Animal Poisons Helpline - Cycad Safety
Did you know that cycads can be lethally poisonous to pets? All parts of these plants are toxic, with the seeds being particularly dangerous. Signs of poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, drowsiness, weakness, seizures, coma, and liver failure. If you are a pet owner and have a cycad growing in your garden, consider removing or restricting access to it if possible. Emergency veterinarian Dr Lisa Chimes explains more in the video below.
Essential Oils and Your Pet
The Animal Poisons Helpline is often contacted regarding the safety of using essential oils around pets. If essential oils are used appropriately, they are generally regarded as safe. However, if used improperly, essential oils can be toxic to pets. Safe and appropriate use of essential oils is therefore crucial and general safety advice includes the following:
✅ Use essential oil burners and vaporisers only in well-ventilated spaces.
✅ Ensure pets do not have access to containers that hold essential oils.
✅ Always return containers to a safe storage area that is not accessible by your pet immediately after using.
✅ Never apply concentrated essential oils to your pets’ skin or coat.
Dr Lisa Chimes explains more in this video.
Ricinus communis and pets
🌿☠️ Have you seen this plant?
Ricinus communis (more commonly known as the castor bean or castor oil plant) is a highly poisonous plant that grows throughout Australia and New Zealand. Often found in vacant plots of land and unkept gardens, the castor oil plant is fast-growing and produces spiny seed capsules that each hold several seeds. When ripe, the seed capsules rupture and launch the seeds up to a few metres from the plant.
Within the seeds is a highly poisonous compound called ricin. When ingested, ricin enters cells and inhibits protein synthesis resulting in cell death. Small ingestions of the castor oil plant can result in serious poisoning and whilst there is no antidote, early veterinary treatment can be lifesaving.
Signs of poisoning can include abdominal tenderness, vomiting and diarrhoea (which may contain blood), weakness and multiple organ injury or failure. Whilst cases are rare, dogs can be seriously poisoned or even die from eating this plant. A range of other animals, including horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits, geese, and cattle can also be affected. If you are a pet owner and see this plant growing on your property, it is best removed. Do not allow your pets access to (or in the immediate vicinity of) any established castor oil plants.
☎️ If your pet has ingested something they should not have, please phone the Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) for advice. The Animal Poisons Helpline provides a free service for all pet owners in Australia and New Zealand, and we can rapidly determine if your pet requires immediate veterinary assessment or can be observed at home.
The Animal Poisons Helpline is proudly sponsored by Bow Wow Meow for Pets, who are currently offering two months free pet insurance in the first year of coverage for Helpline followers. Visit bowwowinsurance.com.au/poisons and enter AP368 at checkout to take advantage of this offer.
Animal Poisons Helpline Compost Safety
Did you know that your compost pile could be a serious hazard to your pet? Not only can compost contain certain discarded human food scraps which may be toxic to your pets, but it also encourages the growth of microorganisms that can result in serious complications when ingested.
If you are the owner of a mischievous pet and a compost pile, you need to put measures in place to ensure they cannot eat the compost. If your pet has ingested anything they should not have, please call the Animal Poisons Helpline for advice on 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ).
Australian Tick Paralysis
With Australia currently experiencing a national shortage of tick antiserum, we thank Dr Lisa Chimes for providing a timely message on ticks and tick paralysis. Prevention is definitely the best course of action with paralysis ticks. Speak with your vet about a tick preventative that works best in your local area.
Please call the Animal Poisons Helpline if you have found a tick on your pet. If your pet has signs of tick paralysis, immediate veterinary assessment is required. The Animal Poisons Helpline provides a free service to pet owners in Australia and New Zealand and can be phoned on 1300 869 738 (from Australia) or 0800 869 738 (from New Zealand).
Animal Poisons Helpline Snake Safety
🐍 As the weather begins to warm up in many parts of Australia, snakes are becoming active and our pets are once again at risk.
All snake bites or suspected snake bites in Australia should be treated as time critical life-threatening emergencies. Dr Lisa Chimes explains more in the video below.
Animal Poisons Centre Fertiliser Safety
The Animal Poisons Helpline receives a large number of calls regarding pets ingesting fertiliser. Many dogs simply can’t resist organic fertilisers and will often ingest large amounts if given the chance to do so. Dr Lisa Chimes explains more in the video below.
☎ If your dog or cat has eaten fertiliser, please phone the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) for advice. We can assess your pet’s exposure to determine if they will be at risk of poisoning and if they require urgent veterinary assessment.
📧 Don’t miss the next pet poison alert! Visit animalpoisons.com.au/stay-up-to-date to subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive updates and alerts directly to your inbox.
Animal Poisons Helpline Human Food Safety
The Animal Poisons Helpline receives many calls regarding pets ingesting human food items. As we all know, some human food is toxic to our pets and should be completely avoided. Dr Lisa Chimes explains more in the video below.
☎ If your dog or cat has eaten or potentially eaten something concerning, please phone the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) for advice. We can assess your pet’s exposure to determine if they will be at risk of poisoning and if they require urgent veterinary assessment.
📧 Don’t miss the next pet poison alert! Visit animalpoisons.com.au/stay-up-to-date to subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive updates and alerts directly to your inbox.
Animal Poisons Helpline Lilies
🐱💐 Lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Chewing on or ingesting any part of the plant, or even grooming pollen off the coat or paws can result in life-threatening effects.
Many cat owners are unaware of the dangers of lilies, and they may be unintentionally brought into the house in floral arrangements. Dr Lisa Chimes explains more in the video below.
If you have a friend or family member that owns a cat (or if you know a florist), then please share this post with them!
☎ If you are concerned your cat has been exposed to a lily, please phone 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) for first aid advice, even if your cat looks well.
📧 Don’t miss the next pet poison alert! Visit animalpoisons.com.au/stay-up-to-date to subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive updates and alerts directly to your inbox.
Australia and New Zealand are home to over 10,000 mushroom species and whilst only a small percentage of these are known to be poisonous, all mushroom ingestions should be regarded as potentially life-threatening until proven otherwise. Over the last 12 months, the Animal Poisons Helpline has received over 200 cases of pets ingesting wild mushrooms and to raise awareness have teamed up with Dr Lisa Chimes to remind our followers about this common potential danger.
☎ If your dog or cat has eaten or potentially eaten a wild mushroom, please phone the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) immediately.
Animal Poisons Helpline Rodenticide Safety
With a mouse plague still affecting parts of eastern Australia, the Helpline has teamed up with Dr Lisa Chimes to remind our followers about the risks of using rat and mouse baits around our pets and encourage safe use of these baits.
☎ If your dog or cat has eaten or potentially eaten any rat or mouse bait, please phone the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) immediately, even if your pet looks well. We can assess your pet’s exposure to determine if they will be at risk of poisoning and if they require urgent veterinary assessment.
28th August - Remembrance Day