I am not kidding you. Animal Poison Control Hotlines charge money just for information, a lot of money and it’s sad. Ok, now I understand it cost money to run these things but we are talking about information that people need within a short time frame that doesn’t allow for credit card transactions. I mean give me a break, this is beyond stupid, I really thought we had come further than this.
Today I had set out to raise awareness on household dangers to pets/animals. I found some really great information out there but then at the bottom of all the info I read about these charges we need to know about, on that particular site it was $35 for the call. So I thought heck with these guys I am going to head over to the SPCA where they actually care about the animals….well…disappointed cannot even describe how I felt when I found out that they charge $65 a call on their hotline. WOW! Pissed off is a better description.
Maybe they have always charged for this service, you know, I am not even sure because I just assumed that calling a hotline for help when your animal could be poisoned, would be a free call. Silly me.
I have to say here that I am in no way a political kind of girl, maybe I was years ago but not these days. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country, I am an American girl and proud to be her BUT when I see tax payer dollars being spent by politicians riding around in private jets with personal staff members by the dozens yet something as important, TO US as our animals safety is being over looked it pisses me off. Sorry for the language but it does. I think these politicians should put on their walking shoes or buy a bus pass because honestly I don’t care how they get to where they are going….what I do care about is picking up the phone in my animals hour of need and knowing I will get help. Don’t ask me for money, tell me what to do to save my friend, that is the right thing to do and when it is a person we do just that.
How many of you out there consider your animal’s lives a priority? How many of you would give just about anything to keep your animal from suffering? How about love, let’s go there, how many of you can say that you have loved or still do love your animal friend the same as you would a human friend?
If these animals are this important to us and we are the people, why are they always being shafted? Many animals are the children of many human beings across this world, there are a great number of us that treat the little furry buggers like they are people and to us they are. Putting a price tag on their lives is insulting.
Now I don’t think we should get it all for free, we don’t get things for us for free. Just make it comparable because right now it is not at all.
The Pet Care Industry has been taking us for a ride for too long now, what is wrong with society? Don’t answer that. LOL
Veterinary Care Costs are just crazy and I spend more at the store now a days on animal needs than I do people needs. People are getting rich because our babies have fur. It’s not fair. We can’t even have a free hotline from an animal organization that is suppose to be saving animals.
It’s about time to change the way things are done and only we can change it but that is another post entirely. (but trust me it will be posted) :o)
So with all of this frustration, I set out on a mission to see if I could find real people that realize that our animals health is at the top of our priority list and just because they don’t look like real little kids doesn’t mean they are not our kids. Someone who in that moment of shear panic when you discover your animal has ingested something poisonous won’t ask you for your credit card number before giving you the info that can save your furbaby.
All I wanted to do was a post on poison prevention, you know with links that go back to a site that I could feel good about linking you to…that’s all
Well, I found them and some of my faith in this world has returned but not all of it by a long shot.
The place to call if you suspect poisoning in your child OR pet (I love that) is the”Children’s Hospital Regional Poison Control Center” at (800) 222-1222. There are more I am sure…maybe. If you know of any please leave the information in the comment section so others can see it too.
And now my little Rant is over…LOL
I will now get back to what I set out to do tonight in the first place and that is offer you some info that could help you prevent the poisoning of your animals.
So if you are still with me here we go….
Know the Signs of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats
If you think your dog or cat has been poisoned, call your veterinarian or call the “Poison Control Center” at (800) 222-1222. When it comes to poisoning, the sooner you treat your dog or cat, the better the outcome. While this list is not exhaustive or complete, some common signs of poisoning generally include:
- Gastrointestinal signs
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling/hypersalivating
- Inappetance
- Nausea
- Internal bleeding
- Coughing of blood
- Vomiting blood
- Pale gums
- A racing heart rate
- Weakness or lethargy
- Collapse
- Kidney failure
- Halitosis (“uremic” breath)
- Inappetance
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive thirst or urination
- Absence or decreased urination
- Liver failure
- Jaundice/icterus/yellow discoloration to the gums
- Weakness or collapse secondary to a low blood sugar
- Dull mentation, acting abnormally
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Black-tarry stool (melena)
What to do if your dog or cat is poisoned?
- Remove your pet from the area.
- Check to make sure your pet is safe: breathing and acting normally.
- Do NOT give any home antidotes.
- Do NOT induce vomiting without consulting a vet or Poison Control Center
- Call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.
- If veterinary attention is necessary, contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic immediately.
When you call the Center, be ready to provide:
- Your name, address and telephone number
- Information concerning the exposure (the amount of agent, the time since
- exposure, etc.). For various reasons, it is important to know exactly what poison the animal was exposed to.
- The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved
- The agent your animal(s) has been exposed to, if known
- The problems your animal(s) is experiencing.
Be Prepared
Your animal may become poisoned in spite of your best efforts to prevent it. Because of this, you should be prepared. Your animal companions regularly should be seen by a local veterinarian to maintain overall health. You should know the veterinarian’s procedures for emergency situations, especially ones that occur after usual business hours. You should keep the telephone numbers for the veterinarian, and a local emergency veterinary service in a convenient location.
You may benefit by keeping a pet safety kit on hand for emergencies. Such a kit should contain:
- A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP)
- Can of soft dog or cat food, as appropriate
- Turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe
- Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants
- Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing
- Mild grease-cutting dish washing liquid in order to bathe an animal after skin contamination
- Rubber gloves to prevent you from being exposed while you bathe the animal
- Forceps to remove stingers
- Muzzle to keep the animal from hurting you while it is excited or in pain
- Pet carrier to help carry the animal to your local veterinarian
Top 10 Pet Poisons
- Dog Poisons
- Chocolate
- Insect bait stations
- Rodenticides (i.e., mouse and rat poison)
- Fertilizers
- Xylitol-containing products (i.e., sugar-free gums and candies)
- Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
- Silica gel packs
- Amphetamines, such as ADD/ADHD drugs
- Household cleaners
- Cat Poisons
- Lilies and lilly pollen
- Canine pyrethroid insecticides (topical flea and tick medicine designed for dogs but erroneously placed on cats)
- Household cleaners
- Rodenticides
- Paints and varnishes
- Veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Rimadyl®, Deramaxx®)
- Glow sticks/glow jewelry (reed diffusers burn)
- Amphetamines (such as ADD/ADHD drugs)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
- Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)
- Insecticides on plants
- See toxic to cats.
- Beware cat flea treatments
- Fire retardants
- Carpets!?
- Chocolate
Click here for Poisonous Plants List and on this website click here. Or here for plants safe for cats.
If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 or your veterinarian for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.
And I would like to give a big huge Thank you to the “Children’s Hospital of Michigan”
You people are real human beings. Thank you.
Americans are obsessed with peroxide 😉 We just don’t see it here.
I remember a person built a website about hydrogen peroxide! I thought that was a bit ambitious. It’s one of those wonder products that does everything. One day they’ll probably find out that it does some harm as well 😉