02/26/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Natasha Gleeson #630-460-9974
March is Pet Poison Prevention Month
March 2022, Glendale Heights,IL…Pet Poison Prevention Month begins March 1st, but every pet parent must stay diligent all 12 months of every year to protect their furry family members. One-fifth of all phone calls to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center involve dogs and cats who have accidently swallowed human medications, over-the-counter (OTC) meds and prescriptions. Common pain relievers found in most home medicine cabinets, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen, antihistamines, and cold and flu medications can result in serious illness and fatality if consumed by pets.
Natasha Gleesson, K9 Safety Guru offers Pet First Aid & CPR classes in West Suburbs IL that can help make pet parents more aware of the dangers dogs and cats can encounter along with teaching them what to do to help their pet even before veterinary care is available. According to Gleesons mentor, Denise Fleck, The Pet Safety Crusader, “It is important for pet parents to follow three simple rules…
1) Be Proactive
Examine your house and yard from your pet’s height, 6” – 22” off the ground. Dogs can detect scents 10,000 – 100,000 times better than humans, so if it smells interesting, they will eat it!
2) Be Prepared – Keep the number for Pet Poison Helpline (888) 764-7661 accessible and know the shortest route to your Animal ER. Also, have a well-stocked Pet First-Aid Kit handy, and know your pet’s baseline vitals (including weight).
3) Should the Worst Happen…Gather Information, React Calmly & Effectively
Determine the type of injury, perform a Head-to-Tail check to make sure no issues are missed. Take pet’s vitals (temperature, heart rate, respiration, gum color), and observe symptoms (difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, bleeding) to report to veterinarian.”
Explains Gleeson, “My goal is to empower other pet owners with the skills I have acquired to rescue Rover or help Fluffy feel better, so I am proud to offer pet first aid classes in our community.”
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS of poisoning include:
Vitals not normal
Rapid or decreased heart rate
Difficulty breathing or heavy panting (which also often indicates pain)
Gums pale, blue, yellow or red
Muscle tremors or seizures
Vomiting and/or diarrhea, sometimes with blood
Drooling or foaming
Pawing at the mouth
Redness of the skin, ears, eyes, any body part
Lethargy or anxiety
Blisters or sores on the mouth or skin where poison made contact
Swelling
Elevated or decreased heart rate, breathing or body temperature
Anything that is not normal for your pet!
INHALED POISONS
That tiny spritz of perfume we smell in a room is just as strong in an enclosed stadium to a dog! Because of that, toxic fumes can be much more deadly. Inhaled poisons include aerosol sprays, carbon monoxide, gases, and other fumes inhaled into your pet’s lungs. Bleaches, detergents, and disinfectants are the most likely household chemicals to cause a problem, but diffusing essential oils in your home may also be problematic. Therefore, keep pets away from these chemicals by securing them before, during, and after cleaning time. Pool/spa chemicals are also commonly implicated in inhalation poisonings. Keep these products safely contained during regular pool/spa maintenance.
Remove ALL animals from the home for at least 24 hours when any pest control is used, even if it says “safe” or “pet friendly.” Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds have very short noses and don’t have the ability to filter out toxins before they reach the longs. Although longer-snouted dogs have more time to filter, those toxins can be extremely harmful to their nasal passages.
Natasha Gleeson offers Pet First Aid & CPR Classes in our community. Contact Gleeson at #630-460-9974 [email protected] to learn how to help your dog when they need you most!
ABSORBED POISONS
When our pets get into something they should not, paws and snouts are primary areas of contact, but your dog or cat may absorb toxins through the ears, eye lids, belly, and any place there is skin. We often forget, but “skin,” that protective covering on our furry friends as well as ourselves, is the largest organ of the body providing considerable surface area for harmful things to enter.
An additional danger caused by substances that get on paws and coats is that they may also be ingested once the animal licks and grooms. Should you notice something on your pet that should not be there, wash the area thoroughly and get to your veterinarian at once.
For peace of mind and to do the best you can for your furry family members, enroll in a Pet First Aid & CPR class offered by Natasha Gleeson. This class can open your eyes to dangers as well as teach you steps to prevent further injury and keep your pet more comfortable until you reach veterinary care. Contact Gleeson at #630-460-9974 [email protected] to learn how to help your dog when they need you most!
INGESTED POISONS
Every year thousands of pets needlessly suffer, and many die, from ingesting substances in our homes and even from human food. Be proactive in making sure your pet’s environment is free of potentially hazardous substances:
Get down on all fours and look at life from your pet’s point-of-view, (indoors and out), and keep harmful items out of paw’s reach.
Install childproof locks on cabinet doors if you share your life with curious critters.
Read labels and purchase “pet friendly” chemicals and cleaners.
When you have a dog or cat, you have a four-legged toddler for life, and it is your responsibility to supervise where your pet goes and what they can get into.
Gleeson shares, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, 50% of the calls they get are related to chocolate but plants, medications and cleaning products also rank high on the list of toxins ingested by pets.
Gleeson offers Pet First Aid & CPR Classes in our community to prepare you to help your pet when they need you most. Contact Gleeson at 630-460-9974 [email protected] to learn how to help your dog or cat when he needs you most!
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