Pet Poison Prevention: What You Need To Know In An Emergency
by Bernie's Best
3/22/2021
March is National Pet Poison Prevention Month, and this week is Pet
Poison Prevention Week. When it comes to your furry best friend,
there’s definitely information you need to know that could prevent him from getting sick, and even save his life.
Toxic Around Every Turn
It happens to the best of us. We think we’ve got everything nice
and pet-proof and before we know it? Fido has snuck that Snickers bar
right off the counter and all that’s left to tell the tale is the
wrapper sticking out of his mouth.
We feel awful--our dog has just ingested a potentially harmful or even
fatal poison. Would you know what to do? Or, would a pet-sitter know
what to do if they were watching your dog? (Best to have that be one of the questions you ask potential pet sitters!)
Maybe a better question is “Do you even know what is poisonous
for pets?”
Let’s be sure you know the answer.
Poisonous For Dogs: What You Need To Know
You probably know that chocolate is toxic for dogs. But did you know
that bakers’ chocolate or dark chocolate is worse, though? Though
it’s not typically fatal to dogs (many think it is), chocolate
ingestion can be serious. It contains caffeine, as well as theobromine,
which is a toxin that is similar to caffeine. They’re used as
diuretics or heart stimulants, and the truth is that your dog just
can’t metabolize theobromine and caffeine as humans can. This
leaves him more sensitive to their effects and more susceptible to
feeling super sick. Dark chocolate has more theobromine than milk, and
that’s why dark is worse for them.
But far more dangerous and much deadlier is Xylitol. Xylitol is used
more and more in sugarless candies, gums and products. It’s even
used in medicines and toothpastes, and it can kill your dog very
quickly. If your dog ingests something with Xylitol, it can cause dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
seizures, liver failure or even death!
If you think your dog has ingested something with Xylitol, get them to
the vet IMMEDIATELY. It is truly a matter of life or death.
Other poisons to look out for are NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory
drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve). You want to
be careful with over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medicines too.
Sometimes, your dog will actually have a prescription for
antihistamines, but they pose risk and if your dog gets into them
without doctor direction, call your vet immediately.
Obviously, all pesticides are likely toxic to some degree to dogs, so
be careful, but rodenticides (mouse poison) definitely is, and you want
to keep FAR away from your furry friend.
The Pet Poison Helpline has tons of information about pet poisons,
including different Top 10 poison lists for different seasons.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Ingests Poison?
If you know or think your dog has been exposed to a poison or toxic
substance, you have to act fast. Knowing what to do ahead of time (by
reading articles like this, for example) could be a lifesaver.
You’ll first want to be sure he was indeed exposed to or ingested
the toxin. Note how. Was it eaten or did he sniff it or did his skin
absorb it? Do you know where the food came from? Was it a toxic animal
(like a toad) or a toxic plant (like poinsettia) or a toxic chemical
(like toilet bowl cleaner)? Knowing what your dog’s poison
exposure was, and how much of it he had is key for your vet. If you can
get the packaging (if applicable) for the poison, take it with you to
the vet.
And yes. GO TO THE VET. Call them on the way. Don’t wait to see
if your dog shows signs of sickness. It could simply be too late by
then. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and your vet is
THE FIRST CONTACT you want to make. DON’T give your dog anything
to ‘remedy’ the situation without your vet telling you to.
This includes making them vomit.
If your dog was exposed to something toxic on his fur or skin, the vet
may also advise you to bathe him quickly first. Try having Dawn dish
soap around just in case this ever happens, as it’s one of the
best grease-cutters and maybe the best defense in fending against skin
toxicity.
Most importantly, be prepared. You never know when something is going
to happen, so you want to be sure you’re ready. You can contact
the ASPCA Poison Control Line at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at
800-213-6680.
Additionally, keep your dog’s medical records up-to-date and easy
to get to in case you have to rush to a different clinic that can handle
emergencies.
As much as we want to protect our dogs, the truth is sometimes they get
into things they just shouldn’t get into. That’s why we want
always to do our best to keep things as safe as we can, and to keep them
as healthy as we can too. Bernie’s Perfect Poop helps your dog
have the best poop on the block, for sure, but it does so much more.
Keeping your dog’s gut healthy with premium fiber, pre- and
pro-biotics and digestive enzymes means you’re keeping his
microbiome happy and healthy too.
And that means a stronger, healthier immune system for your dog!
Yes, sometimes your vet may tell you to give them salt or even
hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting but DO NOT DO IT WITHOUT them
telling you to do so. Sometimes inducing vomiting can just make the
toxin spread more quickly in your dog’s system, so always follow
THEIR directions. That said, it’s never a bad idea to have an
unopened bottle of hydrogen peroxide that hasn’t expired just in
case.
Notes from a good boy who is tempted by bad things
Hi friends--it’s me, Bernie!
I admit, we dogs can get ourselves into some pickles. We know that we’re not supposed to eat socks but...they smell so delicious. And your favorite flower arrangement? It was just too colorful to not investigate...and then munch on some ‘salad’ afterward.
The thing is, we dogs don’t know what will just give us a belly-ache, and what might actually be really, really bad for us. That’s why we’re so thankful you know and you take care of us and do your best to keep stuff we should leave alone out of our way.
You can also help keep us happy and healthy by making sure we have Bernie’s Perfect Poop every day! The unique 4-in-1 combo of high-quality fiber, pre- and pro-biotics and digestive enzymes fortifies our digestive systems and our guts, and that keeps our immune system in tip-top-shape.
And that never hurts when you have a propensity to let curiosity get the best of your belly!
Make sure you’re stocked on Perfect Poop today!
Until Next Time,
Bernie F.
