Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Things You Didn't Know Could Harm Your Pet

This past weekend we spent our Friday night at the Animal Hospital with Molly. While we were out getting some frozen yogurt (yes, even though it's November we still like going to the mix-your-own froyo place), Molly got hold of her bottle of Proin (for her incontinence) and ate almost all of what was left in the bottle. We did the math and discovered that 11 pills were unaccounted for. The normal dose is a half-tablet, twice daily. So long story short, we ended up going to the Animal Hospital, Molly was admitted overnight, treated, and went home early the next morning. She's going to be fine, but it was a VERY tense and scary night for us. Luckily, we already had the phone number on hand for our local after-hours vet and they were able to coordinate with a toxicologist from the Pet Poison Hot Line to determine Molly's treatment protocol.

If you are a pet parent and don't know where your emergency vet is, find out. If you don't have their number, get it and save it as a contact in your cell phone. Listed below are some important numbers to have on hand in case your pet eats something toxic:

Pet Poison Hot Line
800-213-6680

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
888-426-4435

Home Again's Emergency Medical Care Hot Line
888-466-3242

Additionally, here is a list of 101 things that can harm pets, courtesy of the ASPCA's pamphlet from the animal hospital. And if you think your dog would NEVER eat some of this stuff, recall the last time you saw him/her eating poo or rolling in something completely disgusting. I know mine do. Dogs don't always make sense. That's just part of being a dog. 

Household Items
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (ie, ibuprofen, asprin, etc)
Acetaminophen (ie, Tylenol)
Cold and flu medications
Antidepressants
Vitamins
Home insect products
Rat and mouse bait
Bleach
Diet pills
Disinfectants
Fabric softener
Lead
Lighter fluid
Mothballs
Anti-cancer drugs
Solvents (ie, paint thinners, etc)
Flea and tick products (when improperly administered)
Drain cleaners
Liquid potpourri
Slug and snail bait
Oven cleaner sprays
Lime/scale remover
Fly bait
Detergents
Tobacco products

Common Plants
Aloe
Amaryllis
Andromeda Japonica
Asian Lily
Asparagus Fern
Australian Nut
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Belladonna
Bird of Paradise
Bittersweet
Black Locust
Branching Ivy
Buckeye
Buddhist Pine
Caladium
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Clematis
Cordatum
Corn Plant
Cycads
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Daylily
Devil's Ivy 
Dieffenbachia
Dumbcane
Easter Lily
Elephant Ears
Emerald Fern
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Ferns
Fiddle-leaf Philodendron
Florida's Beauty
Foxglove
Glacier Ivy
Gladiolas
Gold Dust Dracaena
Golden Pothos
Heavenly Banboo
Honeysuckle
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Iris
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Kalanchoe
Lantana
Lilies (all Lilum species)
Lily of th eValley
Lupine
Marble Queen
Morning glory
Mother-in-Law
Mountain Laurel
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephthysis
Nightshade
Oleander
Panda
Peace Lily
Philodendron
Poison Helmock
Precatory Bean (rosary pea)
Privey
Red Emerald
Rhododendron
Ribbon Plant
Sago Palm
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Striped Dracaena
Sweetheart Ivy
Tulip
Water Hemlock
Wisteria
Yew
Yucca

Harmful Foods
Avocados
Chocolate (all forms)
Coffee (all forms)
Onions & onion powder
Garlic
Grapes
Raisins
Macadamia nuts
Alcoholic beverages
Moldy/spoiled foods
Salt
Fatty foods
Gum, candies, or other foods sweetened with Xylitol
Tea leaves
Raw yeast dough

Objects
Balls (especially balls that are small or have a smooth outer coating)
Batteries
Bread twist ties
Buttons
Coins
Cotton swabs
Glass
Hair pins
Jewelry
Nylons
Paper clips
Plastic wrap
Socks
Rubber bands
Sharp objects (ie, knives, razors, scissors, nails, needles, etc(
String, yard, or dental floss
Towels
Wax

Outside
Algae
Antifreeze/Coolant
Gasoline
Oil
Pesticides
Cocoa bean shell mulch fertilizer

For more information about this and other important animal topics, you can visit the ASPCA's website.

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.


2 comments:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.