From the Ahwatukee Foothills News – February 26, 2013
From raisins to onions to acetaminophen, the typical Ahwatukee home is filled with items that can be toxic to pets.
Many pet owners are not aware of products and foods that can be harmful to cats and dogs. Many products and foods located in your home can often make a dog or cat very sick and can sometimes be fatal.
Visits to the vet for pet poisoning can not only be horrifying for you and your pet but can costs hundreds of dollars, sometimes even in the thousands of dollar range.
One of a my clients, a rambunctious female Norwich terrier puppy named Chippy, caused a recent scare for her owner when she gobbled down a gel tab that is used to treat monthly water weight gain — in women, not female dogs!
Chippy’s owner immediately called her vet and was relieved to hear the pill would not be harmful. But had Chippy swallowed acetaminophen or a birth control pill the situation might have been different.
Listed below are some of the foods and products that can make your pet very ill. Please make your home a poison safe home. And if you have a curious puppy like Chippy, consider keeping all pills and vitamins behind a closed door.
Foods to avoid feeding your pet:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onion, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol
Warm weather hazards often found in backyards:
- Animal toxins — toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
- Algae in ponds
- Candles
- Coca mulch
- Most fertilizers
- Flea products
- Many outdoor plants and plant bulbs (a detailed list of these can be found on the Internet)
- Swimming pool treatment supplies
- Fly baits containing methomyl
Medications: Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:
- NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Pain killers
- Cold medicines
- Anti-cancer drugs
- Antidepressants
- Vitamins
- Diet pills
- Sleep aids
- Birth control
- Thyroid hormones
- Cholesterol lowering agents
Always keep medications safely out of reach of your pet and never administer a medication to a pet without first consulting your veterinarian.
Cold weather hazards include:
- Antifreeze
- Liquid potpourri
- Ice melting products
- Rat and mouse baits
Common household hazards include:
- Fabric softener sheets
- Mothballs
- Post 1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)
Be aware of signs of poisoning in your pet, they can consist of (but not limited to):
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling/hypersalivating
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Pale or discoloration to the gums
- Black-tarry stool
- Racing heart rate
- Weakness orlethargy
- Collapse
Always have your vets phone number available, emergency vet phone number available, and the Animal Poison Control Center, which is open 24 hours a day/seven days a week, at 1-800-213-6680.