Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661 This is a 24/7 helpline.
March is designated as Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month. Understanding what potential harmful poisons exist in your home and yard is the first step to keeping your pet safe. Some of them are very obvious and others might be new to you.
For an excellent and detailed rundown of things that are toxic to our pets, and how to poison-proof your home, we think this site is the most comprehensive: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/.
Here is a run-down of foods may be dangerous to your pet
· Alcoholic beverages
· Apple seeds
· Apricot pits
· Avocados
· Cherry pits
· Candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
· Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
· Garlic
· Grapes
· Gum (can cause blockages and sugar free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
· Hops (used in home beer brewing)
· Macadamia nuts
· Moldy foods
· Mushroom plants
· Mustard seeds
· Onions and onion powder
· Peach pits
· Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
· Raisins
· Rhubarb leaves
· Salt
· Tea (because it contains caffeine)
· Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
· Walnuts
· Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
· Yeast dough
Here are the top 10 pet poisons specific to dogs and cats:
Dog Poisons:
1. Chocolate
2. Mouse and Rat Poisons (rodenticides)
3. Anti-inflammatory medications
4. Xylitol (sugar-free gum & more)
5. Grapes & Raisins
6. Antidepressant Medications
7. Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol)
8. Vitamin D Overdose
9. Stimulant Medications (e.g., for ADD/ADHD)
10. Fertilizers
Cat Poisons:
1. Lilies (Lilium species)
2. Spot-on flea/tick medication for dogs
3. Household Cleaners
4. Antidepressant Medications
5. Essential Oils
6. Anti-inflammatory Medications
7. Mouse & Rat Poisons (rodenticides)
8. Stimulant Medications (e.g., for ADD/ADHD)
9. Onions & Garlic
10. Vitamin D Overdose
If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.
Create a Pet Poison First Aid Kit
Emergency Pet Supplies and Resources: In the event of an emergency
Notebook or index card with phone numbers and addresses, stored in sealable sandwich bag to keep dry
Your neighborhood referring veterinarian clinic
The nearest emergency-veterinary clinic (along with directions!)
Pet Poison Helpline petpoisoinhelpline.com 1-800-213-6680
Microchip ID number and company phone number.
Updated vaccine records, especially proof of rabies vaccination
List of dog/cat normal values (respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature)
List of temporary evacuation centers/shelters, which are pet friendly
Basic First-Aid Supplies: May be kept in a large tackle box for easy transport
· Kennel/pet carrier or nylon leash for safe transport and confinement of pet
· Nylon leash or used pair of nylons may replace a conventional muzzle. Assess the pet first before placing on a muzzle, to ensure the pet is not at risk for vomiting, choking, or respiratory distress.
· Large towel/blanket- to assist in moving an injured, sick pet or to avoid possible bite from scared or injured pet.
Basic first-aid supplies
· Artificial tears, ophthalmic saline solution and sterile saline solution
· Alcohol wipes
· Bandage material: absorbent gauze pads, adhesive tape, gauze rolls, sterile non-stick gauze pads, splints and tongue depressors.
· Corn syrup/table syrup (~1/8 cup in case of hypoglycemia)
· Diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl®) 25 mg tablets or liquid 12.5 mg/tsp (5mL) concentration (with NO other combination ingredients)
· Ear-cleaning solution
· Food: Can of tuna packed in water or tasty canned pet food. Supply of dry/canned pet food and treats.
· Hydrogen peroxide 3% (within the expiration date) for inducing vomiting in dogs. Do not give to cats or brachycephalic dogs. Always check to see if inducing emesis is indicated or safe for the possible ingestion or health status of the dog or species.
· Ice pack- instant, one time use, with small hand towel to wrap around pack
· Liquid hand dish washing detergent (e.g., Dawn) without a bleach additive
· Nail clippers and styptic powder or pencil
· Oral dosing syringe, bulb syringe or turkey baster (for administering hydrogen peroxide or medication)
· Penlight or flashlight
· Rectal thermometer and lubricant
· Rubber gloves and/or Latex-free exam gloves
· Scissors (with blunt ends)
· Tablespoon/teaspoon set (to calculate the appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide to give)
· Triple antibiotic ointment (with NO other combination ingredients – NOT for use in CATS!)
· Tweezers
· Vegetable oil to assist in removal of sticky substances
Before you attempt anything with your new first aid kit, always make sure to speak with a poison control specialist prior to initiating any therapies at home. Never administer hydrogen peroxide to any pet without checking with a veterinary professional first, as sometimes it’s not appropriate to induce vomiting at home. Never initiate first aid or administer any over-the-counter human medications to animals without speaking to a toxicologist or veterinary professional first! If you have any questions regarding the veterinary toxicology first aid kit recommendations, please call Pet Poison Helpline.
Another important thing to keep in mind is home remedies. When it comes to our pets and poisons, we don’t want to chance endangering our pet’s lives with some made up, Internet-discovered, erroneous home remedies! We hear it all – owners who use milk, peanut butter, vegetable oil, or salt…and these remedies are all WRONG! Please know that these products should NEVER be administered as they don’t work! Consult your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline to find out:
1. if the product ingested was poisonous to begin with,
2. what the true antidote is, and
3. if emesis (inducing vomiting) is warranted or medically indicated.
Remember, there’s a lot of good AND bad information out there on the Web, and you must be able to separate the wheat from the chaff!
Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets
For further information, please follow this link.
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Cyclamen
Kalanchoe
Lilies
Oleander
Dieffenbachia
Daffodils
Lily of the Valley
Sago Palm
Tulips and Hyacinths
Here are the top 10 human medications poisonous to our pets:
NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)
Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)
ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)
Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)
Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)
ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)
Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)
Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)
Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)
Always keep medications safely out of reach and never administer a medication to a pet without first consulting your veterinarian.
The following are some tips from Dr. Justine Lee and Dr. Ahna Brutlag at Pet Poison Helpline to help prevent pets from getting into over-the-counter or prescription medication:
· Never leave loose pills in a plastic Ziploc® bag – the bags are too easy to chew into. Make sure visiting house guests do the same, keeping their medications high up or out of reach.
· If you place your medication in a weekly pill container, make sure to store the container in a cabinet out of reach of your pets.
Unfortunately, if they get a hold of it, some pets might consider the pill container a plastic chew toy.
· Never store your medications near your pet’s medications – Pet Poison Helpline frequently receives calls from concerned pet owners who inadvertently give their own medication to their pet.
· Hang your purse up. Inquisitive pets will explore the contents of your bag and simply placing your purse up and out of reach can help to avoid exposure to any potentially dangerous medication(s).
It is also important to note that while a medication may be safe for children, it may not be safe for animals. In fact, nearly 50% of all pet poisonings involve human drugs. Pets metabolize medications very differently from people. Even seemingly benign over-the-counter or herbal medications may cause serious poisoning in pets. If your pet has ingested a human over-the-counter or prescription medication, please call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline’s 24-hour animal poison control center at 800-213-6680 immediately.
If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.
For more information you can check out the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center for even more helpful tips to keep your pets safe.
Ever heard of child proofing? Pet proofing is an important task for all pet owners to do before bringing home an animal. Like child proofing, using latches on any cupboards to keep animals from prying, is an easy way to keep harmful chemicals out of your pets reach. Begging is bad, counter surfing is even worse. Make sure to keep food out of range of your furry family members. Your trash container should always have a lid and be shut tight, there always those dogs who try to nose their way in there. Move poisonous household plants out of reach. Antifreeze is a really potent pet poison and absolutely must be kept away from your animal or else one taste could be lethal. Don’t leave lotions, medicine or any other related items on surfaces, like a nightstand or dresser, that your pet could easily get to.
· Get more info: If you think your pet ate something poisonous, try to track down what it might be and obtain as much information about what the product is and how much your pet could have eaten. Then research if the item is poisonous. The ASPCA has created a great App for iPhones and Androids that can give you more information about many potential poisons. We also suggest checking out this article, “Can My Dog Eat That? 10 Toxic Foods, 23 Safe Ones & a Few in the Middle” from our friends at Herepup.com!
· Call for Help: Once you decide there is a possible danger, there are great resources out there to help you know what to do and how to proceed. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24/7, 365 to answer questions about possible toxicities (a consultation fee may apply).
· Act, don’t React: Make sure you stay calm and find out what to do before acting. Making your pet vomit may be more dangerous than getting them to the veterinarian immediately for treatment.
· An ounce of Prevention…: Teaching basic commands as well as leaving unknown items alone can be lifesaving training for your dog. Take the time to ensure these commands are solid and practice them often.
Keep your home free of pet poisons during National Poison Prevention Awareness Month
As we go about our spring cleaning this month, now seems like a great time to purge all the pet poisons from our homes.
Each room could contain substances that could seriously sicken or even kill your pet, so the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association has put together this helpful room-by-room listing of pet toxins.
Living room
· Common household plants can be poisonous to cats and dogs, especially lilies; just one or two petals can kill a cat. Read about other plants that are poisonous to pets here.
· Keep home fragrance products like liquid potpourri well out of your pet’s reach. If ingested, they can cause chemical burns.
· Birds are very sensitive to airborne products, so avoid aerosol sprays or anything with a lot of fragrance.
· Make sure to snuff out any evidence of smoking, such as ashtrays, nicotine chewing gum or patches. Cigarette butts have enough nicotine to poison your pet, and those new e-cigarette liquids are also very toxic.
· Beware of any batteries left out; dogs sometimes chew on them or on devices like remote controls and cell phones. These can cause chemical burns if ingested.
· Put your purse out of reach. Handbags often hold many substances that are poisonous to pets, such as medication, cigarettes or sugar-free gum made with Xylitol, which is very toxic to pets.
Kitchen
· Your kitchen could contain a cabinetful of potential pet toxins: alcohol, chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, unbaked yeast bread dough and fatty foods. Read about more human foods that are toxic to pets here.
· Your garbage bags should be stashed behind closed doors. They contain heaps of harmful substances, such as bones, cigarette butts, coffee grounds and moldy foods.
Bathroom
· All medications and over-the-counter drugs, supplements and inhalers should be safely tucked away in a cabinet, not left on tables or countertops (or in plastic baggies, which can be chewed through).
· Never offer your pet human drugs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, before contacting your pet. Some of these products are very toxic to pets.
· Keep your pet’s medications away from your own to avoid confusion. According to the OVMA, veterinarians receive a number of calls from people who mistakenly administered their own medication to their pet.
· Keep cleaning products away from pets. If you’re cleaning the bathroom, make sure your pet isn’t in the room and keep the toilet lid down to prevent Fido from drinking it.
Utility room
· Rat and mouse poison is very toxic to pets and should be kept far away from them. If you need to use a rodenticide, ask your veterinarian which product is safest for your pet.
· If you use insecticides on your pet, read the label carefully. Never use a parasite preventative product designed for dogs on your cat.
· Keep glues out of reach. Some products, like Gorilla Glue, will expand upon ingestion and require surgery to remove.
Pet poisoning with common household items is, unfortunately, a fairly common situation. Having the telephone numbers of local poison control centers as well as veterinary emergency hospitals is also important for ready access to sources of information about potential poisonous substances. Specific treatment will depend upon what a pet has been exposed to. Sometimes induction of vomiting is indicated, while in other cases IV fluid therapy and oral charcoal therapy may be indicated. The Pet Poison Helpline is useful for clients in those cases where poisoning is suspected. The Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680 is available 24 hours a day. If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested something poisonous, call the helpline or your local veterinarian immediately.
Sources:
Humane Heroes https://humaneheroes.org/pet-poison-prevention-awareness-month/
Four Muddy Paws http://fourmuddypaws.com/blog/pet-poison-prevention-awareness
Outward Hound https://outwardhound.com/buzzwoof/barking-news/pet-poison-prevention-awareness-month
Oregon Live http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2014/03/keep_home_free_of_pet_poisons.html
Pet Meds https://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/march-is-poison-prevention-awareness-month/
Humane Society http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/foods_poisonous_to_pets.html
Pet Poison Helpline http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/
Here Pup https://herepup.com/can-dogs-eat-bananas-apples-grapes/
