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If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested a toxic item, this is considered an \u201cORANGE\u201d \u2013 or urgent case \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to do next. If veterinary care is advised, call your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital ahead of your arrival. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Due to the high patient volume in our ER, we prioritize pets based on urgency. <\/span>Unstable pets requiring immediate attention will be seen first, which may result in a stable dog who ate a bunch of chocolate to have to wait<\/span> – <\/span>even though toxicology cases <\/span>benefit<\/span> from treatment sooner rather than later.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So<\/span>, <\/span>we want pet parents to be aware of how to <\/span>utilize<\/span> pet toxicology hotlines<\/span> whenever <\/span>a<\/span> pet gets into something toxic<\/span> like <\/span><\/span>human foods<\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/span>medications<\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>toxic plants such as <\/span><\/span>lilies<\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/span>antifreeze<\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>and <\/span><\/span>rodenticides<\/span><\/span><\/a> \u2013 just to name a few!<\/span> These hotlines are staffed with board-certified veterinary toxicologists who can help you make well-informed and <\/span>timely<\/span> decisions about your pet\u2019s health.<\/span> Keep reading to learn the advantages of consulting with a toxicologist and how seeking their advice can not only <\/span>expedite<\/span> your pet\u2019s <\/span>t<\/span>re<\/span>atment<\/span>, but also potentially reduce in-hospital expenses and provi<\/span>de <\/span>clearer expectations<\/span> for your pet\u2019s care<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Decontamination is most effective when initiated promptly, ideally while the pet is still stable and not displaying clinical signs. But when the ER is busy, prioritizing unstable pets can cause delays in addressing toxicology cases immediately. Unfortunately, this means that the toxin has more time to absorb into the pet\u2019s system.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Calling a toxicology hotline and having one of their board-certified veterinary toxicologists on the case can significantly save time for our team. Here’s why:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s<\/span> most cost effective for pet parents to call a toxicology hotline from home rather than having veterinary personnel call once your pet is at our ER. The toxicologist can:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Toxins affect <\/span>various organ systems differently depending on <\/span>various factors<\/span> such as:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As <\/span>an <\/span>emergency veterinarian<\/span>, my <\/span>goal<\/span> is to treat any current illness and symptoms, as well as prevent further damage to your pet. In many cases, looking for organ damage starts with screening bloodwork. We <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> want to leave any stone unturned, so we often do broad bloodwork due to the many different organ systems that could be damaged by toxins<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Toxicologists know the intricacies of all the toxin interactions and can <\/span>tell us<\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This information means we can give you, the pet parent, <\/span>clear <\/span>expectations on:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We hope you don\u2019t find yourself in the position of needing to utilize a toxicology hotline, but if you do, <\/span>ASPCA Animal Poison Control<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Pet Poison Helpline<\/span><\/a> are often used by local pet parents. Your emergency veterinarian will work with their expert toxicologists to provide faster care for your mischievous yet loveable pet.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember, the best way to prevent a toxicity incident is to <\/span>pet-proof<\/span><\/a> your home and keep all pet toxins out of your house or in a secure location out of your pet\u2019s reach.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More Reading:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n1. Your Pet Can Receive Treatment Faster<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Can <\/span>Save You Money<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n3. Can Better Manage <\/span>Your <\/span>Expectations<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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