Numa the Service Dog: Her Cautionary Tale
While this cautionary tale is about a Service Dog named Numa, every one of our dogs are at the same risk! Read Numa’s story and then take steps to protect your dog before something happens!
While preparing for her son Landon’s birthday, a Houston-area mother noticed an ant infestation in their backyard.
“We were getting ready for my son Landon’s birthday party, and we saw that there were a bunch of ants in the back yard,” explained Chavez. “We spread some lawn insect killer granules on the yard and wet it down per instruction, but we must have missed some of it. We don’t know how it happened, but somehow Landon’s service dog Numa must have ingested some of the dry granules. That evening when she was in her kennel she started barking, which she is trained not to do. After about the fourth bark, my daughter checked on her and she was shaking and was really stiff. We drove straight to the emergency clinic.”
The ant poison spread on the yard contained an insecticide called bifenthrin which can cause neurologic signs, tremors and seizures in some dogs if a large amount is ingested. Thankfully, because of the quick response of her family along with the immediate attention and treatment by the veterinary professionals and the advice of toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline, Numa’s story has a happy ending!
While preparing for Fall, exercise extreme caution when using insecticides, rodenticides or any other poisons. It only takes a moment for your dog or other pet to ingest enough to harm them! Also, store all poisons and other chemicals out of reach of curious noses and mouths.
If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, immediately call the Animal Poison Control Center or your regular veterinarian for medical intervention. Remember, time is of the essence!
