Poison Prevention
by Jenny Turner

There are a large number of substances that can poison our pets. Poisons are everywhere in most people's homes, but because they are not harmful to us, we don't' think of them as poisons. No pet is 100% safe from poisoning, but it helps a lot if we are able to recognise the things that can harm our pets and know what to do if our pets are exposed to poisons. I'm sure you'll be surprised by some of the things listed below.

Household Hazards
Headache tablets, aspirin, prescription medications, alcohol, marijuana, motor oil, fertiliser, rat poison and any number of things in your garbage bin. Details of more potential household toxins are listed below: 

Plants
The list of toxic plants goes on and on:

Azalea, holly, hydrangea, buttercup, chrysanthemum, daffodil bulb, hyacinth bulb, iris root, morning glory, tulip bulb, tomato plant, jasmine, asparagus fern, umbrella plant, apple leaves and stem, aloe vera, mistletoe, oleander, paspalum, peach leaf, poinsettia, privet, cornstalk, clover, bracken fern, milkweed, nightshade, rhododendron, wandering jew, castor oil plant, wisteria and tulip.  Plus the seeds of apricots, cherries, peaches, apples and avocados contain a natural form of cyanide.

Substances That Can Be FATAL
Jonquil, daffodil bulb, philodendron, elephants ear, avocado seeds, castor oil seeds, lantana berries, rhubarb leaves, devil’s ivy, chocolate, coolant.

General Symptoms
Weakness, upset stomach, drooling, heart failure, hyperactivity that leads to lethargy that leads to coma, shock, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, skin irritation, diarrhoea, disorientation, kidney failure, collapse, laboured breathing, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, collapse, asphyxiation, fever, increased thirst, dilated pupils, staggering, vomiting, cramps, swollen mouth.

It is important to emphasise that many, but certainly not all, toxic plants are not very palatable. Therefore, if given the choice, animals will avoid ingesting them even though they may be prevalent in the environment.  In these situations, animals will often eat these plants only when other suitable feedstuffs are not available or when the animal is not able to selectively avoid the plants.  The latter may occur when toxic plants or plant parts such as seeds are inadvertently incorporated into hays, sillages, or other feedstuffs.

If your pet has any symptoms that may indicate poisoning, call your vet and/or contact the Animal Poison Control Center immediately!

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•   Jenny Turner is a dog trainer in Sydney, Australia.