03/28/2024
As we are heading into the Easter weekend, we just wanted to give 2 reminders that are important to keep in mind – the dangers of Chocolate and Lillies.
Chocolate can be dangerous to both dogs and cats, although it tends to be the dogs that we see getting into the chocolate. The toxic signs that we see related to chocolate are very dependent on the type of chocolate, the amount eaten, and the size of the dog. If your pet gets into chocolate, please bring them in to be seen. We can run a calculation to see if we are dealing with a toxic dose, and if so, what level of toxicity we might expect. Possible symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fast heart rates, tremors, seizures, and high enough amounts can be fatal. If we see a pet who gets into a toxic dose, we will induce vomiting so that they bring up as much of the chocolate as possible, give an anti-nausea medication, then give a dose of charcoal. We would then talk about the appropriate treatment options after that, which sometimes does involve staying in the hospital for care.
Lillies are the other very dangerous toxin that we tend to see more of at this time of year. Please remember, if there is a cat in the house, NEVER have a lily plant present. All parts of the plant are toxic, and can cause kidney failure in cats. If you suspect that your cat has ingested part of a lily plant, bring them in ASAP. We will try to induce vomiting (which isn’t as easy in cats as it is in dogs), we will decontaminate, and the cat likely will require IV fluids and monitoring of the kidneys via bloodwork.
Over this Easter weekend please enjoy time with family and friends. Take precautions to keep your furry family members safe. If you have any concerns over the Easter weekend we are here. You can call us at any time at 825-480-4881, or come right in to 11212 178 St NW.