ASPCA Poison Control Center helps vets and pets Most puppies and many adult dogs will chew on plant foliage out of curiosity, boredom, or an attempt to induce vomiting. Trouble is, many of the chewed-on plants are poisonous.

Pets don't limit that strange eating habits to plants; they will ingest substances that smell good, even though those substances can make them sick or worse. Chocolate, anti-freeze, and pesticides are some of the common household materials that can cause severe reactions and death.

House plants aloe vera, dieffenbachia, draecena, asparagus fern, rubber plant, schefflera, and poinsettia and outdoor favorites azalea, rhododendron, hibiscus, and lily of the valley are among dozens of plants that can cause a variety of symptoms for dogs. Even apple seeds and cherry pits can poison a pet.

But help is available. The National Animal Poison Control Center, a division of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is only a phone call away every hour of every day of every week. Center veterinarians and veterinary toxicologists have up-to-the minute information on toxicity levels, antidotes, treatments, and prognosis based on more than 250,000 cases involving pesticides, drugs, plants, metals, and other exposures in pets, livestock, and wildlife. These specialists provide advice to animal owners and confer with veterinarians about poison exposures.

If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, gather the following information and then call the NAPCC: give your name, address, and telephone number; the species, breed, age, sex, and weight of each animal affected; the substance the animal ingested if known; the time that has elapsed since ingestion; and the symptoms the animal is showing.

NAPCC has three telephone numbers for easy access:

• (900) 680-0000 costs $20 for the first five minutes and $2.95 for each additional minute billed to your telephone.
• (800) 548-2423 and
• (888) 426-4435 are credit- card-only numbers for $30 per case.
  Only Master Card, Visa, American Express, and Discover cards are accepted.

The center also has an animal product safety service for manufacturers of veterinary, agricultural, and chemical products. This service provides a toll-free number to be printed on product labels and literature so that toxicity information and treatment advice are available to purchasers. There is no charge for calls made to the number provided on the product. This service also keeps case records, compiles quarterly reports, and works with manufacturers to increase product safety.

For additional information about the poison control center, you can go to their web address at:

National Animal Poison Control Center.
or use their snail-mail address:
ASPCA/NAPCC
1717 South Philo Road
Suite 36; Urbana, IL 61802
or:
ASPCA
424 East 92nd Street,
New York, NY 10128-6804
(212) 876-7700, extension 4656