Poisoning
Poisons can be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
With the current availability of 24 hour pet poisoning hotlines (see below), there is no longer any need for us
to guess whether or not we should induce vomiting when a pet has been poisoned.
For the cost of approximately $65 per incident, we now have expert help available.
With the current availability of 24 hour pet poisoning hotlines (see below), there is no longer any need for us
to guess whether or not we should induce vomiting when a pet has been poisoned.
For the cost of approximately $65 per incident, we now have expert help available.
- Bleeding externally or internally
- Dilated pupils
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Seizures, abnormal mental state, abnormal behavior (hyperexcitability, trembling, depression, drowsiness, coma)
- Swollen, red irritated skin or eyes
- Ulcers in the mouth or burned lips, mouth or skin
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Call your veterinary hospital or emergency veterinary hospital immediately. If your pet is exhibiting signs, take your dog to the hospital right away.
- Take any containers, packaging, or pill vials with you - this information will be essential in helping to accurately treat your pet.
- If you are speaking on the phone, be prepared with your pet's weight, vital signs, how much poison was ingested and when.
- You can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) yourself before coming to the hospital, or your veterinarian can call them when you arrive.
- For INHALED poison, get your dog into fresh air immediately,
- For TOPICAL poison, ask the vet if you can rinse it off.
- For INGESTED poison, ask the vet if you should induce vomiting.
- Do not induce vomiting in a pet that is unconscious, semi-conscious, or convulsing.
- Do not induce vomiting if the poison was: a strong acid, a strong alkali (eg bleach), a petroleum product, a cleaning product, or the substance was ingested more than 3 hrs ago. In these cases, immediate veterinary care is essential.
- Do not wait for your pet to vomit if you have induced vomiting before leaving for the vet's office--go immediately. It is better to have your pet vomit in the car than risk further injury to your pet!
Common toxins to avoid
poison:ALCOHOL
ANTIFREEZE
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
(Containing Xylitol; Causes insulin release which leads to fatally low blood sugar) AVOCADO
(contains PERSIN - low toxicity in cats & dogs, high in other species) CHOCOLATE & CAFFEINE
(energy drinks, diet pills, tea, soda, coffee) FERTILIZERS
FLEA PRODUCTS
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, BLEACH
ILLEGAL DRUGS
(cocaine, crack, heroin, ecstasy, etc) MACADAMIA NUTS
(cookies, trail mixes, snacks) MARIJUANA
MOLDY FOODS, MOLDY CHEESE
ONIONS
PAIN RELIEVERS
POISONOUS PLANTS
POTPOURRI
RAT POISONS
RAISINS, GRAPES
(breads, granola bars, trail mix, cookies) RAW BREAD DOUGH
SALT
(ocean water, homemade play-dough) TYLENOL/ACETAMINOPHEN
(sleep aids, cold medicine, pain medicine, fever reducers) |
signs:Acting "drunk", Wobbliness, Stumbling, Depression, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Unresponsiveness, Difficulty Breathing
First 1/2 - 12 hours: acting drunk, increased thirst, increased urinating, +/- vomiting.
After 12 - 24 hours: increased breathing rate, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing. After 24 - 72 hours: signs of kidney failure (vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, increased urination, increased drinking) Signs of low blood sugar can be seen within 10 - 60 minutes: Wobbliness, Weakness, Blindness, Lethargy, Tremors/Trembling, Stumbling, Seizures, Death.
Signs of liver failure can been seen within 12 - 72 hours: Vomiting, Diarrhea, Anorexia, Jaundice. Vomiting, Diarrhea
Signs dependent on type of chocolate (theobromine) and amount ingested.
Signs visible: 1-2 hours after ingestion of caffeine & 2-4 hours after ingestion of chocolate. GI signs - Vomiting, Diarrhea, Pancreatitis Neurologic signs - Hyperexcitability, Tremors, Seizures Cardiac signs - Elevated heart rate, Arrhythmias, Death Drooling, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain.
Pyrethrins/pyrethroids (in topical OTC products): Muscle tremors to seizures
Carbamates, Organophosphates (in topical OTC products): Drooling, Eye tearing, Increased urination, Low heart rate, Small pupils, Muscle tremors, Paralysis, Death Drooling, Ulcers on the tongue/gums, Regurgitation, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain
Dependent on drug consumed: Hyper-excitability, Altered Mentation, Dilated pupils, Dangerously increased heart rate, Arrhythmias, Death
Weakness, Depression, Vomiting, Wobbliness, Tremors, Elevated Temperature, Joint pain, Lameness, Abdominal Pain, Recumbancy.
Wobbliness, Stumbling, Dribbling urine, Dilated pupils, Slow heart rate, Weakness, Collapse to hyper-excitability, Twitching, Hyper-reactive to environmental stimuli
Drooling, Panting, Elevated temperature, Collapse, Vomiting
Progression to neurologic signs: tremors, hyperexcitability, seizures Onions cause changes to red blood cells leading to their destruction.
Signs are related to anemia: pale or brown gums, red or brown urine, fast heart rate, weak pulses, collapse, weakness Anorexia, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Collapse
Can lead to GI Ulcers: Blood loss, Shock, Pale gums, Weak pulses, Fast heart rate, Collapse. Kidney failure, Liver failure. Please refer to:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants Poisonous Plants Home Page: University of Pennsylvania Irritation of GI tract: Drooling, Regurgitation, Vomiting, Anorexia, Lethargy, Diarrhea
Bromodiaolones - Anticoagulants - Pale gums, Weak pulses, Fast heart rate, Collapse, Difficulty breathing, Death
Cholecalciferol - Elevated calcium levels cause acute kidney failure - Increased drinking, Increased urination, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Anorexia, Collapse Bromethalin - Neurologic signs - Wobbliness, Tremors, Hyperexcitability, Seizures, Death Toxicity is not dependent on the amount ingested.
Signs visible within 24 hours. Signs related to kidney failure: Vomiting, Diarrhea, Anorexia, Increased urination, Increased Drinking Yeast rises and causes painful gas distension in the stomach and intestines.
Can lead to ruptured stomach. Increased drinking, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Progresses to Stumbling, Depression, Seizures, Death due to brain swelling. Signs depend on dose ingested: Brown gums, Weakness, Anorexia, Discolored urine, Signs of liver failure (anorexia, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea, lethargy), Respiratory distress, Death.
|