7 tips to promote awareness for pet poison prevention
by Jenny Alonge
National Poison Prevention Week, which falls during the third full week of March, raises awareness to help prevent poisoning in people and pets. This is the perfect time to educate your clients about common household items that are toxic to pets and how they should respond if a toxicity occurs. Keep reading to learn valuable tips and help raise client awareness about this important topic.
#1: Start the conversation early
Puppies and kittens are constantly in trouble and can be a handful, especially for new, inexperienced owners. During your puppy and kitten examinations, take time to discuss potential pet toxins, and explain the importance of puppy or kitten proofing their home to protect their pet. Also, stress the importance of immediately seeking expert advice if a toxicity occurs, and provide resources, such as numbers for your veterinary clinic, the Pet Poison Helpline, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Pet Poison Control Hotline.
#2: Provide visual aids
Visual aids can instigate a conversation between your clients and your veterinary team. Suggestions include:
- Infographics — Hang infographics in your waiting area and treatment rooms that illustrate common toxins in and around the home.
- Brochures — Include brochures in your new patient handouts about preventing pet poison emergencies and providing first aid to poisoned pets.
- Lobby display — To emphasize the severe consequences of a poisoned pet, create a lobby display that depicts common pet toxins and the potential medical complications that the pet could experience.
- Static clings — Provide window clings listing the top 10 pet toxins, to remind owners of the dangers to their pet.
#3: Talk about potential toxins
Ask about toxins at every wellness and sick-patient appointment, which will help clients consider their pet’s potential exposure and remind them of the importance of pet toxicity. Situations include:
Sick-patient examinations — Accidental toxicity should always be considered when a pet is sick. Questions include:
- What has your pet eaten recently?
- Has your pet raided your kitchen, medicine cabinet, or purse?
- Has your pet been left unattended outside?
- Do you have any new plants in your home?
Well-patient examinations — Asking about the home environment can help you determine the pet’s potential toxin exposure. Considerations include:
- For owners who say their pet “gets into everything,” ensure they know about dangers, such as xylitol and medications, lurking in handbags.
- For those who keep indoor plants, ensure they know about toxic plants—especially lilies, if they have a cat.
- For owners who spend time gardening, explain the dangers of fertilizers, insecticides, and snail bait.
- For those who have a garage, explain the dangers of antifreeze, rodenticides, and cleaning agents.
#4: Use online resources to educate your clients
Digital resources provide great opportunities to reach established and potential clients. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Spotlight a toxin — Post a different toxin every day, explaining important facts, such as why the product is toxic, signs that occur, and potential health complications.
- Post a blog — Write an informative blog about potential household toxins and home pet-proofing tips.
- Send an alert — If you have an app, notify your clients about Poison Prevention Week and include a link to your toxin blog post.
- Create a challenge — Post pictures from around the house or inside a handbag and ask clients to identify the toxins. Offer a small prize for those who answer correctly.
#5: Teach your clients pet toxicity first aid
Ensure your clients know how they must respond if they know or suspect their pet has ingested a toxin. Include these key points:
- Immediately call your veterinarian, the Pet Poison Helpline, or the ASPCA Pet Poison Control Hotline if you know or suspect your pet was exposed to a toxin.
- Note the time when your pet ingested the toxin.
- Note any signs, including behavioral changes.
- If possible, have the packaging available when you call, so you can answer questions about concentration, ingredients, and more.
- Do not induce vomiting unless directed by your veterinarian.
#6: Know the right questions
In addition to raising client awareness, Poison Prevention Week is a great time to ensure your team knows the right questions to ask about a potentially poisoned pet. Guidelines include:
- Pet information — Ask the pet’s species, breed, sex, age, weight, underlying medical conditions, and environmental information.
- Medication — What is the name of the drug, concentration (i.e., milligram strength), is the product extended-release and how many tablets are potentially missing?
- Plants — What is the scientific and common name of the plant? Is the plant a houseplant, outdoor plant, or weed? Which part of the plant was ingested? How much was ingested?
- Household or garden products — What is the name of the product, including brand name? What are the active ingredients? What are the label warnings?
- Rodenticides — What is the active ingredient and concentration? How much was ingested? What is the name of the product, including brand name?
- Scenario — Other questions to ask include: When did the exposure occur? If the owner was away, how long was the pet alone? Is the pet showing any physical or behavioral signs? Is the pet conscious?
The pet owner may be upset, so you must calmly guide them through the questions to expedite the situation.
These tips should help you promote awareness for pet poison prevention in your practice to decrease your patients’ exposure risk.
Sources:
https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/what-you-can-do/poison-prevention-week
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/veterinarians/history-taking/
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