Solid Gold is voluntarily recalling the products below, distributed in the United States and Canada. This voluntary recall is being done out of an abundance of caution as these products were produced at the facility that has been linked to recent recalls of Diamond brand pet foods due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

The products involved in this voluntary recall are:

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 33 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGB1201A31X.

4 lb identifying UPC 093766750005

15 lb identifying UPC 093766750012

33 lb identifying UPC 093766750029

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 28.5 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGL1201A32X

4 lb identifying UPC 093766750050

15 lb identifying UPC 093766750067

28.5 lb identifying UPC 093766750081

Best by dates (lot codes) can be found on the back of the bag in the bottom right-hand corner of 33 lb, 28.5 lb and 15 lb bags and the bottom of the 4 lb bags.

Other Solid Gold recipes, sizes or brands of food are not impacted by this voluntary recall.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, would like replacement product or have additional questions, may call us at (800) 364-4863 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM Pacific time).

Information taken from: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303371.htm?source=govdelivery

Although there have been no animal or human illnesses related to Apex Dog Food and the product has not tested positive for Salmonella, the company has voluntarily initiated this recall out of caution to ensure the health and safety of consumers and their pets.

The following products are being recalled

This product was only distributed in the State of South Carolina.

Apex Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused pet owners and their pets.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Apex Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 am - 6pm EST. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all affected product is removed from shelves.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. We do not have any confirmed reports of pet illnesses.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

Information taken from: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303061.htm?source=govdelivery

Pet Poison Helpline would like to keep pets safe this spring and summer by informing pet owners of potentially harmful substances, flowers and plants that are dangerous to dogs and cats.

“Many of the calls that we receive at Pet Poison Helpline this time of year involve pet ingestions of yard and garden products that may have harmful chemicals or ingredients,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “Additional yard-related emergencies involve pets that have dug into and ingested the contents of compost piles, or consumed various plants and flowers that can be poisonous.”

Some of the most common potentially harmful dangers for pets that reside in many yards and gardens are listed below.

Mulch Products

Cocoa bean mulch is made of discarded hulls or shells of the cocoa bean, which are by-products of chocolate production. The tempting “chocolate-like” smell often attracts dogs and may encourage them to eat the mulch. Processed cocoa bean hulls can contain theobromine and caffeine, the two toxins of concern in chocolate. Unfortunately, determining the amount of toxins in mulch can be difficult as it varies greatly from product to product. Many varieties contain very low amounts of the toxins and are not as dangerous as dog owners are often led to believe; however, varieties with higher toxin concentrations can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures and in extreme cases, death. Since it is not usually apparent how much of the toxin the mulch contains, it’s best to keep dogs a safe distance away, to always supervise your pet while outside, or to not use the mulch at all.

Fertilizers, Soil Additives and Pesticides

While fertilizers are typically fairly safe for pets, those that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron may be especially tasty – and dangerous to dogs. Large ingestions of the meal-containing products can form a concretion in the stomach, potentially obstructing the gastrointestinal tract and causing severe pancreatitis, and those that contain iron may result in iron poisoning. Also, ingestion of pesticides and insecticides, especially if they contain organophosphates (often found in systemic rose care products), can be life-threatening, even when ingested in small amounts.

Slug and Snail Baits

Available in a variety of forms (pellets, granular, powder and liquid), slug and snail baits contain the active ingredient metaldehyde, which is highly poisonous to dogs and cats. When ingested, metaldehyde produces clinical signs of distress within one to two hours, including salivation, restlessness, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and life-threateningly high body temperature. These baits are highly toxic and without immediate veterinary attention, symptoms can last for several days and can be fatal.

Compost

Gardeners love their compost; however, it can be toxic to pets and wildlife so please keep it fenced off. As the organic matter decomposes, it is common for molds to grow, some of which produce hazardous tremorgenic mycotoxins. When consumed by an animal, moldy food or compost ingestion can result in sickness and physical distress in as little as 30 minutes. Symptoms include agitation, panting, drooling, vomiting, tremors and seizures. Prompt veterinary treatment with appropriate supportive care usually results in a good prognosis.

Flowers and Plants

Some of the most dangerous spring and summertime threats to pets in the yard are common flowers and plants.

Sago Palm: Popular in warmer climates, this outdoor and indoor plant can be extremely harmful to pets. All parts of the plant, including the fronds/leaves, nuts and seeds are especially poisonous to dogs. Ingesting even a small amount can cause severe vomiting, bloody stools, damage to the stomach lining, severe liver failure and, in some cases, death. This plant is considered one of the most deadly in dogs and long-term survival is poor; only 50% of dogs who ingest is often survive this dangerous plant, even with veterinary treatment. Without treatment, sago palm poisoning can result in severe, irreversible liver failure. Prompt treatment is always needed for the best prognosis.

Lily of the Valley: An early springtime favorite, the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) contains cardiac glycosides, which are also used in many human heart medications. When eaten by dogs or cats, this common perennial can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and possibly seizures. Any pet with a known exposure should be examined and evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.

Crocuses: There are two types of crocus plants: one blooms in the spring and the other in the fall. The spring plants (Crocus spp.) are more common and cause only gastrointestinal upset accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats. However, the fall crocus (Meadow Saffron or Colchicum autumnale) is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, and multisystem organ failure with bone marrow suppression. Symptoms may be seen immediately but can be delayed for days. If you witness your pet eating a crocus and you are not sure what variety it is, seek veterinary care immediately.

Lilies: Cat owners beware of lilies! While some types, such as the Peace (Spathiphyllum spp.), Peruvian (Alstroemeria spp.) and Calla (Zantedeschia spp.), cause only minor symptoms when eaten, other varieties of the true lily family (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are deadly and highly toxic to cats, including Tiger, Asiatic, Easter, Japanese Show and Day lilies. Ingesting very small amounts – eating as little as two petals or leaves, or exposure to the pollen – can result in severe kidney failure. Even the water in a vase containing true lilies is considered highly poisonous, as the toxin in the plant is water-soluble. If a cat consumes any part of these lilies, he or she needs immediate veterinary care to prevent kidney failure.

Pet Poison Helpline’s new iPhone application contains an extensive database of plants, chemicals, foods and drugs that are poisonous to pets. Always available with or without Internet access or cell phone service, the iPhone app has full-color photos for identifying poisonous plants, and a powerful indexing feature that allows users to search for toxins, cross-referencing them by common and scientific terms. For emergencies, it has a direct dial feature to the veterinary experts at Pet Poison Helpline. Called Pet Poison Help, the iPhone app costs $0.99 and is available on iTunes. More information is available here.

While enjoying the beautiful gardens and flowers this spring and summer, have the knowledge to keep your pets safe. If, however, you think a pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. Pet Poison Helpline is the most cost-effective animal poison control center in North America charging only $39 per call, including unlimited follow-up consultations.

All Wellness products are tested for Salmonella and all lots tested negative prior to shipping to customers. The company is voluntarily recalling the select products below. This voluntary recall is being done out of an abundance of caution as these products were produced at the facility that has been linked to recent recalls of Diamond brand foods due to the threat of Salmonella.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

The products involved in this voluntary recall are:

Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy, 15 lb. and 30 lb. bags and 5 oz. sample bags with best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013.

Best by dates (lot codes) can be found on the back of the bag in the bottom right-hand corner.

No other WellPet recipes, sizes or brands of food are impacted by this voluntary recall

“As a pet parent myself, I know how important peace of mind is when it comes to the health of our pets, and that is why we require that all of our products undergo testing for Salmonella, among other things,” said Tim Callahan, chief executive officer of WellPet, the maker of Wellness® products. “All of these lots tested negative prior to being released for sale. We are voluntarily taking this additional step to further safeguard our dogs and to put our customers’ minds at ease.”

The majority of Wellness natural products for pets are produced in WellPet’s own modern state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. WellPet no longer purchases any products from Diamond Pet Foods.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, would like replacement product or have additional questions, may call us at (877) 227-9587 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM through 6:00 PM Eastern time and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM Eastern time).

Information taken from: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303039.htm?source=govdelivery

Although there have been no animal illnesses reported and none of the products included in the recall has tested positive for Salmonella, the company has voluntarily initiated this recall as a precautionary measure.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. We do not have any confirmed reports of pet illnesses.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to a contaminated product. Healthy people who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have received a limited number of reports of salmonellosis, the illness caused by Salmonella.

The following is a list of products affected, for select sizes:

5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88650-5
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013

 

15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88615-4
Lot Code NBH0101 Best By Date: March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH1203 Best By Date: December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012

 

28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88628-4
Lot Code NBH0101 Best By Date: March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
Lot Code NBH0102 Best By Date: March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013
Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH1203 Best By Date: December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012

 

5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78755-0
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

 

15 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78715-4
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012;
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

 

28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78728-4
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

 

5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-65553-8
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

 

15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-61718-5
Lot Code NBT1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012

Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

 

28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-63031-3
Lot Code NBT1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

 

5 LB Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog UPC# 7-23633-80855-2
Lot Code NBV1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012

28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites
UPC# 7-23633-44443-9
Lot Code NLB1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012
Lot Code NLB1203 Best By Date: December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012

 

5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites
UPC# 7-23633-42300-7
Lot Code NSL1201 Best By Date: December 21, 2012

 

12.5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites UPC# 7-23633-42301-4
Lot Code NSL1201Best By Date: December 21, 2012

Recalled products may have been distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Canada.

Natural Balance Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at (800) 829-4493 (8am - 5pm, PST). Consumers may also go to www.naturalbalanceinc.com¹ for more information. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all involved date codes are removed from shelves.

Information taken from: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303042.htm?source=govdelivery

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula – Dry Dog Food
Bag Size: 35 lbs
Production Code: CLF0102B31XCW, CLF0102B32XWR

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula
Bag Size: 6 lbs
Production Code: CLF0102B3XALW

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods and was distributed in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, who may have further distributed the product to other states, through pet food channels. The company is working directly with distributors and retailers who carry these products to remove them from the supply chain.

Consumers who have purchased Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food with this specific production/lot code and best before date should discard the product. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused pet owners and their dogs.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

Pet owners, who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402, or by visiting www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/information.

Information taken from:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm302137.htm?source=govdelivery

Here, a recent article on USNEWS about zinc phosphide.

Pet Poison Helpline was instrumental in evaluating this common poisoning in veterinary medicine with our publication. Please be safe and keep this poison out of reach of you and your pets!

Our zinc phosphide study

Pet Poison Helpline now offers a handy iPhone application that contains an extensive database of foods, drugs, chemicals and plants commonly found in the home and yard that are poisonous to pets. Always available with or without Internet access or cell phone service, the iPhone app has a powerful indexing feature that allows users to search for toxins, cross-referencing them by common and scientific terms.

The iPhone application’s comprehensive database includes more than 250 toxins, each with a description, list of symptoms and a full color photo, which is very helpful for identifying poisonous plants and flowers. The photos can be expanded to full screen size for easy identification with just the tap of a button. Each toxin entry has a bright yellow banner across the top that indicates the potential severity of the toxin, from “mild to moderate,” to “moderate to severe.” When in the midst of a potential emergency, users can dial Pet Poison Helpline directly from the application on their phone. Called Pet Poison Help, the iPhone app costs $0.99 and is available on iTunes. More information is available here.

Pet Poison Helpline has also mobile-enabled their newly redesigned website, which is a comprehensive resource for pet owners and veterinarians. This means that when accessed via a smartphone, the information on www.petpoisonhelpline.com is optimized for mobile environments, presenting concise information on easy-to-navigate screens. The layout is simple and fonts are large for easy reading. It’s an invaluable resource on a smartphone anytime, but when potential emergencies arise, pet owners and veterinarians can access vital information within moments. The mobile-enabled version of the website displays concise emergency instructions for dealing with poisoned pets, as well a list of poisons, a direct dial feature to Pet Poison Helpline, and links to additional information for pet owners and veterinarians. If you have a smart phone, be sure to add Pet Poison Helpline’s mobile app to your home screen for pet safety tips and information at your fingertips.

“Our iPhone application and mobile-enabled website provide life-saving information wherever you may be with your pet,” said Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC and associate director of veterinary services for Pet Poison Helpline. “In addition to being a vital resource in time-sensitive, emergency situations, they will create awareness by making information about pet toxins convenient to access on smartphones. It may be the best $0.99 you can spend for your four-legged friend!”

The veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline suggest bookmarking www.petpoisonhelpline.com on your smartphone, and if you are an iPhone user, purchasing the iPhone application for a more comprehensive user experience.

As always, if you think your pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. Pet Poison Helpline is the most cost-effective animal poison control center in North America charging only $39 per call; this includes unlimited follow-up consultations. Pet Poison Helpline just released a native app, or a mobile friendly version of its website.

How to keep your cat safe this upcoming year

It is no surprise that dogs and cats are, by far, the most common pets in U.S. households today. The cat population in the U.S. outnumbers dogs by more than 10 million, making them the most populous pet species. This is due, in large part, to apartment dwellers in urban environments, the ease of cat maintenance, and the potentially lower financial cost of ownership.

Dogs tend to be prone to mischief and account for a large percentage of calls to Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control based out of Minneapolis. That said, cats still comprise a significant number of calls to Pet Poison Helpline. The top five most common cat toxins include:

1. Human or veterinary drugs
2. Poisonous plants
3. Insecticides
4. Household cleaners
5. Other poisons, such as glow sticks and liquid potpourri

Human and Veterinary Medications

Approximately 40% of calls to Pet Poison Helpline are due to cats inappropriately ingesting human or veterinary drugs. Cats have difficulty metabolizing certain drugs due to their altered liver metabolism, especially as compared to dogs and humans. Common drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) are some of the most deadly to cats. When ingested, NSAIDS can result in severe, acute kidney failure (ARF) and gastrointestinal injury/ulcers. Likewise, one Tylenol (e.g., acetaminophen) tablet can be fatal to a cat. Untreated, it can cause severe anemia (low red blood cell count), difficulty breathing, a swollen face, liver failure and death. Cats also seem to like the taste of certain antidepressants (e.g., Effexor), which may contain an attractive smell or flavor in the coating. With any accidental medication ingestion, immediate veterinary care is imperative.

Plants

Poisonous plants are the second most common toxin that cats get into, and represent approximately 14% of feline-related calls to Pet Poison Helpline. True lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis spp.), including the Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter, Oriental, and Japanese Show lilies, are among the most deadly, as ingestion can cause severe, acute kidney failure in cats. Because these flowers are fragrant, inexpensive and long-lasting, florists often include them in bouquets. Small ingestions of two or three petals or leaves – even the pollen – can result in potentially irreversible kidney failure. Even the water in the vase can be potentially poisonous to cats.  Immediate veterinary care is imperative. Despite their name, other plants such as the Peace and Calla lily are not true lilies and do not cause kidney failure. Instead, these plants contain insoluble oxalate crystals that can cause minor symptoms, such as irritation in the mouth, tongue, pharynx and esophagus.

Insecticides

Insecticides comprise approximately 9% of feline-related poisonings at Pet Poison Helpline. Exposure to household insecticides can occur when a cat walks through an area that was treated with lawn and garden products, sprays, powders, or granules. Cats are also typically accidentally exposed to household insecticides when pet owners inappropriately apply a canine topical flea and tick medication onto a cat. Dog-specific insecticides containing pyrethrins or pyrethroids are highly toxic to cats. Severe drooling, tremors and life-threatening seizures can occur. Always read labels carefully before using any kind of insecticide and ask your veterinarian about appropriate topical flea and tick medications for your cat. Even more “natural” or “holistic” flea medication can be very dangerous to cats.

Household Cleaners

Exposure to household cleaners accounted for approximately 6% of feline-related calls to Pet Poison Helpline. Many cat owners don’t realize that some common household cleaners like kitchen and bath surface cleaners, carpet cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and even laundry detergents can be toxic to cats. Symptoms can include profuse drooling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and even organ damage. After cleaning your home, make sure all excess liquid or residue is wiped up or eliminated as soon as possible. Only allow your cat back into the cleaned areas after the products have completely dried. When storing cleaning products, keep them out of your cat’s reach.

Other Poisons

The remainder of feline-related calls to Pet Poison Helpline involve less obvious poisons, such as glow sticks. Glow sticks and jewelry contain a very bitter tasting liquid called dibutyl phthalate. While rarely deadly, just one bite into glow sticks can cause your cat to drool profusely. Most of these exposures can be managed at home. Offer (but do not force) your cat to drink some chicken broth or canned tuna (in water, not oil); this will help remove the bitter taste from the mouth. Remove the glow sticks and clean up any remaining liquid to prevent re-exposure as cats may continue to groom the bitter dibutyl phthalate off their fur. A bath may be in order to remove any “glowing” liquid from his or her skin. If you see signs of redness to the eyes, squinting, continued drooling, or not eating, a trip to the veterinarian may be necessary.

Keep your four-legged felines safe by protecting them from these common feline toxins. If you think your pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.

]]> http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2012/04/top-five-feline-toxins/feed/ 1 http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2012/04/dr-lee-lecturing-at-aevs-blue-pearl/ http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2012/04/dr-lee-lecturing-at-aevs-blue-pearl/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:40:23 +0000 K.Branflick http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/?p=5560 Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, is lecturing at the AEVS (Affiliated Emergency Veterinary Service) Blue Pearl in Blaine, Minnesota.  Her lecture is on Thursday, April 12th from 7-8pm CST on “Top 10 mistakes to avoid in dypsneic patients.”