Recognizing pet poisoning

Virtually every pet owner knows not to feed a dog chocolate or that ingesting lilies can be fatal to a cat, but there are many other hazards in a home that can be equally dangerous.

As the recent pet food poisoning tragedy has demonstrated, pets can be poisoned no matter how careful an owner is with them, even if they never leave the house. Veterinary Pet Insurance received nearly 1,000 claims last year alone for dogs suffering from drug reactions and toxicity, ranking in the top 100 types of claims submitted.

To be prepared for such an accident, it is important to know the signs of poisoning in a pet.

•Unusual salivation or drooling

•Strange odors on the breath or skin

•Unsteady walk or movements, including tremors

•Disorientation or overreaction to light and sound

•Changes in gum color to blue or pale or bright red, or burn marks on the gum.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.