Then, suddenly, the idyllic scene is shattered as I notice a sleek orange shape slinking through the overgrowth at the edge of the tidy lawn. "Oh, cat! Get out of the poison ivy!"
No, I'm not worried about what the irritating oils of the poison ivy plant will do to Karate Kitten. Cats and dogs are rather impervious to uroshiol, the substance responsible for the itchy rash that afflicts many people. No, what I'm imagining with horror is Karate Kitten rolling luxuriously across my daughter's bed or rubbing his sweet little cat face against my cheek later. Because the problem with cats and poison ivy is that they carry the noxious oil on their fur and transmit it secretly to us!
So your dog or cat inadvertantly just slathered the essence of poison ivy all over its fur. Now what? Bathing your pet with the liquid dish detergent Dawn--that world famous animal degreaser--should do the trick. Make sure you wear gloves, avoid contact with your pet's eyes and ears, and rinse thoroughly.
And I, at least, will lock up all the dogs and cats before I wander near known poison ivy patches in the future!
Looks like Dawn can be used in many different ways, for many different uses. That makes me wonder: Can medications also be used in different ways? For example, can they be shared between different species? For instance, can I use my dog's Frontline medication on my cat?
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While Frontline is a very safe medication in many animals, it is terribly toxic to rabbits of all things! Therefore, it is really in your pet's best interest to consult your veterinarian before using ANY medication not specifically prescribed for him or her. This recommendation applies to human AND animal medications, supplements and even foods! You might be surprised how many seemingly innocent things are toxic to our furry friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this blog! I had forgotten how my dog has given me poison ivy numerous times in the past! I'm bringing Dawn up to the cottage with me this weekend!
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