There are many things around your home that could pose a danger to your pets. Read on for advice on how to protect your pet. If there is an accidental exposure to a suspected poison or toxin, we recommend you call our office immediately. We may refer you to the National Animal Poison Control Hotline. Their phone number is 888-426-4435. This is a great service with a wealth of poison antidotes and treatments. There is a fee for this service of $60 – which includes unlimited follow up phone calls.
Brenford Animal Hospital encourages you to keep the following items out of your pet’s reach:
Sugarless Gum – Many brands of sugarless gum contain the artificial sweetener Xylitol that poses a serious health risk to your pet. This substance, while harmless in people, may cause an unsafe drop in blood sugar followed by liver failure.
Grapes and raisins – Certain dogs seem to be highly sensitive to ingestion of these and may develop kidney failure. Veterinarians are still unsure of the reason for this toxicity or why some dogs will react and others will not. In the meantime, we advise not feeding either grapes or raisins to any pet and to seek veterinary advice for accidental ingestion.
Rat/Mouse Poison – These substances are very dangerous to all pets. We advise against using them in any household where pets reside. Even if the poison is kept out of your pet’s reach, the rodent that ingests it poses a danger to your pet. There is an antidote for this poison so call Brenford Animal Hospital right away for any known or suspected ingestion/ of rodent poison.
Lilies – All species of lilies are extremely toxic to cats. The ingestion of any part of the plant may cause irreversible kidney damage.
Tylenol – This is a very common poisoning in cats that can be easily prevented. Many cat owners give their cat a dose to treat a fever or other perceived illness. There is no safe of dose for Tylenol in cats. Even one dose of children’s Tylenol is fatal to cats without treatment. If you suspect your cat or dog has an illness, call Brenford Animal Hospital for advice before giving any medication at home.
NSAID’s – This is the common name for the group of drugs including aspirin, ibuprofen (aka Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (aka Aleve). Dogs and cats are very sensitive to these medications and should not be given them. Call our office for any accidental ingestion of this class of drugs.
Chocolate – This delicious treat is very tempting to dogs and to a lesser extent cats. The symptoms of chocolate toxicity vary form mild to severe depending on the quantity and type ingested. In general, more bitter chocolate is more toxic. The veterinarians at our office can often give advice about whether your pet needs to come in for treatment or can be cared for at home. Thanks for choosing Brenford Animal Hospital for your veterinary care. –RAJ 7.1.12