Coin Catastrophe
Dear Frankie,
My friend Remy died yesterday. He was the happiest dog I ever met. The day before he died, he spent the day at my house, and we had a great time. When he went home that night, he was fine.
The following day, we got a text from his mom saying he had been rushed to the veterinarian hospital, and his x-ray showed he had swallowed a Mexican Peso.
My mom Googled, “Can a dog die from ingesting a coin?”
Much to her horror, she read that coins, even those partially made of zinc, become poisonous when they interact with the acid in a dog’s stomach and can kill a dog. She also discovered that the American Penny is particularly dangerous because it is primarily made of zinc and coated with a thin layer of copper. We are all still in shock.
I wanted to let you know so you could alert your readers about how dangerous coins can be for dogs and, I would imagine, also for little kids.
Mason
Dear Mason,
What a tragedy. I’m so sorry to hear you lost your pal. Thanks for being such a good citizen and thinking of others while grieving for your friend.
I had no idea that coins could be poisonous. I am sure I am not the only one who didn’t know the dangers coins present for dogs or, as you say, little children.
The list of dog hazards seems to grow longer each day; if it isn’t poinsettias, it’s garlic, Round-Up, or dog food recalls.
You wonder if it will get to the point that the only way for a dog to be safe is to be suited up like an astronaut, breathing air from an oxygen tank and living on purified water and freeze-dried food.
Sorry for the outburst. Do take care of yourself. Mourning the loss of a friend can take a toll on you physically.
Best, Frankie
© 2024 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
•••
Click here to download the 05-09-24 issue: 05-09-24 CherryBlossomFest
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
