plants that are dangerous to dogs

Penny usually stays in the house unless we are outside in the garden and I'm thinking that might not be such a bad thing, after reading an article in the latest edition of the Australian magazine, Dogs Life.

'A backyard fit for a dog', it was called. In a sidebar there was a list of 'problem plants' that shouldn't be in the garden. Rather than worrying about which dangerous plant I have, I should worry about which one I DON'T have - I might as well have every dangerous plant in the world, instead of only most of them.

One that I particularly noticed was apricot, which I've read about before. I usually spend hours picking up the stones from the apricots and nectarines each year. If only those pesky birds that steal our fruit could learn to put the stones in the rubbish bins!

The ASPCA says the stems, leaves and seeds of peaches and apricots contain cyanide, and that the leaves are particularly toxic when they are wilting. Symptoms would be brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.

I take particular care to remove all apricot branches after pruning. In general I would leave prunings to wilt in the garden and add their leaves to the mulch. But definitely not apricots. Not peaches. And not nectarines, seeing they are a type of peach.

However, although I'm not going to remove these trees, or the plum tree, or the daisy bushes, or the geraniums, hydrangea, azaleas and rhododendrons - to name a few! - I think I will move the pot with the aloe vera, because I can imagine a scenario where she might break a piece off as she leaps into that part of the garden chasing a tennis ball. I had actually wondered whether aloe vera would be a useful doggy medication if Penny had skin problems. I guess not, though the fact that it's poisonous doesn't necessarily mean it would be bad rubbed onto the skin.

The ASPCA has this plant listed as toxic to dogs and there's a photo of the plant.

I have a book on my shelf (I know, old technology, but what can replace the feel of a book in your hand?) called Plant Alert; A Garden Guide for Parents. It says about aloe vera:

Severe diarrhoea and stomach pains can result if the juice, which is a violent purgative, is ingested. In large doses it can cause dehydration and weight loss due to excessive loss of fluid from diarrhoea.

dog bloggers can now analyse themselves

If you copy your blog address into typealyzer, you might gain a little self-knowledge. I found a reference to this fun page on robyn E's blog, Writing Up a Storm. I discovered I am an ESFP - A Performer. Here it is:

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

Well... Penny could tell you the first part is totally off. I'm friendly but no entertainer. I live in a clutter of unfinished projects, tbr books (to-be-read), bills clamoring for attention and clothes thrown off in a hurry. If that's an environment filled with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells, then the first part of the analysis is spot-on.

As for not planning ahead, I think not! I'm a champion worrier who likes to have it all mapped out in advance.

The last part - yes! I don't like conflict. That's why I'm a dog blogger, because this little world of animal lovers is full of supportive and friendly people.

find out the genetic heritage of your bitser dog

Penny is definitely a bitser.
If you don't know this word, have a look at this Australian English dictionary - just scroll down till you find it. It does use the synonym 'mongrel', but no way is Penny a mongrel!! She's too much of a lady to go by that name.




Well, usually...




Anyway, I heard on the radio yesterday that genetic testing to determine heritage is now available in Australia at a reasonable cost. It seems I would take a cheek swab from Penny and then receive an analysis of her parentage for a few generations back, plus information about typical health issues for those breeds and suggestions for activities suitable for those breeds.

But what if she's got many breeds in her parentage? Will I have to worry about every known medical problem? (Champion worrier speaking here!) Perhaps it's best not to know, not to feel constrained by others' expectations of her.

I did post about this topic in October 2007 and decided not to do it, but this time it is the highly reputable Lort Smith Animal Hospital promoting the test. They will receive 20% of the AU$ 125 it costs.

Hmmm... interesting.

However, I did once post about a highly critical article discussing the dangers of possible misuse of this technology.

a dog sees the moon turn red during the Victorian bushfires

On Friday 13 February, about midnight, Penny and I went outside for the usual 'pitstop' before retiring to bed. I hasten to add that it was Penny who needed to use the 'outside facilities'. I'm sophisticated enough to use the inside toilet.

We were astonished, and saddened, to see the moon was red. Red from the bushfire smoke that was smothering Victoria that week. I took a photo, which unfortunately was blurry, but here it is:



Yesterday when I was listening to the radio I discovered I wasn't the only one who had seen this strange bloody moon as a symbol of the bushfires. Bobby Valentine Bobby Valentine, a local singer, was inspired to write a song about it. He is donating all proceeds to the brave men and women of the CFA (Country Fire Authority) who fought the fires.

You can listen to the song here. If you click on 'Bushfire Moon' it starts to play, so you can listen and decide whether you want to download it.

Note; I've put in a link to Bobby Valentine's MySpace instead of his home site because the first link doesn't seem to work properly.

weird shapes on a dog walk

Yesterday Penny was astonished to see a huge octopus in Darebin Parklands.

Okay, that's just an attention-getting opening line. But look at this. Doesn't it seem to have the shape of an octopus?



I reckon Penny thought so.



And further along, in the Hidden Valley, we found a monster.



But Penny wasn't scared.

dog-walking after the welcome rain in Darebin Parklands

Penny and her human family had a refreshing walk in the newly green Darebin Parklands today. Melbourne has had gentle rain over the last few days - not as much as we need, but enough to raise our spirits after the sudden tragedy of bushfires and the slow attrition of drought.

New plants are spreading their leaves in the dampness.



And it's a pleasure to wander along the beautiful track in the Hidden Valley.






It's wonderful to think this beautiful bushland is available right in the middle of densely-settled suburbia!

dogs and buried bones

I walked into the lounge room this morning and noticed the smell and thought, "Oh, poor Penny. She must have been sick in here. Or have diarrhoea. Poor thing."

But she looked fine, lying on the carpet eating her bone.

Wait a minute, what bone? She hadn't had any lately, only that one she buried in the garden days ago... At my not-so-quiet exclamation she took off guiltily through the doggie door. (Maybe dogs don't feel guilt, but that's what it sure looked like!)



Who'd have thought such a little bit of dirt would smell so bad?



After about half an hour she took a rest from chewing and came inside, so I popped outside to take a photo of the bone for this post. But I'd have needed Olympic speed to make it to the bone ahead of her. She grabbed it and raced off to bury it.



It seems as if the doggy logic failed at this stage, as she didn't mind my photographing the work.