Welcome to the first edition of Paw Prints by The Pet Nanny, a column intended to update CaboRicardo members on the animal news of Los Cabos.
I am a Canadian animal lover who recently relocated full time to Los Cabos with my husband Mirek, and 2 rescue cats. After creating a successful pet-sitting and dog walking business in Kelowna, BC, and being very involved in animal advocacy, I was looking to do the same type of thing here. I recently launched The Pet Nanny Cabo, professional pet services, offering Los Cabos animal guardians another option for care if they are away or require extra help in meeting their pets needs.
I worked for 7 years in veterinary hospitals receiving valuable on the job training in the treatment and care of companion animals, and have successfully fostered and facilitated the adoption of over 15 shelter dogs and numerous cats.
I am also involved with the Los Cabos Humane Society (LCHS) through dog walking and fostering. The LCHS
receives no government funding and operates solely on donations. They promote the humane treatment of domestic animals through education, pet population control via spay/neuter clinics, and rescue and adoption.
They are currently looking for donations of dry bags of cement and cement blocks for use in the construction of their new x-ray room. They have a full-time vet on staff and are working to equip the clinic so that less off-site veterinary clinic visits are required, saving valuable time and money for the centre.
You can get more information on the Los Cabos Humane Society at www.loscaboshumanesociety.com.
044 624 151-6046
Did you know a very popular Mexican staple food can be bad for pets?
According to the ASPCA, the avocado plant contains a substance called persin. “Different species of animals have different toxic reactions to avocados,” said Dr. Tina Wismer, the senior director of veterinary outreach and education at the ASPCA. “Animals such as birds can develop respiratory distress, fluid build-up around the heart, and death. Horses, rabbits and goats can develop both mastitis [inflammation of the mammary glands] and cardiac problems. They also get a build-up of fluid under the skin in the face and chest.”
“In dogs, cats and ferrets there are no reliable reports of poisoning,” she added. “However, dogs commonly ingest the pit and it can get stuck in the digestive tract.”
One other thing to keep in mind: different varieties of avocado contain different amounts of persin. So even if your pet rabbit or horse has eaten avocados without a problem in the past, the same might not be true in the future. The common Guatemalan variety seems to be the most worrisome, the ASPCA notes. And avocado leaves contain the most persin, Wismer told Paw Nation.
So what’s the verdict? If you have a pet bird, horse, or rodent, absolutely keep it away from the guacamole. If your dog adores avocados, he can probably keep on enjoying them. Just make sure to keep those pesky pits far out of reach!
