March is pet poison prevention month. We all know the basics of pet care: walk your dog, feed your cat, take them to the groomers regularly, etc. However, little things lurking around your home may be dangerous to your furry friends. It is important to bring awareness to a topic that tends to be very overlooked in pet care.
Helping to keep your pets safe is a priority for us at York Professional Pet Sitting. The more you know, the better! This blog will outline how to prevent pet poisoning for your Aurora and Newmarket pets.
What Does Pet Poisoning Look Like?
If you know the signs of pet poisoning, it will give you the ability to act as quickly as possible in case of an emergency. You need to distinguish between symptoms to intervene as soon as possible. This information is essential, especially if your dog or cat has other health issues.
Symptoms of pet poisoning can vary depending on what your pet ingested. Regardless of that, here are the most common signs of pet poisoning:
- Diarrhea and upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Loss of appetite
- Black or bloody stool
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Abnormal behaviour
- Difficulty in breathing
- Seizures
- Excessive drooling (foamy) or hyper salivating
- Loss of appetite
What to do if You Suspect Pet Poisoning
Your first step should be to identify what your pet might have come into contact with. Was it food? A household item? A plant? This information will be helpful for your vet, so they know exactly how to treat your dog or cat.
Even if your dog seems fine, it is still important to immediately go to the vet or nearest animal hospital. Some pet toxins might not evoke symptoms right away. To prevent the illness from worsening, seeking medical attention is the best thing to do.
The best form of protection against pet poisoning is prevention. This can be a stressful situation for you and your pets. Luckily, if something does happen, you can do things to help your pet get well as soon as possible.
Your vet might ask you to induce vomiting in your pet by giving them a bit of hydrogen peroxide. Your vet will tell you exactly how much to give your dog, so don’t do this without their guidance.
If your dog’s skin or coat comes into contact with a cleaning product, your vet may advise you to bathe your dog right away.
Tips to Prevent Pet Poisoning
Firstly, keeping potential pet poisons out of your animals’ reach is the best way to prevent pet poisoning. For example, instead of keeping your medications on a nightstand, put them inside a drawer. Keep plants high up on plant stands so your dog cannot chew on them.
Dispose of any leftover skins and pieces of foods you may be cooking with. Onions and garlic are well-known pet toxins, so properly throw out all leftover pieces. If your dog likes to get into the garbage, dispose of these things separately. Tie them in a bag and put them outside in the trash. Alternatively, training your pooch to stay out of the kitchen will provide everyone peace of mind.
Overall, take a look around your home to see if you can make any improvements with storing household items properly.
Who to Call in the York Region in Case of an Emergency
If you cannot get in touch with your vet, other resources are available to you. You can start by calling the pet poison helpline for assistance.
This helpline is available 24/7-365 for you and your pets’ needs. Depending on how severe the case is, they may advise you to bring your dog or cat to the nearest animal hospital for in-person treatment.
Here is a list of a couple of emergency clinics in our area:
VCA Canada 404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital
Address: 510 Harry Walker Pkwy S, Newmarket, ON L3Y 0B3
Phone Number: (905) 953-1933
https://vcacanada.com/404emerg
Veterinary Emergency, Urgent Care & Referral Clinic of York Region
Address: 1210 Journey’s End Cir, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8Z6
Phone Number: (905) 953-5351
For more information to help you protect your pets better from poisonous substances, you can check out APCC’s poison control page: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control.
Morag is the owner and founder of York Regions most trusted premier in-home pet care and dog walking companies. In 2000 she saw a need for an alternative to kennels, catteries for family pets in the area and has always believed that pets are much happier and less stressed staying in their own familiar environment. Morag and her team are all certified in Pet 1st Aid and CPR, she also offers continuous training to her team members through online and hands on pet care and pet behaviour and care courses. Morag has earned her certificate in Professional Pet Sitting, Professional Dog Walking and Canine Attendant training. She has lived in the Newmarket/Aurora area since 1991 is a wife, a mother of 2 adult children and a grandmother of 2 delightful little balls of energy. She has also been owned by fish, birds, mice, rats, cats, dogs, gerbils and guinea pigs and is an advocate for all living creatures. In her spare time she likes to be involved in her community and events travelling, reading and cooking.
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