Photo by Ermolaev Alexandr.
Last week, we talked about keeping toxic substances out of your pet’s reach on Halloween, and the week before that, we wrote an article about holiday threats in general. Today is Halloween, and the kids will be coming in with all kinds of stuff that pets shouldn’t eat—you may have a huge bowl of chocolate goodies wrapped in foil next to the door. That’s a double threat!
Hopefully, you’ve taken more than an ounce of caution. But let’s say that the worst happens and your pet ingests something poisonous. And of course, this isn’t limited to the holidays, so keep this information on hand all year round.
Prevention, as we’ve intimated, is the best remedy, so walk through your house and look for plants, prescription drugs and chemicals that could be harmful. Dispose of anything toxic in a manner that makes it inaccessible to your pet.
Always have your veterinarian’s phone number and animal poison-control number readily available (see end of article for resources). Make sure you know where to go after hours if your veterinarian is not open in the evenings, through the night or on weekends. Keep a first aid kit available. These can be purchased online, or you can make one of your own. The Humane Society of the United States has a website page that suggests items to include. You can also ask your vet for suggestions.
Call the vet immediately if you see your pet ingest something toxic or suspect it has. Do your best to stay calm. If it happens after hours, drive the pet to the nearest emergency clinic. The vet can prevent poisoning if he or she can get the toxins out of the stomach before they get completely absorbed. This is done by inducing vomiting. Absorption can be prevented if toxins have passed the stomach by administering activated charcoal. Intravenous fluids are generally used to help the liver to metabolize the poison into a nontoxic form and help the kidneys excrete it.
Do not induce vomiting by giving hydrogen peroxide to your dog or cat without calling the vet or a poison-control center first. Inducing vomiting can make some types of toxicity worse. Also, don’t ever give it anything orally, like milk, salt or home remedies. Remove your pet from the area where the poison or contamination is located. Watch for adequate breathing or mental depression. Do not put your hand in your pet’s mouth if seizures are present. Your pet will not swallow its tongue, and you will end up injured, possibly severely.
Resources
- Animal Poison 24 hour hotlines (fees are charged for assistance): (800) 213-6680; (888) 426-4435
- LBAH, 3816 East Anaheim Street, Long Beach: (562) 434-9966, open seven days days until midnight to help in emergency situations
- Long Beach Animal Emergency, 4720 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, (562) 735-5200