Poisons and Your Pet
Animals are curious and one way they sample the world is with their mouths. Since we do not have an eye on them 24 hours a day and they can’t tell us what they have been up to, “pet proofing” your home of household hazards is the way to avoid mishap. Here at TVAEC, and regionally speaking for the Bay Area, the most common poisonings we see are with the following materials:
- Snail Baits - Metaldehyde
- Antifreeze - Ethylene Glycol
- Rodent poisons
- Chewing gums and many diet foods - Xylitol sugar substitute
- Paintball ingestion
- ANY lily in cats
- Pain relief medication in both dogs and cats, especially Tylenol (acetaminophen) in cats.
- Raisin and Grapes
- Chocolate
- Spider bites
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions
- Poisonous plants, such as Poinsettias
- Mushroom ingestion
-- Mushrooms are difficult to identify as there are so many species but follow the links on these pages for the “deadliest”.
- http://www.mushroomexpert.com/toxicity.html
- http://americanmushrooms.com/about.htm
It is never safe to assume that a product or medication that is OK for people is safe for pets. This is especially true for cats.
As with many things, most accidents occur within the home! We have seen that 5 minute escape into the neighborhood open up many unknowns as to what toxins may be on other properties, so please tell us if your pet has ANY chance of being off your property.
If your pet has been exposed to a substance that is in any way out of the ordinary please call us. Our staff will attempt to guide you on a decision to see us, based on what your pet has been exposed to. When the course of action is not clear to us, we suggest you telephone the ASPCA Poison Control at 1-888-426-4435. If a decision is made that veterinary care is needed, they will give you a case number so that we may telephone them back for further consultation after you arrive. Please bring the container or any of the product you may have with you.
The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline has a major database of toxins, their effects, and how they should be treated. There is a $60 dollar fee for their consultation by phone. If you have time and are not in the middle of an urgent emergency, you can visit their website for more information:
There are literally thousands of products that can be a hazard. If you want to truly “Pet Proof” your house, here are some links to websites that can give you a list of the most common household products that cause toxicity in pets. The ASPCA even has a fun tutorial on their site for kids and adults alike. Help Cooper clean house!
http://www.aspca.org/ideum/petsafe.html
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_poisonsafe
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/protect_your_pet_from_common_household_dangers/
