by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know its National Poison Prevention Month for people and pets? According to the Mayo clinic “poisoning is defined as an injury or death due to swallowing, inhaling, touching, or injecting various drugs, chemicals, venoms, or gases” with smoke inhalation being the most common cause of acute poisonings. Before 1953 there was no poison control center to call for medical advice. The first center was established in Chicago for that purpose and to collect standard data. Today there are 55 throughout the United States.
President John F. Kennedy proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention week. Shortly thereafter the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) began providing valuable information to pet owners about poisonous substances, and now the entire month is dedicated to raising awareness about the perils in and around our homes in an effort to protect against accidental poisoning to us and our pets and to educate pet owners on what can poison their pets, how to spot the signs of poisoning, and how to help pets if they exhibit such signs.
The first step is to learn how to protect your pets by becoming knowledgeable of the common items that can harm your pets:
~Sweet food items like many common sugarless gums, candies, mints, flavored multivitamins, desserts, and even baked goods might contain a sweetener called xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Also certain foods, vegetables and other ingredients can be dangerous.
~ Human drugs like NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and antidepressants from dropped pills or pill bottles can cause serious health issues when ingested by pets.
~ Some flowers plants can be lethal like lilies, aloe vera and even air plants. Consider buying a poison control chart for a quick reference.
~ Chocolate, especially certain types such as baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate, are more harmful to pets than other chocolate products.
~ Fertilizers, chemically treated lawns and pest control products are often combined with dangerous chemicals that are harmful to pets if ingested.
The second step is to pet proof your home and the immediate surroundings now that you know what can harm your pet and labels and websites if unsure. Avoid using toxic products!
The third step is to share your pet care knowledge about pet poisons to all the pet owners and places you know to ensure pets are safe from possible danger. According to Dogstar there are over 1001 pet poisonings that can occur in a day. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous. Delaying treatment could be a life-or-death situation. Pets promptly treated by a veterinary professional tend to recover from cases of poisoning.
Finally, having these telephone numbers at your fingertips could help prevent a poison tragedy along with your veterinarian: 24/7 ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER: (855) 764-7661 and The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) also with 24 hours a day support every day of the year. (888) 426-4435.
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