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Thursday, August 16, 2001

THIS POISON CONTROL CENTER IS FOR THE DOGS (AND CATS)

MANHATTAN -- Did your cat eat one of your house plants? Did the family dog lap up a puddle of antifreeze? Or maybe your pet just doesn't seem to be the same after you applied that flea-control powder.

Whatever the scenario may be, animals, just like humans, are exposed to countless amounts of chemicals that can become dangerous poisons if ingested. When humans ingest a poison they can turn to the local poison control center for immediate help. Animals, too, have a poison-control center their owners can turn to when a pet has been exposed to -- or has ingested -- a hazardous chemical.

Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has been operating a poison control center for pets since 1969. The K-State poison control center was formed and is overseen by veterinarian Dr. Fred Oehme, professor of toxicology and pathobiology and director of K-State's comparative toxicology laboratories in the department of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology.

"We are surrounded by chemicals we need in order to maintain our lifestyles. Because of that, we and our pets are exposed to the chemicals every day," Oehme said. "Under normal circumstances exposure to chemicals is not a danger. Problems arise when people or pets are overexposed to them, or when they ingest the wrong chemicals," Oehme said.

Oehme estimates that K-State's poison control hot line takes an average of 35 calls a week, but not all of those calls are related to animal poisoning.

"We are veterinarians but we also are concerned about the pollution of the environment. We often get questions about environmental concerns like water contamination, food contamination, children becoming poisoned and those kinds of things," Oehme said.

The primary focus of the center is to help animals who have been exposed to poisonous substances. In order to accomplish that, the hot line is staffed by veterinarians 24 hours a day and can be used by both veterinarians and pet owners, Oehme said.

"There are several poison control centers and other schools throughout the country that use us as consultants and information sources for calls they get relating to animal poisoning," Oehme added.

K-State's poison control hot line can be reached at 785-532-5679. Human poison control centers are also available in each state and their toll-free numbers are located in the front of telephone directories. There is also a national toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222, that can be used for cases of human poisoning.

The types of poisoning the K-State center is contacted about vary depending on the time of year. Antifreeze poisonings go up during the spring and fall when people are flushing out their automobile cooling systems for the upcoming weather change, Oehme said.

"The most common types of poisonings we get for dogs and cats are related to the use of chemicals like insecticides on the pet by the owner. And associated with that is the misuse of the chemical on the animal by using too much," Oehme said. "The second most common poisoning threat is a pet getting into the owner's medication or ingesting household products like cleaning solutions."

When it comes to treating pets who have ingested a poison, Oehme said it becomes a race against the clock.

"If there is anything we can advise people, it is not to hesitate calling for information because it's important to realize that it's the amount of chemical exposure and the length of time it's been in the body that is crucial," Oehme added. "If you wait three hours before seeking help, there will be a lot more chemical absorbed than if you just wait one hour."

"The chemical that is now in the body can start causing damage to the liver or the kidneys or other organs the longer it is there. If you wait until the animal has become severely ill, it can be an uphill struggle."

The first step a pet owner needs to take before phoning a poison control center or the K-State hot line is to determine what the chemical product is and how much was ingested. The owner also needs to have the container handy because the label can provide the professional with a vast amount of information, Oehme said.

"That's important because sometimes it's not the active ingredient but other ingredients present in the product that cause problems," he added. "After contacting the poison control center or a veterinarian the owner will be given an estimate of how bad the situation is. It's this evaluation and interpretation that a pet owner will find most helpful."

Oehme said products like syrup of ipecac and hydrogen peroxide, that are typically kept in homes for human use, can also work on animals.

"If we know that the animal has ingested a dangerous chemical and it is going to take a while for the owner to get to a veterinarian, then we might encourage the owner to give the pet a dose of hydrogen peroxide to help evacuate what is in the stomach," Oehme said. "But it all depends on what the chemical is. If the animal has gotten into something that is very acidic, alkaline, or is a petroleum product, then you don't want to induce vomiting."

Oehme reiterated it is important that pet owners not induce vomiting on their own but wait until they have received instructions from a veterinarian.

In the end, it is ultimately up to the owner to make sure that household cleaning products, prescription drugs, and other chemicals are stored securely. However, once an animal is exposed to a chemical it is the owners responsibility to get help as soon as possible, Oehme said.

"It's a matter of trying to block the chemical's effect before it produces enough damage to make the situation critical," he added. "The bottom line then is to call a veterinarian, a poison center, or our hot line and present the professionals with the situation and let them make a judgment on the risk."

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For more information contact Fred Oehme at 785-532-4334.