Poisoning
Dr Jules Wilson MRCVS of the Maunu Rd branch of the Northland Veterinary Group HAS THIS SAY...
You have heard of “poison pen letters” well this must be a “poison pen letter”...
Poison seems to be on The menu for us just now so I thought we might talk a little about that this time.
There are many substances that can produce poisonings in our pets.
Dogs are vulnerable to poisoning, as many of them are indiscriminate guzzlers of garbage. Not only do they enjoy eating large volumes of stuff but the more smelly and rotten often the better they think it is.
Cats are also vulnerable to being poisoned due to their unique and delicate internal metabolism, along with their meticulous grooming habits. They are usually very particular about what they eat but are also avid self-cleaners and so will consume many strange things that may collect on their coats.
Interesting to note that cats who spend a lot of time sitting on the laps of heavy smokers collect a lot of tobacco etc. debris on their coats which they later swallow when grooming. This eating of tobacco waste products along with passive smoking leads to a very high incidence of cancer in these cats... see my article in the last newsletter.
The following is a list of some general signs that may point towards a poisoning;
1. Unusual behaviour by your pet, being late home if they have been out cruising the neighbourhood.
2. Unexpected vomiting, or
3.Excessive salivation
4.Changed colour and frequency of urine
5.Changed colour and character of faeces
6.Unsteady walking or collapse
7.Changes in body temperature sometimes more warm sometimes cooler than usual
As in many illness the earlier we see the patient the happier the outcome. If you feel that your pet may have been poisoned I would advise you speak to your vet as soon as you are able.
The poisoning that we have seen a lot of just recently is organophosphate (OP) poisoning of little dogs/pups and cats. OP's have been banned from sale in Europe but are still available through supermarkets etc. in New Zealand. They kill insects but also will damage the nervous system and livers of both you and your pets. They are very potent and we have seen several deaths due to OP's in the last few weeks. What more do I need to say to you??
Here is a list of poisons we commonly deal with. If you use any of these toxins then please be very careful how and when you use them:
Rat Bait...warfuring type...tasty green wheat pellets
10/80 fluoracetate... possum bait...dropped from passing helicopters
Spoiled/rotten food... in many local rubbish bags
Ant- freeze... sweet tasting radiator fluid
Organophosphates... cheap flea tx from supermarkets
Chocolate... stolen scorched almonds
Cholecalciferol / vit D3...
House plants of various kinds...
Ant poison... boric acid...
Slug Bait... metaldehyde
Petrol / diesel / engine oil / new tarmac sends pussy cats into self-cleaning overdrive.
We hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year and that Santa was kind to your pets. Help the SPCA to help those animals that have been abandoned over the holiday period by donating time / food / money / sometimes chocolate (for the staff only) that you can spare.
Here's a little list of objects that we have surgically removed from dogs' stomachs over the years: pork chop bones; lamb chop bones; plastic models of Mickey Mouse; corn cobs; avocado stones; babies dummies/soothers; audio cassette tape (ironically it was Dire Straits); stones; sea shells; an intact trilby hat....
A friend of mine removed an entire umbrella from a cow's rumen...
Like people animal's eating habits can sometimes defy reason.
Happy Easter
Jules
Issue 11
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