National Poison Prevention Week, which was enacted by Congress in 1961, always occurs on the third week in March. This year for 2020, it falls from March 15th to March 21st. But what exactly is the purpose of National Poison Prevention Week?
This specific week has been set aside to highlight awareness and prevention of poisoning, and what to do if any unfortunate scenarios occur. At ASVC, we choose to use this week to remind our clients about the potential dangers their furry friends can encounter when it comes to everyday household objects.
Since pets are naturally curious, it is extremely important to keep certain things out of paws’ reach. With Pet Poison Prevention Week on our minds this month, we encourage you to keep an eye out for risks often hidden in plain sight:
- Living Room: Toxic or unsafe objects in the living room frequently include certain plants, fragrance products, batteries, and even bags or purses (which often contain many toxic items). Keep these items out of reach.
- Kitchen: There are many, many human foods that are poisonous to pets. Be mindful of food that has been dropped, and if you have a counter-surfing pet, be sure to keep all food sealed and put away. Garbage cans should also be pet-proof, and alcoholic beverages need to be safely stored far from curious snouts.
- Bathrooms: All medications, cosmetics, and nail polishes need to be safely stored in cupboards or drawers and not on countertops as these items frequently contain ingredients that are toxic to animals. Bathroom cleaning products should also be tucked away, and toilet lids should be kept closed to protect your pet from ingesting chemical toilet bowl cleaners and harmful bacteria.
- Garage: Products made with ethylene glycol — such as antifreeze — are hazardous to pets. These items have a tendency to attract animals due to their sweet taste, however this toxin is extremely dangerous and should be concealed at all times. Ethylene glycol is also found in certain brake fluids, windshield-washer fluids, de-icers, cosmetics, adhesives, ink, detergents, fire extinguishers, paints, pesticides, and polishes.
- Outdoor Areas: Keep fertilizers and pesticides sealed and out of reach. Grub or snail killer, insecticides, and sprayed herbicides can be toxic to pets. Try to purchase pet-safe herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers, especially if you have a pet that likes to dig or is attracted to these yard maintenance products.
If you believe your pet has ingested something toxic, please IMMEDIATELY contact us at (212) 242-9169. Please be ready with information about the item that your pet has ingested.
We take National Poison Prevention Week very seriously at ASVC, and we highly encourage you to contact us for additional information on household toxins and how to keep your pet away from them. You can also reach out to the Pet Poison Helpline, which is available 24/7 for any additional questions or expert help.
Let’s work together to keep our pets safe from poisonous substances!