what should I do if I think DON’t LET YOUR DOG OR CAT BE A VICTIM my pet has been poisoned? DON’t LET YOUR DOG OR CAT BE A VICTIM S.P.E.E.D. is key, follow the acronym below and act PET dangers! immediately. NEVER just wait and see as there may Many people are surprised at the items in this leaflet only be a small window in which treatment can be Part of owning pets is knowing because they are generally day-to-day items in plain BEWARE OF THE DANGERS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT given to help your pet and often this may be before how to keep them safe sight that you wouldn’t have considered dangerous. any symptoms have started showing. There are many items around the house that can Please take note and make sure your pet does not get be highly toxic and deadly to pets, even in very Put the attached Emergency Action card somewhere access to any of the following substances. If you think small quantities. where all the family will see it, such as on your fridge they have, then follow our advice in the section ‘I think or pinboard. my pet has been poisoned’ on the back of this leaflet.

POSSIBLE SUSPECTS EMERGENCYIN CASE ACTION OFEMERGENCY PET ACTION EMERGENCY ACTION 1 chocolate If you think your dog or cat has eaten , Chocolate is extremely poisonous to dogs and cats as their bodies cannot deal with the S.P.E.E.D. is of the essence! theobromine and caeine content unlike ours. S Stop the pet from eating any more suspected poison 4 Keep chocolate away from pets at all times. DANGERS IN THE LIVING ROOM P Phone the vets (see over) If your pet eats chocolate they will need to DANGERS IN THE LIVING ROOM E Emergency appointment 3 go to the vets immediately to make them sick. E Evidence – Bring labels/samples/vomit (in a safe manner) However, leave it too long and it will be absorbed D Don’t delay! and treatment will be more complicated and expensive. 2 e- FURTHER INFORMATION 2 Since the popularity of these devices has increased, so have the cases of poisoned dogs. Chewing the or refill can cause life-threatening Check out our website at www.tvm-uk.com 4 3 1 poisoning, a rapidly acting that needs immediate veterinary attention. Follow us @petdangers for information updates and FAQs. xylitol 2 3 Did you know that there are many campaigns Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). to try and stop companies from putting xylitol For further information please contact TVM-UK Animal Health Ltd, Kirtlington Business Centre, in products. It is an artificial sweetener found Slade Farm, Kirtlington, Oxfordshire, UK. OX5 3JA. tvm-uk.com in products like chewing gum, mints and

toothpastes, that can cause severe illness 1 and in dogs when eaten.

plants AND FLOWERS 4 Many indoor and outdoor plants can be poisonous to dogs and cats if eaten. Visit the ‘Poisoning’ section on www.tvm-uk.com to find out more.

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mould 5 If your pet eats mouldy food from bins, food found outside or eats from the compost heap grapes and raisins they will be at serious risk of poisoning from 1 Did you know grapes and raisins are poisonous 2 mycotoxins. Indeed, cases have even been to dogs? The number that create varies DANGERS IN THE KITCHEN reported from licking the inside of a bread bin between each dog; for some if may be a handful, that had mould inside. Always keep mouldy for others just one. Never take the risk with 1 items away from pets. your dog. Don’t forget foods that contain these ingredients are just as dangerous, such as fruit DANGERS IN THE GARAGE cleaners cake and Christmas cakes. 6 10 Most cleaners and detergents (including laundry pods) can cause serious problems if eaten by APPLES your pet. Always keep them out of the reach 2 Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which is a form and sight of pets (and children). of cyanide. If your dog swallows a few apple seeds, they will most likely pass through without antifreeze harm – but if they swallow more, or crunch them 3 7 How many of us use antifreeze to add to our to break the covering, this could result in windscreen wash or as a de-icer spray? The poisoning. If you do feed apples, core and cut harmful substance in antifreeze is called them into bite-sized chunks first. 12 ethylene glycol and is also found in other 11 products such as radiator coolant, motor oils, 3 human hydraulic brake fluid, paints and solvents. One of the highest causes of accidental poisoning 13 As little as one tablespoon of antifreeze can is dogs eating their owners’ medication or owners cause kidney failure in a dog and as little as giving their pets human medication to try and one teaspoon can kill a cat. help them. Even over the counter 4 that are safe for us can kill your pet, so never take rat poison the risk and always seek advice from your vet if 8 The most commonly used class of rat poison in your pet is unwell for any reason. Always keep 5 the UK is what is called an ‘anticoagulant’ poison. human medication out of the reach of prying paws. It stops the blood from clotting and causes the rat to bleed to death. Unfortunately, the same 4 onions and garlic symptoms can occur in any animal that eats it. When eaten in only moderate amounts or There is an antidote to rat poisoning but your routinely, these foods actually cause problems dog must be seen by a vet quickly for the best with blood cells and anaemia (low red blood cells). chance of a complete recovery.

If your pet gets to a pan cooking these take care at certain times of year like slug bait substances it could result in poisoning. Garlic christmas and easter! 9 Be careful not to put any slug bait where it can pills and powders should be avoided for the • Tinsel and baubles (can cause severe internal damage). same reason and specialist pet poison centres be eaten by your pet. Slug bait is commonly • Increased chocolate and raisin containing foods (mince pies, Christmas cake). recommend that you do not give these products. found as pellets, liquid or powder and contains • Increased visitors who aren’t aware of the dangers of certain items. the toxic ingredient ‘metaldehyde’. It is often also sweetened which makes it attractive to our pets. Slug bait is highly poisonous to dogs and cats.

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