battery hazard to dogs
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:19 pm
This is a cross post from a pet dog site, but since some of us have problems with dogs chewing on collars, and the collars all have batteries, it seemed a worthwhile warning, especially for anyone whose hounds are inclined to chew the collars off any other dog in the box with them...
Spread the word about the dangers of ingesting button cell batteries found in remote
controls, novelties/toys, and musical greeting cards. Pets (especially baby pets) will destroy
and eat just about anything. Some things just "pass through" and others get hung up in a
fold of tissue. Even intact (unchewed) lithium batteries may cause lasting damage to the
gastrointestinal tract in just two hours.
Safety alert! Batteries are dangerous if swallowed-packaging
does not inform buyers.
Playful pets who enjoy chewing on household objects are in danger of ingesting batteries,
especially little button cell batteries found in so many things, including popular musical
greeting cards. If you have a dog who likes to chew paper, you must make sure that musical
cards are kept out of cruising and counter-surfing range. The same goes for remote controls
(a popular chew toy, according to some dogs and puppies) and small battery-operated toys
including pet toys such as battery-operated mice toys for cats (!). Don´t put this off until
tomorrow!
"Consumer Reports" published their lab results of a lithium battery ingestion simulation in
the December 2010 issue. They put an intact (I assume) lithium button cell battery between
two slices of ham. Within two hours, the battery had burned a hole through one slice. They
contend that ham slices simulate the moistness of a human gastrointestinal tract. This
information is relevant to pets as well, I believe. If the battery was chewed open, risks of
immediate illness increase according to veterinarians, but of course you can´t know if that
happened because the evidence is inside your pet.
If you suspect your pet has ingested a battery, chewed or not, you must take your pet to the
vet immediately. Don´t assume that forced vomiting will take care of the problem-it could
increase toxicity if the hydrogen peroxide reacts with battery coatings or the contents of
chewed batteries! If the battery was chewed open, you will observe signs of illness right
away. Your pet needs veterinary attention NOW.
Petfinder has an article on this topic, written by a veterinarian at the ASPCA National Animal
Poison Control Center:
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/pet-e ... eries.html
Copyright Sunbear Squad Inc.
www.sunbearsquad.org
Please forward and share freely!
Spread the word about the dangers of ingesting button cell batteries found in remote
controls, novelties/toys, and musical greeting cards. Pets (especially baby pets) will destroy
and eat just about anything. Some things just "pass through" and others get hung up in a
fold of tissue. Even intact (unchewed) lithium batteries may cause lasting damage to the
gastrointestinal tract in just two hours.
Safety alert! Batteries are dangerous if swallowed-packaging
does not inform buyers.
Playful pets who enjoy chewing on household objects are in danger of ingesting batteries,
especially little button cell batteries found in so many things, including popular musical
greeting cards. If you have a dog who likes to chew paper, you must make sure that musical
cards are kept out of cruising and counter-surfing range. The same goes for remote controls
(a popular chew toy, according to some dogs and puppies) and small battery-operated toys
including pet toys such as battery-operated mice toys for cats (!). Don´t put this off until
tomorrow!
"Consumer Reports" published their lab results of a lithium battery ingestion simulation in
the December 2010 issue. They put an intact (I assume) lithium button cell battery between
two slices of ham. Within two hours, the battery had burned a hole through one slice. They
contend that ham slices simulate the moistness of a human gastrointestinal tract. This
information is relevant to pets as well, I believe. If the battery was chewed open, risks of
immediate illness increase according to veterinarians, but of course you can´t know if that
happened because the evidence is inside your pet.
If you suspect your pet has ingested a battery, chewed or not, you must take your pet to the
vet immediately. Don´t assume that forced vomiting will take care of the problem-it could
increase toxicity if the hydrogen peroxide reacts with battery coatings or the contents of
chewed batteries! If the battery was chewed open, you will observe signs of illness right
away. Your pet needs veterinary attention NOW.
Petfinder has an article on this topic, written by a veterinarian at the ASPCA National Animal
Poison Control Center:
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/pet-e ... eries.html
Copyright Sunbear Squad Inc.
www.sunbearsquad.org
Please forward and share freely!