National Poison Prevention Week is March 16 – 22, 2014, and while much of the focus is on educating parents of small children, Pet Poison Helpline® says to remember that pets can be just as vulnerable! Dogs and cats have insatiable curiosity and tend to get into trouble investigating new things by licking or tasting them. This is because some foods, medications and other household items that are safe for humans can be devastating to pets. The veterinary and toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline® offer two important tips for keeping pets safe:
1) Keep Dangerous Items out of Reach
Most homes have hidden dangers in medicine cabinets, purses, kitchens and garages. Pet owners should familiarize themselves with things poisonous to dogs and cats, and keep them stowed out of reach. The best resource for information, including a comprehensive list items dangerous to pets, is Pet Poison Helpline®’s website.
2) Stock a Pet First Aid Kit
In the event of an unfortunate mishap, a properly stocked Pet First Aid Kit can contribute to a much happier ending. Here are recommended contents:
For Potentially Poisoned Pets:
- Phone number for Pet Poison Helpline®: 1-800-213-6680
- Hydrogen peroxide 3 percent used to induce vomiting in dogs– make sure it’s not expired
- Oral dosing syringe or turkey baster – for administering hydrogen peroxide
- Teaspoon/tablespoon set – for measuring appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide
- Liquid hand dish washing detergent, such as Dawn or Palmolive
- Rubber or latex gloves
- Triple antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin™
- Vitamin E (a small container of oil or several gel caps)
- Diphenhydramine tablets 25mg – with NO other combination ingredients
- Ophthalmic saline solution or artificial tears
- Can of tuna packed in water or tasty canned pet food
- Sweet electrolyte-containing beverage
- Corn syrup (1/4 cup)
- Vegetable oil (1/2 cup)
For Injured Pets:
- Phone number for local emergency veterinary hospital
- Gauze roll and pads
- Medical tape
- Ruler or other rigid material for splint
- Scissors and tweezers
- Thermometer and sterile lubricant, like KY™ jelly
- Rubber or latex gloves
- Towel or blanket
- Muzzle (for dogs)
- Cone collar (for cats)
- Triple antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin™
- Ophthalmic saline solution – make sure it doesn’t contain any cleaners or soaps
Store the items in a plastic or other waterproof container, and in a location out of the reach of pets. Especially when poisoning is suspected, it’s imperative to call Pet Poison Helpline® or your veterinarian prior to administering any therapies at home. They will first help you determine if the item ingested was poisonous to begin with, and will then advise what the treatment or antidote is and whether or not inducing vomiting is recommended.
“It’s really important to be wary of ‘home remedies’ found on the Internet when treating a potentially poisoned pet,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT and associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline®. “We hear it all – pet owners who, after Googling their situation, hope to resolve it by giving the pet milk, burnt toast, raw eggs, peanut butter, or table salt. These remedies simply don’t work and can cause additional undue stress for the pet and owner.”
The Case of Penny
Pet poisonings usually happen when least expected, and are often caused by seemingly harmless events. Earlier this year, Penny, a three year-old, 13 pound, Jack Russell terrier consumed 10-12 children’s gummy multivitamins. Within hours, Penny started vomiting, became unsteady on her feet, and collapsed at home. She was then rushed to the veterinarian. After her initial examination, she was found to have very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). While she improved a little after starting her on IV sugar source (dextrose), the veterinarian ended up calling Pet Poison Helpline® for further treatment advice. It was found that the vitamins Penny consumed contained an extraordinarily large amount of xylitol, a common sweetener ingredient that can be poisonous to dogs. Penny had ingested enough to cause fatality. The following day, Penny began to develop liver problems but, thankfully, after two days of intensive treatment, her liver began to recover and she was eventually released from the hospital in excellent condition. In this case, the pet owner could have given Penny 1/4 cup of corn syrup from a Pet First Aid Kit to help raise her blood sugar while being transported to the pet hospital.
Accidents can and do happen, but outcomes are much better when pet owners are prepared. When adverse situations arise, don’t hesitate to call a veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline® at 1-800-213-6680.
