This week is National Poisoning Prevention Week and that also includes our pets. We should all be aware of ways to prevent poisoning and what to do case your dog eats something toxic. The first rule, when walking your dog always keep him on his dog leash. Make sure dog food is always sealed when purchased.

Pet MD has published a very thorough list of things to look for when a pet has been poisoned.

Some poisons are more obvious than others. Consider chemicals, paint, or tar on the skin, for example. Others are more insidious, from ingested plant material and drugs to surreptitiously consumed chemicals and inhaled substances.

Any sign of discomfort, agitation or pain must be investigated. Disorientation, vomiting, restlessness, staggering, depression, convulsions, lethargy, loss of appetite, twitching, dilated pupils, ulcers, diarrhea, heart palpitations, and coma can all be caused by various poisons.

Those toxins for which immediate care should be sought include the following (click on the terms to open the guides):

Skin contact

Tar
Petroleum products
Household chemicals
Paint or paint remover
Gasoline
Stinging nettles
Bufo toad venom
Flea and tick medication

Inhaled

Smoke
Tear gas
Insecticides
Household chemicals

Swallowed

Alkalis
Acids
Household chemicals
Petroleum Products
All drugs

Poisonous Plants

English ivy
Foxglove
Hemlock
Mushrooms
Mistletoe
Oleander
Peace Lily
Tulip

Immediate Care

Call the Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-213-6680) or your veterinarian immediately upon ingestion or exposure to a known or possible toxin. Moreover, do not induce vomiting or offer any antidotes without the advice of a veterinarian, toxicologist, or poison control specialist.

Prevention

Keep your dog away from work areas where contaminants are used.
If you can’t keep your dog away, ensure all chemicals are safely contained and stored out of reach of inquisitive paws and noses.
Do not keep poisonous plants in or around your home and watch for them while taking your dog outside.
If you use insecticides and/or rodenticides, follow the instructions carefully and make sure the dog cannot reach the treated area(s). The same goes for dog-specific insecticides (flea and tick collars, shampoos, etc.)
Keep human medications stored in a safe and secure location. Label them carefully and keep count of how many are in each container. This information will be extremely useful in case of ingestion or an overdose.

Remember, your pets count!

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