Winter dangers

Antifreeze and Rocksalt

A reminder that antifreeze used for cars, and water coolant can be highly toxic if ingested, particularly for cats.

If ingested it may cause;

• vomiting,
• seeming depressed or sleepy,
• appearing drunk and uncoordinated,
• seizures (fits),
• difficulty breathing,
• increased thirst,
• increased urination,
• kidney failure.

Please ensure all antifreeze is kept in sealed containers away from pets and any spills are cleared up immediately, as even a small amount can be highly toxic.

Rocksalt–

Is a mixture of salt and grit used to de-ice roads in winter. If pets get it on their paws and lick it off it can be toxic. It can cause high blood sodium levels which may result in increased thirst, vomiting lethargy and in severe cases seizures.

Most pets would be affected after walking through rocksalt and then licking it off their paws.

We recommend you prevent this by thoroughly wiping or cleaning their paws when they return home.

Some winter plants can also be poisonous to your pet so watch out for Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe and Pointsetta.

What we can do:

If your pet ingested the toxic less than 2 – 3 hours ago we may administer an injection to make your pet vomit. This is not suitable for all toxins but if your pet vomits this can help to stop any further toxins being absorbed. We may also syringe feed your pet with charcoal as this can bind any toxins left in the body and help stop further digestion.

We may run also run blood tests on your pet and put them on a drip to help support their organs whilst the toxins are being broken down.

If you suspect that you pet has been in contact with any type of poison do not hesitate to contact us, we may ask you questions to help us best prepare for your pets arrival.