It might be if you don’t know what to watch out for. Many things found commonly around our homes are deadly to animals. Did you know that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs? That garlic and onions are toxic to cats? It’s true. Items as simple as chocolate, coffee grounds, and even apple seeds can be fatal if ingested by your pet. In this article, we discuss how to prevent pet poisoning, and what to do if you suspect you pet had been poisoned.

Poison Prevention

The best method of poison prevention is knowledge. Know what items are hazardous to your pet and if you have any of these in your home. Many organizations such at Cat world and the ASPCA maintain lists common household items that are toxic to your pets. Here are a few commonly recommended steps:

• Keep prescription and over-the-counter medicine out of your pets reach. Vitamins, painkillers, cold medicines, etc can be lethal to animals, even in small doses.
• Be aware of the plants you have in and around your home. Azalea, oleander, easter lily, and many other plant species can cause be fatal if ingested.
• Make sure your pets do not go on lawns or gardens treated with fertilizers, insecticides, etc until they have dried completely. Always store these products where they are inaccessible to your pets. If you are uncertain about any product, consult your veterinarian.
• Be alert for antifreeze leaking from your car. It tastes sweet and ingesting just a small amount can cause an animal’s death.
• Consider using animal-friendly antifreeze products that use propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.
• Be conscious of your pet products, particularly those containing pesticides like flea control products. Many of these products are not interchangeable and can be fatal if used on the wring species. If a product is for use only on dogs, it should never be used on cats and vice, versa.
• When using rat poison, slug baits, or ant/roach traps, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your pet. Some bait contains sweet smelling ingredients such as peanut butter or sugar that can attract your pets.

What to do if you suspect poisoning
If you are in doubt whether a product is toxic, call a veterinarian. And never wait for signs to develop. Successful poison treatment requires immediate action and many antidotes must be given within 12 hours of toxin ingestion. I recommend that you call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4-ANI-HELP). immediately and head to your veterinarian as soon as possible. If possible, always bring the container to the veterinarian so that the ingredients can be properly identified.

The doctor that takes your call at the ASPCA is specially trained in poison treatment and has access to the ASPCA’s extensive database of poison treatment information. They will research the poison in question and provide you with immediate corrective steps to take. At the end of your call, the ASPCA doctor will give you a case number. Be sure to make a note of your case number.

Your veterinarian will use your case number to get in touch with the doctor who has been treating your pet and discuss the information they have on the poison in question.

Frequently your veterinarian will prescribe 1tbsp of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, so it pays to keep a bottle on hand. But because many chemicals (like gasoline) pose a greater risk to your pet on the way out, do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a trained professional.

The bottom line
Pet poisonings can almost always be prevented. Remember that the best method of poison prevention is knowledge and make an effort to educate yourself.

Authors Note: A call to the ASPCA’s poison control center will cost you $45, but it gets your vet access to the latest and most accurate information available. I’ve have the misfortune of using the service once before when my puppy ingested Tylenol. I am pleased to report that my dog is fine, and even my top notch vet was impressed by how much information the ASPCA doctor had that he was previously unaware of.

Pet microchips are becoming increasingly popular around the world. But along with it’s popularity increases, the debate over microchipping animals has heated up as well. And even as some cities are passing laws to mandate them, other pet owners would like to see them outlawed. In this article, we try and shed some light on mysteries behind microchipping.

What is a microchip?
A pet microchip consists of a tiny tube (about the size of a grain of rice) that is inserted under the skin. For consistency, it is almost always placed on the left side near shoulder height. The process is a very quick, cheap, and painless. It carries a number in it that will identify the owner by name and address. The database also contains other relevant information, such as the cat’s health problems. For example, if your lost diabetic cat got picked up, her condition could be treated. All veteranarian offices and animal shelters are supposed to have a reading device for the microchip so animals can be easily identified.

Why should I ‘chip’ my pet?
All it takes to lose a pet is momentary distraction, an overexcited child, or an unaware in-home worker and you pet is gone in an instant. Sadly, once a pet is lost the odds are against it finding its way home again. According to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their way back from shelters to their original owners. Almost 20 million pets are euthanized every year because their owners can’t be found.

Are there reasons why I should not microchip my pet?
Perhaps the most frequently cited objection is the cost ($25-45 per pet). Aside from that, the chip is implanted with an injection, and requires no anesthesia. Since the microchip is sealed in a sterile capsule, there is very little chance for infection or rejection. And finally, since the chip requires no power it never needs replacing.

Which company should I get my microchip from?
Your pets health care provider will probably choose for you. But, you should know what chip they are installing and how it affects your pet’s safety. AVID and Home Again 125 kHz microchips can be scanned by all scanners presently in US animal shelters. To date, these brand of microchips have been placed in over 8 million pets in the United States. However, last year Banfield Pet Hospital (located in Petsmart stores) has recently adopted a 134.2kHz ISO microchip called RecoveryChipthat is manufactured by a european company. 134.2kHz microchips are also manufactured by Amercian companies Pethealth Services and Allflex. The decision about 134.2 or 125kHz is an import one because according to the The Humane Society of the United States the nation’s animal shelters may not have scanning devices that can read or detect the 134.2kHz pet identification microchips. Multiple lawsuits have been filed regarding the 134.2kHz chips. Until the debate settles, I would advise that you stick with the widely accepted chips from AVID or Home Again.

The bottom line
Unless your pet has a big brother complex, there is little reason not to microchip you pet. However, until the legal battles shake out we urge pet owners to make sure their pets are wearing collars and tags.