Common Canine Poisons (and what to do)


We all try our very best to keep our dog happy, healthy and safe. But, did you know that there are more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning in the US each year? Many of these poisonings happen with everyday items that we humans use and don't really think about in regards to pet safety. Here is a list of the most common household items that cause canine poisoning:

  • Common Human Foods: Foods like chocolate, xylitol, grapes, etc... can be toxic to you dog. Before you feed your dog any human food, please do your research on what is and isn't toxic for your pet. Just because humans can eat it, does not mean a dog can safely ingest.
  • Insecticides: This could be a mosquito spray, bait stations or even flea/ tick treatments. Please be aware of what is within your dog's reach or what you spray onto their fur. Licking off these insecticides could can be toxic.
  • Mouse and Rat Poison: Aside from just eating the poison, ingesting a rodent that has been poisoned can also be toxic to your pet.
  • Common Human Medication: Tylenol, Advil, Antidepressants, etc... all of those things that we use for our aches, bumps, fevers or prescriptions. 
  • Household Cleaners: Just because your cleaner is "natural" does not mean it is safe and nontoxic to your pet. Do your research and keep all cleaners safely put away where your pet can't reach. 
  • Fertilizers: including bone meal, blood meal and iron-based products can be toxic to your pet.
  • Vitamin D:  Yes, this vitamin is needed in your dog's diet. But, too much vitamin D can be toxic. Please do not supplement your dog without veterinarian approval.
  • Household Plants: Some plants are safe for your pet. Other plants-- lilies, azaleas and oleander (plus more) are not safe. When gardening or bringing home a new plant, please check to make sure it is safe for your pet. 
  • Chemical Hazards like antifreeze and paint thinner are common poison. Always have these items out of reach and make sure there is no leaking upon the floor or a surface your dog can lick. 
  • Heavy Metals: Lead can be found in some paint, linoleum and batteries. Zinc poisoning can happen from dogs ingesting pennies. 
  • Pet Medications: Sometimes a pet can  accidentally take too much medicine. Or, it may be a medicine for the pet sibling. In any case, always make sure pet medication is properly put away and you are paying close attention to who is getting what and how much is being administered. 
 So what do you do if you think your pet has been poisoned? First and foremost, before any poisoning happens, you should have your emergency veterinarians phone number in an easily accessible place. You don't want to be fumbling around on your phone searching for a number during an emergency.
  1.  Call your veterinarian or emergency vet. If you are really unsure whether or not any poisoning has happened, you may call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (APCC). The phone number is: (888) 426- 4435. They do charge $60 for a consultation. 
  2. Gather any remains of what your canine has ingested and place into a ziplock bag to take to the vet's.
  3. If your dog has vomited, you will need to gather the vomit in a ziplock bag to take to the vet's. 
Safety Tips to Prevent Poisoning
  • Always keep all medications and household cleaners out of reach and inaccessible to your pet. This may mean placing baby proof locks on your cabinets. Even child proof bottles are not safe for your dog. 
  • Always follow guidelines on flea and tick products.
  • Research your people foods to know what is and isn't ok to feed your dog. Keep all human food out of reach of your dog. 
  • Rodent killer should be locked away in metal cabinets. Remember to let all neighbors know if you are using a rodent poison, so they can keep their furry family members safe as well. 
  • Buy pet friendly plants for your home. ASPCA has a list of plants available on their website. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 DIY Enrichment Games for the Canine Mind

Image
As winter continues on, we all try to ward off the winter blues by taking our handful of vitamin D daily and watching endless hours of Netflix. Sometimes, we take hikes in the winter wonderland...or there is skiing...or ice climbing.  But let's face it, winter is a time of hibernation and cabin fever can take it's toll. A dog's mental health can suffer. While you can go skiing and ice climbing, a dog can't. They get bored when mental and physical exercise are not consistent. And a bored dog equals a mischievous dog. Luckily, humans are also a creative species and below I have found a bunch of DIY enrichment games for dogs. So start crafting away the winter canine blues! What you see above is a "snuffle pad". You can purchase these or make them. The picture above is a snuffle pad from an Etsy store: FleeceBeWithYou . The price of these mats vary depending upon size and weight ($9.00- $50.00) Snuffle pads are also fairly easy to make, but can b
Read more

DIY Enrichment Games For Your Dog

Image
Because we have a great Enrichment Program , I thought it would be fun to post some enrichment games you can make for your dog at home:  Image: Yes Missy The Muffin Tin Game is somewhat like Hide-and-Go-Seek, but with treats instead of humans. It's pretty simple and easy to put together. You just grab a muffin pan, and place a few treats in random indentations in the pan. Then, place tennis balls over all the indentations. You dog needs to A) figure out how to get the balls out and B) figure out which indentations hold the treats. A full tutorial can be found here: Yes Missy . Image: The Nerd's Wife This enrichment game was found on The Nerd's Wife and will keep your dog entertained for hours. I do want to write a little disclaimer: The Nerd's Wife tutorial on how to make this enrichment toy also endorses Purina Beyond Pet Food. Though Bark City thinks this is an awesome idea for an enrichment toy, we are not endorsing Purina Beyond.... Because, well...
Read more

Dog Collar Safety In Daycares

Image
At Bark City, we have a "No Collar Rule" while the dogs are in the daycare. When two dogs are playing and have collars on, they can quickly become entangled. Teeth, jaws and feet can get caught.  Once the entanglement happens, things can escalate quickly. A dog can start to panic: twisting, turning and pulling to get free. This can result in an injury to the area of the body that is trapped. In addition, there is the risk of the twisted collar on the dog cutting off the oxygen supply resulting in asphyxiation. Outside of a dog care facility, collar safety is a must for owners as well. There are three basic types of collars: Each collar serves a different purpose and should be used at the appropriate time. I am using examples found on 2 Hounds Design , simply because they had images of the three types of collars I am want to discuss: This type of collar is called a Martingale Collar and is often used with dogs that have a smaller head than neck. Owners often use the
Read more