Preventing Pet Poisonings

There are several things that you can do to prevent accidental pet poisonings. The following tips are from the West Virginia Poison Center.

• Feed pets only pet food. Never give pets human food that you think may be spoiled.
• Do not allow your dog to eat chocolate. Too much of a toxic ingredient called theobromine can cause nervousness, restlessness, excitement, tremors, seizures, and even coma.
• Never give any medications to your pets unless your veterinarian prescribes them. Some common over the counter and prescription medicine meant for human use can cause adverse effects, severe toxicity, or even death in pets.
• Never leave poisons where your pets may drink or eat them. Keep household cleaning products, insecticides, fertilizers, or other lawn care products out of reach.
• Gasoline, cleaning solvents, and antifreeze are POISONOUS. Clean up any spills immediately. Antifreeze has a sweet taste, which usually attracts pets to drink. Even small amounts of antifreeze can be fatal. Do not leave any of these liquids in a bowl or jar that a pet can drink from.
• Always pick up dropped pills quickly. Pets will often eat a pill that has been dropped on the floor or playfully knock over a bottle of pills left where they can reach. Most pain medications such as aspirin or Tylenol can be deadly to cats and harmful to dogs.
• Unfortunately many houseplants are poisonous; know the names of all of the plants in your house. Some plants that are considered non-toxic to humans can be toxic to pets! You may want to remove or secure plants that are especially dangerous.
• Flea and tick sprays, shampoos, collars and dusts contain insecticides and should be used cautiously. Read the label carefully and follow all safety precautions. If your pet becomes confused or does not act normally, discontinue use of the product and rinse the animal well in clean water. Call your veterinarian or the poison center.
• Many rodent and insect bait products use food to attract their intended victims. Make sure you place these out of reach of your pets. Likewise, various snail and rat bait in pellet form will look like food to your pet and should not be used in areas where the pet is allowed to roam freely.
• Make sure pets have safe, nontoxic chewable toys and snacks.
• Keep the telephone number of your veterinarian and the poison center near the phone. If you suspect a poisoning, do not wait to call. Prompt attention may make a crucial difference to your pet.

If you think that your pet may have ingested poison of any type, immediately contact your local poison control center for help. Keep your pet warm and quiet, and try to determine what the poison was, when it was ingested, and the amount ingested. Have the label with you when you call the poison center or visit your veterinarian.