AScummter i200o7 n Keeping Your Pet Safe The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center saves lives 24/7 >> PRESIDENT’S NOTE Protecting Animals Board of Di rectors Round-the-Clock Officers of the Board z t i w o Hoyle C. Jones, Chairman, Linda Lloyd Lambert, b i e Since Menu Foods announced its L Vice Chairman, Sally Spooner, Secretary, y t s i r massive pet food recall on March James W. Gerard, Treasurer K y b 16, the ASPCA has been flooded o t o Members of the Board h with calls from concerned pet P parents and animal welfare professionals alike. The Penelope Ayers, Alexandra G. Bishop, J. Elizabeth Bradham, Reenie Brown, Patricia J. Crawford, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the only 24- Jonathan D. Farkas, Joan C. Hendricks, V.M.D., Ph.D., hour, 365-day facility of its kind, and it is timely that it Franklin Maisano, Elizabeth L. Mathieu, Esq., is the cover story for this issue of ASPCA Action. William Morrison Matthews, Majella Matyas, The ASPCA is the oldest humane organization in Sean McCarthy, Gurdon H. Metz, Leslie Anne Miller, North America, and we’re more dedicated than ever to Michael F.X. Murdoch, James L. Nederlander, Jr., our work preventing animal cruelty and finding Marsha Reines Perelman, George Stuart Perry, Helen S.C. Pilkington, Gail Sanger, William Secord, permanent, loving homes for adoptable pets all across Frederick Tanne, Richard C. Thompson, the country. But we are also committed to being there Cathy Wallach for the millions of compassionate citizens like you, and one of our goals is to be the number one resource for Directors Emeriti pet parents in America. Steven M. Elkman, George Gowen, Alastair B. Whether it’s saving a pet that has been accidentally Martin, Thomas N. McCarter 3rd, Marvin Schiller, James F. Stebbins, Esq. poisoned, fighting to pass humane laws, rescuing animals from abuse, or sharing resources with shelters across the The ASPCA country, the ASPCA is there, changing the face of 424 East 92nd Street New York, NY 10128-6804 animal welfare. It is my hope that the ASPCA, thanks to (212) 876-7700 the support of members like you, will always be there, www.aspca.org making a difference for pets and pet parents alike—even E-mail: [email protected] in the most desperate times of need. Volume 3, Number 2 ASPCA Action is published four times a year by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 424 East 92nd Street Edwin Sayres New York, NY 10128-6804 ASPCA President & CEO Postmaster— Send address changes and undeliverable copies to: ASPCA Action Returns P.O. Box 97288 Washington, DC 20090-7288 ASPCA Action Copyright © 2007 ASPCA. All rights reserved. Editorial created by Rebus LLC, 632 Broadway, 11th Floor, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and New York, NY 10012. www.rebus.com ASPCA are registered trademarks. Cover: Aaron Goodman. For permission to reprint material from ASPCA Action, please direct requests to: Send subscription inquiries to: ASPCA Action, 424 East 92nd Street, ASPCA Action New York, NY 10128-6804. 110 Fifth Avenue Second Floor This newsletter is not intended to provide advice on individual pet health New York, NY 10011 matters or to substitute for consultation with a veterinary doctor. E-mail for ASPCA Action: [email protected] 2 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org >> COVER STORY Keeping Your Pet Safe The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Protects Pets 24/7 Top 10 Reasons for Calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1. Pills and other people medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and dietary supplements 2. Insecticides used to . b kill fleas, ticks, and a T n other insects o t w e 3. Mouse and rat N / k poisons c o l F 4. Pet medicines, such e t a as heartworm K : t i preventatives, arthritis d e r relievers, and C o nutritional t o h supplements P Foods like chocolate, fine for people, can be toxic to pets, especially small (and determined) ones like Oscar. When Deborah Novick of Newton, managing the many potential poisons a MA, settled in for a leisurely meal with wayward pet can get into. “It’s an friends and family this past holiday amazing service,” she says. “They season, their pet dog Oscar, a 7-1/2 year determined that Oscar had eaten a toxic 5. Household cleaners, old dachshund with a nose for treats, amount of chocolate for his size and such as bleaches, was nowhere in sight. He was busy in weight. I rushed out to buy some detergents, and the next room, it later became apparent, hydrogen peroxide to make him throw disinfectants peeling the foil wrappers off the up, but that didn’t do the trick.” 6. Herbicides chocolate Hannukah gelt that had been That’s when Novick, on the advice of 7. Plants, such as lilies, rhododendron, left unattended. ASPCA experts, headed to her local azalea, sago palm, “When we discovered Oscar had clinic, the Veterinary Emergency & kalanchoe, and eaten 40 pieces of chocolate, which I Specialty Center of New England in schefflera knew was bad for dogs, I called my vet Waltham, MA. “Oscar came in after 8. Chocolate right away,” says Novick. “It was late in midnight with a distended belly and a 9. Home improvement products, including the evening, and I got a recording rapid heart rate; his life was at risk,” says paint, solvents, and telling me to call the ASPCA Animal Dr. Heather Chalfant, the veterinarian expanding glues Poison Control Center.” who treated him there. “We consulted 10. Fertilizers Novick was soon speaking with an with the ASPCA on a treatment plan ASPCA toxicologist, expertly trained in and, happily, after a night’s observation, Summer 2007 3 >> COVER STORY Oscar was ready to go home.” Control Center has a vast amount of knowledge on so many Round-the-Clock Service different toxins,” says Dr. Chalfant. The ASPCA Animal Poison “That’s why we use them solely, Control Center is the only 24- and advise people who attend our hour, 365-day facility of its kind, pet first-aid class to keep their dispensing emergency lifesaving phone number on hand, along advice to pet parents and with other important contacts.” veterinarians from throughout Because the service is not North America, and across the supported by state or federal globe. Staff includes 28 grants, as human poison control veterinarians, many board-certified centers are, the ASPCA must Pet First Aid Kit in toxicology, aided by dozens of charge a $55 fee to cover costs in Keep the phone number of the certified veterinary technicians most cases. “It may seem like a lot ASPCA Animal Poison Control and assistants, including of money,” says Novick. “But they Center— (888) 426-4435 —along students from the nearby give you a tremendous amount of with that of your local vet or College of Veterinary follow-up and follow-through. clinic in a prominent location. Medicine at the Not only did they talk to me Have ready an emergency first aid kit that includes: University of Illinois in several times during the course of Champaign-Urbana, the night. They talked to the • A fresh bottle of hydrogen where the call center emergency room vet several times peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting) first started nearly 30 as well.” years ago. • A turkey baster, bulb syringe, “The ASPCA A Panoply of Poisons or large medicine syringe (to squirt peroxide) Animal Poison The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center • Saline eye solution, plus maintains updated artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing) files on more than one • Mild grease-cutting million dishwashing liquid (to bathe animal after skin contamination) individual cases and an • Forceps (to remove stingers) ever- • A muzzle (to protect against expanding list fear- or excitement-induced of more than biting) 60,000 • A can of your pet’s favorite wet potential food toxins, ranging • A pet carrier from pills and Always consult a veterinarian or pesticides to the ASPCA Animal Poison household Control Center for directions on cleaners and how and when to use any non–pet- emergency first-aid item. friendly plants. You can purchase a Pet First Aid This extensive Kit at the ASPCA online store: As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to database allows www.aspca.org/shop a cat; one to two tablespoons can kill a 10-pound dog. the ASPCA to 4 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org >> COVER STORY remain on the frontlines of poison prevention. During the recent contaminated pet food recall, for example, ASPCA experts were on Pe ts & Medications: hand to speak with concerned pet parents and to consult with A Dange rous Mix veterinary professionals managing the crisis. When Pam McQuade, a self-described The ASPCA was also among the basset hound addict from Nutley, NJ, first to identify, or publicize, such discovered that her beloved Lady Jane potential pet hazards as grapes and had chewed into her bottle of blood raisins, Xylitol (found in sugarless pressure medicine, she called the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away. gum), liquid potpourri, avocados “They informed me I should give her (especially toxic to birds), and the hydrogen peroxide to make her throw up. antidepressant Effexor (a special Though Jane wasn’t a happy camper, 20 a g hazard for cats). Similarly, the e minutes later she was fine,” says V a t McQuade. “I used to keep my medication ASPCA has helped dispel common r e b on my dining room table, where my cat o misconceptions and Internet R : y could knock it down; now I keep it safely b rumors, such as that Swiffer WetJet o t locked away.” o products and Greenies brand pet h treats are especially hazardous to P Pets that improperly ingest medications pets, both false.