Poisonous Household Substances & Pet Safety
Did
you know that there are substances in your home
that are poisonous to your pet? You can easily find
all of these products in stores. In fact, pet owners
buy and use them regularly. But by reading labels;
keeping informed of what substances are dangerous;
and keeping these products out of your pet's reach,
you can substantially reduce the chances that your
dog or cat will become poisoned.
Flea
and tick control products can cause serious toxic
reactions when misused. This includes shampoos,
sprays, dips and formulas that treat the environment.
Symptoms of poisoning may appear 1 to 6 hours after
exposure and include muscle tremors, vomiting, excessive
salivation and difficulty in breathing. Make sure
to follow manufacturer's instructions when using
flea and tick control products on your pets. Never
use a formula that's meant for dogs on your cat,
and vice versa.
Rodent
killers are also toxic to dogs and cats, especially
if your pet has been exposed on more than one occasion.
Pets who eat rats and mice who have ingested rodenticide
can also be affected. Symptoms may develop 1 to
5 days after ingestion and include weakness, weak
pulse and internal bleeding.
Medications & Pet Dangers
Over-the-counter
drugs also pose a threat to your pet. The painkiller
acetaminophen, to which cats are especially sensitive,
can cause liver failure within 1 to 3 days. A toxic
reaction to the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen
can cause vomiting and loss of muscle coordination.
High doses can be fatal. And aspirin can be dangerous
if ingested, depending on the dosage and your pet's
species.
Pet Safety Gates Keep Pets Away from Poisonous Plants
Do
not keep plants in your home that could be poisonous
to your pet. English ivy, for example, may cause
vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and coma. After
ingesting just a nibble of a tiger lily, a pet can
start vomiting within minutes. If not treated, kidney
damage can occur in 12 hours. Many other plants
can cause harm to your animal companion if eaten.
Toxicity varies between species, so check with your
veterinarian if you are not sure if a particular
plant is safe or not.
Certain
human foods can aslo be toxic to dogs and cats if
eaten in large quantities. Chocolate, for example,
can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizure-like
activity within one to four hours of eating. Onions
can cause toxic reactions, too.
In
most cases of household poisoning, early detection
and treatment increase the chances of complete recovery.
If you think your pet may have been poisoned, note
what he has eaten and how much, the estimated time
of ingestion and any problems he is experiencing.
Immediately call your veterinarian or ANIMED
Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency
hot line at (888) 426-4435. There will be a $45
credit-card charge per case.
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