Pet Poison Helpline Now Smart Phone Friendly

Pet Poison Helpline has recently released an iPhone app that contains a database of over 200 toxic substances for pets.  

The app, called "Pet Poison Help," features a full-color photo and description of over 200 toxic substances, such as medications, plants, food, and household cleaning chemicals often found around the house or yard.  The symptoms a pet may experience after ingestion as well as the severity of the poison ("mild to moderate" or "moderate to severe") are also displayed for each substance.  

It is important to note that potential antidotes and in-depth treatment options are not offered in this app, as Pet Poison Helpline feels pet owners should always seek out the advice of a professional when dealing with a potential pet poisoning.  However, pet owners can call Pet Poison Helpline directly from the app.

You can download the Pet Poison Help app from iTunes for $1.99 here.  You do not need cell service or Internet service to access this app from your phone.

For those without iPhones (like me), you may want to check out the organization's new mobile-enabled site, which also provides valuable information.  The site contains a list of poisonous substances as well as emergency information on how to deal with a poisoned cat or dog.  As with the app, you can call Pet Poison Helpline directly from the organization's mobile-enabled site.  You can view the new mobile-enabled site by entering www.petpoisonhelpline.com into your phone.  

Pet Poison Helpline is available 24 hours a day to help you if your pet gets poisoned.  They charge a $39 fee, which covers your initial call as well as any follow-up calls concerning that specific poisoning case.  You can reach Pet Poison Helpline by calling 800-213-6680.

If you think your pet is suffering from poisoning, please seek medical attention for him or her.  

You can learn more about the organization by visiting the Pet Poison Helpline website.  

Source:

Pet Poison Helpline: New iPhone Application and Mobile-Enabled Website

Human Medication a No-No for Cats

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the most common claims for cat poisoning were a result of cats ingesting human over-the-counter or prescription medication.

I want to remind all of the pet parents and owners out there that while I know it can be costly to make vet trips when your cat is sick, you need to do so in order to get the right medication prescribed for your kitty.

Sometimes, well-meaning pet parents can give their cats a dose of over-the-counter or prescription medication in an attempt to reduce their furry friend's suffering. However, this usually leads to more suffering, not less. Our kitties bodies are much smaller than ours, and often require different and/or smaller medication doses than we do.

If your kitty is sick or injured, please take him or her to a vet and allow the veterinarian to prescribe the right medication for your kitty.

To read the report by VPI, please visit: http://www.catchannel.com/News/pets-ingest-human-medications-more-often-than-other-poisons-vpi-reports.aspx.

Some table food is poisonous for cats. You should not feed your cat any of the following foods. By no means is this a complete list.

-Grapes

-Raisins

-Garlic

-Tomatoes

-Any root vegetable, including onions

-Chocolate

-Cantaloupe

-Milk based products like milk, ice cream, yogurt, etc. If you want to give your cat milk, buy CatSip from your local grocery or pet store. Cool Claws is a special ice cream for cats, also available at local grocery and pet stores.