Kirsten Taylor

We recently wrote about the ASPCA's top 10 pet poisons of 2009. Included on the list were human foods that can make pets sick, including avocados. Little did we know that one little green fruit would inspire such a flurry of comments from people who argue that their dogs love the key guacamole ingredient. So we decided to set the record straight.

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 guac. If your dog adores avocados, he can probably keep on enjoying them. Just make sure to keep those pesky pits far out of reach!

With the Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show almost upon us (Feb. 15–16), Paw Nation will be talking with some of the show dogs' owners for some insight into this year's contestants.

Dog Breed: Portuguese Water Dog

Group: Working

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch Ebb Tide's Upcountry Titan

Nickname: Sage

Dog's Age: 5

Owner's Name: Arnold and Sandra Brown

Hometown: Cheshire, Conn.

Tell me about your dog's personality.
Sage is a people magnet who endears himself quickly and easily to all those he meets. We consider Sage to be our "dog of a lifetime." He is a robust and remarkably caring dog with extraordinary temperament and intelligence. He's very spirited, with a strong work ethic and drive, and a great sense of humor. He takes his jobs very seriously. Sage's favorite job, as part of his role as a certified R.E.A.D. dog, is to welcome children to our home and then snuggle up beside them as they learn to read.

Sage is extremely devoted to his canine and human family. He loves to play chase in his own clever way (using his uncanny ability to pivot like an NBA star). He is persistent and tenacious when tracking, playing hide-and-seek or in locating hidden toys. Sage is also athletically competitive, having earned several first-place ribbons at agility trials. He "attacks" water competition trials with gusto!

What is your dog's favorite treat?
Sage's favorite treats are beef liver and dog biscuits.

What is your dog's best trick?
Sage can count upon command. He will bark (count) to 4. He also sings with our daughter Allison. He mimics her voice with a high-pitched tone that sounds like country music yodeling.

With the Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show almost upon us (Feb. 15–16), Paw Nation will be talking with some of the show dogs' owners for some insight into this year's contestants.

Dog Breed: Belgian Malinois

Group: Herding

Dog's Full Registered Name: CH TriSorts Zorro del Mango, RE, TT, HIC, CGC

Nickname: Zorro

Dog's Age: 6

Owner's Name: Sara Donadei-Blood

Hometown: North Lauderdale, Fla.

Tell me about your dog's personality.
Malinois as a breed typically are aggressive. They're very reactive to their environment. Malinois are super dogs when it comes to competitive obedience. I noticed that my Malinois was developing into a sweet, affectionate boy. He showed that sweetness of nature to strangers, which is unusual to the breed. He loves people, especially elderly people.

He's very bright and extraordinarily willing to please. In a dog show, he's literally the only Malinois wagging his tail. He's a happy dog. He's a lover, not a fighter!

What is your dog's favorite treat?
He likes raw chicken backs. I give them to my dogs from time to time to clean their teeth. I think it brings out the wild dog in him.

What is your dog's best trick?
He retrieves anything I drop: a paper clip, a pen, a dime. He knows how to bring me my purse from the kitchen counter. He brings the remote control. However, because I always reward him, when he's feeling bored he takes it upon himself to bring me all those things. At the end of the day I have a whole pile of things I didn't ask for.

Talk about a cool story. Actually, make that "frigid." A dog in Poland was rescued after apparently floating down the Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea, traveling 75 miles atop an ice floe, according to the Associated Press.

The male dog, now nicknamed "Baltic" (naturally), was adrift on the ice floe when he was spotted by a crew of ocean scientists on the ship Baltica. Researcher Natalia Drgas told the AP that rescuing the dog proved difficult. "It kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point it vanished underwater, under the ship and we thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet," Drgas said.

Finally, the crew lowered a pontoon boat down to the icy water and pulled the shivering dog to safety.

Three days earlier, Baltic had been spotted 60 miles inland, drifting on his ice floe down the Vistula River. Firefighters in the town of Grudziadz reportedly tried to save the dog, but were unable to reach him when the river's ice sheets shifted, the AP reported.

Baltic's thick fur kept him from suffering any frostbite, and a veterinarian declared him in surprisingly good shape. He's now warm and happy in the port city of Gdynia. A number of people have come forward to claim the dog, but the Baltica crew were skeptical when the friendly pup didn't show any signs of recognizing his supposed owners. For now, the crew are hanging onto Baltic in hopes that his real owners will turn up soon.

If not, the research team is prepared to adopt the adventurous seafaring dog for good.

Sometimes it seems like our trouble-making pets will eat anything. Their hoovering ability comes in handy when you spill chicken soup on the floor (tongues being just as good as mops). But unfortunately, it's all too easy for our pets to get into substances that can harm them.

The ASPCA Poison Control Center recently released a list of the top 10 poisons that affected cats and dogs in 2009. So take note, and be sure keep these toxic substances far away from your pets in 2010!

Human Medicines
Human drugs were the top cause of pet poisoning in 2009, the ASPCA reported. Last year, the Poison Control Center managed more than 45,000 calls from people whose pets had swallowed pills such as pain relievers, cold meds and antidepressants.

Insecticides
One of the most common insecticide problems was misuse of flea and tick products. Make sure to talk to your vet about how to properly use these products.

Human Food
Most people know chocolate is dangerous to dogs. But did you know that grapes, raisins, avocados and products containing xylitol (like sugar-free gum and candy) can also be harmful to your pets?

Plants
Dozens of common houseplants, including azaleas, rhododendrons, sago palm and kalanchoe are dangerous for pets. Lilies are particularly toxic for cats, and can cause deadly kidney failure.

Vet Medicines
Almost 8,000 cases of pet poisonings in 2009 involved pets that were given medicines incorrectly. Make sure you follow instructions and talk to your vet about how to safely apply over-the-counter and prescription medicines for your cat or dog.