Pet/Potpourri warning

[TheRedQueen]

I figured this was worth sharing...

***crossposted***

We have suffered a terrible, terrible tragedy last Wed. Two, beloved
Cavaliers of mine, Haley and Zoe both ate potpourri from a decorative
basket in my living room.

Within hours, they were vomiting it, convulsing and going into total
body rigidity and shock. We took them to the after hours clinic, they
had no idea what it could be and wouldn't listen to me about them
vomiting potpourri at
home and how I had such concerns about the toxic effects of it. They
treated symptoms.

We transferred them to our day vet. He also wouldn't listen to me
about the potpourri theory. He said they had "strychnine" poisoning
symptoms. I kept telling him that the potpourri was Made In India,
sold by a company in
California and sold at my local WalMart. My heart told me that it was
the culprit of their condition.

They declined rapidly throughout the day and we transferred them back
to the after hours clinic for a second night. At midnight, I made the
agonizing decision to put them to sleep. Haley was in constant
seizures that wouldn't
stop, fluid was filling up in her lungs, body temp was dropping on
both of them, Zoe was lying almost lifeless on the table, struggling
with every breath she took. Every muscle was completely rigid, you
couldn't even move her.

I have devoted the last couple of days (now that I can get out of bed
and function) to researching my concerns with the potpourri and have
since found out I was right....... ....._there is a lab in England
that has case studies on toxic potpourri from India!!_ The
toxin....strychnine , which in it's commercial source, comes from a
certain tree grown in India . I am completely heart broken over this.

Please be aware of the potential toxins in any and all stuff like
this in our homes. I would've never guessed this could happen but
when I saw them both "playing" in the potpourri and then after about
two hours saw the symptoms of a poisoning, I just put two and two
together. Hug your babies, Love them and always take lots of photos
along the way...it helps later on, trust me.

Karen Cantner, Heartland Kennels, Evansville , Indiana USA

Permission to cross post - should be unedited and sent in it's
entirety with her contact info.

[Pit♥bull]

Thanks for the 'heads up'

[madremissy]

Awwh that is so sad.

[TinaMartin]

I am so glad that I keep all of this out of reach from Gator. I will have to give my sister a heads up.