If you are planning on taking a trip with your dog, the first step is always to make sure that you and your pet are prepared for the excursion and that you’ve researched pet friendly hotels and airlines. For those readers who are new to the experience, we’ve detailed some of things you’ll want to consider when first planning your trip in another post. Of course, once all the initial research has been done, you’ll want to focus on step two - actually enjoying your time with your pet!

Traveling with your dog is easier now than ever before, but there are still a lot of important things to keep in mind - especially when it comes to air travel and hotels. When done wrong, travelling with your pet can be stressful and you’ll wish you had just left your friend at home. However, when done right, it can be an easy and rewarding experience. There are two aspects to making a successful trip with your dog: planning ahead and knowing the laws.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Service Dog Registration Of America! We know many of you will be traveling over the holiday season which means your Service Dog will be along for the trip. However, the two things that don’t always mix well are holidays and dogs.

You might be wondering why that is. The simple truth is that dogs love to eat, and unfortunately, certain holiday foods can kill your dog if he eats them.

Even if you are vigilant in watching what your dog eats and keep table food out of his reach, holiday guests might not be so attentive. Make sure that you keep an eye on food that is left within your dog’s reach, including the trash cans.

Here’s what you need to know about the 6 holiday foods that can kill your dog.

1. Chocolate Candies, Cakes, and Cookies

Chocolate is a favorite treat for many people, and dogs seem to like it too, even though it isn’t good for them. Every type of chocolate contains caffeine and methylxanthines, substances that are toxic for dogs. White chocolate is the least toxic, while unsweetened cocoa has the most toxicity. Typically, eating small amounts lead to mild symptoms, while larger amounts can create severe reactions, including:

• Excessive thirst
• Abdominal discomfort and vomiting
• Muscle tremors
• Increase in body temperature
• Severe agitation
• Irregular heartbeat
• Seizures and death

2. Macadamia Nuts, Cookies, and Candies

While they are available throughout the entire year, macadamia nuts seem to be popular during the holidays. They show up in cookies and cakes, as well as in chocolate-covered versions and nut mixes. Unfortunately, macadamia nuts are highly toxic for your dog. According to the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), sensitivity to these nuts varies from one dog to another, and there’s no scientific way to guestimate how much your dog can eat before it creates a toxic reaction. Your dog might eat one and become ill, and then again, it might need to eat six or seven before experiencing a bad reaction.

If your dog does eat macadamia nuts, you’ll need to watch for the following symptoms:

• Muscle tremors
• Fever
• Weakness in the back legs, creating difficulty in standing up from a prone position
• Full paralysis of the back legs
• Rapid heart rate and vomiting

When the poisoning is mild, your dog should recover without medical treatment after a couple of days. You’ll notice the symptoms becoming weaker, and your dog becoming stronger. If your pet’s symptoms are severe, you should take your dog to the veterinarian for treatment. IV-fluid therapy and pain management are generally needed when a pet is showing signs of extreme distress.

Since macadamia nuts are often paired with chocolate when used in baking, your pet is placed at a double risk if he ingests food containing both. The toxicity of chocolate and macadamia nuts together can lead to such a severe reaction that your pet’s life might be in danger. Therefore, you should take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

3. Raised Dough

Raised dough is made with live yeast, which can expand in the stomach of your pet if he eats raw dough. As the dough expands, it causes severe stomach discomfort, limiting the proper flow of blood. If your dog develops a twisted stomach, the tissues begin to die. Typically, you won’t know that this condition has occurred until it is too late. If you discover that your dog is having difficulty breathing, it is a clear sign that the stomach is expanding. Once your pet develops seizures or foams at the mouth, it is typically too late to save him.

4. Xylitol

A sugar-free sweetener used in candies, gum, and baked goods, xylitol is highly toxic and can lead to your dog’s death in as little as 30 minutes. Eating a lot of xylitol can lead to disorientation, seizures, and liver failure in your dog.

5. Nutmeg

Found in cookies, pumpkin pie, and sweet potato pie, nutmeg is toxic from your pets. It’s even used in eggnog, so forget that tiny sip you were going to let your dog enjoy. Nutmeg contains myristicin, a dangerous chemical. High levels of nutmeg can lead to:

• Hallucinogenic responses
• Nausea
• dehydration
• Seizures, convulsions, and death

6. Raisins

Baked in cookies, cakes, and pies, raisins are toxic for dogs. Their ingestion is linked to vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure and death.
so we’ve compiled a list of foods to make sure you keep far away from your dog…

PS…If you plan on traveling this holiday season and you still don’t have your ID or VIP Kit, today is the day to do so to still have it arrive before the 24th. We are receiving DOZENS of calls every day about businesses requiring far more than the law gives them permission to require but if you want your travel plans to go off without a hitch you really should have your ID and harness.

PPS… Click here to take advantage of the Holiday Mega 63% OFF Sale before we pull the plug. We will not offer pricing like this until this time next year!

In order to get the most out of each visit that you make to your veterinarian with your dog, you should ask lots of questions. The answers that you receive can help you to take better care of your pet, safeguarding his health and promoting his happiness. Here are 7 important questions that you should be asking your veterinarian about your dog.

Service dogs are specially trained to assist people with disabilities. Service dogs are more than just guide dogs for the blind. Service dogs are working dogs. In addition to hearing dogs and guide dogs, there are also seizure alert dogs, and service dogs doing housework for people with limited mobility. Children suffering from emotional and psychological trauma, as well as war veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) all benefit from having a service dog by their side.

I had a traumatizing experience at a major chain store today. It’s not the first time I had a bad experience at this store.

This eager dog just cant wait to have his special treat!!! We are just glad he shared some with his buddy! Checkout Cooper and Daisy HERE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHvExOg4NI0

Meet This HERO Lilica. She was abandoned at a junk yard filled with many other animals including chickens cats and other dogs. But when Lilica had puppies she had to search long and far for food sometimes over 4 miles away!!! After raising her pups she continued to return each day with food for her neighboring animals!!!! WATCH as this amazing pooch risks its life everyday to feed it’ s family and fellow animal friends.

Our Thanks go out to the University of Illinois for allowing this lovely young student and her service dog Hero to walk at graduation!!! Hero sure looks good in a Cap and Gown!!! Read more here!!