Page 8 March 27, 2014 Protect Pets from Pill Poisoning Happy Tails Peyton is one of our seniors who had surgery to save his eye after a terrible infection set in. In addition, he has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in that he would go in circles when anxious... Basically he spent almost every adoption day circling in his pen. We fondly referred to him as Peyton the Pacer. Peyton joins MSFR alumni Chief, who was adopted last September by a wonderful lady with a huge heart for special needs dogs. Wowser Schnauzers ”Faith is the perfect name for me! My friend Pepper and I were afraid that we were on our way to the shelter because our owner had too many dogs. Instead, we were surrendered to MSFR and now have a chance for new life with a loving family. I’m a one-year old, female, purebred Miniature Schnauzer who comes from a large canine family. I get along well with other dogs and would actually prefer to live with a family that has a pal for me. I am learning to walk on a leash and once I am a little more socialized, I’ll be ready to go for long walks. If your idea of a great companion is a 14-pound, beautiful black cutie, please come see me at adoptions.” If you are interested i n F a i t h , please email info@msfr. org for more information. “ I a m Pepper, of Fa i t h a n d Pepper, the gals who were lucky enough to end up with the MSFR folks instead of the shelter. You can easily tell us apart because I am the two-year old, beautiful salt/pepper little girl. Like my friend I was never leash-trained and I could use more socialization, but I’m working very hard and will have those accomplished in no time. I’m a little bigger--17 pounds- -than Faith, but still small enough to take everywhere. It would be great if my forever family has a dog because I get along with all dogs and would love to have a pal.” If you are interested in Pepper, please email info@msfr.org for more information. “Great things come in small packages! If you come to our adoption fair and ask for Becky, you’ll see that it’s true. I was rescued from an LA County shelter where I was called a stray, but now I’m looking for my forever home. I’m a friendly, two-year-old female who is most likely a Miniature Schnauzer/Shih Tzu mix, but that’s only a guess. My pedigree might be questionable, but one thing that’s certain is that Merry Faith Becky Congratulations to Peyton and his new mom. Please visit all of our Miniature Schnauzers & Friends rescues at the adoption fair held every Saturday from noon-3:30 p.m. or check out our website at www.msfr.org. Our adoption fairs take place at Petco, 537 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, California. Schnauzers! Bet you can’t adopt just one! If you have any questions about a particular dog’s availability, you can email us at info@msfr.org. • Pepper By Dr. Greg Perrault About 25% of the calls to the poison control hotline are for toxicities involving human medication. The two most common drugs are pain relievers and antidepressants. Many human medicines metabolize differently in animals and often lead to serious illness or death. Because of this difference in metabolism, even children’s versions of medicines are toxic to pets. Most of the time, pills are left out or fall on the ground but sometimes the medicine is given to the pet by the owner, who is not aware of the danger. Ibuprofen is the number one human medication ingested by pets. Advil and Motrin are two brand names. This medicine causes gastrointestinal ulcers and kidney failure. Acetaminophen is another pain reliever that most people have around the house. Tylenol is a brand name. This medicine is one of the most deadly medicines in cats. Even very tiny amounts will lead to illness or death. Two tablets given to a cat over a 24 hour period will usually kill it. This medicine changes the hemoglobin in the cat’s red blood cells and prevents the cell from carrying oxygen. Naproxen is in the brand medicine Aleve and Naprosyn and is a great pain reliever for people. But dogs and cats are very sensitive to this drug and small amounts will lead to ulcers and kidney failure. Tramadol is a drug that is used in both people and animals for the treatment of pain. It is a good pain reliever for dogs in doses prescribed by your veterinarian. The reason it makes the list of common pet poisonings is simply from overdosing. Pets often get to the pill vial and eat several pills at one time. It acts as an opioid drug for pain and also releases serotonin like some antidepressants. With the overdose, pets may become severely sedated and disoriented. Other individuals may become just the opposite. They may vomit, become extremely agitated and even develop seizures. There are many anti anxiety medicines prescribed to people that end up being in- gested by pets. Some of the more common names are Alprazolam, brand name Xanax, Duloxetine, brand name Cymbalta, and Venlafaxine, brand name Effexor. These medicines can cause either depression and lethargy or excitement in pets. Sometimes a serious drop in blood pressure is seen leading to weakness and collapse. Other medications, such as sleep aids and anti seizure drugs, also make the top list of poisonings in pets. There are two other pet exposures to human medicine I’d like to mention: topical or transdermal medicine, and medical marijuana. We have seen the cases rise every year. This year alone we have had about a dozen cases. Topical medicine may be a hormone like testosterone or estrogen. Directions for these medicines often call for application to the belly or thighs. That’s right where most lapdogs (or lap cats) like to hang out. Exposure is usually chronic so signs are not as obvious. Female pets that have been spayed may develop signs of going into a heat cycle or may develop large mammary glands. Sometimes, a thinning of the hair coat is seen. Other topical medicine may contain cortisone. I just had a case of this last week. The owner was prescribed Triamcinolone for a skin condition and his dog has been exposed for a long time. The pet has been developing signs of Cushing’s disease which is excess cortisone. Marijuana ingestion in pets is becoming one of the most common poisonings we see today. Pets do not enjoy the effects of this drug. It often takes days for pets to metabolize marijuana. Signs include agitation or lethargy, disorientation, anxiety and fearfulness. Many of these pets require hospitalization and supportive care for days. As with all medicine for people or pets, keep the pill vials up and out of the way from children and pets. Never leave them on the counter or coffee table. If your pet gets into your medicine, do not wait for signs to develop. Call your veterinarian right away. Dr. Greg Perrault owns and operates Cats & Dogs Animal Hospital in Long Beach. • I am as cute and cuddly as can be. I may be petite at just under 10 pounds, but my personality and desire to find a family to love are huge! I have lots of love to give and I know you’ll want to take me home once I’ve stolen your heart.” If you are interested in Becky, please email info@msfr. org for more information. “They call me Merry- -with an E--because I’m such a happy fellow. I’m a very friendly 10-year old, neutered Terrier mix with gorgeous golden-colored hair. I love everyone--other dogs, strangers--but most of all I love to go for walks and to be petted. I don’t bark, I ride well in the car and would be a great little companion!” If you are interested in Merry, please contact Charlotte Bell at Yellow Brick Road at (310) 606-5507, or email southbaydoggie@hotmail.com. •
Lawndale 03_27_14
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