PUT YOUR PET'S SMILE IN THE AZGRC'S 2018 CALENDAR

AZGRC 2018 CALENDAR

SHOWCASE YOUR PET'S SMILE IN AZGRC'S 2018 CALENDAR

Arizona Golden Retriever Connection’s (AZGRC) annual calendar project  is one of our most popular and successful revenue-generating endeavors.   Thanks to the generous support of our page, production and printing  sponsors, along with our veterinary supporters and our Golden Friends, Arizona Golden Retriever Connection is able to directly allocate  more than 98% of all calendar sales to pay for medical expenses  associated with rescuing our Goldens. On an average it costs Arizona Golden Retriever Connection  approximately $1,500 to rescue one of our Goldens.  This includes  complete medical examinations at the time of rescue, vaccinations, micro-chips, spaying/neutering surgeries as well as more specialized  care for some of our seriously ill rescues.   Very soon Arizona Golden Retriever Connection’s talented,  all-volunteer calendar team will begin work on our 2018 calendar.   You can be a part of this special endeavor by becoming  a “Golden for Golden” Friend of AZGRC.  For each $25 donation,  one space in the Golden Friends section of the calendar will be  reserved for a snapshot of your pet.  Of course, you can reserve  as many spots as you would like!  Pets of all kinds and from all  backgrounds are most welcome.  We want to light up our 2018  calendar with as many Golden smiles as possible! For a $25 donation, you can be a part of this great fundraiser and showcase your Golden in a snapshot (photo requirements below) on our 2018 Golden Friends pages.   Reserve your pet's spot on our Golden Friends pages today! DEADLINE - MAY 1, 2017 Please note: ONLY ONE DOG PER $25 DONATION.  PHOTOS WILL NOT BE RETURNED. PHOTO GUIDELINES: Golden Friends photos will be sized to approximately 1’x1/25” in a vertical format.  Please send the full format photo,DO NOT CROP PHOTOGRAPH.  Photos will be cropped by AZGRC to focus on your pet’s head.  It is recommended that your photo clearly show your pet’s face in a forward-facing pose. (See Examples)  If you are sponsoring more than one pet, please copy the Sponsorship Form and complete a form for each pet.  Photos should be taken at the highest resolution your camera will permit. Digital photos must be a minimum of 3x5 and saved as a .jpg or .png, 300 dpi resolution. Glossy or matte finish color photographs should be submitted in a standard 3x5 or 4x6 size.  Note, photos will not be returned.  Clearly print your name, telephone number and your pet’s name on a post-it-note and attach to the back of your photo.  DO NOT WRITE on the back of the photograph. TWO WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR PET'S PHOTO EMAIL CLICK THE DONATE BUTTON BELOW MAKE YOUR DONATION VIA PAYPAL.   SEND EMAIL TO WEBMASTER@AZGRC.ORG AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Your name (As you’d like it to appear in the calendar)    Example: John and Joy Smith, John Smith and Joy Evans Your dog’s name  Is your dog an AZGRC Rescue? Your address  Contact email address Attach the image file of your pet to your  email TO:  webmaster@azgrc.org MAILComplete the 2018 GOLDEN FRIENDS SPONSORSHIP FORM   CLICK HERE to download and print the form. Mail your completed form, donation and pet's photo to:AZGRC 2018 GOLDEN FRIENDS SPONSORSHIP P.O. BOX 26678 SCOTTSDALE, AZ  85255 You may also fax the form back to us at 480-563-9154.

Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs

For some folks, the start of a new year is a catalyst to lose weight and this may mean switching from plain old sugar to lower calorie sweeteners. Xylitol is one such sugar substitute that is safe for human consumption, but is toxic for dogs. In fact, it can be deadly.

What exactly is xylitol?

Discovered by German chemist Emil Fisher in 1891, xylitol is found in fruit and vegetable fibers. The xylitol we consume is manufactured by beginning with a product called xylan found in hardwood trees and corncobs.

Xylitol was first put to use as a sweetener in Finland during World War II when sucrose was unavailable. The growth in xylitol popularity is attributed to its many beneficial properties. To begin with, xylitol is as sweet as sucrose, but with far fewer calories. Additionally, compared to sugar, it causes very little insulin release in people and insulin is not required for it to be put to use as an energy source for the body. Lastly, xylitol has been shown to prevent mouth bacteria from producing acids that damage the surfaces of the teeth. For this reason, xylitol is commonly included in toothpastes, sugar-free gum, and other oral care products.

Species- specific effects

The effect of xylitol on insulin release varies dramatically between species. In people, rats, horses, and rhesus monkeys, xylitol causes little to no increase in insulin release or change in blood sugar levels. This is altogether different in dogs, cows, goats, rabbits, and baboons. In these species xylitol causes a marked increase in insulin release and drop in blood sugar and is the basis for xylitol toxicity.

Toxicity in dogs

After a dog consumes a significant amount of xylitol, there is a massive release of insulin from the pancreas. This, in turn, results in a dangerously low blood sugar level and symptoms such as weakness, trembling, seizures, collapse, and even death.

At higher dosages, xylitol can cause massive liver destruction (known as necrosis) in which large numbers of livers cells die abruptly. This produces an acute health crisis and, in many cases, death.

Vomiting is often the first symptom of xylitol toxicity. Other symptoms related to the low blood sugar level develop within 30 minutes to 12 hours following consumption. When xylitol-induced liver damage occurs, blood liver enzyme values typically begin increasing within 12 to 24 hours.

The dose of xylitol considered to be toxic for dogs is 0.1 gram or more of xylitol per kg of the dog’s body weight.

Treatment of xylitol toxicity

Emergency treatment is warranted after a dog consumes xylitol. If vomiting can be successfully induced within the first 30 minutes or so (before the xylitol leaves the stomach), the problem may be solved. Once xylitol leaves the stomach and triggers the pancreas to produce insulin, intensive treatment is warranted in order to try to counteract the effects of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and liver damage. Treatment includes hospitalization with round-the-clock care, blood monitoring, and administration of intravenous glucose and liver-protective agents. In some cases, blood transfusions are needed to counteract the effects of blood clotting abnormalities caused by liver failure.

The prognosis for xylitol toxicity varies and depends on how promptly the dog receives treatment as well as the amount of xylitol that was consumed.

Read labels carefully

Many foods and dental products contain xylitol. It is found in chewing gum, candy, peanut butter, cereals, and toothpaste, to name a few. Believe it or not, some products advertised specifically for dogs, such as toothpaste, contain small amounts of xylitol! What are these manufacturers thinking?!

Not all product labels clearly state if they contain xylitol. If a label states only, “artificially sweetened,” presume that it contains xylitol. If you opt to use xylitol-containing products in your household, be sure to keep them completely out of your clever dog’s reach.

What to do if your dog eats xylitol

If you believe that your dog has just eaten (as in you just watched it happen) something containing xylitol, contact a veterinary hospital staff member right away. You might be advised to induce your dog to vomit at home. This is accomplished by forcing your dog to swallow hydrogen peroxide.

If you’re not really sure when the xylitol was consumed (you’ve just returned home from work and the remains of sugar-free gum wrappers are decorating the couch), transport your dog to a nearby veterinary clinic or 24-hour emergency hospital right away. Be sure to take the label of the consumed product with you. Time is always of the essence when treating xylitol toxicity.

Look around your house and see if you have any xylitol-containing products. What did you find?

If you would like to respond publicly, please visit: http://www.speakingforspot.com/blog/?p=5343.

Happy new year,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog's Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet