Sept10 HIDDEN KILLERS AROUND THE HOME
As devoted pet owners, we all strive to keep our pets protected from dangers such as cars, ticks, diseases, snakes etc. But what many people may not know, is that some everyday items we keep in our houses or have growing in our gardens could be deadly to our pets also.
Wisteria, Oleander, macadamias, avocados, yesterday-today-and-tomorrow and cycads are commonly kept garden plants, but if a playful puppy chooses to eat, or chew on them it could be fatal. Similarly any of the lily family of plants, including the common indoor plant varieties is toxic to cats. Quite often kittens will swipe at leaves in play, then when cleaning themselves can ingest their toxic sap.
Whilst it may be tempting to share some chocolate, avocado, rhubarb, grapes or onion (raw or cooked) with your pets, this could also prove disastrous. As our bodies process foods differently to our pets, something that is safe for us may be toxic to our pets. This is the reason that many well intentioned owners have unknowingly poisoned their pets by giving them medications prescribed for humans such as panadol, nurofen (ibuprofen) or aspirin. Even “natural” remedies such as St John’s wort and garlic are toxic if given to our pets.
It is important to consider pets (especially our dogs…sorry dogs!) as we would toddlers. If they can chew it, they will, if they can swallow it, they will. (Even when you can’t figure out how they got it in their mouth in the first place!) With this in mind, toys such as Lego with small parts, corn cobs, cooked bones, pegs left on the ground can all cause blockages in intestines. String left lying around can cause severe damage if swallowed. (Cats like to do this) Even things such as play dough, which you would think would taste terrible, can be fatal due to the high salt content causing severe organ damage and death. Cockroach baits and rat sac can be seen as fun things to chew on with disastrous results also.
Household bleaches and pine-o-clean contain ammonias which mimic pheromones (meaning that cats especially find it very attractive). They will often roll on the wet floor and then sustain severe burns to their mouth and gastrointestinal system when they clean themselves afterward.
We can’t protect our pets from everything, but hopefully with a bit of knowledge, vigilance and some habit changes we can keep our pets a bit safer and direct them toward toys and foods that won’t see them ending up at the vets under unhappy circumstances. If you have any questions regarding household hazards, contact the Old Mill Vet Surgery on 3425 2222.
Whilst it may be tempting to share some chocolate, avocado, rhubarb, grapes or onion (raw or cooked) with your pets, this could also prove disastrous. As our bodies process foods differently to our pets, something that is safe for us may be toxic to our pets. This is the reason that many well intentioned owners have unknowingly poisoned their pets by giving them medications prescribed for humans such as panadol, nurofen (ibuprofen) or aspirin. Even “natural” remedies such as St John’s wort and garlic are toxic if given to our pets.
It is important to consider pets (especially our dogs…sorry dogs!) as we would toddlers. If they can chew it, they will, if they can swallow it, they will. (Even when you can’t figure out how they got it in their mouth in the first place!) With this in mind, toys such as Lego with small parts, corn cobs, cooked bones, pegs left on the ground can all cause blockages in intestines. String left lying around can cause severe damage if swallowed. (Cats like to do this) Even things such as play dough, which you would think would taste terrible, can be fatal due to the high salt content causing severe organ damage and death. Cockroach baits and rat sac can be seen as fun things to chew on with disastrous results also.
Household bleaches and pine-o-clean contain ammonias which mimic pheromones (meaning that cats especially find it very attractive). They will often roll on the wet floor and then sustain severe burns to their mouth and gastrointestinal system when they clean themselves afterward.
We can’t protect our pets from everything, but hopefully with a bit of knowledge, vigilance and some habit changes we can keep our pets a bit safer and direct them toward toys and foods that won’t see them ending up at the vets under unhappy circumstances. If you have any questions regarding household hazards, contact the Old Mill Vet Surgery on 3425 2222.
