A veterinarian on JustAnswer, Gary Ryder, D.V.M., recently wrote a story for Pugdorable, a blog dedicated to (can you guess?) adorable pugs. Because his pet-safety tips were so important for not just pugs, but all dogs, we thought others might be interested in his insight on how to pet proof your home.
Keep toxic fruits and veggies out of reach: Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate and are harmful to both cats and dogs. In general, onions are more of a danger, and poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has ingested it. Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anemia, which causes red blood cells to burst while circulating in the body. Also, be aware that as few as two to three grapes can lead to kidney failure in dogs, and corn cobs become a common cause of foreign body obstruction in the summer. Turns out you need to be extra careful when throwing away those table scraps!
Watch out for hazardous objects: String of any kind is one of the worst types of foreign objects a cat can swallow and while not as common, this can also apply to small dogs including pugs. If consumed, it can cause a linear foreign body condition in the gastrointestinal tract. Sugar free gum is also a common yet dangerous object as it can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or liver failure in some dogs. Other common and hazardous ingestions include batteries and loose change.
Build a pet emergency kit: It would be great if every newly adopted pet came with an owner’s manual and an emergency kit, but that’s not the case. Pug owners should keep an emergency kit with hydrogen peroxide, Benadryl (other allergy medications can be toxic), Pepcid, nail clippers, hand soap, antibiotic ointment and mild dish soap (to remove oily substances from hair). It’s also useful to have handy phone numbers for a family veterinarian and emergency veterinary services, including ASPCA’s 24 hour poison hotline for pets (1-888-426-4435). For non-emergency situations, there are websites where you can ask a vet your questions, such as justanswer.com.
For more tips from Dr. Gary Ryder, please go to Pugdorable or ask a veterinarian on JustAnswer your pet questions 24/7.
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