A: Your house is a minefield when it comes to things that can poison your pet. In alphabetical order, here are some of the common culprits:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Well-meaning
owners who give cats acetaminophen without consulting a veterinarian often kill
the patient. Cats also consume tablets that are dropped on the floor or left
lying around. One 250 mg acetaminophen tablet could be fatal to a cat.
Prompt treatment is the key to survival.
Aspirin
Aspirin is present in almost everyone’s home. Cats are more susceptible to the effects of aspirin than are dogs, and medicating without consulting a veterinarian is the most common cause of cats receiving toxic amounts of aspirin, as above.
Carbamate and Organophosphate Insecticides
These are chemicals found in flea collars, fly, ant and roach baits as well as topical flea products. As with any insecticide, overexposure or misuse of the chemical can result in toxicity.
Ethanol
Ethanol is an alcohol that is used commonly as a solvent in medications and is the common ingredient of alcoholic beverages. Toxicity occurs when an excessive amount of ethanol is ingested and can cause a wide variety of signs, including death.
Ant Traps
If an ant trap is ingested, the only real concern is the potential for obstruction if the object or container becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines. Most ant and roach traps are made from either sticky paper or a toxin which has a low level of toxicity in mammals but is highly toxic to insects
Antifreeze
Ethylene glycol, the main ingredient of antifreeze, is metabolized in an animal’s body to several extremely toxic chemicals that are responsible for its potentially lethal effects. It is very sweet, and so very tempting for pets.
Bathroom Cleaners, Bleach, Lysol and Other Corrosives
These compounds can cause very serious chemical burns when ingested or even licked. If chemical ingestion is witnessed, immediately flush the mouth with large amounts of water.
Detergents and Soaps
Most of these are generally non-toxic. You can expect some vomiting and maybe even a little diarrhea if your pet swallows some. If ingestion is witnessed, you may flush the mouth with large amounts of water
Gasoline and Petroleum
Gasoline and other petroleum products are not among the top animal poisons, but they can cause illness if ingested or spilled onto the skin. The most common products associated with illness include motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, transmission/brake fluid, and diesel fuel.
Grapes and Raisins
The
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is in almost every American home. The most common cause of ibuprofen toxicity is a well-meaning owner trying to alleviate pain in his dog or cat. (See Tylenol and aspirin)
Illicit Drugs
Exposure to illicit drugs, most commonly marijuana and cocaine, can have deleterious effects on pets, especially if not treated. Because of the illegal nature of these drugs, diagnosis and treatment are sometimes delayed, and information is difficult for veterinarians to extract.
Iron
Iron supplements are present in many American households. Toxicity typically occurs after accidental ingestion of the supplements or from overdoses of prescribed doses.
Herbal Medications
The strength of a plant’s active ingredients will vary with the variety of herb Herbs may be sprayed with pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers. They may produce more than one active compound causing unwanted side effects, which may worsen some medical conditions. There are no standards for quality control in production and dosages. Inappropriate use of onion, garlic, pennyroyal and ginseng can cause toxicities. Even if your pet is taking an herbal supplement without complication, make sure your veterinarian knows what you are giving.
Lead
Pets may be
exposed to lead from several different sources including lead paint, rug
padding, linoleum, batteries, and foil from the tops of wine bottles.
Lead toxicity can cause anemia (low red blood cell count), gastrointestinal
symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) and nervous system problems (seizures).
Metaldehyde
Metaldehyde is a
common ingredient in products used to kill snails and slugs.
Dogs seem more likely to consume slug bait than cats.
Mushrooms
Not all mushrooms are poisonous, but each type of poisonous mushroom can cause different signs of illness. From minutes to hours following ingestion, signs of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, jaundice (yellow skin color), seizures, coma and/or excess salivation may be seen.
Naproxen
Naproxen is a popular and effective over-the-counter pain medication present in many homes. It can easily exceed toxic levels in a dog when given by a well-meaning owner. The initial toxic effect is bleeding stomach ulcers, and increasing doses of naproxen eventually leads to kidney failure which, left untreated, can be fatal.
Nicotine
Nicotine is found in a variety of sources, primarily cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, nicotine gum and nicotine patches. A 10-pound dog would only need to eat 2 to 4 cigarettes in order to show toxic signs. You should note that even after smoking, tobacco retains a significant amount of nicotine residue. Signs of nicotine toxicity generally develop soon after ingestion and include vomiting, drooling, excitement, tremors, low heart rate or seizures.
Onions
Onion toxicity in dogs and cats can be caused by raw or cooked onions, onion powders or flavorings. Dogs and cats lack the enzyme necessary to digest onions properly and this could result in gas, diarrhea, or severe gastrointestinal distress. If large amounts of onion are ingested or onions are a daily part of your pet's diet, the red blood cells may become fragile and break apart. Severe anemias and even death can occur.
Potpourri
Curious dogs often find simmering potpourri pots irresistible. Not only are burns a potential problem but the potpourri is quite caustic. Ingesting or even licking potpourri can result in chemical burns to the tongue, throat and esophagus.
Rat Poison
These products are common, and accidental exposure is frequent. The impact on the poisoned animal depends on the type of poison ingested. An animal may develop a bleeding disorder, neurological problems, gastrointestinal distress or kidney failure.
Strychnine
Strychnine is a toxin used to control rats, moles and other predators. When ingested by dogs, it is extremely toxic, and can cause death. Direct exposure to bait is the most common cause in dogs, although intentional poisonings are not uncommon. Toxicity can also occur from the ingestion of poisoned rodents and birds.
Vitamins
Vitamin toxicity occurs when the intake of a dietary vitamin exceeds the normal requirement causing adverse clinical signs or disease. Normal requirements differ for different vitamins and there are a variety of causes of vitamin toxicity, depending on the type of vitamin.
Zinc
The most common sources are pennies (minted after 1982), zinc nuts and bolts, which can be found in transport cages, galvanized metals, zinc-containing ointments (e.g. zinc oxide ointment), and zinc game pieces from board games. Zinc is directly irritating to the stomach lining so it may cause gastrointestinal irritation as well as a potentially fatal blood disorder. A toxic dose for a typical dog may be as few as 1 to 3 pennies (50 to 100 mg/kg).