HEALTH ALERT: Tall Tails Doggie Day Care Urges Pet Owners to Abandon Use of Rodent Poison

May 02, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Los Angeles Times has reported the poisoning of veterinarians by phosphine gas after they induced vomiting in dogs that had ingested poison. According to the article, written by Thomas Maugh II, at least eight veterinary professionals have been harmed in this manner. Tall Tails Doggie Day Care is urging pet owners to quit using rodent poison, as it is the most common source of this lethal problem.

Rodent poisons are often made with zinc phosphide, which turns into a gas after mixing with stomach acid and water. When vomiting is induced in animals that have ingested this poison, the gas seeps into the room of the veterinary office. As a result, all people and animals in the room are exposed to the potentially lethal substance.

According to Maugh, the American Veterinary Medical Association has requested that vomiting be induced outdoors when possible, with veterinary professionals remaining upwind of the animals. Should vomiting occur indoors, the Association insists that the room in which it occurs is evacuated immediately.

A reduction in poison cases can be made with one simple change: pet owners can stop using poison to control rodents. Maugh reports that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has encouraged pet owners to use snap traps and other non-toxic methods of gopher and mole control.

Jordan Holt, owner of Tall Tails Doggie Day Care, agrees with the CDC. He claims that poison is not a necessary household item, and that pet owners should properly dispose of it immediately.

"Having a pet is a major responsibility," commented Holt, "one that should not be taken lightly. Pet owners are responsible for keeping their dogs safe--and leaving poison within their reach is not upholding that responsibility."

Holt, who has worked with many new pet owners through Tall Tails Doggie Day Care, knows that preparing one's home for a pet is a challenge. He equates it to baby-proofing one's house, which entails putting any and all hazardous objects out of the reach of a child.

"We recommend that pet owners go through their homes and move anything and everything that could harm their dogs," asserted Holt. "From poison to small things on which they can choke, these dangerous items need to be removed from any location that pets can access. Better yet, owners should stop using poison altogether."

ABOUT:

Tall Tails Doggie Day Care provides leading dog care services to Somerville, Charlestown, Cambridge, and Medford. The company offers a safe and exciting environment in which dogs can socialize and exercise while their owners are at work. Jordan Holt, the owner of Tall Tails Doggie Day Care, is dedicated to providing the best in service to canines and their owners.

For more information about Tall Tails Doggie Day Care, visit http://talltails.biz.