Toxic Plants & Medications to Avoid. Last year nearly 150,000 cases of pet poisoning and pet toxicities were reported for dogs and cats. To help ensure pets and their people enjoy a safe, healthy holiday this New Year here are a few safety tips to boost your pet health holiday IQ. Plants and Medications to avoid with Dogs and Cats. Holiday Plants are actually more of a problem with cats than with dogs, although curious puppies often enjoy a nibble.
Dr. Carol’s TIP: place plants up out of paw reach or consider safe alternatives like artificial arrangements made from silk.
- Lilly’s are lovely but many varieties: Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats
- Poinsettia’s are often talked about, but are very overrated. At worst they can cause an upset stomach in dogs and cats.
- Mistletoe especially the berries are quite toxic. They may lead to an upset stomach and fatal heart problems in dogs and cats.
- Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea nausea and lethargy in dogs and cats.
- English Ivy and Amaryllis can cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets.
- Hibiscus can cause diarrhea in pets.
Toxic Pet Medications to Avoid this New Year’s Holiday. Be sure to keep all prescriptions and over the counter medicines tucked away high up out of Fido and Fluffy’s reach. It is also a good idea to remind your holiday guests to store their medications safely as well. In 2008, the ASPCA’s poison control center, managed 50,000 calls from concerned dog and cat owners whose pets accidentally gobbled up human medications, including every day, over the counter pain relievers, prescriptions, cold medications, antidepressants and various other supplements. During this new years holiday, most vets have limited office hours. It is a good idea to keep the number of a convenient emergency facility posted in a convenient place as well as the number 24/7 hot line for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Consultation Services. (1-888-426-4435) (1-888-4ANI-HELP) Always check with your vet before giving your pet medication. May medications that are safe for you can be very harmful, even deadly to your pet. for example: Less than 1 regular strength acetaminophen (325mg) Tylenol can be dangerous to a cat weighing 7 pounds. Less than 1 regular strength ibuprofen (200mg) tablet can cause stomach ulceration in a seven pound cat.
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