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The
PetStuff Online Newsletter
Volume 2 Issue 1 January 21, 2000
Sponsored
by PetStuff Online Store
Produced by Dr Dan
Visit Dr Dan's New Bulletin Board!
It Beams Out With Electronic Vitality and Pet Wellness Information!
Bookmark http://www.petinfoforum.com
"First
Aid: Poisoning in Pets"
What should I do
if I suspect that my pet has been poisoned?
 | First - call
your veterinarian or the National Animal
Poison Control Center at 1-800-548-2423 or 1-900-680-0000.
Have the following information available if possible:
|
| Exact name of
the plant or poison.
|
| How much the
animal ate or came in contact with.
|
| How long ago
exposure or ingestion occured.
|
| The animal's
vital signs (temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, capillary refill time, and mucous
membrane color.
|
| The animal's
weight.
|
Specific home
therapy is based on ridding the pets body of the toxin.
Topical poisons
Wash the animal
with large volumes of water. If your pet is having a reaction to a flea product a mild
handsoap or shampoo can be used. If an oil-based toxin (such as petroleum products), use
dishwashing liquids.
If the poison is
in the eye, flush with large volumes of water.
If the poison is
a powder, you need to dust or vacuum it off.
Inhaled poisons
Take the animal
to fresh air as fast as possible.
Ingested Poisons
It may be ok to
induce vomiting, but always check with your veterinarian or the National Animal Poison
Control Center first. With some caustic substances it may be appropriate to administer
milk, but this needs to be decided on a case to case basis. Do not induce vomiting in the
following circumstances.
| The animal is
having difficulty breathing
|
| The animal is
seizuring, depressed or abnormally excited.
|
| The animal is
unconscious.
|
| The toxin is a
caustic like drain opener, an acid (battery) or a petroleum-based product.
|
| The heart rate
is very slow.
Cat Normal Rate = 160-220 beats/minute
Dog Normal Rate =
Small less than 30 lbs. 100-160 bpm
Medium to large. 60-100 bpm
Puppy 120-160 bpm
|
| The object
eaten was pointed or sharp.
|
| When the
poison container says not to.
|
How to induce vomiting
Give household
hydrogen peroxide 3% orally at a dose of one teaspoon (5ml) per 10 pounds (5kg) of body
weight. This may be repeated every 15 to 20 minutes up to three times. No peroxide?
Place 1 teaspoon of table salt into the animals mouth.
Always save the
vomitus to show your veterinarian.
Warning!
Never use Ipecac syrup which may be toxic to dogs and cats.
Plants
that are poisonous to pets...
| Aloe Vera (Medicine Plant) |
Amaryllis |
Andromeda japonica |
| Apple
(Seeds) |
Apple Leaf Croton |
Asparagus Fern |
| Autumn
Crocus |
Avocado (fruit & pit) |
Azalea |
| Baby's
Breath |
Bird of Paradise |
Birdsnest sansovioria |
| Bittersweet |
Branching Ivy |
Buckeye |
| Buddhist
Pine |
Caladium |
Calla Lily |
| Carnation |
Castor Bean |
Ceriman |
| Cherry
(seeds & wilting leaves) |
Chinaberry Tree (berries,
bark, leaves, flowers) |
Chinese Evergreen |
| Christmas
Cactus |
Christmas Rose |
Chrysanthemum |
| Cineraria |
Clematus |
Coleus |
| Cordatum |
Corn Plant |
Cornstalk Plant |
| Croton |
Cuban Laurel |
Cycads |
| Cyclamen |
Daffodil |
Daisy |
| Day Lily
(cats) |
Dracaena |
Dragon Tree |
| Dumb Cane
(all types) |
Dieffenbachia |
Easter Lily (especially
cats) |
| Elaine |
Elephant Ears |
Emerald Feather |
| English Ivy |
Fiddle-leaf Fig |
Flamingo Plant |
| Florida
Beauty |
Foxglove |
Geranium |
| German Ivy |
Glacier Ivy |
Glory Lily |
| Golden
Pothos |
Hahn's Self-Branching |
Heavenly Bamboo |
| Hibiscus |
Holly |
Hosta |
| Hurricane
Plant |
Hyacinth |
Hydrangea |
| Indian
Laurel |
Indian Rubber Plant |
Iris |
| Japanese
Show Lily (sepecially cats) |
Jade Plant |
Jerusalem Cherry |
| Kalanchoe
(Panda Bear Plant) |
Lily of the Valley |
Macadamia Nut |
| Madagascar
Dragon Tree |
Marble Queen |
Marijuana |
| Minature
Croton |
Mistletoe |
Morning Glory |
| Mother-in-Law's
Tongue |
Narcissus |
Needlepoint Ivy |
| Nephthytis |
Nightshade |
Norfolk Pine |
| Oleander |
Onion |
Oriental Lily (especially
cats) |
| Peace Lily |
Peach (wilting leaves &
pits) |
Pencil Cactus |
| Philodendron
(all types) |
Plum (wilting leaves and
seeds) |
Plumosa Fern |
| Poinsetta
(low toxicity) |
Poison Ivy |
Poison Oak |
| Pothos |
Precatory Bean |
Primrose (Primula) |
| Red Emerald |
Red Princess |
Rhododendron |
| Ribbon Plant |
Sago Palm |
Satin Pothos |
| Schefflera |
Silver
Pothos |
String of Pearls/Beads |
| Sweetheart
Ivy |
Swiss Cheese Plant |
Taro Vine |
| Tiger Lily
(especially cats) |
Tomato Plant (green fruit,
stem & leaves) |
Tulip |
| Varigated
Rubber Plant |
Wandering Jew |
Weeping Fig |
| Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow |
Yew |
Yucca |
This list only
represents the more common toxic plants.
For a more complete list you may contact the National Animal Poison Control Center at
1-800-548-2423
or 1-900-680-0000
Parting words...
Always assume a plant can be harmful
unless you know that it isn't.
Be extremely careful with antifreeze. A teaspoon of antifreeze can kill a cat.
Watch out for drips under your parked car.
In cold weather, outdoor cats sometimes climb up on warm auto engines. Always bang
the hood or honk the horn before starting the engine.
Next Week
Who knows? Maybe anesthesia...
Pet Joke of
the Week
One day a cat dies of natural causes and goes to
heaven. There he meets the Lord Himself. The Lord says to the cat, "You lived a good
life and if there is any way I can make your stay in Heaven more comfortable, please let
Me know." The cat thinks for a moment and says, "Lord, all my life I have lived
with a poor family and had to sleep on a hard wooden floor." The Lord stops the cat
and says, "Say no more," and a wonderful fluffy pillow appears.
A few days later, six mice are killed in a tragic farming accident and go to heaven.
Again, there is the Lord there to greet them with the same offer. The mice answer,
"All of our lives we have been chased. We have had to run from cats, dogs and even
women with brooms. Running, running, running; we're tired of running. Do you think we
could have roller skates so we don't have to run anymore?" The Lord says, "Say
no more," and fits each mouse with beautiful new roller skates.
About a week later the Lord stops by to see the cat and finds him snoozing on the pillow.
The Lord gently wakes the cat and asks him, "How are things since you got here?"
The cat stretches and yawns and replies, "It is wonderful here. Better than I could
have ever expected. And those 'Meals On Wheels' you've been sending by are the best!"
Have A Happy
Week
Later, Dr
Dan
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