AWARENESS IS THE KEY!

In conjunction with National Poison Prevention week, veterinarians are urging pet owners to become aware of the pet poisons that are circulating around the house and yard. The month of March focuses on Pet Poison Awareness to educate pet owners and pet sitters on what can poison their pets, how to identify signs of poisoning and prevention for poisonous materials for our four legged furry friends.

It’s important to understand how to keep a safe and enjoyable environment for your pets because let’s face it, they’re more than just our pets; they’re our fur babies! Being aware and creating an understanding of what harmful poisons lurk in the house and yard will make everyone with four legs and two legs happier and healthier: awareness is the key to preventing poison emergencies!

Check out our list of different rooms in the house and what to look for that can be hazardous to your pets’ health!

Living Room

• Watch out for common household plants that can be toxic to dogs and cats such as  Azalea, Lilies, Ivy, Mistletoe and Poinsettia. If you have these in your home, move them to a high place where they cannot be touched by your pets. For a full list of toxic plants, click here.

• Be careful with batteries! Dogs enjoy chewing on them and devices that have batteries in them. Batteries can cause serious chemical burns to your dog.

• Hang up your purse! Pets love to dig through purses and backpacks, which can contain pet poisons such as medications, cigarettes or sugar free gum.

Kitchen

• Certain human foods can be highly dangerous and life-threatening to dogs and cats! Watch out for raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, unbaked yeast bread dough, fatty foods, table salt and chocolate. Steer clear of Xylitol, which is a sweetener found in sugarless gum and candies.

• Keep garbage bags behind closed doors. Trash bins can contain pet toxins such as cigarette butts, coffee grounds, moldy foods and bones.

• Keep alcoholic beverages out of reach! If ingested by your pet, it can cause low blood sugar.

Bathroom

• Over the counter medications and prescription pills, inhalers and dietary supplements need to be locked up! Common OTC drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can cause serious harm to dogs when ingested. 

• NEVER medicate your pets with human medications without contacting your veterinarian first. Some human medications are extremely poisonous to pets.

• Keep pets away from cleaning products such as toilet bowl treatments, which can cause serious side effects for your pet. Tip: close toilet lids if using treatments to keep your pet from drinking the water.

Utility Room

• Rodenticides, commonly known as mouse and rat poisons, have ingredients that are poisonous to dogs. Keep out of reach or in a spot that is not visited by your pet. There is also potential for relay toxicity, meaning that pets and wildlife can be poisoned by eating dead rodents that were poisoned by rodenticides.

• Insecticides: read the label carefully! Never use flea and tick products meant for dogs on your cat as it may cause tremors or seizures.

• Keep glues out of reach! Some glues can expand greatly once ingested and require surgical removal. Just one ounce of glue can expand to the size of a basketball!

Yard and Garden

• Dogs like the taste of certain fertilizers, so keep all bags tightly sealed and out of their reach.

• Grub or snail killers can be harmful to pets; please avoid using these products if possible!

• Yard insecticides that contain carbamates (commonly used by rose and flower gardeners) can be very dangerous if ingested.

• Keep pets off lawns until commercially sprayed herbicides are dry!

• Spring and summer are particularly hazardous times for pets with lawn and garden chemicals. Being more aware during these times can help prevent your pets from ingesting chemicals that can be dangerous!

Garage

• Antifreeze is highly toxic to pets! This fluid is sweet tasting and fatal to dogs and cats. Keep an eye out for spills of antifreeze and use cat litter or absorbent materials to clean it up right away.

While some poisons may cause a reaction with your pet right away, some can take several days to manifest into symptoms. There isn’t one set of symptoms to be on the lookout for when it comes to poisoning, but there are several general signs that can be spotted if your pet has been poisoned:

• Drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea

• Lethargy, weakness

• Pale or yellowish gums

• Excessive thirst or urination

• Nervousness, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures, coma

If you feel that your pet has eaten something poisonous, please contact your veterinarian or a pet poison helpline immediately. 

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, the most common calls about poisons pets have ingested include the following for dogs and cats:

Dogs

1. Chocolate

2. Mouse and Rat Poisons

3. Anti-inflammatory Medications

4. Xylitol

5. Grapes and Raisins

6. Antidepressant Medications

7. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)

8. Vitamin D Overdose

9. Stimulant Medications

10. Fertilizers

Cats

1. Lilies

2. Spot-on flea/tick medication for dogs

3. Household Cleaners

4. Antidepressant Medications

5. Essential Oils

6. Anti-Inflammatory Medications

7. Mouse and Rat Poisons (rodenticides)

8. Stimulant Medications

9. Onions and Garlic

10. Vitamin D Overdose

Bringing awareness to such an important topic about our pets is a great way to help pet owners understand the poisonous dangers that lurk around their house, but this should not be just a one month adventure. Knowing the dangers within your home that can cause harm to your pets should be a year round journey to keeping your pets safe. Use March as a stepping stone for your understanding on how to make your house safer for everyone that lives under your roof.

While we are in the mindset of watching for dangers in our houses during the month of March, don’t forget that your pet’s health is also important to keep up with! Giving your dog a daily walk can help keep the destructive behaviors at bay while giving your pup some exercise and fresh air to work out their wiggles! Going Mutts Pet Services offers daily walks, overnight stays and check-ins for all pets and our walkers are ready to brave anything the elements throw at them. Contact us today for a FREE Meet n’ Greet!

Sources:

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/keeping-pets-safe-poison-prevention-week/

https://www.1800petmeds.com/education/symptoms-poisoned-dog-cat-10.htm