COMMON PET POISONS IN YOUR HOME!

CHOCOLATE

Cocoa powder, cooking and dark chocolate are the most dangerous forms! An average dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat!

The poison in chocolate is theobromine which belongs to the same family as caffeine, dogs cannot metabolise and excrete these compounds as efficiently as humans. It comes as no great surprise that Easter and Christmas are times when many dogs are at risk, especially when family members visit and often give titbits to a dog.

The signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours. The dog will become excited and hyperactive and due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhoea are also common along with tremors and restlessness. There is an increase the dog’s heart rate or the heart may beat irregularly and sudden death is possible, especially with exercise.

ONIONS

Onions and garlic are dangerous foods that can cause sickness in dogs and cats because they contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Pets affected will develop haemolytic anaemia, the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.

At first, pets affected by onion poisoning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea, lose interest in food and will become dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal’s urine and it becomes breathless as there are less red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps such as left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food (sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets).
Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated small amounts.

CANNABIS

This recreational drug is quite commonly ingested by pets and regularly seen by vets in practice! Although the relative quantities ingested can be quite high (no pun intended) the drug rarely causes serious side-effects. Overexcitement, drooling and increased sweating are seen and occasionally an affected pet will seem unaware of its surrounding. It has been reported that these pets often have an increased appetite.

PARACETAMOL AND IBUPROFEN

This common household drug produces toxic by products as it is used by the body. Dogs (and especially cats) cannot break these toxins down and so they quickly become poisoned by them. (As little as ¼ of a 250mg tablet can be enough to kill an adult cat). Clinical signs seen are collapsed and panting with blue coloured gums and may show facial swelling. The antidote must be quickly given by the vet or it is rapidly fatal!
Tragically both of the above drugs are often given by owners seeking to relieve a pets discomfort without realising the potential effects.

METALDEHYDE

Dogs seem to find these small blue coloured slug pellets tasty. If they ingest enough of this poison they become overexcited, begin to have fits and eventually fall into a coma and die. Whenever you treat your garden with slug bait ensure that you fence off the treated areas to prevent the pet getting access to the poison.

HOUSE AND GARDEN PLANTS

Easter Lilly has a seasonal bloom which is attractive to cats, who often ingest the foliage. Unfortunately even a little of this plant is extremely toxic to the kidneys. There is no cure and affected animals almost always die.

Other common household and garden plants are highly toxic including:
Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Bleeding heart, Bloodroot, Caster oil plant (very dangerous), Dumbcane (very dangerous), Flower Bulbs of any kind, Foxglove, Jerusalem Cherry, Larkspur, Mistletoe (extremely dangerous), Rhuburb and Virginia Creeper

ANTIFREEZE

Unfortunately, poisoning with antifreeze is quite common, as it has a sweet taste and any spilled may be licked up by dogs or from the paws of cats whilst grooming who seem to find the taste very appealing. If ingested anti-freeze forms crystals in the kidney rapidly causing kidney failure and death.

Antifreeze is used in car radiators in the winter, thankfully as motor vehicles become less serviceable by the lay-man, incidences of toxicity are becoming less frequentIf you are storing antifreeze in a garage or shed. Keep the containers sealed tightly and well out of reach of your dog and clear up any spillages immediately.

POISONING ADVICE

The sooner a pet suspected of being poisoned receives treatment, the higher its chances of recovery. If you think that your pet has been poisoned then contact your veterinary emergency service immediately, your pet's life may well depend on it.