8 Signs of Poisoning in Dogs

Poisoning in dogs is a serious issue that every dog owner should be aware of. If you have a pet dog, then odds are you care greatly about it and do everything you can to keep it safe. Unfortunately, there are a lot of household items that may seem harmless that can end up poisoning your dog if they consume them.

It’s estimated that there are around 232,000 pet poisonings in the U.S. every year. These poisonings are caused by everything from cleaning products and gardening products to plants and people food. To help prevent dog poisonings, March has been designated as Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

Signs of Poisoning in Dogs

If your dog has consumed an item that is poisonous to them, you’ll want to act quickly by taking them to your vet as soon as possible. The quicker you act, the better the chances will be of saving your dog. With that in mind, the following are a few signs that indicate your dog may have consumed something poisonous:

  1. Your dog is breathing rapidly
  2. Your dog exhibits a weak or rapid pulse
  3. It’s experiencing a change in body temperature
  4. The dog’s gums appear pale
  5. The dog has lost consciousness
  6. Your dog is experiencing paralysis or is having trouble standing
  7. Your dog is having seizures
  8. It is bleeding excessively

What To Do If Your Dog Has Been Poisoned

First of all, call your vet. They will tell you what to do. If you can’t reach your vet, then call the  Animal Poison Control Center. You can reach them at 888-426-4435. They will provide you with guidance on what to do for a consultation fee. They are available 24 hours a day.You can also call the Pet Poison Hotline. 

If you take your pet to the vet, take any of the potential poison that remains. If your dog ate it all and vomited, take a sample of the vomit. This will help the vet determine what poisoned your dog so they can treat it more effectively.

Poisonings in dogs are a serious threat throughout California homes. Understand how to identify if your dog is poisoned so you can get them the care they need. For more pet safety advice, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Burn Injuries: Facts to Know

Burn injuries are more serious than a lot of people realize. They continue to be one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths in the US. Because people may not be aware of how serious injuries caused by burns can be, February 6th through February 12th has been designated as National Burn Awareness Week. 

Facts About Burn Injuries

To help spread awareness throughout California about the importance of burn safety, the following are some burn-related facts you should know:

  • It’s estimated that around 400,000 people are treated for injuries caused by burns in the U.S. every year.
  • In 2018, there 40,000 experienced injuries caused by burns that were bad enough to require them to go to the hospital.
  • The odds of a U.S. resident dying due to exposure to smoke (caused by a fire) or fire are one in 1,498.
  • An estimated 73 percent of all burn-related injuries that were treated in burn centers were the result of accidents within the home.
  • Children under the age of five are twice as likely to be seen for burn-related injuries in hospital ERs than the general population.
  • Around 40 percent of all burn-related injuries happen to children that are under the age of 15.
  • Fire Safety Tips

Although around 96.7 percent of burn victims that are treated in burn centers survive, many of them will have significant scarring and physical disabilities that can last their entire lives. Because many burn-related incidents occur to children at home, it’s critical that you keep the following fire safety tips in mind, especially if you have kids:

  • Teach your kids about fire safety: Make sure your kids don’t play with matches or lighters if they find them. Teach them to tell the nearest adult if they find them. You should also teach them to stay away from open flames (such as if there’s a fire in the fireplace).
  • Never leave candles burning unattended: If you’re lighting a candle, don’t leave the room without putting it out.
  • Never leave the stove or grill unattended if it’s in use. Especially if there are kids around.

Burn injuries are a serious problem in the U.S., especially where kids are concerned. Make sure to keep fire safety in mind to help prevent burn-related injuries. For more safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder

What is and eating disorder?

Eating disorders are serious, complex and potentially life-threatening mental illnesses. They are characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts and attitudes to food, eating, and body weight or shape. Eating disorders have detrimental impacts upon a person’s life and result in serious medical, psychiatric and psychosocial consequences.

Before you can address and treat a problem, you must identify the problem. Warning signs of an eating disorder include:

Alterations in Weight

  • Unusually marked weight loss. If the person weighs less than 85 percent of their ideal body weight and exhibits other characteristic signs of an eating disorder, this person can be diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.
  • Patients can still be close to, at, or even above their ideal body weight and still have an eating disorder. This is fairly often seen in binging and purging behaviors typical of patients diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa.

Preoccupation with Body Image

  • May spend an inordinate amount of time looking in the mirror.
  • Makes negative comments about her physical appearance and insists that she is overweight.
  •  May become preoccupied with certain celebrities and models on the Internet and magazines and compare themselves unfavorably to them.
  • Wears baggy clothing to hide their body shape.
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Heart Attack Signs in Women

heart attack signs in women

A lot of people don’t know or dismiss heart attack signs in women because heart attacks are commonly associated with men. However, in actuality, more women die from heart attacks than men. While many people are aware of the heart attack signs in men, they don’t realize that those signs are a bit different in women. To help spread awareness about the signs of heart attacks in women and how to reduce the risk of heart attacks, February has been designated as American Heart Awareness Month.

What Are the Heart Attack Signs in Women?

Women do share some symptoms with men when it comes to heart attacks; however, there are a few symptoms that they are more likely to experience than men. With that in mind, the following are the primary signs that a woman is having a heart attack:

  • Chest pains: The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is the feeling of pain in the chest. The pain may be accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest, but these are symptoms men tend to have more than women.
  • Pain in the arms: Both men and women may experience pain or discomfort in one or both of their arms.
  • Shortness of breath: Shortness of breath is a symptom men don’t have nearly as often as women have during a heart attack.
  • Nausea: Men don’t typically experience nausea prior to having a heart attack, but women do. In fact, women may even vomit during the onset of a heart attack.
  • Other symptoms: Other symptoms women may feel during a heart attack include pain in the jaw, neck, or back as well as feelings of lightheadedness or weakness.

Know the Signs of a Heart Attack

It’s crucial that you know what the heart attack signs in women are so that you can warn someone if you think you’re having a heart attack or call 9-1-1 if you think someone you’re with is having one. For more health awareness tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

The Importance of Pediatric Dental Visits

Tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

The good news is that tooth decay is preventable. Fluoride varnish, a high concentration fluoride coating that is painted on teeth, can prevent about one-third (33%) of decay in the primary (baby) teeth. Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer decayed teeth than children who live in areas where their tap water is not fluoridated. Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have less tooth decay.

Keep Healthy Teeth with the 2-2-2 Rule
Help keep your child’s teeth healthy by using the 2-2-2 rule: visit your dentist two times a year, and brush and floss TWO times a day for TWO whole minutes!

How Do You Get Kids to Brush Their Teeth?
Our pediatric dentists recommend parents follow the “tell, show, do” model:

  • Tell: In age-appropriate language, explain how to brush and floss and how those actions keep teeth clean and healthy
  • Show: Let children watch when mom or dad brush and floss their own teeth.
  • Do: Help children brush and floss their teeth in the morning and before bed, and keep a regular routine so they know it’s expected. Continue helping to brush a child’s teeth until age 4 or 5. After that, let them do it themselves, but supervise them until age 7 or 8. both children and adults should brush for two minutes, twice a day.

Oral Hygiene: the Importance of Brushing and Flossing
Your oral health can offer clues about your overall health or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria. Typically, the body’s natural defenses and good oral hygiene can keep these bacteria under control. However, if you don’t remove the bacteria daily with brushing and flossing, it can cause cavities or gum disease. 

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