Two Wrongs, One Right by Katee Robert

Eight years ago, former Army sergeant Nathan Schultz let the love of his life disappear without a fight. After watching everyone around him find happiness while he slipped further away, he's finally ready to fight for Chelsea Callaghan — and he's not afraid to play dirty.

Chelsea has always followed her conservative family's rules — with one heartbreaking exception. When she receives an invitation to an old high school friend's wedding, she knows who's to blame. Though she goes solely to give Nathan a piece of her mind, he blackmails her into staying the entire week. With him.

There's no way she'll bow to Nathan's will without making him pay. Unfortunately, revenge is a dish best served fully clothed, and they can't be in the same room without losing theirs. As insatiable, anger-fueled lust shifts into something more, they begin to lose sight of why they can't be together. But with so many unforgivable wrongs between them, can Nathan and Chelsea ever make things right?

Chelsea and Nathan have history, history that has long since been buried but Nathan wants to bring it back to the present so he invites Chelsea to his brother's wedding. Chelsea only comes to finally put him behind her, but she doesn't foresee herself missing things about being with Nathan. For Nathan it's what he was hoping for all along.

I'm enjoying this series although I found I didn't like Chelsea all that much and I was only ever "meh" about Nathan so it's definitely not my favourite in the series. I was looking forward to this book because of the hint dropping at the end of the last one, and it's a doozy of a secret. I was convinced this was going to be an MM book, obviously I was wrong.

I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series, there was a bit at the end of this one about Danielle's story but I think it's a novella in an anthology rather than a full length book. Although I may be wrong but that's what it seemed like to me. And it did say "Come Undone one last time with Danielle" so to me that means end of series. Time will tell, but I liked the little we saw of Danielle in this so I'm quite looking forward to it.


Amazon UK: Two Wrongs, One Right

Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia's world is shattered when she learns that she's adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother's former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens' last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home, and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

Liv finds out she's adopted and her birth parents are convicted serial killers, not bad enough that she's having a bit of an identity crisis but her mother basically shuns her (not exactly but in a way). In a bid to become her own person, she ends up in Cainsville (with some help) and gets in touch with her birth mother who convinces her to help her with her case. Liv discovers there's more to her parents case than meets the eye.

With Kelley's Otherworld series coming to a close, I was really looking forward to this book. I knew it wasn't going to be anything like Otherworld but I could also tell that it was going to have a vaguely supernatural feel to it. I won this as an ARC but, because of the time to post stuff form Canada to UK, I only got it just about the time it actually came out over here. I am still going to buy it though, I much prefer the UK cover plus I'll be getting the rest of the series in the UK cover so I don't want it to be mismatched on my bookshelf.

I enjoyed this, I think it'll take me a while to get out of my Otherworld mindset that I get when I read Kelley though. This comes to its own and promises to be a great series. This first book is very intriguing and keeps you reading, as well as leaving on a note that makes you NEED to buy the next on the series. Very exciting to have something from Kelley and can't wait for more .... I'll miss the Otherworld though but this promises to fill the Kelley sized part of my brain.


Book Depository: Omens
Amazon UK: Omens

Dark Mission series by Karina Cooper

So I read the first two novellas, Before the Witches and No Rest for the Witches, thanks to Netgalley. When I read the first, I loved the build up to the disaster and the break down of the world, and I vowed to read the rest of the series .... then I forgot (my bad!) and the 2nd novella became available so I read it (I did try to get the first 2 books in the series to catch up but I think I had some trouble at the time - I believe this was my pre-Kindle stage) and loved it but then realised how much I'd actually missed by not reading the first 2 books. This series (along with a couple others) is the reason I then bought a Kindle, some books were just too hard to get if you weren't a Kindle owner.

I then added the whole series to my wishlist and bought the first 3 a little later but got caught up in other stuff and never started reading them until fairly recently. As soon as I started the 3rd book, I jumped onto Amazon and bought the rest of the series so I could continue as Karina wanted - all in a one-r. I then kicked myself very hard for leaving this series for so damn long - it's fab! But partway through book 4 or 5, I decided I'd make this a big joint review of all the books and the series as a whole rather than a review of each individual book.

Before the Witches

In America, they didn't care about witches. But all that was about to change.

Katya Zhuvova fled a country that feared her gifts, but her escape to Seattle left her at the mercy of a ruthless man. With no one left to turn to, Katya hatches a desperate escape plan. Undercover Detective Nigel Ferris is determined to bring down a prostitution ring, whatever the cost. In order to the get answers he needs, he attempts to win the trust of one of the prostitutes involved - but one look at the deceptively sultry Katya and the cool, objective cop disappears. Before either can put their plans into place, Mother Nature shrugs: a cataclysm rocks Seattle, and life is turned upside down.

Brought together by chance, Nigel and Katya are in the fight for their lives. Surrounded by death and fear, shattered by immeasurable loss, they have only a bond forged in fire to cling to as they struggle to survive in a world gone straight to hell.

Blood of the Wicked

When the world went straight to hell, humanity needed a scapegoat to judge, to blame ... to burn.

As an independent witch living off the grid, Jessie Leigh has spent her life running, trying to blend in among the faceless drudges in the rebuilt city. She thought she was finally safe, but now she's been found in a New Seattle strip club - by a hard-eyed man on a mission to destroy her kind.

A soldier of the Holy Order, Silas Smith believes in the cause: trawling the fringes of society for the murderous witches who threaten what's left of the world. Forced into a twisting web of half-truths and lies, he has to stay close to the most sensuous and electrifying woman he has ever seen and manipulate her into leading him to the he witch he has to kill: her brother. Silas doesn't know that Jessie's his enemy, only that he wants her, needs her, even as he lies to her ... and must protect her until his final breath.

Lure of the Wicked

Naomi West was plucked from one prison and placed undercover in another: the gilded cage that is Timeless, New Seattle's premier spa and resort, where owner Phinneas Clarke - the most seductive man Naomi has ever met - may be hiding a killer. She's an agent of the Holy Order, trained to hunt the guilty and render justice. But while she's tracking down a rogue agent on a killing spree, Phin is determined to uncover her most damning - and dangerous - secrets. Whatever the cost.

No Rest for the Witches

New Seattle is changing. Witches and witch hunters have become allies, and the Order's grip on the city is slipping. But they won't go down without a fight ...

After the disastrous end to their last mission, Jessie, Silas, and Naomi regroup at their sanctuary far beneath New Seattle. But their brief rest is shattered when Jessie "sees" two of their own attacked topside. Dodging bullets and black magic, they risk it all on a treacherous rescue mission. Already stretched to the limit, danger waits in unexpected corners. If the Holy Order finds them, the team is as good as dead. But they can't hide forever ...

All Things Wicked

Juliet Carpenter thought of the coven as family, but when she falls for a man who betrays them all, she's left alone and desperately searching for a reason why. Caleb Leigh has spent the past year in hiding, unable to escape his demons. When Juliet finds him again, her need for vengeance clashes with the hunger still burning between them.

It's a fight born from the embers of a half-forgotten attraction and the wounds of a past too raw to ignore. With enemies circling and secrets threatening to consume them, Caleb has no choice but to fulfill a promise made long ago - protect her, save her. Even if it costs him his blood, his body ... and what's left of his mind.

Sacrifice the Wicked

Parker Adams has always done what’s expected of her ... until a double agent with nothing to lose ignites a passion she doesn't dare give in to.

Mission Agent Simon Wells is everything Parker Adams has been trained to fight: manipulator, murderer, spy ... witch. But for her, what makes Simon most dangerous is his mesmerising sexual magnetism, powerful enough to tempt even the famed ice queen of the Mission. Though she knows better, each encounter with the deceptive agent leaves her craving more.

Simon isn't a man to let go of what's his, and his pursuit forces Parker, a woman he can't get out from under his skin, to make a stand that could destroy her. If they can work together, they might survive the politics that have enslaved their devastated world - or fall victim to the pitfalls of desperation, bone-deep mistrust, and a hunger that threatens to consume them.

Wicked Lies

In this Dark Mission novella, Jonas Stone emerges from the shadows into his own story, and finally allows himself to have the same shot at love he's given his friends.

Jonas Stone has been given his first independent operation: rescue the insurrection leader's imprisoned grandson from the Mission. Getting the job done means more than getting Danny Granger out - it means staying with him while he heals. Staying too close, for way too long.

Danny is everything Jonas isn't: confident, optimistic, honest - a man to be reckoned with. If only it didn't mean going against everything Jonas has planned. He's kept his secrets for years, hid behind a mask no one could see through ... until now. Danny isn't the kind of man Jonas deserves. But he might be exactly the man he needs ...

One for the Wicked

Dr. Kayleigh Lauderdale possesses the only cure for what's killing the city's witches. Desperate to acquire it, the resistance sends their best agent, but Shawn Lowe has his own agenda, and it doesn't include saving anyone - least of all, the daughter of his sworn enemy. He has to ignore the blistering attraction he feels the instant they meet, because he can't give in until he gets what he wants. He just never counted on wanting her ...

Kayleigh can't believe how out of control Shawn makes her feel. He lies to her with one breath and excites her beyond reason the next. A reckless encounter could steal her heart, while the danger hovering over the city may prove too much for either of them to handle. When the world turns upside down, it will take everything Kayleigh and Shawn have to hold on ... to life, to hope, to each other.

I've already said it in the review for Before the Witches but I'm going to say it again - I love this world. I love that Karina ripped our world apart and broke us down, she took the human race back to the times of witch fearing and burning. To a time of the Inquisition where people just needed to blame someone and witches were too against the "word of god" or whatever.

The Mission take orphans and raise them to be missionaries - witch hunters. The witches keep hidden and try to survive.  Each book in the series brings us a relationship that's against the odds, a couple that shouldn't be coming together under difficult situations.

I highly recommend this series.  In a way, I'm glad I waited until the last book was out before I read it because it meant I didn't have that agonising wait between releases.  But I'm still sad the series is done, it was a good series and I feel like there still might be story to tell - hopefully Karina Cooper may bring us future novellas from the world.  In the meantime, I'll be trying out her St. Croix Chronicles series.


Book Depository:
Before the Witches
Blood of the Wicked
Lure of the Wicked
No Rest for the Witches
All Things Wicked
Sacrifice the Wicked
Wicked Lies
One for the Wicked
Amazon UK:
Before the Witches
Blood of the Wicked
Lure of the Wicked
No Rest for the Witches
All Things Wicked
Sacrifice the Wicked
Wicked Lies
One for the Wicked

Do you know what could poison your pet?

Every so often a case comes into work that prompts me to write a blog post about it.  This time I decided to write about poisonous things that you may or may not know are poisonous, either in your house or when you're out walking the dog.

I used the BSAVA/VPIS Guide to Common Canine and Feline Poisons to help me.  It was put together by the BSAVA and the VPIS to aid Veterinary practices.  We can contact the VPIS at any time for advice on a case but they decided to put this book together using their most common cases.

Obviously, this list is very limited.  There are a great many poisonous things out there, and I've chosen to only list a few drugs but, generally speaking, if you're pet eats any of your medication you should contact your Vet as soon as possible.  Not every medication is bad but most of them can lead to problems, especially if ingested in excess.

I've also not listed any actual poisons, for example slug and rat bait, weed and plant killer.  I felt those were kind of obvious but in case they're not ...... THEY'RE POISONOUS!  If your pet ingests any of them or gets them on their coat, contact your Vet as soon as possible.

Another one I've not listed but is common, especially in the winter, is Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze), it is sweet tasting so pets want to lick it and it is EXTREMELY toxic to them.

As I said, this list is limited, I've tried to keep it to common and/or household toxins.  I'll be listing the onset times of clinical signs as well as what the clinical signs are.  In those lists there may be some words you don't know, I have made a list at the end of any words I think readers may have trouble with.  If there's a word you don't know and I haven't listed it at the end, let me know in the comments.

So on with the list, to keep it simple I'll be using the alphabet as my guide.

Alcohol (Ethanol) poisoning in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 1-2 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Excitability & agitation then depression
• Ataxia
• Vocalisation
• Drowsiness

Other signs are

• Coma
• Hyperthermia
• Hypoglycaemia
• Urinary incontinence

Treatment of alcohol toxicity

• Induction of emesis
• Monitor & correct hypoglycaemia if present
• Supportive care

Alkali poisoning in cats

Alkalis are present in a number of household products – drain cleaners, oven cleaners, paint stripper, dishwasher products

Onset of clinical signs soon after exposure (as quick as minutes), burns may be painless initially and not immediately evident. Burn onset is dependent on the concentration and volume of alkali and the duration of contact

Common signs are

With ingestion:

• Burning pain in mouth, oesophagus & stomach
• Swelling of lips
• Vomiting
• Haematemesis
• Hypersalivation
• Ulcerative mucosal burns
• Dyspnoea
• Dysphagia
• Shock

Skin/eye contact:

• Deep penetrating burns and necrosis

Other signs are

• Acute complications such as gastrointestinal haemorrhage
• Upper airway obstruction
• Oesophageal stricture

Treatment of alkali toxicity or burns

With ingestion:

• Oral fluids unless severe injury indicates otherwise
• Endoscopy to assess degree of injury
• Analgesia
• Supportive care

Skin/eye contact:

• Irrigation
• Frequent pH testing and further irrigation if required
• Supportive care

Caffeine toxicity in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 1-3 hours

Dogs with cardiac disease are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Tachycardia
• Ataxia
• Tachypnoea
• Hyperthermia
• Diuresis
• Dilated pupils
• Polydipsia
• Hyperaesthesia
• Excitation
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Agitation
• Twitching
• Convulsions

Other signs are

• Hypertension
• Cyanosis
• Coma

Treatment of caffeine toxicity

• Oral activated charcoal
• Hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Treat hyperactivity and convulsions if required
• Supportive care

Chocolate toxicity in dogs

Theobromine is the name of the toxic part of chocolate. The darker the chocolate the more Theobromine per gram. Dogs are also at risk from the use of cocoa shells instead of, for example, bark in gardens.

Onset of clinical signs usually within 4 hours, sometimes up to 24 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Abdominal tenderness
• Hypersalivation
• Polydipsia
• Polyuria
• Excitability
• Tachycardia (sometimes bradycardia)
• Ataxia
• Mild hypertension

Other signs are

• Muscle rigidity
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• Tachypnoea
• Hyperthermia
• Cyanosis
• Renal dysfunction

Treatment for chocolate toxicity if >9g/kg milk chocolate ingested or >1.25g/kg dark chocolate ingested

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Supportive care

Colchicium Autumnale ingestion in dogs (Wiki page on Colchicum Autumnale)

Alternative names

• Colchicium
• Autumn crocus
• Meadow saffron

Onset of clinical signs within 48 hours

Common signs are

• Gastrointestinal irritation
• Hyperthermia
• Renal impairment
• Liver impairment

Other signs are

• Weakness
• Dehydration
• Recumbency
• Collapse
• Shock secondary to gastrointestinal irritation

Treatment of colchicium autumnale ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Intravenous fluids
• Gut protectants
• Repeated blood samples to check renal and hepatic function
• Supportive care

Cordyline & Dracaena ingestion in cats (Wiki page on Cordyline and Wiki page on Dracaena)

Onset of clinical signs within a few hours

Common signs are

• Hypersalivation
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal tenderness
• Depression
• Tachycardia
• Ataxia
• Dilated pupils
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Dyspnoea

Other signs are

• Renal failure
• Jaundice
• Hyperthermia

Treatment of cordyline and dracaena ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood samples to check renal and hepatic function
• Supportive care

Lily toxicity in cats

The pollen of the lily is the usual source of ingestion. If the pollen gets on the fur, the cat will then groom it off and ingest it but there is also a risk if the cat eats the petals.

Onset of clinical signs usually 2-6 hours, 24-72 hours for renal impairment to become apparent

Cats with pre-existing renal impairment are at higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Depression
• Renal failure

Other signs are

• Polyuria
• Polydipsia
• Pancreatitis
• Convulsions

Treatment of lily toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Wash off any pollen on skin or fur
• Intravenous fluids
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Supportive care

Nicotine toxicity in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 15-90 minutes

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Hypersalivation
• Pale mucous membranes
• Ataxia
• Tremors
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Hypertension, followed by bradycardia
• Hypotension

Other signs are

• Convulsions
• Coma

Treatment of nicotine toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Supportive care

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug toxicity in cats & dogs (Wiki page on NSAIDs)

Onset of clinical signs within 2-6 hours

Animals with dehydration, hypotension and/or pre-existing renal impairment are at higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Meleana
• Haematemesis
• Abdominal tenderness
• Ataxia
• Inappetance
• Polyuria
• Polydipsia
• Nausea
• Pale or congested mucous membranes
• Weakness
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Renal failure
• Gastric ulceration

Other signs are

• Tremors
• Drowsiness
• Convulsions
• Dyspnoea
• Hyperaesthesia
• Tachycardia

Treatment of NSAID toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Intravenous fluids
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Gut protectants
• Supportive care

Oak/Acorn ingestion in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 1-24 hours

Common signs are

• Retching
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal tenderness
• Lethargy
• Depression

Other signs are

• Meleana
• Haematemesis
• Shaking
• Urticaria
• Gastrointestinal obstruction
• Renal and liver damage

Treatment for oak/acorn toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal and hepatic function
• Supportive care

Onion toxicity in dogs

Baby food has quite a high concentration of onions. I mention this because a lot of dog owners may use baby food to hide crushed tablets in.

Onset of clinical signs is sometimes within 24 hours but more common after several days

Japanese and Korean breeds are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Inappetance
• Vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Heinz body anaemia

Other signs are

• Jaundice

Treatment of onion toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood tests to monitor haematological parameters
• Adequate hydration
• Supportive care

Paracetamol toxicity in cats & dogs

As little as a single 500mg tablet is toxic to cats

Onset of clinical signs within 4-12 hours, liver impairment apparent within 24 hours

Cats that are malnourished, anorexic and on current treatment with enzyme inducing drugs are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Depression
• Brown mucous membranes
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Dyspnoea
• Hypothermia
• Facial & paw oedema (less common in cats)

Other signs are

• Renal damage

Treatment of paracetamol toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal & hepatic function
• Vitamin C
• Oxygen therapy
• Supportive care

Prognosis much more guarded in cats

Pot Pourri ingestion in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 12 hours, sometimes 24-48 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Abdominal pain
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Ataxia,
• diarrhoea
• dehydration

Other signs are

• Hypersalivation
• Haemorrhagic diarrhoea
• Collapse
• Convulsions
• Renal failure

Treatment for pot pourri ingestion

• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Gut protectants
• Analgesia
• Supportive care

Quinine toxicity in dogs (Wiki page on Cinchona)

Quinine is in the bark of the Cinchona tree

Onset of clinical signs within 15 minutes – 2 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Ataxia
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension
• Dilated pupils
• Hyperaesthesia
• Tremors

Other signs are

• Blindness
• Collapse
• Convulsions
• Cyanosis

Treatment of quinine toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration
• Repeated blood tests to monitor electrolytes
• Treatment for convulsions
• Intravenous fluids

Raisins/Grapes/Currants/Sultanas toxicity in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 6-24 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Hypersalivation
• Haematemesis
• Bloody stools
• Anorexia
• Ataxia
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Acute renal failure

Other signs are

• Haematuria
• Polydipsia
• Pancreatitis

Treatment of grape/raisin/currant/sultana toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Intravenous fluids
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Supportive care

Salt toxicity in dogs

2-3g/kg of Sodium Chloride is enough to be considered toxic, ingestion of 4g/kg is considered lethal

Onset of clinical signs (vomiting) within a few minutes, (neurological) 1 – several hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Tremors
• Polydipsia
• Dehydration
• Ataxia
• Weakness
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Neurological signs progress to seizures, coma & death if severe

Other signs are

• Muscular rigidity
• Convulsions
• Coma
• Renal failure

Treatment of salt toxicity

• Induction of emesis
• Repeated blood tests to monitor blood glucose & renal function
• Intravenous fluids
• Supportive care

Tremorgenic Mycotoxin ingestion in dogs

These are fungal metabolites found in mouldy food

Onset of clinical signs 30 minutes – 3 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Irritability
• Ataxia
• Muscle tremors
• Rigidity with hyperextension of extremities
• Hyperactivity
• Hyperaesthesia
• Tachycardia
• Panting
• Tachypnoea
• Nystagmus
• Dilated pupils
• In severe cases tremors, convulsions & coma

Other signs are

• Risk of aspiration of vomit

Treatment of tremorgenic mycotoxin ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Cooling if required
• Treatment of convulsions
• Supportive care

Vitamin D Compound ingestion in dogs

Commonly found in Psoriasis creams

Onset of clinical signs 6-12 hours

Dogs with pre-existing renal impairment are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Polydipsia
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Polyuria

Other signs are

• Renal failure
• Cardiac impairment
• Shock

Treatment of Vitamin D ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Gut protectants

Xylitol ingestion in dogs

Commonly found in artificial sweeteners, chewing gum & nicotine replacement products. Food additive E967 stimulates insulin release & causes hypoglycaemia

Onset of clinical signs within 2 hours, hepatic effects can be delayed up to 72 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Tachycardia
• Ataxia
• Drowsiness
• Coma
• Convulsions
• Collapse

Other signs are

• Liver failure

Treatment of xylitol ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood tests to monitor blood glucose levels & hepatic function & treatment as required

DEFINITIONS

Again I've just went alphabetical to make it easier to look up

Anti-emetic – Drug to help stop vomiting

Ataxia – Lack of coordination. Wobbly and uncoordinated gait

Bradycardia – Slow heart rate

Cyanosis – Blue mucous membranes due to lack of Oxygen

Diuresis – Increased frequency of urination

Dysphagia – Difficulty eating/swallowing

Dyspnoea – Difficulty breathing

Haematemesis – Blood in vomit

Haematuria – Blood in urine

Hepatic – Relating to the liver

Hypoglycaemia – Low blood glucose levels

Hypothermia – Low temperature

Hyperaesthesia – Increased sensitivity to external stimuli

Hypersalivation – Increased salivation

Hypertension – Increased blood pressure

Hyperthermia – Increased temperature

Induction of emesis – Administer drugs to induce vomiting

Meleana – Black, tarry faeces usually associated with gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Mucous membranes – Gums, inside eyelids

Nystagmus – Flickering eyes, can be either horizontal or vertical

Oedema – Fluid accumulating under the skin where it shouldn't

Oesophageal stricture – Narrowing or tightening of the oesophagus

Polydipsia – Increased drinking

Polyuria – Increased urination

Renal – Relating to the kidney

Tachycardia – Fast heart rate

Tachypnoea – Fast respiration rate

Urticaria – Commonly referred to as Hives

Heatstroke in Dogs

Hyperthermia is an elevation of body temperature out with the normal range.
Heatstroke is a form of hyperthermia (non-fever) that usually occurs in the hotter weather but it can happen at any time.

There are some predispositions to heatstroke:

• Brachycephalic (short nosed, flat faced) breeds like pugs, shih tzus, bulldogs, boston terriers etc. are more at risk than other dogs purely due to the shape of their face making breathing more difficult
• Very young or very old dogs
• Obesity
• Heart and lung disease
• Dogs with a thick, heavy coat
• Dehydration

All of the above have an increased risk of developing heatstroke.

Things that can cause heatstroke:

• Excessive heat - may be due to weather conditions or being shut in an unventilated area
• Being left outdoors in hot weather without adequate shade and/or water source

Symptoms of heatstroke:

• Panting
• Excessive salivation
• Red gums
• Thick saliva
• Muscle tremors
• Weakness
• Ataxia (uncoordinated gait)
• Vomiting
• Shock
• Coma

What to do if you suspect your dog has heatstroke:

• Contact your Vet ASAP, your dog will need to be seen
• Cool your dog down in transit, don't use ice or ice cold water.  Wet some towels and cover your dog with them, put a fan on them
• Don't force water into their mouth but have drinking water available in case they want a drink

Prevention is better than cure:

• Don't leave your dog in a car - doesn't matter what time of year it is, dogs pant and they can cause a car to heat up real quick
• Don't exercise your dog when it's warm outside.  My own gets walked in the morning when it's cool and then she doesn't get walked again until later in the evening - toilet breaks only during the day
• Make sure your dog has plenty of drinking water
• If your dog is in your garden, make sure they have the ability to get back inside or some form of shelter

This is just some basic info I wanted to put out there as we usually see a lot of dogs in work with Heatstroke at this time of year.

Seducing Cinderella & Rules of Entanglement by Gina L. Maxwell

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews's chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he's injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he's healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional's care — Reid's best friend's little sister, all grown up.

Disorganised and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She'd do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she's crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life ... winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.



Reid gets sent to a new Physio, turns out it's his best friend's little sister. He tries to get her to agree to be his personal physio for the next 2 months but when she says no, he says he'll give her lessons in seduction so she can catch the attention of the doctor she likes. You can guess where it goes from there.

I've read a few books lately that have the whole "best friend's sister" thing going on, it seems to be a popular storyline at the moment. I guess it'd because it's seen as a no-go area with guys? Not being a guy, I'm unsure and it's a concept I don't understand to be honest.

I find it hard to believe that an MMA fighter would give a woman a makeover, but the author at least tries to explain it away with Reid's artistic side. And I completely believe that he can seduce the pants of any woman but I find the concept of seduction training a bit weird. But, while some parts of the story are a bit hard to believe, the characters and the connection between them as they build a relationship sort of makes up for it.

Seven days. And seven rules to break...

District Attorney Vanessa McGregor firmly believes that structure and order are the stuff that dreams are made of. Happiness can be planned - and it starts with seven rules she's laid out for her future. But as she's organising her best friend's wedding in Hawaii, all of Vanessa's best-laid plans are about to meet their match in a wickedly hot MMA fighter...

Jackson "Jax" Maris is focused on surfing, training and fighting. That is, until he opens up his big mouth, and finds himself having to pretend he's engaged to his little sister's best friend, Vanessa. When they're forced to share a romantic bungalow, however, their little charade suddenly takes a turn for the seriously sexy. And while Jax is definitely not part of Vanessa's long-term plan, he has seven days - and seven naughty nights - to turn her seven-rule plan upside down.

Vanessa goes to Hawaii to help with last minute wedding things 'cos Lucie's too ill to do it herself, she's working with Jackson for the week. Immediately Jackson riles her and there's tension ... which quickly turns to sexual tension. He tells a little lie that gets bigger the longer he leaves it until it threatens to rip everything apart.

Jackson has that whole Alpha male dominance things going on which I can't help but love, so of course I like him more than Reid. I liked the actual story more 'cos it wasn't about getting someone ready to love someone else. They both knew from the start what they were dong, they just didn't count on it turning serious. And of course, because I like the story more it means I like Vanessa more than Lucie - I know, weird logic but it's how my brain works.

The heat between Vanessa and Jackson is AMAZING! It's the type of sex every woman wants, or at least I do - fast, hard and Alpha male dominated.


Book Depository: Seducing Cinderella
Amazon UK: Seducing Cinderella and Rules of Entanglement

Rebel Child by Kate Eden

Raven really doesn't see what all the fuss is about. All she did was kidnap a mortal and try to sabotage one of the most important developments in the history of the vampire race. For some reason, though, her father, who is the leader of the vampire race, is seriously pissed. He gives her an ultimatum: Spend 200 years in exile or submit to a last ditch crash-course in vampire etiquette.

As the poster boy for upstanding, modern vampires, Callum Murdoch stands for everything the rebellious Raven loathes. He's also the brother of the man Raven recently targeted. But this very odd couple is about to find out that opposites don't just attract — they smolder.

In order to avoid a 200 year exile to a country that has months of daylight with no break, Raven agrees to a strange kind of rehab programme with Callum Murdoch to try and change her ways. If, at the end, she's still judged guilty by her father she has to do the exile so she's determined to pass his test. She didn't expect to fall for Callum while she did it though, a man that stands for everything Raven is against.

This sequel starts up immediately where The Hot Scot left off and we get to find out what Raven's reaction at the end of THS was all about when she heard she was going to see Orpheus, he's Raven's father and he's a mighty dickhead! I have to say that I far preferred Raven & Callum over Sydney & Logan, I think it's just Raven's attitude - she's so much more fun & spunky than Sydney.

Again, we get a lot of Kira, Logan & Callum's mother, in this one and I still love her. We also see a bit more of Jorge as he gives Raven a makeover and he's also the wedding planner, along with Geraldine, for Sydney & Logan. I've also discovered I really like Alaric, I was kind of hoping that he and Raven would have hooked up but it wasn't to be - I'm still hoping to see more of him in a later book, perhaps a book of his very own?

If this book is anything to go by, I expect they'll get better as the series goes on.


Amazon UK: Rebel Child

Love & Zombies by Eric Shapiro

The zombie apocalypse has already ended. The government nipped the problem in the bud before it got out of hand. But now Henry, an aspiring filmmaker in Los Angeles, is getting a request from his old friend Sam Kranson. Sam Kranson says they need to go run an errand in Las Vegas. There's a hefty payday for the job. And it involves capturing a real live zombie.

But that can't be true, can it? Are there zombies out there in the Nevada desert? Or has Sam Kranson finally lost his mind? And more importantly: Will Henry's loving girlfriend Teresa strangle him if he goes on this adventure with Sam?

Part horror, part comedy, all madness and suspense, Love & Zombies is a lunatic burn through three days in the life of Henry—days in which he battles to stay alive, and get back to his love without becoming (un)dead.

Release Date: 25th June 2013

Henry gets roped into going to Nevada to capture a zombie by his friend Sam. Henry believe the media when they say there are no zombies left, that they've all been killed, but he goes along with Sam 'cos there's money involved. The zombie is wanted by someone who makes zombie porn, all they need to do it wait for a girl to get infected then grab her before the infection becomes full on. That's not as simple as it all seems.

The cover for this is delightfully awesome and very old-school tattoo looking - I love it, it's what caught my eye. The story sounded like it would be fun as well, and it really was, I mean what can you expect from a book about zombie porn. Shapiro gives you enough detail to help with the story but doesn't go so overboard with it that it bores you.

This book was very quick to read and I found it to be extremely entertaining. Dark Fuse are proving themselves to be a publisher that aren't scared of the weird and unusual and what few books I've read from them, have been great.

If you don't mind books that don't take themselves seriously then I recommend this one. It's brill.


I can't find this book on any of my regular sites and it doesn't seem to be up for pre-order on the Dark Fuse site but keep and eye on it on release date if you want to get it.

The Hot Scot by Kate Eden

Logan Murdoch hates complications. All he wants to do is work in his lab and create products to help vampires blend into mortal society. But when his mother begs him to get her painting back from the museum, he discovers a very attractive complication in the form of curator Sydney Worth. She buys his lie that he's the descendant of the man in the three-hundred-year-old painting, but refuses to give it to him. What's worse? She's immune to his mind control.

Sydney couldn't believe her eyes when the spitting image of the Hot Scot walked into the museum. But her attraction to Logan Murdoch suffers a huge blow when he demands the painting. Losing the piece could threaten her job and she senses Logan is hiding something from her. But this vampire who hates complications and the ambitious curator with trust issues are about to learn the fine art of love.

Sydney has the hots for a man in a painting dubbed The Hot Scot, imagine her surprise (and delight) when he walks into her museum, then imagine her anger when he wants to take the painting away. She agrees to work with him to confirm his ownership of the painting, little knowing that she's actually putting herself in the middle of vampire politics. They try to deny their feelings for one another for their own reason - Sydney has bad relationship history and Logan is a vampire with bad relationship history. Is Sydney willing to give up her life as she knows it for a chance with Logan?

First things first, as much as liked this book, the story and the characters - the editing mistakes were numerous throughout and I find that drags me away from the story. There's nothing worse than being in a story and having a spelling mistake or double word or wrong word wrench you out mid sentence.

That being said, I know it has nothing to do with the book and doesn't affect my GR rating. I just feel it has to be mentioned as I know a lot of other readers are like me and the little errors niggle at you.

Logan's mother is, by far, my favourite character - I definitely like her more than Sydney and Logan combined, that's saying something when I can also say that I loved them both. Sydney does let her boss walk all over her (which I hate) but she's still a good leading lady.

The story is well written and has just the right amount of action in it to keep interesting but not take away from the real reason for this books - the romance and potential smexy times between Sydney and Logan.

Thankfully, Eden doesn't write her Scottish characters as stereotypical Scots (there's reason I don't touch all those Highlander romance/paranormal books), I was willing to give this a try since Jaye Wells is one of my favourite authors. I'm glad I didn't let my prejudice get in the way.

Recommended if you're a Jaye Wells fan, also if you like your books to be light, funny and quick to read.


Amazon UK: The Hot Scot

Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau

Colonial Mining Authority agent Natalia Hallowell doesn't always play by the rules, but she wouldn't compromise a case either. Put on administrative leave under a cloud of accusation, with no support from her boss, Natalia seeks a little anonymous companionship at her favourite bar. But she's surprised when the woman who catches her fancy starts buying her drinks.

Desperate, Genevieve "Gennie" Caine had no choice but to seduce, drug and tie Natalia to the bed to get her attention. With the Reyes Corporation after something she has, Gennie needs Natalia to open an investigation and distract them long enough for her to get off Nevarro.

Natalia doesn't trust Gennie — despite the growing attraction between them — but the corporation's suspiciously high profits convince her that they must be hiding something. But she has no idea just how deep the deceptions run...

Natalia is framed, accused of sleeping with the enemy - until she can prove different, she's on leave. At the bar Gennie catches her eye, unfortunately Gennie has plans for Natalia - she needs her help. They go undercover to a mining colony to try and find the evidence that Gennie needs to get the Reyes family off her back but the close living arrangements don't help their attraction to one another.

This is the follow up to Caught in Amber (although I don't think the series actually has a name? Not that I can find anyway) where we first met Natalia & Gennie, the former helping Spencer and Sasha (who make an appearance in this book) while the latter first hindered then helped them.

I liked both leads in this, they both have their problems but don't let it get in their way. In fact, Gennie is risking everything to get Natalia's help - she's willing to risk her life to help her kids and get out from under the Reyes radar. Natalia is willing to help Gennie despite their initial meeting being a farce. I enjoyed the storyline, well paced and well written with a lot of action. And Natalia and Gennie's relationship is sweet, they're both scared and they both have their reasons for not pursuing it but, of course, they can't stop it from happening.

Recommended, and I discovered there was a book before Caught in Amber called Rulebreaker that I have just downloaded to my Kindle.


Amazon UK: Deep Deception