279 December 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer
The Advertizer - Your local community magazine to the Gryffe area.
The Advertizer - Your local community magazine to the Gryffe area.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
32<br />
the advertizer<br />
Rescue Centres<br />
Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue › 01505 502415 › www.hessilhead.org.uk<br />
Cat Protection › 0141 779 3341 › www.cats.org.uk/glasgowac<br />
Dogs Trust Glasgow › 0141 773 5130 › www.dogstrust.org.uk<br />
Scottish SPCA › 0141 882 1688 › www.scottishspca.org<br />
These centres are always on the lookout for donations and fundraising. If you can<br />
help, please get in touch with any of the centres above.<br />
Christmas Dog Show<br />
Join us on Saturday 9th <strong>December</strong> at 11am at St John’s Church Hall,<br />
Jamaica Street, Greenock PA16 8JJ.<br />
Royalheart Greyhound Rescue are hosting a fabulous Dog Show with<br />
Judge, Denise MacGregor. With categories of Loveliest Lady Dog, Best<br />
Rescue, Most Fabulous Fella Dog, Best Party Trick and Festive Dog Fancy<br />
Dress, along with craft stalls, gifts, Tombola, this is also a great opportunity<br />
for some Christmas shopping.<br />
Doors open at 11am with the first class starting at 11.30am. Admission £2<br />
adults, £1 under 12’s, dogs FREE!<br />
Pet Blog<br />
by PetVets<br />
Festive Hazards<br />
The Christmas season is a time to<br />
celebrate and have fun, but it’s important to remember that there can be<br />
some hidden dangers for our four legged friends at this time of year, from<br />
toxic foods to poisonous plants and<br />
potential foreign bodies.<br />
These include:<br />
Chocolate contains theobromine<br />
which is toxic to dogs. It can cause gastrointestinal upsets, agitation,<br />
excitation, tremors, convulsions and even heart problems.<br />
Christmas pudding and mince pies Dried products such as currants,<br />
sultanas and raisins found in puddings and mince pies are also toxic to<br />
dogs. Even small amounts of these can cause kidney failure which can<br />
be fatal.<br />
Onions can cause vomiting and diarrhoea initially. They can also cause<br />
damage to red blood cells leading to anaemia developing several days<br />
after ingestion. Similar signs are seen with garlic, leeks, shallots and<br />
chives.<br />
Alcohol Initially alcohol can cause dogs to be drowsy and wobbly. This<br />
can progress to low body temperature, low blood sugar and coma.<br />
I’m chipped!<br />
As of April last year it became<br />
compulsory for dog owners to make sure that their pets are microchipped.<br />
This new law came into effect to help reunited lost or stray dogs with their<br />
owners and thankfully most owners have had their pets painlessly implanted<br />
with a microchip with their details recorded on a national database. It’s also<br />
had the added benefit of allowing local authorities and charities to make<br />
annual savings that can be put towards dogs that have no owners at all.<br />
This has been extremely helpful with the recent surge of lost dogs during<br />
the past few weeks of firework celebrations.<br />
The law does not presently extend to cats even though the independent<br />
nature of cats means that they are more likely to become lost or injured<br />
than dogs. Animal charities have called on ministers to extend the new law<br />
to cats as well as dogs. Currently, the SSPCA routinely microchips every<br />
dog and cat that they rehome.<br />
Your details shouldn’t need to be updated very often. Databases charge<br />
a small fee for changing details to cover administration costs. The cost<br />
of microchipping is very low, usually around £10-£15, with some places<br />
even offering the service for free. This price should include the implant,<br />
a qualified technician to fit it and a registration to a reputable microchip<br />
database. So to spare the trouble of needing to collect your pet from the<br />
pound and a lecture that may come with a cost, it’s worth the time to get<br />
your pets microchipped.<br />
Macadamia nuts These can cause lethargy, increased temperature,<br />
tremors, lameness and generalised stiffness in dogs.<br />
Christmas plants Many plants that we have in the house at Christmas<br />
can also be toxic to our pets. Poinsettia, holly, mistletoe and pine needles<br />
can all cause vomiting and diarrhoea. In addition poinsettia can cause<br />
irritation to the mouth and hyper salivation, and ivy may cause local skin<br />
irritations.<br />
Foreign bodies are inedible<br />
materials that are ingested and<br />
can cause choking, damage to<br />
the gastrointestinal system or<br />
obstruction of the stomach or<br />
intestine. This can be very serious<br />
and may require urgent surgery to<br />
remove the foreign body. Things to<br />
consider a hazard include Christmas<br />
decorations made of plastic, paper<br />
or foil, wrapping paper, tissue paper,<br />
string and candles.<br />
Have fun this Christmas, but<br />
remember to keep an eye on what<br />
your furry family members are<br />
munching on!<br />
t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
Change language