Pet Food Recall Causes Alarm Among Pet Owners,
But Household Items More Common Source of Pet Poisoning
BOULDER, Colo., March 20, 2007 -- Concerned about the recent dog and cat deaths caused by tainted pet food, hundreds of pet owners have called veterinarian Lee Woods. At his clinic in Boulder, Woods talks to clients, guiding them through a list of all pet food brands reported to cause poisoning. So far, none of his clients’ pets has eaten the recalled food. With each client contact, Woods also discusses the most frequent causes of pet poisonings: common household items.
"Many pet owners don’t realize their kitchens, bathrooms and garages contain common items that are poisonous to pets," said Woods. He says that like young children, pets are prone to investigate and explore. "Because pets don’t have manual dexterity like humans, they pick up poisonous materials with their mouths. That exposes their mucous membranes to poisons, and then toxins spread throughout their systems," said Woods.
At Broadway Animal Hospital, Woods and his staff frequently treat pet poisonings, and chocolate and rodent bait are the two most common poisoning agents their patients ingest. But the average household contains many items that are potentially fatal to animals, including raisins, onions and avocados. Woods recommends a room-by-room assessment of contents that are dangerous to pets. The list is available at www.broadwayanimal.com.
Woods says pet owners should be aware of the most common symptoms of poisoning. "If your pet vomits repeatedly, has uncontrolled diarrhea, is lethargic, lacks muscle coordination, shows unusual drooling, or is markedly hyperactive, call your veterinarian right away," he said. "All of these behaviors are signs of potential poisoning." The recent pet-food related poisoning deaths were caused by kidney failure. "With kidney failure, animals usually vomit repeatedly, are lethargic, and have no appetite. These animals must receive medical care immediately, because kidney failure leads to death," said Woods.
"If you suddenly see any evidence of hemorrhaging or easy bleeding, such as a bloody nose or ruptured blood vessels in the eyes, or bleeding that starts for no reason, or blood in the stool or urine, call your veterinarian," said Woods. "These are the classic signs of rodent bait poisoning, and we see cases of this type of poisoning each year."
Broadway Animal Hospital offers the following tips to prevent pet poisonings:
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Do not allow pets to roam out of your yard. You have no chance of preventing poisonous exposure when you don't have control of your pets’ whereabouts.
- Safety proof your home. Identify potentially toxic materials around house. Prevent access to toxins by closing cabinet doors and securing lids on storage containers.
- Clean up spills immediately. Automotive fluids on garage floors or driveways, floor cleaning materials, and dishwasher soaps on kitchen floors can be fatal to pets.
- Keep pets away from de-icing salts on walks and driveways.
- Identify and restrict access to potentially toxic plants in your yard and house. Assume all plants are toxic until you’re sure they’re safe for pets.
- If you witness your pet consuming material that you suspect might be toxic, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance, even if you do not notice any adverse effects. Sometimes, even if poisoned, an animal may appear normal for several hours or for days after the incident. If possible, have the product container/packaging available for reference.
- If you suspect your pet has ingested poisonous agents, immediately call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
- Invest in an emergency first-aid kit for your pet. Use these materials only under the direction of your veterinarian or the Poison Control Center Staff.
The kit should contain:
- a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)
- a turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)
- saline eye solution
- artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)
- mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)
- forceps (to remove stingers)
- a muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)
- a can of your pet’s favorite wet food
- a pet carrier
- Visit Broadway Animal Hospital’s website at www.broadwayanimal.com for more information on preventing animal poisoning.
"All pet poisonings are tragic, particularly since many of them are preventable," said Woods. "It’s ironic that this year’s Pet Poison Prevention Week, March 17 through 23, is happening just after the pet food-related poisonings. Perhaps the news about this problem will help more pet owners safeguard their homes and protect their animals," he said.
Broadway Animal Hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association and is located at 1405 S. Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305; phone 303-499-5505.
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