Perhaps some unknown toxicities to your pets that you MUST know!
Easter Lily, as deadly as it is beautiful.
Any Lily must be considered toxic to cats, however Easter Lilies, popular this time of year, are deadly to cats. Even a small nibble of this plant can, if not treated immediately, cause death by acute renal (kidney) failure. Please do not even get one of these plants if you have cats. If you do have one, please give it to a friend. This kind gesture could save your feline friend.
If you do have one, and think that your cat has chewed on the plant, call us or your veterinarian immediately for aggressive therapy. Truly, this plant toxicity is as bad as antifreeze intoxication. (Dogs can get sick, but usually it is not fatal.)
Initial signs are vomiting up plant material, leading to weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, and dehydration. The kidneys shut down, and death can occur within 4-7 days.
Do your cat a favor, and appreciate Lilies from a distance.
Do you know about xylitol? Yes, this is a sugar-alcohol compound in most of our chewing gums and some candy. It can also be used for cooking. It is great for humans, however deadly to dogs. This can be toxic in two different modes. Both of them are possibly fatal. First, this compound can cause a dose dependant severe hypoglycemia-- a sudden drop in blood sugar that can lead to seizures and death. It can occur within 30 minutes of ingestion in some dogs. It requires intravenous glucose administration and intensive care.
The second mode is through liver toxicity. Within 24 hours, a dog can develop severe liver failure. Again, this is dose related.
If you suspect that your dog has ingested xylitol in any form, please call us immediately. If after hours, please call Medvet (614) 846-5800 or the ASPCA animal poison control (888) 426-4435. There is a charge for this consultation, but it is well worth it. They know the xylitol concentrations of many types of gum, but not all of them.
