#Pet Poison Helpline #Rat Poison #Toxin Tails

Keeping Your Furry Friends Safe During the Holidays

As families gather for the holidays, many of us share our homes with beloved pets. While we know where the common dangers lie within our homes, unexpected hazards can arise when friends and family visit or when we travel. It’s crucial for pet owners to remain vigilant about potential toxic exposures, especially from items brought by guests.

Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist, warns that the likelihood of your pet encountering unknown substances increases during this time. The Pet Poison Helpline reports a spike in calls regarding accidental poisonings during the holidays, frequently involving items the pet owner was unaware existed in their own home.

A case in point is Bubba, a Chihuahua puppy, whose life was endangered after ingesting a block of rat poison that had been mistakenly left within reach by an uncle. Despite the owner's efforts to treat him at home with hydrogen peroxide, it was not enough, and they rushed him to the emergency animal hospital. At Legacy Animal Emergency Hospital, Bubba received the necessary treatments for his condition, highlighting the potential dangers of self-treatment and the importance of consulting professionals in such situations.

It's tempting to think we’ve pet-proofed our homes, but even the most careful pet owners can miss items that pose a serious risk. For instance, Roscoe, a Jack Russell Terrier mix, accidentally ingested rat bait their owner didn’t know was around due to a family visit. Such incidents remind us that visiting another household can expose pets to dangers, be it medications, food items, or household chemicals, all of which can lead to severe health crises.

When it comes to rodenticides, the dangers vary with the type of poison involved. The three common types include neurotoxins causing brain swelling, long-acting anticoagulants impacting blood clotting, and cholecalciferol leading to potential kidney failure. In Bubba’s case, the exact type of bait was initially unknown, prompting the medical team to adopt a cautious treatment strategy that accounted for all possibilities. Fortunately, the owner later retrieved the bait package, allowing for more targeted treatment.

Professional help is invariably the best option in emergencies. Inducing vomiting at home can sometimes cause greater harm than good, as was the case with Bubba, where excessive hydrogen peroxide made his situation worse. Dr. Schmid emphasizes the importance of seeking veterinary guidance when handling such scenarios.

Pet Poison Helpline created the initiative