Important First Aid Information

    Stemming from my experience with the indirect poisoning of one of my dogs, I now keep activated charcoal in the house.  

  The curious nature of our best friends may put them in danger of being poisoned.

    Over 90 percent of poisonings occur in or around the home and may cause death or severe disability to victims.  It is imperative the treat the pet within one hour of the ingestion of the toxic substance with activated charcoal.  The charcoal will absorb the substance and prevent it from leaving the stomach and entering the body.

    Activated charcoal comes in powder, granules, liquid and tablets.  Personally, I have chosen to keep the liquid form on hand as it is the easiest for me to administer to the dogs and cats in my home.  When a pet ingests a poison, the activated charcoal is given orally to absorb the poison, medications or the other toxic substance and helps to prevent it from entering the pet's bloodstream and doing extensive harm.  Activated charcoal is made up of continuous layers of almost pure carbon that trap and absorb harmful substances in the stomach rendering them harmless.

ASPCA Poison Control for Animals

1 (888) 426-4435 - available 24/7

    If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned, remain calm and call the Animal Poison Control hotline immediately and give the representative the following information:

• Pet's age
• Pet's weight
• The type of poison or medication ingested (if known)
• Time ingestion occurred
• The specific symptoms you are witnessing
• Has your pet vomited?
• What other conditions does your pet have?

When seeking medical attention in the case of poisoning, I strongly urge you to first call the ASPCA Poison Control hotline BEFORE contacting your vet.  Many vet offices are very busy and your vet may not be able to speak with you immediately.  Every moment counts when treating poisoning victim.  After you have given your pet initial treatment, do contact your regular or local emergency vet office.

Activated Charcoal dosage guidelines:

Liquid (also known as "suspension") - dogs and cats, 5 - 10 ml per pound of body weight; horses or other large animals, 2 - 6 ml per pound

Granules - dogs and cats, 1 - 2 grams per pound; horses or other large animal, .35 - .9 grams per pound.  

(To make a thin suspension from granules, mix 1 portion of activated charcoal to 7 parts cold water, mixing vigorously for 30 seconds.)  

    

Spring Cleansing

    Spring is at our doorstep and as I begin work in my own garden and yard, I have been thinking about our pets' exposure to pesticides, poisons, and inorganic fertilizers.  While I strive to keep the areas around my home clear from such things, I know that my neighbors and the city grounds crews do not.  Last year while on a daily walk in the woods behind our home my border-aussie, Indie, suffered from indirect poisoning after he ingested a dead mouse that had eaten rodent bait.  I do not wish this experience on anyone and am using it as a catalyst to remind people about unforseen dangers, even within our familiar surroundings, that our dearest companions may encounter.

    Think about everything to which our pets are exposed.  Rolling on the grass at your favorite park or a relaxing on a chemically treated lawn is a good example.  During this seemingly innocuous respite, they are inhaling the fumes, rolling their skin on possibly irritating chemicals, and  if they nibble a few of those tender young shoots, the toxins are now in their bodies.  Laboratory studies show that a build-up of these toxins can be the root of a myriad of conditions and illnesses including rashes, skin and ear infections, nerve damage, birth defects, neurological disorders and some cancers.  The key to minimizing the damage from pesticides and other harmful chemicals is to help detoxify your pets' bodies. 

    The organ chiefly responsible for helping the body rid itself of toxins, is the liver.  The liver also produces proteins, bile which aids the digestion of fats, and glycogen, a starch analogue whose purpose is the storage of energy. 

    Every 6 months, a 4 week long liver detox is a beneficial plan for our canine and feline friends.  Most recommended by vets is the use of milk thistle.  Milk thistle has been used for hundreds of years to safely and effectively cleanse and repair the liver.

    Milk thistle is available in tincture and capsule form.  I find the tincture the easiest to dose and administer.  The dosage is calculated according to the pet's body weight: For cats: 1 drop per 2 pounds. It is recommended that you divide the dose for 2 or more administrations per day. For dogs:  1/4 teaspoon per 20 lbs, again divide the dose into 2 or 3 administrations per day.

*Please note that during this time, it is recommended that you do not feed your pet other supplements.  Continue giving other medications as prescribed.*

    Thoughtful daily liver support for your pets is quite easy.  There are some foods that are known to have a highly positive effect on the liver.  Lettuce, dandelion leaves, chamomile flowers, watercress, basil and tumeric promote bile floe.  The addition of one of more of these foods to your pet's daily diet will increase the effectiveness of this important organ.  The liver can be harmonized by adding raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to their meal once a day (1/4 tsp for cats and small dogs, 1/2 tsp for medium sized dogs, and 1 tsp for large dogs).  A naturopahtic vet that I have spoken with suggests that, provided your pet does not have diabetes, this may be done in 3-4 days intervals each month.  The addition of apple cider vinegar to your pet's diet has many benefits and I will share those in a later bog post.

    While the environmental toxic hazzards our pets encounter are often unavoidable, I believe we should minimize them and take action to support their health whenever possible.  After all, their presence in our lives has numerous benefits for our own health.  By caring for them, we care for ourselves.