ConsumerAffairs.com has released an interactive tool for pet owners, which shows what happens in a dog’s body when it consumes 10 of the most dangerous (or thought to be dangerous) foods. It also covers when pet owners shouldn’t be concerned, and when they should call the veterinarian. The free tool was built by ConsumerAffairs research team with the help from VETgirl founder and CEO, Dr. Justine Lee. Lee is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. The foods covered include some of the following: Chocolate Chewing gum Grapes Moldy food Bread dough Macadamia nuts Coffee beans The tool was created using guidelines from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Dr. Lee worked closely with the ASPCA, and was able to get great information from them. “The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the oldest and most well-respected animal poison control centers in the world,” Dr. Lee said. “It was founded back in 1978 and is the only non-profit animal poison control center in North America. It is available 24/7 for both pet owners and veterinary professionals. You can read more about the history here. As an emergency critical care veterinary specialist and toxicologist, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is my go-to for life-saving advice for treatment of the poisoned dog or cat.” She pointed out that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center was the first to discover that lilies caused acute kidney injury in in cats and that grapes and raisins were deadly to dogs. “Thankfully, they were able to detect this based on their extensive knowledge and database and have helped educate veterinary professionals on all these poison dangers. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has also published over 250 articles and book chapters in the last 25 years and given countless hours of continuing education to veterinarians, veterinary staff and pet owners. They are a lifeline for veterinarians and pet owners alike!” Lee added. The tool was created to “give consumers peace of mind, said Zac Carman, CEO of ConsumerAffairs. “Many of us love our pets as much as our own children, and we worry about their wellbeing just as much,” Carman said. “Hopefully by partnering with world-renowned veterinarian Dr. Justine Lee to create this interactive tool, we can help consumers gain a little assurance in what can be an incredibly stressful time.”
