Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs
Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:31 am (PST)
In a message dated 12/10/2008 6:25:17 P.M. Central Standard Time, Karen
Cantner writes:
We 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 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 its commercial source,
comes from a certain tree grown in India .

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 its entirety
with her contact info.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia