Veterinary Wellness Blog
Category: Toxicity
Backyard Barbeque time!
July 3, 2014Ah summer. Season of backyard get togethers, bonfires, and barbeques. Everyone wants to sit back, relax, and enjoy, not worry about the pets. Use these tips to make sure everyone has a relaxing, enjoyable, and safe summer! Sunscreens and insect repellents are not all pet safe. Some contain ingredients that may cause stomach upset such as vomiting and diarrhea, others contain products which may cause neurologic issues (dilated pupils, drunken walking, head tilt, incoordination, etc). Make sure you are using a pet safe product or skip it all together. However, do note that pets with thin hair or white hair can get sunburn, so make sure shade is available! Everyone’s brought a dish to share, so we can share with the pet, right? Wrong. People foods may cause a variety of issues for pets. Some cause an upset stomach, or gastroenteritis, which may cause vomiting and diarrhea, or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas which may require hospitalization). Others may be toxic to pets-grapes, raisins, alcohol, chocolate, onion, garlic, and avocado being some common ones. Artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, which can be found in sugar free products like gums and candies, or in lower calorie foods as a sugar substitute, is also toxic to dogs. Lastly, things like rib bones, chicken bones, and […]
Learn MoreApril showers bring May flowers…which may be toxic!
May 2, 2014As the rains fall, we look forward to the spring flowers that will soon be blooming. While their bright colors remind us of warmer days coming, they may pose a hazard to our pets. There are a number of toxic spring flowers that are common in our yards this time of year. These include things like daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lily of the valley, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are part of the same family and contain a chemical which can cause drooling, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, increased heart rate, abdominal cramping, abnormal breathing, or cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats or rhythm). The bulb contains the highest concentration of this chemical, but all parts of the plant contain some, so if your pet has ingested a daffodil, tulip, or hyacinth veterinary attention should be sought. Rhododendrons and azaleas are also from the same family. These plants contain a chemical that is toxic to muscles in the body. This leads to clinical signs such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, irregular heart rate and beat, low blood pressure, weakness, tremors, and depression. In severe cases it can lead to blindness (usually temporary), seizures, and coma. Prognosis is generally good with treatment, so if you see your pet ingest one of these […]
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Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
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