St. Patty’s & Pet
Special to This Newspaper
St. Patrick’s Day is a centuries-old holiday full of tradition and history, so it is no secret that many people associate this holiday with alcohol, shamrocks, and the color green. We’re all in favor of a festive celebration. Still, it’s essential not to press your luck when it comes to pet safety. Thankfully, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is here to arm you with information to ensure that March 17th will be nothing but fun for you and your four-legged friends.
“Green beer and all other alcoholic beverages have become a big part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Unfortunately, many dogs—and even some cats—will happily lap up anything left out on the table, and APCC receives many calls about animals who have gotten into unattended alcoholic drinks. The typical signs of intoxication in dogs appear within an hour of ingestion, and symptoms include difficulty walking, sedation and stomach upset. If enough ethanol (the principal type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages) is ingested, a coma may occur. In addition, one of the biggest concerns with intoxicated pets is that they will vomit and cannot protect their airway. If this happens, they can inhale the vomit into their lungs and contract pneumonia, which can be very severe and could become fatal. To avoid ethanol toxicity, APCC recommends keeping an eye on your beverages at all times and never placing drinks at your pets’ level. Even better, keep your pets in a safe, quiet room away from the action until your St. Patrick’s Day celebration has wound down.
The common name ‘shamrock’ can refer to several different plants, and it is always important to identify them by their scientific name. When the APCC receives calls about shamrocks around St. Patrick’s Day, Oxalis acetosella is typically the plant involved. These are often given to families and children in celebration of the holiday. When pets ingest this plant, it can cause stomach upset, drooling, and immediate head shaking. If a large amount is eaten it can cause low blood calcium and damage to the kidneys. The good news is that these plants taste bitter, meaning that most animals won’t be tempted to nibble it, but that does not mean it ever happens. Should your pet ingest shamrocks, please make sure to call your veterinarian or the APCC immediately! As always, monitor the plants and items in and around your home, and take action at the first signs of pet poisoning.”
Whether you will be celebrating during the week or the weekend, please make sure to prepare well ahead of time to ensure your St. Patrick’s Day celebration is safe for you and your entire furry family!
If you have any reason to suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
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