit www.pettrustlawblog.com and www.professorbeyer.com, sites on the subject run by attorneys.

“The purpose of a pet trust is to create a plan for your pets in the event you are unable to care for them. Each year, many pets are euthanized because their owners have become incapable of caring for them,” Nordrum says. “Pet trusts try to keep this from happening.”

Human meds can poison pets.

Now that holiday pet dangers have passed, it’s important to stay vigilant—many of the medications in your house that are good for people can give doggies an upset stomach, or worse. At Sidewalk Dog, we’re extra cautious—original Sidewalk Dog Luc once got into some human meds that luckily didn’t do much more than make him a bit sleepy. That’s why we were glad to see this list of human medications that are poisonous to pets from Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. As always, if you think your dog has been sniffing around in your medicine cabinet, call Pet Poison Helpline right away at 800.213.6680.

Top 10 Human Medications Poisonous To Pets

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)

Topping our Top 10 list are common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals (ferrets, gerbils and hamsters) may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.

2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)

When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is certainly popular. Even though this drug is very safe, even for children, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.

3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)

While these antidepressant drugs are occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. Unfortunately, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.

4. ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)

Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.

5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)

These medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better. However, in pets, they may have the opposite effect. About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.

6. Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)

Birth control pills often come in packages that dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause trouble. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact (not spayed), are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.

7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (or “ACE”) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally, pets. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness, this category of medication is typically quite safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease. All heart medications should be kept out of reach of pets.

8. Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)

Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike the ACE inhibitor, small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.

9. Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)

Pets — especially dogs — get underactive thyroids too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.

10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)

These popular medications, often called “statins,” are commonly used in the United States. While pets do not typically get high cholesterol, they may still get into the pill bottle. Thankfully, most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

By Meredeth Barzen

Not to make you paranoid, but now that you’ve stocked up on gifts for the dog lovers in your life, the only thing left to do to ensure the holidays go off without a hitch is to make sure your house is free of common pet poisons. Here to share her list of the Top 10 Holiday Hazards for Pets is Dr. Justine Lee, board-certified emergency critical care veterinary specialist and associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline (PPH). Justine is dog mom to JP, a rescued pit bull; if you see her, ask her about the one time JP got into something he shouldn’t have—but be warned: It’s not a pretty story. And if your pet encounters any of the following items, don’t waste time reading about it. Call PPH immediately at 800.213.6680. Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Top 10 Holiday Hazards to Pets

1. Chocolate

Chocolate contains two main poisonous chemicals: theobromine and caffeine. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous the chocolate! White chocolate has little “real” chocolate in it, so generally isn’t a problem. General symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea (what we fondly term “chocolate diarrhea”), an elevated heart rate, agitation, nervousness, hyperactivity, to even tremors or seizures with large ingestions. When in doubt, keep that wrapped gift of chocolate-covered espresso beans away from your dog and don’t keep them under the Christmas tree.

2. Poinsettias

Poinsettia

While we get called about Poinsettias a lot, don’t believe the hype—they aren’t that poisonous. They may cause a mild upset stomach, but most dogs avoid it thanks to its milky white, bitter sap.

3. Raisin-containing foods

Not sure who still makes fruitcake nowadays, but the currants and raisins within holiday desserts can cause kidney failure in your dog. Keep any grapes, raisins, currants, etc. away from your dogs, and don’t let your houseguests feed your pets any table food, as they may not know something as “benign” as fruitcake can be deadly to your pet.

4. Holly and mistletoe plants

Mistletoe sprig

While holly may look nice to decorate your house, those waxy, thick leaves with sharp points can result in a very upset stomach to your dog. In fact, holly leaves are difficult to digest, and massive ingestions can actually result in a foreign body obstruction (as they get “stuck” in the stomach). Other type of yule-time plants like mistletoe can cause profound vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and even heart arrhythmias when ingested in large amounts, so keep these out of reach.

5. Fire-starter logs

Most fire-starter logs aren’t poisonous, as they mostly contain compressed sawdust and wax, but this can get stuck in your dog’s stomach when he thinks these logs are chew sticks. This can result in a foreign body obstruction also, so when in doubt, keep these out of reach of your pets. Also, some types of fire-starter logs have heavy metals in them (to add a “sparkling” type of color to the fire), so when in doubt, call Pet Poison Helpline if your dog ingests them.

6. Tinsel

While tinsel itself isn’t poisonous, it’s dangerous—especially if you own a cat or a dog who likes to chew and swallow stuff. What looks like a shiny toy can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk but can cause severe damage to a pet’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, pets run the risk of severe injury or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery. This is typically more a problem with cats, but for those of you with multiple species in your house and heart, avoid the tinsel.

7. Holiday foods

With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is quite dangerous) to share these treats with your dogs. Keep your dog on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak treats. Foods that can present problems:

• Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
• Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

8. Alcohol

Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains yeast should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol toxicity, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.

9. Holiday ornaments

When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the liquid inside could be could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

10. Imported snow globes

Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol.) As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size) can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to 12 hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

By Meredeth Barzen

As the great Dr. Kate Knutson once said, “It takes a lot of money to keep a living creature alive.” With that in mind, U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter has introduced a new piece of legislation called the HAPPY Act (a.k.a. “Humanity and Pets Partnered through the Years,” a.k.a. H.R. 3501—you can see why they’re sticking with just “HAPPY” in common usage.) If passed, the bill would allow pet owners to claim up to $3,500 in tax deductions for qualified pet care expenses per year, including vet bills.

“Well sign me up,” you might be saying. Hold your horses; first, we have to help get this thing passed. Clearly, this bill is important given the high cost of pet care, the lousy state of the economy and the fact that many families have had to give up their beloved pets because of they couldn’t afford to care for them. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Let your Minnesota State Representatives know about this bill, and encourage them to support and co-sponsor it. Write letters telling them why the HAPPY Act is so important, in your own words or using this template.

OK, quick review: HAPPY Act, tax deduction, pet care, write letters. Got it? Good. GO TEAM!

By Meredeth Barzen

These days, with the economy in the doggy potty, many pet owners are conflicted because they want to provide good care for their dogs, but can’t afford basic vet services like spaying and neutering. That’s where MN SNAP comes in.

The Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) provides low-cost spaying and neutering to animals from rescues, shelters and low-income families. The organization’s framework was set in place by Dr. Kim Culbertson, a local veterinarian, and is relying mostly on word-of-mouth right now to raise awareness of its services and the growing problem of pet overpopulation.

“Shelters and rescues are trying to do their part [to reduce pet overpopulation] by ensuring that most or all of their animals are sterilized prior to adoption,” says MN SNAP’s Jennifer Allen. “Many pet owners, especially in urban and rural areas, cannot afford spay/neuter surgery, do not have access to a veterinary clinic, or do not understand the consequences of unchecked reproduction by their sexually intact pets. Most rescues operate on a very lean budget and are burdened by the costs associated with spay and neuter, thus limiting the number of animals they can save. Affordable and accessible spay/neuter services are essential to stopping the flow of puppies and kittens being born into a world that won’t or can’t take care of them.”

Dr. Kim Culbertson, MN SNAP's veterinarian

As the only mobile spay/neuter clinic in Minnesota that specifically targets low-income households, MN SNAP has “been showered with an outpouring of support from the community,” Allen says. The young organization has worked with and served groups like Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet, The Pet Project, Homeward Bound, Pet Haven, A Rotta Love Plus, Minnesota Boxer Rescue and Secondhand Hounds.

And the economic climate has made its services especially important. “More animals are being surrendered due to unexpected litters, people not being able to feed the animals  they have and general lack of income for animal care,” Allen says.

“We are always looking for angels to the animals,” Allen says. “We rely completely on community support; your donations of time, money or supplies, coupled with your love for companion animals, will save the lives of thousands of animals in Minnesota.” And, as the great and aptly named Bob Barker did for so many years on “The Price Is Right,” she closes with the classic line, “Please spay or neuter your pets!”

By Meredeth Barzen

Loyal Sidewalk Dog readers might have heard last summer that Luc, the original Sidewalk Dog, had some medical problems that we wouldn’t wish upon our worst enemy (and that Luc wouldn’t wish upon his—shadows of any kind.) Thanks to Dr. Kate Knutson and the truly wonderful people* at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic in Bloomington, Luc’s doing better. And since he’s out of the woods, we’d like to tell you a bit about our experience at Pet Crossing and the importance of proper dental care for your pup.

Luc getting cuddled post-op by Pet Crossing's Dr. Kate.

Long story short, Luc had such advanced dental disease that his food was getting into his nose and caused a chronic infection. Our loveable little lemon got pneumonia as a symptom of his problems, and suffice it to say that he was not a happy camper for some time. Enter Dr. Kate, as she’s known by her patients—co-owner of Pet Crossing, Dr. Kate is world-renowned for her skill in animal dentistry, and loved by her patients for her caring nature (she habitually refers to pets as “four-leggeds.”) She sits on the board of directors for American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and co-authored their dental guidelines. (Incidentally, AAHA’s site HealthyPet.com is a great resource for pet owners, with FAQs, articles on pet health and a database of AAHA-accredited clinics.) Dr. Kate worked her magic on Luc, and he emerged with 31 fewer teeth and a lot less pain.

Luc is an example of what can go wrong if you neglect your dog’s dental care (see “The Truth about Tooths” for more on this.) Just like in people, dental disease run rampant can lead to heart, lung and kidney disease. “For people and animals,” Dr. Kate says, “if you have a healthy mouth, you live longer.” But she adds that many veterinarians are less aware of the importance of animal dentistry than owners are. “The general population has been educated and moves quicker than the vets,” Dr. Kate says.

She says that your dog’s first dental exam should be done at its first visit to the vet as a puppy, and that they should be examined under anesthesia when they go in to be spayed or neutered. After that, your “four-legged” should have a yearly wellness exam with an awake examination, followed by exam under general anesthesia every year (your pet has to be sleeping during this exam because it would be a very stressful experience—for all parties involved—if he were awake.) Once your dog is sleeping, his teeth have to be charted, cleaned and x-rayed, followed by a treatment plan for continued dental health. And don’t forget that you have to keep brushing those teeth in between exams.

Though more clinics are doing dentistry these days, Dr. Kate says that it’s important to do your homework to find the best care. Pet Crossing’s Web site has a great list of questions you should ask your vet before you sign your dog up for a teeth cleaning.

Eliza, a Pet Crossing nurse, helps Luc wake up from his dental surgery.

You’ll notice that Pet Crossing can answer “yes” to all questions on this list—a veterinary assistant monitors teeth cleaning the whole time to make sure your pet’s OK, and as a special touch, someone will massage your dog beforehand to relax him and cuddle with him post-op (if your lap is unavailable for whatever reason). Dr. Kate says that anesthesia and surgery are much easier for a dog if it’s relaxed before and after the event. For those helicopter dog-parents among us, Pet Crossing has an open-door policy, where you can watch any procedure or surgery done on your dog.

And dogs aren’t the only ones in mind with Pet Crossing’s stress-melting environment: comfortable private waiting rooms (with coffee, tea, snacks and a comfy couch) and plenty of personal touches grace their state-of-the-art facilities. “It’s important for the dog’s health that it’s quiet and peaceful,” Dr. Kate says. “We want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible.” But she’s careful to point out that customers aren’t paying for the fancy touches—they’re paying for great care. And while that care isn’t cheap, pet owners have to be realistic about the cost of keeping their furry friends happy and healthy.

All Pet Crossing doctors are passionate about dental care, but each has a specialty. Dr. Steve Barghusen lends his expertise in opthamology, internal medicine and laser surgery, and Dr. Cheryl Roth works in pain management, and is one of only 17 certified pain practitioners of veterinary medicine in the U.S.

Pet Crossing stands apart from the crowd for more than just great medical care: The clinic works with Cornerstone (a local domestic abuse shelter) to take in animals from abusive households. It works with Animal Ark to find new homes for dogs and cats. Developmentally disabled adults from Partnership Resources Inc. are on staff to help with cleaning, laundry and other jobs. And there’s a general sense of peace, calm, and comfort at Pet Crossing (a cat named Prophet wanders the clinic, cuddling with patients and showing his support with some soothing purrs.)

Prophet the Pet Crossing Cat checks in with Luc.

Dr. Kate stresses the importance of having a primary care doctor for your pet, who sees them every year and is intimately familiar with your pet’s health, and can then refer you to specialists for special needs. Dr. Kate says that especially in a dog with special medical needs (and Luc is the poster-dog for that group), vets can get distracted by those issues instead of addressing the pet’s holistic care. “With human health care,” she says, “a rampant problem is that as people get older, they go to specialists who are good but don’t speak to each other. This happens with veterinary medicine, too.”

And even though animal dentistry is overlooked, Dr. Kate says, “All we can do is educate. There’s never shame cast over clients or other doctors.”

*Special thanks to Lisa, Eliza, Carrie, Nicole, Rachel, Bev, Trish, Jamie, Brittany, Vicki, Dr. Steve Barghusen and Dr. Cheryl Roth.

Luc getting cuddled by Dr. Kate, who brought him home with her that night so she could keep an eye on him.

By Meredeth Barzen

Sidewalk Dog has a confession to make: We didn’t give doggie dental hygiene much thought until Luc, the original Sidewalk Dog and the most lovable little lemon you’ll ever meet, paid a visit to Dr. Kate Knutson at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Bloomington last week. We’ll have the full details in a couple of weeks (and believe us, there are a lot of details!), but for now, let’s just say the visit involved a doggie dose of Valium, 31 tiny teeth that weren’t doing Luc any favors, and a very rude awakening on the importance of keeping your dog’s mouth clean and healthy. We found out that, just like in people, unhealthy teeth and gums can directly lead to serious health problems like heart disease and pneumonia—not to mention an offensively stinky mouth—in dogs.

Again, we’ll give you the full rundown in an upcoming post (sparing you as many of the gory details as we can), but we feel compelled to get the word out now about how very, very important it is to schedule regular dental exams, cleanings and X-rays for your dog, and to brush his teeth in between visits. Not only will you not have to suffer through icky dog breath when they slobber you with kisses, but it will help them lead happier, longer (yes, longer!) lives.

And we can’t wait to tell you all about our wonderful experience at Pet Crossing—where, besides the world-renowned dental care, you and your dog can take advantage of luxe touches like a fireplace in the lobby, a cushy private waiting room with snacks, a comfy couch and a T.V., and pre-op massages (for your dog).

But in the meantime, do your dog’s mouth (and body) a favor and schedule a dental exam—then whip out that toothpaste and start brushing!

By Meredeth Barzen

Sidewalk Dog and its loyal readers are clearly nuts about their pets—most of us would do anything to keep their bellies full and their medical needs met. But for many Minnesotans affected by the economy, the only “anything” available in their situations is to give up their best friends because they can’t afford food and vet care. This grim reality is what drove Kim Carrier to start The Pet Project, which just became official last month.

“I began thinking about The Pet Project in late spring when I heard news stories about people giving up their pets because of the economy. Each heartbreaking situation made me think ‘somebody should do something about this’ and it really became an obsession. I learned that there were several food shelves doing their best, but that they didn’t have a consistent supply of pet food. I decided that if ‘somebody’ wasn’t out there, that I’d better start doing something.”

Carrier’s friends helped her design a logo, build a Web site, create signs and find a lawyer and an accountant. Soon, the Pet Project was up and running, and Carrier was collecting pet food donations at drop-off sites like Urbanimal and Bone Adventure and distributing them at local homeless shelters. Since last the program started in July, Carrier has collected 400 pounds of donated food.

As a next step, Carrier will soon be accepting applications for veterinary appointments—she’s working on partnerships with local vets to get that component of the program rolling. “The truth of the matter is veterinary care is expensive,” Carrier says. “When you have to chose between feeding your family or getting your pet’s rabies vaccination … well, the vaccination goes out the window.” In the long term, Carrier would like The Pet Project to offer seminars for pet owners and landlords that would make an abundance of pet-friendly housing a winning situation for both parties.

The Pet Project's inspirations: Stella and Rosie

“The biggest inspiration, of course, has been my own pets,” Carrier says. “My cats, Sophie and Maggie, and my dogs, Stella and Rosie have been my cheerleaders, teachers, nurses, psychiatrists, comedians and companions. I couldn’t imagine a life where, if I had had to give any of them up, I would have to wonder every day if they were loved and cared for, if they were safe, if I had done the right thing or if they were happy.”

Here’s hoping that with a little generosity from everyone in the “crazy-about-their-pets” community, more dogs and cats can stay with their families, even when times are, well, “ruff.”

By Meredeth Barzen

Everyone likes a mutt. And while you love your mixed breed dog regardless of its makeup, have you ever looked into that totally unique face and thought ‘what exactly is going on here?’

Samson: An enigma no more.

Jason Hastings often wondered, and finally got an answer when he received a full doggie DNA testing procedure as a gift. When Hastings adopted Samson, a 9-week-old mixed breed, he had any number of guesses as to the dog’s genetic background, which remained a mystery for 8 years. Most importantly, Samson grew to be healthy, friendly and loyal, but a nagging question turned into a great gift idea, with a little help from the folks at Lake Harriet Veterinary.

“It was a great gift,” says Hastings. “I was surprised by the pamphlet that came with it, which broke down all the results. This was extremely valuable information.” It turns out that Samson gets his good looks from a mix of Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, and American Eskimo.

Dr. Cathy Sinning of Lake Harriet Veterinary, who has performed the test, explains that (should your curiosity take over) your vet will take a blood sample from your mystery mutt and send it into the company, who will analyze it, send your vet a basic report and send you a more formal, extensive report with your dog’s family history exposed at last.

“Most people use it for curiosity or fun,” Sinning says. At-home doggie DNA kits are also available, but are considered less accurate by some since they generally use a swab test instead of a blood sample.