I’ve done a variety of posts on plants, medications, and foods that are poisonous to dogs.

Recently I did a post on the Saco Palm, a plant that contains arsenic and is deadly to dogs. There are many plants which are dangerous to dogs but I had never heard about this particular one. I was made aware when Dogster member Mica contacted me warning  about the dangers and asking that I share the story of her pal Tallulah Belle, who almost died from ingesting the plant.

We all know smoking is bad, but did you know that it can kill your dog?  In USA Today writer Mary Brophy Marcus discusses the dangers of nicotine.

Smoked or unsmoked cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff, even in small amounts, can be toxic, say the veterinarians at McLean Animal Hospital in McLean, Va.

According to their website, a lethal dose of nicotine in dogs can be about 20 to 100 mg. Cigarettes tally 10 to 30 mg of the chemical, and cigars can contain 15 to 40 mg.

It’s important to keep products used to help quit smoking, gum and patches, away from your dog. They also have the potential to be toxic.  Regular sugar free gum is something else every pet owner needs to know about.  The gum contains Xylitol which makes the pancreas release a tremendous amount of insulin all at once, it puts the dog into extreme hypoglycemia.

Lastly, if you’re a gardener beware of cocoa mulch. I almost used it once because it claims to be more bug resistant,  but after doing some research on the product I found out it can kill a dog if ingested. Dogs are attracted to the mulch because it smells like chocolate but it’s dangerous because it contains Theobromine. A chemical substance which  is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker’s chocolate which is toxic to dogs.

It’s always a good idea to have the number to poison control and your vet’s office handy. In case of an emergency every minute counts and you don’t want to waste any time trying to track down a phone number.

* Don’t worry Chloe is “smoking” a chew toy.

I received an email from Dogster member Mica, she wanted to share the dangers of the Sago Palm. On May 20th her pal Tallulah Belle was poisoned, she was one of the lucky ones, she survived.

I’ve done other posts on plants that are dangerous but the Sago Palm was never on the list. This plant contains cyanide, yet there are no labels warning about the danger to animals and children.

Here’s Tula’s story, use her experience to prevent this from happening to your beloved pet.

I AM A LUCKY PUPPY / MAY 20TH I POISONED MYSELF WITH A SAGO- PALM

Howlo Pupsters,

Very important info following: Pass the word. Warn your friends. Keep your eye on the SAGO PALM plant. They are beautiful, hardy and DEADLY to dogs, cats and human kids.

On May 20th I ate part of the base of my mom’s SAGO PALM plant.

Two hours later I was vomiting repeatedly and violently. I became weak and lethargic.

The Vets had never had a case of SAGO PALM poisoning so I was rushed to the PET ER. They had never had a case of SAGO PALM poisoning either due to this NOT being a plant normally found in Maryland. That is changing now and they are everywhere.

The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline saved me. The Vets there provided the treatment protocol to the ER that saved me. THANK YOU ASPCA.

50-75% of All dogs who ingest any SAGO PALM go on to develop liver failure at 24 – 48 hours after ingestion. They die or have to be euthanized.

I was one of the very, very, very lucky ones.

With the repeated vomiting on my part, the intense and rapid treatment from the ER and with my guardian angel ELSA on my shoulder I made it.

I was discharged to my home and family and have made it my goal to TELL ALL about this plant.

DO NOT BUY IT. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOG NEAR IT.

These are all over in the south and are common plants used to landscape gardens in the south. Now due to the popularity of tropical decorating themes they are being sold everywhere. Even in northern states.

I was the first SAGO PALM exposure in my area. This could have made my situation even worse if it were not for the expertise of the ASPCA Poison Control line.

They contain cyanide and should have a warning label. They do not.

See the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline. Keep the number handy.
Familiarize yourself with this plant and others that can cause a pup dire harm.

I have an angel on my shoulder.

Thank you Elsa!!!

I am one lucky puppy!!!!

Thank you Mica for passing on this very important, and potentially lifesaving, information.  We’re very happy that Tallulah Belle is doing well and has no long-term residual effects.

In Napa, California six dogs have been poisoned using snail bait.  A warning for anyone in that area not to leave their dog(s) outside unattended.

The first incident took place on October 29, someone placed snail bait in the backyard of a home resulting in the death of three dogs. A week later the second poisoning incident took place.

Three dogs, including a police canine, were poisoned in Napa last week and a $4,000 reward is being offered for information about the suspect.

Police Sgt. Michael Hensley said the dogs were found around 11 a.m. Nov. 3 at a police officer’s home showing signs of poisoning. Two of the dogs, German short hairs, are the personal dogs of the officer. The third, a German Shepherd, is a police dog.

According to Hensley, all three dogs were transported to a veterinarian’s office but one of the German short hairs died on the way there.

The other two dogs were treated and are in fine condition, he said.

A reward of $4,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. “We’re pursuing this [as a] full felony case:.torture to animals. Four animals … were killed and we’re taking it very seriously,” said Napa police detective Mike Walund

Anyone with information can call the Napa Police Department at (707) 257-9223 and ask for the investigations bureau.

Do you enjoy taking your furry pal for walks in the woods but worry about using bug spray that could be harmful around them?

There is a new product on the market, EcoSMART has a line of organic sprays safe to use around pets.

Kill insects organically and keep your family and pets safe!

After many years of research and testing, EcoSMART has developed organic insecticides that kill bugs and pests fast – yet are safe for use around children and pets!

With EcoSMART, you can harness the power of nature’s own insecticides to effectively and safely kill bugs. Keep your loved ones safe from insects without the concerns of using synthetic chemicals around your home.

Protect your Home and Family Today!

Created with botanical oils, EcoSMART’s bug-killing formulas offer an unprecedented margin of safety by using organic materials. These specifically formulated, patented blends of plant oils only harm insects and have no adverse effects on people, pets or the environment!

If you would like to win a bottle, they have four to choose from, leave a comment about why you would prefer to use an organic insecticide.  Leave your answer in the comment section and on October 29th I will choose one winner at random. Good luck!

With Halloween only two weeks away there are many articles warning about chocolate being potentially fatal to your dog if ingested.

What pet owners may fail to realize is that everyday over-the-counter and prescription medications are the cause of over 89,000 calls to the ASPCA Poison Control Center.

The experts at ASPCA have complied a list of the top 10 human medications they receive the most emergency calls about.

NSAIDs
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals, and can cause serious problems even in minimal doses. Pets are extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach and intestinal ulcers and-in the case of cats-kidney damage.

Antidepressants
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy and certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome-a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.

Acetaminophen
Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen, which can damage red blood cells and interfere with their ability to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses, red blood cell damage.

Methylphenidate (for ADHD)
Medications used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in people act as stimulants in pets and can dangerously elevate heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as cause seizures.

Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil-an anti-cancer drug-is used topically to treat minor skin cancers and solar keratitis in humans. It has proven to be rapidly fatal to dogs, causing severe vomiting, seizures and cardiac arrest even in those who’ve chewed on discarded cotton swabs used to apply the medication.

Isoniazid
Often the first line of defense against tuberculosis, isoniazid is particularly toxic for dogs because they don’t metabolize it as well as other species. It can cause a rapid onset of severe seizures that may ultimately result in death.

Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a popular decongestant in many cold and sinus products, and acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by pets. In cats and dogs, it causes elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as seizures.

Anti-diabetics
Many oral diabetes treatments-including glipizide and glyburide-can cause a major drop in blood sugar levels of affected pets. Clinical signs of ingestion include disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures.

Vitamin D derivatives
Even small exposures to Vitamin D analogues like calcipotriene and calcitriol can cause life-threatening spikes in blood calcium levels in pets. Clinical signs of exposure-including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst due to kidney failure-often don’t occur for more than 24 hours after ingestion.

Baclofen
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that can impair the central nervous systems of cats and dogs. Some symptoms of ingestion include significant depression, disorientation, vocalization, seizures and coma, which can lead to death.

This is great information to have, keep those drugs away from busy paws.  Be sure to keep your vet’s, and emergency vet’s, info handy at all times.

I received an email this morning warning the Swifter WetJet is potentially toxic to dogs.  The email tells about a dog that died due to their owner using this product. It claims anti-freeze, known to be toxic to dogs, is one of the ingredients.

Before I post anything I always try and verify the information,  sometimes it turns out to be  unfounded. I don’t know where the original letter started, or if it was done as a joke, but there seems to be no factual evidence backing it up.

Unfortunately, the rumor spreads quickly around the internet. These types of jokes prey on the feelings of honest people, knowing they can be used to help get the word out.

This is the original letter that is going around the internet.

Recently my neighbor had to have their 5-year old German Shepherd dog put down due to liver failure.The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago,so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause was.

The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside,and when he’s outside, someones with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe.

My neighbor started going through all the items in the house. When he got to the Swiffer Wetjet he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated “may be harmful to small children and animals”.

He called the company to ask what the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out that antifreeze is one of the ingredients (actually, he was told it’s a compound which is one molecule away from antifreeze).

Therefore, just by the dog walking on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking its paws, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy his liver.

Soon after his dog’s death, his housekeepers’ two cats also died of liver failure. She also used the Swiffer Wetjet for quick cleanups on her floors. Necropsies weren’t done on the cats, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don’t lose their animals.

This is an anonymous message, it’s unverifiable and filled with untruths.  Go take a look at the snopes.com site, where they did a great job of going through each accusation and breaking it down.  As you’ll see, there does not seem to be any truth to this letter.

In April 2008 Joy was made aware, by Lucky’s mom, about an incident that occurred after using Sergeant’s Gold flea medication.   Joy posted an article, Sergeant’s Gold Flea Medication Almost Kills Dogsters Lucky and Nala, to make everyone aware of the potential danger.

Since that article was posted there have many comments from other Dogster members who have used this product and experienced issues, from minor to life-threatening.  Last week a comment came in from Julie, an Online Community Relations Liaison, working on behalf of Sergeant’s with some updated information as to what the company is doing in response to these complaints.

Sergeant’s is very sorry to hear about what all of your dogs have experienced. We really want to hear from each one of you who believes their pet has had an adverse reaction to any of our flea and tick control products. If you haven’t yet contacted our 24-hour consumer hotline at 800-224-7387, we strongly encourage you to do so for a couple of very important reasons:

• We want to make sure that each one of your dogs is now in good health. Naturally reading these posts are more than bothersome to us.

• Sergeant’s needs to gather information from you and your vet in order to start an investigation. Sergeant’s has a procedure in place where a complaint of a possible adverse reaction is given to a committee of independent veterinarians to review and investigate what may have caused the reaction or problem.

It’s important to remember that all flea and tick control product are pesticides and in order for these products to be as safe and effective as possible, they must be used as directed. It’s also important to understand that, just like human health care products, nothing can be 100% allergy-free, so some dogs will have a reaction. Most reactions are temporary, such as skin irritation, but some can be very serious.

Sergeant’s wants to help pet owners make safe choices, which is why we expanded our “Look at the Label” educational campaign and website www.lookatthelabel.com to educate consumers on proper application and use of flea and tick control products. Each case in this forum – and other forums – is different, which is why we think you will find the information on www.lookatthelabel.com helpful in answering many of the questions you may have at this point in time.

Sergeant’s President, Bob Scharf, wants pet owners to know this tool is available and encourages everyone to visit the website or call Sergeant’s hotline to answer any questions or concerns you may have – whether it is pre, post or after application. You can view a special message here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbONNAshrWo.

We really are very sorry to read the experiences here and want nothing but your pets to be healthy and happy! Visit www.lookatthelabel.com for useful tips. Please let us know if you have any questions at all, as we would be more than happy to assist you further.

When I read the comment I thanked Julie for sending it over. I also let her know that Dogster members, being the dog lovers they are, obviously get very upset when they  use a product that they feel makes their dog sick.

It is especially upsetting when people don’t think that a company cares what happens. I asked if there is any kind of reimbursement program if it can be proven the product is directly responsible for making the dog sick.  Or is it simply use at your own risk? According to Julie, there are measures being taken to deal with those situations.

Sergeant’s has a procedure in place for when a complaint of a possible adverse reaction is reported. In some cases, the complaint and information are given to independent veterinarians for further insight on what may have caused the reaction or problem.

Sergeant’s takes pride in being an extremely ethical company and stands behind all of the products offered to fellow pet lovers. Responsibility is taken for issues related to the product as long as the product was used as indicated by the label.

If the product was used as intended and instructed and then found to be the cause of the negative reaction, the customer will of course be reimbursed for any damage associated to the product.

This again is determined through a case investigation and why it is so important to hear from anyone and everyone that has had a negative experience with this product.

For anyone that has any issues with the Sergeant’s products I urge you to take Julie’s advice and go to the Look At The Label page so you can contact the appropriate party.  It is imperative that the company is able to track these incidents and that the injured party receive compensation, if so determined,  for any out of pocket expenses due to the use of this product.