http://www.care2.com/greenliving/protect-your-pets-from-poisons.html
Protect Your Pets from Poisons
My wife and I had a scary experience happen to us two weeks ago. It highlights the importance of considering all loved ones when creating a safe home–including ones with four legs.
My wife and I had walked to a local restaurant to get dinner. When we returned, one of our dogs (our beloved Bruiser) tried to greet us but his legs weren’t working properly. Something was obviously wrong. We ran into the house and found some ibufprofen pills on the floor. At that point, panic began to creep in. We had recently moved to a new area, we didn’t have a local vet, and we had no idea where to find an emergency vet.
Plan for a pet emergency: Find an emergency vet clinic near your home open 24 hours and have their number programmed into your cell phone. Know how to get to the clinic. If your pet is poisoned, time matters. It takes time to find an emergency vet, call them, find out how to get to their clinic and to actually drive to the clinic. You can save lots of time if you already know who to call and where to go.
Keep the Animal Poison Center Control number posted (1-888-426-4435). The poison control number for humans is 1-800-222-1222.
Know what things are pet poisons: The ASPCA has a good list of things that are potentially toxic to pets. Some of these toxins include different medications like ibuprofen, vitamins, certain foods including chocolate, household cleaners, fabric softeners and mothballs.
Pet-proof your home: Secure medications and other pet toxins in locations your pets can’t reach.
Act quickly in an emergency: If you think your pet has ingested a poison, call your vet, the emergency vet clinic or the Animal Poison Control Center and be prepared to take your pet to the vet.
I’m relieved to say our emergency had a happy ending. My wife and I acted quickly using the good old fashion Yellow Pages to find an emergency vet near our home. Bruiser and our other dog Bear are both alive and well. Two weeks later they are still getting into lots puppy trouble.
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38 comments
add your comment »To Anna Rose:
It's possible your cat accidentally got into mouse or rat poison that has powerful blood thinning agents in it and would make a bloody discharge exit her nose merely by sneezing. Hopefully this offers some comfort by believing no one intentionally brought about the death of your beloved feline.
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I think it is wrong for the Poison Control center to be asking for money when you calling in an emergency situation. So in case of an emergency should I have my credit card handy.
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Everyone remember the danger of dogs left in cars....A tragic accident happened to my sisters dog. Her stepson was rushing about- so he would not be late to his little teams game. He had opened the car door to take his baseball equipment out and the dog jumped in. The boy left in a different car with his friends parents. When he returned his beloved dog had died. VERY VERY Sad and tragic, he is young but feels so guilty, since he is the one that opened the car door and did not notice the dog had jumped in. Please be so careful. An accident that can happen even when you really love and care for your dog.
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Excellent article. I walk dogs at the Animal Shelter. I will copy this article for the workers there.
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When I was 16 years old I had a cat that died of poisoning. I was devestated because I wanted to take her to the vet and I ran out of time. My ex-fiancee and I were both sitting there watching her. What happened was that she dissapeared for a few days, and when she came back there seemed to be something off about her. She had fluid coming out of her nose when she breathed out, and I could tell that she was miserable. Then I saw her dead on the floor, a couple hours after she came home. I till wonder if a neighbor poisoned her with antifreeze? She was a hunter...I wonder if she killed a bird and caught the bird flu. I know that it's in the past but I'm still curious to see what anyone might have to say about my poor cat. :(
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Hydrogen peroxide is VERY damaging to the esophagus and is NOT advised to use in cases of inducing vomition, please don't. It is advised that you immediately get to the vet and they will do what they can for your pet. Some toxins / chemicals are actually MORE caustic / damaging IF vomition is induced, esp. if you are not aware how long it has been since the ingestion. IF you are going to induce vomition it's advised to use a small ball of non-foaming laundry soap / detergent. It is also very difficult to induce vomition in dogs by sticking your hand down their throat, human and dog anatomy varies enough that this doesn't happen as easily as in humans, you may actually cause more damage in doing so. I am very happy to hear Bruiser was ok from this, good news!
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Thank you for all this great info!! Care2 rocks!!! =) I am thanking you also for my dog Daisy Dobson!
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Bryon you are right about hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. You can also use mustard powder and a little bit of water on the back of their throats. But consult a canine first aid book or poison control first, as many things are harmful coming back up. Andrew and I were so deperate after Bruiser overdosed (I am the author's wife) that I was literally sticking my finger down his throat to gag him while sitting in the passenger seat of our care as Andrew speeded to the vet(I knew it was okay to throw up after digesting advil, the powder trick wasnt working, and the dog was fading fast so I was deperate and willing to try anything). Anyhow, if you are worried enough that you need to enduce vomiting, you should probably be in the car on the way to the emergency room instead. I handed him over limp and lifeless, and they saved him.
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thank you for the # and the link to ASPCA. I now have my vets # in my phone just in case.
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many times if a dog has eaten or drunk somthing poisoness hydrogene-poroxide will allow them to regurgetate. however, that's not alway's the best course of action. for this reason we keep hp on hand w/our basic first aide kit, but please contact your pet's dr. before taking such measures as induced reguritation.
thanx for the post. Bry'
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