It is a pet owner's worst nightmare. They come home to find trash strewn across the living room and their dog lying helplessly beside it. Something is definitely wrong, but, in a panic, the owner is at a loss for action. What should they do?

Thanks to assistant professor of toxicology Dr. Deon van der Merwe, and the K-State toxicology department, owners of animals large and small have somewhere to turn in these emergencies.

The K-State animal poison information service line is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is free of charge, van der Merwe said. The line receives about five to 10 calls each day and is able to give information and advice for domestic pets and also farm animals that might have been poisoned, he said.

Van der Merwe said if an animal is showing any peculiar behavior, service line operators are always willing to help.

"[Symptoms of poisoning] can vary tremendously," he said, "but in general, it's something that causes the animal to vomit or have diarrhea or behave abnormally. It might show abnormal muscle movements or become very lethargic - very sleepy. Signs of redness or pain or swelling on the skin in and around the mouth, or if it is producing a lot of saliva is also a common indicator."

Van der Merwe said it is sometimes hard to tell to what extent an animal has been poisoned, so owners should never hesitate to call the service line.

Dr. Ken Harkin, small animal veterinarian for the K-State Veterinary Teaching Hospital, said many poison incidents are likely to occur around the house. He said owners should treat their pets like they would small children and infants to keep them safe.

"Like kids," he said, "dogs are going to get into things; especially young dogs are inclined to explore and get into waste baskets and other areas they probably shouldn't be. In general, keep any products that could be potentially poisonous out of reach. ... The most important thing is just recognizing that dogs and cats are not particularly bright in knowing what they should and shouldn't ingest."

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Web site, most animal poison incidents are induced from animals consuming items the owner might not know are poisonous. Some of the most common household poisons are alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee, onions, raisins, salt, garlic, yeast dough and macadamia nuts.

Van der Merwe said in most cases, he will advise help line callers to induce vomiting or seek immediate medical help. When the line is not open, van der Merwe said owners can go online and listen to his podcasts, which he said gives tips, pointers and advice of what to do in emergency situations. Van der Merwe said owners can also call the ASPCA animal poison hotline when the K-State help line is closed, but the call is not free like the K-State line - a charge of up to $60 may be applied.

Pet owners can visit the ASPCA Web site, www.ASPCA.org, for a complete list of plants and foods harmful to animals.