Introduction and Contents:
General First Aid for Suspected Poisonings in Pets; what to do
About the Poisons that pets might encounter, to include Antifreeze, Tylenol (acetominophen), chocolate, rodent or ant poison, and other poisons.
Plant Poisons that affect pets.
Poisonous Snake and Insect Bites; what to do
What to do when you suspect criminal poisoning
Poison Control Numbers and Links to other sites
General First Aid for Poisoned Pets
Coming soon
About the more Common Poisons we encounter in Small Animal Practice
Ethylene Glycol (Radiator Fluid) Toxicity
Anti-Freeze Poisoning
Signs of antifreeze poisoning depend upon the time after ingestion. In the first few hours after ingestion the pet may be depressed and staggering and may have seizures. They may drink lots of water, urinate large amounts and vomit. The pet may appear to feel better but in a day or two get much worse as the kidneys fail. Signs of kidney failure include depression and vomiting. The amount of urine they pass will often decrease to a very small amount.
More Information about AntiFreeze Poisoning
Poisoning by antifreeze, or ethylene glycol, is one of the most common small animal toxicities, particularly in the cold north. Every year do-it-yourself motorists get out the gear needed to winterize their vehicles, including antifreeze. Unfortunately, this poison has a sweet taste and spilled or leaked antifreeze is lapped up by many dogs and cats in quantities sufficient to cause severe sickness and even death.
It takes only about 1/2 teaspoon per pound for a dog to get a toxic dose of ethylene glycol, the active ingredient in antifreeze, and less for a cat. Although the poison affects both the animal's neurological and kidney function, the most severe damage usually involves the kidneys.
Clinical signs in affected animals include depression, incoordination, vomiting, and seizures. The best way to combat antifreeze poisoning is by preventing the animal from having the opportunity to drink the poison. Keep all containers tightly closed when not in use and clean up spills immediately. It should be noted that this toxin affects people as well as pets and that small children are also at risk for ethylene glycol poisoning.
There is currently a new product on the market (one trade name is Sierra) which claims to be safer than other brands of antifreeze. This product contains propylene glycol as its active ingredient. If ingested, it can still cause the nervous system injury resulting in incoordination and possibly seizures but does not cause the more frequently fatal kidney damage. It is clear using such a product would pose less of a health hazard. The best advice remains, however, to always use any potentially toxic product carefully to prevent accidental poisoning in the first place.
Even More Information about AntiFreeze Poisoning from the
TEXTBOOK OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
Client Information Series written by Dr. Denise A. Elliott
Ethylene glycol is the principal ingredient of radiator fluid that is responsible for antifreeze poisoning in dogs and cats. Antifreeze poisoning is most common in the fall and spring, when radiator fluid is inadvertently abandoned in streets and garages after automobile radiator fluid is changed. Antifreeze is colorless, odorless, and has a sweet taste that dogs and small children find appealing and will readily drink.
Cats are less likely to drink unknown fluids. It is suspected that cat poisoning occurs after cats have walked through anti-freeze and ingest it when they clean their feet. As little as a teaspoon of antifreeze is sufficient to cause death in cats and a tablespoon is all that is required to poison dogs.
Poisoning classically proceeds through three stages. Absorption after ingestion is rapid and initial signs occur within 30 minutes to 12 hours. Ethylene glycol is an alcohol; hence during the initial phase the animals appear "drunk" and consequently exhibit many of the classical signs associated with alcohol intoxication: staggering, stumbling, and incoor-dination. Vomiting, nausea, extreme thirst, and frequent uri-nation are also observed. Some animals simply sleep through this period and owners are not aware that poisoning has occurred.
At the end of the first phase, the clinical signs resolve and the animal appears to have recovered. The second phase of intoxication occurs 12 to 24 hours after poisoning. The heart rate and breathing rate are rapid, but this is rarely noticed by owners.
Unfortunately, most dogs and cats poisoned with antifreeze are not recognized until the third stage, when kidney damage becomes apparent and kidney (renal) failure occurs.
Ethylene glycol is converted by the liver to more toxic substances (metabolites) that are responsi-ble for the majority of injury to tissues including the kidney, liver, lungs, and heart. Signs of kidney failure include severe depression, vomiting, and diarrhea. The kidneys stop produc-ing urine and toxins normally excreted by the kidney build up in the body, resulting in a life-threatening situation.
Early diagnosis of poisoning is often difficult because of an inadequate history and the nonspecific clinical signs, which can mimic those of many other conditions. A high index of suspicion is vital for rapid diagnosis, and it is important not to rule out ethylene glycol poisoning because the owner has not seen the pet exposed to radiator fluid. Laboratory findings are often the key to making the diagnosis. Tests that support a diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning are available to your veterinarian.
Treatment involves preventing absorption from the stomach, increasing removal from the body, and preventing the alteration of ethylene glycol to its more toxic components. If poisoning is witnessed, vomiting should be induced immediately and the stomach cleaned out with activated charcoal. Your veterinarian will need to give intravenous fluid solutions. Additional treatment depends on the stage of the disease. If the animal is not in kidney failure, drugs to stop the metabolism of ethylene glycol or methods for directly removing the ethylene glycol and its metabolites from the body are indicated.
Ethanol (alcohol) and 4-methylprazole (fomepizole; Antizol-Vet) stop the metabolism of ethylene glycol; however, these drugs must be administered within several hours of poisoning and are ineffective when kidney damage had occurred. An effective dose of 4-methylprazole to stop the conversion of ethylene glycol has not been identified for cats, so its use is not recommended in cats. Peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis are two techniques with which the poisons may be removed from the body.
If the animal is in kidney failure, techniques to support kidney function are required. Medications to encourage the kidney to produce urine are administered but are often futile, and advanced techniques such as peritoneal dialysis or hemo-dialysis that replace the function of the failing kidneys may be necessary. Both of these procedures require referral to a speciality center. Support must be provided until the kidneys can heal, which may take several weeks to months, and in some animals the damage is too severe and recovery is not possible. In these patients, kidney transplantation may be indicated to replace the crippled kidneys.
The most common problem caused by antifreeze poisoning is sudden kidney failure, and it is associated with a high death rate. The prognosis for animals to recover from acute kidney failure is poor; however, the prognosis has improved with the advent of hemodialysis, which provides support until the kidneys can regenerate. Antifreeze poisoning is a deadly disease. Prevention requires public awareness and responsible disposal of radiator fluid.
The advent of less toxic antifreeze compounds such as propylene glycol will reduce the frequency of antifreeze poisoning in companion animals.
Chocolate Toxicity
Roger Ross DVM
It takes a fair amount of chocolate to kill a pet, but chocolate can be toxic. It contains a xanthine compound called theobromine. Caffeine is another xanthine compound.
The toxic dose of theobromine is about 70 mg per pound of pet, but like many substances, it all depends on the sensitivity of the patient.
Milk chocolate contains 6 mg of theobromine per ounce. Semi-sweet chocolate contains about 22 mg/oz. and baking chocolate about 350 to 400 mg/oz.
I did have a small dog who ate a large candy bar die early on in my practice but since then I've had lot's of calls where sypmtoms were just mild GI upset, but xanthines affect the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. Signs include hyperexitablility, hyper irritability, increased heart rate, increased urination, vomiting and muscular tremors or seizures.
Making the pet vomit is helpful if it's withing an hour or so of ingesting the chocolate and giving an absorbent like activated charcoal might help, but the main part of treatment for chocolate intoxication involves treating the symptoms: controlling seizures, heart arrthymias, intestinal spasms and diarrhea, and supportive therapy like Oxygen and IV fluids. This is a job for your vet.
Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other
Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called "Theobromine". It
is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts
dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred
in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution -- check what you are using
in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your
gardens. Theobromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate --
especially dark or baker's chocolate -- which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean
shells contain potentially toxic quantities of Theobromine, a xanthine
compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that
ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cocoa bean shells
developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the
stomach contents and the ingested cocoa bean shells revealed the presence of
lethal amounts of Theobromine.
ACETAMINOPHEN (Tylenol) POISONING
Tylenol is, of course, the human over-the-counter analgesic medicine used to relieve pain. In people, after the pills are taken, the ingredients are broken down in the body by enzymes in the liver. In people, Tylenol is generally a safe and useful painkiller.
Cats, however, have less of the enzyme required to detoxify the drug following ingestion. As a result, there are many dangerous metabolites, or break-down products of acetaminophen that bind to red blood cells and other tissue cells, resulting in the destruction of these cells. There may also be direct damage to tissue cells from the painkiller. As little as one regular strength tablet (325 mg) can poison a cat to the degree that it can develop noticeable clinical signs of illness.
Two extra-strength tablets are likely to kill a cat.
Dogs (particularly small dogs) are also susceptible to significant tissue damage from as little as two regular strength Tylenol and repeated doses increase the risk significantly. Signs develop quickly and can include salivation, vomiting, weakness and abdominal pain.
Due to the significant toxicity to pets in relatively minimal dosages, the recommendation is clear Tylenol should not be given to dogs or cats. Other, safer, drugs are available for pain relief; talk to your veterinarian about your own pet's specific needs.
New Kaopectate a Danger to Cats:
Pfizer has introduced a new formulation of Kaopectate for humans that contains bismuth subsalicylate instead of bismuth attapulgite.
Subsalicylate is an aspirin derivative and just one tablespoonful of the new kaopectate contains 130mg of aspirin equivalent. The extra strength version contains 230mg.
The maximum recommended safe dose of aspirin for cats is 25mg per kilo which means that a smallish cat (5lbs) given 1 tbls of the extra strength might suffer toxic effects. Some cats are quite sensitive to salicylates.
So be careful.
Note: some dogs are also sensitive.
Rodent Poisoning
Coming soon
Ant and other Pesticide Poisoning
There are dozens of insecticides available in hardware and home repair stores designed to kill ants, termites, wasps, garden pests and many other nuisance insects.
Unfortunately, these products present a risk to our household pets when a dog or cat is accidentally exposed to the poison, usually by eating the bait or poison. Although there are a host of different active ingredients found in these preparations, many of them can be grouped into two categories: Organophosphates and carbamates.
Both organophosphates (known as OP's) and carbamates have similar toxic effects which involve disruption of the normal nervous system function by causing an excess of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, to accumulate in the body. Although acetylcholine is a necessary body chemical for normal nervous and muscular function, this excess or overdose, causes severe clinical signs that can result in the death of the animal.
If an animal is exposed by eating a poison containing OP's or carbamates (or, less frequently, absorbing the substance through the skin in a dip product) it can experience a number of clinical signs.
These include excess saliva production, lacrimation or tearing of the eyes, excessive urination, diarrhea, muscle twitching, weakness, difficult breathing and collapse. It is critical than an animal potentially exposed to these insecticides be evaluated by veterinary personnel as quickly as possible in order to provide treatment if necessary before signs become severe, at which point treatment is often ineffective.
There are many other types of insecticides besides OP's and carbamates, including: Chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds, pyrethrins, arsenic and others which have different poisonous properties and which may require different treatments for accidental exposure.
As mentioned earlier, in the case of an accident, it is important to get the container with the label including the insecticide's active ingredient(s) and bring that information to the attention of the veterinary staff. They can then determine the type of toxicity and any possible treatments as quickly as possible, preferably before the pet is very sick. Many of these products are extremely toxic and any delay in evaluation of the cat or dog can be life-threatening.
Mace, Pepper Spray and other Chemical Irriatants
Mace:
coming soon
Lawn Chemicals
Lawn chemicals are sometimes dangerous to pets because they can cause contact rashes...but also fairly severe internal inflammation when the pet licks off the irritating chemical. Read the precautions for pesticides and herbicides carefully and keep pets away from newly-treated yards. If pets come in contact with chemicals, wash their feet, abdomen and chest thoroughly and call your veterinarian
Other Poisons
ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, PHENYLBUTAZONE, NAPROXEN
The pain relievers discussed here are known as NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and are widely prescribed with caution by veterinarians to relieve pain from arthritis and other conditions.
Animal dosages, however, are much lower than human dosages. Use of NSAID's can significantly increase the risk for development of stomach or intestinal ulcers, particularly in a sick patient, or one receiving other medications. These pain relievers cause signs of poisoning by decreasing the mucous production in the stomach. Mucous serves to protect the stomach from the acids it secretes and reduction in mucous production decreases the protection the stomach has from acid secretion and increases the likelihood of ulcer formation.
In addition these drugs indirectly decrease the blood flow to vital organs, particularly the kidney, and can result in significant kidney damage. Two regular strength aspirin in a small dog can cause clinical signs of poisoning.
As with Tylenol, cats are even more sensitive to these drugs and should never be given these medications unless under the specific direction of a veterinarian.
Again, these drugs can be safely used and, in fact, are employed in veterinary practice every day in appropriate doses and after careful medical evaluation of the patient. The important point is to recognize that dogs and cats do not respond in the same way to human medications that people do. Any medications need to be discussed with and prescribed by a veterinarian prior to giving them to your pet to avoid an inadvertent and tragic poisoning.
GARBAGE and FOOD POISONING
Dogs and cats that roam unsupervised or otherwise eat decaying, rotten carcasses or other food that has been contaminated by bacteria and the toxins that bacteria produce are susceptible to this poisoning.
Bacterial toxins tend to cause severe gastrointestinal upset. Clinical signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and malaise. Severely affected animals can go into shock and even die as a result of the absorbed bacterial toxins.
Mild cases will probably be okay with time and a little kaopectate, but if symptoms are severe or last more than a couple of days, you should make an appointment with your vet.
HouseHold Cleaners
Toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, detergents, drain cleaners, and pine oils help keep our homes clean which is a healthy thing, but these products can be highly poisonous to dogs and cats.
The best remedy is prevention. Keep all cleaners tightly closed when not in use to prevent accidental spills and ingestion. Also, be sure to keep pets out of newly cleaned areas to avoid paw injuries from walking in the newly applied cleaning solution and mouth burns from the animal then licking itself.
Also be aware of the possible dangers of toilet bowl cleaners from dogs and cats who drink out of the toilet.
In case of accidental exposure to cleaning products, it is generally recommended to flush the skin and mouth with water to wash away remaining chemicals, then call in to your veterinary clinic for further instructions. For milder cases, an absorbant like kaopectate or activated charcoal may suffice as treatment...but don't count on it...see your vet if symptoms are severe.
TEFLON
I've never seen Teflon poisoning in a dog or cat, but I mention it here just for your information; birds are very sensitive to the fumes.
The problem occurs when pots or pans with non-stick surfaces are left on a hot stove and forgotten. If the pan gets hot enough, toxic particles are released into the air that cause lung damage to birds.
Birds are unable to clear the toxic particles by exhaling, coughing, etc. and are therefore more susceptible to this type of poisoning.
Lead poisoning
Occurs from eating stuff that contains lead such as fishing and other weights, lead shot, lead-containing paint, caulking, and motor oil.
Clinical signs for animal suffering lead poisoning usually include vomiting, constipation diarrhea, painful abdomen as well as depression, blindness, circling, muscle tremors, and seizures. Onset of signs is usually relatively quick but signs can progress more slowly if the animal is slowly being exposed to the poison over time.
Zinc poisoning occurs most frequently when dogs ingest zinc in the form of pennies. The metal interacts with components of the animal's red blood cells and can cause, weakness, trembling, loss of appetite. Although not seen frequently, it is interesting to note how such a mundane object can be toxic when ingested.
Poisonous Snakes and Insects; what to do
coming soon
Laws and Regulations that concern the poisoning of pets
coming soon
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