In the many years I’ve been with The Press, I’ve written about my pets. Mostly, I write about things I did wrong as a pet parent.

I’ve written about my cat Tess, who ate curling ribbon and as it started to exit his body, I stepped on it as he went running the other way. Our veterinarian said that was the worst thing I could have done as the ribbon could have been wrapped around his organs.

I’ve written about my sheepdog Daisy. Someone, who won’t be named, told me to put bacon grease on her food as it would be good for her coat. A trip to the emergency hospital and approximately $500 later, we were told she had gas.

And now, we have a curious 3-year-old Weimaraner. He is the same as having a small child. He may earn a place in Guinness World Records for being the dog who destroys new toys in record time.

We have been to the emergency hospital several times with him as he finds anything and everything in the yard to eat.

Because of him, we have pet insurance. Need I say more?

March is National Pet Poison Prevention Month, and Best Friends Animal Society has provided some tips to keep our pets safe.

Best Friends encourages pet owners to keep pets from ingesting any of the following: antifreeze, bait for rodents, batteries (which can contain corrosive fluid), car care products such as cleaners or oils, fertilizer, Gorilla Glue (or similar products), household cleaners, ice-melting products, medications (prescribed and over-the-counter), nicotine products, pesticides for insects and pool or pond products.

“Nobody wants to see their pets suffer in such a painful way or, worst-case scenario, have a fatal incident. That’s why it’s important to make sure your home environment keeps dogs and cats as safe as possible,” Dr. Erin Katribe, veterinarian and medical director for Best Friends Animal Society, said.

Katribe said pets can be very inquisitive, so it’s best to keep these items in a sealed cabinet.

Sounds like she knows my dog.

Plants can also be toxic to pets.

For many years, I always had poinsettias during the holidays until I read they were mildly toxic to pets.

What I didn’t know is lilies are also toxic. As we approach Easter, this is important information to know.

“For cats, even contact with the pollen of some lilies can be severely toxic,” Katribe said.

Other toxic and poisonous plants include English ivy, holly, pokeweed and daphne.

Best Friends also reminds us to never give or allow our pets to have access to any of the following: alcoholic beverages, substances containing caffeine such as coffee, chocolate, fatty foods, especially drippings and grease from cooking (like the bacon grease Daisy had on her food), chicken and turkey bones, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, salt and sugar, yeast or bread dough.

Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, blood in stool, paralysis, loss of appetite, bruising, nosebleeds, irregular heartbeat or inability to urinate.

In any of these cases, it is recommended you call the vet immediately.

“Time is of the essence when it comes to minimizing the dangerous effects of any poison, so every second counts,” Katribe said.

In Daisy’s case with the bacon grease, she had paralysis. She couldn’t stand, so we knew something was wrong and took her right to the animal hospital on a Sunday morning.

How she lived to be 16 years old is a miracle.

If my current dog lives to be 16, that also will be a miracle.

Debbie Galbraith

editor

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press