Did you know that thousands of dogs are poisoned each year, and some even end up dying?
From household cleaning products to plants in your garden to human foods like chocolate and grapes, there are so many things that contribute to pet poisoning. As pet owners and pet parents, it is our ultimate duty to keep our furry friends safe and out of harm’s way.
For those who didn’t already know, March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month, and as it turns out, the third week of this month is National Poison Prevention Week. So, this brings forward a very important time of the year for us to create awareness, educate people and talk about pet poisoning, its key signs and symptoms, and ways to prevent it from occurring.
The third week of March brings a wonderful opportunity for both pet owners and veterinarian professionals to highlight the dangers of pet poisoning and conduct awareness activities for poison prevention.
Take a look at some ways through which you can observe National Poison Prevention Week for pets and make the most of this time to do something good and noble for your furry friends.
Contact Any Pet Poison Center or Helpline
One of the first few things you can do is contact a nearby or local pet poison center or helpline and ask them what they are doing or what activities they have planned for the National Poison Prevention Week. If they happen to be conducting events, activities, or seminars and are looking for volunteers, perhaps you could offer your help and become a week-long volunteer.
Make Good Use of Social Media
In today’s day and age, everything is done online through various social media platforms, so not make good use of your Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts and spread awareness about pet poisoning and prevention? You probably have a lot of people on your friend’s list who are pet owners, too, so this could be an excellent way to create awareness among them, especially those who might not be aware of it.
Do a Thorough Cleaning of Your House
You probably clean your house daily, but the National Poison Prevention Week calls for some extra measures on your pet to ensure that your house is a completely safe and danger-free space for your dearest pet.
Do a thorough cleaning session of your home and sweep through every room and area to ensure that there’s nothing harmful or dangerous that could potentially poison your pet.
Distribute Flyers or Pamphlets on Pet Poisoning and Poison Prevention
There probably are many people who might not have access to social media, so one thing you can do is design informative and educational flyers or pamphlets on pet poisoning and poison prevention and distribute them in your neighborhood.
This presents a great opportunity for you to not only play your part in poison prevention but also make new friends too!
Remove All Medicines, Chemicals, and Cleaners
Medicines, chemicals, and household cleaning products are a few of the many things that lead to pet poisoning, so make sure to stow away all such items in a secure cabinet or cupboard, well out of your pet’s reach and sight.
Don’t Leave Toxic Food Items Outside
You may enjoy eating foods like chocolates, grapes, and avocados, for instance, but these are extremely life-threatening for pets. Start making conscious choices from this moment onwards and try to ensure that you don’t leave any food items and products outside that are toxic for cats and dogs.
Remove All Poisonous Plants and Trees from Your Garden
If you have a beautiful garden in your home, you naturally want to keep it green, fresh, and colorful with the help of numerous plants and trees.
The only issue here is that some of these trees and plants are poisonous to your pet and can possibly even lead to death.
Some examples of these plants and trees include azaleas, sago palm, oleander, spring bulbs, poinsettias, and lilies, among many others.
Remove all poisonous trees and plants from the backyard or garden and try to replace them with pet-friendly options.
Conduct an Educational Activity with Other Pet Owners
If there are people in your neighborhood that have pets in their homes or even your friends who are pet owners, get together with them and conduct an educational activity on pet poisoning awareness and prevention.
You can also make this a fun activity in which you and the other people could do a poster-making competition and make creative yet educational posters on the subject of poison prevention.
Why It’s Important to Observe National Poison Prevention Week
The National Poison Prevention Week doesn’t only apply to pets but also people and children all over the world because each one of us holds a risk of being poisoned if we don’t take proper care and aren’t aware of the matter.
Pet care is all-year-round, so one might question the need to observe this particular week of the month.
The important thing to understand here is that there is so much to know and learn, especially in terms of all the warning labels and ingredients found on products that we bring in our homes, to name a few.
So, in essence, National Poison Prevention Week coupled with Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to not only educate the masses but also continuously update our own knowledge to make it relevant to the subject at hand.
Key Takeaway
In a nutshell, pet care and safety is extremely important because it’s pertinent to their overall health and wellbeing.
As pet owners and pet owners, we must do all that we can in our power to prevent pet poisoning. In case of accidental or emergency pet poisoning, call for help immediately by consulting your local pet poison helpline or pet poison control center.
