Practice News

Poisons around your home and garden

Due to a recent spate of cats dying from drinking anti-freeze we thought we would compile this advice.

The following advice can help you prevent your pet from being poisoned.

Storage of medicines

• Keep medicines in locked cabinets which are out of reach of your pet, until they are required for use.
• Put any medicines away straight after use.
• Keep all handbags out of reach of your pet. They may contain medicines or other items that could be harmful.
• Get rid of medicines when you no longer need them by taking them to a community pharmacy or chemist shop.
• When visiting another home with your pet, bear in mind that their home may not be as ‘pet-proof’ as yours.

Using medicines safely

• Never put medicines out ‘ready’ before taking them as this may result in serious poisoning if they are eaten by your pet.
• Do not give human medication to your pet.. Some human medicines can be poisonous to some animals.
• When administering prescribed medication to your pet always measure doses - don't guess.
• Always read the information provided with any veterinary medicine carefully, and ensure that the correct product is being used for your pet.
• If a pet has been treated with a dermal medication (e.g. a spot on flea treatment), keep any other pets away to prevent cross contamination.

Storage of Household and Garden Products

• Keep products in secure storage cupboards, out of reach of pets.
• Return to safe storage immediately after use.
• Store cleaning and DIY products in separate areas to food/ pet food.
• Keep products in original containers. Never put them into unlabeled food or beverage containers.
• Do not keep household cleaners in places easily accessible to pets such as under the kitchen sink, in low cupboards, on the floor by the toilet, or on a low shelf in the kitchen or garage.
• Keep cosmetics out of reach and out of sight,
• Keep alcohol out of reach.
• Keep the garden shed and garage locked. Keep DIY materials like paint strippers, cleaners, oil for the car or antifreeze out of sight and high up or locked away.
• Dispose of/make safe correctly and immediately any un-used chemicals such as anti-freeze as it is very sweet and quite appealing to pets and very toxic.

Using Household and Garden Chemicals safely

• Hold on to a product while you are working with it. If you put it down, leave it where you can see it all the time.
• Remember to put any product out of the way if you are called away to the phone, or take your pet with you. A pet can quickly grab an open bottle and swallow the liquid, or spill it onto the skin or into the eyes.
• When you are decorating or doing some DIY task keep pets out of the room if possible.
• Put chemicals away as soon as you have finished using them.