Pet Poison Prevention Awareness
Pet Poison Prevention Awareness
March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month and it is always a good time to refresh our minds about common items that are a huge danger to pets.
Our goal this month is to encourage you to pet proof your homes when it comes to some of these common products, which are toxic to pets.
Our practice receives a rash of calls each fall about accidental rat poison exposure. As warm weather returns the calls can switch to outdoor exposures of new plants and shrubs that are available for chewing on. During holidays, such as Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines Day, we receive very high numbers of calls about pets eating chocolate.
Every season and holiday has risks lurking for our pets. Let’s stay aware and alert to what is in and around our homes.
What Common Household Items are Toxic to Pets?
Human foods that we eat can be a problem for our pets. Chocolate is one that most pet owners know about. Dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate, but depending on the size of the pet and what volume they consume, symptoms can range from vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, and even death.
What you may be less familiar with is that raisins, grapes, and currants cause irreversible kidney damage to our pets when ingesting even a small amount. Onions whether cooked or raw can cause anemia and only transfusions can save pets once this process of destruction begins. Raw bread dough can cause distention of the stomach and ethanol intoxication can develop as the yeast ferments. Macadamia nuts can cause clinical symptoms of vomiting, weakness, and depression, but have not shown to be fatal.
Edibles and/or ‘medibles’ are cannabis infused, food products. Homemade or commercially prepared marijuana-infused foods and drinks have increased the number of accidental pet poisoning by greater than 330% in the last few years. If your pet has been exposed to THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) please contact your Revel veterinarian and tell them exactly what they ate and how much (this is a judgment free zone!). The package from the product would be of great help if it is still available.
CBD is another tricky topic. At this time, no standard therapeutic dose has been established, and since many products are made without standards, you can not always be sure exactly how much of the active ingredient is present in different batches of cannabinoid products anyway.
Mouse and rat poisons are high on the list of items toxic to both dogs and cats that many people are very familiar with. In the last few years a new rat poison called Bromethalin has been replacing the previous poison called Brodifacoum. Bromethalin causes severe brain edema and affects pets’ nervous systems. It does not have an antidote like with Brodifacoum offering the Vitamin K to stop bleeding disorders. There are multiple products that contain these different poisons so make certain you know what you are purchasing and keep them away from pets. Don’t forget to also keep the dead mouse or rat away from your pet to avoid a secondary poisoning situation.
Indoor and/or outdoor plants are often a cause for concern for our pets. With Easter approaching it is important to keep all lillies away from our pets. Be aware of any flowers delivered to your home since they are a source of curiosity for your pets, especially cats. Outdoor landscape plants such as the Yew plant, which is cardiotoxic to all animals, are important to consider as well. Unexpected death is often the first symptom seen when animals are exposed to Yew.
Xylitol is toxic to your dog and this is one that is becoming more of a concern since we have a large number of products that contain it. Everyone knows chocolate is toxic but the risk with xylitol is even greater since the volume needed to cause death is much less. Cats have not shown to be as sensitive to xylitol but we still suggest avoiding consumption.
Human medications are a huge concern for pets as well. The list is endless on how these medications can affect our pets. So often, accidental poisoning occurs when a dose is dropped or a bottle is not returned to a safe location. Please put all medications and daily pill dispensers in tightly secured locations where pets cannot chew or play with the containers. A purse or bag are not considered secure. If exposure has occurred, please have the name and strength of the drug and an idea of how many may have been consumed and how long ago. Again, Revel Vet is a judgment-free zone, but this information can be helpful in determining the treatment and potential side effects.As springtime draws near we will once again need to protect our pets from fleas and ticks as we start enjoying the outdoors again. Flea and tick products can be a source of toxicity to our pets. This usually occurs because the wrong product was used. Most dog products are toxic to cats. Do not attempt to treat your small dog with just a drop of the large dogs’ flea and tick product. Avoid your pets ability to lick the area where the product was applied and from licking one another. You can remove most topical flea and tick products using Dawn dishwashing detergent. Then, it is important to have your pet seen by your Revel Veterinarian if they display signs of vomiting, depression, tremors, or seizure.
To Sum It Up: Pet-Proof Your Home
This blog is not meant to scare you, but to simply promote greater awareness of how common household items can be dangerous for our dogs and cats.
No matter their age, think of your pets as toddlers when considering how to pet proof every location. If you ever find yourself wondering whether something is poisonous or not, or what symptoms to look for, the Pet Poison Helpline is a great source of information to begin your education. And don’t forget, we at Revel Vet are always here for our Queen Creek pet owners in times of crisis. Never hesitate to give us a call at 480-701-8609!
