The chemicals we use every day to clean our houses, get rid of bugs, and keep our yards green can make our pets sick.
"Some how people have the idea that pets won't get into anything that's harmful to them and that's just not right" says Dr. Jay Albertson from the National Animal Poison Control Center in Illinois. "They'll get into just about everything"
Since 1978 The National Animal Poison Control Center has been giving specific advice and information to pet owners and veterinarians throughout the country. The center receives over 40,000 phone calls each year which are answered by one of the ten veterinarian toxicologists on staff. According to Albertson, the types of problems encountered have a seasonal correlation. Most of the calls received during the summer months involve problems with pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and poisonous plants.
Approximately 85% of all the calls to the Animal Poison Control Center involve accidental exposure within the home, mostly from oral ingestion. Usually toxic household cleaners or other dangerous products are left out in the open where a pet can easily get into it. There have even been cases where owners have inadvertently given their pets medication meant for themselves. So, if your pet takes medication, be sure to keep it in a separate place from yours so there won't be any mix up.
Besides oral ingestion, problems can occur through repeated exposure of certain products like pesticides used for flea control. These chemicals are fat soluble and are stored in the fatty tissues, primarily the liver, and in the nervous system, says Dr. Howard Peiper, author of "Are You Poisoning Your Pets?." Over time, with repeated exposure, these chemicals can accumulate and cause problems with nerves, hormones and the immune system.
DEET, (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) which is a popular chemical found in insect repellents and in some flea products, can cause tremors, vomiting and seizures in cats and dogs, according to Peiper. Some cats have even died when repeatedly given flea baths with products containing this substance.
A less likely poisoning culprit, but none the less dangerous, are house plants. "Cats are chewers on plants." says Dr. Albertson. And they are especially sensitive to the lily family, like Easter and Tiger lilies. Other indoor plants to be cautious of, for both dogs and cats, are Daffodils, Poinsettias, and Mistletoe. According to Peiper, plants used in dried flower arrangements such as laurel, rhododendron and azalea can cause watery eyes or nose, vomiting, convulsions and in the case of laurel, death. Also, be careful of non-toxic plants that have been sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers.
Just by using a lot of common sense, tragic instances can be avoided. "We recommend putting things away and putting them up to where animals can't get to them." says Dr. Albertson. "There is nothing out there that is not harmful if enough of it has been taken."
For more information or help. . .
"Are You Poisoning Your Pets?" by Dr. Howard Peiper and Nina Anderson. available at bookstores or 800-903-3837
National Animal Poison Control Center Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 800-548-2423 900-680-0000 888-426-4435
The center is non-profit and backed by the ASPCA. There is a charge for this service when you call and they accept most major credit cards. The cost for using the 900 number is $20 for the first five minutes, then $2.95 per minute thereafter or when using the 800 number, it's $30 per case. They also have a complete listing of toxic plants.
|
Home |