Keep Pets Safe To Avoid A Race To The Vet

When there is a major sporting event or public holiday, the Animal Poisons Helpline phones can ring off the hook. Today we would like to remind pet owners to be vigilant and keep your pets safe to avoid a ‘race’ to the vet.

BBQ and platter meats – Greasy, salty, and delicious. Highly attractive to our pets and if given a chance, many will rapidly eat all that is available to them. Dogs often lick dirty BBQ plates that are sitting aside waiting to be cleaned (sometimes they are already covered in caustic grill cleaners). Excessive consumption of fatty foods can bring on a bout of pancreatitis and large amounts of salt can result in dangerously high sodium levels.

Nuts – Contain lots of natural fats that can trigger pancreatitis if ingested in large quantities. The only nut that is truly toxic to dogs is the Macadamia nut. If dogs eat large amounts of Macadamia nuts, they can develop weakness, drowsiness, vomiting, tremors, joint pain, and fever.

Alcohol – Beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol which can be toxic to your pet. Most pets are smaller than their owners and can therefore become sick from ingesting relatively small amounts of alcohol. Sweet beverages may be particularly attractive to our pets. Severe poisoning can reduce the breathing rate, body temperature and blood sugar levels as well as possibly result in coma.

Recreational drugs – marijuana poisoning in particular is common in dogs as they will eat most marijunana containing products such as baked goods, butter, joints, etc. Prolonged sedation and respiratory depression can result requiring days of round-the-clock veterinary care. Keep all recreational drugs well out of reach of pets.

Foreign bodies – Cooked bones, skewers, popped balloons, absorbent meat pads and whatever else some dogs can get their paws on. Whilst not toxic, ingestion of these items may result in a blockage of the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, surgery may be required so prevention is always best with these.

Disinfectants – Let us not forget that after all is done, one must (or should) clean. Cats are very sensitive to some disinfecting detergents such as benzalkonium chloride and even licking treated surfaces can make them very unwell. Cats also seem to be attracted to the smell of bleach so please keep them away whilst cleaning!

Don’t forget to add our phone number (1300 869 738 for AU, 0800 869 738 for NZ) to your mobile phone contacts so you can get rapid help when out with your pet; it could save their life.

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