Charcoal - remedy for poisoning

[missy]

Hi all,

I thankfully don't have a poisoned piggy but was wondering...

What kind of charcoal is used to treat poisoned piggies? Whilst wandering around a pet shop yesterday I noticed some charcoal for feeding pet birds. I have no idea why birds eat it but wondered if this same charcoal product could be used in an emergency, for poisoned pigs. (Not sure how it's processed or if it has anything added, especially for birds)

Obviously I'd seek urgent veterinary help if I was ever in that terrible situation, but I figure charcoal would be an extremely good thing to have at home, just in case, as time is most definitely of the essence when it comes to poisoning.

So does anyone keep charcoal at home in case of poisoning emergencies?....or know what I'd need to buy (and where from)?

Thanks

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Interesting you should mention this, I recently bought some in. Looking at the other ingredients though I'm not sure if it's ideal. It will be interesting to hear what brand others have got; I've got Bragg's Medicinal Charcoal but looking at the 'other ingredients' I'm not 100% sure they're so great.

Plenty of charcoal products out there, but most are capsules and in terms of dosing, are not really what you want.

 

[clairelove]

ive seen the liquid one but i dont know if its human prescription only but maybe worth looking on the net for the liquid one or it maybe powder that you add water too :{

 

[missy]

Thanks.

I've just read on the Peter Gurney website that it's recommended to give liquid paraffin half an hour after the charcoal, presumably as a laxative after the charcoal has had time to absorb the poison. Do you also keep medicinal paraffin at home? If so, which product?

Of course I'd really hope to get Vet treatment within 30 mins of something like this happening, just looking into it now so I at least have a vague idea what kind of treatment would be required, should such an emergency occur, however unlikely. Scary stuff though, especially for people who live out in the sticks and/or miles from a Vet.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I do have liquid paraffin as well, it's not quite as mainstream as it used to be but it's certainly around. This is the brand I have:

http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/Bells-Liquid-Paraffin-150ml.html

 

[missy]

Thanks Laura....I bet you have everything at home! Do you have a special medicine cupboard, filled to the rafters with all kinds of piggy lotions and potions imaginable? Your piggies definitely hit 'the piggy jackpot' when they met you!

Anyone else keep medicinal charcoal at home?...

 

[redd1800]

great thread!

 

[ajb]

So, you can't just burn some toast?

 

[missy]

So, you can't just burn some toast?

It'd be useful if you could as I accidentally burn mine pretty much every day! I'm sure my toaster hates me!

 

[*SRH*]

I'd often wondered about whether to feed charcoal or not but just in case I would say it would be a good idea just in case guinea pigs did eat a common un-safe garden plant such as a buttercup.

 

[missy]

That's what I was thinking, SRH.

I'm in no way trying to avoid seeking expert Veterinary help, but I figure it'd save a lot of precious time if I had charcoal here. If, on calling the Vet, they advised me to use it as an immediate treatment before I could get to them (or they could get to me), then I'd have it.

Peter Gurney's site points out that it's only organic poisoning which, in theory, can be treated at home with charcoal. For some reason I've had loads of crocus type flowers appear randomly all over my lawn this Spring, from nowhere! I've been paranoid about the piggy finding them, despite spending ages practically crawling all over the grass on my hands & knees trying to find them all. I've done my best to remove them but can't be 100% confident that the lawn is fully piggy safe, especially as the flower heads have gone and the green crocus stalks/leaves just blend into the grass. I'm not expecting poisoning but would prefer to be forearmed as much as poss.