Common Pet Toxicities
Many environmental and household items can be detrimental to
our pets if they are ingested. Foods or
medications that are perfectly safe for us, as humans, can be deadly to our
pets! If you are concerned about
something your pet has eaten, please call Noah’s or your regular veterinarian
immediately for advice.
One phone number every pet owner should have is the number
to the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
ASPCA poison control has the largest database
of animal toxicity/poison information in the world.
They are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week with veterinary staff to provide assistance if your pet ingests a
toxin.
By calling
(888) 426-4435, you will be given a case
number that can be referenced by our veterinarians. This is especially helpful in cases of
toxicity we may be unfamiliar with, as the ASPCA database can provide us, your
regular veterinarian, with the information we need to help your pet! A $65 fee may be charged to your credit card
for this invaluable service.
Below are some of the most deadly and most common toxins we see in pets.
Antifreeze: Just
one small lick of antifreeze can be absolutely deadly to your dog or cat. The toxic component of antifreeze is ethylene
glycol. When ingested in even tiny
amounts, this chemical changes to a crystal in the body and becomes lodged in
the kidneys, leading to severe renal failure.
This type of renal failure is irreversible.
The key to antifreeze toxicity
treatment is immediate medical
care. An ingestion of antifreeze in any amount should be considered an
immediate emergency. If treated within 3
to 5 hours or less after ingestion, the patient can make a full recovery. After 8 hours of ingestion, kidney failure is
permanent. After 12 hours in cats and 36
hours in dogs, the kidneys can completely shut down.
Prevention is key to this
toxicity. If your car leaks antifreeze
on the driveway or in the garage, or if you spill antifreeze, clean it up right
away! Pets are drawn to this toxic
substance due to its sweet taste, and will readily lick it up if given the
opportunity.
Rat Poison:
Rodenticides, or rat poisons, are unfortunate toxicities in our
pets. Rat poisons work a couple of
different ways. One method is to affect
the animal’s ability to clot its blood, which causes internal bleeding. Another method is to increase calcium in the
body, which can lead to tremors or seizures.
If ingested by your pet, these same problems occur.
Call your veterinarian
immediately if you see your pet ingest any type of rat poison! Treatment recommendations are dependent on
the type of rat poison your pet ingests.
Sometimes inducing vomiting within the first couple of hours can
dramatically decrease the severity of problems seen. In addition, there is an antidote available
for rat poisons that affect blood clotting.
You can help prevent this type
of toxicity by not using rat poison products in your home or your yard. Pets can make their way into smaller crevices
and higher places that you think they can to come into contact with these
chemicals!
Human Medications: Probably the most common group of toxins we
deal with in veterinary medicine is the ingestion of human medications. These include prescription medications, as
well as over the counter ones. Remember
that our pet’s bodies are usually smaller than ours, and they often function in
a very different way. Medications that
we use for a daily headache or a mild fever can be deadly to our pets!
Over the counter pain
medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, and naproxen are extremely dangerous to
dogs and cats. The ingestion of as
little as ½ tablet of Tylenol can cause life-threatening anemia and liver
failure in cats. A regular strength
ibuprofen or naproxen can cause kidney failure in even large breed dogs.
If you are ever in doubt about
the safety of an over the counter medication for your pet, please call Noah’s
or your regular veterinarian for advice!
If your pet ingests a
prescription human medication, please call us immediately! Many human medications are not routinely used
in pets, and early intervention is important for a good outcome for your pet.
Food: Many foods
that we enjoy are not safe for our pets.
Onions and garlic, especially concentrated forms such as powders or
salts, can cause anemia in pets. Grapes
and raisins cause kidney failure, and chocolate can lead to hyperactivity and
high heart rates.
Xylitol, a newer sweetening
agent found in bubble gums, bakery frostings, and other sweets can cause severe
liver failure if ingested by your pet.
As always, we are available at Noah’s Central 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 days a year to help you! Our
phone line is always open to answer questions for you regarding what is safe
for your pet, and what is not. Don’t hesitate
to call!
