Blog - Manhattan Dog Parks

Seresto Flea Collars Linked to 1,700 Pet Deaths & Human Harm

As of March 2, 2021, at least 1,700 pet deaths (dogs & cats) have been attributed to a popular flea collar under the Seresto brand (developed by Bayer and now sold by Elanco). The variety of collars used for all sizes of dogs and cats works by releasing small amounts of two pesticides (imidacloprid and flumethrinphos) onto the animal for months at a time. The pesticides were developed to kill fleas, ticks and other pests while not harming the cats, dogs and human handlers.

Deadly Toxin Prompts Dog Food Recall

On January 11, 2020 Midwestern Pet Foods announced that it had recalled several brands of dog and cat foods made with corn products that expire on or before July 9, 2022, that were manufactured at their Chickasha, OK facility. The recall was prompted by the report of the appearance of “aflatoxin levels which exceed acceptable limits.” According to the official FDA website: “Pets experiencing aflatoxin poisoning may have symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms.

Top 8 Dog Parks & Runs in Manhattan

I don’t usually like to rate dog parks because I really do love them all and I feel like they are all equal. But to paraphrase the book “Animal Farm,” some parks are “more equal than others.” I’ve visited, run, explored, peed-on and inspected each one of these dog parks in Manhattan, New York City, and this was my true, impartial, doggie-reaction to each.

3 Natural Lyme Treatments for Dogs

When it comes to Lyme disease and exposure to the biting bugs that carry the disease… i.e. ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, horseflies, etc. … your dog may be your “canary in a coalmine.” In other words, because your furry friend is rambling through areas of higher exposure to these bugs than you, it may get exposed to Lyme disease before you do.

WARNING: Euthanasia Drug Found in Popular Dog Foods!

Recently, a Washington, D.C. TV station WJLA partnered with Ellipse Analytics to test several brands of wet dog food for the drug pentobarbital, a common euthanasia drug used to put down pets and zoo animals. Of all the brands tested, the popular brand Gravy Train, repeatedly came back positive for pentobarbital, according to the station. Out of the 15 cans tested, nine tested positive and the FDA currently allows no traces of it in any dog foods or treats. The results of the study have prompted the FDA to announce plans for a full investigation.

Lawn Chemical Dangers for Your Dog

If you’re a dog like me, you like to run around in the yard, check the trees, bushes and plants for new smells and mark the place up as best you can. I also like to chew on blades of grass every now and then… they give my sensitive belly a bit of relief.

But what if your master sprays your running place with weed killers, fertilizers or insecticides? Since that stuff kills bugs and weeds and is a POISON, doesn’t it stand to reason that it might be harmful to us dogs, too?

Tennis Ball Dangers for Dogs

It’s pretty fun to do the fetch game with your dog, and what better thing to throw than a tennis ball, right? Well, just imagine the toxins in a typical tennis ball and it doesn’t take long to speculate on some of the things that can go wrong.

What to do when your dog is freaky

My owner has been asking other dog owners this question for months…

“What do you do when your dog is freaky?”

He’s a first-time owner and isn’t used to some of the freaky things we can do. I don’t know what the big deal is.

I Was Mugged By a Pomeranian!

While I was at my favorite dog park today, I was viciously attacked by an unfixed male Pomeranian. You may laugh when you see the picture of one below. They look like stuffed toys, but I will tell you this guy was literally the wildest dog I’ve ever encountered. And those who know anything about dogs know that it’s the smaller dogs that tend to be the craziest.

People, Get Your Poop Together!

We’ve noticed that the trend seems to take place more often on open trails where waste bins are few and far between. We get it. It literally stinks to drag your dog’s solid waste any amount of time, so it’s easier just to drop it on the trail. Why not skip the step of bagging it? If you’re on a trail, just use a long stick or branch to sweep your dog’s poop into the underbrush and give the planet a break?

For dog-friendly areas that are more frequently traveled, we understand that you look like a bad dog-owner citizen if you let your dog openly defecate in an area without doing anything about it. So you bag it… but don’t people get just as mad at you if you drop it someplace nearby instead of putting it in a trash can? Take a few extra steps and find a waste bin!