5 steps to take, if a pet is poisoned

Accidental poisons can be perilous for pets.

Curious pets can find potential poisons and face serious illness or even death as a result. A dog or cat may stumble onto some toxic substance, which has likely been unintentionally left within the animal’s reach. In a moment, the pet may consume or even simply roll in the poisonous matter and become very ill without warning.

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Common pet poisons include alcoholic beverages, antifreeze, artificial sweeteners, chemicals, chocolate, cosmetics, fertilizers, garlic, grapes, household cleaners, medications (human or veterinary), onions, perfumes, and pesticides. Certain house plants, garden flowers, and other vegetation can also be lethal for pets.

Adapted by this user from public domain photo.

What ought a pet owner to do, if pet poisoning is suspected?

A few common-sense steps are in order.

1. Don’t panic.

This is critical. Seeing a pet in distress can be remarkably unsettling, but it’s essential to keep a clear head to save the animal.

2. Eliminate the toxic substance.

Immediately, the pet must be removed from the vicinity of the possible poison. If possible, it’s important to check the animal’s mouth and pull out any remaining bits of whatever he or she consumed.

3. Check the pet’s health and behavior.

Certain symptoms are common with pet poisoning. These may include accelerated heart rate, coughing blood, diarrhea, dizziness, energy loss, excessive drooling, excessive thirst, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, mouth sores, pale gums, panting, seizures, tremors, vomiting (especially bloody), and more.

4. Call a veterinarian immediately.

Causing a pet to vomit in the hopes of expelling the poison is not always smart or safe. The best bet is to contact a veterinary professional immediately. The vet will likely want to know which of the telltale symptoms have been already displayed.

If possible, it can be extremely helpful to have a sample of the poison the pet seems to have eaten. Saving the bottle or product packaging is ideal, if the substance had one.

If a veterinarian is not available, it’s possible to call a pet helpline like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (1-800-213-6680). Both of these generally charge consultation fees.

5. Follow the veterinarian’s instructions exactly.

Pet poisoning treatments vary. Some require hospitalization, while others may be treated at home. Different toxins are addressed in diverse ways, such as administering antacids, dosing with activated charcoal, hydrating orally or intravenously, inducing vomiting, oxygen support, and stomach pumping.

How can pet poisoning be prevented?

The best way to minimize the possibility of a pet’s poisoning is to remove all potentially hazardous substances from the animal’s reach. If the cat or dog or other pet is unable to come into contact with a toxin, he or she is unlikely to face a risk from it.

 

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Slick tick removal: Does it work?

Posts are crawling all over Facebook, as warm weather rolls in, warning of tick season and offering tips on preventing and removing ticks from people and pets. The latest post offers this tip: Run a lint roller all over yourself (especially on pant legs and sleeves) and all over your pet after an outdoor walk or playtime.

The idea is simple: You want to get rid of any hitchhiking ticks before they have a chance to embed themselves in the skin of you or your animal. Once they do, ticks can infect people or pets with all sorts of nasty stuff.

Some ticks are so tiny that a person might not easily find them by simply eyeballing oneself or running hands over a pet. So the lint roller trick makes sense.

A rolled loop of duct tape is equally effective.

Here’s the best part: You can fold the sticky part over the tick and discard it before he has a chance to crawl away and bug someone else.

Does this trick really work?

I have found several ticks this way, particularly after walks in the woods or farm fields. I cannot say whether I might have found these ticks anyway, but it sure was nice to have the sticky paper on the lint roller pick them up, instead of having to pluck the nasty critters off with my own hands.

This process also removes a lot of loose hair or fur on an animal. But that’s OK in this season.

Even with this first tick prevention technique, I still never feel fully satisfied that I am tick-free after time outdoors until I have taken a full shower and changed my entire outfit from head to toe.

What if a tick is already attached?

If ticks do embed into either a pet or a human, The Tick Key is a handy device for removing them. You can even find The Tick Key (TickKey) Tick Remover Family 6-Pack for cost savings.

Image/s:

Ticks on Fingertip

Public domain photo

Lint roller 
and Tick Key

Product promo photos

Fair use

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Raw food may sicken dogs and humans

Raw food is all the rage among plenty of dog owners. Pet lovers shell out significant sums to purchase fresh or frozen raw meats and other portions for their pups.

Maybe it’s the back-to-nature, basic food thing that appeals to these dog owners. After all, dogs survived for centuries in the wild by eating raw food.

Now, however, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says raw food may be dangerous to dogs. Apparently, such food-borne illnesses as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can crop up in some raw foods.

These bacteria can possibly infect pets who ingest foods containing them, as well as the humans who feed those animals and handle them.

What is raw food?

Generally, raw pet food is comprised of uncooked meat. This may include beef, bison, pork, poultry, or a host of other types of natural protein. Often, raw food contains animal bones, organ meats, and skin as well.

What are the symptoms of raw food infections?

Food poisoning symptoms in pets and humans may include

• appetite loss
• decreased activity
• diarrhea
• fever
• joint pain
• lethargy
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting

In the most severe canine cases, dogs may suffer neurological disease, particularly if such infections are not promptly treated.

Among humans, pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with immune system impairment are at particular risk.

What precautions can pet owners take to prevent raw food illness?

Ideally, pet owners will cook raw foods to kill any bacteria those products may contain.

Proper hygiene is essential for those who choose raw foods for their pets. These food products must be produced under strict quality control practices, packaged well, and used quickly to ensure freshness.

In addition, humans should wash hands thoroughly after handling raw foods. Cooking and serving utensils and dog dishes also need to be sterilized.

In the face of this FDA warning, dog owners may be well advised to pay particular care when feeding butcher bones and leftovers to their canine companions, in addition to products marketed specifically as raw pet foods.

Image/s:

Dog Eating Raw Bison Meat

- Creative Commons Licensing

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