Do you know what could poison your pet?

Every so often a case comes into work that prompts me to write a blog post about it.  This time I decided to write about poisonous things that you may or may not know are poisonous, either in your house or when you're out walking the dog.

I used the BSAVA/VPIS Guide to Common Canine and Feline Poisons to help me.  It was put together by the BSAVA and the VPIS to aid Veterinary practices.  We can contact the VPIS at any time for advice on a case but they decided to put this book together using their most common cases.

Obviously, this list is very limited.  There are a great many poisonous things out there, and I've chosen to only list a few drugs but, generally speaking, if you're pet eats any of your medication you should contact your Vet as soon as possible.  Not every medication is bad but most of them can lead to problems, especially if ingested in excess.

I've also not listed any actual poisons, for example slug and rat bait, weed and plant killer.  I felt those were kind of obvious but in case they're not ...... THEY'RE POISONOUS!  If your pet ingests any of them or gets them on their coat, contact your Vet as soon as possible.

Another one I've not listed but is common, especially in the winter, is Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze), it is sweet tasting so pets want to lick it and it is EXTREMELY toxic to them.

As I said, this list is limited, I've tried to keep it to common and/or household toxins.  I'll be listing the onset times of clinical signs as well as what the clinical signs are.  In those lists there may be some words you don't know, I have made a list at the end of any words I think readers may have trouble with.  If there's a word you don't know and I haven't listed it at the end, let me know in the comments.

So on with the list, to keep it simple I'll be using the alphabet as my guide.

Alcohol (Ethanol) poisoning in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 1-2 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Excitability & agitation then depression
• Ataxia
• Vocalisation
• Drowsiness

Other signs are

• Coma
• Hyperthermia
• Hypoglycaemia
• Urinary incontinence

Treatment of alcohol toxicity

• Induction of emesis
• Monitor & correct hypoglycaemia if present
• Supportive care

Alkali poisoning in cats

Alkalis are present in a number of household products – drain cleaners, oven cleaners, paint stripper, dishwasher products

Onset of clinical signs soon after exposure (as quick as minutes), burns may be painless initially and not immediately evident. Burn onset is dependent on the concentration and volume of alkali and the duration of contact

Common signs are

With ingestion:

• Burning pain in mouth, oesophagus & stomach
• Swelling of lips
• Vomiting
• Haematemesis
• Hypersalivation
• Ulcerative mucosal burns
• Dyspnoea
• Dysphagia
• Shock

Skin/eye contact:

• Deep penetrating burns and necrosis

Other signs are

• Acute complications such as gastrointestinal haemorrhage
• Upper airway obstruction
• Oesophageal stricture

Treatment of alkali toxicity or burns

With ingestion:

• Oral fluids unless severe injury indicates otherwise
• Endoscopy to assess degree of injury
• Analgesia
• Supportive care

Skin/eye contact:

• Irrigation
• Frequent pH testing and further irrigation if required
• Supportive care

Caffeine toxicity in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 1-3 hours

Dogs with cardiac disease are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Tachycardia
• Ataxia
• Tachypnoea
• Hyperthermia
• Diuresis
• Dilated pupils
• Polydipsia
• Hyperaesthesia
• Excitation
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Agitation
• Twitching
• Convulsions

Other signs are

• Hypertension
• Cyanosis
• Coma

Treatment of caffeine toxicity

• Oral activated charcoal
• Hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Treat hyperactivity and convulsions if required
• Supportive care

Chocolate toxicity in dogs

Theobromine is the name of the toxic part of chocolate. The darker the chocolate the more Theobromine per gram. Dogs are also at risk from the use of cocoa shells instead of, for example, bark in gardens.

Onset of clinical signs usually within 4 hours, sometimes up to 24 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Abdominal tenderness
• Hypersalivation
• Polydipsia
• Polyuria
• Excitability
• Tachycardia (sometimes bradycardia)
• Ataxia
• Mild hypertension

Other signs are

• Muscle rigidity
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• Tachypnoea
• Hyperthermia
• Cyanosis
• Renal dysfunction

Treatment for chocolate toxicity if >9g/kg milk chocolate ingested or >1.25g/kg dark chocolate ingested

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Supportive care

Colchicium Autumnale ingestion in dogs (Wiki page on Colchicum Autumnale)

Alternative names

• Colchicium
• Autumn crocus
• Meadow saffron

Onset of clinical signs within 48 hours

Common signs are

• Gastrointestinal irritation
• Hyperthermia
• Renal impairment
• Liver impairment

Other signs are

• Weakness
• Dehydration
• Recumbency
• Collapse
• Shock secondary to gastrointestinal irritation

Treatment of colchicium autumnale ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Intravenous fluids
• Gut protectants
• Repeated blood samples to check renal and hepatic function
• Supportive care

Cordyline & Dracaena ingestion in cats (Wiki page on Cordyline and Wiki page on Dracaena)

Onset of clinical signs within a few hours

Common signs are

• Hypersalivation
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal tenderness
• Depression
• Tachycardia
• Ataxia
• Dilated pupils
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Dyspnoea

Other signs are

• Renal failure
• Jaundice
• Hyperthermia

Treatment of cordyline and dracaena ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood samples to check renal and hepatic function
• Supportive care

Lily toxicity in cats

The pollen of the lily is the usual source of ingestion. If the pollen gets on the fur, the cat will then groom it off and ingest it but there is also a risk if the cat eats the petals.

Onset of clinical signs usually 2-6 hours, 24-72 hours for renal impairment to become apparent

Cats with pre-existing renal impairment are at higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Depression
• Renal failure

Other signs are

• Polyuria
• Polydipsia
• Pancreatitis
• Convulsions

Treatment of lily toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Wash off any pollen on skin or fur
• Intravenous fluids
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Supportive care

Nicotine toxicity in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 15-90 minutes

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Hypersalivation
• Pale mucous membranes
• Ataxia
• Tremors
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Hypertension, followed by bradycardia
• Hypotension

Other signs are

• Convulsions
• Coma

Treatment of nicotine toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Supportive care

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug toxicity in cats & dogs (Wiki page on NSAIDs)

Onset of clinical signs within 2-6 hours

Animals with dehydration, hypotension and/or pre-existing renal impairment are at higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Meleana
• Haematemesis
• Abdominal tenderness
• Ataxia
• Inappetance
• Polyuria
• Polydipsia
• Nausea
• Pale or congested mucous membranes
• Weakness
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Renal failure
• Gastric ulceration

Other signs are

• Tremors
• Drowsiness
• Convulsions
• Dyspnoea
• Hyperaesthesia
• Tachycardia

Treatment of NSAID toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Intravenous fluids
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Gut protectants
• Supportive care

Oak/Acorn ingestion in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 1-24 hours

Common signs are

• Retching
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal tenderness
• Lethargy
• Depression

Other signs are

• Meleana
• Haematemesis
• Shaking
• Urticaria
• Gastrointestinal obstruction
• Renal and liver damage

Treatment for oak/acorn toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal and hepatic function
• Supportive care

Onion toxicity in dogs

Baby food has quite a high concentration of onions. I mention this because a lot of dog owners may use baby food to hide crushed tablets in.

Onset of clinical signs is sometimes within 24 hours but more common after several days

Japanese and Korean breeds are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Inappetance
• Vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Heinz body anaemia

Other signs are

• Jaundice

Treatment of onion toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood tests to monitor haematological parameters
• Adequate hydration
• Supportive care

Paracetamol toxicity in cats & dogs

As little as a single 500mg tablet is toxic to cats

Onset of clinical signs within 4-12 hours, liver impairment apparent within 24 hours

Cats that are malnourished, anorexic and on current treatment with enzyme inducing drugs are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Depression
• Brown mucous membranes
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Dyspnoea
• Hypothermia
• Facial & paw oedema (less common in cats)

Other signs are

• Renal damage

Treatment of paracetamol toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal & hepatic function
• Vitamin C
• Oxygen therapy
• Supportive care

Prognosis much more guarded in cats

Pot Pourri ingestion in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 12 hours, sometimes 24-48 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Abdominal pain
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Ataxia,
• diarrhoea
• dehydration

Other signs are

• Hypersalivation
• Haemorrhagic diarrhoea
• Collapse
• Convulsions
• Renal failure

Treatment for pot pourri ingestion

• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Gut protectants
• Analgesia
• Supportive care

Quinine toxicity in dogs (Wiki page on Cinchona)

Quinine is in the bark of the Cinchona tree

Onset of clinical signs within 15 minutes – 2 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Ataxia
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension
• Dilated pupils
• Hyperaesthesia
• Tremors

Other signs are

• Blindness
• Collapse
• Convulsions
• Cyanosis

Treatment of quinine toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration
• Repeated blood tests to monitor electrolytes
• Treatment for convulsions
• Intravenous fluids

Raisins/Grapes/Currants/Sultanas toxicity in dogs

Onset of clinical signs within 6-24 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Hypersalivation
• Haematemesis
• Bloody stools
• Anorexia
• Ataxia
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Acute renal failure

Other signs are

• Haematuria
• Polydipsia
• Pancreatitis

Treatment of grape/raisin/currant/sultana toxicity

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Intravenous fluids
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Supportive care

Salt toxicity in dogs

2-3g/kg of Sodium Chloride is enough to be considered toxic, ingestion of 4g/kg is considered lethal

Onset of clinical signs (vomiting) within a few minutes, (neurological) 1 – several hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Tremors
• Polydipsia
• Dehydration
• Ataxia
• Weakness
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Neurological signs progress to seizures, coma & death if severe

Other signs are

• Muscular rigidity
• Convulsions
• Coma
• Renal failure

Treatment of salt toxicity

• Induction of emesis
• Repeated blood tests to monitor blood glucose & renal function
• Intravenous fluids
• Supportive care

Tremorgenic Mycotoxin ingestion in dogs

These are fungal metabolites found in mouldy food

Onset of clinical signs 30 minutes – 3 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Irritability
• Ataxia
• Muscle tremors
• Rigidity with hyperextension of extremities
• Hyperactivity
• Hyperaesthesia
• Tachycardia
• Panting
• Tachypnoea
• Nystagmus
• Dilated pupils
• In severe cases tremors, convulsions & coma

Other signs are

• Risk of aspiration of vomit

Treatment of tremorgenic mycotoxin ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Cooling if required
• Treatment of convulsions
• Supportive care

Vitamin D Compound ingestion in dogs

Commonly found in Psoriasis creams

Onset of clinical signs 6-12 hours

Dogs with pre-existing renal impairment are at a higher risk

Common signs are

• Polydipsia
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Polyuria

Other signs are

• Renal failure
• Cardiac impairment
• Shock

Treatment of Vitamin D ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Adequate hydration & anti-emetics if required
• Repeated blood tests to monitor renal function
• Gut protectants

Xylitol ingestion in dogs

Commonly found in artificial sweeteners, chewing gum & nicotine replacement products. Food additive E967 stimulates insulin release & causes hypoglycaemia

Onset of clinical signs within 2 hours, hepatic effects can be delayed up to 72 hours

Common signs are

• Vomiting
• Tachycardia
• Ataxia
• Drowsiness
• Coma
• Convulsions
• Collapse

Other signs are

• Liver failure

Treatment of xylitol ingestion

• Induction of emesis & oral activated charcoal
• Repeated blood tests to monitor blood glucose levels & hepatic function & treatment as required

DEFINITIONS

Again I've just went alphabetical to make it easier to look up

Anti-emetic – Drug to help stop vomiting

Ataxia – Lack of coordination. Wobbly and uncoordinated gait

Bradycardia – Slow heart rate

Cyanosis – Blue mucous membranes due to lack of Oxygen

Diuresis – Increased frequency of urination

Dysphagia – Difficulty eating/swallowing

Dyspnoea – Difficulty breathing

Haematemesis – Blood in vomit

Haematuria – Blood in urine

Hepatic – Relating to the liver

Hypoglycaemia – Low blood glucose levels

Hypothermia – Low temperature

Hyperaesthesia – Increased sensitivity to external stimuli

Hypersalivation – Increased salivation

Hypertension – Increased blood pressure

Hyperthermia – Increased temperature

Induction of emesis – Administer drugs to induce vomiting

Meleana – Black, tarry faeces usually associated with gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Mucous membranes – Gums, inside eyelids

Nystagmus – Flickering eyes, can be either horizontal or vertical

Oedema – Fluid accumulating under the skin where it shouldn't

Oesophageal stricture – Narrowing or tightening of the oesophagus

Polydipsia – Increased drinking

Polyuria – Increased urination

Renal – Relating to the kidney

Tachycardia – Fast heart rate

Tachypnoea – Fast respiration rate

Urticaria – Commonly referred to as Hives

Heatstroke in Dogs

Hyperthermia is an elevation of body temperature out with the normal range.
Heatstroke is a form of hyperthermia (non-fever) that usually occurs in the hotter weather but it can happen at any time.

There are some predispositions to heatstroke:

• Brachycephalic (short nosed, flat faced) breeds like pugs, shih tzus, bulldogs, boston terriers etc. are more at risk than other dogs purely due to the shape of their face making breathing more difficult
• Very young or very old dogs
• Obesity
• Heart and lung disease
• Dogs with a thick, heavy coat
• Dehydration

All of the above have an increased risk of developing heatstroke.

Things that can cause heatstroke:

• Excessive heat - may be due to weather conditions or being shut in an unventilated area
• Being left outdoors in hot weather without adequate shade and/or water source

Symptoms of heatstroke:

• Panting
• Excessive salivation
• Red gums
• Thick saliva
• Muscle tremors
• Weakness
• Ataxia (uncoordinated gait)
• Vomiting
• Shock
• Coma

What to do if you suspect your dog has heatstroke:

• Contact your Vet ASAP, your dog will need to be seen
• Cool your dog down in transit, don't use ice or ice cold water.  Wet some towels and cover your dog with them, put a fan on them
• Don't force water into their mouth but have drinking water available in case they want a drink

Prevention is better than cure:

• Don't leave your dog in a car - doesn't matter what time of year it is, dogs pant and they can cause a car to heat up real quick
• Don't exercise your dog when it's warm outside.  My own gets walked in the morning when it's cool and then she doesn't get walked again until later in the evening - toilet breaks only during the day
• Make sure your dog has plenty of drinking water
• If your dog is in your garden, make sure they have the ability to get back inside or some form of shelter

This is just some basic info I wanted to put out there as we usually see a lot of dogs in work with Heatstroke at this time of year.

Animal First Aid Tips

I made up a leaflet in work for a dog show we were at today. A lot of people were very grateful for the advice and pointers so I thought I'd share it here.

Any advice given below is purely for first aid purposes, it's meant for a temporary guideline until you can get your pet to a Vet.


Ingestion of poison/medication - If your pet has ingested something it shouldn’t have, you should phone your Vet immediately. Depending on what has been swallowed we may need to see your pet, although not all things will need treatment. If we ask you to bring your pet to the surgery, please try and bring the packaging from whatever was ingested – it will help us find out the exact treatment needed. The information we will need to help us is the name of the product, the strength of the product, the amount that has been ingested and how long ago it was ingested.

Cut paw or injury that causes bleeding – If possible, the bleeding should be controlled by applying a dressing. DO NOT apply a dressing if there is a something still embedded into the wound. If a dressing cannot be applied and there is nothing in the wound, then apply some pressure using a clean t-shirt/towel etc. and get to the Vet. The quicker we check a wound, the better for treatment.

Burns or Scalds – If your pet has been scalded, try and cut away the wet hair surrounding the area then immediately rinse with cool water. Burns should be rinsed immediately with cool water. Scalds caused by fat or oil can potentially continue to burn if the fat or oil isn’t removed so try and soak up as much as possible with paper towels. If needed, a warm detergent solution can be used to gently cleanse the surrounding skin before the using cool water to rinse the area. Whenever rinsing the area with cool water, care should be taken to keep the rest of the animal warm and dry. Your pet should then be seen by a Vet as soon as possible.

Road Traffic Accidents – Immediate Veterinary attention should be sought but some basic care until then would be to make sure the animal is warm, if they go into shock this could cause hypothermia. If you are at all worried about any spinal damage, care should be taken not to move the spine at all. A parcel shelf can make a very good makeshift stretcher – you should position the shelf behind the animal and pull them onto the stretcher using the skin along their back, this won’t hurt them and is better than possibly causing more damage. Any bleeding should be controlled if possible.

Insect stings – If it’s a bee sting and it has JUST happened then it may be possible to remove the stinger. This should be done by using a bank card or similar and you should try to scrape or flick the stinger away. Tweezers should not be used as this could squeeze more poison into the sting.
For bee stings, you should rinse with a bicarbonate of soda solution – 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda to quarter litre of water.
For wasp stings, you should rinse with a vinegar solution – 50:50 with water.
After rinsing, an ice pack will help alleviate the pain and swelling. Wrap the ice pack in a towel and place against the sting for short periods of time (10-15 minutes). If the swelling continues after bathing and ice pack, then your pet should be seen by a Vet.

Jellyfish – If your pet is stung by or licks a jellyfish, vinegar is good for neutralising. Either applied directly to the sting or (if the jellyfish was licked) soak a piece of bread in the vinegar and feed to your pet. You should closely monitor your pet for any more swelling and Veterinary advice should be sought if you’re worried.


The above are only guidelines, if at any time you are worried or don’t feel confident in attempting these things then seek Veterinary help.

Fireworks and Pets

It's getting to that time of year again. Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, 5th of November .... whatever you want to call it, it's a pain in the butt to all pet owners. Personally, my dog is fine with fireworks but, as a Vet Nurse, I see plenty of people coming in with their dogs and cats just prior to Bonfire Night to get medication for their pets.

Unfortunately, sedatives are only a short term fix. Ideally, if your dog or cat is scared of the noise, you need to work with them and get them desensitised to the loud bangs. For this, the Sounds Scary CD is ideal, you play the CD in the house over a long period of time and gradually your pet will become oblivious to the noises.

The CD used in conjunction with Adaptil (for dogs) or Feliway (for cats), is much better than loading them up with sedatives. Adaptil and Feliway should be used at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Sedatives may make your pet sleep and look serene but they're still scared of the noises that are happening outside, so work with your pet in advance rather than leave it to the last minute and have to get sedatives from your Vet. Sounds Scary is available from the link above and Adaptil and Feliway are available from your Vet or any large pet shop.

Advice for dogs on the night of the fireworks:

• Make sure your dog is walked in daylight hours before the fireworks start
• Feed your dog as stodgy meal, like pasta etc. This should help your dog feel tired
• Shut all your curtains and put a CD or TV on.  Preferably bass heavy music as it should hide the noise of the fireworks
• Don't react to the noise of the fireworks or fuss over the dog if they do
• Don't take the dog out again until after you're sure the fireworks are finished
• Start working with the Sounds Scary CD so that the following year isn't as bad

Advice for cats on the night of fireworks:

• Make sure your cat is kept indoors during the day and at night
• Make sure your cat has a safe hiding place to go to if they feel scared
• Again, like with dogs, work with the cat and the Sounds Scary CD

Advice for small animals on the night of fireworks:

• Outdoor animals should have plenty of food and hay on the day and night of
• If possible, bring the animals inside but make sure they're not too warm.  If it's not possible to bring them inside, cover the hutch(es)with something heavy to block out any light flashes and dull the noise

I hope the above advice is helpful to some pet owners, I would also like to ask if anyone with pets could sign this petition to get pet safety advice put on fireworks.

Summer's almost here

Yes, it's not a book review but I decided I'd write this to try and remind people that their pets can suffer in the warm weather, just the same as us.

If you're taking your dog on a walk to the beach or the park because the weather's lovely. Remember to carry fresh water for your pooch to drink so they don't become overheated. Just because they're running around having fun doesn't mean they're not burning up, hyperthermia (heatstroke) is a big worry and can be fatal. These things are great, they have the drinking trough attached so you don't need to carry a seperate bowl and you don't have to worry about the water leaking.

If you decide you need to pop into the shop and leave the dog in the car, even if you park in the shade and think "I'll only be 2 minutes", leave the windows open. And more than just a crack! I hate walking by cars and there's a dog inside with the windows either closed or open the tiniest little bit. Another great thing to get a hold of if you have a dog is this. Pop them in the gap of your window, stops your dog from escaping and also gives a bit of security.
Or, even better, don't leave your dog in the car at all. Think ahead, if you need to go into a shop or somewhere then leave your dog at home.

If you have a white or light coloured pet or a pet with white/light ears or nose, then apply sun cream before leaving the house. They can get sun burn just the same as we can. You can use any non-toxic waterproof sun block or get a specific Pet Sunscreen.

Make sure rabbits and guinea pigs have somewhere shady to go if they're running about. Also make sure they always have access to fresh water.
A big problem with rabbits in the summer is something called Fly Strike. This occurs if the hutch and rabbit aren't kept clean. Rabbits generally look after themselves but in the summer get into the habit of checking their rear ends for dirt and make sure to keep them clean.

Have fun with your pets in the summer but remember to be safe!

The black and white pets photo and the photo of the dog in the car came from 123rf, royalty free stock photos.
The rest of the photos are my personal pictures of my own pets.