Our pets can be less than discerning when deciding what to eat, dogs especially are prone to eating whatever they find that looks tasty. It’s important as an owner to be aware of the most common poisons you may find in your house and keep them well out of reach of pets. If you believe your pet has ingested or come into contact with something toxic or they are showing signs of having been poisoned you should call the surgery on 01435 864422 as quickly as possible. If they have eaten something that might be toxic and are not showing symptoms, it is still best to call us as soon as possible – some poisons have no immediate effect but can have serious, if not fatal, consequences over a few days. It is always best to ask if you’re not sure – some of the things pets can’t have are surprising!
Common poisons you may have at home
Chocolate
Chocolate ingestion is the most common form of poisoning we see, especially over Christmas and Easter. Cats and dogs cannot metabolise the theobromine in chocolate so in high doses it can lead to a fatal build up in their system. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate and seizures. It’s important to give the vet as much information as possible- the concentration of theobromine varies depending on whether the chocolate is dark, milk or white (dark has the highest). Depending on the size of dog, ingestion of small amounts of chocolate might not cause harm but it is important to always call us so we can work out whether your pet has had a toxic dose.
Raisins, grapes, currants and sultanas
Grape poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy and can eventually lead to kidney failure. There is no ‘safe’ dose of grapes and raisins. Some dogs can eat a large quantity and have minimal reaction, whilst others may eat only a few and become very ill. The reason why these fruits are toxic is unknown, current thinking is that tartaric acid in the fruits, which dog cannot eliminate from their bodies, accumulates in the kidneys causing cell damage. The amount of tartaric acid in the fruits varies greatly depending on variety and growing conditions. Because of this uncertainty, if your dog eats any amount of grapes or raisins we recommend calling your vet as soon as possible.
The Allium Family – including onions, leeks, garlic and chives.
The allium family of vegetables are toxic to dogs if ingested, causing gastrointestinal upset, rapid breathing and lethargy. A large amount in one sitting or a little nibbled over a long period of time can make your pet very ill, call your vet if you notice your pet has eaten any alliums.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many products you may have in your home. It is toxic to dogs, even in very small amounts, causing a life threatening drop in blood sugar due to a sudden increase in insulin production. This can lead to severe liver damage and even death. Double check the ingredient list of things like peanut butter which you may give to your dog as a small treat. Be sure to keep things like chewing gum, toothpaste, sugar free drinks, ice pops and sweets out of reach of pets. Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, weakness, seizures and collapse.
Fungi
Poisonous mushrooms are obviously a danger to animals and humans- never pick mushrooms unless you have extensive knowledge of wild fungi. If your pet has eaten a wild mushroom, take a sample of the mushroom in paper bag so the vet can try to determine a species, or at least take a photo on your phone. Some species of fungi give worse effects if ingested that others, so species identification is very important. To identify a mushroom, the stem, underside and top of the mushroom need to be seen, as well as an idea of the type of environment it is growing in.
Rat Poison or Slug bait
If you use rat poison or slug bait you need to be confident that your pets have no access to the area, and thoroughly clean up before pets are able to access the area again. If you have store slug bait or rat poison it needs to be well out of reach of animals.
Slug and snail bait contains metaldehyde which is incredibly toxic to pets. Symptoms of poisoning include excessive drooling and panting, agitation or anxiety, lack of coordination (pets appear ‘drunk’), muscle tremors and convulsions, vomiting, diarrhoea and a high temperature. Symptoms can appear within minutes and if not treated can be fatal within hours.
Rat poison is highly toxic- it causes internal bleeding by stopping the recycling of Vitamin K in the body which helps the blood to clot. This can result in fatal bleeding and anaemia if untreated.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) is incredibly toxic to pets, especially cats. Even the smallest amount can cause kidney failure and death within hours. Cats are particularly attracted to the taste of antifreeze and are more susceptible to poisoning as they explore outside. Just walking through a puddle of spilled antifreeze and grooming their paws can lead to severe problems. Symptoms of poisoning can include sickness, wobbliness and eventually fits.
Lilies
Lilies are extremely poisonous to cats, ingestion of the leaves, petals, pollen or even water from a lily vase can cause be damaging. Cats are most often poisoned by licking sticky pollen from their fur. Symptoms of lily poisoning include drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in urination and dehydration. If left untreated, poisoning can lead to kidney failure and eventually death.
Human or veterinary medicine
Human medicines, such as ibuprofen (which is most common due to it’s prevalence in households), can lead to gastrointestinal, kidney and central nervous system problems and should always be kept out of reach of pets. Pets ingesting their own medication in larger quantities or more frequently that prescribed can also be toxic, as well as if your pet ingests medication that was prescribed for another animal, but not them (for example, permethrin is safe to use on dogs in their flea and worming treatments, but is toxic to cats).
If your pet has ingested human medicine, pet medicine that was not prescribed for them or you have accidentally overdosed them by giving them too much of their own medication or given it more frequently that prescibed, make sure to contact us immediately and bring any packaging or remaining tablets with you, as this will help determine how much medication may have been ingested and help guide their treatment.
Household Products
Cleaning products such as laundry detergent, patio cleaner or bleach can all pose a risk to your pets. If your pet does come into contact with or ingest a possibly harmful substance, call the Animal Poisonline or your vet to find out if they need to be seen; if they do display any symptoms of poisoning then they need to be ASAP. Take any packaging from products with you and give the vets as much information as possible.
As a general rule, pets should only eat the food or treats intended for them. Human food, whilst it may not be poisonous, will generally be inappropriate as a dietary choice and could at the very least cause a stomach upset. If you are worried your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t or are displaying symptoms of having been poisoned, call the surgery on 01435 864422 .
