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. 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. Contact your veterinarian immediately. 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 seizing.
Contact your veterinarian immediately. 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. 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 or on the street.
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 change your car radiator fluid,
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. Due to the severity of
the signs and the potential for death, veterinarians recommend 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), 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
The leaves, stem and unripe fruit of the tomato can be toxic to your pet. 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
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
Pet Poison Safety: Products Sweetened with Xylitol
Can Be Toxic To Dogs
Xylitol, a
sweetener found in many sugar-free products, can cause serious
problems for companion canines.
What it's in: Xylitol is a common sugar-substitute used in sugar-free chewing gum, breath mints, candies, and baked goods. It’s also found in some smoking-cessation products like nicotine gum. Xylitol can be purchased in bulk for cooking at home.
Candies
and gum that contain the sweetener XYLITOL can cause a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar,
resulting in depression and seizures. The typical dose needed to cause
poisoning is 0.05 grams per pound of body weight.
The average piece of chewing gum or breath mint contains between 0.22 to
1.0 gram of xylitol. Thus, a 10-pound dog would only have to eat
one piece of gum to achieve a potentially toxic dose. It was previously thought that only
large concentrations of xylitol resulted in problems but new data
is beginning to disprove this.
Signs: Within 10 to 15 minutes of ingestion, dogs may develop
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), lose coordination, and start vomiting.
Collapse and seizures may quickly follow. In rare cases, these signs
won’t appear until hours after ingestion.
Prognosis:
Excellent when the ingestion is caught early. Guarded if the pet has already begun to develop
liver failure.
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). 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;
Pet Information;
*Your
name
*Species, breed,
age, sex, diet, weight
*Animals name (may be multiple animals involved)
*Underlying medical conditions and any medications
your pet may be taking
*What is your dog's normal demeanor? Is he/she generally stressed at the veterinary hospital? Is this pet normally very passive?
*Be clear and concise when describing the complications
your pet is experiencing
Medication;
*What is the exact name of the drug?
*Is there any
formula information such as extended release or long-acting?
*What
is the milligram strength?
*How many tablets are potentially missing?
*If the container was destroyed, but a pill is found, what is the pill
code printed on the tablet or capsule?
Plant
*What is the exact name of the plant?
*Is is a houseplant, outdoor plant, or weed?
*What part of the plant was ingested (leaves, flowers, berries, fruit, bulb?)
*Approximately how much was ingested?
Household or garden chemical
*What is the exact name of product with the brand name?
*What are the active ingredients?
*Is there an EPA register number? If the product can't be identified by name, this number will serve as identification
*What are the label warnings?
Rodenticide
*What is the active ingredient, and the concentration of the active ingredient?
*What was the net weight of the product to begin with, and how much remains?
*What is the exact name of the product, with the brand name?
*If the package was destroyed, is there a visible EPA register number?
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.
.* The exact poison the animal was exposed to
(amount, time exposed, exposure type)
Important phone #s;
Governor Animal Clinic; 858-453-6312
After office hours answering service; 1-866-863-5610 (toll
free)
Veterinary Specialty Hospital; 858-875-7570
National Animal Poison Control Center; 1-900-680-0000 (charge per call)
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; http://www.apcc.aspca.org 888-426-4435 (charge per call)
