Taking dogs to work could be dangerous
While Pippa, a basset hound from Georgia, normally enjoys hanging out in the classroom, a sneak visit to the school bathroom led to an emergency trip to the veterinary hospital.
The advantages of taking your dog to work are well known.
For the employee, it relieves stress, helps build the human/animal bond, can reduce doggy daycare costs and can help develop new friendships in the office.
For the employee, it relieves stress, helps build the human/animal bond, can reduce doggy daycare costs and can help develop new friendships in the office.
For employers, it improves morale and helps with employee hiring and retention. Without careful supervision, however, your dog's visit to your office can also lead to a trip to the pet emergency hospital.
Is there an animal doctor in the office?
Most likely, the answer is no. And when an accident or other emergency threatens a pet at work, every minute counts. Don't be unprepared! The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats by Amy D. Shojai includes:
* Basic first-aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR—step-by-step!
* Which over-the-counter human medications can help—or harm—a dog or cat
* How to quickly pinpoint what's wrong with the pet, using the First-Aid Symptom Finder.
Most likely, the answer is no. And when an accident or other emergency threatens a pet at work, every minute counts. Don't be unprepared! The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats by Amy D. Shojai includes:
* Basic first-aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR—step-by-step!
* Which over-the-counter human medications can help—or harm—a dog or cat
* How to quickly pinpoint what's wrong with the pet, using the First-Aid Symptom Finder.
"Before you walk Fido through your office doors, be sure you're prepared," says Dr. Renee Schmid, a sernior toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline.
"Just as you do at home, you need to pet-proof your office location and surroundings, and keep a very close eye on your pet at all times.
"It's very easy to get distracted by a phone call or while on the computer, and not notice they've gotten into something or wandered off."
Some people are fortunate enough to be able to take their dog to work regularly. Sara Reeves and her basset hound named Pippa live in Milton, Georgia, about a 45-minute drive from Atlanta. Reeves is a high school veterinary science teacher and is able to take Pippa to work with her almost every day.
"She's actually sleeping under my desk right now," Reeves said with a smile in her voice. "We are fortunate to have a working veterinary lab at our high school, so our goal is to give students enough knowledge and tangible skills to become a veterinary technician while they work towards becoming veterinarians or some other profession. Pippa's presence is part of their education."
"Just as you do at home, you need to pet-proof your office location and surroundings, and keep a very close eye on your pet at all times.
"It's very easy to get distracted by a phone call or while on the computer, and not notice they've gotten into something or wandered off."
Some people are fortunate enough to be able to take their dog to work regularly. Sara Reeves and her basset hound named Pippa live in Milton, Georgia, about a 45-minute drive from Atlanta. Reeves is a high school veterinary science teacher and is able to take Pippa to work with her almost every day.
"She's actually sleeping under my desk right now," Reeves said with a smile in her voice. "We are fortunate to have a working veterinary lab at our high school, so our goal is to give students enough knowledge and tangible skills to become a veterinary technician while they work towards becoming veterinarians or some other profession. Pippa's presence is part of their education."
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While having a dog at work can relieve stress, it can also cause anxiety if they get into trouble. "Pippa does not love her kennel, so she tends to stick by me," Reeves explained. "One day I went into the restroom and Pippa followed me. When I went into my stall, I could hear Pippa drinking from the toilet next to me. The restroom had been recently cleaned, so the toilet bowls still had blue water in them from the cleaning chemicals. Besides freaking out for a second, I knew immediately that Pippa may need treatment."
As a veterinary science teacher, Reeves not only knew she needed toxicology help, but she also knew to call Pet Poison Helpline even before heading to the veterinary hospital. This allows the toxicologists to work on a treatment plan while Reeves drove Pippa to the hospital.
As a veterinary science teacher, Reeves not only knew she needed toxicology help, but she also knew to call Pet Poison Helpline even before heading to the veterinary hospital. This allows the toxicologists to work on a treatment plan while Reeves drove Pippa to the hospital.
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"Once at Veterinary Emergency Group in Alpharetta, Georgia, Reeves gave the hospital team her Pet Poison Helpline case number, which provides both the pet owner and hospital staff with unlimited consultations with our toxicology team," Dr. Schmid explained.
"The industrial toilet cleaner Pippa drank contained alkalis, which can cause significant damage to tissue. Fortunately, we determined that the concentration of chemicals in the toilet water was not enough to cause corrosive injury, so Pippa was given an anti-emetic and other gastrointestinal protectants, was encouraged to drink water to dilute what was in her system and sent home to recuperate.
"Exposure to alkalis can result in a range of signs, from mild tissue irritation to severe corrosive or caustic injury. The severity can vary based on the concentration of the product. When ingested, this leads to damage in the mouth, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract. Significant exposures can result in perforations to the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract that can have fatal consequences.
These chemicals are found not only in industrial cleaners, but in materials like wet cement and industrial pipe and drain cleaners. Alkalis can also be found in many household products like bleach, automatic dishwasher detergents, hair relaxers, oven cleaners, lye and drain cleaners. Treatment for alkalis includes immediate decontamination by flushing the exposed area with large amounts of water, medications to protect the gastrointestinal tract, fluid therapy and symptomatic and supportive care.
"When taking your dog or other pet to work, be just as vigilant about potential dangers as you would be at home or on a trip," Dr. Schmid added. "Also, think about how your pet will interact with your coworkers. For example, if your pet has a special diet or allergies, be sure and share that with your coworkers so they don't give them any unapproved treats.
"If your pet has behavioral issues such as anxiety in unfamiliar or busy places, consider whether they will be comfortable in the workplace or better kept in a quiet home environment. Also, if your pet is scared around strangers and has a tendency to snap at well-meaning admirers, keeping your pet home is ideal to avoid potential injury to your co-workers."
"The industrial toilet cleaner Pippa drank contained alkalis, which can cause significant damage to tissue. Fortunately, we determined that the concentration of chemicals in the toilet water was not enough to cause corrosive injury, so Pippa was given an anti-emetic and other gastrointestinal protectants, was encouraged to drink water to dilute what was in her system and sent home to recuperate.
"Exposure to alkalis can result in a range of signs, from mild tissue irritation to severe corrosive or caustic injury. The severity can vary based on the concentration of the product. When ingested, this leads to damage in the mouth, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract. Significant exposures can result in perforations to the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract that can have fatal consequences.
These chemicals are found not only in industrial cleaners, but in materials like wet cement and industrial pipe and drain cleaners. Alkalis can also be found in many household products like bleach, automatic dishwasher detergents, hair relaxers, oven cleaners, lye and drain cleaners. Treatment for alkalis includes immediate decontamination by flushing the exposed area with large amounts of water, medications to protect the gastrointestinal tract, fluid therapy and symptomatic and supportive care.
"When taking your dog or other pet to work, be just as vigilant about potential dangers as you would be at home or on a trip," Dr. Schmid added. "Also, think about how your pet will interact with your coworkers. For example, if your pet has a special diet or allergies, be sure and share that with your coworkers so they don't give them any unapproved treats.
"If your pet has behavioral issues such as anxiety in unfamiliar or busy places, consider whether they will be comfortable in the workplace or better kept in a quiet home environment. Also, if your pet is scared around strangers and has a tendency to snap at well-meaning admirers, keeping your pet home is ideal to avoid potential injury to your co-workers."
Pet Poison Helpline created Toxin Tails to educate the veterinary community and pet lovers on the many types of poisoning dangers facing pets, both in and out of the home. All the pets highlighted in Toxin Tails have been successfully treated for the poisoning and fully recovered.