With the hustle and bustle of school supplies, new schedules, and first-day pictures, it’s easy to overlook our four-legged friends, who may suddenly find themselves with too much time on their paws once the kids are away at school all day. Curious pets can suffer serious consequences as a result of ingesting items found in lunchboxes and other school-related items. Read on to learn about common back-to-school dangers and how to keep your pet safe this school year.
Backpacks, Purses, and Coats, Oh My!
In many homes, the start of the school year is signaled by the appearance of “school gear” in the entryway, such as backpacks. It’s hard to imagine that something as innocent looking as your child’s book bag may contain potentially dangerous toxins to your pet, but this is often the case.
Every year in September and October the ASPCA’s poison control hotline receives a spike in calls related to pets ingesting poisonous substances found in backpacks and other school. Read on for a list of common dangers that may be lurking inside a knapsack or satchel in your home:
Xylitol – Present in many sugar-free items such as gum, mints, toothpaste, children’s vitamins, and baked goods, Xylitol is a major toxin for your pet. If ingested, Xylitol can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar, which could lead to liver failure or death.
Albuterol inhalers – Unfortunately, these often brightly colored plastic containers with the funny smell emanating from them is something many dogs can’t help but investigate. When a sharp canine punctures the outer case, the entire contents of the inhaler are released instantly causing symptoms such as excessive panting, increased heart rate, tremors, lethargy, vomiting, and low or high blood pressure.
ADHD medications – ADHD medications have the opposite effect on animals, causing elevated heart rate and body temperature, hyperactivity, tremors, and seizures.
Over-the-counter pain relievers – Ingestion of common pain relievers such as Advil and Tylenol can cause gastrointestinal, liver, and kidney damage.
Nicotine – It may sound strange, but some dogs and cats will eat cigarettes. Even low doses of nicotine can cause vomiting, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, and heart palpitations.
Marijuana – Most pets are exposed to marijuana by accidentally ingesting it. Symptoms of marijuana overdose in animals include depression, anxiety, vomiting, and heart palpitations.
School Lunches – What could be more enticing for a pet than the aroma of fresh (or not so fresh) food wafting out of your child’s backpack? Unfortunately, many common lunch items are potentially toxic to pets. Click here to read more about which foods are hazardous to your pet’s health.
That’s a long list with some scary sounding symptoms, but fortunately keeping these and other toxins out of your pet’s paws is as simple as storing all backpacks, coats, purses, and bags safely out of your furry friend’s reach. If you suspect that your pet has ingested a toxic substance, give us a call right away.
Have a safe and happy school year, from all of us at Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital!