ALWAYS Be Prepared !!!! Your potbellied pig should be regularly seen by a local veterinarian to maintain overall health. You should know the veterinarian’s procedures for emergency situations, especially ones that occur after usual business hours. Your pet pig may become poisoned in spite of your best efforts to prevent it. You should keep telephone numbers for your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP), NAPCC (1-900-680-000) in a convenient location. If you suspect that your pig has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

What To Do If Your Pet Is Poisoned

Don’t panic. Rapid response is important, but panicking can interfere with the process of helping your pet.

Take 30 to 60 seconds to safely collect and have at hand any material involved. This may be of great benefit to your vet and/or APCC toxicologists, as they determine what poison or poisons are involved. In the event that you need to take your pet to a local veterinarian, be sure to take the product’s container with you. Also, collect in a sealable plastic bag any material your pet may have vomited or chewed.

If you witness your pet consuming material that you suspect might be toxic, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance, even if you do not notice any adverse effects. Sometimes, even if poisoned, an animal may appear normal for several hours or for days after the incident.

Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

The telephone number is (888) 426-4435. There is a $60 consultation fee for this service.

Be ready with the following information:

The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved.

The animal’s symptoms.

Information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.

Have the product container/packaging available for reference.

Please note: If your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she may call the APCC.

Be Prepared

Keep the telephone number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center—(888) 426-4435—as well as that of your local veterinarian, in a prominent location.

Invest in an emergency first-aid kit for your pet. The kit should contain:

A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)

A turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)

Saline eye solution

Artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)

Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)

Forceps (to remove stingers)

A muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)

A can of your pet’s favorite wet food

A pet carrier

Always consult a veterinarian or the APCC for directions on how and when to use any emergency first-aid item.

© 2009 ASPCA. All Rights Reserved.

 

National Animal Poison Control Center
1-900-680-0000 (charged to your phone bill)
1-800-548-2423 (credit cards)

Located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPPC) is a non-profit service of the University of Illinois. It is the first animal-oriented poison center in the United States. Since 1978, it has provided advice to animal owners and conferred with veterinarians about poisoning exposures. The NAPCC’s phones are answered by licensed veterinarians and board-certified veterinary toxicologists.

What makes NAPCC different from other poison control centers?

The NAPCC is staffed with veterinary health professionals who are familiar with how different species respond to poisons and treatment protocols. At their fingertips, they have a wide range of information specific to animal poisoning. They also have an extensive collection of individual cases — over 250,000 — involving pesticide, drug, plant, metal, and other exposures in food producing and companion animals. This specialized information lets the experienced NAPCC staff make specific recommendations for your animals, rather than generalized poison information provided by a human poison control center.

What is the cost of this service?

Depending on which option is chosen, the charge is $20.00 for the first five minutes, then $2.95/minute thereafter when using the 900 number. If you use the 800 number, the charge is $30.00 per case (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express only). With the 800 access, only the NAPCC will do as many follow-up calls as necessary in critical cases and, if you wish, will consult with your veterinarian. Some clients of the NAPCC Animal Product Safety Service will absorb the cost of your call.

What is NAPCC’s Animal Product Safety Service?

The NAPCC offers to manufacturers of animal and agricultural products an extensive animal product safety program. The program provides a toll-free animal product safety number which can be printed on product labels and literature. The around-the-clock service assists owners and veterinarians with questions or suspected poisonings. The program also manages case records, compiles quarterly case reports and consults with the manufacturer’s professional staff to improve product safety. Additional services are available to tailor an animal product safety program to meet each manufacturer’s needs.

What should be done if an animal has been poisoned?

Immediately call the NAPCC. Be ready to provide:

- Your name, address, and phone number

- Information concerning the exposure (the amount of agent, the time since exposure, etc.), and if the agent is part of the Animal Product Safety Service, the consultation is at no cost to the caller. It is very important to provide accurate information on the agent.

-The species, breed, age, sex, weight, and number of animals involved.

- The agent your animals have been exposed to, if known; and

- The problems your animals are experiencing.

If you are unable to access the 900 number, call your telephone company for operator assistance, or use the 800 number. When the 800 number is used, your credit card number will be required in addition to the above information.

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

To obtain a complete list of plants, both toxic and non-toxic, including their scientific names and associated problems/hazards, write the NAPCC, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. Enclose a check for $10 payable to the NAPCC.

Mont Clare Animal Hospital, Ltd. Chicago, IL USA

Copyright © 2004 – All Rights Reserved.