Caustic substances and your pet

As the weather gets warmer and our pets are outside more, their exposure to caustic substances increases as well. Listed below are caustic substances your pet could come in contact with both inside and outside of your home.

If you think your pet has swallowed a caustic substance, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. These substances can do fatal damage within minutes, and vomiting will worsen your pet's condition even quicker. According to the ASPCA, if you live in North America, you can call the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 24 hours a day/ 365 days a year for help. They will be able to tell you if the substance is caustic. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Some common caustic substances:
Paint thinner
Paintbrush cleaner
Turpentine
Kerosene
Battery acid
Carbolic acid
Motor oil
Sidewalk salt
Fertilizer
Putty
Plaster
Glues
Drain cleaner
Household cleaners
Pine cleaners
Bleach
Laundry detergent
Nail polish
Nail polish remover

If the substance is not caustic, you can induce vomiting by giving your pet 1 teaspoon of Syrup of Ipecac or 2 teaspoons of Hydrogen Peroxide orally. If you have neither of these items, a teaspoon of table salt can be used. Then call your veterinarian immediately.

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Dealing with feral cats

What's the best method of dealing with the feral cat population?
Here is an interesting post on feral cats and birds from Cats and Cat Health which shows that killing off feral cats doesn't control the problem.

In my opinion, Trap/Neuter/Return is the only solution to the feral cat problem that makes sense. Here is additional information on the efforts being made in this area by Alley Cat Allies:

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
TNR is a comprehensive plan where entire feral colonies are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and neutered by veterinarians. Kittens and cats that are tame enough to be adopted are placed in good homes. Adult cats are returned to their familiar habitat to live out their lives under the watchful care of sympathetic neighborhood volunteers.

TNR works. Cat populations are gradually reduced. Nuisance behaviors associated with breeding, such as the yowling of females or the spraying of toms, are virtually eliminated. Disease and malnutrition are greatly reduced. The cats live healthy, safe, and peaceful lives in their territories.

About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is dedicated to changing ineffective animal control practices like trap and remove, and to providing resources for the thousands of caring individuals and organizations in the United States and Canada who have stepped forward to feed, sterilize, and care for feral cat colonies.

And we need your help. With your donation, Alley Cat Allies can continue the struggle to stop the killing and to end feline overpopulation. Trap-Neuter-Return, the humane, nonlethal method of population control, is more effective than trap and kill, and it is more reflective of a caring human community.

Here’s what we’re doing to save our feral friends

Alley Cat Allies (ACA) actively promotes Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the accepted method of feral cat population control throughout North America. Community groups, public policy makers, veterinarians, military personnel, wildlife biologists, humane organizations, and animal shelters turn to ACA for guidance and expertise in developing policies and programs to effect humane population control of feral cats.

Become an Alley Cat Ally, Friend, Sustainer, or Feral Filanthropist. You can help ACA continue the fight to protect feral and stray cats in North America. Your donation could save one or many cats’ lives. Please send your contribution today to start receiving the award-winning newsletter Alley Cat Action and regular action alerts that can make the biggest difference for a lot of cats.

Plants that are poisonous to your pet

Spring brings out the gardener and landscaper in many of us, and we need to make sure the plants our pets are exposed to won't make them sick or worse, cause their death. According to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, the 17 most common poisonous plants to pets are:

Lilies
Marijuana
Sago Palm
Tulip / Narcissus bulbs
Azalea / Rhododendron
Oleander
Castor Bean
Cyclamen
Kalanchoe
Yew
Amaryllis
Autumn Crocus
Chrysanthemum
English Ivy
Peace Lily
Pothos
Schefflera

For a larger list of poisonous plants and more details of each plant, CLICK HERE.

Bulbs are very poisonous, so if your cat or dog likes to dig in the dirt, it's a good idea to fence off any bulbs, and if you overwinter them in the basement, keep them where the pets can't get into them. If your pet eats any poisonous plant, call your veterinarian immediately.

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