My wonderful 11 year old chihuahua may not make it through the night, I posted recently about him licking everything, and now he has gotten into Feebrez and possiably dishwasher soap or something and he is at the vet, taken there Monday when her became ill, last night he went into shock and is having transfussions. I don't want to give up on him, he saved my life when my house caught on fire and the smoke detentors did not go off, he woke me up. Anyone had a furbaby poisoned by household products.

-- Deborah (theant00@yahoo.com), March 02, 2001

Answers

No, Deborah, I haven't. But I hope your chihuahua recovers, it is hard to have a good friend sick like that.

-- Cynthia Speer (farmsteader@gvtel.com), March 02, 2001.

Oh, Deborah. When I was young, I lost two dear dogs to rat poison they had found in the neighborhood. I'm very sorry to hear about your pup's trouble, and hope you both pull through OK. Let us know, OK?

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), March 02, 2001.

Hope he makes it , dogs are pretty tuff. If you can visit him, having you near will give him insentive to pull through.Had one dog who chewed up some gazzinias I was going to plant in the garden, came home and found her trembeling and foaming at the mouth. Rushed her to vet and she was fine the next day. I will keep my fingers crossed for him.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), March 02, 2001.

The vet is the best place for your dog right now if it's going to have a hope of survival. This is one of the reasons that I crusade against using chemical products in the home. Fabreeze is supposedly 'safe' for dogs and cats, but it is killing birds. Remember the canaries in the coal mine, who would die when the air quality was getting toxic and the miners would run out in fear for their lives? Your dog is the canary in the coal mine in this case.

I recommend throwing all those things out now and avert further tragedy. I threw out all non-stick cookware years ago because of the PTFE fumes they emit when heated, even at low temperatures (kills birds, will probably eventually seriously damage your health too), got rid of all poisonous detergents and cleaning products and rely on biodegradable pure soaps, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, baking soda, and Oxyfresh. Handwash all articles that say 'dry clean only' or don't buy them.

I hope your little dog survives. Think about doing a real housecleaning -- throwing out toxic substances -- as a welcome home for her. It could save you a whole lot on vet bills in the future as well as some healthcare bills for yourself.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), March 03, 2001.

We'll be praying your little dog pulls through allright, Deborah. Please keep us posted as to how he is doing.

Elephant ears are very toxic to dogs too. A lady I sold a pup to lost him because he dug up the bulbs and ate them. He was at least 6 months old too. Rip them all up and get rid of them if you have them. Of all the pups I've sold, that's the only one I know that got poisened.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 03, 2001.

My heart goes out to you Deborah, may your little friend pull through and live to comfort you for many years to come.

Add Scotchgard type chemicals to the list of chemical hazards people unknowingly poison themselves and their pets with everyday. Thousands of cats die of leukemia every year after exposure to Scotchgard applied to carpet and furniture; if it can do that to cats, just think what it is doing to us! My aunt lost two cats due to this type of poisoning, how sad!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), March 03, 2001.

Thank you all for the kind words, my dear friend passed away at 2AM. He will be missed.

-- Deborah (theant00@yahoo.com), March 03, 2001.

Deborah, I'm so sorry to read this about your dear little dog. Please look at the Rainbow Bridge site on your computer. That may help, it's about all our loved pets who have gone ahead of us. Many, many people write in there.

Take care.

Carole / a K-9 Mom in Wisconsin

-- Carole (coverga@bminet.com), March 03, 2001.

I'm sorry he did not make it .Take comfort in he had a good life and is no longer suffering .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 03, 2001.

Deborah: My heart goes out to you this morning. So very sorry about your little dog. This is the worst part of keeping companion animals, the fact that we almost always outlive them. You are in my thoughts!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), March 04, 2001.

Deborah, sorry to hear about your little Chi. I think it is very possible that he died of something other than poisoning. Pica is the term for unusual food cravings and can be caused by liver disease etc. Licking the fabreeze & detergent, although not a great thing, may not have been what killed him. So don't feel like it is your fault or anything. It probably was something internal. What did your Vet think it was?

-- teresa (teresam@ascent.net), March 04, 2001.

Deborah, there is nothing harder then losing a friend be they two footed or four,I am sorry to hear about your loss.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), March 05, 2001.

Deborah, please know that we share your tears. I have said good-bye to many of my pets and we never forget them. Hold on to the memories and don't blame yourself for anything. I also suspect that he had other medical problems. He is at the Rainbow Bridge, happy and healthy and playing with my friends. God bless.

-- Ardie from WI (a6203@hotmail.com), March 05, 2001.

im so sorry your chi died

-- emilia mykytiuk (countrylady9@hotmail.com), March 07, 2001.

Hello Deb,,I was sorry to hear that you lost your long time little friend.(Chihuahua) But remember he had a good life with you and brought you many smiles and fun days. It will be hard for awhile, but in time it gets a little easier. I lost 2 of my dearest friends and loyal companions and still feel sadness over the loss, but it has gotten easier. I have many dear pictures and remember the happy times we had. Take care, my thoughts are with you.

-- Patsy (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), March 07, 2001.

Deborah, as all of us know our pets are family and my sympathy goes out to you with your loos.

-- n jenn (normaj3@countrylife.net), March 09, 2001.