Forwarded message - for info, please visit
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_080107

Poisonous Things Can Come in Small Packages. . . that Bite!

ASPCA OUTDOOR SAFETY TIPS: AVOID ENCOUNTERS WITH VENOMOUS SPECIES
Pet parents venturing into the wilds this summer for camping trips,
picnics and hikes, please take caution—deep woods can be full of
snakes, spiders, scorpions and other venomous species. Before
entering forests, wild preserves or other wooded locations, please
consider the following safety tips:

- Keep your pet on a leash when going on walks or hiking.
- Don’t let your animal companion investigate rock piles, debris, and
holes in the ground, trees or fallen logs.
- Avoid evening walks in places where poisonous animals make
their homes—many species are more active at night.

Please also watch for some common symptoms that indicate your pet
may have been bitten by a poisonous animal:
- swelling
- puncture or bite wounds
- general weakness
- difficulty breathing
- seizures or tremors
- abnormal heart rate or arrhythmia
- moderate to severe pain

If you suspect that your pet has been bitten, the ASPCA advises keeping
your pet as calm and inactive as possible while getting to the nearest
veterinary clinic. Be ready, if possible, to describe the poisonous
animal’s size, color, markings and other identifiable features to the
attending veterinarian—but do not attempt to capture the animal yourself
at the risk of being bitten.

If you cannot immediately reach your veterinarian, please call the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at
(888) 426-4435 for emergency advice. For additional information
on what to do in a poison emergency, please visit
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc.

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - Aug. 11, 2007