March 18th through the 24th is Poison Prevention Week.
While much of this recognized week is geared towards creating awareness for parents with small children, we can’t forget about our furry family members.
Our pets are curious by nature just like small children and it is our job to do our best to keep them safe and know what items hiding in and out of our homes could potentially be dangerous to them.
The Pet Poison Helpline has a great site that lists the Top 10 Pet Poisons for dogs and cats. Including the Top 10 Poisonous Plants and the Top 10 Human Medications that are poisonous to pets.
I highly encourage everyone who owns a pet to check out these all important lists, pets get poisoned more than you think and most of the incidences that I have seen could of been prevented if the owners only know that the item that their pet consumed could potentially be fatal.
Over the years that I have been a vet assistant I have seen at least 2 cats that died from eating lilies, their owners had no idea that these innocent flowers on their table were toxic to their cats.
I have seen a handful of dogs die from consuming rat poison.
Three dogs were from the same family and their owner waited too long before seeking medical attention. The dogs were dead on arrival to our clinic. Do you know what a horrible death that must of been for them?
I also have seen a dog who ate a few pennies. Pennies contain zinc and some pennies are more toxic than others if they were minted after 1982. That dog shall remain nameless. He has rights, you know:)
I have seen a dog who has eaten Gorilla Glue and was rushed into emergency surgery to save his life.
I have seen a pug who got into a child’s ADHD medication. Luckily their owner called immediately and we were able to induce vomiting and found the medication. The capsule lining had already dissolved so all that were remaining were the little balls.
I have seen more than I can count, xylitol poisonings in dogs that have ingested one to three sticks of gum.
I have seen a dog who chewed 2 AA batteries. This is the same dog that ate the pennies mentioned above.
I have seen acetaminophen poisoning too.
Tylenol is a popular choice of medication among pet owners to treat pain in their dog. While this is a perfectly safe drug for humans, that is not so true for dogs and cats.
One little Tylenol can cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen.
In dogs, acetaminophen can lead to liver failure, and in large doses it can lead to red blood cell damage.
I’m the first person to admit that accidents can happen, no matter how careful you are, and both Sherman and Leroy have consumed items in the past that were potential poisons, but my quick actions and knowledge may have been the difference between life and death.
Alright…..I’m exaggerating a little bit about that, they weren’t in danger of dying, just of having an upset stomach and some acid burns on their tongues….but still, you catch my drift.
If you think that your pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately! Contact your vet or Pet Poison Hotline and if possible have the package or label of the item that they ingested with you, this can save valuable time.
Lastly, always check with your vet before administering any type of home remedy for poison ingestion. Some poisons do not warrant inducing vomiting and can actually do more harm to your pet, and some home remedies that you read about on the internet just plain out do NOT work!
MyBrownNewfies 