Dr Pet Health

Pet Poisoning

Many substances in your home can be fatal to your pets. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that attracts some animals. Detergents cause more poisonings of children than any other household product, and pets are also vulnerable to such exposures.

Powdered pesticides spilled from a can in a garage are hazardous to a cat that gets it on its paws. One regular strength ibuprofen (200mg) could cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog. Understanding pet poisons and taking simple precautions could save your pet's life!

What are some common signs seen with poisoning?

1. Muscle tremors or seizures
2. Vomiting and or diarrhea, sometimes with blood
3. Excessive salivation - drooling or foaming
4. Redness of skin, ears, eyes
5. Mental depression or excitement (may be easily excitable
6. Bleeding (as with rat poison ingestion)
7. Ulceration or blisters of the mouth or skin
8. Excessive pawing at the mouth, excessive licking
9. Swelling (i.e. of a limb or face, commonly seen with insect bites and stings
10. Elevated or depressed body temperature (elevations usually due to increased muscle activity -- tremors, seizures)

What are some common household poisons that I should be aware of? Here is a list of common household poisons, in no particular order:

• Antifreeze (Ethylene glycol)
  Note: there is a non-toxic alternative available, Propylene Glycol
• Slug/Snail bait
• Prescription medications
• Mouse and Rat poison
• Some plants (indoor and outdoor), shrubs, and trees Check with your veterinarian for help in finding information on native plants in your area that are toxic to pets
• Flea and Tick treatments
  Using more or not following product recommendations is NOT the way to kill more fleas and ticks!
• Household cleaners and chemicals
• Lawn fertilizers, weed killers

Any specific pet poison-proofing tips?

Some of the potential toxins above may seem obvious, but think again. Poisons such as rat, slug, snail, mice, and ant baits are baits; they are made to be attractive and tasty, even to the curious pet. Don't count on how well you hide these baits, either. Make sure that they are safely out of pet's reach (and that the pet isn't able to chew through something to get at them).

Medications made for humans may have coatings on them that are tasty to pets, enticing ingestion. Ethylene glycol antifreeze is known to be sweet-tasting, a danger to pets and children.

Unknowingly playing fetch or encouraging your dog to chew on plants or trees that are poisonous could have disastrous effects.

Dogs love to chew...that spray bottle, can, or other container may be viewed as a toy by a curious dog....until the container is punctured and contents leak out.

Finally, please carefully read all directions for use of chemicals; those intended for pets and those intended for other purposes (yard, house) and follow directions carefully.