The fall season is here and cold winter months are right around the corner. With the changes in seasons come seasonal products and plants that are hazardous for our pets.
Some common household and environmental chemicals used at this time of the year are extremely toxic and life threatening if our pets ingest them.
Mothballs
Mothballs contain naphthalene or either paradichlorobenzene and both are very toxic. They cause: severe damage to red blood cells, abdominal pain, weakness, vomiting and possible kidney or liver failure.
Mouse and Rat Poisons
When the colder months arrive, all the vegetation begins dying and mice and rats start looking for buildings where they can stay warm and look for food. Many of us try to get rid of our unwelcome guests by putting out rodenticides. If you must use a rodenticide, use it with extreme caution as it can be lethal for dogs. In fact, it’s so deadly that your dog can be poisoned if he eats dead rodents killed with rodenticides (mouse and rat poison).
There are four different kinds of rodenticides on the market, they are: LAAC’s (long acting anticoagulants), Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) which has no antidote, Bromethaln also has no antidote and Phosphides which forms dangerous gas.
Symptoms will vary depending on the ingredients in the particular one your dog ingested. Rodenticides will cause internal bleeding, coughing, blood in lungs, bloody urine and bleeding from gums, kidney failure, brain swelling, walking drunk, seizures, tremors, gas and bloat, lung and heart problems. Caution: if you inhale gas when your dog vomits phosphide rodenticides you can be poisoned.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) smells sweet to dogs and they are very attracted to it. Dogs are often killed when they lick it off of driveways or garage floors. Be as careful as you can be when filling up your car, and clean any spills up immediately. As little as 1 tablespoon of antifreeze is fatal. Antifreeze is commonly found in radiators, de-icing products for roads and windshields, brake fluid, motor oil, developing solution for photographers, wood stains, paints and solvents. Symptoms of poisoning are loss of coordination, walking drunk, vomiting, drooling, hypersalivating, kidney failure, crystals in the kidneys, elevated heart rate, dehydration, breathing difficulty, excessive thirst and urination, drooling, depression, lethargy and coma. Prompt intervention is necessary.
Road Salt
Too much salt can be poisonous to dogs and road salt mixed with de-icing chemicals, such as antifreeze, is lethal. We recommend that you keep a pan of fresh clean water handy and wash your dog’s paws if he’s been out on the sidewalk or near the road where he could possibly pick up chemicals and salt on his paws. Salt poisoning alone can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, fever, tremors, seizures and death.
You might want to consider using Morton Safe-T-Pet to de-ice your own driveway. It’s a non-toxic salt and chloride free de-icing product that melts when temperatures fall below –15 degrees F.
Playing in Snow
Don’t let your dog off his leash in the snow or ice where he can get salt and de-icing chemicals on his paws. Always clean your dog’s paws, legs and stomach when he comes in from the snow. Not only do dog’s get poisoned by chemicals and salt in the snow they can get chemical burns, chaffing, cracks and splits on paws.
Mushrooms
There are so many different kinds of mushrooms that if your dog eats one it’s best to proceed as though it’s toxic. If your yard has any mushrooms growing in it pull them up. They are so toxic that if your dog eats them get him to the vet immediately so they can pump his stomach and treat him. Depending on the kind of mushroom ingested symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, depression, walking as if drunk, seizures, tremors, hallucinations, kidney and liver damage.
Compost
Decaying matter in a compost piles or bins can contain molds (tremorgenic mycotoxins) that are toxic. When ingested they will cause seizures and tremors, agitation, hyper-responsiveness, drooling, vomiting, panting and loss of coordination.
Heaters and Fireplaces
When it’s cold our pets like to snuggle up next to anything warm, and heaters, furnaces and fireplaces can be terrible hazards. Keep an eye on your dog so his tail and paws don’t get to close to the source of heat. If you plan to use a heater, look for one that is child and pet safe.
Leaving Your Dog in a Cold Car
Never leave your dog in the car alone. Your car will trap the cold air inside and could cause your dog to suffer frostbite. Also check your vehicles for antifreeze leaks — it’s lethal for cats and dogs. Clean up spills and keep all containers out of paws reach.
Leaving Your Dog in a Car with Heater On
Never leave your dog in the car with the heater running or he may suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning.
COLD WEATHER HAZARDS FOR YOUR DOG
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