PET CARE
March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month- knowing what to do and having the necessary tools on hand can avert a minor injury or a major disaster. Keep reading to learn what steps you should take should your furry friend ingest poisons.
Size matters in regards to poisoning, whether it is ingested, absorbed, inhaled or injected under the skin!
What could kill a Chihuahua, may have no effect on a Saint Bernard. The ability for any potentially poisonous substance to cause health issues is proportional to the animal’s body weight. Additionally, every item on a poison list may not harm every animal, but if it has made the list, a significant number of animals have had an adverse reaction to it, so erring on the side of caution is best.
Chocolate accounts for half the calls received by the Pet Poison Helpline. The sweet treat humans have been told is good for their hearts is most poisonous to dogs, cats, and ferrets. The reason is theobromine, a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic, which can speed up the heart while pulling fluids from the body, resulting in rapid heart rate and breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death.
One ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight can be fatal to pets. The darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine which means the less it takes to cause problems. However, it is important to remember that some pets are more sensitive and can be harmed by less than the amount listed below:
Take the following steps into consideration to help keep your pets safe from ingested poisons:
Below is a list of symptoms to watch for if you think your pet has ingested some form of poison:
Stay calm and call your veterinarian or poison control and do exactly as instructed.
Get to the vet
Take your pet to the vet and bring along a sample of vomit and poison with you if you are able to do so.
Don’t be caught unprepared when your furry kid needs you the most. Pets can become poisoned by toxins they inhale, that are injected (i.e. insect stings), and that are absorbed through their paw pads and skin.
Always be sure to supervise your pet, remove potential dangers and keep the scene safe, and learn Pet First Aid just in case the worst happens.
Or be sure to check out our guides on inhaled poisons, and injected poisons.
Consider Investing in Pet Insurance
Looking for more ways to keep your pets happy and healthy? Consider investing in a pet insurance policy with MetLife Pet Insurance.1 Learn more about our dog insurance and cat insurance policies or get your free quote today.
Nothing in this article should be construed as financial, legal or veterinary advice. Please consult your own advisors for questions relating to your and your pet’s specific circumstances.
1 Pet Insurance offered by MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022, and Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, in those states where MetGen’s policies are available. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator authorized by IAIC and MetGen to offer and administer pet insurance policies. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC was previously known as PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and in some states continues to operate under that name pending approval of its application for a name change. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions.