Dr. Margaret King
EDMOND — According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)®, they handled more than 100,000 calls for pet poisonings and hazards involving pets in 2006.
This number will likely even be higher in 2007 for several reasons. The APCC has been publicized more to create an enhanced public awareness by the ASPCA. Free magnets are available to place on your refrigerator as a constant reminder and the APCC has increased its staff allowing them to handle more calls.
Another enhancement has come this year with the Home Again Microchip Program. Microchipping your pet and paying the $14.99 annual fee allows you free calls to the APCC. There is normally a $55 charge for the call, and you must have your credit card in hand. With the Home Again® Proactive Program, it and several other perks are available at no additional cost to you, the pet owner.
The top hazard to pets was human medications. More than 78,000 calls were reported involving pets consuming human drugs. Medications such as cold remedies, pain medication, antidepressants and dietary supplements were topping the list. A dropped pill, a purse left unattended or prescription bottles left in range of the curious, can all lead to huge problems when pets become involved.
No. 2 on the list was insecticides with greater than 27,000 cases. This included lawn sprays and treatments where pets walked on it and licked their paws, to bottles of sprays spilled or left unattended so that pets had access.
No. 3 on the list with 12,000 cases was veterinary medications. Again, whole packages, entire bottles and “the other dog’s pill” top the list of problems.
No. 4 was plants with more than 9,300 cases being presented. As we move into the holiday season this is a timely reminder that lilies, poinsettias and mistletoe are high on the list. Other plants include, but are not limited to, azaleas, kalanchoes, rhododendrons, sheffleras and the sago palm.
No. 5 was rodenticides at 8,800 calls. Two things to remember are that your pet doesn’t have to eat the rat/mouse poison directly to be affected, but only to eat the mouse or rat that ate the poison. The second point is you never can hide a mouse/rat bait from a curious puppy, or dog. They always will find it. Many owners take coumadin as a blood thinner. This is Warfarin, the same ingredient found in rat poison. Be very careful with this drug because a single pill can cause a dog to hemorrhage to death in a little more than 24 hours.
Sixth on the list are household cleaners such as bleaches, disinfectants, detergents and spot cleaners. Many have a taste-appeal to pets and can be very toxic.
The age-old problem of chocolate toxicosis was No. 7 on the list with 4,800 plus calls. Again, as we move into the holidays and bake all the chocolate chip cookies, candies and the like, protect your pets from these dangers. The dark chocolate variety is the most toxic of this category.
Eighth on the list was chemical hazards. This is a new one to the top 10 listing and includes petroleum-based products, alcohols, acids and gases. There were more than 4,100 calls, more than a 300 percent increase from 2005.
No. 9 on the list was physical hazards which increased 460 percent with more than 3,800 calls. This category is made up of things that cause choking, physical injury such as lawn chairs folding up on tails or legs, and intestinal obstruction. Strings, tiny toys, rawhide chews and a plethora of other objects are included here.
The last one, No. 10 involves problems that occur due to home-improvements products such as paint, expanding glues, solvents and other building products.
Remember the curiosity of your pets and protect them from themselves. As we move into the holiday season be careful when cleaning, baking, entertaining and traveling with your pets. Should anything happen, be sure you have the telephone number of the APCC handy (888) 426-4435.
DR. M. MARGARET KING may be reached by sending questions to 1900 S. Bryant, Edmond, OK 73013.Pe
