Tips to Handle a Poison Emergency

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: March 24th, 2019

You’ve got an emergency on your hands – you need to think fast. What do you do? Keep these tips around in case you have a poison emergency.

What should you do in the event that your pet has ingested something toxic? We’ve compiled a short list of steps so that you can know what to do in advance, as a poison emergency needs to be dealt with promptly.

Keep Calm and Call Your Veterinarian

If your pet has ingested something toxic, getting help right away is imperative. You should immediately call your vet to let him or her know what happened and when it happened, and to receive guidance on what you should do next, whether that involves rushing your pet to the veterinary hospital or inducing vomiting at home according to the vet’s instructions.

Note: in addition to calling your vet, you can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline, which is available 24/7 (their number is 855-764-7661). Yet another option is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which is also available 24 hours a day every day of the year (their number is 888-426-4435).

It’s important to receive expert guidance in an emergency situation like this, so don’t hesitate to contact the professionals. The sooner you get your pet help, the better.

If you aren’t sure if your pet ingested something toxic, or you aren’t sure of when it happened, call the experts anyway, as they can guide you in the right direction towards ensuring your companion will be okay.

Pro tip: Keep your vet’s phone number, poison helpline numbers, and emergency veterinary hospital numbers stored in your phone. That way, in an emergency, you can call right away.

Keep Your Pet in a Safe Place and Evaluate Symptoms

If your pet is still near the toxin that she ingested, or that you suspect she ingested, take her to a safe area, and make sure your pet doesn’t consume any more of it.

Related: Basic First Aid Tips for Dogs

Check your pet’s symptoms right away. Is she breathing? Is she acting normally? Or is she showing any signs that something is seriously wrong?

Even if your pet isn’t showing any symptoms, contact your vet, as some poisons don’t cause symptoms right away.

Don’t induce vomiting or try any home remedies unless your vet tells you to do so.

We know that it’s hard, but remaining as calm as possible is key, as you’ll be able to think more clearly throughout this scary situation. You’ll be able to evaluate your pet’s condition, clearly articulate what happened, and follow the vet’s instructions more easily if you aren’t panicking.

Get a Sample of the Toxin

If you have access to the poison that your pet ingested, collect some of it so that you can show your veterinarian. You can even save the packaging that the toxin was found in so that your vet will have more information about what your pet consumed.

Can’t get an actual sample of the poison? It’s helpful if you can at least write down the name of the product that was consumed, the strength (such as the milligrams of a medication), and the active ingredients in the product. If the product has an EPA registration number, write that down too.

Is your pet vomiting, passing stool, or experiencing diarrhea? It might be gross, but consider getting samples of those, too, as your vet might be able to use them to determine the cause of the poisoning and the appropriate treatment.

Basically, give your vet as much information as you can over the phone, and bring that information with you to your vet’s office as well. Doing so will help the veterinary team determine what treatment is best, and it can help them save much-needed time.

It’s Important to Act Fast

Bottom line: during a poison emergency involving your dog or cat, you must act fast. The sooner your pet can get help, the greater the odds of a recovery.

Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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Shelter Cat's Brutally Honest Adoption Ad Goes Viral: She Will Own You

Last month, the Humane Society of Washington shared a brutally honest adoption post in which they introduced a cat who is up for adoption. The adoption post, which went viral, describes the feline in question as “a more lively houseplant.”The three-year-old tortoiseshell cat named Quinn arrived at the Humane Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland, in August as a stray. According to the post, Quinn is currently the shelter’s longest-term cat resident.This is not the first time the shelter advertised Quinn’s adoption. However, since the first post hasn’t helped Quinn find her person, the shelter decided to change tactics with a brutally honest profile.“Do you want a cat who doesn’t want you? Do you crave the feeling of being judged in your own home? Do you need someone who will slap you back into reality without notice? If you answered yes to any of these questions we have a cat for you!” posted the Humane Society of Washington County on Facebook. “Meet Quinn!” the shelter added.The post went on to say that Quinn’s not for everyone. “But surely there’s someone out there who would appreciate her icy stare and her sudden smacks.”Continuing to highlight all of Quinn’s quirks the post said “She has an uncanny ability to make people feel unwelcome in her presence!” This particular trait makes Quinn perfect for people who are tired of visitors and just want to enjoy the peace of their home. Additionally, Quinn isn’t an overly energetic feline. “Quinn only seems to want to play about once a month,” making her an ideal companion for people who aren’t big fans of physical activity.“Quinn is essentially a more lively houseplant, because all she really needs a human for is food, water, and changing her litter,” said the shelter.“If you adopt Quinn you will not be her owner, because Quinn cannot be owned. She will own you, your house, your belongings, and everything you hold dear.” The shelter also noted that Quinn isn’t on the main adoption floor with other felines and must be asked for by name. The feisty feline has taken up residence in an office where she rules with an iron paw. Anyone interested in being “Quinn’s servant” should not have canines or small children in the house. “Quinn would challenge any dog to a fight. For the dog’s safety, it’s best that she goes to a home without any canines,” said the shelter. The Humane Society of Washington County added - “Quinn is like a more physical version of someone yelling ‘Get off my lawn!’ at small children.” - leaving teens and adults as only suitable housemates. “We originally [shared] a conservative post highlighting Quinn’s strengths, but when no one came for her, we decided the best way to find her a home was to rip off the band-aid and just let her true colors shine,” said Collin A. Berry, executive director of the Humane Society of Washington County, to Fox News Digital. Soon after Quinn arrived at the shelter it became clear that she wasn’t a particularly social feline. She didn’t allow any of the staff to touch her for close to a week. After being sedated for an exam, and given a clean bill of health, it became clear that her behavior wasn’t the result of pain or an underlying health condition. “Everyone thought time and space would help, but as it turns out, Quinn is just Quinn,” said Berry. “She’s a lady who knows what she wants and when she wants it.”We’re happy to report that Quinn has been adopted! It turns out honesty is the best policy! Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Canadian Dog Dacquri Claims New World Record

Do you have a dog that loves to play with socks? Does your dog steal your socks from the laundry basket or even right off your feet? While many dog parents will view that as troublesome behavior, one family recognized that a dog’s love for removing socks might be a golden ticket to something more. Daiquiri, an Australian Shepherd from Canada, recently claimed a new world record after successfully removing the most socks from people’s feet in a minute. The adorable record attempt was held on the set of the TV series Lo Show Dei Record in Italy. Here, Daiquiri went person to person, removing 21 socks from the feet of 11 women as they sat in a row in front of him. He was given three attempts at beating the record previously held by Lilu and Briana from California (20 socks). His owner, Jennifer Fraser, wasn’t allowed to touch the pup at any point during the attempts, but she could guide and encourage him through the process. On his first try, Daiquiri tied the existing record. On his second try, he beat it by a single sock!

Scientists May Have Found a Better Way To Trim a Cat’s Nails

Trimming a cat’s nails is often a daunting affair for everyone involved. Most cats should have their nails trimmed every two to three weeks. Failing to do so leaves you and your furniture at the mercy of your kitty’s sharp claws.Specially designed to be smaller, cat nail clippers or scissors are commonly used to trim a cat’s nails, but they can be difficult to handle, especially if your cat doesn’t want to cooperate or is anxious. Additionally, there’s always a risk that you’ll end up scratched, bitten, and bleeding.This is where science can come in handy! Researchers from the University of California, Davis, are working with Sacramento SPCA to make nail trimming less stressful for cats and their owners. Jennifer Link, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis, Animal Welfare Epi Lab, is working on a multistep protocol designed to desensitize the cats to handling and nail clipping. In mid-July, Link started to visit the Sacramento shelter five days a week for two hours to work on socializing rescued and surrendered cats to help them adjust to new people, situations, and environments. By the end of September, she had worked with more than 70 cats. “When people hear that I study cats, many ask if I can help them with nail trims,” said Link. According to Dan Marple, the animal welfare manager at the Sacramento Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this research is vital to staff, donors, and volunteers because it can reduce the stress caused by nail trimming.“Any new protocols that increase the comfort and safe handling of the cats in our care will also improve their overall well-being and adoptability,” he added. Link’s research is promising because it incorporates cooperative care. This means that cats are allowed to decide how much they want to interact with the handler during the training process. Depending on their willingness to participate, the cats go through one of three scenarios with Link: a handling-only training protocol, a handling and nail-trimming protocol, or a control with no training and only a nail trim. Each interaction is recorded to be analyzed later. On the days when Link visits the shelter, the cats are removed from their cages and brought to a quiet room where Link is waiting, with a mat laid out before her. If a cat puts their front paws on the mat, they are given treats and cuddles. The idea is for cats to learn that Link interacts with them only when they put their paws on the mat. Once the cat leans this, Link proceeds with training protocols. Slowly, Link touches the cat’s legs, then the paws, and then the paws are gently squeezed. If the cat doesn’t resist, one nail is trimmed. The protocol builds on past steps and works up. When a cat goes through all the steps, they get a nail trim. If a cat doesn’t place their paws on the mat or rejects any step, Link stops the handling.“I think with cooperative care, it does seem to almost improve their trust in me,” Link explained. “They are more comfortable if we let them decide.”This research could make nail trimming at home much more comfortable for the cats and their owners. It can also decrease the number of visits to veterinary hospitals and clinics, where owners often seek help trimming their cats’ nails. The researchers still need to analyze the video sessions to finalize the protocol. And if the protocol is deemed helpful, they will share it with other shelters for more data.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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