PAWPRINTS

Archive for September 22nd, 2008

The ASPCA offers the following list of essential items to pack in advance for your animal companions, should you ever be faced with evacuation:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book
• 3 to 7 days’ worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter or paper toweling
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
• Dishes for food and water
• Extra harness and leash
• Photocopies of medical records
• Waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires
• Bottled water—at least seven days’ worth for each person and pet
• Traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• Flashlight
• Blanket
• Recent color photos of your pet(s)
• Pet Grab ‘N Go Bag (can be crucial to protecting your pet’s paperwork)
• Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys, scoopable litter
• Especially for dogs: Long leash and yard stake, toys and chew toys, a week’s worth of cage liner

For a more complete list of emergency planning tips and the Ready Pets brochure on pet-friendly evacuation, visit the Disaster Preparedness section of the ASPCA website.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), pet poisonings from expanding wood glues—and other adhesives containing the substance diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)—are pervasive. In the last twelve months, the APCC has treated nearly 100 cases of pets who’ve ingested expanding glues. Of those incidents, 98% involved dogs and 78% were evaluated at high or medium risk for developing severe, life-threatening clinical effects.

Polyurethane glue—also known by brand names like Gorilla Glue and Elmer’s Pro-Bond—is prized for its ability to bond tightly to wood. If eaten, however, the glue expands in the stomach’s warm, moist environment and forms a softball-sized lump. A dog who eats even a small amount of MDI-based adhesive can experience severe gastrointestinal problems resulting in blockages. This disturbing scenario most often requires emergency surgery to remove the mass.

Pet parents should treat any expanding adhesive as a potential hazard, since the offending chemical MDI is not always listed on product labels. Like all toxic household products, wood glue should be stored in a secure cabinet to prevent your furry beloveds from coming into contact with it. If you suspect your pet has ingested polyurethane glue, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison hotline at (888) 426-4435. And for more information about keeping your pet safe, check out their accessible guide to a poison-free home.