Monique7500

I recently discovered my article and photos have been put up on CNN’s iReport! Check it out:

Jean Lafitte National Historic Park Barataria Preserve and Plantation Trail Nature Photos

I have two miniature pinschers, and this breed loves raw vegetables. But there are some that are bad for them! Take note of these things if you have dogs and pets you feed table scraps!

Avocados
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.
Beer
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal’s liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.
Nuts
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat’s heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.
Candy
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal’s blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.
Caffeine
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal’s central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.
Grapes and raisins
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.
Onions
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal’s red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.
Medicine
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.
And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent’s medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal’s pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.
Good news foods
There are a few things that you CAN give to your furry pal. However, you should always consult a veterinarian before introducing a new food item to your pet.
Although these foods are normally harmless, some animals have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. So even these healthy treats should be avoided if they cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet. Keep in mind that these and other “extras” should not make up more than 5 to 10 percent of the pet’s daily caloric intake.
Lean meats
Any cooked lean meat should be fine for most dogs. High-fat meats, chicken skin and fat from steaks or roasts are not recommended. Ingestion may lead to gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. This can be a very painful condition for dogs. In addition, most companion animals do not need extra fat in their diets. Never give your pet meat with the bone in it. Animals can choke on the bones, and they can splinter as well.
Vegetables
Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini slices are all OK.
Fruit
Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all OK. Make sure the seeds have been taken out; seeds are not good for your pet!
Baked potatoes
Plain baked potatoes are fine, but make sure they are cooked — no unripe potatoes or potato plants.
Bread
Plain cooked bread is fine; just make sure there are no nuts or raisins added.
Rice and pasta
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice are OK. Often veterinarians recommend plain rice with some boiled chicken when gastrointestinal upset is present.
In case of emergency
Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That’s why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Remember, no candy or booze for dogs! They love it, but it can kill them.

This is too cute! Look at how this cat and dog get along with each other. It’s true love! Polly the Boston Terrier and Hermione the cat are best friends.

Recently my husband and I have been going on nature walks at the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park Barataria Preserve and the Plantation Trail. I always bring my camera.

Right outside of Marrero, Louisiana, the preserve is about 20,000 acres of bayous, swamps, marches, and forests. It is home to alligators, nutria, and over 300 species of birds. Lots and lots of insects and flying things. There are several boardwalks and dirt trails you can explore, and there are no dogs allowed which is nice and keeps it very clean and peaceful.

There is so much history here, and walking under the canopy of trees it is very rainforest feeling and beautiful. Don’t pay any attention to all the buzzing insects, they are all a part of the fragile ecosystem here in South Louisiana. Leave your perfume at home.

Living here in SE Louisiana and being so close to all the nature has given me a deep appreciation for the wildlife and ecosystem here. I still find it amazing at all of the species of life. You are constantly seeing new types of frogs, toads, dragonflies and more.

It is evident just by walkiing through this preserve how delicate and the nature is here. A fragile ecosystem. It brings tears to our eyes when we think about the gulf oil spill and how much damage it is doing to this part of the nation. Hopefully it will not affect this area, but it is scary to think about all the damage it is doing.

So far my husband and I have done a couple of the trails, but plan on going more regularly during different seasons to capture the cycles of life there. His family has been here for literally centuries and they have lived off the land here for as long. He used to walk these same trails as a child with his Grandfather, a true Cajun Frenchman who used to make his own deer sausage. We have started to bring our six month old daugher there in a baby carrier and she absolutely loves it.

I can’t wait until the summer is over and the autumn comes so we can photograph the changing seasons. Here are some of my favorite pics from the last day we went.

Well it has been a while, let’s just say I have been on vacation. Actually, I had a baby and she is really cute and time consuming.

Spring is here, and with that comes gardening and kittens!

It's springtime!

If you are a pet lover, you’ve probably seen your little buddy passed out sleeping and dreaming. Their little faces wiggle, their legs move, and you can tell they are dreaming. My dogs occasionally slightly bark in their sleep, or grumble. It is so cute.

Here is a video of a dog who is lying on his side sleeping, breaks into a full gallop, then gets up and runs straight into the wall and wakes up. Poor guy! But the dog is okay and the video makes us laugh.