Your adventurous pets are ready to try out anything in their paths. Before you know it, your pet may have swallowed a harmful, even toxic substance. Before such an emergency strikes, it is important to know what can lead to this accident, and what you can do about it. One thing is for certain, if you think your dog or cat has swallowed something poisonous, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible! Acting quickly can one of the most important things you do for your pet.
The symptoms you need to be alert for will be different according to what your pet ingested. Sometimes, this will look like your dog or cat lacking energy and interest, feeling discomfort, and even suddenly growing feeble. Toxins can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling. More potent poisons can lead to extreme nervousness, or extreme exhaustion, spasms, seizures, or perhaps a coma. If you have any suspicion that your pet is exhibiting signs of poison, you cannot go wrong by calling your veterinarian. There is also a Pet Poison Helpline that you can call at 1-855-213-6680.
The main reason that a pet could be suffering from swallowed poison is simply an investigation gone wrong, the accident of curious pets who unwittingly swallow something harmful to find out what it was. Problems can be exacerbated by owners who try to treat their pet with medicine, thinking that the symptoms signal a different condition. Some medications can turn toxic when pets been poisoned and their metabolism has been affected.
Once you have noticed that your dog or cat has swallowed poison, then move him or her away from the poison, unless it is unsafe to do so. You yourself may need to take precautions, such as wearing gloves or a mask. Check to see if your pet is breathing. If you can, figure out what the poison is. A label can be extremely helpful to you and your veterinarian. Do NOT induce vomiting, not until you have called the hotline or your veterinarian, as vomiting can sometimes aggravate certain poisons. If a pet vomits on their own, then you want to store this somewhere so that it can later be tested.
Before you leave for a veterinarian, there are several steps you can take if your pet has swallowed a household product, such as drain cleaner, gasoline, paint thinner, lye, chlorine bleach, etc. If your pet swallowed something like an acid or alkali, then you do not want to give your pet anything; even if you neutralize the toxin, this can cause further damage to your pet. What you want to do is rinse out your pet's mouth, running lukewarm water from a faucet for 15 to 20 minutes. Point the water away from the back of the mouth, lest the lungs fill with water.
Again, do not induce vomiting until you have the okay from a professional. If you are told to induce vomiting, then what you need to get is hydrogen peroxide, non-expired and bubbly, and follow your veterinarian's instructions. Do NOT use syrup of ipecac, salt, or your own concoction. You do not want to provide activated charcoal yourself; yours will not be the same of the same quality as the veterinarian's charcoal.
If possible, call the hotline as you travel to the veterinarian or an emergency clinic. Ideally, your pet can be treated with an antidote. If not, there are several modes of treatment that can keep your pet comfortable until the toxins have been worked out of their system. A veterinarian might pump your pet's stomach, or give your pet activated charcoal to neutralize the poison.
You can take measures now to keep your pet safe too. You will want to keep cleaning products out of reach, lock away dangerous substances, and keep your medications away from your pets' medicine so that the two do not get confused. When you give your pet medication, follow the instructions to the letter. For more tips and answers about keeping your pet healthy, contact your local veterinarian today.