Tampa, FL, March 3, 2005 – Spring is just around the corner. And, while it’s a season to celebrate life, it can also prove deadly for pets, as they increase their exposure to toxic plants.
National Poison Prevention week is March 20-26. Florida Veterinary Specialists emergency care veterinarian, Dr. Sonja Olson, is spearheading an effort to educate pet owners about 15 of Florida’s most toxic household and landscape plants. Her aim is to alert pet owners about signs to look for if a pet may have been poisoned, what to do and how to prepare a safety kit to have on hand, in case of an emergency.
Dr. Olson urges people to take time to become familiar with problematic plants before heading to the nursery to make a purchase. “It may just be one additional step to find out if it’s toxic,” she says. Many of these common plants may come as a surprise to pet owners, especially those newcomers who move to Tampa Bay each day. “We live in a subtropical environment. There are plants here that don’t exist in other areas of the United States. Education can prevent so many disasters.” A list of toxic plants, including photos, helpful advice and other resources can be found on the FVS website at http://www.fvs.com (see “latest news” on right side of the screen).
Education could very well, save the life of your best furry friend. In fact, it may have saved Tracker, a local working dog and beloved pet beagle owned by Sharon and Paul Roberts of Royal Termite and Pest Control in Tampa. Tracker gained local and national media attention with his specially trained ability to detect termite activity in homes and businesses. He lost his life, last year, possibly because he ingested a toxic Sago Palm nut from a plant located in his own backyard. He was treated by Dr. Olson in the emergency clinic at FVS, but the poisoning ultimately proved fatal. “It only took about 48 to 72 hours from the time he showed symptoms, to the time he died. There are very few things that will do that to an animal. I’m not going to let this dog, die in vain.” This toxic plant alert for pets is dedicated to Tracker's memory. Photos and video of Tracker are available.
About FVS:
Florida Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center is a state of the art, regional veterinary referral center in Tampa, providing specialized and emergency and critical care, 24 hours a day. FVS specialists have undertaken advanced training and are board certified in their area of expertise.
To book an interview with Dr. Olson for National Poison Prevention Week, please contact Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications: 727-480-8030.
