EDMONTON, Alberta, April 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emergency veterinarian Dr. Ahmed Abousamra of VetEmerg – North Edmonton Emergency Veterinary Hospital is warning pet owners to keep pets away from common household items and human foods that are toxic to dogs and cats. According to Dr. Abousamra, some of the most common pet poisons include human foods like chocolate and sweets containing Xylitol, human medications, misused flea and tick preventatives, bulb plants and household cleaners. He urges pet owners to contact the hospital immediately at 780-423-9111, day or night, if they suspect their pet has ingested anything poisonous.
"Pets can be attracted by the smell of many things that are toxic to them," explains Dr. Abousamra. "With many of these toxins, you only have a few minutes before the pet goes into cardiac or kidney failure or seizures, so never take a 'wait-and-see' approach in you think your pet has eaten anything poisonous. Immediate help could save your pet's life."
Common household items that could be very harmful are household cleaning products, tobacco products, Marijuana, and all other recreational drugs, alcoholic beverages, prescription drugs, over the counter drugs like Advil and Tylenol, human vitamins, lawn fertilizer, most of insecticides, batteries, antifreeze and windshield washer, ice melter and salt.
Dr. Abousamra advises people to do all they can to prevent their pets from accessing potential toxins. He recommends keeping all human and pet medications in locked cabinets that are well out of reach, including flea and tick medications. He adds that it is critical to follow dosing instructions on these preventative medications to the letter to prevent poisoning by overdose. He also says rat poisons should be kept where pets cannot reach them, and that pets should not have access to any kind of bulb plants like lilies, hyacinth, daffodils or amaryllis.
Human food is also problematic for pets, says Dr. Abousamra. He advises pet owners to keep pets on their own pet food and pet-safe snacks and to avoid feeding them table scraps that might include pet toxins. He lists chocolate, Coffee, Apple seeds, stems and leaves, onions, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, avocados, uncooked bread dough, alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, some mushrooms, and candy or baked goods sweetened with Xylitol as foods particularly dangerous to pets.
Dr. Abousamra says that symptoms of poisoning will vary depending on what a pet ingested and how much He/She got into it. They may start to vomit or have diarrhea, or they may start to tremble, have seizures or become lethargic. They may even bleed from the mouth or nose, he says. This is why he advises quick action.
"If you think your pet has ingested anything dangerous, contact us immediately. Try to bring any packaging, wrappers or leaves from what your pet ate with you to the hospital so we can be ready with the appropriate treatment. Don't wait for symptoms to appear, just come in before it's too late."
VetEmerg - North Edmonton Emergency Veterinary Hospital has nine veterinarians who provide pet emergency services 24-hour days, 7 days a week, including holidays. They are located at 9719 137 Avenue NW in Edmonton and can be reached at 780-423-9111; to learn more visit the website at http://vetemerg.com.