AS WINTER COMES UPON US IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, SO DOES THE DANGER OF ANTIFREEZE AND RODENT POISEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THEIR DOG OR CAT WON'T BOTHER THESE SUBSTANCES, BUT THEY DO.
ANTIFREEZE AKA ETHYLENE GLYCOL
AT THE VET CLINIC I WORK FOR WE SEE AT THE VERY LEAST 4 ANTIFREEZE POISENINGS EVERY WINTER. THE PROBLEM WITH ANTIFREEZE IS BY THE TIME YOU SEE THE SYMPTOMS IT IS USUALLY TOO LATE FOR RECOVERY. DOGS AND CATS WILL DRINK ANTIFREEZE AS IT HAS A SWEET TASTE TO IT. THERE ARE ANTIFREEZE PRODUCTS OUT THERE THAT CONTAIN BITTERANT, "SIERRA" IS ONE OF THEM. ONCE ANTIFREEZE IS INGESTED TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IF RECOVERY IS TO TAKE PLACE. YOUR DOG OR CAT MAY VOMIT GREEN FLUID, THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS AND THIS USUALLY OCCURS 30 MINUTES AFTER INGESTION. DOGS-IF TREATED WITHIN 5 HOURS AFTER INGESTION (ACCORDING TO ONE VETERINARY MANUAL), USUALLY HAVE A GOOD PROGNOSIS FOR RECOVERY, IN CATS THE TIME IS MUCH LESS, 3 HOURS AFTER INGESTION TREATMENT MUST BEGIN. NOW, 30 MINUTES AND UP TO 12 HOURS AFTER INGESTION, THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS MAY OCCUR-NAUSEA AND VOMITING-CNS (CENTRAL NERVOUSE SYSTEM) DEPRESSION, ATAXIA, KNUCKLING, MUSCLE FASCICULATIONS, DECREASED WITHDRAWL REFLEXIS AND RIGHTING ABILITY (STAGGERING). PREVENTION IS THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU. PUT THAT ANTIFREEZE UP AND AWAY FROM PETS AS WELL AS CHILDREN. CHECK YOUR CAR FOR LEAKS, AS IT DOES NOT TAKE VERY MUCH TO HAVE A LEATHEL EFFECT. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR PET MAY HAVE INGESTED ANITIFREEZE GET INTO YOUR VET RIGHT AWAY. THERE IS AN ETHYLENE GLYCOL TEST THAT CAN BE PREFORMED, IF CAUGHT EARLY TREATMENT CAN BEGIN AND MAY BE SUCCESSFUL.
RODENT POISEN
BE IT DECON OR TOM CAT OR ONE BITE, THESE ARE LEATHEL POISENS TO KILL RODENTS, AND THEY ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR JOB. DOGS SEEM TO BE THE CULPRIT WHEN IT COMES TO INGESTING RODENT POISEN. ONCE INGESTED, IT ATTACKS THE PLATELETS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS INTERNAL BLEEDING OCCURES AS WELL AS BLEEDING OF THE GUMS. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE AS THEIR IS VITAMIN K TREATMENT, BUT IF YOU WAIT TOO LONG IT CAN BE FATAL. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR PET HAS EATEN RODENT POISEN, GET YOUR ANIMAL TO THE VET WITHIN 1 HOUR AFTER INGESTION. YOUR VET HAS A MEDICATION WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR DOG VOMIT UP THE POISEN, THEN VITAMIN K THERAPY CAN BEGIN. PREVENTION IS ONCE AGAIN THE BEST PREVENTATIVE. IF YOU HAVE TO USE THE POISEN, MAKE DARN GOOD AND SURE YOUR ANIMAL CANNOT GET TO IT. DOGS CAN AND WILL GET INTO CUPBOARDS, BEHIND STOVES AND REFRIDGERATORS TO GET SOMETHING THEY WANT. PUT CHILD LATCHES ON CUPBOARDS DOORS IF THAT IS WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO PUT THE POISEN. IT IS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
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