Our
pets are susceptible to many common household and garden
products.
The most common poisonings include
rat/mouse poisons, snail baits, and squirrel/gopher poisons. The
active ingredients in these poisons remain potent for a very long
time and can cause poisoning even a year after they have been
placed or sprayed in the yard. Dogs are more likely to ingest a
poison since many of the poisons are flavored, but cats can also
become poisoned by eating a rodent or other animal that has eaten
the poison.
Rat &
mouse poisons cause internal bleeding. Pets
may not show signs for 3-5 days following ingestion.
Early signs that your pet may be poisoned with a rodenticide
include: lethargy and weakness, decreased appetite, blood in the
nose, mouth, or urine, bruising of the skin, and limping. In more
severe poisonings the pet may collapse because of bleeding into the
lungs or abdomen. These animals must be treated quickly and
aggressively if they are to survive and
recover.
Snail baits and
gopher or squirrel poisons cause seizures and
convulsions. Early signs that your pet may have eaten this type of
poison may include agitation, drooling or salivation, muscle
tremors, vomiting and/or diarrhea. As the poison is absorbed, the
signs become worse until the animal begins convulsing or seizuring.
These animals need to be treated early and aggressively if
they are going to survive.
Aspirin,
acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or other pain
medications for humans can be deadly to your
pet. What relieves minor aches and pains in us can mean
disaster in your cat or dog. Animal metabolisms are very
different from ours, taking much longer to absorb and process drugs
through the liver and kidneys. A single dose of acetaminophen
is fatal to cats. An incorrect aspirin dose can damage the
liver and red blood cells and can cause stomach ulcers, kidney
damage, or liver disease in dogs and cats.
Signs develop quickly and include
salivation, vomiting, weakness and abdominal pain. Many
medicines have a sweet taste that attract your pet, including some
products, like Pepto Bismol, that contain aspirin. Call us
immediately if your pet ingests a home medical product.
Antifreeze and
windshield washer fluids contain a product called
ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol has a sweet taste and is
attractive to both dogs and cats. Just a small amount of antifreeze
consumed by a pet can cause irreversible kidney damage, leading to
coma and death.
Animals are often poisoned by licking up spills
in the garage, on the driveway, or on the street. Pets living in
urban or suburban areas seem to be more exposed to this
poison.
Ingestion of ethylene glycol causes central
nervous system depression. Animals appear to be disoriented and in
a stupor. Eventually a pet becomes comatose and unresponsive. Death
results from kidney failure.
If you suspect that your pet consumed even the
smallest amount of antifreeze, don't wait for symptoms to appear.
This is an emergency and you should rush your pet to a veterinary
hospital.
Non-toxic antifreeze, (made with propylene
glycol which is less toxic to pets), is now available for use
in car radiators. The next time you have your car radiator flushed,
ask the mechanic to replace the old antifreeze with new non-toxic
type. Check your driveway, under your car, and garage
floor for leaks. Always clean up spills immediately, and
store containers securely away from children and pets.
Grapes and
raisins can be toxic to dogs when ingested in
large quantities.
Grapes and raisins (from varied sources, including being
eaten off the vine directly) can be a hazard to your dog. Dogs
exhibit gastrointestinal signs including vomiting and
diarrhea and then signs of kidney failure with an onset of severe
kidney signs starting about 24 hours after ingestion of grapes or
raisins. The amount of grapes that can cause problems for
your pet varies, so it is recommended that you keep this fruit out
of your pets diet altogether. Due to the severity of
the signs and the potential for death, veterinarians at the poison
control center advocate aggressive treatment for any dogs suggested
of ingesting excessive amounts of grapes or raisins.
Intensive therapy for at least 48 hours or as indicated based
on the results of blood tests for kidney damage would be
recommended.
Food items that can
have toxic effects on your pets;
AVOCADOS, ingestion of which
can result in respiratory distress and the accumulation of fluid
around the heart
All forms of COFFEE, including
the grounds and beans, can cause the same symptoms as
chocolate
MOLDY or SPOILED FOOD (compost piles may provide a
source of the toxins that are produced from a variety of fungi
found in mold), bread dough (raw bread dough made with
yeast) may cause clinical signs ranging from GI
irritation, bloating, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, seizures,
respiratory compromise, weakness, coma, and if left
untreated, death. , Spoiled food may also contain
bacteria that can cause severe food
poisoning
ONIONS, GARLIC and CHIVES, which can lead to GI upset and
damage red blood cells
SALT and SALTY FOODS can result in sodium ion poisoning,
symptoms of which include regurgitation, tremors, excessive thirst,
diarrhea, high temperature and seizures. If enough salt is
consumed, death can also result
While the ripe red fruit of the TOMATO is not a potential
problem, the leaves, stem and unripe fruit are. Ingestion of these
can cause GI upset, excess salivation, drowsiness, dilated pupils
and weakness. The same symptoms can be seen with the ingestion of
any green plant parts of the potato
Candies and gum that contain the sweetener XYLITOL can also
cause problems in dogs—a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar,
resulting in depression and seizures--especially if large amounts
are eaten
YEAST DOUGH can be double trouble for dogs. As it rises, the
dough can expand the GI tract, possibly causing the intestine to
rupture. The yeast can also form alcohol as it rises, leading to
alcohol poisoning
ASPCA ; Pet Poison Safety: Products Sweetened with Xylitol
Can Be Toxic To Dogs
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center (APCC) has issued a warning to pet owners that xylitol, a
sweetener found in many sugar-free products, can cause serious
problems for companion canines.
Inthe first half of 2006,
toxicologists have already handled 114 cases. It’s difficult to say
why there’s such an increase. Xylitol products are relatively new
to the United States marketplace, so one possibility may be an
increase in availability.
Dogs ingesting significant amounts
of items sweetened with xylitol could develop a fairly sudden drop
in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and
seizures. Signs can develop quite rapidly, sometimes less than half
an hour after ingestion.
It was previously thought that only
large concentrations of xylitol resulted in problems but new data
is beginning to disprove this.
Go to our Emergencies
sub-page, "Sweetener Toxic to
Pets", for more information regarding
xylitol.
Experts further caution
canine caretakers to be careful when it comes to fatty meats and
spicy foods. These can result in an upset stomach, so it's best to
avoid them. Never offer your pet bones, as they can cause digestive
problems and damage the teeth and mouth. And some foods, while not
known to be potentially toxic, may cause stomach upset—particularly
in dogs with sensitive GI tracts. That’s why we recommend that you
always check with your pet’s vet before giving any human food to
your four-legged family members.
If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous
substance, immediately call your veterinarian (858-453-6312) or the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency hot line at
(888) 426-4435. Be sure to let them know what he has eaten and how
much, the estimated time of ingestion, if you know it, and any
problems he is experiencing.
Many common household
items can pose problems for your cat or
dog........including detergents (body soaps, shampoos, dishwashing
detergents) batteries, perfumes, cosmetics, swimming pool products,
toilet bowl cleansers, alcohol, ant and roach baits, birth control
pills, inhalers, mothballs, pennies, and potpourri are just the
beginning of the list.
Anytime that your pet is not acting
normal or has signs that are described above, it is important that
he/she be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as
possible. Rapid response is important, but panicking
interferes with the process of helping your animal! Have
important phone numbers handy - ready for any
emergency.
When you call, be ready to
provide;
*Your
name.
* The exact poison the animal was exposed to
(amount, time exposed, exposure type).
*Species, breed,
age, sex, diet, weight.
*Any medications
your pet may be taking.
*Be clear and concise when describing the complications
your pet is experiencing.
It is much more successful
and inexpensive to treat these animals when they are seen quickly
after ingestion of the poison. If you are not sure, call us
immediately, or take your pet to the local emergency veterinary
service for a thorough evaluation.
Important phone #s;
Governor Animal Clinic; 858-453-6312
After office hours answering service; 1-866-863-5610 (toll
free)
Animal E.R. 858-569-0600
National Animal Poison Control Center; 1-900-680-0000 ($20.00
first 5 minutes, and $2.95 for each extra minute.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; http://www.apcc.aspca.org
