The Tribune

By BASIL SANDS

A poisonous substance refers to any substances that through chemical reaction impairs injures or kills your pets. Poisoning is a life threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention. The sooner your pet is treated, the better the chance of their survival. Unfortunately in the Bahamas we have many devious and cruel homeowners and neighbours who intentionally and deliberately place poison in non discreet areas to harm, injure and sometimes kill unsuspecting animals because they have soiled their yard with faeces or garbage, or may be a nuisance to them by their aggression or barking.

Dogs are particularly prone to poisoning because of their less than discriminatory eating habits. Many dogs enjoy chewing on plants so it is important to know which ones are toxic. Anytime you suspect poisoning has occurred, immediately call your veterinarian. Give them as much information as possible and then rush your pet to the hospital for his expert treatment. Your vet needs to know the type of poison, how much was administered, the clinical signs your pet is showing. Signs of poisoning vary depending on the chemical agent, the amount of exposure and the individual animal. A certain antidote or treatment is often specific to the individual poison, which is why identification of the toxin is important.

When the toxin was ingested within two to four hours you may want to induce vomiting. (If the poison is caustic or abrasive, do not induce vomiting.) If you are not sure about the poison whether it is caustic or not, check with your vet first. To induce poison I usually recommend 10 to 20 ml of .3 percent household Hydrogen Peroxide given in the mouth that will induce vomiting in five minutes.

Prevention, not treatment is the key to keeping your dog safe from poisons, and dogs are most likely to be poisoned by substances they encounter in and around their own homes. To prevent poisoning, you need to learn what could be toxic to your dog and keep those substances out of reach. The most common household toxins to watch out for are:

• Antifreeze it is very toxic. Because it smells and tastes sweet, it is very appealing to dogs and other animals. It causes kidney failure.

• Mouse and rat poison: These are just as tasty and toxic to dogs as they are to mice and rats. They cause potentially fatal internal bleeding.

• Over the counter pain reliever. Because people take these pills so routinely they may assume such products are safe for dogs as well. They are not. Never give dogs ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). Because they are toxic primarily in excessive dosage. These over the counter pills cause severe even fatal stomach ulcers and kidney, or liver damage.

• Slug and snail poison. This product contains methaldehyde, sugar and other tasty stuff to make it attractive to snails and dogs. It causes tremors, twitches and seizures.

• Chocolate contain theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs.

• Grapes, raisins, tomatoes, onions and garlic. Many people are surprised to discover these common foods can be toxic to dogs. Grape or raison can cause kidney failure. Tomatoes contain atropine and can cause tremors and heart arrhythmia. Eating garlic can destroy red blood cells.

• Cleaning products. Make sure you keep your cleaning supplies locked up as securely as if you had toddler in the house. These products can burn a dog’s eyes, nose, mouth, stomach and skin.

• Mothballs are also toxic and can cause vomiting diarrhoea, weakness and collapse.