Just how healthy is your dog? As more and more people continue to view their pets as an integral part of the family, this question is being raised in earnest.

According to the APPMA, spending on the family dog has doubled from just ten years ago. Organic dog food, treats, natural supplements and vitamins play a key role as dog owners do everything they can to ensure their furry family members lead healthy lives. To celebrate this growing awareness, online retailer Pup Life is once again sponsoring Dog Health Awareness Month in May.

The owners of Pup Life have seen their business grow along with dog owners' new attitudes. "We've seen a definite increase in sales of organic dog food and treats. Conscientious dog owners want to know exactly what their best friend is eating" says Eric Houtkooper, President of Pup Life.

"The increased availability of organic dog food, gentler dog training products and all-natural grooming products are solid indications that people want their pets to live healthier, holistic lives. Pup Life is proud to sell all-natural dog products, and we do what we can to educate new dog owners whenever possible," remarked Mr. Houtkooper.

As part of Pup Life's Dog Health Awareness Month, the web site (http://www.puplife.com) will feature several articles specifically focusing on how to protect and enhance your dog's health. One dog care tip that is especially relevant right now, according to Pup Life CEO Leslie Hayes- Houtkooper, is to be aware of the danger of heartworm disease.

Dog owners need to discuss heartworm prevention with their veterinarian. "As a safeguard, many veterinarians recommend annual or biannual screening tests even for dogs that are on heartworm preventives," says Mrs. Hayes-Houtkooper. "Heartworm is a silent killer. That's why it's so important to work with your vet on a heartworm prevention plan. Your dog's life may depend on it."

Another simple health affirming strategy for dogs and owners alike has been well tested and proven over time. "Exercise and eat right," says Leslie. "It makes a world of difference for dogs. Most dogs need more exercise than they actually get. Many people find that when they increase the amount of exercise their dogs get, behavior problems like chewing, barking and digging diminish greatly. Furthermore, engaging with your dog mentally as well as physically is not only good for her, it is also good for you," she continued.

Eric agreed, saying "Grab yourself some great fetch toys and play outside with your dog. Set up a schedule so playtime does not get postponed."

Eric also recommends using playtime as a way to integrate dog training into a busy schedule. "Dogs love to learn, especially if they can earn rewards like yummy treats along the way," he added.

This is the second year that Pup Life is sponsoring May as Dog Health Awareness Month. Pup Life will be offering deep discounts on healthy treats, dog food and natural supplements all month long to encourage dog owners to think about evaluating their dog's health. "

Once owners try our healthy dog food, treats and supplements, most stick with them and never go back to the cheaper chain store brands" claims Leslie Hayes-Houtkooper. She added, "Healthier dogs mean fewer vet bills, and that is good for you and your dog."

Pup Life is one of the fastest growing web sites in the pet supply industry and will celebrate it's second anniversary this September. Pup Life carries natural dog food and treats, designer dog collars and pet carriers, as well as crates, toys and grooming supplies. Pup Life has been featured in 944 Magazine, Miva Corporation's online Galleria and most recently launched the Pup Life Dog Blog (http://www.puplife.com/dogblog), a blog for dogs and their people.

Each year many dogs die from ingesting poisons they found in the house, backyard, or neighborhood. According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) the numbers are increasing. In some cases the increase is quite dramatic.

There are numerous plants and fertilizers that are poisonous. There is a very popular cocoa mulch that people like to use because it degrades into an organic fertilizer. It also lacks that strong, pungent smell found in regular fertilizer.

Unfortunately, it is a life-threatening poison for dogs who are attracted by the smell and often eat varying amounts. One dog in particular found a bag of it on the patio, got into it, and ate a large amount. The next day while on his usual walk he suddenly experienced some seizures and collapsed, dead.

The ASPCA highly recommends that anyone with a dog or any animal that might be tempted to eat this fertilizer not use it, especially if their dog is ever unsupervised in the yard.

Fertilizers are not the only things found in our yards that are poisonous for our dogs. There are some plants that we need to avoid if we want to keep our pets safe and healthy.

The following is a partial list of plants that can kill:

• Azalea/Rhododendron
• Oleander
• Castor Bean
• Cyclamen
• Yew
• Some mushrooms (always assume that an ingested mushroom is toxic and see your vet)

Plants that can cause liver, heart and/or kidney damage include:

• Lilies
• Tulips
• Marijuana
• Cycads (such as the Sago Palm)
• Kalanchoe
• Foxglove
• Rhubarb
• Shamrock
• Autumn Crocus
• Rosebay

If you think your pet has eaten a poisonous plant or fertilizer contact your vet immediately. If you don’t know if the plant is toxic to animals bring a sample to your local nursery.

Symptoms can vary and can even take hours or days to appear. The dog mentioned above seemed fine until the seizures started. The owner had no idea that the cocoa mulch was toxic.

The best way to prevent your pet from ingesting a poisonous plant is to dig up any toxic plant that is in your yard. There are so many beautiful plants available that are not poisonous that there is no need to have one around that could kill your pet.

It’s possible you could train your dog to leave the plant alone, but it’s really not worth the risk. Remove the Oleander, Sago Palms and Lilies from your yard and grow safe plants in their place.

When you put fertilizers, insecticides or herbicides on your lawn or in your garden make sure your dogs and cats do not go on the treated areas until the time listed by the manufacturer. If there is no time listed call the company who manufactured the product to find out.

Don’t use snail bait that contains metaldehyde, fly bait that contains methomyl, and mole or gopher bait where your dog or cat can get to it. Most forms of rat poisons are also toxic for pets.

Also, be sure to store any unused fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in an area that is not available to your pets. Dogs can easily tear into a bag of fertilizer, as that dog did with the cocoa mulch, and eat half the bag before anyone notices.

If you have any questions about poisons, or if you think your dog might have eaten something poisonous, contact your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. For a free PDF on cocoa mulch visit the ASPCA web site.

According to the web site of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the number of dogs ingesting household and backyard poisons is increasing. In some cases, such as with polyurethane glue, the increase is dramatic. Since 2002 the number of dogs ingesting this glue has risen 740%.

For some reason dogs and cats are ingesting more poisons than in the past. Perhaps there are more products around that are made with poisonous ingredients, or perhaps with our busy lives we forget to put things away in a safe place. Whatever the reason, there is a significant increase in the number of pets dying each year from poisonous substances.

People love their dogs and don’t want to see them suffer. There are precautions everyone can take to protect their pet from ingesting poisons found inside the home, in the garage, and in the yard.

With the coming of cold weather the number of dogs dying from antifreeze and ice melts increases. Antifreeze is highly toxic and even small amounts can cause life-threatening kidney damage.

Most cases of antifreeze poisoning occur right at the animal’s own home because the proper storage containers were not used or the antifreeze was not disposed of properly. Keep these things in mind when working with antifreeze:

• Clean up spills immediately
• Check for leaks under your car regularly
• Store antifreeze in clearly marked containers that are sealed and out-of-reach of your pets
• Never allow your pet into the area where you are draining radiator fluid from your vehicle
• Consider using products containing propylene glycol, which are a less toxic form of antifreeze instead of products containing ethylene glycol

If you think your dog has ingested antifreeze contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 immediately.

Ice melts (used in many areas with snow and ice to melt the ice on the roads) are another cold weather problem for dogs. Walking on ice melts that contain ingredients such as calcium chloride and sodium chloride (table salt) can cause skin irritation. If your dog licks his paws and ingests the ice melt he can experience many side affects including drooling, vomiting, decreased muscle function, and in severe cases, seizures, coma and even death.

Again, if you think your pet has come in contact with an ice melt product it is important you contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away. There are different treatments for different types of ice melts so it will help if you know the type your pet was exposed to.

To help protect your dog memorize the list of poisonous items found on the ASPCA web site. Keep these things out of reach of your pet. Included in this list are things as common as:

·        Coffee

·        Onions

·        Garlic

·        Salt

·        Yeast dough

·        Avocado

·        Alcoholic beverages

·        Chocolate

·        Raisons and grapes

·        Citronella candles

·        Vitamins

·        Diet pills

·        Pain killers

·        Cold medicines

·        Moth balls

·        Fabric softener sheets

·        Liquid potpourri

·        Rat and mouse bait

·        Products sweetened with xylitol (includes some sugar-free gum and candy)

The list is just a partial list so be sure to study the full list at the ASPCA web site. It could save the life of your dog (or any pet) if you memorize it and then keep these things out of your pet’s reach.

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Since 2002 there has been a 740% increase in the number of dogs seen by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for polyurethane poisoning.

It's important that we all keep any glue or adhesive product out of the reach of our pets. Any dog that ingests even a little bit could require emergency surgery.

The glue expands in the warm stomach and can block the gastrointestinal track, leading to the dog's death unless surgery is performed to clear the passage.