After supper last Monday night, I realized that one of the two pills I had laid out on the counter for later that night was missing.  It was a prescription medication for "coping" and I couldn't find it anywhere!  It must have gotten knocked off the counter and been eaten.  Knowing my four dogs as I do, I knew it had to be Tony, my 12 month old 22 lb Boston.  I quickly called the Emergency Vet Clinic here in Wichita.  They advised I induce vomiting immediately, then call ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888 426 4435 to find out how the drug might interact with dogs. LESSON ONE: HAVE EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS READILY AVAILABLE.

The vet tech at the emergency clinic told me to give Tony 2 teaspoons Hydrogen Peroxide to induce vomiting.  LESSON TWO: ALWAYS KEEP FRESH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND OR SYRUP OF IPECAC ON HAND.  I followed the vet tech's advice and immediately tried to get Hydrogen Peroxide down poor Tony with a baby medicine spoon. LESSON THREE: KEEP A TURKEY BAISTER ON HAND FOR THIS PURPOSE.  After several attempts to administer enough HP, I called the ASPCA and waited for Tony to vomit (which he never did, probably because my HP was old or I didn't get enough down him). 

The ASPCA Poison Control people said this particular drug could have terrible consequences and advised me to take him to the emergency clinic for an activated charcoal treatment.  Two hours later, and $165 lighter, we got home from the emergency clinic.

Can you guess what happened then?  Yep, Tony's idiot mom found the pill.  But, maybe this all happened for a reason and someone will benefit from the information about poisoning in this newsletter and on the pages of www.aspca.org .