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Keeping Your Pets Healthy

Food And Household Items That Are Toxic To Pets

Article by Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists

Photography by Flourish Branding Photography

Originally published in Loveland & South Lifestyle

It's always scary when our pets eat things they shouldn't. It's worse when we don't know for sure if what they ate is toxic. Throughout the year, many pets visit the Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists emergency room due to toxin ingestions. Some will require ongoing treatment and monitoring by a veterinarian due to organ damage. Thankfully there are resources to help you identify those dangers beforehand.

We suggest you put these numbers in your phone: The ASPCA Poison Control Line is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at  888-426-4435. The Pet Poison Helpline is also staffed 24/7 and can be reached at 855-764-766. For identifying ingested plants, you can send photos and information to the Plant & Fungus ID Facebook Group at (www.facebook.com/groups/554451004697420) and they will provide information to you. For EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ONLY, you can reach out to the Emergency Plant & Fungus group at (www.facebook.com/groups/144798092849300) for assistance identifying suspicious plants that a pet has ingested. They do truly amazing work to help pet owners and veterinarians identify and appropriately treat animals who've ingested toxic plants or fungus, or to alleviate the fear. 

In effort to help alleviate some pet owners worries we wanted to share some of the most common things that our friends at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialist see pets ingest that can cause medical emergencies:

DOGS:

 Over the counter and prescription medications:

Including but not limited to acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, naproxen (Advil), nutraceutical products (vitamins and supplements), inhalers, antidepressants, cancer drugs, cold medicines, diet pills, certain topical creams/ointments like psoriasis cream

Foods:

Such as alcohol, avocado, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, xylitol (sweetener in gum and candy), onions, garlic, raw yeast dough, chocolate, whole stone fruits (cherries, peaches, plums as the pits can obstruct the GI tract), bones, fat trimmings, caffeine, protein/snack bars, edibles containing THC

Vet products:

Ingestion or overdosing of flea and tick products, dewormer medications

Household products:

Antifreeze, bleach, paint thinner, pool chemicals, fertilizer, cleaning chemicals, de-icing salts, herbicides, paint, Gorilla glue 

Rodenticides and insecticides:

Mouse bait, ant bait, slug bait, bug spray

Plants:

Azaleas, rhododendrons, tulips, daffodils, sago palms, yew, autumn crocus, dieffenbachia, oleander, amaryllis, poinsettia, hyacinth, hydrangea, philodendron, chrysanthemum, cyclamen, Lily of the Valley, marijuana, certain mushrooms (amanita among others)

CATS:

Over the counter and prescription medications:

Similar to the  over the counter medications that affect dogs, cats are also harmed by the ingestion of the following including but not limited to acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, naproxen (Advil), nutraceutical products (vitamins and supplements), inhalers, antidepressants, cancer drugs, cold medicines, diet pills

Foods:

Including alcohol, chives, grapes, raisins, xylitol (sweetener in gum and candy), onions, garlic, raw yeast dough, caffeine, bones, edibles containing THC

Vet products:

Like dogs, cats are  affected by the ingestion or overdosing of flea and tick products (pills, collars, spot-on flea treatment, spray, shampoo)

Household products:

Antifreeze, bleach, detergents, de-icing salts, fertilizer, herbicides, paint 

Rodenticides and insecticides:

Mouse bait, ant bait, slug bait, bug spray

Plants:

Aloe, azalea, chrysanthemum, hyacinths, mistletoe, philodendron, sago palm, tulips, marijuana, certain mushrooms (amanita among others) true lilies (Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter, Oriental, Japanese Show) leaves/flowers/ pollen/water

Household hazards:

Dental floss, yarn/string, tinsel, hair ties, glow sticks and jewelry, small toys with movable parts

Four Seasons Veterinary Specialist

4120 Clydesdale Pkwy Loveland

970-800-1106 | 4seasonsvetspecialists.com/services

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