Community Spirit, March 2018

Drugs and other substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, can
also have a serious impact on your pet’s nervous system if they
are accidentally ingested. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed through
the digestive tract, and its metabolic processing by the liver
and kidneys can severely affect their function, particularly if
their function is already compromised (e.g. in very young, sick
or ageing pets). If your pet has craftily slurped too much of a
cocktail left unattended on the coffee table, it may not be a
laughing matter at all, as it can lead to serious complications,
and even coma and death. Tobacco too is a danger to your pet,
and may cause hypersalivation, hyperactivity, vomiting,
diarrhoea, uncoordinated movements, convulsions, depressed
respiration and even death. If your pet ingests marijuana,
within 30-90 minutes symptoms may become apparent,
including depression, tremors, motor difficulties, pupil dilation,
disorientation and behavioural changes; in some cases,
hypersalivation and urinary incontinence may also be seen.
Other drugs of abuse can have very serious effects on your pet,
and in the worst cases can severely compromise his nervous
system, cardiac and respiratory function.
As with any case of poisoning described here, the
prognosis is usually good, providing very prompt
veterinary care is sought. Most importantly, keep
all medicines and potentially harmful substances
out of reach of pets, and safely shut behind
cupboard doors that they cannot accidentally gain
access to. If you are in any doubt as to whether
your pet may have consumed something harmful,
the best option is always to get them to a vet
without delay.