Hidden dangers
DISCLAIMER
Please be aware the information contained here is only a very rough guide and for a definitive opinion, you should consult your veterinary surgeon as opinions and advice will vary depending on which country you reside, safety regulations, product availability, local environmental issues and legal complexities.
You might feel that what follows is obvious and I am teaching “Granny How to Suck Eggs” but I bring this to your attention for two reasons. Every year veterinary surgeons face having to tell distraught owners that their beloved pet dog is either seriously ill or will end up permanently damaged. Additionally, they also end up consoling devastated clients after their canine companion has died. By reading this if one owner learns something that prevents even one dog from becoming ill or worse then it will have been worth it.
With the cost of a visit to the vet in some countries needing a second mortgage for every appointment and even more when it is an emergency out of hours, sensible precautions are needed, and just in case you think that “it won’t happen to me” well that’s what I thought until the day it did!!
Believe me, the guilt doesn’t disappear quickly.
What we don’t realise is that there are many everyday items that are around us that can be a risk to our dogs and we definitely need to be aware.
Let’s begin indoors
If something has one of those labels that indicate “keep out of reach of children,” “childproof cap”, “harmful if swallowed,” or “seek medical assistance” then obviously it needs to be out of reach to children AND pets.
Cleaning products are dangerous to pets so obviously should be kept in a secure place.
A huge issue for veterinary surgeons is prescribed medications for us humans which are all too often left in reach on tables etc as they are required to be taken daily.
In my house, all these products are locked in a cabinet and the alarm is set on my mobile phone to remind me.
Chocolate; this has everything to do with the type of chocolate and the size of your dog but be aware a block of the stuff can be deadly. For miniature and toy dogs the risk is greater due to their small size. The most dangerous is Baking (cooking) chocolate, followed by Dark and finally Milk chocolate. White chocolate is generally not a problem as the toxicity levels are relatively low. As a rough guide, you should get veterinary advice urgently if the ratio of chocolate consumed to your dog’s weight even approaches the following.
Cooking chocolate. 0.5 ounces per 10 pounds body weight
Dark chocolate. 1.5 ounces per 10 pounds body weight
Milk chocolate. 3.5 ounces per 10 pounds body weight
White chocolate. 47 pounds!! per 10 pounds body weight
This guide is only useful for dogs up to 30 pounds in weight (13.6 kilos). For bigger dogs consult your veterinary surgeon.
Remember that many items are not solid chocolate but chocolate-coated and therefore are not so dangerous but err on the side of caution.
Please note in an emergency your vet will be helped to make an informed decision if you are able to tell them the type of chocolate, the brand name and the weight of the dog.
For the information regarding chocolate I am indebted to; Dr. Debora Lichtenberg DMV. and Dr. Pippa Elliot BVMS. MRCVS.
You should be aware that unlike you who has 9000 taste buds in your mouth your dog only had 1706 so that gorgeous creamy confectionery is totally wasted on your beloved pet!
Bones are another source of risk. They should only be the large long variety preferably with the knuckle end and NEVER feed cooked bones. Any bone that shows any splintering should be removed. Please be aware that if your dog reaches the marrow excess ingestion of marrow may cause diarrhoea.
Whilst we are on the subject anyone who has a dog that they cannot take away a bone from or anything else for that matter you need assistance immediately.
Toys and balls in particularly should be robust and a size that can never be destroyed or be swallowed. Remember anything that is swallowed must be able to exit. It’s one of the laws of nature!! What goes in must come out. If it doesn’t come out that creates a blockage which is unpleasant for dogs and harsh on your pocket.
The kitchen cooker is an area that is responsible for a number of visits to the veterinary surgeon each year and the old saying that “too many cooks spoil the broth” may or may not be true but chefs and dogs in the same room is not a good mix. Hot food and liquid spills and the danger of the cook falling over dogs can have catastrophic consequences.
Moving outside and a modern threat is the advent of the silent electric car. A potential danger to anybody but particularly to guide dogs.
The Oak Tree produces acorns that contain tannins which can cause at best an upset stomach, but even kidney failure and in extreme cases death.
Aesculus Hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree that is very useful as I understand it in herbal and natural remedies. For example, its properties are used in the treatment of varicose veins, haemorrhoids and fertility problems for men!! The common name for this tree is The Horse Chestnut tree, it’s fruit is also known as the Conker and it is very poisonous to dogs. It contains Aesculin hence the trees name. The consequences of eating these can be vomiting blood, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
I know that this doesn’t apply to dogs but for all animal lovers…..
For those, who like me live in a country where open wheelie bins are standard please remember to crush your tins that once contained food as these are a danger in particular to cats who scavenge.
Anyone near water should be vigilant regarding algae as one of the seemingly harmless looking types is blue-green algae. Unfortunately, it is impossible to detect just by looking to know whether the stuff you are looking at is poisonous or not. Blue-green basically prevents the liver from working properly and is either fatal or leaves the dog with permanent damage. Even if the dog doesn’t drink the tainted water the algae can get caught up in the animal’s coat and is ingested when cleaning itself. It should be noted that children are just as vulnerable to the toxins in algae.
For those who live in very hot countries please be aware that if you have dogs and they are tied, some artificial turf can reach temperatures that are higher than the natural variety. Please check with the manufacturers.
Even the sun can be a problem. When we departed the UK for Crete I well remember my veterinary surgeon reminding me, don’t forget the factor 50 for the dog’s nose and tummy. The dog-friendly variety of course.
In the garden, the compost heap is another source of potential trouble. Great for recycling and so beneficial for the garden but not good for dogs. The smell of decaying food, unfortunately, is extremely attractive to your dog and with approximately 220million scent receptors in the nose, your pet can smell out a compost heap with no difficulty. In particular please avoid putting meat, bones, fish, grease, oil and dairy products on the heap and don’t use accelerates.
Enthusiastic gardeners will put down slug bait to protect their plants but this product contains metaldehyde which is a toxin and can lead to breathing difficulties.
Pesticides, insecticides and weedkiller are all threats, however, whilst I am not an enthusiastic gardener I believe that there are animal-friendly products available.
And finally, the one that caught me out 45 years ago. Bulbs were my downfall. Rufus decided to have a digging session in the garden and dug up my newly planted assorted bulbs.
Amongst the most dangerous ones are Tulip, Daffodil, Hyacinth, and Crocus. Azalea and Lily of the Valley aren’t too friendly either.
Rufus survived the experience with very minor kidney damage but thanks to the advice of a vet I boiled up pearl barley regularly, gave him the liquid to drink and he lived to a ripe old age.
These days with the availability of media and the internet I’m sure that the committed, dog-owning horticulturalists among you are aware of the risks but just in case there is anyone who was not…. No Excuses Now!!
“When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend.”
A.D. Williams