Preparing for a poison emergency

Date: 3/28/2010

 

Preparing for a poison emergency is as simple as 1,2,3:

1-      Post an emergency number your phone.

-Pender’s Emergency Center:  703-519-3304; available 24/7.

-The ASPCA’s Poison Control hotline – 888-426-4435 – they have veterinarians who specialize in toxicology on hand 24/7.  Their $55 fee can be charged to a credit card.

-The Pet Poison Helpline, 800-213-6680. Also available 24/7 staffed with veterinarians and technicians who can answer your pet poison concerns for all species. Expect to pay a $35 fee per consult.

2-      DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING without first consulting a veterinarian as some toxins will damage the esophagus if treated improperly.

3-      If you are instructed to take the puppy to an emergency clinic or your veterinary hospital, take a sample of poison with you (if known). If your puppy has vomited, collect a sample in a airtight bag for the veterinarian to analyze. 

Signs of Poisoning

Common sign of toxic distress in a puppy include vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors, seizures, disorientation and even coma. If you see any of these signs and suspect poisoning, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control hotline immediately.

Treatment

Your veterinarian will recommend a treatment to the specific poison your pet has ingested. Common treatments include injecting an antidote (if known/available), inducing vomiting or administering activated charcoal to absorb the poisonous substance in the digestive tract and help is pass through out of the pet’s body. Your veterinarian may also run blood tests to determine if any organ damage has occurred. Some pets will also require IV fluids and respiratory assistance.