Not So Sweet: Xylitol is Deadly for Dogs

No matter how bad your dog's breath may be, do not offer him a breath mint. Xylitol, a common ingredient in breath mints, toothpaste, gum and low-calorie sweets, can cause a severe and sudden drop in blood sugar followed by liver failure. Read all about it here. Even small amounts can be deadly, so keep any foods that contain it well away from your hounds. That means if you tend to put your purse or backpack, with a stash of gum inside, on the floor, it's time to retrain yourself, and if you think it's OK to give your dog a dollop of your low-cal ice cream, think again.

Martha Speaks! Kids Listen.

We dog lovers have long wondered what our pups would say if they could actually talk. That's the genius of a new animated kid's show based on Susan Meddaugh's popular book series, Martha Speaks. 

Martha, the family dog, eats alphabet soup and gains the ability to speak. While having adventures--including dealing with the family's new puppy, trying out to be a firehouse dog and going camping--she uses that skill to advise the children in her family (and the listeners to her radio talk show) on topics like communication, courage and being yourself. Along the way she also teaches them vocabulary words. Good dog.

Aimed at 4 to 7-year-olds, Martha Speaks premieres on PBS today. Check the PBS listings for local times and dates.

Wag the Dog.

First we had revelations by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, in his book "What Happened."  Now, Barney the First Dog has his own tell-all, offering an inside look at the Bush administration and Washington's "culture of dogception." Mark Fiore brings us the commerical.

Pet Products Go Green

Browsing in a local pet store the other day, I discovered some wonderful dog toys from a company called West Paw Design. The people behind West Paw have always produced high quality, non-toxic bedding and toys, but now they’ve gone green with their Eco Line. In their Bozeman, MT based facility they utilize reusable resources (including factory seconds and plastic soda bottles) to produce 100% organic products. Now you can spoil your pet while doing something good for the planet.

Live in New York? Looking to adopt a dog?

This week's Help a Hound email features Princess, a happy, healthy young Boxer mix who was brought to New York's Animal Care and Control because "her previous person ... no longer had space for her."