What Are E-Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes, more commonly known as e-cigarettes, e-cigs or vape pens, are small devices that dispense a nicotine vapor that people inhale to get the same effects of smoking. The battery-operated e-cigs hold a cartridge that has a liquid form of nicotine. When a smoker ignites the e-cig, it delivers a nicotine vapor. Each e-cig cartridge contains about the same amount of nicotine as found in 2 cigarettes but without all the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco. Unfortunately, with the rise in e-cig use has come a related increase in visits to emergency veterinary clinics.

Why Are E-Cigs Dangerous for Pets?

Nicotine is toxic to animals. Before the availability of e-cigs, an animal needed to consume several cigarettes to experience a toxic effect. Cigarettes are generally not enticing to dogs and cats, and therefore they are not a serious concern for pet owners. With the increasing popularity of e-cigs, that has changed. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, calls about nicotine poisoning in dogs or cats that have ingested the liquid nicotine in e-cig refill cartridges have increased significantly over the past couple of years.

The increased danger for pets is due to the amount of nicotine in an e-cig cartridge and the fact that the aroma of liquid nicotine can be attractive to pets—especially flavored nicotine cartridges. Plus, the nicotine cartridges are often sold in packages that may contain as many as 100 cartridges. Although a large dog that ingests one nicotine cartridge may show little or no toxic effect, in a small dog or cat a similar amount can be fatal. Also, since the nicotine is in liquid form, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream faster, producing symptoms and toxic effects very rapidly. Plus, the cartridge itself can injure your furry friend’s mouth or cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage.

What Are the Signs of Nicotine Poisoning?

Nicotine mainly affects an animal’s central nervous system, cardiopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract. If your pet ingests liquid nicotine in an amount equal to 2 or more cigarettes, he or she will likely experience drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation and rapid breathing. Other signs of nicotine toxicity include shallow respiration, decreased heart rate, muscle twitching, and cyanosis or bluish skin and mucous membranes.  If left untreated, cardiac arrest, coma and death can occur.

What Should You Do for a Nicotine Overdose?

Because the onset of symptoms is so rapid, immediate action must be taken to avoid serious, even lethal consequences. There is no home treatment to help your pet. Call your vet or an emergency veterinary hospital for professional treatment. The seriousness of the toxicity will depend on the size of the animal and the amount of nicotine ingested.  Of course the best treatment is prevention. Make sure you keep your e-cigs and nicotine refills where you pet can’t get to them, and be sure to impress upon your kids who smoke e-cigs the importance of keeping them away from your animals.

E-cigs may be a somewhat healthier alternative for humans than regular cigarettes because of fewer toxins, but they are definitely NOT safer for your pets. If you believe your cat or dog has consumed liquid nicotine from an e-cig cartridge, you can’t afford to “wait and see.” Call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164 and we can begin life-saving treatment for your furry friend.

The post E-cigs: Why This Popular Smoking Trend Is Not Good News for Your Pet first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Candy and Sweets

From the overflowing bowls of Halloween candy to a delicious array of Christmas cookies, the upcoming months are full of sugary surprises. None of these human foods are good for pets, but dark chocolate especially should be avoided. Toxic to both dogs and cats, this human snack should be kept away from pets. Many sweets also contain xylitol, a component of non-sugar based sweeteners that is also toxic to cats and dogs.

Decorations

As you take out and put away seasonal decorations, be sure to keep them out of reach of your pets. Especially with a young puppy or kitten, keep wires and electrical cords out of the way to avoid electrical shocks. Pay close attention to your pets and don’t leave them alone near open flames like jack-o-lanterns and seasonally scented candles.

Stress

All but the most social animals will get stressed at some point throughout the holiday season. Especially on Halloween night or during a big party, give your pet a chance to escape the noise and excitement in a separate room.

While many pet owners love to dress their furry friends in festive costumes, pay attention to your dog or cat’s reaction. Many animals do not like these outfits, which can cause them a lot of unnecessary stress. If your pet does enjoy dressing up and showing off, be sure to choose a safe costume that fits them well. Check for small pieces that can be chewed off and avoid any costumes that restrict movement, eye sight or hearing.

Accidents do happen, so call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164 if your pet seems ill or has eaten something that may be toxic.

The post Pet Safety: Holiday Precautions first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Whether or not you’re planning your own Independence Day celebration, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets safe both during and after the July 4th festivities.

Preparing in advance:

• Make sure your pets – cats and dogs alike – have identification tags with up-to-date information. If you have horses, you might consider marking a safety (breakaway) halter with your contact information and leaving it on your horse during this stressful time.
• If your pets aren’t already micro-chipped, talk with your veterinarian about micro-chipping. This simple procedure can greatly improve your chances of getting your pets back if they become lost.
• If your pets are micro-chipped, make sure your contact information in the microchip registry is up-to-date.

Take a current photo of all of your cats, dogs and horses – just in case.

Safety during July 4th celebrations:

• Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks.
• Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there’s great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away.
• Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets.
• Don’t let pets get near your barbecue grill while it is in use or still hot
• Avoid the urge to feed your pets table scraps or other foods intended for people. Be especially careful to keep them away from these common foods that are actually toxic.
• Remember that too much sun and heat (and humidity!) can be dangerous to pets. Keep them inside when it’s extremely hot/humid; make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water when outdoors; don’t leave them outside for extended periods in hot weather; and know the signs that a pet may be overheating: excessive panting and drooling, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, mild weakness, stupor or actually collapsing, seizures, bloody diarrhea, vomiting.

After the celebration:

• Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you didn’t set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat.
• Check your pastures and remove debris to protect horses and livestock.
• If you hosted guests, check both your yard and home for food scraps or other debris that might be dangerous to pets, such as food skewers

The post Take precautions to keep your pets safe during the July 4th festivities first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.