Being eco-friendly means that we care about our environment, and as such caring about the health and wellbeing of all animals including those that live in our houses. March
19-25th marks National Animal Poison Prevention Week. Is your house safe for your pets? If not then is it really safe for your children? for you? By thinking about one species we affect another so lets look at some ways to protect our pets this week to ensure they are as safe as possible.
Plants
Did you know that some plants can be poisonous to pets? If you have a pet you’ll know it’s virtually impossible to contain them to one area of a garden or not to dig, so why take the risk? The
ingestion of azalea, oleander, castor bean, sago palm, Easter
lily (in cats, only) or yew plant material by an animal
can be fatal.
Tobacco
Cigarettes contain nicotine. If a dog eats too much tobacco, symptoms include vomiting, agitation, diarrhea and increased breathing rate. The dog can then develop weakness, muscle twitching, decreased breathing rate, and finally collapse, coma and possibly death.
Not only that but it’s hardly an eco-friendly habit. Give it up today for the health of yourself, your children, your pets and the planet!
Chocolate/Cocoa
Chocolates contain theobromine and, to a lesser amount, caffeine, a closely related chemical. Since most chocolates are also high in fat and sugar, we may also see an upset stomach and diarrhea. In severe cases, a dog might develop a condition called pancreatitis in which the pancreas becomes inflamed.
Household Chemicals
Being eco-friendly most of us will have made the switch to eco-friendly cleaning alternatives, and if not then start now. Even if the cleaning product is eco-friendly ingesting it won’t do your pet much good, so if using a cleaning product, make sure the container is
out of reach of your pets, so they don’t tip it over or end up lapping
up its contents. Ensure that highly toxic chemicals like antifreeze are kept in secure places away from possible animal contact. Since there is a narrow window of opportunity for managing antifreeze
poisoning before kidney damage occurs, it is critical to get your pet
to a veterinarian for prompt treatment. As little
as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat; less
than one tablespoon can be lethal to a 20-pound dog.
Medications
Ensure that medications (even those meant for animals) are kept securely away from curious mouths. Pets tend to eat anything (especially dogs) so don’t put temptation in their way. Many medications that are safe
for humans can be deadly for animals. For example, one extra
strength (500mg) acetaminophen tablet could be fatal to
a cat.
Many
common household items can be lethal to animals. Mothballs,
potpourri oils, coffee grounds, homemade play dough, fabric
softener sheets, dishwashing detergent, batteries, cigarettes,
alcoholic drinks and hand and foot warmers are potentially
toxic
The American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/National
Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA/NAPCC) has an objective
to educate pet owners about the importance of poison safety.
The Center is the first and only 24-hour poison control hotline
for animals in North America. Professionals are available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Veterinarians
and pet owners needing advice reach a staff of 16 veterinarians
(including four board-certified veterinary toxicologists)
and six certified veterinary technicians. The number is for
consultation services is 1-888-4ANI-HELP
Sources: ASPCA, Dog & Kennel Magazine.
