EMERGENCY
TREATMENT OF INTOXICATION
Subjects:
First aid kit
GOAL: Prevention of further absorption of poison
First Aid
Kit
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT POISONING?
Poisoning is one of the most barbaric and cowardly crimes against
animals, causing them extremely painful and agonizing deaths. And
it is a source of immense anguish and grief to the people who love
them.
Strangely enough hardly any complaints are filed to the Police or
the municipality, many people believing it is useless to do so and
they simply accept it as 'a fact of life'. The victims might
disagree... if they could have their say in it!...
Your veterinarian will do all he can to rescue a poisoned animal
but often it is impossible to save the animal's life. Therefore it
is important to take further action!
The veterinarian can make an anonymous record of the poisoning
cases in his clinic to chart the poisoning problem and bring it to
the attention of relevant authorities. These are needed as evidence
and statistics, so that authorities can no longer pretend the
problem does not exist - as they often claim - and to press them to
take further action to protect animals. We aim for stricter laws,
severe sentences and effective enforcement of the laws.
PRECAUTIONS
Keep your animal away from 'edible things' in places where they
don't belong. They can be packed in plastic bags, bowls with food
or liquids, remnants of food, meatballs etc. Remove and discard
such suspicious items when you happen to see them. Poisoned baits
are often put at places where animal lovers leave food for the
strays. Beware of (colored) powdery substances! Keep an eye on the
behavior of any strangers around your property, especially when
they are annoyed with your barking dogs. Record the number plates
of suspicious cars and the date and place you saw them. Have a
camera at hand to collect evidence.
FIRST AID
PREPARATION
First of all discuss the content and use of a first aid kit with
your veterinarian as emetics and antidotes differ per country. Ask
your vet to tell you the symptoms of poisoning by herbicides and
pesticides like strychnine, arsenic, paraquat etc. He knows which
poisons are used locally, he can explain the symptoms and he can
advise on the treatment. Knowing the symptoms is essential as
antidotes can be harmful if an animal is not poisoned! Most vets
appreciate the fact that first aid by the owner of a poisoned
animal is crucial for its survival. Ask your vet to show you how to
administer emetics or activated carbon solutions orally and how to
handle a syringe in such a case of emergency. Preparation is the
first step!
THE FIRST AID
KIT
Carry with you at all
times a first aid kit containing emetics (ampoules and/or
solutions), activated carbon (tablets or solution), a syringe and
antidotes, together with the dosage and administration instructions
your vet will recommend. Be aware that dogs and cats need different
treatment and that oral treatment of a poisoned animal might be
impossible when it has convulsions or is unable to swallow.
FIRST
AID
Warn the veterinarian immediately! When you start first aid let
another person phone the veterinarian so he can prepare for the
emergency treatment while you are on your way to him.
1. If possible, try to identify the substance ingested before
administering the emetics by:
carefully inspecting the surrounding area
and observing the symptoms of the animal.
WARNING: You should NOT cause an animal to vomit if it
has ingested caustic/acid substances or glass, as this would cause
further damage of the internal organs! In that case try to
administer activated carbon and leave for the vet
immediately.
WARNING: If the animal has convulsions do NOT administer
anything orally (through the mouth). With swallowing always be very
careful in order to avoid aspiration into the lungs.
If it is likely that it has ingested another poison:
2. Make the animal throw up with:
orally: 30 - 60 cc of saturated salt water solution, or
orally: 30 - 60 cc of diluted hydrogen peroxide (1:10), or
orally: mustard seeds in lukewarm water, or
orally: 10% IPECAC SYRUP (10ml per 10kg body weight), or injection:
APOMORPHINE (0,05mg per kg body weight), do not use on cats as they
get wild by it, or
injection: FILTALON under the skin (large dog 1cc and if it has not
vomited after 5 minutes another 1cc)(medium dog 1cc) (very small
dog or a cat 0.5cc)
3. Only after it has thrown up:
Let it swallow active carbon.
Give it an intramuscular injection of:
dogs/cats: ATROPINE (0.04mg per kg or 1ml per 10kg), or
cats: XYLAZINE (0,5-1mg per kg)
4. When finished take the animal to your vet immediately!
N.B.: Beware of overdose!
POISONING
SYMPTOMS:
insecticide (organo-phosphate) poisoning: salivation, excessive
tears, diarrhoea, severe vomiting, constriction of the pupil,
muscle twitching, asthmatic breathing, convulsion and coma.
Treatment: an injection of atropine (one vial for a cat or small
dog, two or three vials for larger dogs depending on their weight).
The injection can be intravenous (into the vein - it is absorbed
most quickly this way), intramuscular (into the muscle), or
subcutaneous (under the skin).
rat poison (warfarincan): result in vomiting and diarrhoea, but
sometimes the animal will display no symptoms at all for two to
three days. Patches of red/purple/dark blue on the body or gums
begin to develop later. These are signs of internal bleeding.
Treatment involves an injection of vitamin K (Konakion) to help
clot the blood - between 5mg and 20mg depending on the size and
weight of the animal.
strychnine poisoning: animals that have been poisoned with
strychnine go into spasm, their pupils expand and muscles twitch.
Treatment is an injection of diazepan (Valium): cats 5-10mg, dogs
10-30mg depending on size and weight.
Report cases of deliberate poisoning to the Police and the
municipality
Teach children that poisoning is a terrible and horrible
crime
® Action Against Poisoning
GOAL: Prevention of
further absorption of poison
- After administering first aid go immediately to your veterinarian
in all cases
- Let someone warn the veterinarian immediately that you are coming
after administering first aid
A. Induce vomiting if the poison was internally absorbed:
a. ingestion of the poison occurred less than 3 hours before
presentation
b. the animal has a normal gag reflex and is not convulsing or very
depressed (danger of choking)
N.B.: If the product ingested was a petroleum distillate, strong
acid or base then do NOT induce vomiting but go immediately to your
veterinarian!
How to induce vomiting:
a. CATS: a dose of IPACAC syrup 6,6 ml/kg is recommended
b. DOGS: a 20% solution of common salt with water should be
administered according to the size of the dog (50ml to 500ml)
c. CATS & DOGS: after vomiting administer activated charcoal
slurry (10ml/kg of 1gr of activated charcoal/5ml of water)
N.B.: Take care to have a first aid kit for your animals at hand at
all times!
- IPACAC syrup can be obtained at the pharmacy
- activated charcoal (carv‹o activado) can be obtained at the
pharmacy
- plastic bottles with a spout or hole in the cap can be useful for
the oral
administering of liquids
B. Remove the poison from the skin and hair coat if the
poison
was cutaneously absorbed (through the skin)
How to remove the poison:
Remove the flea collar if that is the (suspected) toxic
source.
Wash the animal in warm, soapy water, rinse and repeat that one
time.
Shower it with warm water for 10 minutes afterwards.
Portuguese
TRATAMENTO DE EMERGÊNCIA DAS INTOXICAÇÕES
OBJECTIVO: Evitar ulterior absorção do veneno
Seja como for, após se terem prestado os primeiros socorros
ao
animal, levá-lo imediatamente ao veterinário, avisando este
entretanto.
A. Provocar o vómito no caso de ingestão de veneno, se:
* o veneno foi ingerido menos de três horas antes da
apresentação;
* o animal reage normalmente quando se lhe introduz um dedo na
garganta, não tem convulsões, nem está muito deprimido (perigo de
sufocamento)
NOTA: Se o animal tiver ingerido algum derivado do petróleo, ácido
ou base forte, NÃO o faça vomitar, leve-o imediatamente ao
veterinário!
Como fazer vomitar:
* um gato: administrar-lhe uma dose de xarope IPACAC;
recomendando-se 6,6 ml/kg de peso.
* um cão: administrar-lhe uma solucão salina a 20%, em quantidade
adequada ao seu tamanho (de 50ml a 500ml).
* um ou o outro: após o animal ter vomitado, administrar-lhe uma
suspensão de carvão activo (10ml/kg, ou seja, 1g por cada 5ml de
água).
NOTA: Tenha sempre à mão um estojo de primeiros socorros a
animais!
* O xarope IPACAC compra-se nas farmacias;
* O carvão activado compra-se nas farmacias;
* Garrafas de plástico com bico ou buraco na tampa servem para se
administrar líquidos.
B. Remover o veneno da pele e do pêlo do animal, se o tiver
absorvido através deles.
Como remover o veneno:
* Tirar o colar anti-pulgas, caso se suspeite que tenha sido este a
causa do envenenamento.
* Lavar o animal com água ensaboada morna e a seguir com água
morna. Repetir a lavagem.
* Dar ao animal um duche de água morna por dez minutos.
For more info go to CARE AND
TREATMENT
*.*.*
Killed by poison, after immense suffering
*.*.*
ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
Domestic animals are deliberately poisoned in Portugal everyday.
They are killed with poisoned food left around by people who
consider them - mostly dogs - a nuisance for whatever reason.
Fingers are pointed at neighbours, hunters, poachers, owners of
residential areas and golf courses and municipal officials.
The poisoning is often excused as a necessary operation to dispose
of stray dogs and cats. These are considered a major problem, as
sterilization of pets is not yet common in most households. Pets
are often rejected when they become ill or when the owners are
dissatisfied with them in any way.
Many, too many, owners of hunting dogs abandon them when they are
no longer useful. It is well known in the Algarve that animal
poisoning increases just before the hunting season starts and
continues throughout. Empty poison bags are found in fields, yet
dogs and cats within private property also get poisoned.
It should be quite clear that poison and poisoned animals scattered
in the fields are also a grave risk to children and protected
animals such like birds of prey.
People who are spreading herbicides and pesticides liberally
disregarding the information and warnings on the labels or ignoring
the risks to animal and human health also kill domestic animals
accidentally.
Deliberate poisoning is one of the most barbaric and cowardly
crimes against animals and a source of immense anguish and grief to
the people who love them.
Amazingly, even rampant poisoning is not recognized as an official
problem! There are hardly, if any, reports made to the Guard or the
Police.
Despite their anger and sorrow, the somewhat cynical and lax
response from the owners of animals poisoned to death shows they
mistrust or even fear the judicial system and that poisoning will
long remain acceptable to their culture.
Brief, many people here seem to view poisoning as a 'fact of
life'.
The victims would disagree if they only could have a say in
it...
ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
FOR TO BE FREE IS NOT MERELY TO CAST OFF ONE'S CHAINS BUT TO LIVE
IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS AND ENHANCES THE FREEDOM OF OTHERS - NELSON
MANDELA
"All creatures on earth feel like we feel,
endeavor for happiness like we do.
They love, suffer and die like we do.
All beings in distress have equal rights for protection.
Not to cause our humble brothers pain is our commitment to the
animals.
But to stop there is not enough.
We have a higher mission to serve them whenever they need
us."
- St. Francis
BEING BOILED HURTS ! http://www.lobsterlib.com
In fact, PETA has consulted with many marine biologists about the
most humane way to kill a lobster. While the experts couldn't seem
to agree on which method is best, they do agree that there really
is no humane way to kill these sensitive and unusual animals.
Peta
"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, A PART OF ONE'S SOUL REMAINS
UNAWAKENED"
by ANATOLE FRANCE indigo.org/friends/
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VICES OF A LOW
AND IGNOBLE PEOPLE Alexander von Humboldt
NON HUMAN ANIMALS... ARE NOT OURS TO EAT, WEAR, EXPERIMENT ON, OR
USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT!!! Peta
KILLING ANIMALS HARDENS HUMANS HEARTS!
EATING ANIMALS HARDENS HUMANS ARTERIES
Ruth Gelhert - The Humane Crusade
ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES UNSEEN THEY SUFFER
UNHEARD THEY CRY IN AGONY THEY LINGER
IN LONELINESS THEY DIE - Unknown
If you have the opportunity, please adopt an abandoned
animal.
Get a dog or cat from a shelter! It will become your loving
companion.
"Action Against Poisoning" OIPA Member League
International Organisation for Animal Protection
OIPA is an NGO Non Governmental Organization associated to
the
UN Department of Public Information
international@oipa.org
http://www.oipa.org
