Chocolate is toxic to dogs

Christmas Presents can be Deadly for Dogs
I would like to advise everyone with dogs to think twice before following instructions on a gift that read do not open until Christmas.
A very nice family I met last night received a Christmas present from an acquaintance. They placed it, still wrapped, underneath their tree. Unbeknownst to them the package contained a pound and a half of dark chocolate.
Although the family had no way of knowing the package’s contents, their dog sniffed it out in short order. He consumed the entire block of chocolate and most of the wrapping.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Small amounts may cause no symptoms, or may cause mild agitation. Larger quantities can cause muscle spasms, high body temperature, and severe agitation. Fatal doses cause seizures, heart palpitations, and death.
This dog had consumed a potentially fatal dose. The family sought veterinary attention immediately. We were able to save the dog with intensive overnight management. But for much of the night a favorable outcome did not seem certain. Without prompt medical attention the dog certainly would have died.
In my mind, this story is a good reason to treat yourself to the pleasure of opening all of your gifts as you receive them.

Facebook meltdown

So much for Silicon Valley's latest get-rich-quick scheme. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has cancelled a plan to let employees cash out their shares early. In August, before the markets started to melt down and with Facebook worth $15 billion on paper, Zuckerberg unveiled a plan to let employees sell a small amount of their shares — no more than $900,000 or 10 percent of their stock holdings, whichever was less. The program, all but unheard of among Valley startups, was meant to appease employees who were agitating for some chance to make money from their shares. It was a revolutionary new way to reward employees, without having to go through an IPO or a sale.

The revolution is over, Zuckerberg told his company today. "I'm writing this note to let you know some bad news," he wrote in an email to all employees at the 800-person social-network startup this afternoon. "Despite a lot of work, we have not been able to finalize a plan for the employee stock sale we announced in August."

Facebook executives had been courting potential buyers for employees' shares since the summer. But as the value of Google tumbled from its high of $700 last year, would-be investors started asking questions about whether Facebook's value, too, had dropped. By last month, they were getting downright nervous.

Microsoft had invested $240 million in the company for a 1.6 percent stake in the company that valued all of Facebook at $15 billion, but that deal came with extras: Microsoft bought preferred shares, which get paid off first if the company's bought, and it also got an advertising deal with Facebook at the same time.

Facebook's common shares, meanwhile, have a value that put the whole company's worth at around $4 billion. Or they did. A source close to potential investors said they wanted to buy shares from employees at a lower valuation, or with guarantees similar to Microsoft's. To reward a small number of employees who had enough shares to benefit from the program, Zuckerberg would have had to give away something for nothing.

It's still a crushing blow to morale at the company that was once Silicon Valley's highest-flying startup. Facebook once had the pick of the world's best and brightest, hiring brilliant kids from college who had gone through school addicted to the social network.

So Zuckerberg's back to the original startup business plan: Make a big bet, and hope it pays off years later with an IPO or a sale. Facebookers will have to make the same bet, too. It's not as exciting as overturning Silicon Valley's financial order. But right now, just drawing a paycheck seems like a lucky thing.

Mississippi Leevies

Untitled

I Treat my Dog’s Injured Nail?

My dog got her back paw caught in the door and her
whole nail came off. Now just the quick is
showing. I got the bleeding to stop but now it is
slimy and has a bad odor. Have you seen this before
and what should we do????

Melanie
Sarnia, ON, Canada

Nail injuries are very common in dogs. They occur when nails snag on carpet or vegetation, or when a nail catches on any stationary object.

In some instances (such as the one described by the questioner), trauma to the nail causes the nail to come completely off. In other cases, the nail is torn partially off.

In either case, a trip to the vet is in order. Nails that have been partially torn off may need to be removed. Both types of injury can lead to infection. Melanie, I suspect that an infection is the source of the bad odor that is emanating from your dog’s nail. Antibiotics may be necessary to help her heal.

Also, both types of injury can be painful. Your vet can recommend pain killers to make your dog feel better.

Most nails grow back normally after nail injuries. However, in rare cases the nail grows back in an irregular fashion. This rarely harms the affected dog. However, you may have to pay special attention to the nail in question. It may require frequent trimming.

For more information on injured nails in pets, click here.

Photo hat tip: Nicci.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

My Yahoo!

My Yahoo!

Blogged with the Flock Browser