August 22, 2024 0 comments
By Marina Reed
Poison. We want to avoid it for ourselves and our pets. We know to keep chocolate away from our dogs. If a dog eats chocolate by accident, he can show signs of poisoning within 30 minutes to 4 hours. He will need immediate treatment at an emergency clinic.
What are the signs of poisoning? They have a fever, often a cold fever, which makes their nose look like an icicle; they then start shaking on their feet, which is called ataxia; soon they can’t walk anymore, it’s paresis; at this point they need to be treated quickly. They’ll be given a charcoal drip to absorb the toxins, maybe an antibiotic, and whatever else the poison control center suggests.
So chocolate is a bad idea for dogs.
But did you know that the essential oils you use can have the exact same effect? ​​Essential oils can be poisonous to your dog.
If you put an essential oil on your skin, your dog might lick it off; if you put it in your bath, your dog might drink it. Essential oils to avoid are the ones we use most often: citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, cinnamon, wintergreen, pine, thyme, sweet birch, anise, clove, ylang ylang, juniper, tea tree oil, and probably others. These products can also have a negative impact on your cats.
Even the essential oils in diffusers that have become so popular can be toxic to your dog. Their sense of smell is so keen that the scent alone can be bad for them. The mist can land on their fur and slowly absorb into their skin, which can poison them. And of course, if they get even a drop on their skin or worse, lick it off, you can end up with a very toxic situation. Some oils are safe: lavender, rosemary, frankincense, Roman chamomile, and myrrh. There may be others, but you should consult your veterinarian before using them. Also, they should only be diffused for one hour per day and in a well-ventilated area. The same goes for burning incense, lighting candles, and using air fresheners or spray cleaners. All of these can have a negative effect on your dog…and your cat.
Tea tree oil is known by most people as a great remedy for athlete’s foot, insect bites, skin problems and other uses.
But it is very toxic to dogs.
You can’t Treat their skin with tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil. Even small amounts found in dog shampoos or flea and tick products can be toxic. And human shampoos containing melaleuca, cleaning products, laundry soaps, air fresheners, creams, etc. can all be very toxic if they come into contact with your dog.
Dogs can be admitted to the emergency room after being washed with shampoo containing tea tree oil. The toxin is absorbed through the skin. Licking it off their fur or skin, or onto your skin, can be even worse. Tea tree oil can also be toxic to children and adults. There really should be warning labels on those bottles.
If you are a dog owner, be especially aware of the dangers of tea tree oil.
If your dog ingests or comes into contact with tea tree oil, essential oil, chocolate or other poisons, you should first call the poison control center to get a reference number. This number is used by the clinic where you take your dog, as the poison control center will advise the veterinarian on what to do.
The poison control number is 1-800-213-6680. The nearest emergency clinic is in Brampton: Emergency Veterinary Clinic: 905-495-9907, open 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
I hope you never have to use these phone numbers.
Give your pet a hug!
