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THE EPIDEMIC OF PREVENTABLE DOG DEATHS IN YOUR HOME |
Written by AMI MOORE
Thursday, 24 January 2008
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Each year thousands of dogs suffer and die from accidental ingestion of common household products that are poisonous to dogs. Some of these products are houseplants, common foods, medications, pesticides and cleaning products. You have to dog-proof against your dog's natural instincts. Your dog is genetically wired to investigate a new area or an area that he does not frequent. This ritual revolves around your dog nosing around, smelling and quickly eating what he discovers. If your dog does this in your garage or workroom, he can sniff, drink or walk through a wide variety of toxic substances. Your dog can be a victim of chemical poisoning if licks off a toxic substance from his fur, eats poisoned vermin, inhales toxic fumes or absorbs a considerable amount of a chemical through his skin, nose, pads or tongue. THE GARDEN Many common garden products can make your dog sick or even kill him. Make sure you also dog-proof your garden just as you do the inside of your house before you allow your dog unfettered and unsupervised access. Snail bait, roach bait, ant bait and other ground chemicals can be deadly to dogs. If your dog eats rodent poison or dead poisoned rodents, he can become extremely sick. Your dog can become very sick by nibbling on a leaf or sniffing a flower sprayed with pesticides. In my opinion, the best pesticide is no pesticide, but I know that this is an unrealistic position for most of you to take. Check your local nursery for harmless alternatives. Another danger to your dog is plants and flowers that contain toxins that are lethal to the canine physiology. Some common toxic flowers and plants are · Amaryllis · Lily · Azaleas · Chrysanthemums · Daffodils · Easter Cactus · Holly · Hyacinths · Mistletoe · Cocoa Bean Mulch · Oleander · Poinsettias · Sago Palm · Tulips MEDICATIONS THAT KILL NOT CURE Acetaminophen is found in more than 200 medications such as TylenolŪ and Vicodin, which reduce our aches and pains. A dog that ingests these medications can experience kidney and liver failure. Ibuprofen has a sweet coating that makes it attractive to dogs. Common brands of medication that contain ibuprofen are AdvilŪ, and MidolŪ. If young puppies are left in a room without supervision it is best that the room be puppy proofed from the level of the floor to a distance of four feet in height or the height of your counters, remember that your dog can double his standing height by rearing up on his hind legs. In addition, all medications should be securely placed in cabinets that are above the height that the puppy can reach when he is on two feet. GRAPES AND RAISINS Grapes and raisins can be lethal for your pet dog. The exact component that causes the damage is unknown, as is the lethal dose. If your pet responds to treatment and survives the experience the symptoms can last for days or weeks. Other toxic foods are avocados, coffee, raisins, nutmeg, onions, garlic, raw salmon and Xylitol. CLEANERS CAN BE KILLERS It is as important to poison proof your house for your dogs as it is is for your child. Dogs can easily open low cabinets or the trashcan and ingest a deadly amount of chemical cleaning product. Anything that contains pine oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, bleach or LysolŪ can cause serious chemical burns on the mouth, tongue, esophagus or pads of the dog if licked or consumed. Close the door, crate your dog or block off the room while you are cleaning and using toxic chemicals. Allowing your dog to wander around while you are cleaning will risk your pet attempting to taste the cleaners you are using. Alternatively, he may walk over some spills on the floor and will be sure to lick any foreign substances from his paws, thus ingesting the toxic chemicals. Always keep your dog out of the work area when painting, varnishing or spraying herbicides/insecticides until l the substance dissipates or dries. Dogs are very susceptible to fumes and can even absorb some toxins through the skin of their feet. Make sure the lids of all chemical products are tightly closed. Dogs are careless about brushing against objects and spilling their contents and licking them up. Common workshop toxins are turpentine, kerosene and boric acid. DANGERS IN THE GARAGE Antifreeze is only one of the dangers your dog can encounter in your garage. Motor oil, gasoline and other fluids can drip on a dog while he is exploring beneath a car, if your dog tries to clean himself, he will ingest these toxins. Gasoline and fluids containing ethylene glycol are life threatening, and the symptoms range from vomiting, abdominal pain and convulsions to death. If you see your pet exhibiting vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors or convulsions, rush him to the vet immediately. Carbon monoxide poisoning is another danger for your pet. If you start your car, unaware your pet is in the cramped space of the garage; your dog will have no choice but to inhale the fumes. Dogs are far more sensitive to carbon monoxide poisoning than humans. As with people, if you think that your dog is suffering form carbon dioxide poisoning get him to the vet immediately for further treatment. Battery acid is as dangerous to your dog as it is to you. Dogs that have inadvertently licked battery acid have lost parts of their tongue, or have large burns over most of their mouth. Battery acid poisoning is very severe and an extreme emergency. THE MOST COMMON TOXINS The most common toxins that dogs get into that result in a trip to the vet are: · Chocolate · Acetaminophen · Ibuprofen · Plants and Flowers · Cleaning Products · Antifreeze · Pesticides · Christmas Tree Pine Needles Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
This article was written by Ami Moore, Director of Training for Doggie Do Right 911, Inc. located in cold and wintery Chicago, Illinois. The city of Chicago was recently voted the most dog friendly cities in the United States. Contact Ami Moore through her websites www.amimoore.com, www.dogtrainingchicago.com and www.dogtrainerchicago.com .
This article was written by Ami Moore, Director of Training for Doggie Do Right 911, Inc. located in cold and wintery Chicago, Illinois. The city of Chicago was recently voted the most dog friendly cities in the United States. Contact Ami Moore through her websites www.amimoore.com, www.dogtrainingchicago.com and www.dogtrainerchicago.com .| Comments On This Article: |
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