Prevent your pets from poisoning this summer

With summer well underway throughout the country, many Americans are looking forward to camping trips, picnics and hikes. But before including your four-legged friends in any outdoor adventures, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) reminds pet parents that snakes, spiders, scorpions and other venomous creatures found in the wild pose a potential risk to humans and pets alike.

In 2006 alone, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) managed over 480 cases involving pets who were exposed to a poisonous animal. So before venturing into the woods, forest preserve or other locations where these creatures often lurk, please consider the following tips on protecting your pets:

• Keep your pet on a leash when going on walks or hiking: allowing your dog to roam off leash—especially off pathways and trails—increases the potential for it to come in contact with a snake. This also allows you to exercise some control by keeping your dog near you should you encounter a poisonous animal;
• Don’t let your dog investigate rock piles, debris, holes in the ground or in trees/logs; and
• Avoid evening walks or hikes where poisonous animals are known to live; many species are more active at night.

If you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a venomous animal, please get veterinary attention for your pet immediately. “Attempts to suction out or remove the poison yourself usually don’t work well,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Midwest Office, which houses the APCC. “And antivenin kits are generally not practical for most pet owners to keep on hand, because most are formulated for a specific species or group of venomous animal, and don’t necessarily cover all types.”

Instead, the ASPCA suggests keeping your pet as calm and inactive as possible while you get him or her to the nearest veterinary clinic. Give the attending veterinarian an identification of the animal by noting its size, color, markings and other identifiable features, but do not attempt to capture it at the risk of becoming bitten yourself.

There are some common symptoms that indicate your pet may have been bitten by a poisonous animal. “Initial signs usually include moderate to severe pain, swelling and the presence of puncture or bite wounds,” continued Dr. Hansen. Other signs, which may appear in the minutes or hours following exposure, can include:

• Weakness
• Having trouble breathing, due to a depression of the animal’s central nervous system
• Neurological effects such as tremors and seizures; and
• Abnormal heart rate and rhythm

You may also see tissue surrounding the bite area die, due to the presence of venom. Remember it is vital to get expert veterinary toxicology help immediately.

Source: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.